I offer everything I have; burn my life away to nothing.
I will show the world my rage. I will make sure they see it.
✦ ✦ ✦
My fists tremble—my lips quiver as I bite down on them.
“Lady Ange, why don’t you sit down?”
“General Bandkan ordered me to stand here. It is my duty.”
“Preserving your stamina is also part of your mission.”
“It would be a waste of energy to bend down and sit.”
I refuse to turn and look at the messenger; my gaze is locked to the south. I can’t take a single step from this observation tower. Fear has already overwhelmed me.
This battle... It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before.
General Bandkan himself said they can’t win in a head-on fight... but I never expected them to come out of the gates swinging with suicide squads. Dozens of men have already died attempting to taunt the vampires. Those giving orders and those receiving orders are equally calm and resolute. They’re also equally crazy, taking the brunt of the vampires’ fierce attack with their center column of soldiers.
Sira’s right there! What are the foot soldiers and cavalry on the sides doing? They’re withdrawing, scattering! Not even trying to help! Oh, see? See?! The enemy is focusing on the center column now. They’re practically surrounded. Soldier after soldier is crushed, shield and all, by attacking vampires from the front and sides. However, a new soldier is always there to fill the gaps, so the vampires switch to using their fearsome physical strength to leap over them instead.
They should have known this would happen. The first vampire to scale the shields is... trapped by shields on all sides and lit on fire with oil?! Now they slice him in two with a sword... he turns to ash. Is that their plan? No, I don’t think so. They... They’re being pushed back hard, steadily losing ground—but they aren’t crumbling. It’s a resoluteness filled with purpose. And I know why: General Bandkan is there to directly order the sealing of each hole in the wall of shields, so their coordination hasn’t fallen to pieces yet. Even so, it’s a miracle they can keep their morale up while being pushed back.
Sira’s there, right in the center. The soldiers are grouped up tightly to protect her. This isn’t some last-ditch battle; it’s beyond heroic—a testament to the power of a parent protecting their child.
Nevertheless, the soldiers keep falling... they can’t hope to equal the vampires in strength. Regardless, the center column refuses to say die. In fact, their formation is getting even tighter. What a crazy strategy: using the enemy’s pressure from three sides as a defensive tool! There’s no predicting the outcome of this battle anymore, and yet... What is the reason for the retreat?
Oh... I see. What a strategist General Herman Bandkan is. I’d heard he was rigid and uncompromising, but this... The central column is also withdrawing, but seen from a different angle, one could say they are drawing in the enemy’s entire offensive force—luring them into position. It’s a trap! With this, they might be able to wipe out all the vampires.
The foot soldiers to the sides bellow and charge, clashing against the vampires’ flanks while the cavalry come roaring from behind. They’re very quick to collapse on this opportunity—see? Now the vampires are completely surrounded. Injured, collapsed soldiers also dot the vampires’ ranks; no one is left unharmed. Our men might not have been able to get a hang of Sira’s training, but they certainly know how to pack their bombs full of mana. These aren’t normal explosives, either—they’re high-explosive bombs. Created in the south, they’ve yet to reach the Frontier.
I hear orders being barked and the banging of drums—the counterattack has begun. Simultaneously, the soldiers strike. Spears pierce the vampires from all sides. The cavalry charges, unleashing their bombs. Flames and explosions erupt. All of a sudden, the battle is nearly even. One of our injured soldiers runs towards the middle of the enemy’s ranks, bombs gripped in both hands. He’s followed by two more, then three. They keep coming.
Merciless fire. Roaring explosions. Bone-shattering impacts.
Our men throw everything they have, literally, at the vampires in order to crush them utterly.
I mustn’t cry. I must hold my tears in. It is my duty to watch them from this spot; to burn the image of these honest, proud, and wonderful men into my memory. I shall become a record of their proud lives and deaths, engraving their story upon my soul.
Oh, God. Please grant them your blessing. I pray that our desperate, earnest efforts lead to hope.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Wah ha ha! The vampires fell right into our trap!” the man cries, his smooth and shiny head covered by his helmet. We’re right in the middle of combat. “Attack! Attack! This is our last chance to shine!”
I’m watching everyone with eyes wide open. I don’t dare blink.
“General! It’s been a pleasure serving you!” a soldier shouts.
“Go, my man! Into the other side of the flame!” the man shouts back.
A mustachioed soldier runs off, gripping two fire bombs in his hands. The man watches with a smile as the soldier goes, then cheers once he hears the sound of the explosions.
“Sira, you better survive! General, make sure she does!” cries another warrior.
“Wa ha ha! No need to tell me twice! Leave the rest to me!”
“Yes, sir!” His arm and shield completely smashed, he grabs a spear in his remaining hand. Gripping the bound rope of a bomb in his mouth, he, too, runs off. I watch as he goes.
Everyone’s dying. One-by-one, they all die. But even so, they fight. The fighting just never ends.
“General, please move back a little! An enemy unit is charging!”
“So they move forward, even when surrounded, huh? Cursed vampires. They’re complete monsters. They fight like their only purpose is to wipe out every last one of us. Don’t give them an opening! Support your brothers!”
The vampires: creatures with brown skin and yellow eyes. They worship the Demon God and treat humans like food. Unlike them, I was able to talk to an elf. Ten Thousand Bells was such a good musician. She even brought me tea and snacks... she was very kind. Our religions, lifestyles, and beliefs were different, but I felt that we could get along. So why can’t it be the same way with the vampires? Lady Kuroi and Golden were able to talk, but not get along. Is fighting our only option?
God. Oh, God. Why do You and the other gods fight? Don’t You ever talk things out? Is the world so sad that nothing can be accomplished without killing someone?
Oh! A stone wall. That’s vampire magic. It’s so tall. It’s about to fall, too. They’re going to use it as a bridge to attack us—I know this strategy.
“Sira?!” cries the bald man’s voice.
I have to do something before it falls; before someone else dies. I have to be like Lady Kuroi.
Go, Dad!
He draws the sword I’ve been hugging, sparkles with red mana, and moves out. I can faintly see his great back. Swiftly, he slices through the stone wall—I hear something crumbling. The stone is falling to pieces.
“Ohhh! Well done! Look, the enemy is stunned! Feed them your spears!” barks the man.
I did it. I did it, Dad! I can fight too. Look, another stone wall. Cut it for me! This is how I can save everyone. Keep going! There’s another one over there. And that one too, please. Wow! My dad’s so strong... huh? Wah!
“Sira, you mustn’t let your guard down on the battlefield!” yells the shiny-headed man. He protected me from a vampire that jumped towards me. His helmet is ripped off, and there’s blood everywhere.
Ah... Ahh! His left arm... it’s gone from the shoulder down.
“It’s all right for children to fail; it’s a necessary step to becoming a great adult,” he says with a gentle voice.
He doesn’t attempt to fight the vampire with a club charging at us. He’s rooted right in front of me. Instead, the other soldiers fight. So many spears, swords, and shields. However, the vampire is too strong. It swings its club and shouts, summoning thunder magic. The spell grows stronger and stronger.
“...But that is why adults must be proud and cool!”
The man throws his sword—it flies so fast. Still, the vampire knocks it away with its club. The lightning dissipates, though, allowing everyone’s spears through. They pierce it, and it dies.
“Yessss!” shout the men.
The General smiles, but doesn’t move. He can’t move. While protecting me, he got hit with that club charged with electricity. Soon, he’ll...
“Sira, stay by your father’s side; that’s where you’ll be safest.”
Right. Dad’s back. Look, his sword is burning red. God’s heat is within it.
“Good... Now, go. Live. I’ll watch over you from here.”
Right, I have to go. The cool shiny-headed man watches as I leave, my dad and some soldiers in tow. Don’t worry, I won’t drop my guard anymore. I’ll stay sharp. I’ll work hard to end this everlasting war that started so long ago. I’ll work hard so that I can one day smile and see all the people that left before me.
Oh, God, I’m going to fight under your banner of fire.