Asuhara (OLD STORYLINE)

Chapter 14 - As Fast As The Wind

The border, a place of mutual trust, turned into a bloodied battlefield. Gunpowder left a thick scent in the air as the wagon slowly crept along the crater-covered field.

Remains laid upon the makeshift cover and the once green grass. Though the gang were not disturbed by the horrific sight, it was clear that members of Clan Enigma were not used to rotten corpses.

'Any word on those golems reaching the border yet?' Ace quizzed Erik. His arms rested on the edge of the wagon.

'A few. Those things can take quite a hit. It's a shame we're so underequipped.' Erik said as his eyes scanned the treeline, occasionally watching his foot soldiers who limped on their aching feet.

'Perhaps we should settle for the night. Your men are too exhausted to fight an ambush.' Ace suggested, climbing over onto the seat beside Erik.

'I'm aware. But the longer we stay away, the more time Arlo has to prepare.' Erik said stubbornly as one of the men walking beside the wagon collapsed.

Soon a voice called out from the treeline, causing the convey of rebellion to halt, 'Halt! You are surrounded!' it said.

'What is your business?' Another voice yelled, the rumbling sound of cannonballs rolling into their barrels as the unknown opposition were preparing.

'Relax, it's us!' Erik called out, raising his hands.

There was a brief moment of silence before the eerie sound of swords sheathing echoed through the trees, soldiers in metallic armour stepping from the treeline to greet them.

Pat smiled as he stepped from the treeline, slowly removing his helmet, 'So he lives.' He said, tucking the helmet under his armpit.

'Patriot...' Ace said, somehow joyful to see his old prison guard. He jumped down off the wagon to approach him, 'They promoted a kid like you?'

'War relaxes a lot of regulations. Come, we've got plenty of food in the camp.' Pat smiled, gesturing the gang into the treeline as the collapsed Enigma foot soldier was tended to.

'Didn't know you had other friends.' Alex grinned, patting Ace's shoulder as they navigated the bramble at their feet.

'Jealous, are we? You're still the second favourite.' Ace winked, turning his eyes to the campground that was illuminated by torches and campfires. Though it was day, the thick canopy above the camp locked the soldiers in everlasting night.

This was just one of the hundreds of border defences. Thurri knew it had no technological advancements over its rivals. However, they did win against all odds in the Hundred Year War.

People put it down to luck; nevertheless, it was the will of those who fought who helped persevere. The Warden, formally The Butcher Of The East, the hopeful boy saidAs was a fierce leader whose unorthodox tactics helped make significant progress in the Thurrian Offensive.

The Captain was just like Pat is now, a young boy whose voice rallied thousands of civilians to fight for their survival. And that was when he was not even a soldier.

Around sixty years into the conflict, he faked his status in the Imperial Guard to reap the benefits granted to soldiers, though his skills were soon tested as he was deployed to retake a small town known now as Osna.

The bard-like ability that allowed him to empower those around him helped in fending off the hostile forces. A captain's job in the Imperial Guard was to do just that. Rumours were he helped increase the powers of The Warden in the eastern conflict, though those are just rumours.

'And you didn't say no?' Pat raised a brow as he took a sip from his flask.

'Nah, they had one of those leadslingers to my back.' Ace chuckled solemnly, glancing to the ring he was yet to remove from his finger.