Ancient Pasts - Tbate

Battle of Etistin

Cathan Leywin Pov

The five of us stood among the soldiers, awaiting the battle to come. This battle will teach everyone the meaning of fear and death. This battle will be the beginning of what will come.

I took a deep breath, calming my trembling body. The ships slowly approached as our troops clenched their weapons tightly, looking at us as a source of hope.

Despite the power the five of us possessed, I knew one thing, none of them would survive. When those men come, all of them will die. I sighed, watching the soldiers awaiting their fate.

It felt like hours had passed, all of us standing in the rain with white knuckles gripping our weapons. Until finally, the horns rang. I could see our men stiffen as the deep brassy note told them the enemies had landed.

"Charge!" Varay's emotionless voice amplified with mana boomed across the battlefield.

The quiet yet palpable tension had dissipated, replaced by the guttural roars of our soldiers and the rumble of the earth as they charged forth with determination.

Flashes of colors in different lights covered the sky as men and women screamed. Just this alone narrowed the future possibilities I would have to study.

'Don't focus on the past, present, or future, but focus on all of them.' The message from when I completed the relic rang in my mind.

There would be three main forces against the Alacryans during this battle. First, the infantry, responsible for making first contact and keeping a constant pressure forward, away from the Etistin Bay. Next were the aerial forces that would cause disarray to the Alacryan's backline by dropping spells on them from above. Finally, there was us, the lances.

The aerial forces lit up the foggy backdrop with their spells. One of them rained down motes of fire on the Alacryans, while another utilized the mist itself and formed the water droplets into sharp icicles.

The cries and screams that were so jarring at first were beginning to blend in with the other background noises of battle. Seeing Varay's gaze as she studied the battlefield intently, I could almost see the burdens of their deaths weighing down on her shoulders.

"General Varay. Let me go down there too," Arthur requested.

"No. It's too soon," Varay replied, still gazing down at the battlefield. "Wait until after the other infantry divisions flank from both sides. That's when you'll go down."

I didn't say anything and let fate flow its course. I was itching to go down there as well. After the recent battles and losses, I needed to vent some anger.

Varay turned her piercing gaze to me. "General Arthur will target only their powerful mages. General Cathan will take care of the weaker mages. You will only be in the field for an hour at a time."

"What about us?" Azrael pointed at Sylvie and himself.

"You will fight alongside your bonds. Get ready," Varay instructed.

Another horn trumpeted out in the distance, followed by another one on the other side of the bay.

"Go!" Varay ordered. "And don't die."

I thought she was joking, but her severe expression said otherwise. Giving her a stern nod, I hid my mana signature and myself with an illusion.

"I suppose the mist will be useful for me." I grinned as Azrael followed me.

Azrael charged in, his sword a flurry of swings and jabs as he cut down the Alacryans. I took a deep breath and let my mist cover the entire field. Now will be the first time I used my mist spell to this extent.