Ophuthis: Unfaltering Fidelity

Chapter 3: The Subordinate of the Supreme

  A sun up high, peering over humans with their childish fights. The heat irritating to the skin at high noon. Even as fall approaches, the sun still deadly to those not wearing proper. It was hot. Too hot for the month they're in. The little wind helped the overheating men of Jista, smelled like the sun.

Inexperienced commoners are the fighters Jista had mustered. Most don't have armor, only a fraction had swords. The rest had pitchforks, shovels and other construction or gardening tools. With little weapons to go around, and many volunteers, they are forced to use anything as long as it can penetrate or hurt anyone. Against them are fully equipped, fully armored, well-trained knights. All had swords, all had experience. It felt that the winner had already been decided.

They have been like this for two hours now; they are yet to expect the last push of the Ælhelmian Army. Military supplies are dire, but rations and foodstuffs are not. If patience is what considers the winner, they could win three-fold.

But as the heat melts others, Jista ordered for his men to start erecting some tents. Cloths in color of white, and already is waving the flag of Tumidon. During the time they have won the civil war, they made a flag that resembled the birth of the Tumidon kingdom. Divided into two, the left side colored red, while the right-side colored blue. Red symbolizes the blood they sacrificed, and Blue symbolized the People's power. In the middle, a star that resembles the five states they successfully took over, Pirretinable, Octavia, Fetza, Poera and Henor. Behind it, a hammer and a crossed sword, it serves as the power and hard work of the workers of the kingdom.

He was proud, Jista was. The flag turned well than expected. Placed all across atop the tents, flag poles were erected. The wind blew and it waved their symbol of their pride and power. Proud as they saluted at the dancing blue and red, flag of hope. It is this war that awaited them, that shall decide if this flag shall continue to dance majestically in the air, or shall it be replaced with the black flag of Ælhelmia. They cannot do nothing but to perform well and put their fate both in their leader and in their God, whom Jista does not condone believing.

Although ready for being a fully-fledged nation, Tumidon's army is still incomparable to the behemoth that is Ælhelmia. 27,000 levies are the maximum Jista can prepare, only that against an enemy almost twice as large as theirs. A large amount standalone, but puny in comparison to Ælhelmian forces.

They're stationed just thirty meters away from the walled border of Fetza, waiting for the enemy to arrive at them. One has given their opinion, and thought that maybe staying behind the wall would be a better advantage, that fighting toe-to-toe. But Jista turned it down as soon as it was put forth. The walls of Fetza are dangerous and useless as it is but a mere thin wooden wall, made to be used against lower monsters that previously raid the village every night. But as people get more civilized, those problems became obsolete, and so does the purpose of the wall.

There are some who's ready, and will die for freedom, while there are some who knows the opponent and their numbers, slowly losing their morale and thinking twice whether fighting today is the right choice.

Jista himself is not wearing any armor, like the rest, he has a light leather suit, barely keeping himself safe. Outfits frighteningly similar to an everyday wearing.

They also have about 9,000 cavalry, and a small portion is archers, while the rest are just simple foot men.

Thousands of tents of different sizes, large and small. There are many ordered to stand in the middle of the heat, waiting for enemy advancement. But most preferred the shaded inside of the tent. Some prepared and ready, some relaxing and waiting. But the place was overall noisy, no one drank but most talked and chattered. Enjoying the fun while it lasts, or seeing it in a darker tone, enjoying the fun while they're still alive. These men probably have not expected for them to be fighting anytime soon. But behold they are, living that unlikely scenario. Their blood and sacrifice definitely will not be in vain, as their deaths with cause the future to be lived better and peacefully. From horses being fed, the sounds of instruments being sung and played at least one last time, people eating bread and rations, to men literally writing their will and testament. A sad image, and if context were to be removed, it must be a happy time. But not it was, unfortunately.