Aetherian(Part 1): A War Begins

Battle of Vale

 The day after the Siege of Deadar, the other Draconian Generals reported success in their assaults against the other cities of southern Alessia. Vale, the capital, was the only city that remained, sitting on the southern tip of the country. Unlike the other cities, Vale had no walls, and all that could be assumed was that the remaining military force in Alessia was concentrated in the city, which meant that Valeria's army needed to face theirs on the open battlefield.

"They probably outnumber us by half," said Caira Vestarr, speaking in Draconic. "How many can we summon from the other cities?"

"In total?" asked Torinn. "I would say the most is two hundred and fifty thousand."

"We'd still be outnumbered," said Omura Satoru.

"It's all we can spare," said Michio.

"It will have to be enough," Torinn finished. Suddenly, another Draconian approached them.

"Her Grace wishes to speak with the mercenaries, Warchief," he said.

Torinn turned to the Omura brothers and said: "Valeria is looking for you."

"Really?" asked Satoru. "Let's not keep the Queen waiting." The brothers found Val in the larger tent in the center of the camp, sitting at the end of a long table with a map of Alessia spread out on it. She was holding one of the four golden dragon eggs they had given her and felt the brilliant, radiant aura coming from it. What Valeria had sensed from the eggs had grown stronger with each day that passed, but she hadn't noticed any significant change until a month ago.

"Your Grace?" Michio called, and Val looked up. "You asked for us?"

"That I did," said Valeria. "Where did you find these eggs?"

"The mountains in Torriban," Satoru answered. "But they should be stone dead."

"But they're not," Val corrected. "They are very much alive. You know, there's been a wonder of where the Great Dragons came from, and now we know."

"If that were the case, then why weren't the eggs of the other Great Dragons there?" asked Michio.

"Were they?" said Valeria.

"No," Michio answered.

"Maybe the other Great Dragons were permanently killed?" Satoru suggested. "I mean, they should reincarnate as eggs after a number of years, shouldn't they?"

"The gold dragons are the only ones that have," said Val. "And possibly the black ones, too."

"What are you suggesting?" asked Michio.

"I don't know what to suggest," said Valeria. "If these eggs have reappeared after my parents' dragons were killed, then there isn't a reason to believe that the other ones have, is there?"

"I guess not," Satoru agreed. Suddenly, Caira Vestarr came into the tent, alerting Val and the brothers.

"Your Grace," she said. "A force of Alessians and Silver Hawks had been spotted coming this way. Torinn is mustering the force, but the reinforcements from the other Generals won't arrive for days." Valeria quickly jumped from her seat.

"I want you three with him," she commanded. "It's time to end this."

"Agreed," said Caira, then she turned to the Omura brothers and ordered, "Let's go." Caira led the brothers to the front lines, where the army of Draconians and mercenaries was gathered. Torinn Bloodbane was on the front lines, the shaft of his greataxe planted in the tall, southern grass. They observed the army that must have been larger than their own by a third, with the Silver Hawks on the front lines as skirmishers, possibly meant to weaken their advance.