The Fallen Legion: A new battle

Chapter 1: Long Live the Lord

After we had finally managed to restore our borders everything came like I expected it would. I didn't fear it but still had a spark of hope that we could solve this in another way, at least with the Samurai.

The battles didn't stop. Instead of bringing peace, Apollyon's death only opened the next chapter of seemingly never ending war. A time we fittingly call the Age of wolves.

Everyone tried to push into the enemy's land. We started to do so to later in the war, when we gave up on the plan to just hold our borders. It was too expensive.

Since the start of the 10 Years War, I didn't take part in a real battle anymore. My people needed a leader, as did my legions.

Because I couldn't be at multiple places, fronts and battles I stayed in the Keep, because of its location.

Since we only have couriers to send orders and reports, the keep was one of the best places to manage everything.

But by now it had even become a home for us.

Mercy and I had settled in pretty well and had a good amount of time to ourselves after Cross and Stone promised to manage most things for a while.

After that I officially took my place as Lord of Ashfeld, a few weeks into the war.

I was "crowned" in an old chapel in one of the few bigger mostly civilian cities, that still stood, which wasn't easy because of Ashfelds liking to remind us of the cataclysm.

The ceremony goes as follows: The potential Lord is stood in front of the rest of the High Command of the Iron Legion, which he has to be a part of to be able to contest this position.

The Commanders, now functioning as a council, then vote if they think the contender is fit for the role as a Lord. If he has a partner belonging to the high Command they do not have a vote.

If the lord is approved of he then must take an oath.

"I, (Y/N), swear that it will be my utmost priority to defend Ashfeld from any force which seeks to harm it ir its citizens, may it be originating from outside or inside of its borders.
I swear that I will follow my duties as ruler and commander both conscientiously and righteously.
I swear that I will, enforce the laws of the Iron legion both fair but also hard to ensure the safety of all law-abiding citizens.
Should I not fulfill any of these tasks may I be put out of my position and let the gods be the judges of my fate."

Most of this oath, from a technical standpoint, is nearly nothing different from an oath of a Warden or any other knight of the four big orders take.

But the very end of it might needs to be explained.
There are two interpretations of this verse, especially the part of: "...let the gods be the judges of my fate".

Either it is meant that the Lord is to be executed after a coup staged by the high command, or that he is to be exiled. Both scenarios have happened in the past so most argue that it depends on the Lord.

Afterwards a priest will give the Lord a blessing from each god of our Pantheon:
The God of Iron, Ferrum, mostly seen as patron of the Iron legion but also prayed to by miners for safety,

the God of Steel, Ferro, patron of all righteous knights and blacksmiths,

the God of Gold, Aurum, patron of Merchants,

and finally the God of Might, Imperium.

After the Lord received every blessing, the ceremony is concluded and often there is a celebration which is mostly for the public.

When I got back to the keep, a few days later, I just returned to my duties as i did before, the only thing that changed being that everyone now referred to me as Lord. My friends mostly jokingly.

After the sun had already set I went up to mine and Mercy's bedroom. It was quite big and spacious.

In the corner immediately to the right  was where we had all our clothes and equipment.
In the middle of the right wall was the bed. The canopy bed was very comfortably and big but had a very simplistic style as did most of the furniture.

At the other end of the room was the balcony. It had a great view of the surrounding forest opposite to the lakes at the front of the keep.

I closed the door behind me silently, not knowing if Mercy was already asleep, I immediately go to the right and starting to take off my shirt, throwing it on a dresser afterwards.

Suddenly I feel Mercy's warm hands glide down my arms. A pleasant surprise regarding how cold it was at the time.

„You're still awake?" I ask her.

Mercy: „I could ask you the same question." she answers with a joking tone.

„Did you really wait for me?" I said turning around to her and looking down into her eyes

Mercy: „Why not? This is our first undisturbed night as Lord and Lady, after all." she said suggestively, while getting closer to me.

„Well then, Lady Mercy." I say as I lift her off the ground, catching her by surprise.

After she let out a small giggle she puts her arms around my neck and kisses me on the lips while I carry her towards the bed.