Art of War: Legions Fan made story

Lord Paul of Wing Chun Manor

    "My lord, there's been a raven from Port Caster. Lord Sean's exposition through the mire was ambushed by Lord Ainz."

"And what would he have us do about it?"

"He is holding a summit at Water's Edge Keep. He wishes for your attendance, my lord." Paul stares at his feet, feeling his beard in his hand. He grunts out,

"Ah, fuck it. Prepare a caravan and three dozen escorts, we march in three days. And return the raven with a full belly and our letter of recognition". He mumbles to himself, "All I ever ask of anyone is aid in the spring harvest, and they go about pulling me across the heartland monthly. The allies can't shit without asking me to wipe for em".

    The outside of the castle grew busy with work on the caravan. Preparing horses and stocking supplies. Paul gazed over his people from the manor balcony, reminiscing on everything he'd done to get there.

"My Lord", called a hollow, mechanical voice from behind Paul.

"Yes, Hohenheim?", he responded.

"I'd like to talk finances. Our current budget plan won't stretch through the summer. You've been making too many visits to our neighbors."

"Last harvest will provide us with what we need. The corn and spices always pull through", Paul replied.

"As your financial advisor, I advise you to consider what happens if the crops Don't pull through", Hohenheim said, before briskly leaving the lord's chamber. Paul continued to stare out at the work being done, before heading inside to pour himself a drink.

    "Give me the good news", Paul said with a sarcastic bite as he entered the chapel.

"Come back later when I have good news to give", Moses replied with a smirk. He sat, eyes closed, feeling through a brail scripture.

"We'd never meet again if I waited that long", Paul said. They both had a laugh, and Moses set down the book, opening his eyes to reveal the milky cataracts that had overcome them. Paul winced at the sight, before looking away.

"I saw what you just did", Moses said in a calm, smug voice.

"Yes yes, I'm aware", Paul replied, "Though I'll never really understand how", he finished with. Moses retorted,

"Life has taken my eyes, but the god of light has allowed me to see more than you ever will, friend". There was a silence. "You're here to know what they've shown me. Always to the point. Well, the gods are quiet lately. I hear you're planning another venture across the heartland. They haven't warned of any danger, you'll expect safe passage".

"Good", Paul said. "I need to leave now." "

As expected", Moses replied. Paul swiftly left the room, the door boomed behind him, and he was alone once more.

    As nightfall crept in, and the moon overtook the sun in the sky, Paul sat drinking wine on his balcony. Now four glasses in, he found himself losing his focus, and relaxing after a full evening. "It's about that time", he said to himself, before standing and removing his garments one by one, and making his way towards his lavish purple bedstead and fleece matress. As he sat to remove his shoes, a chill blasted through the room. He shivered and said aloud, "Maybe I should've waited to remove my britches", before laughing alone. A creak of floorboards near the balcony door caught his attention. The shadow of a seven foot man, sword drawn with cold blue eyes stared him down. "Ainz!", he shouted, before rushing to get hold of his sword. Ainz stepped forward with the pace of a racehorse and took a powerful swing at Paul, which he evaded by falling to the ground and rolling under his bed. Ainz slashed cleanly through the oak frame and deeply into the floor, before retracting his sword, grabbing half of the frame, and throwing it across the room and through the balcony doors with one arm. Another swing at Paul, but this time he was armed. A block that stung Paul's unprepared wrist but saved his life. Paul got to his feet and swung in retaliation, which Ainz caught in his cross guard, before grabbing hold of Paul's sword and taking a final stab towards his gut. Paul pushed down on his own blade, guiding Ainz's sword cleanly through his thigh, before ripping his own sword from Ainz and stabbing him in the neck. The shadow went limp, and Paul, now sobered, said, "If you want to kill me Ainz, you'd better bloody come yourself". The shadow vanished, as well as its blade from Paul's thigh.

    "Guards!", Paul screamed in pain. Five armed men and a handmaid rushed into his room, revealing his kings guard dead in the hallway.

"My lord, what happened?!", asked the handmaiden.

"Ainz", he replied, "Sound the watch, and get me bandaged up. We leave for Water's Edge Keep tonight."