The Devil of the Moon (Moonblood Series 1)

Chapter 3: The First War

The attention of every man sharply shifted towards Luan, their ears catching the sound of his approaching footsteps. As he was inches away from the door, a firm hand clamped onto his arm, halting his exit. "What do you think you are doing—" Just as Luan had foreseen, it was none other than Fedell Agus, the second-in-command of the Vanuem Legion, the Primo, who stood in his way. "It's impossible to confront these monstrosities." Fedell murmured, his head shaking with a heavy weight of dread. He couldn't shake the feeling that the ominous outcome he had envisioned might be inevitable.

"He's under my command—" Luan started to assert, but his frustration surged through him like waves crashing against the shores of his composure when this short-tempered woman interjected, placing her hand on his shoulder and causing his eyes to narrow further. Why in the world were they preventing him? He had full knowledge that the young man was one of his subordinates, yet these superiors appeared oblivious to the reality. His jaw clenched, his fists tightened and knuckles whitening with the intensity of his emotions. The flames of anger danced in his eyes, directed not only at their lack of understanding but at their consistent inclination to prioritize their own interests over others.

"State your business," Barbara declared, her hand firmly clutching the hilt of her sword, her steps deliberate as she closed in on the door. "One wrong move—"

"The borders of Eluese are under siege!" The declaration rang out to their ears like an echo over and over again, accompanied by the loud, breathing noise of the young soldier who seemed to have raced a great distance to reach the headquarters. "I am Valle from the Fonseca Unit, 5th company!" His words spilled out in a frantic rush, as if pursued by an invisible force.

The men gasped and hushed murmurs swept through the room, as they confronted their most dreaded fear, the one that had haunted their nightmares for a long time. Clouded by their racing thoughts that rendered them motionless in their seats and nearly every one of them briefly pondered their loved ones, dreading the possibility of a worsening situation. They knew, deep down, that the first war in nearly a decade would be a trial unlike any other they had faced, even deadlier than their encounters with the Aswangs. This war against the nation of Zacresce threatened to strip away their cherished freedoms unless they rose to lead and defend, yet, beneath their thoughts, a common thread bound them all together: the omnipresent fear, the eternal adversary of humankind.

As soon as Luan swung the door open, the men released their hold on the young soldier, who crumpled to his knees. Tears cascaded down his cheeks like an unending waterfall, his voice trembling as he uttered the grim news. "We were outnumbered, Supremo." He couldn't bring himself to meet anyone's gaze. He feared that the mere act of locking eyes with another would unleash another flood of tears. "Pinuno and I are the only ones left and the 5th...company has been wiped out." he choked out, his voice reduced to a near-whisper. His memories weighed heavily upon him – the fallen comrades he had fought for, the bodies he had to slash through to ensure this vital information reached the Superiors holding a meeting in this city, it slowly resurfaced in his mind, an unbearable weight on his shoulders.

Barbara met the terror in Valle's eyes, refusing to flinch as the men behind her retreated their few steps. Instead of backing away, she extended her hand, offering her handkerchief to the overwhelmed soldier. Her lips bore a faint but comforting smile, her golden hair neatly gathered in a single braid as she locked eyes with him. And a... black uniform... does it mean... she is one of the Maharlika Warriors? His voice caught in his throat, disbelief washing over him as a Maharlika warrior just extended a handkerchief to him. He couldn't help but wonder if this was some kind of dream but his trembling hands reached out to accept the handkerchief while his gaze never left Barbara. Clutching onto the handkerchief as if it were his lifeline, he found himself at a loss for words, grappling with the faint glimmer of hope it brought. The woman tapped his shoulder gently. "You've done exceptionally well. And your leader must be truly exceptional," she murmured before making her way toward Verde. She nearly halted in her steps when she caught his small voice expressing gratitude, a heartfelt thanks that resonated in her ears and made a lingering warmth in her heart full of conflicting emotions.