One Single Glance

It was on a cool, cloudy evening when Daein first struck. First came the roar of a wyvern, followed by hundreds more as they descended from the skies like hungry spectres, intent on devouring souls. The screams of the unfortunate came next, those too close or too foolhardy in the defense of their beloved Crimea were felled with ease. It was an unprovoked attack, although perhaps some would argue, myself included, that had our honourable King Ramon not been so trusting, and naive, that Melior would not have fallen that night.

Still, there was little to be done once the invasion had begun. The Crimean Army could indeed be more righteous and valiant, but as unmanned and off guard as they were, it was obvious how exactly this battle would fare. The wyvern riders did not attack the forces of Melior at first. Instead, they had focused on the helpless, the civilians of the capital, filling the streets with her citizens and causing great chaos. The Crimean soldiers were hampered by the bodies of the fallen, while the wyverns manoeuvred about with ease, picking off one hapless victim after the next.

Excerpt from The Crimean Liberation by Tellius Tacticians

Chapter One: Crimea Has Fallen

It was pure luck that they had discovered their countries fate. It had only been Ike's second mission with the Greil Mercenaries, and they had been headed north-west, in the direction of Melior. One of their reliable and trustworthy clients had informed them of bandits running amok, pillaging and capturing villages at their whim. The mercenaries had been dispatched by their leader and Ike's father, Greil, to investigate and to dispose of the bandits. Only once they had arrived, they realized that their client had forgotten to mention that the bandits were fully armoured and organized. In fact, they hadn't mentioned that they were not mere bandits at all.

"Hold the formation!" Ike heard Titania, their armoured paladin and most experienced warrior shout. "They must not-" she paused as she delivered a heavy blow to a soldier with her axe, her long red braid whipping behind her as her horse jumped over the fallen corpse. "They must not reach Rhys at all costs!"

The priest in question was standing behind him in the middle of the circle that the rest of the mercenaries had made around him. As their only healer, if he was killed then the rest would most likely follow after him. A woman stood next to him, cowering with each clash of weapons. They had found her being chased by the soldiers they were now fighting, kicking and screaming for help.

To his left Boyd grunted as a lance buried itself in his shoulder, and Rhys quickly lifted his staff to heal the injury. The fighter quickly recovered, swinging his axe with wild abandon and somehow managing to defeat his foe. He quickly retrieved his weapon from the body before falling back into formation, keeping a wary eye on a nearby myrmidon.

"What are Daein soldiers doing in Crimea?" He questioned before readying his axe as the sword user crept closer.

"Now is not the time for that, Boyd." His brother Oscar answered him. The usually calm knight had a look of stress as he manoeuvred his horse away from an archer firing at him. He returned quickly, stabbing another rider who was charging towards Ike. "Though I imagine that it can't be anything good."

"Thanks, Oscar!" Ike yelled over the sounds of battle, bringing his sword up in defense as the archer turned his target onto him instead.

Rhys healed yet another wound that Boyd had acquired. "Please be careful!"

"I'm trying!" was the response. "Goddess, there's so many of them..."

Ike cringed as an arrow whipped past his head. "Titania, do you think we can make it to the trees for some cover?" He dodged another arrow and plunged his sword into a soldier who was trying to sneak up on him whilst he was distracted.

The redhead dispatched another soldier with ease before quickly surveying the battlefield. "I think so. Oscar, you make a path. Boyd and Ike can follow afterwards and guard Rhys and the woman. I'll guard your backs, now move out!"

Oscar immediately charged forward, striking out at anyone within his range and finally felling the archer who had been bothering them. Ike rushed after him with Boyd not far away, Rhys and his companion running between the two of them. The sounds of screams and ringing metal came from behind as Titania covered their retreat until she also directed her horse to follow them. They then had a few seconds to recover before the onslaught began once again. Only this time the mercenaries could now focus on attack, instead of desperately trying to fend off their enemies.

Such a large force of soldiers couldn't manoeuvre well within the forest. Instead they could only send in small groups who were able to be picked off by Ike and Boyd, who were able to move freely around the trees, unburdened by heavy armour or a mount. Any who were lucky enough to get past them were met with the impenetrable wall that was Titania. Oscar occasionally rushed out of hiding to fell an enemy who had a long ranged weapon, before retreating back into cover.

It only took a short while before the soldiers of Daein were defeated. The few who had escaped death choose instead to run, Ike assumed to report to a superior about what had occurred. He looked out across the field that they had waged battle upon. Several bodies now decorated the expanse of grass, many of whom had been felled by Ike himself. He couldn't help but feel a little sick.

A sudden clap on his shoulder startled him out of his thoughts. "Alright there?" Boyd asked wearily.

"I think so." Ike ran a hand through his blue hair in exhaustion. "Just wasn't expecting... this."

Boyd groaned. "I know what you mean. No one was expecting Daein here, of all places." He scowled and kicked a nearby body.

Humming in response, Ike looked around and saw Titania and Rhys talking to the woman they had saved. They were too far away to hear exactly what was being said, but it wasn't hard to notice the horrified expressions on their faces. He swallowed, suddenly feeling apprehensive. He looked back to Boyd to see that the fighter had also noticed. They both glanced at Oscar who until now had been tending to both his and Titania's horses. The knight looked grim, and the feeling worsened into dread.

"Seems like bad news," Boyd grumbled.

Ike hesitated. "Let's go and ask him what's going on."

Together they walked over to the knight, who was standing close enough to the three to hear what they had been talking about, but far enough away to not be considered part of the conversation. "Oscar?" Ike asked cautiously, "has something happened?"

A tired nod. "You wouldn't believe it." He said despondently.

"...Well?" Boyd also visibly wavered, which brought Ike a small comfort that he wasn't the only uncertain one.

Only it wasn't Oscar who replied, but the woman.

"Crimea," she spoke in a quivering voice, eyes welling with tears, "has fallen." At his uncomprehending look, she continued. "The capital, Melior, was besieged by Daein's army four days ago." She bowed her head, emerald hair obscuring her face. "The was a battle, but we... were defeated."

"No way..." Ike heard Boyd breathe behind him, but that wasn't what his mind had now focused on.

"Soren was studying in Melior." The words sounded distant, despite him knowing that he was the one who had spoken them.

"Oh Goddess..." Rhys covered his mouth, his face pallid. "I had forgotten about that." Both Oscar and Boyd let out a harsh breath. Titania's expression became pained as she bit her lip.

"One of your group was in Melior?" the woman lifted her head, looking sorrowful.

"Yes! His name's Soren, he's a Wind Mage who was studying to become a-" Ike suddenly felt cold as he remembered. "...He was due back home in a month." He turned towards the woman, desperate with hope. "Do you think he could of made it out? Do you know-"

"I'm sorry," she cut him off with a choked gasp. "Daein... Ashnard... They spared no one. I'm sorry!" She covered her face as she started to cry. "I'm so sorry..."

AN: I'm curious, was anyone expecting that? I was wondering about what would happen if Soren wasn't there to help things along. But I'm afraid this isn't going to go into much detail about that, since I have something else planned instead... I'm aiming for four chapters in total, so hopefully it shouldn't take too long to get the rest out. Hope you enjoyed!