Chapter 8: The Devil's Note(Zelgius + Ike + Soren)
2 weeks later
Ike
The Greil mercenaries have done many success and damage to hinder efforts of the Kingdom of Daein but Daein has done damage to their enemies as well. Every effort Ike and his mercenaries have disrupted Daeinite activities, the Daeinites responded by killing 20 Crimeans for every operation the Greil Mercenaries did against Daein. After everything, Ike and his mercenaries have discussed every option as there are limited.
Two which one prolongs the war and the other which will force thousands to suffer both Crimeans, Laguz, and Daeinites altogether. Rebellions and revolts within Crimea have also risen up and have continuously failed.
Yet the major victory for the mercenaries is that they managed to recruit many Crimean prisoners as well as couple militias that hid from the Daeinite soldiers. 500 Crimean militias have joined the mercenaries cause and to fight tyranny that was imposed by the Daeinite Emperor Ashnard.
On the way to Begnion through the port of Toha. The mercenaries have hidden undercover in Port Toha, hearing of the anti-laguz opinions of the population. Yet the population haven't realized what has been going on outside the ports. The brutality of Daeinite occupation of Melior as many said was beyond imaginable and yet
It wasn't long until battalions of Daeinite soldiers appeared at the front of the village entrance. This time, more fully armed with greater weaponry and harden with steel full body armor. From there, the villagers have sided with the Daeinite army with the help of anti-laguz mercenaries to hunt down every laguz in tow, armed with light leather straps over their rugged clothes.
"Greil Mercenaries, prepare for battle!" called Ike as he grabs on Ragnel and stood his ground as the battalion of Daeinites rushes in and this time, more disciplined and armed with great metals that they begin to fight furiously.
Ike understood that they fight with a lot of confidence as he just cut down two soldiers. He remembers the banner that is held by them, the eagle of House Favian and another banner that is unknown to him. A banner that holds the green laurels on a blue field. Their armor are heavy and shine as stars with the green laurels over their chest. Their swords fighting are fierce yet they fight with their brute strength rather than finesse.
Ike slashes across one, cutting down several knights. Volke uses his speed to cut down multiple soldiers as their armors splinter with the tip of his knives. During the fight, you can hear weapons clashes with each other, arrows shriveling around with a hint of magic tossing at the opposing sides. The exit are blocked by Daeinite DracoKnights for all entrances and exits are blocked.
"Move! Get in line!" Ike look to see one man gathering the courage of his men as he bears the same armor as the other knights with green laurels. His fighting style is fearsome as he has decimated 20 Crimeans on his own before he rallies up his men. He fights with a long sword with a kite shield bearing the green laurels. The man that Ike witness looks to be the same age as him with short hair.
Ike watches as the man engaged with two Crimean militias as he held his own with their weapons slashed at him at the same time which Ike saw that this man pushes them off before he slew them with a swing of his sword with a spin before he stabs through another.
Ike turns away and swings Ragnell across at another Daeinite soldier. He watches as Daeinite general charges with couple Daeinite knights. The general has green hair for he fires his arrows at his enemies and stabs his lance to multiple Crimeans.
Ike could see that the Daeinite army is starting to overpower his own. He watches as the Daeinite general charges at him with his lance forward. Ike took no time as to throw a knife from the ground at the general in the eye. The general fell from his horse and the mounted knights behind him were then taken out by a newly recruited Zihark, Lethe, and Mordecai.
As the general fell, the morale was shaken yet, however, Ike eyes on the same person that has been giving trouble to the fighting force of Crimea as he just slew another Crimean militia in a swift manner. Ike watches with wide eyes as Mia engage him in a fight that she was knocked back within seconds by a shield.
Ike and Mia had been on friendly terms throughout the journey as they spar with one another. However, Ike isn't ready to lose his sparring partner as he charges to Mia's rescue and swings his blade at the man.
The two engaged in a deadlock before breaking apart.
"I have watched you fight and killed Mackoya. Before we get to kill, I must know thy name of the enemy. What is your name?" asked the man.
"Ike Bernard," Ike replies as the man nods.
"Ike... It's finally good to know thy name. I am Aedan Cousland of Highever in the land of Ferelden and I train under Lord Zelgius Favian. However, I bear an honorable name that I will not break my family honor by letting you pass." Aedan Cousland charges forward at Ike, engaging in a close combat fight for the two are exceptionally equal to each other.
Ike has the advantage of strength and his possession of Ragnell while Aedan used his agility and speed to his advantage which both had never landed a hit on one another while the rest of the Cousland bodyguards begin to fight to the death against their enemies.
Zelgius
Zelgius hears fighting still continuing. A test he put his men into but he...
Week ago...
"How disappointing... You call yourselves a warrior nobility family... That's what disappoints me about your military now. So much bravado but your honor has always let me down." Ashnard has insulted House Favian for their lack of success to stop any advances of the Greil mercenaries.
Zelgius could do nothing but have his fist formed. The insult of his family by the King of Daein was too much to bear and how much he really wants to kill the king but knowing his position and the risk of having his home destroy is too much. Praven wasn't too far away from Nevassa and majority of Favian forces are in Crimea with their job as the vanguard of the Daeinite invasion while Nevassa holds a good portion of soldiers.
Zelgius looks at a man next to Ashnard. A smug that angers Zelgius as he looks nothing but a simple merchant yet he holds a position as a head advisor to the King of Daein. Something that whispers into the Daeinite's king ears are mysterous yet dangerous as if he was corrupting the minds of others but Zelgius knows who he is as Gaunter O'Dimm.
He remembers the song that describes him that was passed down from his family and he knows to fear him as he should:
His simile fair as spring, as towards him he draws you
His tongue sharp and silvery, as he implores you
Your wishes he grants, as he swears to adore you
Gold, silver, jewels - he lays riches before you
Dues need be repaid, and he will come for you
All to reclaim, no smile to console you
He'll snare you in bonds, eyes glowing a fire
To gore and torment you, till the stars expire
On what deal did Ashnard make with O'Drimm is a mystery but some got the hint as he stares at the merchant-looking man more than he was paying mind to Ashnard.
Present
Zelgius stood up with him grabs Alondite as he turns to his helmet. He sighs as he looks down to the floor, remembering the words he was told: "Everything is getting worse than I could've imagined. Promise me that you must protect Daein. Save it from itself."
"I will do as you bid, Father. I will save Daein from itself." Zelgius remembers words he was told when Greil left Daein, passed down his armor and inheritance down to Zelgius.
Zelgius put on his helmet and sheathe Alondite to its sheath. His blood rages on as he tightens every strap of his armor. He went for the exit of the house and there, he witnesses Ike fight with Aedan.
Aedan has gotten into a deadlock with Ike and only to be pushed back with the Cousland sword flown out of his hands at the mercy of Ike. As Ike was going to deliver a finishing blow, Zelgius drew Alondite and warp to Aedan's defense with Alondite blocking Ragnell.
Ike eyes widened as he came face to face with Zelgius whose strength and speed outweighs Ike's. With a push to sent Ike back, Zelgius points his blade at him, giving enough time for Aedan Cousland to stand and run to grab his blade.
Aedan charges at Ike until Zelgius spoke out, "You've won this battle Ike but lose the war. Go now and leave to Begnion while you still can and cancel all involvement out of this war."
Aedan stares at Zelgius with a growl as Ike, determined to face Zelgius, replies, "I may not be a match for you but I know that one day. I will kill you."
Ike led the mercenaries away to the boat that Nasir captains onto. Aedan stares at Zelgius as he sees the deaths of his men and the ward of Zelgius let out an angry roar, "Why? Why did you let them go?"
Zelgius couldn't answer as Aedan yell, "WHY!? Answer me!"
"Ike is and these mercenaries would've killed you had I not intervene. Now, if I let them go to Begnion, we can deter them from fighting in our war. Now, Ike... I hope he's as honorable as his father." Zelgius said as he wishes not to reveal anything as Ike being his brother that he was hoping to save the rest of his family after killing his father in a duel.
"Honor? Letting an enemy go is not honorable. These sellswords dare to stand against our forces and these Crimeans dare to rebel against the conquerors. They deserve to suffer our wrath and retribution." Aedan, not being a Daeinite, pride himself to being in service to one of the greatest armies this continent has ever seen and with the Cousland force to join.
"Our retribution? Or your wrath?" Zelgius never lose ground in the argument as he calms his ward who shook his head, trying to speak.
"Enough." Zelgius stopped Aedan from speaking and continues, "I have a plan to end this war my way and not to put the lives of innocents at any unnecessary risks. Is that understood, Cousland?"
"Understood, my lord." Aedan backed down and later on both of them have plans to ride to Praven to regroup their forces. Around 10,000 Cousland Knights have arrived in Praven to be Aedan's bodyguard as he will fight alongside Zelgius throughout the campaign.
Soren
"Are you sure you found a way we can enhance our army strength with this?" Soren was in the alchemist guild, watching as the alchemists isolating a particle from the water of a deceased bear. Salty particles are poured into boiling water. Soren stares down upon the work and asks, "Are you sure this way could improve the strength of our army?"
"Of course, but this only works after intense training. In months, they shall be able to master close combat in terms of strength in your conquest over Begnion." the alchemist replies which makes Soren question the process.
"What about skill? Will it help them fight better in terms of skill?" Soren wonders as he needs more than just brute strength. He looks at the other forms of supplements that were formed within the darkness of Daeinite alchemy.
"No, but it should enable them to fight and recover in a matter of time." The alchemist replies and hands the papers of ingredients to Soren who had requested them. Soren had secret plans to use the papers to invade Begnion and with a new army. For a time, Soren has been working for his reform behind his father's back. For 2 weeks, Soren has begin reforming the Kingdom of Daein such as planning constructions of roads throughout the kingdom, aqueducts to supply water to every city, and underground sewers that will connect to every cities and town to the waters. Public latrines and bathhouses were placed as well as stone walls are planned to be built around every unfortified town. Mass exporting certain resources outside such as salt, iron, and fur to foreign nations to produce as much money as possible.
Soren has also form diplomatic relations with the desert tribes to the East, hoping to form integrate them into the Kingdom as what is said that 1 gold coin could buy thousands of warriors using their hatred for the Begnion Empire to unite them. So far, his planned invasion force has now exceeded to 50,000 as more and more troops pouring in. He has forge relations with some slavers cities to grant them a slave army that he hope to give him another 15,000 on the way.
He also has issued the right to bear arms that allowed iron weaponry to be sold to the population to fight incoming invasions. Something that upset Begnion already the most was his conversion to Zakarum, the foreign religion from Westmarch that states that there is the only one true God with 5 Archangels representing one aspect of him. Begnion issues a complaint to Nevassa as well Ashnard but Soren has silence the diplomat without violence. Soren had quickly built the Cathedral of Zakarum with the symbol of the Cross and open up the Templar Order.
"Are our operations still underway?" asked Soren.
A large bag of gold was handed to Soren as the answer. Operations that only forsake honor for power in wealth as he begins to do what Begnion always wanted to do. Increase the wealth of whatever means necessary.
Well, not the best but that's the best I could do. I'll do better once I plan the next chapter so bare with me. I will re-edit this story after finishing by the way.
