Prologue: Fire and Darkness
"For the glory of the empire."
Count Formal had heard a thousand and one times that phrase, it was recurrent among the imperial staunch to the cause or also in the most stupid.
After three years of peace since the last conflict, the appearance of the sacred gate of Alnus gave rise to a new opportunity for the empire to conquer an area, it seemed that they could not go more than a quinquennium without abandoning the war.
"Are you ready my lord?" one of his guards asked.
"I have always been ready, both for glory and death" he said vigorously.
That phrase repeated itself again in his head, but this time without the previous vigor, the feeling of nonconformity was constant as he watched the emptiness that could be seen towards the other side.
He thought about saying some other phrase, but honestly, he was not able to send another lie to his men, his face was crestfallen while his guards only waited for the order.
Behind them on the outskirts of the sacred hill was the entire imperial army summoned by the Emperor, the initial mission of protection had become an order to conquer whatever lay beyond, the riches of the other world should be able to surpass those of his own.
"We will not keep Legatus Fulvio waiting any longer, we will make first contact" Formal said looking up into the darkness of the Gate "Men, advance!"
With an affirmative gesture from his men, the count and his men marched towards the gate before the watchful eyes of all the summoned legions, the first to cross into the new world to check the place out and make first contact peacefully.
Formal's group began to enter the interior of the structure, the one that had been summoned by the gods and that allowed to connect several worlds, with his blessing he hoped that everything would go well, that everything would flow smoothly.
There were many murmurs about what would happen on the other side, many expected a place like Alnus, others expected to see other species of demi-humans and some pessimists feared to find a hell.
Personally, he did not care as long as it was not dangerous, in his mind, there was only one desire, the desire to be reunited with his daughter.
They walked for a few minutes, the trot was beginning to feel endless at times and many were asking if they could return, the sound of footsteps and the fire of the torches were the only indistinguishable thing in the face of nothingness itself.
I was about to turn back when I saw a small glimmer of light ahead, it was faint, but it was a sign that there was something ahead.
"I'm going to go ahead sir" said one of his men who started to run forward.
"Damn, I want to see the other world too" said another of his men.
Similar comments occurred within his men, the shock of knowing they would see something different upset the group could not expect much discipline from a newly recruited guard, but luckily some kept their composure.
"Sir, what do you expect us to find in the other world?" said Sergius Valens, his personal guard.
"It's unpredictable, personally I have no idea."
"Do you think you will find a world similar to us or different'?"
"I don't know, but I hope it will be peaceful."
"Do you think that's possible?"
Formal was silent for a few seconds, meanwhile forward the light coming from the other side was greater, he couldn't see anything, but he knew he was finally reaching the other side.
"No, but I would like something different?"
"And if it is not possible, what if it is a warlike world equal or worse than ours?" said with some concern Valens.
The count remained silent, the group continued to move forward while Valens looked sideways at the count expectantly also for what they would find.
"I'd like to see something..."
Formal's reply was the last thing heard before leaving the Gate, after a walk of about minutes the torches were not needed, the cold and darkness were quickly replaced by warmth and light.
"What is this world?" was the first word they both heard as they reached their destination.
Buildings of style never before and people in clothes unknown to him, they spoke a strange language similar to Saderan but at the same time different, at the same time he watched as quickly men in white uniforms standing in front of them at a distance of about a hundred meters pointing spears in a strange way towards him and his men, he had definitely arrived in another world.
At the same time this saw that the escalation of tension had increased, the men who had crossed first had drawn their swords or aimed their crossbows, that explained the immediate reaction of what appeared to be the local militia.
Formal took a few steps forward accompanied by Valens, there were no words between the two while his men seeing the reaction of their leader assumed the actions of the count.
He raised his hands, hoping that this would give confidence to the locals, that they would see that he was unarmed and harmless, they took a few seconds to gain some confidence.
"Elange, give me the wisdom to not do stupid things" he said mentally while breathing heavily.
His heart was racing as he feared for the worst to happen, fortunately the one who seemed to be the leader of the militia also stepped forward uttering a few words in the local language.
"Quien es usted y que es de donde ha venido?"
"I cannot understand you" replied Formal "I am an envoy from Sadera, a nation from the other world."
There was a minute of silence, the local leader of the militia seemed to call someone and from among his men appeared a man in black clothes, on his neck he had a cross who ended up approaching the man who had asked him before.
His appearances were strange, he looked like some sort of wizard sorcerer, he could be a scholar or perhaps a sage, although the symbol on his chest could be something of a religious type, perhaps it meant something or was an item like an amulet given by the gods of this world.
"Do you speak Latin?" asked the man in black robes.
"Latin?, excuse me, but I think you mean Saderan" said Formal surprised to see that the language barrier was not a problem.
"Saderano?, for God's sake what do you say?"
The man received some instructions from the local leader and quickly translated what the man meant.
"Who are you and what is it where you have come from?"
The men of Formal were relieved to understand the conversation, it seemed that all would be well and unnecessary bloodshed had been avoided.
"We come from a land called Falmart and represent the kingdom of Sadera, we would like to speak with your King to report on the situation."
The crowd and the militiamen in the city began to murmur amongst themselves, Formal saw that more soldiers were arriving on the scene, but he felt that they were only for precaution.
"Sadera?Falmart, we have never heard that name."
"Do we wish to speak to your king, we will explain in detail in your court?"
There was for a few moments again a silence, only the sound of the birds and their breathing was what the earl could hear.
"You are doing well my lord" said Valens "At least we have taken an arrow in the chest".
"I'm doing the best I can"
As the seconds ticked by, the local leader and the man in black robes muttered to each other, fortunately after a minute they had an answer.
"Put your weapons on the ground"
"What?"
"Leave your weapons on the ground as a token of goodwill, if you do so you will be communicated to the king of your...arrival."
Valens looked at Formal for a few moments, the count's guard hesitated for a moment until Formal decided to act.
"Lay down your weapons, let us trust these men, The gods are with us and will bless us in the face of adversity."
"Gods? They are heathens!" said the man in black violently, a sudden reaction that made more than one not to drop their swords.
The locals resumed their attitude pointing spears at them while Formal tried to calm the situation, likewise the local leader was seen muttering towards the man in black clothes causing him to calm down.
"Lay down your weapons and they will have an audience with the king" repeated the now calm man.
After a few minutes of much tension, the Saderans laid down their weapons on the ground, although Formal sighed in relief, Valens looked nervous.
"We have been called heathens, these men or this kingdom will be full of religious fanatics, I hope this does not lead us into a war against their gods" murmured the Count's personal guard.
"I hope we get out of this alive, equally we are diplomats and I believe there are reasonable men here."
"You say that because the local leader who has calmed the priest?"
"Priest?"
"That's definitely what it is, no one could act in such an aggressive manner because of that mention."
Formal felt that Valens was right, still the important thing was that he could continue with his diplomatic mission.
With the weapons on the ground the militiamen approached, the place was already full of soldiers which kept all the Saderans very uncomfortable, taking all the weapons of the group, towards formal approached the local leader together with the priest.
"Well done, may God illuminate your path to the truth and fill your mind with wisdom".
Were the words the priest gave him, both did not respond verbally, though Formal nodded at the words.
Formal's smile soon faded when he heard a familiar sound, that of a beast, but not just any beast, a winged beast.
He tried to observe where the sound was coming from, but his fear became real when he learned that it was coming from behind him, it was coming from the Gate.
The locals became nervous again and pointed their spears, from the Gate appeared the Wyverns flying, scaring the locals, soon several sounds similar to thunder were heard, and some white smoke surrounded some militiamen, it was coming from their weapons apparently.
The local leader pulled out a sword and a crossbow-like object, but without strings, the monk for his part was slowly walking away from the place.
"What the hell is going on?" he said as he pointed that object at his face.
Valens reacted and hit the leader making them both start to struggle, Formal for his part saw how his effort crumbled in seconds, and soon the worst happened.
From the gate came out a mob of demi-humans, screaming and behaving like savages who upon seeing the locals charged at them, the spears fired at them and soon a cloud of white smoke began to hover over the place while a smell began to permeate the atmosphere, the first demi-humans fell down, but more groups began to come out of the Gate.
The priest had disappeared from the place while the local leader was still struggling with Valens who at the end with some effort managed to disarm him.
"Damn, what just happened" said Valens as he looked at the whole mess and saw how the bloodshed had started.
"What is happening is that Prince Zorzal's orders have just gone into effect" said Legatus Appius Fulvio appearing from the Gate.
"Prince Zorzal is not here, what stupidity are you talking about, what orders are you talking about?" questioned Formal furiously.
"He is not here, but his ideas are alive in all the imperial troops."
"What are you talking about you fucking idiot"
"Oh, true you are one of those pacifists" said Fulvio mockingly "But the truth is that diplomacy is for the weak, but force and conquest is for the strong."
Fulvio left the two as he turned to the troops still crossing the Gate.
"Conquer them, glory to Sadera, today we will bathe in the blood of our new slaves as their women satisfy us, it is the new era of Sadera, enjoy it!"
Formal watched as the city began to descend into chaos, clashes began to take place in the streets while from the Gate an endless mob of soldiers continued to fill the streets of the city.
"Valens...remember what I told you I wanted to see if this world wasn't peaceful?"
"Yes sir."
"I'd like to see...I'd like to see the end of Sadera."