...
With the sun directly above them, two men wearing plated armor stood upon the walls. To call it a wall was an exaggeration. It was more of a trench created from the countless years of erosion.
Due to the surging amounts of Undead, the Baharuth Empire deployed squadrons of their Imperial Knights to subdue the threat. If they didn't, the density of low-level undead would cause a stronger undead to spawn, which could pose an even bigger problem.
In the past, the Emperors would only kill the Undead as they leaked into their territory; however, a decade ago, a legendary undead was spotted and recorded for the first time in history. Not only did that single undead manage to slay thousands of Imperial Knights, but it also turned the corpses of those slain into its servants.
For the first time of this generation, Fluder Paradyne had to be deployed and showed the Empire why he deserved his position as the Royal Court Wizard.
Although he managed to capture the undead to study, many lives were lost and the losses were too great to call it a victory.
This event led these two men to where they are today. The Emperor ordered a post to be constructed.
This post served two purposes.
The first - It allowed the Nation to keep an active watch over the Katze Plains and report any anomalies, such as the event a decade ago.
The second - It housed the soldiers who fought in the annual wars with the Re-Estize Kingdom.
"Ahh, our round of shifts are almost up today. I can't wait to head back home."
Thomas - an older, gray-haired man in his 30's - said to his younger partner, Travis.
"Haha, of course you would count the days. I guess having a family does that to you."
"What are you saying? You're not eager to leave this wasteland too?"
Travis was a fresh recruit, as he had just graduated from the Imperial Magic Academy the previous year, and joined the Imperial Knights this year.
The Imperial Army was divided into 8 Legions, all led by a General appointed for his prowess. However, even amongst the Legions, there were ranks. The General of the First Legion was titled, Field Marshal, and was the commander of all Eight Legions. Yet in his absence, the General next in line would gain authority.
Hence the Second Legion's General would have the second most authority.
Thomas and Travis were part of the Sixth Legion, and even if they weren't in the upper ranks, having the experience at the Katze Plains was always good for rookies.
"Of course I'm eager to leave! There's nothing that's been happening here. I thought this place would be full of undead, but there's only been a couple of skirmishes so far!"
"...Be thankful for that Travis. I was only a rookie like you when that incident occurred… I still remember the stories told. Luckily, I wasn't in that Legion…"
Thomas patted the young man's shoulder, trying to alleviate the tone he brought upon him. Yet there was a feeling burning inside his eyes. Particles reminiscing the past held onto Thomas and his conviction.
As he too had graduated from the Academy before joining the Imperial Knights, he had many friends and acquaintances he knew from his younger days who were in that Legion on that fateful day.
"...Well, there's no need for you to be so tense. That is until you get married too, haha!"
"Please don't joke like that Thomas, it'll be a long time till that happens."
"Oi, oi, don't tell me you haven't found any interesting candidates-"
"-Hold on, what's that!?"
From a distance, a large cloud of dust rose into the air. Travis suspected it wasn't much, but what could have created such a tremor?
The dust cloud only grew, expanding upwards and out for all to see.
"...What in the world am I witnessing…?"
"...D-do we report this?"
"Of course we report it! Did you seriously just ask that?"
"O-okay, I'll go tell the general."
Thomas nodded for Travis to leave, and he squinted his eyes to try and get a better view of what caused this change.
Inside the General's tent, panic and shouts coursed through the air.
The cause of all of this was a rookie who spotted a large dust cloud. Of course, when the higher-ups heard of this they all laughed for such a trivial matter to be brought to the General's attention.
But when they all went out for themselves to see, they all returned silently. If it was an Undead that caused this, they should fear for the worst.
It would take at least a thousand or more to create this reaction.
Which is the cause of their panic. It was the idea of a stronger Undead being hidden in the group of them. If a thousand Undead gathered together, it shouldn't be a surprise if a Legendary Undead was amongst their ranks.
"General Gregan, we need to report this to his majesty right away."
"Yes, Major Williams is correct."
If his Colonel and Major agreed, General Gregon should agree too, right?
"No, if it is a false alarm it will be us who pays the consequences."
"But General! What about the civilians who could be in danger? By the time the Emperor mobilizes the Imperial Army it will be too late!"
"Yes, you're right. But that is only if there even is a danger. We shall send a scouting team to gather information about this change and report back to us. If it's dire, we'll send a report; otherwise, there's no need to waste his majesty's time."
Major Williams seemed convinced of this plan, but not his Colonel.
"General Gregan, does this have to do with your promotion-"
"Watch your mouth, Colonel Banks! You may be the second highest Authority in this Legion, but remember you're only second. In my Legion, I am the first! Do you understand!?"
The Colonel could only lower his head and ask for forgiveness. Even if he was trying to do what's best for the citizens, he knew his position didn't allow him to directly challenge his superior like he just did.
"...Forgive me, General… I spoke out of turn..."
"Hmph! Then as your punishment, you will be the one to lead this scouting team."
A Colonel leading the scouting team was a slight towards him. A person of second in command shouldn't be doing this matter, but he had no objections to it. Colonel Banks was a man of common birth, so he had no egotistic pride when it came to matters like this.
As long as he could protect the people in his nation, he wouldn't mind doing the lowest of tasks.
"I will set out immediately then."
"...Take that man who reported it to us too. He might have more information about this change."
The Colonel nodded, understanding his task, and left the tent to prepare a team.
"Major Williams, is there anything else you would like to say?"
"No, none at all. I, too, think wasting his Majesty's time is a foolish decision."
"Yes, yes, we all know what he did when he first took the throne. I wouldn't want that to have been my head."
The Major took one last drink from his cup, dowing the water, and he crushed it with his gauntlet.
"Then General, I shall return to my post."
"Very well. Tell your men to be alert and bolster their defenses."
"I understand."
As the General sat in his chair alone in his tent, he pounded the table in anger.
How dare he bring that up to me! That promotion should have been mine! I should have earned the 3rd Legion!
...