Chapter 18
Preparation for Battle
It was the following morning, and Fillan was already getting ready to meditate. He cleared his mind and concentrated on what he wanted. Fillan opens the door to the shack and steps in. He sits and closes his eyes. Darkness surrounds him, and his thoughts drift. He hears someone yell.
Fillan opened his eyes, and he was getting up from the floor. Cloe was asking him if he was all right. Misaki yelled at Rick because he knocked him down while playing a game. Fillan gets up and tells Misaki to be nice to Rick.
Misaki tells Fillan to make Rick apologize to him. Fillan looks at Rick and tells him that he is fine and that he tripped. Rick apologizes, and they shake hands. It seems like his memories picked up after they left class.
Before they continue playing, Fillan sees Max and Blake leaving. Fillan runs up to them and asks where they are going. Blake told him that they were heading to the lake for relaxation. Hearing this, Fillan asks if he could go with them. Upon hearing them, Cloe and Misaki also wanted to go.
They wanted to pick flowers. Father William came out with Conner and Rudy. He asked the children where they were headed. Max replied, and Father William also wanted to go. He saw that Fillan was going over to get something. He knew it was his fishing pole and asked him to get his.
Fillan becomes excited and runs to it. Father William asks the girls to get the younger kids while he goes and tells Sister Angie. In the kitchen, Sister Angie and Amara were preparing lunch. Father William enters and talks to her.
Father William tells Sister Angie their plan, and she gets upset. She then lets it side and tells Father William to take care of himself. She also tells him to bring back a big fish for dinner. Father William laughed and said that Fillan would be the one to get it.
Father William asks Amara if she wants to join. Amara wanted to stay and help out. Father William smiles and tells her to have fun and stay safe. He leaves for the front door. Father William came out again and saw that everyone else was going.
He smiles as he sees their happy faces. They walk through town and greet everyone along the way. Some townsfolk asked if they were headed to the lake. The children respond, and the folk tells them to have fun. It was cold and getting colder.
They reach the lake after a while. The girls ran to a patch of grass and made flower crowns. Daniel took the younger kids and went for a walk. Fillan and Father William went to their fishing spot. Blake sat next to them and watched.
Max climbed a tree and looked from there. He adjusts himself and relaxes. Rick picked up some rocks and began to throw them into the lake. Father William asks him to play further, so he doesn't scare the fish. Fillan throws his line and sits patiently.
Father William enjoys the chill air and the laughter of the children. Time passed, and Sister Angie and Amara were walking to them. They have a basket with them. Cloe and Misaki run to them and ask about the basket. Sister Angie told them that it was for a picnic.
The girls wanted to help set up. They walk close to where Father William is sitting and set up. Everyone helped set up and began to eat lunch. Fillan and Father William had set their pole down. The lines were still in the water.
Sister Angie asked them if they had caught anything. Father William told her that they had had no luck so far. Sister Angie laughs, and the rest also laugh. They were having a fun time spent together. Rick points to Fillan's fishing pole.
The fishing pole was shaking. Everyone got excited, and Fillan ran to grab it. He tried to reel it in but couldn't. Father William gave him the advice to help him catch the fish. Fillan struggled to bring it close. The fish fought back, and it was pulling.
Fillan was losing grip on his fishing pole. Get concentrates and uses what strength he has. The kids cheer for him. Father William sees that the line will break, so he tells Fillan to release it. Fillan gets angry.
"No, I got this."
Father William tells Fillan again to release the reel. The kids stopped cheering. Suddenly Father William and Sister Angie feel Mana being drawn. Fillan's body glows in a split-second, and an electrical discharge surges along the fishing pole.
The electricity flows across the lake and kills several fish and what is on the line. Fillan falls to the ground, his body emitting electricity. The other children were scared of what had happened. Father William asks Fillan if he is all right.
Sister Angie tries to calm everyone. Father William grabbed Fillan and checked for injuries as soon as possible. Fillan was surprised by what happened. He looks at the other children and their expressions. Father William told Sister Angie to take everyone back home. She asked what he was going to do.
Father William was going to talk to Fillan about what happened. Sister Angie agrees and tells the kids to clean up and get ready to return home. Father William asks Fillan to take a walk with him. Once clean, the group left. Cloe looked back at Fillan.
Father William grabs Fillan's fishing pole and looks at it. He sees that there is minor damage. He picked up his pole and began to walk. Fillan followed and looked sad. Father William draws Mana and creates a fireball. Fillan sees him throw it.
Father William talks about the natural energy that all living creatures have. He also talks about what happened. He gives a quick explanation about magic and how it works. He was trying to cheer up Fillan. Father William told him that he would learn about his magic sooner or later.
Fillan asked Father William why he did that. He then asks if the others are going to be afraid of him. Father William reassures him that the other will understand what happened. He said that sister Angie was going to talk to them. He then tells him that he probably unlocked his magic because of his bloodline.
Fillan needed clarification about what Father William said. Father William explains that his family must have been great magic users, which is why he could use magic at such a young age. Father William also tells him that people tend to unlock their magic around ten years of age.
Fillan didn't know what to say. Father William told him that some unlocked it earlier and were considered unique. He told Fillan that he was special. This cheered him up, and they sat to fish so more. Father William told Fillan that he now needs to control his emotions until he can learn how to control his magic. Fillan nods and continues to fish. Father William stares at Fillan with a smile.
"You are full of surprises, Fillan. Who knew the small crying baby was going to be so special."
Fillan and Father William arrived home and entered the house. The boys were in the living room relaxing, except Rick, who was playing by himself. The girls were helping out in the kitchen. Father William said they were home.
The first to meet them was Rick, who immediately ran to Fillan. He was excited and began to ask him all sorts of questions. Fillan didn't know what to say. Sister Angie greets them and tells Rick to stop. She then goes up to Fillan and asks how he is feeling.
Fillan told her that he was fine, and Sister Angie smiled. She then makes him feel better by telling him that he is special. Fillan gave her a big smile. Cloe was behind her and stepped forward. She gave him a flower crown. Misaki also stepped forward and handed him another one. She then said it was to cheer him up.
Fillan thanked her, and she was embarrassed. Sister Angie told them to behave and not make a big deal out of it. Fillan was then taken to the living room. There they asked him all sorts of questions. They also told him what Sister Angie told them.
Rick stood and told Fillan that he would have fire magic because it was strong and cool looking. The others began to talk about their magic. Max and Blake ten so they would learn to use their magic soon. Everyone was excited talking about it. Sister Angie told Father William that Rick came in and helped save the situation. Father William looks at Rick and remembers him being the first to talk to Fillan and become his best friend.
Father William shows the fish they caught and tells Sister Angie they did it. She smiles and shakes her head. She said to him that he would make an excuse to go fishing. Father William laughs. Sister Angie took the fish and went to the kitchen.
They sat later and ate. Fillan was still the center of attention. The kids also asked Father William and Sister Angie about their magic. Father William showed his water magic and told them he uses it to heal people. Sister Angie told them about her wind magic.
They talked and had a fun time. Fillan was eating and looking around. He then notices that the world has stopped. He gets up in a panic, and the table, along with everyone, disappears. He hears screaming and then is placed in a city.
Someone was holding him. Fillan screams and then gets punched. He wakes up from meditation. He stumbles out of the shack. Shia and Barret were there relaxing. They saw him and helped. Shia helps Fillan up and notices his eyes glowing.
The glow disappears after a few seconds. Shia asks him if he is okay. Fillan asks him to help him go to the well. Barret ran there and pulled out some water. He gave it to Fillan, who drank it. He calms down and tells them about his vision.
The group discussed Fillan's memories to help him understand them. Shia got that he has magic in him, but they need a reason why he can't use it. He asks him more about his past. Fillan tells him that he can't remember much. He then asks him why.
Fillan could not answer. Shia then changes his question. He asks him how he ended up joining the demon army. Fillan told him that General Musashi had saved him, but Fillan could not remember. He then told them that General Musashi told him he used to be a slave.
Fillan then heard yelling. He looks around. He looked panicky, and the others tried to calm him. Shia asks him if he remembers being a slave. Fillan shakes his head. Shia then tells him that he needs those answers. Fillan felt something in himself hearing that.
They then hear a horn, and they ask what is happening. Fillan then tells them that they should go to the training area. They see others running to the training area. Older soldiers were heading to their defensive positions. Shia asks if the enemy is attacking. Fillan didn't know and told them to keep going.
As they got to the training area, General Musashi and the rest of the captains were waiting for them. As soon as they line up, General Musashi asks his captains some questions. They wait for soldiers who come from other areas. The captains then answer him.
General Musashi steps forward. He draws Mana and projects an aura that scares most older soldiers and all the younger ones. General Musashi began to speak. He told them that they were not prepared if an enemy attacked. He reminds everyone about the basics of defensive magic.
He tells them that the enemy will already be using attack spells. He said most of the soldiers did not activate their defensive spells. He noted that enemy attacks could have passed the wall and hit the fort inside. He said the falling building would have killed many who were not prepared.
General Musashi told them that he was going to increase their training. He tells them they will start the next face of the demon lord's plan. General Musashi said to them that they would prepare for war. The demons got excited. Fearty smiles and clenches his fist.
General Musashi goes over what they are going to do. The veteran soldiers were going in first, so they needed all equipment ready. General Musashi then tells them that newer soldiers and supplies will arrive. The newer soldiers were going to train a little before moving.
General Musashi also talks about the troops staying to defend the fort. He names the support troops delivering supplies to the front lines. He finally talks about the special troops. The children were nervous. General Musashi told them that he would take over the training.
The children were happy, but General Musashi told them they would join the front lines in attacking. This worried them because they were still young. General Musashi assures them that they will be ready. This didn't cheer them.
General Musashi told them he would say more to them when he was with them. He then spoke to the rest of the soldiers. He said they would meet with their captains and begin getting ready. General Musashi said the blacksmiths were prepared to make and fix anything they needed.
General Musashi explained that the demon lord was watching and that he was giving them high praises. The soldiers' cheered, and General Musashi said they would commence the plan at summer's end. They were dismissed to their captains, who would brief them.
General Musashi had the children stay. Once all others left, General Musashi went over his plans. He was having them go over formations and attack patterns. The children will also work with other squads in their attack or defensive formation.
The children had remarks about their involvement in the war. General Musashi reminded those still unsure about their ability that their race abandoned them because they were different or half breeds. He said he took them in to prove they were meant for more.
The children remembered and began to feel the excitement. Some blacksmiths came and began to give the children light armor. The leaders of each group stepped forward when General Musashi called them. They were then handed a piece of paper with instructions.
The paper showed their group which weapon they would need and the area in the formation they would be in. General Musashi told them to study them. He dismissed them. The children began to talk. Fillan went over to speak to General Musashi.
Fillan reached General Musashi, who was talking to some smiths. He saw Fillan and asked him to wait. After he was done talking, he asked Fillan if he needed something. Fillan asked about his meditation training. General Musashi said that because of some change of plans, he would only be able to go a few more times.
Fillan asked him if he could still join if he could not regain his abilities. General Musashi told him it would be up to him to continue and see how long we would last. He guaranteed he would die if he insisted on fighting without powers.
Fillan stared him in the eyes and told him he was already prepared to show he could fight without magic and live as long as he could, proving everyone wrong. He also said he might be close to figuring out what has been holding him back. General Musashi smiled and told him that he had many hurdles to overcome. Fillan agreed and left to meet his group. Once with them, a blacksmith has given them their armor.
Fillan was the group's leader, so he checked their position in the formation. He told the rest that they were paired with another group behind the shield and spear unit. They went to their cabin to relax and study what they needed to know.
Dinner was ready, and they went to the mess hall. They ate and returned to their rooms to sleep. The following day they all meet at the training area, where General Musashi is waiting for them. He tells them to get into formation.
The kids began to move into place. Some forgot or didn't read about where their squad was. General Musashi gets mad and makes them do push-ups. After they were done, he ordered them into formation again. He then gives them more orders.
The children draw Mana and activate their defensive magic. General Musashi walks to the front and has them move. He gives them another set of orders, and they are told where to move. They practice this for hours. Fillan was put through some challenging training because of his lack of magic.
The children learn how to block magic attacks and hold a defensive position. Once they were done, General Musashi let them rest. He told them to eat lunch and practice what they had learned. The children were too tired to do so after lunch.
Fillan also didn't want to meditate. He went back to his room and rested. Throughout the rest of the day, the demon troops train hard. At lunch, they had bigger appetites, and the children were tired. They had no energy.
For days they practice long hours, and each day, they improve. Fillan, on the other hand, was behind. He could easily handle combat training, but when magic was involved, he was defeated. He tried several ways to counteract it but couldn't. He was the weakness in the formation.
Feeling frustrated, he began to get angry with others. General Musashi noticed and talked to him. He told Fillan to go back to meditation training. Fillan refused, but General Musashi ordered him to it. Shia and Barret were worried about him. Fearty laughed at the situation.
The following day General Musashi stops Fillan and orders him to meditate. Fillan said he didn't want to fall further behind the others. General Musashi tells him that to pass his weakness, he must find the route to his problem.
Fillan thinks about it and agrees with him. He apologizes and heads to the shed. He opens the door and sees the candles. He thinks about what he wants as he lights them. Once lit, he waits and then gets in. He sits and breathes in.
The aromas fill his head. He concentrates, and his mind wanders into darkness. He hears the other children happily playing and laughing. He also hears Father William and Sister Angie. Fillan felt warmth before feeling a chill. He opened his eyes and was on a wagon heading to the big city.
The children were excited when looking at the giant doors leading into the neutral kingdom, Kings Place. The children see all the buildings that were constructed by all races. You could see many races living happily in the city.
Dwarf, human and beast-man shops drew in customers. There were stands and entertainers from all over. Even dose the city was neutral and free of conflict, soldiers were walking about protecting it. Sister Angie steered the wagon.
They stopped first by the central church where Father William got off. He was going to meet with the head priest and talk. He was expected to be there for several days. They waved to him, and they left. Max and Blake got off next. Father William had told them to help some farming folk in town.
The rest headed to the market. Sister Angie was going to buy some supplies for winter. The kids were there to help, or so she thought. Once they got to the market, the kids ran off to a musician. There were plays and lots of fun activities.
Sister Angie nods her head and then asks Fillan to help. He, too, has disappeared. She then spots him near the fishing shop. The only one left was Amara. Sister Angie thanked her and told her she was a good girl for helping her.
Fillan was looking at all the fishing equipment. The shop owner sees him and walks up to him. He looked menacing. Fillan greets him. The shop owner then smiles and welcomes him in. He looks around and asks for Father William. Fillan told him that he had business with the church.
The shop owner then asks Fillan about what he caught. Fillan tells him about the fish he caught and damaging his fishing pole. The shop owner then shows Fillan the new fishing poles he has. Fillan was amazed by the look of some.
He wanted a new one. The shop owner jokes with Fillan about not being able to buy it. Fillan gets mad and jokes with the shop owner that he can catch more than him. The shop owner laughs. Fillan spent time talking to the shop owner.
Sister Angie was finishing buying what they needed for winter. Once done, she goes around looking for everyone to tell them they are leaving. The children were gathered, and Cloe went to fetch Fillan. Once he was brought, Sister Angie promised them candy before they headed home. The children were excited and ran to the candy stall. They look at all the candy and have a hard time choosing one. Fillan chose some chocolate and waited for the rest.
As he waits, he hears people talking about the advancement of the demon army. Some worried about what was happening, while others determined it would be over soon. Fillan didn't think about the war much.
Everyone had their candy, and they walked to where their wagon was. As they walk, they talk about the show they watched and the candy they had. They walk past a bulletin board where a soldier puts up a flyer.
Fillan stopped to read what it said. People rushed as soon as the soldier moved to see what it was. Some people were excited, while others were talking about the implication of the situation. Sister Angie came back to get Fillan.
Fillan asks Sister Angie about the flyer everyone is talking about. Sister Angie was mad that Fillan was not with the group. She then looks over and takes a look at the flyer. She then gets surprised by what it says. The other children also came back.
They wanted to know why they stopped. Sister Angie then tells Fillan that the kings will gather there at King's Place for a meeting. The children become excited to hear what Sister Angie said. They begin to talk about the kings. Fillan didn't feel that excited.
The children asked Sister Angie when the kings were gathering. Sister Angie read the flyer and said it would be at the beginning of spring. The kids then asked if they could see them. Sister Angie said that they needed to talk with Father William.
Sister Angie told them they needed to head home because it was getting late. The children began to walk to the wagon again but with more excitement. They hopped on the wagon and headed home. It took them a while to get there.
Once they got home, Sister Angie had them help bring down their supplies. Sister Angie headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner. She told the children to save their candy for after dinner. Rick has already eaten his. They sit to eat.
At the table, Sister Angie reminds them that Father William will be out for some time. She tells them that she would need to help at the chapel for the time being. The children agree, and they eat. They then prepare to sleep.
The following day Sister Angie opens the chapel door for prayer. Most people that showed up were older citizens from town. The girls help with chores while the boys care for the younger kids. Blake and Max leave to help out on the town farm.
It was nice and peaceful for the time being. News about the king's meeting has spread, and people cannot stop talking about it. They talk about the demon king being present at the meeting. Some people said nonsense about him.
It was winter, and some children were relaxing for the day. They were bungled in clothes because it was cold. Fillan wanted to go to the lake and fish. Sister Angie reminded him that there were no fish until spring.
Fillan was bored, so he went anyway. The other children stayed around the chimney fire. Fillan forgot about him using magic, and everything went back to being normal. At the lake, he stared out and thought about miner things like what was for dinner that night.
He throws rocks at the water and enjoys life. It got late, and he felt cold. He went back home. As he walked home, he saw villagers also bundled up. They greeted him as they passed each other. When he got home, he noticed a carriage leaving.
He thought nothing of it and entered the house. He walked through the hallway and heard the others talking and asking questions. He then hears an unfamiliar voice. Fillan gets to the kitchen and sees a wolf-beast woman sitting down. She looks at him and introduces herself.
"Hello there, my name is Adolpha."
