Der Langrisser - Side Imperial
Chapter 2: The Sky Bridge
Written by Spiritblade
Disclaimer: Der Langrisser belongs to Masna. Special thanks to the people who have spent over five years translating it; had it not been for you guys and girls, I would never have understood the storyline and would have not been inspired to write these stories. This story comprises of multiple one-shots, each from the eyes of the characters from the game, and is set on the Imperial path.
Now, the only thing I have done is take some very small liberties with the story. Names of cities and commanders not seen in the game are mine.
Let us begin, then.
X X X X X X
Lester's POV
Man, just how long was destroying this bridge going to take? By the time the siege engineers finished setting the explosives, the Imperial Army would have already arrived. The Sky Bridge that overlooked the Railem Ravine was the fastest way for the Empire to get to Baldea. As Keith had proposed, destroying it would give the Army of Light time to get the Langrisser before the Empire did. But, damn it, I am half-hoping they would turn up so I can kick that stupid bastard's ass! Even though it had been less than a month ago, the words he spoke echoed in my mind as if spoken only just yesterday.
"I will go with you, Leon. I want the wars to end. And if you need my strength, I give it."
But, why the Empire...? He could have stayed with them, if that was what he wished. The way the Empire did things just didn't sit right with him. You could not bring peace at sword-point. That would fuck up the world worse than it already was. All it would do is stir up more hate, and sow the seeds of a new war. I've seen shit like this happens so many times that it is almost a given. It's an endless cycle. Some moron believes that they can end the war, gathers an army, proclaims himself king or some such, and goes about starting the very thing they wanted to end. Many end up dead, having bitten off more than they could chew. Others, a precious few, succeed to a degree. And the very, very rare ones stand on the threshold of making it happen.
Emperor Bernhardt of Reygard is one such person. He built the entire fucking Empire in one lifetime, a monumental achievement unsurpassed in history. Even Jessica had been impressed, despite the fact that the ruler of the Empire was our enemy. There was no one in all the centuries she had been alive she had seen who could, or had, done what the Kaiser of Reygard had accomplished. Even before his sixtieth year, he brought almost a third of the nations on the continent of El Sallia under his rule. I did not need to see the reports to know that defeating the Empire would be a long and bloody affair. It also brought up a question that made me wonder if I was doing the right thing. The Empire, despite its methods, was a stable entity ruling over prosperous nations that knew peace and security where they had none before. If we toppled the Empire, could we do a better job?
Keith had asked me that question in private. Could we really do better? Can we? Many of the countries Cherie was trying to unite against the Empire had age-old rivalries and feuds. Those assholes would stab their rivals in the back if given half the chance. And even if we defeated the Empire, who's going to stop those same lords from starting the same old shit all over again? And do you know something? This kind of shit DOES NOT happen in the Empire, period. Kaiser Bernhardt had made it very, very clear the first time round that if the feudal lords who swore fealty to him gave him shit, they would find themselves on the chopping block faster than they could beg for mercy. Also, there was the question of military strength. Keith had said that the Legions of the Empire were unlike those that came before. Reygard's massive armies were well-coordinated, efficient and led by competent commanders who earned their stripes. They did not buy their ranks - something a good number of the Army of Light's military leaders have done.
Keith had come back, banged up royally when he returned from a mission to drive the Reygard Army from Kalxath territory. When he recovered enough to talk, he told me that he had met up with an old friend of his. I've known Keith for over a decade. He's a solid, good man - I know so. He was picked out of over a dozen people to be Princess Cherie's teacher. The parents of the latter knew that Keith would sooner cut out his own privates than even look at their daughter the wrong way. But really...! Keith should have gone for it. He needs a good girl. But, right now, that was the farthest thing from his mind. Like me, he's wondering how the world could have fucked up so fast. Erwin gone. That friend of his is now the commander of the Silent Dragon Army. Like Jessica, Keith would not tolerate anyone bad-mouthing that friend of his. The look in his eyes told me that another dumb word and he would throw me off the Castle Kalxath's battlements - wounded or not! Regardless who wins this damn war, the winner might as well be the loser.
I turn my attention back to the siege engineers who were bringing up another batch of explosives from the wagons, "Hurry up, guys. I mean it! We've got to blast this bridge before the Empire gets here!"
"We're going as fast as we can, boss," the siege engineer leader, a captain, replied, "but this bridge is way too solid. I'm gonna have to use all the explosives we have so that...oh Hell!"
The minute he said those two words, a second confirmation of my worst fears was voiced by one of my subordinates, "Boss! The Imperial Army! They're here!"
I look over my shoulder. This is going to get ugly. Even from where I stood, I could see a red-haired man in the distance, leading a band of mounted Imperial Lancers. Erwin was here. Damn it. This is no longer ugly. The shit had hit the tornado. I turn to my subordinates, "Cavalry units, form up! Pike regiments, to the left side of the bridge. Archers and cleric units to the rear. Siege Engineers, hurry the fuck up!"
"On it! Give us time, boss!"
"How much do you need?" I ask.
"Forty minutes!"
Shit, that's too long. But if the siege engineers don't do their work properly, the Sky Bridge would not go down. I had no choice. I had to buy them time. And that meant getting my hands dirty. You won't win, Erwin. I'll make sure of that. You and that crummy Empire can go to Hell, but you'll not have the chance to drag anyone else down with you! Damn it, man. How did it get so fucked up? This is beyond royal. I shake my head. No point thinking about it. I shouted instructions at the cavalry regiments.
"Cavalry, head across the bridge. Kick their asses!"
X X X X X X
Leon's POV
I had been expecting this. Demolishing the Sky Bridge was something I myself would have done, if only to gain precious time to find the Holy Sword. The roar of a Serpent told me who the leader of the Kalxathian contingent was - Lester, leader of the Army of Light's sea army. I looked at Erwin, whose eyes widened briefly upon hearing the sound. Even without me telling him, he knew the name of the person who stood on the other side of the Sky Bridge. A man he had once, all those months ago, called friend.
A man who is now his enemy. I know that no words of mine would soothe the ache in Erwin's heart. I can tell him that it was for the greater good, but he was the one who was going to pay the price for the decision he made to join us. But, I'm not going to. What is going to happen, what was and what will happen, is my doing. I have, with my offer, set him against people he had once called friend. The decades of war that had wracked El Sallia have been cruel to many. But, when I look at Erwin and his companions, I begin to understand just how painful it can be. Even a mercenary as hardened as Rohga understood what it means to turn your blade on someone who had fought by your side, who you entrusted your life to. His was a world my Kaiser had once lived in, which is why I understand Rohga's belief that only those who are strong have the right to make the world as they see fit. But, it is short-sighted. Strength alone cannot end the wars that have plagued El Sallia. His Majesty had learnt that in his days as a common soldier, long before he ever became a captain of his own company.
A man can still fight while he still has his legs under him, but the true test comes when all strength is gone and a man must attain victory through force of will alone. War, much as I hate to admit it, is necessary. For only in the crucible of conflict can the greatness of men and women be brought forth, unencumbered by the lies and facades that they put on for show. I do not doubt His Majesty's dream of a unified continent. It can be done.
His armies are now bolstered by men such as Erwin, Rohga and Hein. More are coming, and even my administrative officers are hard-pressed to deploy such men where they can serve best. The fall of Caer MacDonald and the defeat of the Kingdom of Dun Carag had resounded far and wide. Even I could barely believe it. Caer MacDonald, with its seven concentric walls armed with siege weapons and defended by sorcery and seven legions of trained soldiers fell after thirty days of heavy fighting. But, nonetheless, the fall of the Kingdom saw to it that lesser baronies and smaller nations on the borders of Reyguard choose to align themselves with the Empire. Some of those same baronies laid far from Reyguard's borders, allowing our armies a safe haven in which to rest and recuperate before returning to the theatre of war.
How long has El Sallia being wracked by war? How much longer? How many more must die before the madness ends? I want to see it end. After centuries of unceasing conflict, after seeing so much pain and death, I want it to end. I shout instructions to my soldiers, who readied their pikes as the Army of Light's cavalry units thunder down the length of the bridge, intent on riding us down.
You will not stand in the way of my Kaiser's dream, Lester. We will get to Baldea and claim the Langrisser. And when that happens, we will have the two swords, and the dream of a unified continent will be made possible. I kissed the cross-hilt of my sword, the image of children running free on the fields outside of Reyguard Castle without a care in the world, and promised the children of those children that they shall never need fear the day when they lose everything that gave their world stability and hope.
"Erwin – ready your troops! We've got to get across the bridge before Lester's Siege Engineers bring it down!" I shout, "I'll deal with the cavalry, you deal with the infantry. Rohga, Hein, support both of us!"
"On it...!" Hein yelled back. The azure-haired, slender mage was a loyal friend. When Erwin chose to join the Empire, the mage refused to side with the Army of Light even though their ideals and beliefs strongly mirrored his own. He owed Erwin his life, and would see that debt repaid even if he had to walk through all nine levels of Hell to do so. And he very well may. A loyal man and one, I admit, who has the propensity of making the females in the various regiments angry because of his antics.
There was no time to speak anymore. The Army of Light's cavalry units were coming closer. And then, one of my soldiers shouted out a warning. I looked in the direction of where he was pointing and I knew that victory today would not come easily. The sky legions of Kalxath had come, led by one of its finest generals and once Erwin's comrade-in-arms. I quickly reformed my regiment in preparation for the onslaught, ordering Hein and his elven archers behind my pikemen, and getting Rohga's soldiers and Erwin's cavalry to cover my flanks.
X X X X X X
Imelda's POV
Well, well. I had come expecting to save their sorry arses, but they are holding out quite well. Even though surrounded and being hit in every direction, they're still fighting back. As expected, Leon had balanced out his forces well and...wait, what's this? My lips curved into a grin. I would recognize that mop of red hair anywhere. Vargas had mentioned a red-haired brat who had crushed his army and routed his forces at the siege of Castle Kalxath. The fact that he had come back bruised and beaten from that encounter bespoke of the prowess of the one who defeated him. The survivors of his army who managed to return to friendly lines bespoke of a strategy that practically cut Vargas's army in half. Vargas's pike battalions, who had attempted to halt the brat's advance, found themselves facing the grenadiers of Kalxath's Princess and its First General (Keith was his name, if memory serves). Their leader was trampled into the ground not long after. Other divisions rushed in to stem the assault, effectively re-deploying strength that could have broken what was left of Kalxath's garrison.
It did not stop red boy's charge. He stabbed all the way right to where Vargas was and sent him packing with injuries that took him off the field for the better part of two weeks. He lost over 5000 men and women in that one attack. 5000 soldiers lost – no wonder he was raging for days afterwards and only his wife was able to calm him down and convince him that it was not his fault. How could he have expected almost 10,000 soldiers suddenly appearing behind him when he least expected it? He had expected his rearguard to hold the line – and hold it they did – but against the force arrayed against them, it was akin to trying to kill an elephant with a needle. Eliza is an amazing woman; she has more spine than an entire Legion of His Majesty's finest and a fine mind. Marry that to her gentle disposition, and I can see why Vargas worships the ground she walks on.
Oh, they saw me. I smile, and throw my fur-line cloak back with a flourish, a smirk on my lips. I know without needing to be told that I was a beautiful woman. My body is lush and strong, and the golden locks of my hair shine in the light of the sun. My mother had taught me that a woman's beauty is a potent weapon, and my father saw to it that it was not the only thing I had when I came of age. He taught me how to fight and how to lead. He taught me how to see to the care of those under my command, even as my mother taught me the finer points of sorcery.
"Commander Imelda is here! The army of the Water Dragon has come..!" one of the soldiers shout, relief and joy in his voice. Can't blame him – the kind of situation they're in is not one where the insane would want to find themselves in. The Army of Light realized they were in trouble now. Their aerial legions had seen the High Elf detachments and Dragoons I had brought with me. I was trouble of the highest degree – and they knew it.
And it was time to walk the talk. Time to see if Vargas's 'brat' was as tough and good as my colleague said he was. This should be interesting...
X X X X X
Lester's POV
I could not bloody, fucking believe my eyes. I mean, I knew Elwin would be trouble when he joined the Empire, but this was plain ridiculous. Keith and his boys were sent packing, and I don't wanna think about what Cherie is going to say when she hears that almost 200 of her Sky Legions have become bloody stains at the bottom of the ravine. Now, Elwin and Leon are charging straight at me, determined to skewer me on the end of their blades.
Bring it on, boys. I've fought assholes tougher than you. I shout to one of my commanders to occupy Leon. I want some 'private time' with Elwin. He moves to intercept the Reyguard Blue Dragon's general and his people. Good man. I turn my attention back to Elwin, my eyes narrowed, feeling the anger burn hot in my heart. I readied my long, hunting spear, its serrated edges gleaming cruelly in the sunlight. Let's see if you're man enough to see your convictions through. If I can beat you here and drag your sorry ass back to Kalxath, maybe that hot-head princess and Liana would stop looking so sad all the time.
And maybe we can stop Reyguard. Your taking down the Kingdom of Dun Carag has practically had many of our allies scared. If I defeat you, we'll be able to put some spine into those gutless nobles who would rather try to negotiate with the Empire than fight for their freedom. Elwin's charger rears to a halt a good thirty paces from me. He was clad in all-enclosing plate armour, the crimson plume of his helm completely at odds with the black-and-gold armour he wore. He was armed with a full-length shield adorned with the symbol of Reyguard, a bastard sword and a lance of elven make. Reyguard's newest rising star was as imposing as his reputation – and I'm gonna' make sure that it doesn't last.
"So, you think you can win, boy? I've faced down men tougher – and better – than you," I spat out and readied my hunting spear. Its long blade was triple-pronged, with its outer heads sharpened and shaped like crescent moons. Icy vapour spun around them as the enchantments welded into them came to life.
"Surrender, Lester. Please don't make me hurt you."
"That's my line, boy. And I'm man enough to take the hurt. It's the people you left behind that are hurting – and it's the looks on their faces I can't stand. Looks that you caused when you turned your back on us. Keith came here with his Sky Legion to try to capture you, hoping to drag you to Kalxath and beat some sense into you. I guess it falls to me to try. Come on, Elwin. You know what that weapon's for, right? Or are you chicken?"
I hoped that my taunts would get Elwin to lose his composure. If he did, I would get the advantage. But, to my surprise, he did not even blink. The calm regard of the person before me was completely at odds with the young hothead I met months ago who ploughed into the monstrous host led by some half-demon chick that Rouga (who was busy dispatching some of my men) had said was his half-sister. Elwin lowered the visor of his helm.
"I'm sorry, Lester. And if you live through this, tell Liana and Cherie that I'm sorry."
"Tell that to them in person, jackass!" I roar and kicked the sides of my serpent, which lunged forward. Elwin kicked his heels to his charger's flanks and thundered towards me, his lance lowered. The next thing I knew, I was sent sailing, my body crashing almost twenty feet from where my (now) impaled serpent was.
I couldn't believe it.
Elwin...defeated me? He had become this strong?
No, not yet! I'm not going to lose like this!
I tried to get up, but I could not. Several of my soldiers rushed towards me, threw me unceremoniously over a horse, and had its rider get me the hell out of there. I knew, without asking, that we had lost the battle.
Just you wait, Elwin. This isn't over yet. We'll beat you and the Empire.
To be continued...