A/N

I have returned! This may be short but this definitely won't be the last one. I make no promise but more should come by the end of the coming week.

Anyway moving on, I will assume many of you expect me to switch the roles of Aiz and Bell on this one. I will be honest, the idea had crossed my mind but after reading through it, I chose otherwise. After seeing the anime honestly it reminded me a lot of both Danmachi and Grandcrest War (for differing reasons of course) so I figured you know what… I have a great idea. And so the following came to be.

Tigre groaned as he awoke, smoke burning his lungs, and ash causing his vision to blur. The clash of weapons mixed with the moans of the dying, echo across the plateau.

Slowly, Tigre forced himself to stand, his memories returning in flashes, and realization at what had happened threatening to overwhelm him.

It had all happened relatively quickly. He had just been enjoying his evening meal with Bertrand, Bell, and Lord Mashas as well. They had been talking as they were watching the sun sink below the horizon. Then, as they had been walking back to their assigned location in the encampment, two horns sounded from the east and west sides of the camp.

As they were running through the hordes of people all running back to their respective areas, they saw many people beginning to stand in formation, prepping for the battle, but to everyone's dismay, a third horn sounded at the back of the camp but was briefly cut off.

And so as more and more people had begun to join the continuing battle, word had reached many of the remaining lords that the Brunish prince had been killed in battle.

Slowly it became apparent by both the lack of organization and soon the lack of numbers, that many of the remaining lords had abandoned their men and fled in retreat.

And then sometime later during the fight, he had been knocked from his horse. And after that everything had gone black.

"Bell! Bertrand! Lord Mashas! Where are you?"

Taking in his surroundings he found bodies all around. But he had also managed to spot a horse laying only a few feet away from him. Picking up his bow he began to gingerly make his way towards the horse, careful to avoid stepping on any of the fallen soldiers. As he approached the horse, he took note of the familiar armor and equipment confirming that it was, in fact, his horse. Of his supplies, only a single quiver lay stowed in the saddle holster. As he picked it up, he noticed it only contained five arrows. 'Just my luck' he thought glumly.

Stowing the arrows and slinging the quiver's strap around himself he continued his search for his companions.

"Bell! Bertrand! Lord Mashas!" He felt a spark of hope as he heard the thundering pounding of a knight approaching on horseback at full speed.

Turning he indeed found a horse, but could not identify the rider, nor see the colors of the horse's armor as the low fog made it near impossible. Wearily, he watched as it approached closer and closer still.

But as it came the blue and gray armor scheme became unmistakable. And it showed, much to his greater disappointment, that the horse and rider did not fight under the banner of Brune, but Zhcted.

"The Brunish survivor is MINE!" The horseman's cry echoed over the desolate battlefield, carrying with it a promise of violence, bloodlust, as well as his demise.

Tigre took a moment and calmly drew one of his few remaining arrows. Nocking the arrow, he took aim and released. The arrow flew straight and true, slamming into the horseman's forehead and dragging him off the horse as if hit by a cannonball.

But much to Tigre's dismay and disappointment, the horse only began to speed up and flew past him, ignoring the lack of a rider and running away.

'I could have used that horse to get out of here.' The thought only served to help make him even more depressed. But as the fog had finally begun to dissipate thanks to the rising of the sun, he caught the movement in the direction that the horse had run off to. As he observed he noticed that six fully armored knights were traveling down the road. And in the center of them sat the commander, still dressed in her red, white, and blue battle dress. The war maiden.

He recognized them all from the battle last night.

Seven figures in armor raced through the ranks of Brunish soldiers, tearing down every single one before them. And in the center was a woman in a red, white, and blue battledress. Tigre could probably have found her beautiful, sitting upon a beautiful white stallion. But the image was marred as she cut down soldier after soldier, like a whirlwind she tore through every soldier who stood before her.

A sudden motion brought Tigre's attention to her knight. He watched as one turned and urged their horse in his direction. Her blue and golden armor caught the torchlight and flashed him, temporarily blinding him. Taking a step back he fired his arrow into a soldier who had managed to rush past his guard. Attempting to quickly ready another arrow for the quickly approaching knight, Tigre watched as a sword found itself driven straight through the neck of the horse. And at the end of the blade, stood his friend, and most trusted companion. Bell.

With what could only be described as a sad and defeated moan, the hoarse slumped down to the ground. Its rider however had already jumped from the horse and she had begun attacking the offender.

"Count Vorn! Stay back!" Bell shouted as he began to engage with the knight.

Tigre shook the memory off, refocusing on the present. As he observed them from afar, he noted that the low fog had begun to dissipate altogether.

Quickly dashing behind a rock, he continued to observe the group. Two knights stood in front of the war maiden, with four more following behind her. The two knights at the front had a set of teal, and golden armor respectively. Behind her the four knights all wore matching sets of silver armor with teal highlights. Tigre took grim satisfaction at the fact that the knight who wore blue and golden armor was nowhere to be found. If she was not here, accompanying her commander, then Bell may still be fine.

As the fog began to dissipate altogether he dashed behind a rock for cover. Checking, he found they were indeed still traveling in his direction.

Then a thought crossed his mind. Perhaps if I should target her, the commander, the rest of her forces will cease hunting the Brunish survivors.' With a plan in mind, Tigre stood and readied his bow.

'Three hundred Elcends away. This will be easy.' Grabbing two arrows he made a silent prayer. 'Oh, Aris, Goddess of wind. Guide my arrow and assist me.'

As he nocked the first arrow the war maiden looked up, surprise lighting her features, but that soon disappeared and a smile graced her lips, to Tigre's great confusion.

Shoving the confusing thoughts aside, he took aim and released both of the arrows he had readied and watched as they both sank into the heads of the lead horses, causing them to crumple and land on their riders.

As he grabbed his next to arrows, instead of being greeted by the war maiden being boxed in by the dropped horses when he looked back up, he watched as both she and her horse began to float over their fallen comrades with just a flick of her hand. As she landed she flicked her reins and urged her horse into action, galloping on towards Tigre.

Determination renewed, he nocked his arrow and let it fly. It felt as if he watched in slow motion as it raced towards its target, only to meet the already swinging blade. Her sword bashed the arrow aside, the force splintering the arrow into small bits as she continued to charge and her smile grew.

Nocking his next and final arrow, a burst of wind blew in from behind him. He readjusted his aim before releasing and letting it shoot off toward its intended target. But instead of hitting as all but the one before it, she instead let her smile grow even bigger as she watched the arrow stop in front of her and grabbed it.

It was only a few seconds before she slowed her horse and came to a stop before him, she leveled her sword with his neck.

"Throw down your bow and surrender."

Tigre slowly set his bow onto the ground before standing back up.

"I am the war maiden in charge of Leitmeritz, Eleonora Viltaria."

Tigre nodded in acknowledgment of the information and stood there, awaiting whatever fate she had in mind for him.

"I have told you my name but you have yet to give me yours…?" She shook her sword with a barely audible grunt of what he assumed was frustration.

He signed internally as her invitation was made quite clear. 'Even if her question wasn't exactly obvious beforehand.'

"My name is Count Tigrevurmud Vorn and I am the lord of Alsace."

Her eyebrows raised as she looked him up and down. "Very well then." Seemingly satisfied with his answer she withdrew her sword.

Then her smile grew into what he thought seemed quite wicked before she spoke. "Then from this moment forward, you are now my property."

Alright so I know this is short, but I figured I should post something as a certain someone has been badgering me to come back. (I'm not really annoyed, much, but thanks for doing so, I did need it) While this has been short the next chapter is mostly ready, just adding the finishing touches to it. For the other story of mine, it should have its next chapter. While the chapter following this one is also a bit short as these are the opening, Rise to the Challenge should be just a tad bit bigger than normal. Until those release, I hope this holds you all over for now.