The earth shook as if the gods themselves were angered. Many animals sensing the incoming storm escaped, whether by soaring through the air, running as fast as they could or by digging themselves into the ground. Soon enough, at the horizon, one could see the source of the massive vibrations. Hundreds, no, thousands of individuals, all bearing the same armor. As if they were one body and one mind, when one of the armed warriors took a step, everyone else did the same, creating the footsteps of giants themselves. Naturally such a massive mass of spear wielding warriors, of brave soldiers donning the flag of Rakia, needed to take a break eventually. Standing in the outskirts of a massive forest, thick and vast with deep green trees that radiated magic, one of the leading figures raised his arm and took a deep breath, a wide smile on his face as he stared at the somewhat distant woods before him.
"Set up camp! Never forget that the rear is as important as the front! Double check your equipment, the battle shall begin in half an hour!" The general spread his arms open in excitement of this massive target, of this great opportunity in front of him. "Roma!"
"Roma!" His loyal soldiers echoed across the horizon and he let out a prideful laugh. Yes, today the center of elven pride shall experience the representation of civilization itself! Yet even with all his excitement, the man kept a wary eye on the forest in front of him. He may not have the legendary sixth sense of certain other servants but he still possessed plenty of life experience. Plenty of senses honed to their utmost limit. He could feel that this place would have worthy opponents even for him. Thus, unbeknownst everyone, while the camp of Rakia was built up...Romulus Quirinus vanished from the fields, as if he was just a spirit.
It took a while until someone noticed, a higher ranking soldier to be exact. With a frown he wandered through the camp, while checking on the state of the army. Morale was good at the moment. Weapons and armor were triple checked, polished and sharpened when needed. Idle talk showing that they were relaxing as much as they could without allowing arrogance to control them. Yet while he saw many things like arm wrestling or singing, he didn't see their shining star of glory. Coming to a stop at the command tent he entered with a deep frown.
"Any of you seen General Quirinus?"
His fellow officers looked up from their map. After sharing a look they all shrugged rather nonchalantly.
"Haven't seen him. He might be doing his own thing. Scouting ahead, or checking on supplies."
"Hm. Very well. He will join the heat of combat eventually."
And that was that. It spoke of their trust in a man that only recently appeared in their lives, relatively speaking. If it were anyone else there would be panic. Anger. Resignation. But not with him. There was confusion yes, but other than that there was only trust. After all, he was their shining beacon of hope after decades, nay, centuries of despair after losing the Crozzo blessings. Thus, even when Romulus was nowhere in sight, the people marched with laughter and songs, ready to grasp glory at last. However, they came to a stop. Not because the forest right in front of them, thus making formations more difficult and leaving them more open to ambushes. No, it was because they saw something amongst the trees, with their current leader raising his arm with a loud bellow.
"Look alive, we got a greeting party!"
Some tightened their grip on their weapons. Some exhaled slowly. But most of them smiled. Because they were not the only ones nervous. Elves. So many elves stood on their trees, aiming their bows and staffs at them, glaring daggers. Rakia was considered a proper threat by them. And what could be a greater honor than that?
"You are on holy grounds! Leave or suffer the consequences!" The leader of the elves shouted down, radiating grace. The Rakian commander scoffed. So that was one of those so called Royal guards. He was not impressed. Spreading his arms open he presented the army with a wide smile.
"As you can see, we are well prepared for the consequences!"
"That is unlikely!" She raised her arm and narrowed her eyes. "Final warning!"
"Make us."
The elf smirked. With way too much confidence than the Rakian army was comfortable with.
"With pleasure."
It was then that they saw it. The massive surge in magic. They expected it. Only fools would try to invade elves without expecting their arcane might. However. The level of magic they saw, no, felt, was far beyond it. Not only that, among the many chants, one stood out with a mighty voice.
"Harbinger of the end, the white snow."
The leading contingent of the army gaped.
"Oh shit."
They all recognized the words. After all, intel was the name of the game in warfare. And for someone so famous, it was the easiest thing to find out things about her. Like what words made up her chant, as the mightiest caster in this world.
"Nine Hell! Buckle up!"
They didn't even bother drawing their weapons. No, instead they moved their shields together, mentally panicking why she was here. Riveria couldn't help but smile a bit as she concentrated her magic. The Loki Familia truly was a bad influence on her. Then again, perhaps she was worrying too much back at home, if she was trying to sneak out before Finn, Gareth and Loki caught her ahead of time. Instead of stopping her however, Loki insisted that she took one more with her. Suffice to say, the loser of the rock paper scissors game sulked quite a lot. Still, the royal elf was worried. Naturally, the goddess waved her concerns off at the time.
"As long as nobody finds out, it's all good, right~?"
Now here she was. At the front line of her home she ran away from. At least she managed to avoid her father, having gone straight to the army and offered her support. As usual, she was bothered by how subservient the people were towards her, immediately offering to give command to her, a responsibility she refused. Back to the present, she wondered why the Rakian Army didn't disperse. Did they have so much faith in their defenses? As arrows rained down against each other, with the elves having the high ground, they slowly advanced instead of trying to avoid and limit the damage of the magic she prepared.
"Blow with the wind before the twilight. Closing light, the freezing land."
Her circle grew wider. More and more power entered her being before being channelled. She felt the power rise in the magic of her fellow elves, even when most of them didn't possess strong magics compared to Orario adventurers, having to rely on ancient practices, one could even call them outdated. She was sure this would devastate any army. Yet the Rakians did not waver, their current leader who was definitely not this Romulus Quirinus barked back at his soldiers.
"Magic Swords!"
Her eyebrow raised at that. Did they manage to reproduce them again? Or were they this desperate? She was under the impression their famed tools were sparse. Very well. She narrowed her eyes before exhaling. She would prove that the ancient relics that devastated so many forests was no match to her power.
"Blizzard the three severe winters. My name is Alf!" She extended her arm, at the same time as her fellow mages. "Wynn Fimbulvetr!"
"SWING!"
Magic was unleashed from both sides. The unyielding, devastatin wave of winter accompanied by its subjects' elements. A storm of flame, fire and wind unleashed by the Rakian army, having swung the last remnants of their past glory. Fifty magic swords, each said to be able to scorch away seas. Naturally, twas just an exaggeration. They were more powerful than your average magic swords for sure. But it was ludicrous to imagine a sword from ancient times to match up to the current level six, Nine Hell, and her followers to boot. However. As the elements clashed. As they pushed against each other with violent rage. It was still a stalemate. Each sword was still more powerful than your average elf. Fifty pieces of past pride against the current High elves and their magics. In that moment, as the past was discarded for the hope of the future, the unbelievable happened.
A complete. Utter. Stalemate. As the dust cleared. As everyone breathed heavily from this massive explosion. The Rakian Army was still standing. The elves gaped at the sight. They didn't hold back. They threw out everything they could. Riveria only hummed thoughtfully. Impressive. She didn't expect the stories of the Crozzo weapons to match up so well. However. This miracle was just that. A miracle.
One by one, the relics shattered in their hands. There would not be a second time. And both sides knew it. At the same time, both armies reacted.
"We don't have much time for the next blast! Chaaaaaaarge!"
"Chant!"
The mages began to chant again, while the Rakians rushed forward with all the speed they could muster, while still maintaining their formations to reduce the casualties caused by the arrows. The elves themselves only received a fraction of the damage, the occasional arrow hitting one or two for every ten that got hit behind the shields. It was rather predictable, so to say. The Rakian army or the elven mages. Who would be faster? But war was never so simple. There were always new variables. For example... from another front.
Back in the camp in the rear, it seemed like things exploded for lack of a better word. Supplies, tents, all sorts of weapon were knocked up as if a violent storm was within. Riveria smiled, nodding to herself. While she was no Starfall, her eyes were still keen enough to see Finn casually spin his spear as he knocked the remaining soldiers around like unruly children. Once they ran out of resources to fund their campaign, Riveria wouldn't even need to cast another spell to win. And yet...
"Why aren't you chanting, princess?"
Riveria wasn't aware when she covered her mouth with a deep frown. She blinked, glancing to her side before shaking her head.
"Something is wrong."
Was it the fear of more magic swords being hidden just for this war? Some other secret weapon? Riveria would usually dismiss those ideas as paranoia. If Rakia possessed such things, they would never have the patience to wait so long to use it. However, it was clear that the Rakians had confidence. Their faces showed no fear. No desperation even as they were being whittled down, even as they were faced with an incoming wave of magic. It was then she remembered what caused such a change. Her eyes widened and she looked around. Yet she saw nothing. It filled her heart with dread as she snapped her head to the commanding elf on this front.
"Where is this Romulus Quirinus?"
Before any of them, scouts, archers or mages, could respond, a voice boomed across the lands. As if a divine entity from the heavens themselves decided to make them known, the words reached everyone as if the being was right next to them. But that wasn't what sent a shiver down Riveria's spine. No, it was the magical energy she felt.
"Grow, grow my tree of Rome!"
The Rakian Army exploded in roars, looking close to feral as their morale exploded. Their speed essentially doubled and the wounds they suffered were ignored. Riveria raised her staff, looking around frantically. Where was he?!
"Everything, absolutely everything leads to my lance!"
Finn was the same. Even as he cut through the camp, his thumb just wouldn't stop tingling. Someone casting magic like that should be clearly visible. Yet he could see nobody.
"Come forth, Spear of Nation Building, Spear of Beginning! The Tree of Dreams! The past, present and future of civilization, of Rome itself!"
Instincts overtook the two Orario veterans. Finn leapt away. Riveria barked orders to retreat immediately. It spoke of the elves' reverence for royalty that they heeded the call immediately, forcibly stopping their chants without causing self destruction. It was a wide decision, for the enemy magic was cast.
"Magna Voluisse Magnum!"
Massive. That was the only word that fit at the tree that spawned into existence. With horror, the elves saw it expand, expand so quickly and rush towards the forest as it basically picked up the soldiers like a gentle giant. Yet against the elven trees, it was like a swarm of locust. Absorption. That was more or less what they witnessed in utter disbelief. The soldiers roared, clapping and celebrating as the tree carried them before coming to a stop, having 'eaten' and devastated the enemy territory. Immediately the soldiers began to recycle the tree, pulling off fruit, taking off branches. Riveria then realized that what FInn was doing was essentially meaningless.
Materials for weapons. Food for consumption. Logistics didn't mean a thing with such magic. She began to chant, intent on burning down the invasive tree, but she knew it would be a waste of time if Finn didn't do his job. The captain knew that himself, sliding over the ground as he sharpened his senses to the maximum. It was then that a sharp pain flared up in his thumb. That was his only warning. Finn's eyes widened and he spun his spear immediately. It clashed with another lance and Finn grit his teeth at the force he would expect in the dungeon but not here on the outside world. To his shock, he was launched into the air. Landing on his feet, he looked up at his new opponent and clicked his tongue.
Finn's thumb tingled like crazy. With sweat running down his forehead, the Pallum smiled as he adjusted his stance, aiming his weapon at his new opponent. Said opponent laughed loudly and spread his arms open, a lance in his right hand as well. The two individuals knew that the enemy in front of them was strong. YEt there was only joy in their hearts as Romulus Quirinus took a step forward, as if greeting his latest guest.
"So the rumors were indeed true! I must commend our scouts! Greetings, Braver!"
/
AN:
So yeah, between finishing my training and having a proper job that also includes overtime from time to time, slowly trying to get my steam backlog through and having gotten into Shadowverse, writing has slowed down. Also I suspect my periodic "dry age" is kicking in.
Uh, yeah, sorry about that.