Chapter 21

Before the battle

The children were going around looking at all the new stalls and entertainment. There were many people from all the nations. The city was decorated with colors and art. It amazed the children. Sister Angie and Adolpha had trouble keeping up with them. Fillan stayed close to them.

The Kings weren't there yet, so the kids had time to see what they were interested in. The older kids went off and explored by themselves. Sister Angie told them where to meet when the Kings arrived. Fillan wanted to go with them.

Sister Angie told him to help them keep the other under control. They get to a puppet show and watch it. Sister Angie looks for a place to sit. Sister Adolpha sits with her. They see the children enjoying the show. Sister Adolpha sees Fillan laughing with them.

Sister Adolpha asks Sister Angie about Fillan's behavior. She said that he was mature for his age. Sister Angie tells Sister Adolpha about Fillan being good at what he does. She said that it made the children from the village jealous.

"I don't know if he got it from his parents, but he quickly learned many things. He is also naturally gifted. The children stopped playing with him, so Father William taught him how to fish to spend his time freely."

Sister Adolpha smiled while staring at him. Sister Angie then makes a joke about him acting like an old man. Sister Adolpha laughs. They listen to the performers of the puppet show. People walk around the city happily enjoying the festivity.

General Musashi waits for the demon king to respond to his message. A boy dressed in noble clothes was with General Musashi. He is pale-skinned with blonde hair and blue eyes. The boy's expression was as like if he looked down on everyone.

"Kenny, any word from the king?"

Kenny was the name of the nobleman kid. He told General Musashi to wait. General Musashi was annoyed by the way he responded. Kenny was making small talk with him. General Musashi ignored most questions Kenny asked him.

Kenny suddenly felt something and his voice and attitude changed. General Musashi bowed to the presence of the king. The demon king possessed Kenny. In a dark room that was only lit by torches, the Demon King talks.

"I heard your message Musashi, but I can't do anything about the reinforcements. It seems that they are behind because of implications."

General Musashi asked the Demon king to send some elites to help. The demon king told him that he could not. General Musashi got angry. The demon king felt his Mana rise. He lifts a finger, and general Musashi's body glows.

"Clam down, Musashi; this will be a great opportunity to show me what this so call special group you have created can do. Show me that the other races have a place in my Kingdom."

General Musashi could not say anything else. Kenny comes back to his senses and laughs at General Musashi. General Musashi gets mad, and Kenny begins to melt. He then tells General Musashi that the demon king expects big things.

General Musashi calls for a meeting between his captains. At the meeting, General Musashi explains their situation. He tells them about King John and his troops moving their way. He tells them that they will have to fight with what they have.

Some question the whereabouts of the reinforcements. General Musashi tells them that the dwarf soldiers have sized some roads, and they are fighting to get them back. The captains don't believe it. General Musashi tells them what he has heard.

The captains get disappointed but could not run. They want to hear General Musashi's strategy. General Musashi goes over what they will do to hold the enemy back. He starts by letting their attacking force get close.

While the meeting was going on, Fillan was still meditating. He was in the city of King's Land. He was watching a puppet show. When the show ended, horns began to sound. The kids got up and ran to Sister Angie and Adolpha. They were excited.

The children told them to get up and hurry. People began to walk to the gate entrance. They formed into groups as guards stood in a line. They said to the people to refrain from pushing. The kids manage to get to the front row. They could hardly control themselves.

Chatter among the grown-ups spread. The people close to the gate doors were passing the word down. The children heard that the Demon King was the first to arrive. The sound of marching was heard. People began to boo them.

The soldiers told the people not to throw anything. The children look down the road and see soldiers marching. The soldiers were demons, but they had different armor from the demons they were fighting. People were still mad and yelled at them. The soldiers ignored them and continued walking. Behind them was a black carriage. Unknown creatures were pulling it. The driver was another demon knight. No one could see the Demon King.

Once they passed, the next to arrive was the Beast King. Everyone was amazed by what he was riding on. It was a giant harry elephant. On the back, it had a seat covered by silk cloth. The people could only see his figure. He looked huge.

The kids heard the beast man race cheering for him. Some older beast men were angry. They said he was not their king. Behind the elephant, a wagon followed. The wagon was protected by a group covered in black hoods. Two of them were larger than the rest. One was riding on top of their shoulder.

Behind them marched beast man soldiers. They had the style of roman soldiers. The beast men were of different animals. People talked as they waited. The kids could not stop talking about the beast king. People then began to point up.

The children looked up and saw the archers. They began to line the roofs of buildings. They all wore the same uniform. The children hear the sound of marching. Down the road, the next to arrive were the Elves. Elf soldiers march perfectly down the road.

Behind them, an elf man rides a white horse. The elf man was pale skin with long blonde hair. His skin was smooth, and he had blue eyes. He wore shiny silver armor of elf design. People talk about the elves being long-lived.

The elf man looked at the people with disgust. He thinks of the other races below them. He was also annoyed by yelling behind him. Right behind them was the next to arrive. A large metal wagon being pulled by oxen makes it up the road.

Behind the wagon, a group of short people with pointy ears was making fun of the elves. They throw insults at them. The group had different body sizes with the same decor. They were the dwarfs. People started laughing when they got into a fight.

The door to the wagon opens up, and the dwarf king yells at them to stop. One of the dwarfs outside yells at him back. This angers him, and he threatens to beat him up. The crowd continues to laugh. The children also laugh. Behind them, the dwarf soldiers in heavy armor march.

Fillan gets tapped on the shoulder. He turns to see Sister Adolpha. She had some treats for him. She handed him a bag and told him she went to get it for them. The crowd then began to cheer. They look and see soldiers marching. The people got louder. Fillan sees King John Umbridge.

The last to arrive was the king of the human race, King John Umbridge the fifth. He was a little younger. He has blonde hair with blue eyes. His skin was fair, and he had no facial hair. He wore his gold knight armor. The people applauded him, and he waved at them.

King John rode on a heavy armor horse. Behind him were more soldiers. There were no generals but some captains. The captains waved at the crowd. Sister Adolpha looked at Fillan and asked him if he was having fun. Fillan told her he was.

Sister Adolpha looks at the soldiers and catches the attention of one of the captains. He smiles at her as he waves. Fillan sees him, and his mind stops. Fillan wakes up from his meditation. He was scared. He heard a voice in his head.

"So, this is where you were. Lord Michael will be happy that I found you."

Fillan gets up and walks out of the shack. He trembles from fear. He thought about his emotions and how it was getting to him. He has not felt this in a long time. He makes his way to the well. In his mind, he thinks about what he saw before it fades.

"That man, he has something to do with it. Just who is he?"

It took some time for him to calm down. A horn sounded, and it was lunchtime. He headed over to the dining hall. The other children were already there. They looked tired and slow. There was fewer older soldier too.

Fillan sat with his group and asked about their training. Shia told him that General Musashi had moved the groups to join the older soldiers. He also said that the older soldiers were getting ready for a fight. Fillan didn't overthink it.

He still believed that it was for when the fort was finished. Shia asked him about his training. Fillan told him about his latest memories. Shia remembers hearing about it. Fillan asks him to help him remember. Shia told him what he knew.

"Let me remember. It happened about five years ago—the destruction of the neutral kingdom of King's Place. There have been different stories about what happened, but they all lead to the same conclusion. The demon king waged war on the human race."

Shia continues to tell Fillan stories about what he has heard. There were stories about the beast king being the one to ruing the talks. Another story was about the elves' plan to kill the human king. Fillan thinks about it. He felt that it was not connected.

He finished eating and headed back. He wanted to continue. He lit the candles again and waited. He thought about what he sought. He enters the shack and sits. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

Fillan gets scared, and it breaks his concentration. His mind fades to darkness. He tries to remember the king's meeting. He opened his eyes, and he was again watching king John and his troops marching by. He then sees a human man looking at him.

He opened his eyes, and he was in the shack. His body trembled out of fear. He didn't know what to do. He tried to meditate again, but he saw that man each time. He stopped after it got dark.

Fillan went and got ready for bed. He missed eating dinner. Shia talked to him about it. Fillan was to fixate on trying to figure out who that man was. Shia told him to ask General Musashi for advice. Fillan refused and told Shia what General Musashi told him. Barret was worried.

Fearty was in his world. He was having problems with the other demon children. He also didn't want Fillan and the others getting involved. He told them that he would take care of it. He would come back injured and tired. Fearty told them he was training.

Days passed, and Fillan could not get past that memory. He would try and try, but his mind could not move on. He tried to distract himself by helping the blacksmiths. General Musashi saw him but did nothing. He was too busy preparing.

Fillan exercised and worked on his skills. He was alone and pushed the other aside to concentrate. Barret would keep an eye on him and threaten anyone who would disturb him. Shia just went with the flow of things.

On the other side, King John and his troops marched on. Scouts would report any movements from the fort. King John would see people who had lost everything make their way to the kingdom. The people would see him and ask for help. King John told them to keep making their way to the kingdom.

The further he got, the more destruction he saw. Homes and towns burned to the ground. He saw some people refuse to give up and make small homes out of the rubble. King John was given hope. The troops stayed motivated.

It was a hot morning, and Fillan looked at his group begin training. He saw how much they had improved. General Musashi walked next to him. He then asks Fillan if he has anything on his mind. At first, he didn't want to say anything.

Fillan then asked General Musashi if he was scared of anything. General Musashi smirked and told him that he was afraid of some things. Fillan then asks him if he has ever felt like he has failed. General Musashi stared at the children.

"Yes, there has been a time when I felt that way. I have lived for so long that I have forgotten important things. One of those was…."

General Musashi stopped before he said anything else. He told Fillan that he could find an answer if he let the fear show him why he was afraid. Fillan didn't understand. General Musashi said to him that he did not want to remember.

"Why do you fear?"

Fillan thought about it. He then thanked General Musashi and headed to the shack. He lit the candles and sat down. He takes deep breaths and lets the aromas take him. He thought about his fear. He let the fear consume him.

His mind reacted, and it became clear to him. The man staring at him was evil. He heard the man's voice. Fillan felt pain all over his body. He also felt the sting of electricity. The man told him that he wanted to know more about Sister Adolpha.

Fillan remembers the man's name, Arnold Harris, a captain of the human army. He has moved up from being a lieutenant. Fillan opens his eyes and sees Harris looking not at him but at Sister Adolpha. His memory continues moving.

After all the Kings passed, the children continued to talk about it. They all talk about the human king John. They then felt hungry, so they went to a stand and got food. The children want to watch more shows. Sister Angie told them they would only be there a few more minutes.

The children watch another performer. Fillan, on the other hand, went to see what the fishing store had. He leaves them and heads by himself. He arrives to see it closed. He becomes sad and turns around. Sister Adolpha was right behind him.

She sees him sad and asks him what's wrong. Fillan told her that the fishing shop was closed. Sister Adolpha thinks and asks him to walk with her. Fillan asks about the others. She said to him that they were watching a show. Fillan gets embarrassed, and they walk to see other stands.

They were having fun looking at all the goods being sold. After some time, they were heading back. A human man walks up to them. He was wearing knight's armor. The man greets them.

"Hello there, what a fine afternoon this is."

The man apologizes for speaking to them abruptly. He then introduces himself, Arnold Harris. Harris looks at Adolpha and smiles and winks at her. Adolpha felt uncomfortable but greeted him. She then told him that they needed to go.

Harris gets in front of them and asks them for a moment of their time. Sister Adolpha told him that they needed to go. Harris looked at Fillan and asked about his parents. Fillan said to him that he was an orphan. Harris thought about it.

Harris asked Adolpha about herself. She didn't want to answer him. Fillan told Harris that they needed to meet with the others. Harris got annoyed and told Fillan that he just needed some help. Adolpha said to him that they would not be able to help him.

Fillan saw how Sister Adolpha was getting scared and grabbed her hand. Harris gets mad and holds Adolpha's other hand. Fillan gets pulled and sees Sister Adolpha's neck. He takes her and begins to walk away from Harris.

Sister Adolpha has a black collar around her neck. Fillan asked her about it. She hides it from him. Sister Adolpha told Fillan to keep it a secret. Harris apologizes for pulling her arm. Harris wondered if Adolpha knew who he was and was acting.

Harris then began to talk about his friend. Sister Adolpha told him again that they needed to go. They get past Harris as he continues to talk. Sister Adolpha stops when Harris mentions the name Wolf. Sister Adolpha began to tear up.

Fillan sees her tearing up and turns to Harris. He asks him who he is. Harris looks at Fillan and asks him again if he knows who his parents are. Fillan again told him he was an orphan. He said Harris his parents died when the demon forces attacked his hometown. Harris told Fillan that he was looking for someone that resembles Adolpha. Sister Adolpha was still not moving.

People began to look at them talking. Fillan then told Harris that he probably had the wrong person. He told him about her condition. After finding out that she has lost her memory, he thinks. Harris was not sure if Fillan was telling the truth.

He looked at Fillan again and could not see him resemble any of them. Harris talked about his friend Wolf who has lost his child. Sister Adolpha began to panic, and the people around them were talking. Harris thought about their conversation becoming a problem, so he began to walk away.

Fillan was glad Harris was leaving. Harris pulled out something from a bag he had on a belt. He opens it and continues to walk. Adolpha picked up a scent. She looked around and followed it. Fillan was confused and asked her what was wrong.

"Wolf, where are you? Please answer me."

Fillan was surprised by what she said. He asks her who Wolf is. Sister Adolpha didn't answer. She looked confused and kept walking. Fillan sees that she is following Harris. Harris smiles as they are behind him.

"I will get a nice reward when Lord Michael hears about this. I need to take her to a nice secluded place."

Outside, following King John and his force, they meet a scout. The scout tells King John that the area is safe. King John looks at a mountain range in front of them. He tells his forces to set camp. After days of traveling, they were close.

The human army began to unload supplies and set up a campsite. They started with the king's tent. King John was overlooking their work. General Cortez was telling some soldiers what to do. General Haddison was ordering her troops.

It took them a while to set up most of the camp. King John told his captains to let their forces rest. He also told them they would have a meeting. King John and both his generals wait in his tent. They talk for a bit.

Haddison talks about her old adventure group, which included Queen Annabeth. Cortez began talking about old memories and how they shared a tent as a group. Haddison laughs and tells them about her and Queen Annabeth sleeping around campfires.

King John was happy hearing stories about his wife. He told Haddison that Queen Annabeth didn't talk about it as often as she used to. Haddison felt sad, but she didn't want to show it.

The area became fortified, and some soldiers were placed as guards. The rest of the soldiers relaxed and enjoyed a hot meal prepared by some chiefs. King John was in a meeting with his generals and captains. They discuss their next move.

King John began with bad news. He said King Sloan of the dwarf hadn't replied to his messages. He did not know what was happening in the dwarf kingdom. He said that he was not expecting aid from them. His people talked and wondered what was going on.

King John told them not to worry much about it and focus on their enemy. He said to them that the demon fort was there beyond the mountain range. He discusses his plan again with them. The captains pay close attention to what they must do. They also ask some questions.

King John answers them, and they agree with the plan. King John told them that they attack in two days. The captains salute him and leave. King John sighs as he feels tired. Cortez tells King John to relax and clear his mind. He then pulls out some bottles.

Haddison also pulls out some bottles and tells him to drink with her. King John laughs, and he takes a glass. Outside, the soldiers began to have fun and relax. They began to drink. The start of the war was near.

Back at the fort, General Musashi learned that the human army was close. He orders the fort to be prepared for defending. He told them that they would not attack right away. Some question General Musashi.

"They walked a long way to get here. I would let my forces regain their strength before a fight."

The demon soldiers scramble to get ready. Some soldiers are already in position, while others put on their armor. The children are told what is happening, and they prepare. Shia was going to inform Fillan, but he was stopped. He was told that he had until the enemy attacked.

Back in his mind, Fillan has followed Sister Adolpha and Harris to an area with no people. Harris drops a wad of hair on the ground. He sees Adolpha stop and stare at it. Harris then said it belonged to Wolf. This triggers Adolpha to cry.

Adolpha falls to the ground holding her head. Fillan runs to her and tries to calm her. Harris asks Fillan if there are other beast children in his orphanage. Fillan gets mad and doesn't answer him. Harris gets annoyed and begins to talk about Sister Adolpha.

Harris tells Fillan that Sister Adolpha was a slave. He also told him about Lord Michael. Harris told him how she ran away with a wolf beast man. Fillan didn't want to listen to him. Harris laughed and told Fillan that he was too weak to do anything.

As Adolpha began to remember some of her memories, it hit her when Harris talked about her missing child. Harris asks Adolpha about her child. Adolpha cries for Wolf, and she calls Adolphus. Fillan is shocked to hear that. Fillan didn't know what to do.

Adolpha then remembers the town of Ivory Springs burning. She was in a panic and was looking for Adolphus. Fillan could see how much pain Adolpha was in. He gets mad and rushes Harris. Harris moves and hits Fillan.

Fillan gets thrown back. He falls next to Adolpha, who sees him. She is reminded of Wolf and begins to howl. The collar started to glow, and it sucked Adolpha's Mana. Fillan was holding his stomach.

Harris thought that he was not going to get information. He plans to take her without looking for her child. Some people could hear Adolpha howl. This scared them because they wondered what was happening. They soon feel Mana and then an explosion in the castle.

Harris becomes surprised and wonders what happened. There was shouting, and demons began to attack. The city of King's land was becoming a battlefield. Fillan got up and looked a Harris.

Harris looks at Adolpha, who collapses on the floor. He ran to grab her, but Fillan jumped on him. Fillan bites Harris and tells him to leave her alone. Harris got mad and pulled him off. He throws Fillan, who falls on the ground.

Harris grabbed Adolpha and took her. Fillan was mad, and electricity emitted from his body. He runs after Harris, who then turns after feeling Mana behind him. Fillan tackles Harris and drops Adolpha. Harris gets up and sees Fillan. He gets mad and pulls out his sword.

Fillan emits more electricity and runs at Harris. Harris easily dodges and stabs Fillan in his shoulder. Fillan screams in pain. Fillan got scratched and punched by Harris. Harris then began to toy with Fillan and told him how he was annoyed with him.

Adolpha managed to gain conciseness and saw Fillan desperately fighting. She cried for him and wanted to help. The collar could not hold and cracked. Adolpha draws Mana, but the collar drains it. She then draws what strength she has.

Adolpha stretches her arm and asks Beowulf for help. A white light shines from Adolpha. The light engulfs everything close to them. Harris looks and sees. The light then blinds him. Fillan fell and was staring at her. Before he passed out, he could see her say something.

Fillan opened his eyes. He was hurt, and it was dark. He tried to move his hands but couldn't. He then felt he was hanging. He hears the sound of chains. A door opens up, and Lord Michael walks in.