Seeds of Chaos: Chapter 58 (First Blood)

Chapter 58

                While the leaders of the three alliances were discussing some very important issues at Fort Ranford, there armies continue to march.  And after marching for hundreds of miles, the army of the United Kingdom Alliances finally stopped not far away from one of the four churches stronghold, Fort Halls.

                Before the descent of the god of the void through an avatar and the declaration of war, Fort Halls was a very popular and important stop for many travelers and devotees traveling towards the four holy cities. Tired and weary travelers would use the fort town to rest and relax during their travels. The same goes for the devotees.

                Being such an important hub, Fort Halls received a lot of business and was very prosperous. All types of people, humans and non-humans would flock into the fort town to do business or for other reasons. Besides being hub, the fort town also served as a first line of defense from unsavory elements like bandits or even from an army.

                That said, the fort town never once encountered such an incident since its founding more than two hundred years thanks to the influence of the four churches. Because of that, only a handful of soldiers are needed to protect the town. It was so safe that the town gates almost became unnecessary and had only been closed a handful of time. In normal times, the gates would remain open no matter the time of the year. But that had changed in recent months.

                When the betrayal of the four gods was known to the public, Fort Halls’ gates were forced to close to protect the town and its believers from possible harm. As for the travelers and merchants that are staying in town, they were thrown out before they could cause any trouble. Without a doubt, a wise move from the town’s overseer considering the fate of the believers and priests of the four churches from other towns and cities that were lynched and killed by the furious mobs after failing to escape in time.

                Despite being a fort town, Fort Halls never once suffered any kinds of attacks and was therefore always lightly defended. But after the three alliances declared war on the four churches, the famous fort town turned from a trading hub to a proper fort that could be used to withstand attacks from its enemies. And in first time since its foundation two hundred years ago, Fort Halls was now facing its first and possibly last siege.

                “They sure acted fast,” commented a young man with brown hair and blue eyes wearing a majestic set of armor and riding a black stallion. This young man is Prince Darryl Forst, the crown prince of Forst. “Isn’t that right, Clyde?” He asked after turning to the young man not to besides him.

                Clyde Almena, the crown prince of Almena nodded his head and answered “Yes” without looking at the prince of Forst. “But it won’t be enough to stop us.” Clyde added with solemn expression on his face.

                The Kingdom of Almena and the Kingdom of Forst use to be bitter rivals that often wages war on each other over territories and resources. That said it was actually Forst that often starts wars with their neighbors. This campaign was actually the first time that the two kingdoms worked together. But considering that the war could decide the future of the entire continent, it was only expected.

                “That’s a given. Unless their gods descent into the world, they stood no chance of defeating our army,” said Darryl confidently while crossing his arms together.

                “Hey, don’t jinx it. What if those gods really do come back because of what you’ve just said? Won’t we be in trouble then?” A voice that seemed to belong to that of a child cuts in. But the one who just spoke wasn’t a child though his appearance suggest otherwise. It was a grey-skinned ‘boy’ that looks quite cute. No, it was the prince of the gnomes, a person everyone should be familiar by now: Prince Russell.

                Clyde and Darryl turned to the prince of the gnomes and couldn’t help but purse their lips a little after seeing his child-like appearance. Although both of the princes knew that Russell wasn’t really a child, they still couldn’t help but react like that. Fortunately, these two young men are royalties and knew how to properly control their emotions.

                “Don’t be stupid, Russell. Who said I’m trying to jinx anything? It’s quite the opposite. I’m actually trying to bless our army,” Darryl countered. “I’ll let you know that I’m quite lucky.”

                “Oh, really now…?” Russell stared at the prince of Forst, a look of doubt fully written in his childish face.

                “This brat…”

                Darryl really wanted to argue with Russell to prove that he was telling the truth but after noticing Clyde shaking his head slightly, he stopped himself.

                “We’ve seen everything we have to see here. Let’s return to camp and decide on our next course of action,” Clyde suggested before turning around. Having seen no reason to deny Clyde, the two princes agreed and followed him.

****

                That afternoon, the commander of the United Kingdom Alliance Army spoke to the commander of Fort Halls and lay down their army’s demand of surrender – giving only the commander of the fort town half a day to consider. If the fort town did not open its gates, and surrender, the army would lay siege on the fort the very next day.

                Unfortunately to the soldiers of Fort Halls, their commander is a zealous believer of the four churches and quickly refuses the United Kingdom Alliance’s demands. Not only that, he actually demanded that the United Kingdom Alliance surrender instead or face retribution from their gods. Hearing of this, the commander could only shake his head, and ordered the army to march towards the fort the next morning.

                The result of the battle, if you could even call it that was easy to imagine. Overwhelmingly outnumbered, Fort Halls only lasted for several hours before finally falling to the might of the army of the United Kingdom Alliance. With the fort town fallen, the soldiers of the fort could only either fight, flee, or surrender. The devoted soldiers choose death rather than surrender while the least devoted ones either flee for their life or surrendered to the alliance army.

                And just like that, the once proud fort town, Fort Halls that stood for more than 200 years was no more – burned to the ground because of the stupidity of its inhabitants – becoming the first sacrifice to the war.

                After the destruction of Fort Halls, the alliance army didn’t linger for too long and continue their march to the four holy cities fully knowing that they would encounter much opposition on their way there. Of course they’re not alone. The other armies like the army of the Order of the Magus and the Red Phoenix Alliance were also heading to the next destination. As the three armies taken different route the amount of opposition differs from that of the other armies.

                For example, the forces of the Order of the Magus encountered very little opposition on their way to the four holy cities while the Red Phoenix army encountered heavy opposition from members of the soldiers of the four churches.

                There’s actually a proper explanation why it was so. The Order of the Magus have no previous conflict with the four churches which was due to the fact that magicians would rather focus on their studies and research than to waste time in politics. Of course that’s not to say that there’s no magician that dabbled to politics but those exceptions. Most organizations of magicians would rather stay contently in their territories. And as long as others leave them be they would not bother other people as well.

                Also, as powerful and influential as the four churches used to be, the magicians were not pushover either. History had already proven that magicians are a force to reckon when they were able to force out the warring nations of the continent including the Red Phoenix Empire out of the holy city of magicians: Nuathl City. That single feat alone proved to the entire continent the might of magicians once they banded together for a single goal. It was for this reason that even the churches would rather leave the magicians to their own devices.

                The Red Phoenix Empire on the other hand has vested interest in the four churches and has always been eyeing the territories owned by the four churches but could not take the territories as their own due to the overwhelming popularity of the churches. If the Empire attacked the four churches and seize its territories they would surely earn the ire of the populace which could result in the kingdoms in the continent uniting against the Empire.

                Of course the four churches weren’t blameless either. Similar to how the Empire was eyeing the territories of the four churches, the churches were also eyeing the empire to extend the influence of their order. The four churches had sent countless dignitaries and missionaries to the Empire over the years but had very little success due to the interference of the imperial family and the nobility. Still, the failures didn’t deter the four churches who continued to try to convert the citizens of the Empire much to the disappointment and anger of its ruler.

                In retaliation, the Empire sent its troops several times to the territory of the four churches only to quickly retreat not long after. It was as if the Empire was trying to warn the four churches not to encroach on Empire territories as they could easily do the same. It was for this reason that the two forces had been defending against each other for so many years which was actually beneficial to the other kingdoms not allied to the Empire as the churches ironically prevented the emperor’s dream of total domination.

                And yet in a twist of fate, the once powerful churches that could once match the might of the almighty Red Phoenix Empire loses much of its influence in the continent – it was such a rare chance that the current ruler of the empire, Emperor Darius IX quickly summoned his allies to destroy the four churches once and for all.

****

                “So this is war, huh?” A black-haired young woman looked down from atop the airship deck as she observed the on-going battle with a complicated on her face.

                “Yeah, but this is just the start. Once we reach the holy cities the fighting would become a lot worse,” answered a red-headed young woman with similar expression on her face.

                The two young women are Miranda and Pina from the Sorceress Tower who came along with their teacher. As a member of the Order of the Magus, Sorceress Cassandra was expected to fight in the war as well. Due to her special position, the sorceress is eligible to attend the meeting between the alliance leaders as well but declined and joined the Order’s marching army instead.

                That said riding an airship was the furthest from the description of marching but as the sorceress’ ability was most suited for reconnaissance and preventing ambushes, the other mages saw no problem in allowing the sorceress to use her airship (that she received from the gnomes as payment) as being in the sky allowed the sorceress to see more compared to being on the ground.

                “Sigh. It’s been three months, and there’s still no news from Rennel,” Pina complained after a while. Seeing how their forces were sweeping away the enemy forces, she judged that continuing to observe would no longer serve any purpose. It was also for this reason that her mind stray to her still absent friend.

                “Didn’t Sol say that she’s safe and is currently training with the other student of her teacher?” Miranda asked while tilting her head after sitting down beside Pina.

                “That’s exactly what I’m worried about! Did you forgot what Sol said that they? Rennel was training with her senior brother!” Pina exclaimed in a raised voice. “It’s a man! Rennel was training under a man. Do you not understand? Rennel is so beautiful that the senior brother of hers might just do something to her!”

                Miranda let out a sigh and put a palm on her forehead after hearing her junior sister’s words. “That’s it? That’s what you’re worried about? Rennel’s not some silly love starved girl you know?” Miranda commented sounding a little fed up. “From what I see, that girl has absolutely no interest in the opposite sex.”

                “That’s exactly what I’m worried about. Since she’s completely ignorant in that kind of thing that she might fall victim to that ‘experienced’ senior of her,” Pina argued.

                “You spoke as if you actually have experience in that sort of thing. If I’m not mistaken you’re as innocent as that friend of yours,” Miranda teases. “Besides, we don’t even know of that senior brother of Rennel is even human. For all we know he’s from an entirely different species.”

                Pina could only pout after failing to counter her senior sister’s argument. She knew that she’s might just be overreacting. Rennel had managed to survive for almost for years on her own, and wasn’t a fool. But as her best friend it’s only given that she would worry.

                “You should trust your friend more. Also we should just focus on the war for now. If we could defeat the churches and the sect before Rennel return from her training then there’s no need for her to fight anymore,” Miranda suggested softly after seeing Pina looking slightly down.

                Pina’s eyes lit up after hearing her senior sister’s suggestion. Indeed. If they could defeat the forces of the four churches and the Sect of the Void, then Rennel no longer need to risk her life just like what she did back in the Dark Sea. Besides, in her opinion, Rennel had already done so much and that asking more of her would be too much. After all, what Rennel did prevented the destruction of the world – a debt so big that it’s impossible to pay.

                “Let’s go. Teacher’s already calling for us and it won’t be proper to let her wait,” urges Miranda after noticing that the sorceress was calling for the two of them. Pina nodded her head and followed Miranda towards their teacher.

                Although Pina was determined to end the war as fast as possible to save her absent friend from fighting in the war, fate’s unpredictable wheel might turn again, possibly forcing Rennel into the heart of the conflict. As for what will happen next, that’ll be a story for another day.

****

To be continued

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