(Oscar Tolien)
My sleep was interrupted by a loud rumbling sound, along with intense vibrations that I could feel shaking my bed.
This strange, but not unfamiliar sensation caused me to spring awake.
"Damn it, you're finally awake! Come on! We're being attacked!"
Routhu had been slapping me awake this whole time.
"I-I'm awake..." I responded, groggy.
I rubbed my eyes a few times, to see everything properly.
Over the months, we managed to move pretty close to the center of the island—closer and closer—without many problems. It seems I had gotten too used to that peaceful kind of movement.
How could I have done something so stupid during a war!?
I grabbed my Odachi, and got out of bed, rushing out the door.
Most of the generals were in Sar, training troops. It was just me, Routhu, and other nameless generals who were left to lead the forces that were left on the island.
"We got... way too comfortable!"
I pushed through door after door, finally making it outside.
Smoke already began to rise, filling the air. I coughed.
The skies were a faint red.
(---)
Oscar was a little shocked by the scale of the forces they were facing. An army that stretched as far as the eye could see.
They mounted aerial creatures, taking the skies.
"Routhu... get a boat, go back to Sar, and call for help."
"What about-"
"Go!" Oscar yelled, pointing.
Routhu nodded his head, running along.
Oscar unsheathed his sword.
Wasting no time, he cut down an enemy, slicing him clean in half. Although he had not been in a battle for some time, he was still efficient.
The diagonal cut caused the top half of the body to slide slowly down to the ground.
Oscar's eyes caught a glimpse of an aerial attack, crashing down. A flaming rock, spinning rapidly, burning brightly.
— I should deal with all this stuff in the air, at least. Try to focus on that. I can reduce the casualties, and we could maybe retreat with more men!
[Cast: Frost Dragon]
A dragon of ice erected from the ground, shooting toward the sky. It charged toward one of the flaming rocks.
Clang!
The dragon of ice shattered!
— What!?
"That caught me off guard. But it looks like I managed to strike the weak spot first try, huh?" the irritating voice echoed.
The boy, just a few years older than Oscar, flapped his wings, staring down at him condescendingly.
Numerous aura's wrapped around his body. There was a group of people that were boosting him in some kind of way.
— Sar... they're going all out, huh?
Oscar's jaw clenched.
— How long will I be able to hold these guys off?
— No, I shouldn't think like that. I'm strong enough to survive.
[Cast: ???]
— Yet... I still can't name this technique.
Oscar's skin grew pale, ice gathering in his hair.
[Cast: Glacier Recurve]
— I distinctly remember this technique being used...
A bow of ice formed in mid-air, along with seven arrows. He did not have to pull back the strings. They shot for him.
Fwsh!
"Not quick enough!"
The boy moved elegantly, dodging each and every arrow. After the final arrow was evaded, he closed the distance between the two of them, wrapping himself in the wings and essentially diving at Oscar.
Bsh!
Oscar took a large backward leap, evading the crashing strike. A large crater was left in the ground after the boy had landed, smoke clearing after a few seconds.
The impact had managed to affect both Sar soldiers and Anore soldiers.
As the dust settled, the white-haired boy had a cocky, amused smile on his face. He was unscathed, and the different colored auras emanating from his body remained glowing.
"With all these defense boosts, attack boosts, I can survive about everything. Support mages are really amazing, huh?" he laughed.
Oscar stared at him blankly, trying to assess the situation.
He felt leather gloves firmly slap his shoulders.
It was Bastle, the soldier he was previously pondering about.
"General, I'll handle this. You should focus on helping the others."
Oscar nodded, hesitantly. He disappeared in seconds, appearing on other areas of the battlefield.
"Huh? I wanted to fight that guy. Why am I fighting this lizard freak?" the white-haired boy walked slowly.
Amidst the chaos, the explosions, and the clashes of swords that were happening around him, he didn't seem to be bothered. In fact, he didn't look like he cared at all.
Shing…!
Bastle was quick to pull out his sword. The silver blade glistened against the morning sun's light.
. . .
. .
.
Caelum knocked on the door, two times. His knocks were both hesitant and filled with worry. After the first knock, he was hesitant to knock again, winding back slowly. But he went through with it.
The door was made of birch wood, a single window that was lined with a dark wood placed in the middle.
He peered through the window, crouching down. It was stained glass, making it just a little harder to make out what was inside of the house.
"Are you looking for me?"
The familiar voice sent waves of fear through his body. The type of fear that stiffened every single muscle, that made him hold his breath.
He turned around, hoping that it wasn't who he thought it was. He knew it was who he thought it was. But he wished it wasn't.
"S-sister…"
"Come in, my dearest young brother."
She reached behind him, twisting the open door knob and waiting for him to enter the room.
. . .
Being his sister, the woman sitting in front of him bore many resemblances to him. Sharp grey eyes, with light blonde hair that was even shorter than his. Soft features, and a face that brought calmness to anyone. Though her gaze was hardened at all times, unlike Caelum's.
"Rita…" he called out her name, muttering to himself.
"Why have you come to see me, Caelum? You never visit. I was afraid that you had become embarrassed of me, ever since you were selected to be the king after our father's unfortunate passing. Or perhaps you're hear to marry me off?"
Rita's skin was grey, and a single horn was erected from the right side of her head.
"I have… I have no purpose in doing that, sister. I've instead come to request your help."
"You come here asking for my help, and you haven't even brought me a gift?"
Caelum stared at his feet, a little embarrassed, but at the same time, a little scared.
"That's… I didn't think that far ahead."
She placed her palm against his cheek, rubbing with her thumb softly.
"Brother, why do you look like that? This horn, this skin of mine. It may be different to you, but by blood, we are the same. You are just as much a demon as I am. The day that our father copulated with that woman, our fate was set and cursed."
"…"
"Do you think acting meek all the time, not accepting your true nature will make you a better person?"
"Sister, that's not what I came to talk to you about. I need your help. You do know about the war, right? Besides Isalda, you're one of the strongest individuals I know."
"You want me to fight for this kingdom?"
"It sounds unreasonable… but we've recently received some inside information from Jisvo…"
"I don't know who Jisvo is, but go on."
"They've been raising this… dragon hybrid. Somewhere on that island, there's a dragon egg, waiting to hatch. They want to find the egg because they believe that the first person they look at, the dragon declares their loyalty too."
"…"
"The dragon's egg releases this kind of essence at all times, that surrounds and encases the whole island. If this essence is condensed properly, it can be refined into poison or dragon blood. That's how they made the hybrid."
"So what exactly is your point? Why are you telling me all of this."
"With all the notable individuals and strong people, they have on their side… I have to build more strength. And I need you."
"…"