"You know…" Muttered Heria under her breath—her arms stretched lazily at the back of her head.
"Someday I would like to learn how to cook."
She then began to rock the chair she sat on back and forth in a slow manner as she took a look at her fingers—seemingly inspecting her nails.
"You know, like those famous dishes back at the capital." She sighed before continuing.
"Like the delicious and savory Meridstal!"
*Shing!
Enerken scoffed, "Like anyone will eat your food in the first place." the sounds of whetstone scraping against the blade of his longsword filled the tent.
"I fear the kitchen you will cook in." He snarked mockingly as he continued to sharpen the blade on his hands.
"Haha, you're so funny!" Heria replied back in a sarcastic manner as she rolled her eyes.
As the two continued to lounge inside their tent, minding their own business—the stillness was broken as the drape of the tent opened.
Their bodies halted as their attention was taken elsewhere; they both stood to greet the person who had just arrived.
"Mother," they said in unison as they approached Merilyn who had just stepped inside the tent.
"My beloved children." Merilyn's face gleamed at the sight of Enerken and Heria.
"So, how did the meeting go?" Heria asked, anticipation evident on her face.
Yet before Merilyn could answer, Enerken butted in.
"I shall prove myself in this battle, Mother," his voice was enthusiastic before he raised his arm to place his sword upon his chest.
"One more step towards the goal of having a named blade!"
Merilyn chuckled, "I cannot wait for that day to come my son." her fingers running across Enerken's hair.
With a shift of her gaze, Merilyn looked at Heria, to answer her question.
"Both of you shall accompany your father—behind Merza's flame wall." Merilyn's face hardened before continuing.
"There, along with exactly five hundred thousand soldiers—all of you shall hold the line and continuously assault the atroxians behind the wall, from range."
Merilyn then sighed, "I know both of you wanted to come with us alon—"
"We shall do as per order, battlemaster." replied Enerken, his brow lowering with conviction.
Heria looked at Enerken briefly before shifting her gaze back towards her mother.
"We completely understand mother, sometimes you just got to leave it to the experts."
Heria's elbow then leaned on Enerken's shoulder.
"And besides, there are a lot more battled that awaits us two in the future!"
Merilyn smiled in reply, touching both of her children's heads as she pulled them closer to her.
"This mother is truly proud of how far both of you have grown." she sighed under her breath.
She then removed her touch from them as her face turned serious.
"Battle awaits us soldiers of Zeraf." her voice regal and commanded respect. "We shall bring this victory for our empire!"
"Evkar in Kazar!" exclaimed both Heria and Enerken, pounding their chests proudly before saluting towards Merilyn.
At that moment, stood the children she had cherished and bore—her love for them is as eternal the universe, yet she did not know of the tragedy that would befall her family.
Merilyn turned to exit the tent, heer gaze lingered on her children—as if this would be the last time she would see them.
===
The drums of war pounded and echoed in the air, its waves of pulsations sent a shockwave that burned within every soldier.
The flames within continued to burn every beat the drums made, until it filled every inch of their being.
Motivation and Morale.
As the soldiers stood ready in a staggering amount of a million, each soldier knew that this was not a mere small skirmish that they usually do.
This battle would be one of the major battles that would enable the empire to finally cut through the wall—enabling it to finally venture within Maw's Deep.
"Evkar in Kazar! Evkar in Kazar!"
The thunderous chants of the soldiers filled the air, sending ripples of motivation to all soldiers due to their staggering number.
They stomped the ground as they pounded their chests, the very ground and air trembled at their might.
At the very front towards the direction of the fire wall—stood the battlemasters; Erenhold, Merza, and Merilyn.
There, the three stood, their faces directed towards the massive wall of fire that Merza had created.
The presence of three battlemasters—which was unusual—made the soldiers even more motivated as their pounding began to grow even louder.
The army was mustered, they were in position and the plans had been set.
The charge and assault is what's left.
Looking at the datapad attached on her arm, Merza shifted her gaze towards her side, to look at Erenhold and Merilyn.
"We shall move in 30 minutes, as per planned." her voice was confident.
Merilyn and Erenhold nodded in reply as they stood ready and awaited the fateful moment.
As the time ticked, Merilyn slowly closed her eyes. She breathed in the air slowly and began to exhale in a focused manner. She extended her fingers, trying to take a feel of the wind around them.
She thought of her husband in the back, as well as her children, she thought of the empire and the house she and her family belonged in.
Her eyes then began to slowly crack open, her heart filling with motivation.
"Let's get this done as soon as possible." said Merilyn as she continued to look forward.
Erenhold nodded as he crossed his arms, the chains wrapped around it clunking in unison.
Stillness filled the air after a few moments, the sounds of the crackling thunder and the distant roars of atroxians filled the air.
Then as if piercing the stillness—a loud bang echoed in the air.
"Evkar en Kreatora!" exclaimed Merza as she raised her flame wrapped longsword up in the air.
And there it was, the final battle of Chasmratt had begun after many gruelling years of skirmishes and assaults on the forsaken planet.
The ground rumbled under their might as the soldiers ran alongside with their weapons of war—its engine roaring in power.