Part IX: Unexpected Events

Fossil and his regiment started marching from Waresfield in Northern Cardencean Republic to Ihoyo city in Altair Margrave of Sun Empire.

"You really won the battle, Master Fossil." Wilfrith Barber, the Regiment General, told him as they marched.

"Don't call me master, Brown eyes. Just call me Fossil." He replied.

"You really beat up their ass." He remarked as he tapped his back.

"Arrows! Fire!" A voice shouted.

"Ambush!" Wilfrith shouted.

"Ossenia, 6th Form! Rib Cage!" Fossil shouted and they got a place to cover.

"Ready the formations! Archers ready to fire!" Wilfrith shouted.

"Move! Faster! This won't last long!" Fossil shouted.

"Sir yes sir!" Everyone shouted as they move to their formations.

"Mangonels! Fire!" Another voice shouted.

The stones hit Ossenia breaking it to pieces. Everyone was in formation but some didn't survive. Ossenia turned into spear and Fossil attacked the enemy.

"I know this soldier uniform! It’s from the Union!" Fossil shouted.

Meanwhile, Soil and her regiment are marching on their way to Bramle when she realized that Ymma and her regiment didn't follow.

"Everyone! Ready yourselves. It seems like we have a rogue general. We are going to reroute. If Ymma and her regiment resisted, we don't have any other choice. Do you understand?" Soil told them.

"Ma’am yes ma’am!" They shouted.

"Very good!" Soil shouted.

They turned around and started marching back to Waresfield.

"What are you planning to do?" Afilda Eadburh asked her as they reroute.

"Gonna correct our mistake." Soil replied.

Fossil and his regiment are peppered with stones and arrows as they fought against the Union forces.

"Charge!" Wilgils shouted as they fought the enemies.

"Everyone! Gather! I will shake their forces!" Fossil shouted.

"Sir Yes Sir!" Everyone shouted.

"Calx! Videtur! Spica!" He shouted as he struck the ground.

Spikes suddenly appeared out of nowhere dispersing the enemy and destroying their siege engines.

"Ymma! Stop this all at once!" Soil shouted as she appeared out of nowhere.

"You! Don't stop me! I will report you to the top brass!" Ymma shouted at her.

"Tell your top brass! I don't care! You will just waste your troops against them!" Soil shouted.

Fossil was confused of what is happening. Even their regiments are confused.

"Two days earlier they were allies and now they are biting each other's tail." Fossil thought.

"Everyone! Charge at them. We will leave no quarters!" Ymma shouted and her regiment charged at them.

"Clay wall!" Soil shouted.

Fossil went above the wall and turned Ossenia into a musket then he started shooting the Union troops.

"What are you doing?" Wilfrith asked with confusion.

"I am just fighting Union troops. I am still confused of what is happening." Fossil replied as he shot their enemies.

"Moon Realm soldiers! Charge at the Union Troops!" Soil shouted as she led the charge.

"Charge?" Fossil is still confused.

"At?" Wilfrith asked in confusion.

"The?" A soldier asked.

"Union?" One of the soldiers asked.

"Troops?" Another soldier asked.

"They really biting each other's tail. Sun Empire troops! Charge at the Union soldiers!" Fossil shouted as he jumped on the other side of the wall with Ossenia in its golem form.

Ymma jumped out of her horse and charged at Soil. Fossil saw her.

"Ossenia, 7th Form! Osseus Musket!" Fossil shouted as he jumped back on the wall and shoot Ymma.

"That brat!" Ymma shouted as she stood up and continued to charge at Soil.

"She is crazy at getting her. Ossenia, 8th Form! Calcite Sword!" Fossil shouted as he jumped out of the wall and tried to stop Ymma.

Soil noticed Ymma and Fossil so she charged at her.

"You brat won't stop me from charging at her!" Ymma shouted as Fossil matched her with Ossenia.

"Sorry, but you can't stop me from stopping you." Fossil replied with a laugh.

"Death Bug!" She shouted and a swarm of bugs appeared.

"Ossenia, 5th Form! Bone Arrows!" Fossil shouted as he jumped away and he directed Ossenia to the swarm of bugs killing them.

"Wrong move, brat! Haaaaaa!" Ymma shouted as he caught Fossil off guard stabbing him on his abdomen.

"Soil Grab!" Soil shouted as a large hand made of soil grabbed Ymma.

"You, mage!" Ymma shouted.

"Soil Crush! Soil Pound!" Soil shouted as the soil hands pounded her repeatedly.

"The Union's top brass will know this!" Ymma shouted as she was being pounded by the large hands.

"The Union troops are retreating! One of Moon Realm soldiers shouted.

"Let them retreat!" Afilda shouted as they gathered around.

"Medic! We need a medic here!" Wilfrith shouted as he went to Fossil.

"W-Wilfrith! Tell me. We won right?" Fossil asked catching his breath.

"Y-yes, Master. We won! Don't die, Master!" Wilfrith said as he was full of tears.

"Let me through!" Soil shouted as she was trying to go to Fossil.

"Master!!!" Wilfrith shouted as Fossil didn't responded.

"Moonlight Regeneration!" Soil shouted as she pulled out the sword and dropped the magic to Fossil.

"Stop it, witch! Our master won't die because of you!" Wilfrith shouted at Soil but she didn't pay attention.

"Oi oi! Wilfrith! Who said I am dead? I was just sleeping." Fossil responded to Wilfrith's outburst.

"Master! You are alive!" Wilfrith shouted as he hugged Fossil while he is in tears.

"Stop it. You are killing me! I am not dead." Fossil replied.

"It's almost night now. Maybe we should find a place to camp now?" Soil asked them.

"I will never..." Wilfrith was about to shout at her but he was interrupted by Fossil.

"Wilfrith! Let me do the talking." Fossil interrupted him.

"Y-yes, Master." He replied.

"Countess Soil, we can make a camp to spend the night and went to our stations the next day." Fossil replied to Soil.

"Well then, let’s go while the night is still young." She replied and they started marching.

After an hour, they stopped at a nearby valley near the city of Blecton where they set up a camp.

"Let's eat together everyone!" Fossil shouted as he created tables and chair made of calcium.

Everyone sat down and ate. It was still early when they finished so the others gathered in groups and talked with each other. The two regiments are friendly with each other despite the ongoing war between their countries. Fossil decided to walk when he saw Soil gazing at the stars.

"Uhm... Hi." Fossil said as he was about to approach her.

"Oh. The master of the Sun Regiment." Soil remarked.

They both laughed and he sat beside her. They talked with each other the whole night. Morning came and they packed up their camp.

"Farewell, Fossil!" Soil yelled as she mounted her horse.

"Till next time, Soil!" Fossil bid his farewells as he waved his hands.

The two regiments parted ways. Soil and her regiment headed for Bramle while Fossil and his regiment headed for Ihoyo.

Meanwhile, Sun was walking in the gardens on his way to the stables when Flower called him.

"Your Imperial Majesty, the soldiers are here to report." Flower told Sun.

"I told you not to be too formal when it comes to me." Sun replied as he continued to walk to the stables.

"Your Imperial Majesty, the soldiers are waiting for you." She repeated but he ignored her.

He continued to walk away but she went to him and grabbed his ear.

"Ouch. What are you doing?!" Sun asked her.

"Your Imperial Majesty, the soldiers are waiting for you in the palace." She repeated in his ear slowly.

"Drop the formalities first." He replied as she kept holding his ear.

"Your Imperial Majesty, they are waiting for you." She repeated.

"Fine. Fine. I will go. Just let go of my ear." Sun reluctantly agreed.

"As you wish, Your Imperial Majesty." Flower replied with a smile.

The two went inside the great hall. The soldiers are waiting as they present the goods.

"Your Imperial Majesty, these are the goods from the Duchy of Barhambria The Duke sent us more weapons and spices compare to last month's shipment. This one is a personal gift, Your Imperial Majesty." The soldier presented the gifts and handed over the personal gift to Sun.

"It's a flintlock with an ornamental design? what a nice gift." Sun responded as he looked at the design of the flintlock.

"Another set of crates are from the Cherry Shogunate." The soldier read the report as they presented the crates.

"Cherry Shogunate? It is my first time to hear them." Sun told the soldier.

"Your Imperial Majesty, this a letter from the Duke of Barhambria." The soldier handed the letter.

"Your Imperial Majesty, Sun of Sun Empire.

I sent you goods from the Duchy of Barhambria and from the Cherry Shogunate. I know it is your first time to encounter them, so I wrote this letter on behalf of the Shogun of the Cherry Shogunate. He requested me to write a letter for him to offer an alliance between the Sun Empire and Cherry Shogunate. We are hoping for your response.

-Duke of the Duchy of Barhambria"

"Open the crates." Sun ordered them as he sat on his throne.

"Your Imperial Majesty, the crates are filled with textiles and perfumes." The soldier presented as he went near Sun to present a sample.

"The perfume has a nice smell. The other crate? It seems heavy." Sun asked as he pointed on the group of unopened crates on the corner.

"These crates are weapons made from the Cherry Shogunate. Their swords look the same as yours, Your Imperial Majesty. They call this as katana." The soldier replied as he presented one of the swords.

"May I borrow your sword, kind Sir?" Sun asked as he hold the Katana from Cherry Shogunate.

"M-my sword, Your Imperial Majesty? H-here." The soldier untied his sword from his belt and presented it to Sun.

Sun pulled the sword and slammed it to the Katana. The soldier's sword broke into pieces. The soldiers were shocked of what happened.

"I am impressed. Sorry for breaking your sword. Put this sword in its scabbard and get another one. We will go to the Imperial blacksmith. Everyone, you take care of the crates. Come on, soldier." Sun ordered them and they went out of the great hall and walked westward to the blacksmith.

After a few moments, they saw Flower from the range.

"Went for a practice again?" Sun asked her.

"Yup. My shooting skills are a bit off lately. It's been a long time since I last fought a battle." Flower responded as she slung her bow.

"Let me carry your bow. It is quite heavy for you." Sun told her as he tried to help her.

"No. It's fine. No need to worry." Flower replied with a smile.

"Uh-huh. Okay." Sun replied as he flustered.

They reached the blacksmith and met the head smith.

"Mr. Head smith, Good day." Sun greeted the Head smith.

"Good day, Your Imperial Majesty. What can I do for you?" He asked as he greeted him back and bowed.

"This weapon is forged from a country named Cherry Shogunate and I would like to ask for your help to replicate this sword. I am impressed with this sword because it was able to break his sword." Sun replied as he gave the sword with his both hands.

"I see. The sword is impressive indeed. I will work on it, Your Imperial Majesty." He replied as he analyzed the sword's blade.

"Thank you, head smith. Another thing, please engrave his name on this sword. I will pay for the fees of the engraving." Sun added as he pointed the other sword and the soldier blushed in surprise.

"As you wish, Your Imperial Majesty." He replied.

"Th-th-thank you, Your Imperial Majesty. I will treasure this sword will all of my life." The soldier replied as he bowed many times.

"Don't mention it, soldier. I broke so I have the responsibility to replace it. Well then, soldier and head smith. Farewell." Sun replied and nodded as he bid his farewell.

Sun and Flower left the smith and they walked back to the palace. While walking, Sun saw the range was open.

"Would you like to try some shooting in the range?" Sun asked her.

"Yeah, sure. Why not?" Flower responded with excitement.

"Let's have some competition?" Sun asked her as they walked towards the range.

"That's better." Flower responded as they entered the range

Flower readied herself while Sun got a bow from one of the racks.

"So, what will be the consequences of the loser?" Sun asked.

"You decide first." Flower replied as she stretched her arms.

"Fine. If I won. You will be mine." Sun told her with a straight face.

"Ara ara. You are so bashful today, Your Imperial Majesty. If I won. You will be mine." Flower responded with a proud face.

"You are also bashful today, Flower." Sun replied as he flustered.

"What's with the blush on your face?" Flower teased him.

"N-n-nothing. In anyways we will end up with each other but the tale will be different." Sun replied while keeping a straight face.

He suddenly saw the soldier passing by.

"Hey, Soldier. Be our umpire. We are going to have an archery competition."

"Y-yes, Your Imperial Majesty." The soldier replied and sat on the tower and used the binoculars.

"Let's start the battle." Sun told her as he held an arrow.

"I won't lose." Flower replied with a proud face.

"So, do I." Sun responded with fierce eyes.

"Why do I feel so much tension from the two?" The soldier said to himself.