Chapter 22

The night was quiet, and the no sign of Lazare was seen in the forest. But the smoke of their camp can be seen. Me and Terra watched over the Lazare camp while the beast-men worked to destroy the pathway to Isabella.

"The night can be beautiful huh?"

"...I guess so." I never really had a normal conversation with Terra. She was my mentor. My trainer. I do wonder if we are friends. "I used to write about the stars when I was at the royal academy. They say the stars could give you immense power if you can touch it. And I wanted to see if it was true, but stars never really fall from the sky."

"Then why pursue?"

"Curiosity. I traveled place to place, rumor of people using the power of a star. Of course it was just old legends. But hearing the legends gave me hope."

"Do you still?"

"I do." 

"Why are you interested in the stars?" 

"My father and grandfather use to tell of my family using its power once. Our ancestors used it to destroy the dragons." "Really? Then you want that power?" 

"I do. But its story that can't be proven. After all the dragons are still here in our world. Just look at the beast kingdom."

Human thoughts are strange. But I guess I'm just as strange as them too. "Is your family still alive?" "Yeah, there still around...but we have a lot of differences in how we think society should work."

"I see."

"And you?"

"I only true family I had was my mother. She...left me. She thought I was strong enough or whatever. I don't remember what she said. But she was right. I'm still alive and here. And my father... I never meet him."

"You, ok? I can feel your magic fluctuating."

I guess hearing of her origins made me mad. She lucky to know her full story. "Sorry. I feel a little disappointed."

"In what?" 

"There was a lot my mother never told me. She always tried to keep everything about me and my origin a secret. Hearing about yours made a jealous. Sorry if I offend you."

I should stop talking. I say more than I should. Terra looks back at the camp. She gets up and sits next to me. "Terra?"

"Don't worry about where it. I think personally people should thrive to make their own origin. Family history does not define who you are. Trust me. If you meet my family, you will wonder why I am from that family."

"..."

She pats my head suddenly. "Don't worry to much about it. Just focus on your own future." Her smile. It's the same feeling when Alie smiles at me.

"Let's keep focus ok. We have a big fight coming tomorrow."

The night passed. The morning was humid, and foggy. Lazare was moving through the path. To our expectation they were confused. "Remember were not here for full on assault. Just rain arrows on them."

We had taken position on hill near a river. A near hundred archers were ready to kill. "Ivalyo. Can you smell them." 

"I can see their magic. Their getting closer. I will give you the signal General."

A few minutes later they were close enough to shoot at them. General Hen order to fire on them. Though visibility was limited we it was perfect for us to conceal our position. Knights fell one by one.

30 mins had passed, and we were ordered to retreat. "Ivalyo. Given them a last punch." "Yes General."

a pile of trees was stacked together near the top. The knights had figured out our position after the fog was slowly going away. "Kill them all."

I take a deep breath and push the logs. More beast men pushed down stacks of other logs down the hill. The weight of the logs crushed them. 

After that day we continued to put them in hell. The roads were destroyed, and the forest was turn around. The king of Lazare was enraged of the game we were playing. I witnessed him cutting of his own men's genitals and hanging them on a tree for their failures.

"Damn it! These god damn peasants are destroying my plans!"

The king throughs his meal and valuables. His face was red like tomato. His servant girls stepped out. "Raging like this won't help my king."

"...Servin. How can I not be angry. This force has stalled our march for 2 weeks now. They hide in the forest playing these games instead of fighting like real men!"

"All understandable Sir. But we must stay rational. We all must stay focused." "What do you suggest then?"

"They don't plan to show themselves. And they have killed the scouts we send out. So, we force them to come out."

"And how so?" 

"Burn the forest." 

"Your insane. If we burn the forest, we will be caught in it. And how will we stop the fire? This area is filled with trees."

"This is war sir. They don't plan to play by the rules so why should we?" 

This king is weird he rapes women and kills his own and yet he worries about the land. "We should send them a message that we are willing to do anything to win this war. We should not hold back based on our chivalry code."

He was hesitant but agreed. "And I will make sure we are not caught in the fire. I am a mage after all."

Suddenly a large war cry was heard outside. "Stay here my king." Hen had led a Calvary attack on the camp from the front in order to distract them. Terra came from the right side of the camp destroying as much of their food as we can.

She casts a fire ball and sets the hay for their horses on fire. Hen sees the smoke and signals to retreat. "Fall back!"

Lazare was stunned. "Damn it." Servin said. I will make them understand their mistake messing with me. I will not let this stop me from achieving my goal. I need more time on the monster. But for now, I need to deal with these vermin.

"We have them exhausted now men! The Lazare army is near broken!" It was strange to see beast and human cheering and hug together. 

Afterward Hen summoned us. "What is Sir?" 

"We have been doing good here. But it's time to leave this area." "Why" "Ivalyo. They have been pushed to the limit. Even though we have kept them here. We have not done enough to dwindle their numbers. And right now, they might do something that will affect our numbers."

"Is this another lesson." 

"Of course. We need them to think they have finally got one on us. And when their finally feeling safe from getting out of this forest. Then we attack"

Hen was teaching me the heart of battle. I think he believes I might lead an army one day. I must understand your enemy and his patterns. I started to get it to. But the idea of making a decision with thousands of men lives is scary.

"Then when should we leave?" "Tonight. Terra, haver everyone pack tonight. We must be out of this forest before the first sun hits us."

"Yes sir." 

"Get packed Ivalyo." It's fascinating how Hen can plan and do multiple things at once. I don't know if I ever could. But I will remember these lessons.

We had left the camp then. The forest was destroyed since we cut down a lot to confuse the enemy. At times we thought we were going the wrong way. We made sure that never happen though.

Since the Lazare knights don't ever go into the forest and at this point there too scared to go near it. We had scouts set up signal smokes to lead us out of the forest. It was like a breath of fresh air after we left the forest. The plains were nice sight to see after been in a forest for so long.

"So, what now Hen?" 

"We have no element of surprise now. Its goanna be one on one fight now. We need to fight smart now."

A few days later. We notice the smell of wood in the air. The forest had been set on fire. Hen was right. Watching the entire region set on fire was a turning in history. Though the world did not care. But this sight was sign that the war has only just begun.

This war is starting to pick up. The worse is coming. Servin is here. I know this is probably his idea. "Hm. We should pre pair. We have battle we must be ready for. Ivalyo you seem to know who's behind all this. I notice your face when we were force to retreat after the corpse were brought alive."

"I do." "You know him?" 

"I do."

"Then you know his patterns and personality. Maybe you can help me counter his every strategy then."

I face toward Hen. "Of course, general. I've been wanting to settle a score with this bastard."