Chapter 6 Osmenti Town Part 4

During the annual raid day, the atmosphere at the gates, as well as up at the walls, was the most nerve-racking and grim it had ever been.

The soldiers stationed there were at an all times on edge, and their eyes were dry and aching from always watching far into the distance, for any appearances of the bandits.

Also knowing that today was the day they would most likely die but not knowing the exact time - either to prepare final defenses against the enemies or to make peace with themselves before their end - was torture not even hell could have.

They were so nervous and worried, many of them began murmuring to themselves. Others developed a tick habit in their bodies' effort to calm themselves down, while others wore a resigned look on their faces, having already lost hope for any positive outcome with a future.

While they were all the time in such a distressed state, one of the soldiers deployed to keep a lookout into the town for double the safety, suddenly saw someone approaching. At first, he thought the figure was somewhat familiar and when he walked closer, the guard flinched backwards in surprise.

Thankfully he was only momentarily distracted before he turned around and ran to his section leader. After quickly informing him, they both proceeded to find their captain or vice-captain.

They were both in the middle of a discussion about the imminent battle strategies and what defensive measures they had at hand, when they were approached by the two soldiers.

"Why did you leave your post?!" questioned the vice-captain.

Seeing the soldier a little hesitant to answer, his section leader gave him a nudge at his side.

"S-Sir! The mysterious man from yesterday is approaching the gate!"

"WHAT?!" "WHAT?!" Both the captain and vice-captain couldn't maintain their composure, shocked by the report.

In a split second, they both had flashes of what occurred yesterday and the disturbing presence of that man. The impression they had of the man, both by his unknown origins from his physical appearance and how he carried himself, as well as his indifferent look when faced with their questioning and warnings, put him above the bandits and their raids in importance to deal with. This was an emergency!

"Go now and pass the message to the soldiers stationed at the gate to open it and let him pass and be quick about it!" ordered the captain with a tone carrying the severity of the situation.

The soldier immediately complied and rushed to convey the order.

The captain and vice-captain looked at each other, both knowing that this was their only option of action against someone of such mystery and unfathomable presence.

After the gate was open and for the next couple of minutes, all the soldiers and officers stationed at the wall and gate, held their breaths while waiting for the man to pass.

They only dared to breathe out loud only when they saw the man reach a faraway distance from them. All exhaled deeply in relief as they found themselves feeling relaxed, their worries and fears for the upcoming battle significantly less than before. This unburdening spoke volumes of itself of how much the man's presence affected them.

But alas, the relaxed atmosphere wasn't fated to last long. In fact, it lasted only a few minutes before it was broken by a soldier's shout.

One by one, the protectors of Osmenti Town looked to where the soldier pointed, only to see a rising cloud of dust which was getting bigger and closer by the minute. It was very far for any of them to identify what was causing it, but they all knew in their hearts what it was.

With the thought of the mysterious man pushed at the back of their mind, they immediately assumed battle positions, ready to fight the bandits to their last breath, protecting that way at least one person of theirs in this town.

With bullets of sweat running down their foreheads - blurring the vision of some of them in the process - the soldiers watched as the cloud got near enough to be able to see inside it.

Seeing the bandits riding atop their Raksers, they felt neither satisfied they were correct in their assumptions, nor frustrated they weren't wrong. Instead, they were shocked by their sheer number. They were almost as double as last year. This time, the bandits came stronger than ever before.

The moment the captain saw that, although he also found it hard to belief, but it wasn't a coincidence he was in charge of the town's army. His mental fortitude and years of experience let him choose the best strategics best suited to deal with the unexpected increase in the enemy's forces and give the necessary orders in time.

Orders from the many section leaders were continuously being shouted and the soldiers began to move in a rush but orderly fashion. Many of them had their positions changed or swapped, depending on where they were needed or the weapons they held respectively. Quivers of arrows, sharpened spears, other equipment and materials such as big rocks and boiling oil, were all transported to various spots which previously lacked them.

"ARCHERS READYY!!" The captain ordered and his order was spread out by the section leaders. 

With the altered preparations finished, the soldiers awaited the bandits to get closer, the archers ready with their bows loaded.

The moment the bandits were in earshot from the wall, they began yelling and shouting, increasing their morale in their craziness as they charged, yearning for the loot they would pillage from the town.

"DRAWW!!" and the bows were pulled.

"HOLDD!!""

With a hand up in the air, the captain waited as he stared down at the riding bandits. When they reached the range of the bows, the hand came down and the order was given.

"FIIRRREEE!!" and the bows were released.

A swarm of iron-pointed arrows flew through the air and rained down at the approaching bandits. The ones who carried a shield and acted fast enough blocked the falling arrows and avoided being hit, but others weren't so lucky.

Many arrows found their targets and punctured through the bandits' clothes and flesh; the little armor they wore didn't provide much assistance in deflecting them. Blood was spilled; many were injured while quite a few died in the first attack, falling to the ground and staying there forever.

The crazed bandits, however, didn't stop to help their fallen comrades, but continued with their charge. When they got close enough, right when the second wave of arrows were on their way, they also shot their arrows.

An exchange of iron rains occurred, with targets being shot on both sides. Bandits fell from their rides while the soldiers atop the wall either fell from it or dropped on their backs.

After that, the distance between the two sides became so small, the bandits started throwing their axes and spears at the soldiers, while likewise, the soldiers threw their spears and rocks at them, When a bandit happened to reach the wall and start climbing, boiling oil was spilled on him.

The exchange of murder weapons, projectiles and earthen materials continued like this for a good while. Throughout the battlefield shouts of wrath and anger, wretched screams of pain and suffering along many death cries were ceaselessly being heard.

Flesh and blood were respectively torn and spilled as lives were being taken. Broken limps with pools of blood of still warm bodies, and weapons still clenched in their hands or stuck inside them, littered the ground in front of Osmenti Town's gate, literally changing its overall image.

When the battle finished, with the soldiers winning and the few surviving bandits fleeing, no one at the wall could celebrate their victory.

As they stared down at the broken and lifeless bodies of their neighbors, friends and family members, they could only think that they survived because the person next to them died in their stead, defending together with them their home.