10 years ago

  Jules stood guard, his hand wrapped firmly around the handle of his spear. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Guard duty sure had been boring lately. No one dared to go against the De’Shai family or King Rai’Shal himself. No break-ins, robberies, or vandalism in general. What was he even doing there, just prancing around waiting for a situation to arise?

  Despite saving Lord De’Shai’s life all those years ago and him telling Jules about his healthy promotion, Jules didn’t feel any different. He was still a guard, working under one of the most influential man in the nation, working to keep things in order. The only difference now is that he has even less time for his family, for Vhema…

  “This stinks,” he whispered to himself as he walked past another guard. He had to spend his days patrolling the hallways, protecting some rich men, while his family was at home, growing up without him.

  He walked past another group of guards, who seemed jovial and laughing all their worries away.

  This kind of job was depressing. How did anyone find joy in this? Perhaps the only way to find joy is to pretend there is some saving grace in the job…

  All day, everyday, it was the same thing. He would arrive at work and then just wander around aimlessly, keeping his eyes out for anything that went wrong. On the rare occasion there was something, it wasn’t anything major. It was either misbehaving boys or someone being where they shouldn’t, but nothing of note to raise a red flag.

  Often, when nothing happened at work, his mind would involuntarily drift to home, to his wife and daughter, who was almost six old years now. Oh how time passes. Every night, he kept track of how long he hasn’t seen either of them because of his work. This night, it would be two weeks since they last reunited.

  It could be worse. It could be years. He should consider himself lucky that he isn’t one of the generals and lieutenants that never has time for family of any sort. Just one more year he told himself. The job paid well, and his pay has been increasing ever since he got the promotion four years ago. He needed to save so he could move far away from the capital with Vhema and live somewhere peaceful.

  Maybe he would move to a rural area and become a farmhand. At least then he could spend nights with his wife. Ahh, how lovely that would be…

  “Situation!” someone called out, running down the halls. Jules turned to locate the source of the voice. “Situation! Situation! We have a situation!”

  A young boy was practically screaming his head off. Jules moved to stop the boy from proceeding onwards to realize he knew this boy. It was one of the messengers under Lord De’Shai’s employment, with consent of his parents, of course.

  “Situation?” Jules called.

  The boy halted and turned to Jules. He nodded. “Yes. All soldiers are to report to the barracks within the hour.”

  Well that was a first. What kind of situation arose where they needed all hands on deck? A wide smile steadily spread across Jules’s face. Finally, some excitement. And before he knew it, he realized his legs were carrying him across the marble floor. He ran all throughout the familiar halls he’s walked for years now. He busted through the front entrance of the palace and skipped down the stairs by three’s.

  He sprinted through the cobblestone roads, passing by many buildings and shops. Even outside, he could see people were panicking. The message had already spread. People moved inside and shut their shops, locking their doors.

  Something must have happened where even the shopkeepers closed their stores. What could it be?

  The years of conditioning in the army has built up his endurance and stamina, for which he was thankful for. Once, the jog would have taken the wind out of him. Now, he barely noticed it. After several minutes of running, he finally arrived at the familiar site of the barracks, where soldiers were coming in and grabbing various weapons. Bows, spears, swords, it didn’t matter. Within moments, the weapon racks were all but empty.

  “Rebels,” one of the soldiers said as Jules entered. “Report to your lieutenant immediately.”

  Jules nodded before moving through the barracks, finding the man. His lieutenant was an older man by the name of Naru. He was someone who had accomplished much during his time within the king’s army. A man with a body that seemed young for his age. He had a neatly trimmed mustache, kind of like Lord De’Shai, and always bore a cold, hard gaze. Every time Jules spoke to the man, it seemed like he was staring straight into his soul.

  Jules came to a stop before the man as others approached. He raised his hand in salute before putting it down.

  When others had arrived, a crowd formed around the man. Jules didn’t know how big the army was exactly. Looking around, he’s seeing faces he’s never seen before. Definitely bigger than he thought.

  “The rebels have arrived,” Lieutenant Naru spoke, hands clasped behind his back and his head held high, gazing straight ahead. “As many of you may have heard, rebellions have been springing all over Agnius. We’ve tolerated it for too long, and they’ve gotten away with much. But it ends right here. Some of you may not make it out alive, I can’t promise you will. But if you stick to your training and focus on what you’re fighting for, you will be fine.”

  Jules’s mind immediately went to Vhema and his six-year-old daughter, sitting at home, locking themselves inside. He wondered if they were worried about him. Yes, just focus on what he was fighting for.

  “When we ride into battle, we ride into something bigger than ourselves. These dissenters have made a point that they don’t like the way things are, and to that I say the king has done much for them. We must show them that the power of the nation as a whole isn’t something to trifle with.”

  He raised a lance high into the air. “For the king!” he shouted.

  Weapons raised, followed by echoes of what Naru just said. “For the king!” the crowd chanted in unison. Jules held his spear up with the others and shouted the same thing.

  “Our batallion has been training to be on the front lines, so move out! We have to arrive at the gates before anyone else so we can be the first to fend off the rebels.”

  Everyone started to move at the same time. There were other squads that would fight on the front lines along side them. Jules glanced to the side and saw archers with bows in their hands standing on the side as they let the front-liners through.

  Lucky bastards, Jules thought. He wanted to be one of the archers; they were in the safest position in case of battle, but Lord De’Shai had convinced him to continue his spear training.

  He preferred to go into battle without a shield, even though it was more dangerous. It made him more versatile and he could dodge attacks instead of block them.

  The streets had been emptied out. The soldiers had free reign to move as they please. A stampede of men blew dust as they stomped along the cobblestone. Eventually, they made it to the walls of Rathalin, Lieutenant Naru at the lead. He turned around to face his men and gave a nod before leading them through the gates.

  They needed to fight outside the walls to prevent the rebels from getting in. As Jules moved outside the city walls, he could see a tiny line of specks off in the horizon, moving and picking up dust.

  As the specks grew larger, he saw how big the rebel army had grown. There had been reports of them completely taking over cities, but he didn’t know it was this big. Suddenly, fighting on the front lines didn’t seem to be such a good idea. He wanted to turn around and head back.

  He glanced to his sides and saw that the other men in the squadron felt the same way. They were all nervous. None of them had been in a battle against this many soldiers at one time. Hopefully the Dragikiri would come into the battle and fight off some of the rebels. Jules knew how the king was and his loyal Dragikiri, so it was unlikely. They would only be deployed if absolutely necessary.

  The rebellion army grew closer. At this point, Jules could see that all of them wore dark cloaks and had half their faces covered by blue masks that had a demon’s mouth drawn on them to excruciating detail.

  Jules gripped the shaft of his spear harder to calm his nerves. Think of what you’re fighting for, he thought. Images of Vhema smiling and playing with their daughter coursed through his mind.

  Many of you have not fought in a real battle, he could hear Lieutenant Naru’s voice echoing through his head. In hindsight, a battle seems to be dreadful. To be in a field of bodies with the land painted red with blood, blood from both sides. But once you fight in it, you will feel the thrill of the battle, the excitement of the fight, not knowing if you would live through the day. That feeling of doom is going to make you fight harder and stronger, and it’ll force you to reach a level you didn’t think you had in you. No matter what, in a battle, you must keep moving.

  The rebels arrived. A man stood between the rebels and the imperials, his arms folded. Lieutenant Naru stepped out of line and walked up to the man.

  Jules swore he could hear his heartbeat thundering through his ears.

  The two seemed to exchange words. About what, Jules did not know. Perhaps talks of peace? That was too much to hope for, was it? After all, men on both sides are armed to the tee, itching for a battle.

  After their exchange, the two turned away from one another and walked back to their respective armies.

  Lieutenant Naru clearly seemed to be frustrated. He raised his arms into the air and pointed a finger at the army. “CHARGE!” he bellowed with volume that could be heard throughout his army.

  War cries rang out and men began to stampeded towards the opposing side. In response to this, Jules saw the other army letting out war cries of their own and running to meet with the imperials.

  They’re not stopping, Jules thought. This is really happening. He didn’t know what he expected, but he didn’t think he would be fighting in an actual full-blown battle that day. He woke up expecting his day to proceed as normal, where he would go to work, do guard duty for the day, go to the barracks to keep conditioning, and fall asleep in the barracks as well, as he would be too tired to return home. No, this was the very last thing he expected to happen that day.

  The armies clashed. Jules came face to face with a rebel who held a machete in his hand. Most of the rebels moved in a neat squad, plowing down imperial soldiers they came into contact with. They clearly had been trained for this. Maybe this wouldn’t be an easy battle to win. Unlike him, most of the rebels had battle experience moving through Agnius and conquering cities.

  When they conquered cities, they must have lost some men, but they were able to get more men through what they conquered, amassing a large army by the time they arrived at Rathalin’s doors.

  The rebel in front of him lurched forward, swinging his machete.

  Keep your distance, Jules told himself. He sidestepped the swing and took several steps back in quick succession, raising his spear to point it at the rebel.

  The man didn’t seem to take a hint. He lurched forward again, but that wasn’t a good idea for him. Jules moved his spear in graceful movements and plunged it through the man’s shoulders.

  The rebel let a grunt of surprise before dropping to his knees and letting his weapon fall from his grip.

  Jules twisted the spear and yanked it out. One of the first bodies of many in this battle. The man fell to the ground. Jules raised his spear and plunged it through the man’s back, ending his miserable life.

  Lieutenant Naru was telling the truth; that felt exhilarating. The thrill of the battle surged through him and adrenaline took over his movements. He felt powerful. He felt like he could do anything, move any stone, fight any opponent.

  Slow down, he had to remind himself. He didn’t want to break his position and go leaping into enemy lines. He was still just a normal man and could barely take on more than two opponent by himself.

  More bodies started to fall around him. Some in imperial army, some in the black cloak of the rebels.

  The difference in attire between the two allowed the imperials to have more defense against their strikes, but the rebels moved quicker in their lightweight fabric.

  Jules looked around him and saw some of the very men he trained with fight to their last breath and fall to the grass, their blood polluting the grass.

  This wasn’t the first time Jules killed a man. He was familiar with the feeling, and he doubted it would be the last time. He continued charging with the front liners, pushing the rebels back and forcing them further away from the walls. The further they got from the walls, the further they would be from his family. From Vhema.

  That was what he was fighting for. That held him back from leaping in and swinging his spear wildly. He needed to return home for them.

  He fought until his squad was starting to get overpowered. He continued to fight until his spear was sliced at the wood, the tip and shaft breaking apart and falling to the ground. He looked around for help, for anyone.

  The rebel raised his sword and prepared to bring it down on Jules. He’d wished he brought a shield instead of being stubborn at this point.

  There. In the distance, he could spot a line of gold lining the top of Rathalin’s walls. Archers.

  Arrows flew and darkened the sky. The idiots! Some of them were going to hit the imperials as well. Both Jules and the rebel scrambled on the ground to hide from the mass of arrows.

  Jules looked up and saw the rebels had the wind’s power on their side. As the arrows were about to strike, they were stopped mid-flight and fell to the ground. Their army had Dragikiri inside them. It was hard to see who, but there were some.

  A blast of fire blew overhead at the army of rebels. Some of them caught fire and started running.

  So the king really did send some Dragikiri to fight against the rebels. This battle was about to get a lot more exciting.

  Jules scrambled around and picked up another spear. Whether it was a spear from an ally or an enemy, he didn’t know. To him it didn’t matter. What mattered was him fighting for his life so he could make it home.

  He swung and stabbed, taking steps back to avoid strikes that came his way. He continued stabbing and killing, dropping men to the ground.

  He had training to back him up. He wouldn’t let the rebels get the best of him. He felt powerful in the field with his weapon in his hand.

  Another flurry of arrows forced the sun out of the sky. Some of them struck against the rebels, but most were stopped by Dragikiri.

  The rebels didn’t need an army of archers. Their goal was to make it to the walls, and the imperial’s was to stop them. The rebels just needed soldiers to collide with the massive force of Agnius’s loyal soldiers.

  It was true the rebel army didn’t need archers to push in, but they did have Dragikiri. Lots of them apparently. Dragikiri that ran away from the king’s decree, Dragikiri that fought with all their heart.

  If Jules could just get to them, take some of them out, it would turn the tide of the battle. He could be the hero of the fight.

  He could push through the crowd, break the already broken formation even more and make his way to the rebels’ back line. Could he really though? He could be struck down the moment he tried.

  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. In that moment, his own life didn’t seen to matter as much anymore. All that mattered was stopping the rebels from entering their city. Shouldn’t he do all in his power to prevent that from happening?

  He lowered his spear and started walking. Walking into the enemies, marching straight through their ranks. He raised his spear and fought anyone he came into contact with, picking off members that broke off from their squadrons.

  He came face to face with a young girl with pitch black hair hair, tied into a neat braid. She had a crazed and bloodthirsty look in her eyes. She attacked him with a dagger, swinging it wildly.

  What was a young girl like her doing in a bloodbath such as this?

  The girl didn’t have much technique behind her swings. Jules dodged and moved to avoid the strikes.

  With one move of his arm, he managed to dispatch the rebel and toss her dagger to the side. He kicked the girl onto the ground and held the spear over her head, ready to plunge it straight through her.

  He stopped himself. What was he doing? He looked into the eyes of the young girl, and instead of seeing an evil rebel intent on destroying then nation, he saw a scared young girl. Someone who got roped into the wrong crowd and fought for them, maybe for her life. He didn’t know why she fought, and it didn’t make any difference to him. Not when he faced someone who has less years in her life than his total number of years training with the spear.

  The girl was destined to fail from the start. She was no match for Jules, and he proved that. But could he really do it? Bring the spear down and end her life?

  Disgust filled him. No, he could never. She barely looked sixteen years of age. He could never do such a thing! That wouldn’t make him a hero! He wouldn’t be respected all throughout Rathalin and beyond. That would make him the worst kind of murderer: A child killer. And if he brought the spear down on her, he would never be able to live with himself.

  From behind, he saw another rebel approaching. Perhaps her friends maybe? He was a Dragikiri, that much was obvious.

  The thrill of the battle, the adrenaline that came from the fight. It was fleeting away from him, and before long, it was gone. Shame and disgust replaced what was once there. He stared at the scared little girl in the eyes and lowered his spear.

  He turned away from her, hiding his shame. “Go,” he said, pointing towards the boy that was approaching.

  The young girl nodded and got up off from the ground and returned to the ranks of the rebels.

  Jules spotted Naru in the crowd, and he was staring straight at him. He was tired. His body ached. His adrenaline was gone and he wanted to lie down.

  As the battle continued to rage around him, Jules walked up to his lieutenant who bore his deathly gaze as he always did.

  “I’m done fighting,” Jules breathed. He never really had the courage to face his lieutenant before now, but something overcame him just then. He wanted out.

  Naru raised an eyebrow. “Very well,” the man decided. “You may withdraw from the battle if you so wish.”

  Jules dropped his weapon and started to walk away. He turned around and saw the boy and the girl fighting side by side, falling scores of soldiers that came after them.

  He turned around and kept on walking, past the many soldiers that were still flowing out from the city and arriving onto the battlefield. He didn’t want to fight any longer. He knew his insubordination would be costly.

  Perhaps he should have just killed the girl. No, that would bring him more shame than the insubordination. No matter what happened, he made a promise to himself. That no matter what happened, he would never regret the decision he made on the battlefield that day.

  Jules continued walking, ash and soot on his face, several bruises and scratches, his muscles ached and sore. He was going to return to Rathalin and join with his wife and daughter and spend some time with them. This was going to be something long overdue, and he would regret nothing.

  Rathalin’s walls would be fine without him. What difference did one soldier make in a battle on this grand of a scale? He kept on walking back to the walls as the archers let out another volley of arrows.