The next morning came with its cruel joyful clear sunrise. The weather was the complete opposite of my mood and so it only looked cruel and spiteful to me. Mother and I left the house early. I followed her to the exit of the village and there my "father" waited together with eight other villagers. Both men and women would go and try to win a war without knowing how.
Elder Irvin was also at the scene together with Engilde who also studied under Elder Irvin. When he saw me he came over with Engilde in tow.
"This is a good opportunity to teach both of you the sending ritual."
He began to ramble without taking into regard my feeling of wanting to destroy the world, so my mom could stay. Even if that was clearly impossible for me.
"This is a prayer to all the gods in order to bless the warriors and give them victory in battle."
Hey Irvin? Give me some space will you? I don´t care right now. My gaze went to my mother and tried to decipher her facial expression.
She looked really grim and I find it a wonder why she hadn´t hit anyone yet.
She gave me a short, powerful hug.
"Stay well."
She whispered in my ear.
Isn´t that what I should say?
"Survive, Mom."
Tears started to well up in the corners of my eyes, but I squished them as well as I could.
"Don´t be a hero. Just come back safe and sound."
She smiled sadly and nodded, joining the already waiting villagers.
"Today we are gathered here..."
Elder Irvin started talking about something irrelevant. I was in enough church services to know that he started to preach. That could take a while and during that time my gaze was glued to my mother.
"... and with that, I wish you a nice battle and hope that you will return here."
Already? He could have talked a bit more...
The warriors nodded and turned to walk away. I also turned my back and went into the village. I really hate it, when something I really want slowly disappears before my eyes. It is always painful. So just cut it short.
Elder Irvin followed me together with Engilde to his house.
"Engilde will also live together with us."
His voice grumbled an answer before I even could ask. I looked at Engilde and she just shrugged her shoulders.
"He said something about picking a few things up from... you."
Ähm... Engilde could you maybe sound a little less insulted? You do know that you lost to me, right?
I looked at Elder Irvin with an eyebrow raised. I tried to look really intimidating just like mom.
But seemingly I failed as he just chuckled.
"Your behavior is sometimes a bit irritating, but for a Seansceal, it might be just the right attitude."
Irritating... Yeah, I get it.
I went into his house and sat down near the fireplace.
"Speaking about irritating..."
Elder Irvin chuckled again and sat down after inviting Engilde inside.
"Let´s hear it."
"What exactly is the goal of sending out warriors from all the villages?"
He looked a little bit lost as I said my question and Engilde just looked baffled.
"You don´t even know that? Why do I need to learn anything from you?"
I sighed. Now there is another distraction. I looked Engilde in the eyes as she glared daggers at me.
"Perhaps you can learn fighting from me?"
Without a word, she jumped at me. Trying to punch me. But I was blessed by Aer. There is no way something this slow would hit me now even when I am sitting. Before she reached me I had jumped toward the ceiling, giving me a boost by repelling myself from the ceiling and aiming for her neck.
Just before I could hit Elder Irvin caught me.
"Now, now. Let´s stay reasonable, okay?"
His voice sounded already tired and I am pretty sure that by now he regretted his choice.
He put me down and sat down gesturing for both of us to do so, too.
"Please remember that fighting isn´t allowed unless it is in the training or the tournament."
We glared at each other, but after a while, I just sighed and sat down. Engilde followed my example after a few moments of hesitation.
"I am sorry Engilde. I am a bit... frustrated today."
She just nodded.
"I shouldn´t have attacked you. But I still don´t understand why this is needed."
Elder Irvin coughed into his fist that sounded more like thunder that an actual cough. And both of us looked at him waiting for his words.
"This will become clear enough with time, trust me Engilde."
He fixed his gaze toward me.
"But I have to admit I also don´t know what you mean with that question. The goal is of course to destroy the enemy. What else?"
Engilde nodded smugly.
Even Elder Irvin doesn´t know about strategies? This will be hopeless, won´t it?
"So the goal is just to kill as many of them as possible in order to hopefully scare them away?"
Elder Irvin furrowed his brows probably put off by my disdainful ton of voice.
"I somehow don´t like the way you put it, but yes. We will kill them until they won´t return. This is how we defeated them before and will do so again."
He is serious, isn´t he? Can that be really considered a victory? I think it would be more of a strategic retreat from the small people. And now they are back. Regardless there are better ways to make them retreat.
"There are some ways to quicken the... victory."
Engilkde sat there and just shook her head in disbelief, while Elder Irvin looked like he was somewhat intrigued.
"How so?"
"Attack their supply line. Starve them, by killing their hunters and don´t let them get anywhere near water. Avoid their troops, invade their territory, and attack civilians... I mean non-combatants."
The best way would be to poison water sources, but I don´t know about any poison and I don´t think they do.
Elder Irvin and Engilde shared a long look.
"What are non-combatants?"
I stared at them in disbelief.
Before I realized it. There are no civilians among those people. Everyone is a soldier. That goes even further as there isn´t a word for a soldier... I think.
This really is hopeless!