***The Goblin Legion, several miles southwest of the Saint's Tower, in the middle of the Sea of Sand***
The Lord Tenguri never took his eyes off his invention: the multi-barreled crack horn. Throughout the journey from the city of the Saint's Tower to their present location, it stayed beside him. Deep inside, he was thinking of the wasted opportunity to test its practicality in an actual battlefield.
"…"
The goblin lord thought that the Special Scholar was the usual arrogant human the demons of Cherflammen knew. Who would've expected that it was the famous Lord Kuro of Arles, the 'Commoner General', that would appear in front of them?
"…"
Lord Tenguri heaved a sigh. Well, it's a better turn of events, than an actual bloodshed inside the Conclave, in which, it would surely leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth…
----------
***The Great Rising of the Undead, Chersea, not too long ago…***
"Push back those zombies!"
"Aim at the heads! Don't falter at their approach!"
"Fire!"
The orders coming from the military officers were drowned by the successive volleys of the 'crack horns'. Back then, the Goblin Legion was still about to make its own legend in warfare. It was just a regular armed force of goblins, sent by the lord of Goblinhom upon the request of the Usarved demon lord and the Demon Saint. Among its leaders was the Lord Tenguri of the Goblins, who led the Red Bannered Goblins.
"Swords and bayonets at the ready!"
"Here they come!"
"Don't let them bite you boys! Goblin or not, you'd turn into those monsters if you get bitten!"
As the zombie column marched towards their line, the goblin army braced for the undead wall with their swords and bayonets. Teeth clenched, prayers said, and grips tightened, the zombies and the demons clashed in a battle for survival.
"Hold the line!" the officers encouraged their people. "We'll show to the humans we're dependable allies!"
"Aaaarghhh!!!"
However, it was not an easy struggle. The zombies, though weak in single combat, was a force to reckon with in greater numbers. The goblins knew little on how to fight them, having gained the knowledge in the wars against the ghouls back in Cherflammen. But then, the ghouls were a 'thinking bunch'; they could even negotiate peace with them. On the other hand, the zombies just kept on pushing and biting…
If the goblins don't do something soon, they will be overwhelmed.
The Lord Tenguri, in an effort to rally the faltering morale of their forces, pushed forward to the frontlines, even though his staff was pleading him to stay behind. Using his nimble goblin limbs, he climbed above the heads of his own soldiers to reach the zombies, and fought the undead using his sword, and throwing some grenades on the horde.
However, even with all his efforts, it seemed that the zombies would never back down. Even though the goblin army was fighting with all their might, the undead horde kept on rushing their positions. Soon, there were signs that their forces were about to break…
"Don't be scared boys!" the goblin lord called out to his friends. "This is just like fighting the ghouls! And these bastards are brainless! Keep on hitting and killing them!"
Every time he'd encourage his soldiers, so was their fighting intensified. However, a goblin's body had its own limits, and that, combined with seeing some of their friends get torn apart by the rabid undead, put further strain on everyone's morale. Soon, everyone could see that they were fighting for their survival.
"Don't give up, goblins!" the Lord Tenguri raised his sword in an effort to rally the soldiers to him. "Let's show the humans our mettle! For Cherflammen and Goblinhom—"
His words were interrupted by a single bang, which caused for a zombie's head about to bite him to explode. The black blood from the undead splattered on his uniform, but he was fortunate enough that none of it entered his body.
"…"
"You're the, uh…Lord Tenguri of the Goblins, right? Good thing we arrived just in time."
Lord Tenguri, though he was still in shock on what just happened, turned towards the direction of the shot. Much to his surprise, the human armies, led by a human with black hair and strange clothes, was marching to his force's aid. The goblin lord was speechless, as the man—bloodied and dirty from the battlefield—smiled and reached out his hands to him, obviously for a shake.
"…" Of course, he obliged. Nevertheless, it was a strange gesture. The humans of Chersea, though the demons came to help them this time, would look unto their 'saviors' with fear and suspicion. However, for this human commander, he approached them like they were his friends.
"Err…pardon if I may sound rude," the Lord Tenguri said to him, "But may I know your name, good sir?"
"Ah, I'm just a commoner, see?"
"A commoner?" the goblin lord couldn't hide his surprise. "But you're leading an army!"
"Ahaha…some things happened…and now we're here."
"It doesn't matter," the Lord Tenguri brushed his comments aside. "We goblins would forever look at this event with joy and gratitude. So, human commoner, may you grant the request of this humble goblin lord to know your name?"
"Oh…a-alright. I'm Kuro, but, err…I don't know…they call me, the Lord Kuro of Arles."
----------
"Lord Tenguri!"
"!!!" The goblin lord returned to his senses when he heard the voice of his wife call out to him. It was the first time that he noticed that their carriage was stopped even though the Goblin Legion's column was still moving. He asked, "Anything up?"
"Yes, dear husband," Lady Baraquiel told her. "A soldier told me that a student-scholar from the Conclave was looking for you. She's at the end of the column, being attended to by our doctors."
"I see…let's go see her."
"Wait," the orc lady pulled him back to his seat. Then, she handed him a piece of folded paper, "I think you might want to see this first. It's from our sweet Srexe."
Wasting no time, the Lord Tenguri read his daughter's letter.
"What did Srexe say?" Lady Baraquiel asked him, after noticing the change of expression in her husband's face.
The Lord Tenguri, with worry evident in his eyes, never answered her. But one look, and the orc lady knew that it was an urgent matter.
"Should I ask the help of the orcish knights?" she suggested.
"Yes," the goblin lord nodded. "Will you muster them and hurry to the Conclave?"
"I'll send a messenger to my brother, then."
"Thank you. I'm sure we'll be greatly needed by our daughter in their fight against the tyranny of Emile Biorno."
A few moments later, an order from the commander of the Goblin Legion was spread throughout the entire column. They were to go back to the Saint's Tower and set up camp outside the city limits.
----------
**Greg**
I…I don't know what to say…
"…"
The incident, now known as the 'Advanced Course Dormitory Massacres' eventually got out of the Conclave, and reached the parents of the dead and the injured. Needless to say, they were outraged—not only towards the killers of their children, but also to the current Lord Head Scholar.
However…
"It's not the Special Scholar's fault, we understand that."
"That Emile Biorno must die! The Special Scholar should execute him!"
"Let the Special Scholar get the position of the Head Scholarship! I'll for him!"
"…"
I couldn't stomach the comments I was hearing from the parents of the victims. I mean, yes, I'm aware that I did not order the massacre of those children, yet, I'm also to blame for their deaths. Why would those parents exempt me, when the fact remained that their kids won't defy the Biornos if it's not because of my candidacy?
Getting mad at me would be more comforting than they just let me pass for my sins…
"Sir?" it was Princess Noir. She was standing behind me, who was, in turn, stood before the tombstone dedicated to the dead. They were all buried at the foot of the Saint's Tower, a few distance away from the walls of the Conclave.
Yes, it violated the school rules, which stated that we were all forbidden—the students and the faculty—to go outside except on weekends. However, fuck those stupid rules. I would choose to show my solidarity to the dead than conform to the Conclave's oppressive policies.
"Your Highness…those parents…"
"Shevaun had been working hard in the background to clear your name from the mess Emile Biorno created," she explained. "As your student, and your friend, I don't want to waste the hard work we gave to make your candidacy possible."
"I…I understand…"
"However…" there was sadness and pain in her voice, "…if…if you decide to withdraw from the elections, Lord Greg, then we'd also accept it. This isn't your fight, yet you're getting dragged into this situation."
"True, this isn't my fight, and it's exhausting," I admitted. "I'm a human, and I'm not even from this world! I shouldn't get myself involved in your affairs."
The Usarved princess averted her gaze from me; I could tell that she was ashamed of what happened.
"Despite that," I continued, "I can't stay silent whenever there's something wrong in front of me. And now that someone innocent died, I'm even more determined to win the Lord Head Scholarship."
"Don't push yourself, Sir…you've been hurting."
"I already steeled myself. No one's giving up today. The die is cast," as my frustrations surfaced, I tightened the grip on the tombstone. "If Emile Biorno wanted war, then I'd willingly oblige."
"But Sir," Princess Noir countered. "My army was still a day away from here. What do you intend to do?"
"There's no need for an army, Your Highness…" my hands began to glow in golden-yellow, as the clear Cherflammen skies slowly darkened because of the gathering gray clouds. Wind also started to blow, followed by the rumbling sound of thunder and peals of lightning. "I did not desire the god-powers, but if it's given to me to crush the injustice I see, then I'll use it against my enemies without mercy."
----------
***The Conclave***
After the 'Advanced Course Dormitory Massacres', the entire school was noticeably silent. Save for the time they let in the parents of those students who died to claim the bodies, there were no further incidents. Also, the displays of defiance against the ruling Biorno clan and their allies disappeared, and the teachers—who stopped conducting classes to suppress the Special Scholar's supporters—were having a day of rest after an entire week full of tension.
If that 'peace' will continue for a few more days, the Lord Head Scholar will surely declare a 'return to normal'…
"…"
As the Special Scholar and the Usarved princess headed out, orders were given to those who were posted at the gates of the Conclave never to let them back inside the complex. The teachers and staff stationed there were given the modern guns, in addition to the swords and daggers for melee. Under in no condition or situation they would let the troublemaker, the Special Scholar, pass them, so they erected barricades behind the iron gates.
But then, just as they finished putting up their defenses, the skies darkened and a gale blew sand straight from the desert and into their eyes. As sandstorm was rare in those parts, everyone immediately knew the cause for that weather disturbance.
"I-It's the Special Scholar!" someone shouted.
The teachers and other school staff turned their attention toward the gates, where they saw the man they dreaded, walking slowly in their direction. Even in the midst of the sandstorm, everyone could see his hands glowing golden-yellow—a proof that he was the one whipping up the heavens for those terrible weather phenomena. However, also in his hands were a matchlock pistol and a sword…
The Special Scholar is ready to fight and kill.
"Do not be intimidated! We're more than him; man the walls!" the leader of the opposing side shouted his orders. Immediately, the teachers and the staff took defensive positions behind their barricade, with their guns pointed at the Special Scholar. "Shoot at him!"
"!!!" Nevertheless, the human intensified the sandstorm so much that their line of sights were rendered useless. And to add to their woes, the flying sand particles got into the barrels of their modern guns, jamming the tubes and ports that make it work.
"The crack horns won't explode!"
"Damn it! Reinforce the gates then! Don't let him scale it!"
The supporters of Emile Biorno got out of their hiding spots and went to the gates, though they had to feel their way towards it because of the sandstorm. Once they were at the right place, they drew their swords, waiting for the Special Scholar to climb the iron bars and fall into their weapons on the other side.
However, the Lord Greg never even bothered to use the gates.
"!!!"
Instead of climbing the iron bars, he called in a big chunk of hailstone, followed by a lightning that struck and burned the gates of the Conclave. In one full swipe, the defenders were electrocuted or crushed by the ice, much to the shock and confusion of the others.
"Where are the ladies?" someone shouted. "Seduce that bastard at once!"
The teachers and the staff then sent in their female colleagues, in an attempt to control the Special Scholar. Nevertheless, the Lord Greg came in prepared; using the anti-succubi talismans of the Usarveds to ward off the seduction. True to his vow of 'no mercy' to those who oppose him, he shot at the succubi, killing two and wounding one who escaped his onslaught. By that time, he already passed by the pillars that held the gates, and was on his way to the barricades.
"We can't let him in!" the leader drew his sword. "Attack!"
The demons then emerged from their defensive positions, swords and daggers out, and tried to overwhelm the Special Scholar by simultaneous attacks. Despite that, as they had to traverse the remaining distance between them and the Lord Greg, the human had the chance to call in lightning strikes that obliterated many of their numbers and flattened their barricades.
"…"
The remaining demons stopped in their tracks. The Special Scholar continued on his leisurely walk, as if savoring every terrorized look in the eyes of his enemies. In each step he would reload his matchlock pistol, then shoot at his paralyzed foes without even listening to their pleas for quarter. Those who were near him, he stabbed to death, then spat at their corpses in sheer hate and anger.
----------
Princess Noir followed the Lord Greg from afar. Nevertheless, from what she was witnessing, it's like she's looking at a different person. She and Shevaun did researched on his personality, and they were aware of his violent tendencies…yet, it was still terrifying and disheartening to see him go berserk like that.
The kind and understanding Lord Greg, now releasing his rage and frustrations at everything that happened.
But of course, the Usarved princess couldn't find fault in his actions; she knew him. The Lord Greg valued the students, even those who were just acquainted to him…and for them to be butchered mercilessly…
Emile Biorno is asking for the Special Scholar's wrath.
The Lord Greg then approached the last living survivor of the defenders of the gates. He was paralyzed as well, a result of the terror the Special Scholar showed them. He was shivering, pants soaked in urine, and he was kneeling as well. The demon tried to plead for his life, though he repeatedly stammered to have any meaningful words to get across the human.
"!!!"
The Lord Greg then grabbed him by the collar and brought his face near his. He asked, "Where is Emile Biorno?"
"P-P-P-Please s-s-s-s-s-s-s-sp-p-p-spare me-me-me," was what the demon could only say.
"!!!" the Special Scholar shot at his arm at point-blank range, leaving a gaping hole in his limb. "Answer me, where is Emile Biorno? I want to talk to him!"
"I-I-I'm so-so-sorry—" he was interrupted when the Lord Greg slapped him.
"Where is Emile Biorno?"
"I'm so—guh!" a kick to his stomach sent the demon rolling on the ground. But the Special Scholar never let him recover.
"Where is Emile Biorno?"
"I-I'm sor—kuh!" the Lord Greg stabbed him by the arm. By then, the demon's voice was noticeably weak, he was clinging on to his dear life, yet…
"Where is Emile Biorno?"
"I—"
The Special Scholar was about to deliver him the killing blow, when Princess Noir had enough. She rushed to embrace her teacher, tears falling from her eyes, and pleading, "Sir, please that's enough! Sir! Don't become like them!" The demon princess also held his bloodied hands, in an effort to wake him from his rage.
"…" The Lord Greg did stop from his violence, and dropped his weapons. Then, exhaustion took over his body, and he sat on the ground, beside the dying demon. Princess Noir never left his side; she just held him, his head close to her heart. Soon, tears fell from the Special Scholar's eyes as well. Both of them knew that he never wanted to do this, yet was pushed to, in his desire to seek justice to those young souls who died in his name.
"…"
No words were said between them, but they perfectly understood each other. Greg Santos should forgive himself.
----------
***The Office of the Head Scholar***
Watching the debacle of their allies from afar, the Lord Head Scholar and his other supporters were all silent. Once again, they witnessed the god-powers of the Special Scholar, though he also showed his cruelty the moment he was triggered.
And they knew they were in his 'crosshairs'.
"Milord," one of the teachers approached Emile Biorno. "I think this is the good opportunity to negotiate with the Special Scholar."
"Yes, milord!" another one spoke up. "Please let us send a delegation to talk with him! Lady Capaldi says that he's reasonable; we may be spared from his wrath if we come to the Special Scholar soon—"
"Silence, you defeatists!" the Lord Head Scholar roared. "If you're fine with a despicable and barbaric human ruling over you, then you go and kowtow before him! As for me, I will not leave this office alive!"
"Milord, please understand," the first teacher pleaded. "This man bears the god-powers, not only one but two of them! Who are we to defy him, who is favored by the heavens?"
"!!!" At that point, Emile Biorno lost his patience and shot the poor demon. As his corpse lay on his own pool of blood, the Lord Head Scholar issued his warning to everyone else in the room. "I don't give a damn even if the gods shower praises to this human, this Special Scholar. He came to our school, created trouble, and now he wants to be the Head Scholar? This is an affront to everyone of us!"
The others were silent. Some were looking at their dead co-worker, while the rest didn't say anything else.
"Those who want to go and become a slave to the Usarveds and their human lackey, you're free to leave. I don't want to see your faces…"
Nevertheless, even with the violence and threats, no one abandoned their lord.
"Good. I presume everyone of us here are of one mind and goal, and that is, to defend the Head Scholarship of our beloved Conclave from that human, and his Usarved supporters," the Lord Head Scholar said, as he raised his sword. "I may be an old incubus, but I still got my strength to lift a sword to kill. Those who are willing to fight, stay with me!"
"Yeessss!!!" the people inside the Head Scholar's office chorused.
"Defend the Conclave!" Emile Biorno shouted to raise the shaken morale of his supporters.
"To deeeeaaaaatttthhh!" they answered him. "To deeeeaaatttthhh—!!!"
However, their cheers were suddenly interrupted when something crashed through the walls of the office and hit one of the teachers, lopping off his head. Their hurrahs immediately turned to shock and despair, as they heard a trumpet blast, followed by the sounds of feet marching in unison. It started off as a soft, far-away noise, until it grew louder.
One of the teachers near the window took a peek at what's happening outside, and, to his surprise…
"That flag and those uniforms…" he quickly got away from the windows, scampering in fear. "Th-That's…the Goblin Legion!"
----------
"The Goblin Legion is here!"
Despite their shock, the supporters of Emile Biorno scrambled to look. From their vantage point, they watched the Goblin Legion forming up battle lines outside the city limits; infantry in their battalions, cavalry moving on the flanks, and with their artillery arranged and pointed their cannons towards the Office of the Head Scholar. As they were watching in terror, another stray cannon ball crashed to the room and destroyed a nearby library.
Emile Biorno was incensed. "Call up our armies as well!" he bellowed. "Those tricky Usarveds fooled us and connived with the goblins to invade our territories!"
"Milord, there's no more time!" a teacher told him. "The Goblin Legion is outside our city! Any movement would provoke them to fight!"
"You're defeatist—"
A third cannon ball fell straight on the supporters of the Lord Head Scholar, disemboweling and beheading some of them. Chaos spread quickly inside the Head Scholar's Office, as the morale of Emile Biorno's supporters sunk even lower.
For his part, the Lord Head Scholar kept his silence. Watching his people die before his very eyes in the most gruesome manner took its toll on him; he was stunned, and the blood that splattered on his scholar's uniform further worsened his condition.
Though the Biornos outnumber the Goblin Legion, that they caught them unprepared is enough for the former to consider raising the white flag…
----------
***The courtyard of the Conclave***
The Goblin Legion's return caused celebration from among the students, who thought that they were there to liberate their school. Every demon—from every clan and grade level—came out to meet the soldiers of the Lord Tenguri, who was about to invade the Conclave itself. The goblin forces, in turn, took the children to safety, as news were coming from inside the school that Emile Biorno and his supporters were holing up in the Head Scholar's office.
Princess Noir immediately went to see the Lord Tenguri, "Lord Goblin, you have no idea how happy we are to see you here!"
"Your Highness," the goblin commander bowed to show his respects. "I returned because my daughter told me about the students campaigning against the tyranny of Emile Biorno. Is the Lord Kuro here? She said that he's a candidate for the Head Scholarship."
"Yes, Lord Goblin," the Usarved princess confirmed. "The Lord Greg…uh…he's taking a rest."
"Is he the one who caused that localize weather disturbance we saw as we approached the city?"
Princess Noir nodded.
"Good heavens!" Lord Tenguri blurted out. "He's one powerful human!"
"Dad!"
The Usarved princess and the goblin lord turned their attention to the newcomer, the Lady Srexe, as well as her friend and cousin, Tama'lee. The orc girl was silent, and the goblin girl stayed beside her to comfort her from the sounds of cannon fire.
"Srex! Tama!" the Lord Tenguri hugged his daughter and niece. "You guys okay? A terrible news reached us that a massacre happened here days ago!"
"Those Biorno bastards and their supporters did it!" Lady Srexe told him. "If you can pulverize Emile Biorno's office with him inside it, you're doing this land a favor, dad."
The goblin lord could only chuckle at her suggestion.
"By the way, where's Ma?"
"She went to her brother to muster the orcish knights. I think they'll be coming from the direction of Orcdwelt in a few days."
"My armies from Darkmoor will also arrive tomorrow," Princess Noir interjected. "Thank you for coming to our aid, Lord Tenguri."
"My pleasure, Your Highness," Lord Tenguri smiled. "I'd been wanting to sock that Biorno guy's face ever since he took over the Conclave. The other clans rallied to him because they thought he'll keep the peace; but he made it even worse by making his own faction in your conflict with the Knights of Cassandra David."
"I hope he sues for peace soon," the Usarved princess noted the goblin bombardment of his office. "From the looks of it, you'll bombard the Office of the Head Scholar to smithereens."
"Well, he better do it now. My armies are well-stocked to rain cannon balls on him and his supporters for three days."