The dawn of the third day was greeted by the thundering sound of drums from the camp of the Oksidentalian
Army. The ground shook and the horses wildly neighed. Meanwhile, the Castelian Army was preparing to depart as ordered by the Rajah.
By the time the sun was at half point towards the middle sky, Dranreb together with his cavalry formed their formation right at the field facing their opponents while raising the flag for a pre-battle meeting.
With the meager size of his cavalry formation contrary to his, the opposing Rajah was quick with the uptake. His thoughts run along finding the reason why. So he ordered his men to raise the flag used to agree with the meeting.
Dranreb with Nosrac and Eeyad started to gallop towards the enemy ranks with obvious haste which added to the suspicions of the Rajah of Oksidental.
"Might as well know the reason why with the sudden gloomy atmosphere there," he commented."Prepare for their arrival!," the Rajah then ordered.
"Perhaps they got scared. It's only reasonable, we got more forces than them," a datu laughingly remarked.
Much to his surprise,however, no one shared his sentiment. The other datus were silent and still like stone statues, their sharp eyes fixed ahead.
"Perhaps this is your first time against the Castelian forces, Licar. No?" The Rajah of Oksidental asked in a slight indignant tone.
"Uhh. yes," Licar replied, glancing nervously at his surroundings as if looking for a place to hide. He straightened up and boldly declared, "But if I may be permitted to speak, your highness--"
"Proceed."
"I've been in campaigns against Bclod and Capizul though. And compared to what I have seen, I can feel no threat from the army of Castel."
"Tsk. Do you know why I feel my bones rattling whenever I face their forces?"
"Er.. your highness."
"The Castelian forces are vicious in battle." The Rajah stared down at Licar as if sizing him. "Learning history might be of help to you, Licar. I don't find your power weak, but I find your impulsive tendency to underestimate your opponents awfully disagreeable."
"I apolo--"
"An apology won't cut it if you had your men recklessly follow your ideals while charging forward. Do you know why your battlefield formation utilizes the vastness of the field by extensively spreading thin? To prevent massive casualties in an instant. The rulers of Castel are damn monsters of war, they can plow through our group of ranks in an instant. And their Rajah is the first ever to reach the Rhodium rank in our generation, the most fitting to partake in the Bloodstone Test for demi-godhood."
When Dranreb arrived, the drums hushed and everyone's eyes were fixated at the kingly bearing of the Rajah of Castel and the imposing air around his two datus. The two rulers formally exchanged greetings, and Dranreb and his two datus were led to the Rajah's tent for the council.
Inside the tent, two royal seats were already prepared facing each other, and several other seats were placed behind the two. Two servants stood beside each royal seat, one carrying a glass jug of wine and the other one a platter with goblets on top.
"Take your seat Dranreb." The Rajah of Oksidental who was now seated at his chair gestured with his hand towards a royal seat. "Oh, and help yourself with our kingdom's wine. They're one of the best. It's not poisoned, don't worry. Although in your case, I have doubts that mere poisons will work."
"Thank you… Kudar," Dranreb gratefully replied as he sat down and signalled the servants for wine.
"So… to what do I owe this pleasure?"
"But at first, may I kindly request of the Rajah of Oksidental if he may ask his men to leave."
Everyone in the room gasped except for Nosrac and Eeyad. Hissing whispers filled the tent, and the Kudar had to raise his hands for everyone to silence down.
"It is a matter of great secrecy and urgency," Dranreb went on while slightly bowing his head.
Kudar raised his chin, rubbed it with his fingers, and gazed at Dranreb rather too intently. "I knew for once this might be the case. But I trust your men know about this matter that you have spoken of already?"
"Only the datus," Dranreb quickly replied.
"So I trust that having my datus stay will only be fair, no?"
"It was my intent. After all, this might need the wisdom of your prestigious men."
"Arlight. Only the datus shall stay. Everyone else leaves."
Reluctantly, high ranked warriors under the other datus and servants left. It was only after they had gone when Dranreb spoke again.
"A written prophecy of the Lord of Darkness Saragnay--"
"WHAT?!" Kudar exclaimed out loud in schock. "The Lord of Darkness?" He rubbed his chin, caressing it stiffly, his eyebrows furrowed deeper downwards, and a typical serious look started to reveal itself. "That's new, considering we haven't heard from him for 80 years now."
The Oksidentalian datus agreed. It was quite some time until everyone regained their composure. The matter has turned the air grave and heavy.
"That damn god," Kudar gnarled while clenching a fist, and a hint of tears were behind his voice.
Dranreb showed them the letter from the babaylan, and a discussion went on.
"So I came here to ask for your permission that we move this battle to a later date, but of course the statue of ancient ruin as disputed shall still be intact and that no exploration shall still be initiated by both parties. Of course, we will pay the recompense as required by the pact when one party requests a battle be moved to a later date."
"Hmmm.." Kudar rubbed his beard again. "Dranreb, this matter might not only concern your kingdom…" He thought for a long moment. "Perhaps this prophecy was for this day. But assuming that your forces are withdrawing..."
Everyone joined in the contemplation. And the possibility of such an event stiffened the knees of everyone who had their teeth clenched at such thought.
At that time, a datu leaned forward and whispered to Kudar. Kudar's face lit up and thoughtfully nodded his head.
"D-Dranreb… Saref wants to say something about the prophecy. He has studied the ancient literature of the world."
"Yes." Dranreb let out while exhaling. "Of course."
A tall, lean man slowly stood up and introduced himself.
"I am Datu Saref. My speciality is ancient magic, and so in my course of learning about it I have acquainted myself with ancient literature. Allow me to speak my mind on this matter." He courteously bowed his head and looked towards Dranreb.
Dranreb sensed something familiar in his appearance. "Oh, we have met in battle several times have we?"
"Yes, your highness."
Dranreb smiled weakly. This time of the day should have been for bloodshed, but now it has turned into something quite the opposite.
"You may proceed with your thoughts."
Saref courteously bowed.
"I find it particularly important to extract understanding from each line itself. By extracting the themes of these symbols presented here and correlating it with what is around us right now, we can find a sort of a clue as to what may happen…This is only my conjecture if it happens any time sooner before the forces of Castel withdraw. "
Saref brushed his eyes around implicitly asking for their agreement. Everyone nodded.
"As for the locusts that fly in swarms, I somehow think... This means our armies. This would mean the march of our armies will soon end. But I'm uncertain about the second line,I have no knowledge about something that concerns something relevant to silver… but the third line,I believe, can be taken literally. The battle that ensues, might be the battle today, will fill the crater with blood, and the offering to a god can mean the war god Varangao as this place is connected to him. The fourth line is also vague. This could mean Varangao, who was supposed to be dead according to the ancient literature, will be revived, by the blood of our armies?
"I had doubts all along about the status of our patron war god. Our sacrifices were left unanswered for a hundred year already, " Dranreb frowned. "Yet somehow during our battles we feel a god is guiding us. But our war god being revived is new to us… and the cause of his death."
Nosrac and Eeyad nodded in agreement.
"Oh yes. I think it's time to tell you," Kudar gravely said.
"About what?"
"Your grand--"
"Your highness!!!"
A warrior dashed inside and prostrated himself to the ground.
"You FOOL!" Kudar gnarled in indignation. "Who told you to disturb-"
"A WAR GOD!" The warrior was excessively trembling and his voice was that of someone sobbing. "A war god has descended at the center of the crater!"
"A war god?"
Without a moment's rest, another warrior dashed in and prostrated himself. "Your highness! Someone, unknown, has landed in the middle of the battlefield from the sky!"
"Shit."
Everyone hastily stood up in shock and without a second thought bolted towards the exit.
But a hysterical shrilling sound started to fill the air. Every warrior in the area cowered in the ground covering their ears. And like the revelation of the god of death himself, an otherworldly black mist emanated from the crater's centerpoint. A sight so ominous that everyone ran to their tents for their lives, succumbing to a primordial, instinctive fear.