A formidable army approaches Yuueii.
The one thing that has never made it to your kingdom's borders in hundreds of years— and it's taking place during your reign, on a holy day meant to honor the Cultivator. You can only imagine what the Court will think, will say. Who have you wronged to earn this punishment, to deserve this curse? The list of your enemies is surely longer than the standard scroll of parchment, but who would dare enter into your lands, bringing war to your very doorstep?
From your elevated vantage point, you can see a great mass of horseback-mounted soldiers cantering toward the kingdom from a distance. A huge cloud of dust rises behind them. You're standing on top of Yuueii's command tower, which is raised some thirty feet above the defensive wall and set back from the battlements. The tower will provide a safe vantage point to witness the coming attack; the only passage between the wall and the tower is a short drawbridge, which is currently raised.
Beside you are Head Knight Izuku, High Priestess Ibara, Lady Mei, and Lord Aizawa. They all look rather apprehensive. You try to ease their worries with a relaxed stance and confident smile, disguising your own building anxiety with aplomb.
"I don't know how they got this close, Your Majesty," Izuku mutters, cradling his chin as he thinks aloud. "The outposts should have warned us about an army this big. The same goes for the outlying farms. Unless… unless this army conquered other towns too fast for them to send warnings— and made sure there were no survivors. And perhaps this is an advance force, designed to move quickly so that we had little time to prepare."
"Who are they?" You must ask. "Who dares?"
"Judging by the fact that all their soldiers are mounted, I suspect they are Skegg." Izuku chews his lip. "Horse warriors, from the West. They've been rife with civil war for the last five years or so. But if they've got an army out here, maybe someone finally managed to unify them…?" He trails off muttering to himself under his breath.
Next to you, Lady Mei fiddles with her golden rings. "How long until they arrive, Knight?"
"By my best guess, we have about half a day," Izuku replies. "They should be arriving at sunset."
"Could they be here to trade, or for diplomatic purposes?" asks Priestess Ibara. "How do you know they're here to fight?"
"Thousands of soldiers don't approach a city unless they're planning to shed blood." Izuku turns toward you. "And I'd wager that assassin wasn't sent after the Queen for peaceful purposes, either. Your Majesty, we must prepare for battle. I estimate that we'll be outnumbered two to one. But if we're smart about this, we might be able to fend them off."
You nod your head automatically, but truly are you up to the task? That remains to be seen. Outside Yuueii's seventy-foot-high defensive wall, a shantytown of hovels and shacks is built against the moat, containing hundreds of people who can't afford to live inside the city. Those people are now outside Yuueii's main gate, pounding on the sturdy door and crying to be let inside.
If you don't let them in, they will surely be slaughtered by the Skegg. There could also be enemy spies sent by the Skegg amongst them. But when you hear the desperate pleas from the people, it's clear your choice is already made. Still, you think strategically. Whether it be literal or figurative, you have played chess all your life. That doesn't make your next words any easier to speak.
"The shantytown is a defensive risk," you intone. "It must be burned down."
At first, the people protest, but when they realize there's no other way to get inside the city, they light torches and set fire to the shantytown. Dark smoke rises into the air. Flames consume the weak and fragile structures, razing the shantytown to ashes swiftly. You just hope everyone got out in time, bowing your head and closing your eyes as the weight of your choices settles in your bones.
Next to you, a tear rolls down Priestess Ibara's cheek. "Those were people's homes. For some it was all that they had."
Head Knight Izuku grunts. "It's not pleasant, but it's necessary. The shantytown would have given the Skegg too much cover."
"We never should have let it be built in the first place," you sigh. They should've been properly sheltered within the city's walls to begin with. You will rectify this. Now that the shantytown is destroyed, its former residents look up at you. "Let them in quickly," you demand. "I must protect all of my subjects."
It will dwindle your supplies, but the sanctity of life is invaluable. The cost cannot be quantified. Soldiers winch open Yuueii's gate with a clanking of steel. The citizens from the shantytown cheer, and many of them praise your name in gratitude. They swarm through the gate, into the protection of the city.
"They have no money to contribute to the kingdom's defense," says Lady Mei. "I hope you've thought the consequences through, Your Majesty."
"Being poor doesn't mean they deserve to die," says Priestess Ibara. "How would you like someone to throw away your life, purely because of the circumstances of your birth?"
"Ibara is right," you glare at the merchant. "It's my duty to protect all my citizens, not just the wealthy ones."
"Thank you, my Queen," says Priestess Ibara. "We are fortunate to have such a wise ruler leading this kingdom."
Lady Mei huffs. "You have a strange definition of wisdom, Priestess." You ignore the slight and turn back to the matter at hand.
Yuueii's wall is a sturdy construction, made from thick stone blocks. It has stood for hundreds of years, continuously growing and evolving, thanks to constant repairs. However, in recent decades, those repairs have been less frequent. From your position atop the wall, you can see sections that have crumbled, and there are large cracks that enemy soldiers could use to climb up.
You stride along the wall until you can look over the Gristle. Tucked in the northeastern corner of the city, right up against the defensive wall, this is Yuueii's poorest suburb. From your vantage point atop the wall, the Gristle's crammed dwellings and twisted streets look chaotic and jumbled. The only real difference between the Gristle and the shantytown outside is that the Gristle happens to fall on the inside of Yuueii's walls.
The Gristle's houses are made from cheap, hastily cobbled-together materials: tarpaulins, unfinished wooden beams, old wardrobes, and fraying ropes. They would be easy to dismantle and carry up to reinforce the wall. It might seem tyrannical, but it'll save on dwindling supplies. These are desperate times, after all. Yet again, you take from those who have the least. It feels as though you are already going against your inherent values as a person, in order to fulfill your solemn duty as a Queen. This is war. But may the Goddess act as your witness, you will fix this.
"Do not fear," you tell the people. "The Arborturgic Order will provide new accommodation. Isn't that right, Priestess?"
Ibara bows her head. "It would be our honor to accommodate anyone who has lost their home today. I cannot promise that everyone will be able to have an indoor room in our quarters, but I'm sure we can grow some new dwellings in the Arborturgic Gardens. At this time of year, it will be manageable."
Soldiers move through the Gristle, dismantling homes and carrying the supplies to the top of the wall. There, other soldiers sharpen wood into stakes. As the hour progresses, an ugly row of spikes grows atop the wall. You try to ignore the sobs and wails as more impoverished people lose their homes because of you.
Knight Izuku grunts. "Messy, but it'll do the job. Well done, my Queen."
His praise sounds different than usual. Now that you think about it, the Knight's entire demeanor has shifted. His brows furrowed in thought, his voice low and gruff as he barks your orders to the other soldiers. They obey the lowborn man without question after fighting alongside him on the front lines for years. It's such a vast contrast from the soft spoken and nervous way that he behaves with the Court. So this is your Knight in battle mode.
As your soldiers form up atop the wall, Izuku surveys them with a watchful eye. Scowling, he turns toward you. Clearly, he's not happy with the number of soldiers you have compared to the approaching army.
"Your Majesty," he says. "I strongly recommend that we enlist additional recruits."
"I second that," chimes Mei. "Get the Order involved, too. Magic would be handy right now. And if you've got any featherdew, Ibara, we could use that as well."
Featherdew is a liquid essence that enhances arborturgic powers— supposedly, at least. As far as you're aware, it's a mythical substance, shrouded in rumor and fable. No one— not even the great Sorceress Chiyo has ever confirmed its existence. But there is a very real and very local source of power that could boost your martial prowess. It's only a matter of convincing their devout leader.
Ibara glares at Mei. "The Arborturgic Order is strictly pacifist. And featherdew doesn't exist." You stride over to Priestess Ibara, who greets you with a kind smile. "You're doing an excellent job, Your Majesty," she says. Judging by the warmth in her voice, hopefully she will be amenable to your request.
"Priestess." You flash her a dazzling smile. "I'll owe you greatly if you can help me protect our kingdom should the need arise."
Ibara stares at you for a long time, and you hold her gaze, hoping she sees the traces of humility in your eyes. The sounds of soldiers readying for war echo all around you. Nearby, someone starts wailing. After what feels like an eternity, Ibara nods. "I'll command my arborturgists to help," she says. "I pray that I won't regret this."
The wind shifts direction, bringing with it a noise like rolling thunder. You look up instinctually, but there are only a few clouds in the sky. It's the sound of hooves, pounding loud enough to shake the whole world. The Skegg are close. Maybe less than an hour away.
"Your Highness!" You turn as a messenger sprints along Yuueii's wall, waving his arms with frantic desperation. "Your Highness!" he shouts.
You try to remember his name. People always appreciate that. "What is it, Hanta?"
He stumbles to a stop on the walkway and gapes at you. Clearly, he wasn't expecting you to call him by name. "It's the sea, Your Majesty. There's a fleet of ships approaching the city!"
Beside you, Izuku stiffens. "What do you mean?"
"You'd better see for yourself." The messenger winces. "They look like pirates."
There's no time to reach the harbor. Fortunately, your command tower has an adequate view. From up here, you have a sweeping line of sight across Yuueii, all the way to the harbor in the city's north. Your harbor contains hundreds of ships— many of them about to cast off before the battle. A long chain runs across the harbor mouth to protect the city from naval attack; currently, the chain is down. It hasn't been raised in at least ten years.
To the north, the harbor opens up into Dark Shadow Bay. Fed by the Pinkflow River to the east, the bay holds a large expanse of calm, still water. On pleasant days, many citizens take leisurely swims in the warm water or stroll along the magnolia tree-lined banks or gather shiny seashells on the pink sandy beach.
To the west, a narrow opening leads from Dark Shadow Bay out into the Sea of Tartarus. For any ships to enter Yuueii, they must pass through this opening (dubbed Midnight's Gate by sailors) and then enter the harbor. Since the gate is right beside Yuueii's northern walls, hostile passage into Dark Shadow Bay would be a dire task. And even if a ship got into the bay, it couldn't enter the harbor with the chain raised. Two layers of protection shelter the city from hostile ships. And yet, here they are: dozens of frigates bearing black flags, about two hours away from reaching the gate.
"Pirates," mutters Izuku. "The Skegg must have hired them to blockade our sea routes. Damn it, there must be seventy boats out there."
Mei curses. "Our ships… Your Majesty, we need our trading routes to survive."
Everyone looks toward you and Lord Aizawa. "We can endure for some time, even without trade," says Aizawa. "Fish can be caught in the harbor, and we have stockpiles of water and other staples. But it won't be pleasant."
Izuku nods. "Those pirates won't dare come into the harbor. They would have to pass right beside our walls, and our archers would destroy their crew. But we should raise the harbor chain, just to be safe."
Mei winces, and Izuku rounds on her with a tone and intensity you've never heard him use before, let alone with a noblewoman. "Do you have an issue with that?" the Head Knight questions.
"As a matter of fact, I do," Lady Mei does not back down to his larger frame. "There are several merchant crews about to leave, many of them carrying valuable goods. They can be out before the pirates arrive. But if you raise the chain now, you'll trap the crews, and that could make them resentful."
"I'd make that trade," argues Izuku. "We have no idea what we're about to face. We can't let anything valuable leave this city. You have to keep the merchant ships here, where we can use them. They'll understand. This is martial law now."
Lady Mei shakes her head. "That would be a big mistake. I don't expect a lowborn, sword swinging brute like you to—"
"Enough," you snap as the first spidering cracks in your perfect mask begin to form. "Raise the chain, and that is the end of it."
Izuku nods, ducking his head slightly at your sharp reproach. "Good."
Mei gives an exasperated sigh. "I wish you hadn't done that." You send a withering look in her direction, silently daring her to give you a reason.
"What are we going to do about the pirates?" asks Ibara quickly in an attempt to move on and prevent another disagreement.
"They won't attack us for now," answers Izuku. "The cliffs and our walls are too high on the seaward side. They're mercenaries. They'll do exactly what they were paid for: sit there and discourage ships from leaving or approaching Yuueii. We might have to deal with them at some point. But for now, we need to focus on the Skegg. They'll be here soon."
Izuku's right. The pirates add another complication, but there's no point worrying about them for now. You turn away from the harbor to face the defensive wall. A nervous energy simmers in the air. Before, you could just hear the pounding of their horses' hooves. Now, the sound is loud— and growing with each moment. Atop Yuueii's wall, your soldiers hold their weapons with shaky hands. You even spot a few of them crying. Goddess help you…
"Our soldiers are nervous, my Queen," says Izuku. "You need to galvanize them for battle." That seems easier spoken than acted on. Still, it's worth a try.
You stride to the edge of the wall. Nervous whispers fill the air as nearby soldiers turn to watch. You crouch, placing a dainty hand against the merlon of the battlement. The stone is cold against your skin and polished smooth from centuries of use. How many soldiers have brushed against this wall since Yuueii was built?
A small green plant sprouts from a crack in the stone. The shoot is tiny, no bigger than your thumb. You rest your finger against it, making the plant quiver. Taking a deep breath, you draw upon your arborturgy. An expectant hush fills the air. Yuueii's soldiers have grown quiet in anticipation. In the distance, the pounding of hooves grows louder.
Energy flashes through your hand, striking the shoot. The plant erupts into the air, tendrils unfurling with the crack of expanding limbs. Soldiers gasp in awe. Sudden tiredness sweeps through your body as you stumble back, and for the second time that day Izuku catches you in his arms. You watch as the plant grows and hardens to form a thirty-foot-tall lion-head topiary, frozen in a silent snarl, its eyes glaring toward the approaching Skegg.
For a few moments, there is nothing but stunned silence. Then, a lone soldier starts to clap. Others join in, and the applause builds to a thunderous intensity, drowning out the approaching Skegg.
"Yuueii! Yuueii! Yuueii!"
You're not sure when it happens, but the chants begin to change.
"Death to the Skegg! Death to the blasphemers!"
There's anger in the chants now. The burning fury of shared purpose, directed against a single foe. Still, this red-faced emotion, this patriotic fervor— it's what you wanted, isn't it?
"Most impressive, Your Highness," says Priestess Ibara. "I'm glad to see that all your arborturgic training in paid off."
Knight Izuku clamps his gauntleted hand on your shoulder. The heavy metal sends cold streaking through your body. "The Skegg are close," he says. "We should make our final preparations, my Queen."
"I can use magic to set a trap in the grass to ensnare their horses," you think with that mischievous brain of yours. "It would be even stronger with the aid of the Order, but I won't force the pacifists to participate."
Priestess Ibara sighs. "Not everyone in my Order will want to be an accessory to war, but I did promise to help and I stand by it. And as for your contribution… I know you trained with Sorceress Chiyo, but this will be a huge undertaking. Even she might think twice about a spell this large. Still, I won't try to change your mind. I'll gather my priests and priestesses, and I'll see you on the field, Your Majesty."
Head Knight Izuku leads you into a stairwell. Together, you wind down the twisting stone steps. The stairs spiral clockwise, making it hard for right-handed attackers to swing a sword on their way up. You reach the base of the stairs. Down here, the air is cool and damp, and the approaching army is just a distant, faint tremor. Izuku leads you along a narrow corridor. You're walking through the wall itself, with your elbows brushing against blocks of thick stone. Both you and the Knight have to stoop next to the tiny door; a sally port hidden from the outside. With a click of metal, Izuku opens the door. Light floods into the narrow corridor. You walk outside.
The pounding of approaching horses slams into you as you step out through the sally port. Down here on the ground, at the base of Yuueii's mighty wall, the sound is nothing short of deafening. Your brain rattles in your skull, and you feel the thunder of the hooves in your very bones.
"Quickly, Your Majesty!" shouts Izuku.
He leads you over a plank that stretches across Yuueii's moat. On the other side, a grassy field stretches away from the city.
With a clank of metal, Yuueii's gate opens, and the drawbridge lowers to form a bridge across the moat. Hundreds of priests and priestesses from the Arborturgic Order stride onto the field. They're clad in white gowns, with plants wrapped around their arms and legs. Each of them carries a long staff with a unique flower growing from the end, detailing their specialty.
Moving in perfect harmony, the arborturgists bow in your direction. "Glory to the Queen, protector of Yuueii!" they chant.
The arborturgists circle around you, then kneel on the grass. Each of them bows their heads. A lone figure detaches from the crowd to join you in the middle of the circle. It's High Priestess Ibara.
She smiles. "It's an honor to serve alongside you like this, my Queen."
Ibara begins to hum, and the other arborturgists join in with her wordless song, humming in unison. They reach down to touch the ground. You reach down to touch it, too, feeling the grass, feeling the dirt.
There's a strong sense of unity among the arborturgists. Most of them seem to support you. Hopefully that leads to a well-crafted enchantment.
A swooping sensation passes through you, and then you're not in your body anymore. Now you're spread out across the field, your mind split between each blade of grass and each arborturgist in the circle. A tremendous sense of unified oneness fills your being. Then a tearing sensation rips through your stomach. The grass quivers, sending a wave of energy rippling across the field.
You blink and you're back in your body. And it hurts. Groaning, you fall onto your back, clutching at your chest. There's an ache in your guts, like a knife's been shoved inside.
Warm hands dig underneath your body. It's Priestess Ibara, lifting you up. In the circle around you, the other arborturgists rise, looking pale and unsteady on their feet. Together, you all stagger back through Yuueii's gate. The drawbridge ratchets up, and the portcullis slams down to seal the entrance.
The trap has been set.
You stand upon the edge of the wall. In the distance, death approaches. Izuku casts his gaze over Yuueii's soldiers, and then into the kingdom beyond. The kingdom you must protect.
"To serve, and not be served," the Knight muses. "Let us serve our kingdom through victory, my Queen."
Your eyes widen. Over the years Izuku had often voiced feeling like a foreigner in your land, often ostracized from even the other common folk because of it. So hearing him say 'our kingdom' moves you more than words can describe. It sounds so right. Our kingdom.
The Skegg army are only minutes away now. From this close, they're a pounding mass of shining steel and blaring horns, and the late afternoon sunlight paints their horses in a reddish hue. On the wall beside you, Yuueii's soldiers shift nervously.
For some reason, you remember training under Chiyo. She warned that your magical skills could draw you to war, but you'd never imagined it would be on your own soil. Unfortunately it seems the old Sorceress was right.
You look to your Knight, your devoted right hand, for support.
He nods at you and smiles bright as the sun. "For Yuueii, my Queen."
The thundering of the Skegg's horses fades away into silence. Their army has drawn to a stop.
They've stopped about three quarters of a mile away from the wall. That's well beyond arrow range, and only a few hundred feet away from the arborturgically enchanted grass. Do they know about your trap?
At the head of the Skegg army, a man dismounts his horse. He is a towering figure, dressed in blood-red armor that seems to soak in the light. A long, wide, gleaming great sword is slung over his back. He wears a bear skinned cloak, the slain creature's frozen snarl obscuring his face from view. Even from three-quarters of a mile away, there's a sense of overwhelming presence and power to the man.
He strides toward the city. Yuueii's soldiers are deathly quiet. You can almost hear the man's armored bootsteps as he approaches. Standing beside you, Knight Izuku swallows and eases his sword from its sheath.
The Skegg man stops. With a crack like thunder, he stabs his great sword into the grass, driving the point two feet deep into the earth. Startled gasps sound from Yuueii's soldiers. The Skegg man moved so fast you barely saw the weapon leave his back. He removes his hooded bear cloak, then rests it on his great sword.
An involuntary gasp leaves your mouth. "Katsuki?!"
"K-Kacchan?!" Izuku chokes out in the same breath.
Six years ago
You push through a wall of vines to emerge in a clearing, and there it is: Chiyo's tree.
It's a towering, humongous redwood that spears several hundred feet up into the sky, dwarfing all the other trees in the Infyrm Jungle. There's something about the flowing, organic grace of it that no palace on earth could ever match. What else could you expect from the home of arguably the world's most powerful arborturgist?
Sweat rolls down your brow. The Infyrm Jungle is a sweltering tropical wild land, and it's been a long journey to get here from Yuueii. On horseback to travel the plains, on canoes to paddle up rivers, and finally on foot to trudge through this jungle. Hopefully it will be worthwhile. After all, you have grand plans of being the most powerful arborturgist Yuueii has ever seen!
A rustling noise sounds behind you. A flock of red-and-blue macaws bursts from the nearby canopy, flapping into the air with irritated squawks. You turn around, scanning between the trees for what could have spooked them. Suddenly, a jaguar bursts from a bush, racing right toward you. His mouth yawns open wide, exposing his fangs.
The jaguar prepares to pounce. Right before it jumps, tendrils erupt from nearby plants at your will. An organic wall forms between you and the beast. The jaguar bursts through, but the plants messed with its aim, sending the animal flying past your side.
The jaguar lands, skidding in the dirt as it whirls around to face you again. A fist-sized seed drops from the canopy above, right between you and the jaguar. It hits the ground and explodes. Yellow pollen bursts into the air, splattering across your face with a sticky wetness. It smells disgusting, like rotten meat and gunpowder. Bleh!
The jaguar yelps. By the time you've wiped the pollen away from your eyes, the animal is already racing away, back into the depths of the jungle. You're safe. A man plummets out of the canopy, falling toward the ground. A wild grin stretches across his pretty face.
Before he can crash into the ground, vines uncoil from nearby trees and wrap their tendrils around the man, slowing his fall. He swings toward you, his bare feet skimming inches above the soil. With unerring coordination, he lets go of the vine, flipping through the air to land in front of you.
Up close, he's an athletically built man, and quite a bit taller than you. Dirt is caked under his fingernails, and he wears a crocodile-skin tunic. Judging by his skin color, he's from somewhere even further north than Yuueii. He's a traveler to these parts, like you.
"I had the situation under control," you say before showing your palms with a cheeky grin. "But I won't complain about others doing my work for me."
"Don't get used to it, princess," he scoffs in a deep, raspy tone.
Reflexively, you reached for the crown of your head, but of course you left your tiara back home in your dutiful Squire's care. Could it be possible that this man knows you're a princess? That could really put a damper on things. You were hoping to escape all that formality since leaving your kingdom. The stranger doesn't seem to notice or care about your internal monologue, already turning his back on you in a display of arrogance.
"Can't believe a shitty little woman like you is gonna be trainin' with the old hag," he snarks over his shoulder, speaking with the unwavering confidence of a nobleman, but the brashness of a common tavern brute. " Tch , whatever, just stay out of my way— and don't be expectin' me to come runnin' every time you're in trouble! Y'can be jaguar chow for all I care. C'mon, the crone is waiting at the top of the tree. Doubt you'll last longer than a week out here in the wilds anyway, ya seem too prissy—"
His slew of insults are cut off by your loud, uproarious laughter, and the man turns to you utterly perplexed. Never before in all your life have you ever been spoken to with such little regard for you as a woman, let alone as a Princess. Nor have you ever heard such colorful language! You can't help but clutch your sides in amusement. The ash blond wonders if you bumped your head on a low hanging branch.
"You're a riot!" You manage to say between giggles. "I didn't think there'd be anyone my age out here. This is bound to be loads of fun! What's your name, chap?"
" Tch , the only thing you need to know is that I'm stronger and better than you in every way! No royal piece of shit has ever beat me with their magic," he growls, once again making you wonder if he knows your true title, until he continues, "so a lowlife extra like yourself can't hope to compare!"
Inwardly you sigh in relief before grinning mischievously. "We'll just have to see about that… Race you to the top!" You take off running without waiting for an answer, giggling when you hear his angry shouting at your back.
"Ya damn cheat! Didn't even fuckin' say go!" He grumbles after you.
You reach the tree's base and touch the trunk, urging a vine to snake down from above, lowering a wooden platform. The wind rustles your hair as you climb aboard and begin to ascend. You look down to gloat, only to see the man dropping a seed at his feet that explodes with pollen, this one less foul smelling (almost sweet?) but still with the remnants of smoke and gunpowder. The explosive blast launches him soaring upwards, reaching the top of the tree just seconds before you. He flashes a cocky grin at your surprised expression among the sunlight filtering through the tree's canopy.
Your eyes sparkle. For the first time ever, you have a worthy arborturgical rival! With a bright grin, you ask his name once again.
"The name's Katsuki Bakugou," he puffs out his chest proudly. "And I'm gonna be the strongest battlemage to ever live!"
***
"So you're a fuckin' Queen, after all, hah?!" Katsuki bellows your name.
Despite his standing over half a mile away, his voice reaches your ears as clearly as it would if he were right beside you. A lot of things have changed in the six years since you met in that jungle, but his deep, resonant voice still carries that unmistakable tone of power and confidence. Never in all your days could you forget it.
"You shoulda known better than to hide shit from me!" Katsuki booms before his head cocks to the side. "And is that… damn Deku, I see?! Holy shit. It really is my lucky day!"
Deku? You're unfamiliar with that word, it's not of your people's language. It could just be another insult or profanity, but you have a feeling it means something more… perhaps a place or a name? Beside you, Izuku flinches as frantic whispers come from Yuueii's soldiers.
Next to you, Priestess Ibara narrows her eyes at you. "You know this Warlord?"
Before you can respond, Katsuki continues.
"I come to your shitty little kingdom with an oath on my blackened soul," he declares. "The same oath that has led me to unite these wayward bastards— only a fraction of whom are here with me today."
Behind him, thousands of Skegg soldiers burst into chanting. "Hail the Redeemer! Hail the Redeemer! Hail the Redeemer!"
Ibara sniffs indignantly. "I don't think much of these pagan chants."
Katsuki raises his hand. Instantly, thousands of Skegg voices go silent.
"I ain't askin' for surrender, Queenie," Katsuki sneers. "You and me got a wild history, forged in that damn jungle."
A fresh batch of murmurs race through the soldiers, and Izuku bristles again.
"This association won't be good for your image, Your Majesty," says Lord Aizawa— as if you have any sort of control over the situation at this point!
Of course, it's a little hypocritical for Katsuki to rely on your shared experience as apprentices to Chiyo. The Sorceress exiled him two years after you began your training, stripping him of his right to use arborturgy and kicking him out of the jungle. He was a skilled magician. Certainly more skilled than you. The punishment had hurt him deeply, especially considering how rare it is for anyone from outside Yuueii to learn arborturgy.
"Cuz of that history," continues Katsuki, "I come to tell you that there ain't no surrender. There ain't no survival. I brought my men here to destroy your puny city, and that's just what the fuck we'll do today. For any of you extras who don't know me, I'll gift you my name— since it's the name you'll use to beg for mercy. I am The Great Warlord Explosion Murder God Katsuki Bakugou, Redeemer of this Godforsaken World!! My blessing is upon you! May your deaths be fuckin' glorious, and may you pass into the afterlife with MY name on your dying lips."
Katsuki takes his bearskin cloak off his great sword and places it upon his head. He grabs the blade. With a few powerful windup swings, he hurls it toward Yuueii's walls. Even though he's almost three-quarters of a mile away, soldiers duck for cover, yelping pathetically.
The great sword slices through the air. Sunlight gleams off the metal blade. It arcs down and stabs into the ground, quivering.
Warlord Katsuki, Redeemer of the World, grabs another great sword from a Skegg soldier. He raises it into the air and shouts a battle cry in a language that you don't understand, but you realize suddenly that you've heard that tongue before. You turn to Izuku, and he looks pale with obvious recognition in his wide green eyes.
The Skegg army repeats the word in thunderous unison.
And then they gallop toward Yuueii.
A nervous thrill races through Yuueii's soldiers as they ready themselves. Next to you, Priestess Ibara clasps her hands in prayer, Lady Mei rubs her golden rings anxiously, and Knight Izuku draws his broadsword in anticipation. The nearby plants shudder and tremble around you.
"They're not yet close enough for our archers to fire," says Izuku. "But they're about to enter our arborturgic trap."
Lady Mei leans forward, grinning maniacally. "Let's see if your plan paid off, Your Highness."
As the Skegg's horses gallop across the field, grass explodes up from the ground with the ferocity of slithering, striking snakes. The tendrils rear into the air, forming ten-foot-high columns of grass. Hundreds of Skegg horses topple, tripped by the writhing grass. Riders fly into the air. They crash into the ground, screaming as other horses trample over them. Chaos runs through the Skegg army as they try to avoid their downed soldiers, which only causes more crashes and falls.
Their gallop turns into a halting stumble, which gives the enchanted plants more time to wrest soldiers off their horses. You watch as one tendril wraps a grassy noose around a soldier's neck before hauling him into the air. His comrades try to cut the tendril, but it thickens and hardens to resist the blow. The man dies twenty feet in the air, hung from a tree that didn't exist only ten heartbeats ago.
It's a vicious cycle of chaos and carnage, and it makes Yuueii's soldiers cheer. Eventually, the Skegg escape from the trap, but not without suffering heavy losses. Your trap has been catastrophically effective.
"That took out hundreds of Skegg," says Izuku in a state of awe. "An excellent stratagem, my Queen."
Priestess Ibara's face is pale. "It… sickens me, to see arborturgy used like this."
"It would sicken me far more to have a Skegg sword in my belly," says Lady Mei. "Why, just think of the mess it would make of my gown!" Ibara glowers at Mei, who smirks in return.
"For Goddess's sake, do the two of you never tire?" You ask in exasperation. "Focus on our mutual enemy, then you can verbally destroy each other to your hearts' content!"
Izuku nods. "I couldn't agree more."
Ibara bows her head, looking chagrined. "You're right. I apologize, Your Majesty."
Mei's face twitches at the reprimand. "Yes. A poor move by me."
"They're almost within shooting range," says Izuku. "Where should our archers direct their fire?"
"At the Skegg's elites," you order, as they are easily identifiable by their expensive armor. "A blow to them will hurt morale."
With the twang of a thousand bowstrings, arrows shoot into the air. They arc through the sky like a cloud of shadowy needles, sunlight shining off their pointed metal tips. The hail of arrows dives down, stabbing into the Skegg's left flank. Horses fall and soldiers scream as the storm of arrows blankets their army. The Skegg's elites are wearing better armor than the rest, which means they take more arrows to knock off their horses— but when they do fall, you sense a palpable tremor run through the enemy army. Those soldiers were clearly valued to the Skegg.
Still, even though you've reduced some of their elites, the Skegg are still a mighty legion, and there are still thousands of soldiers galloping toward Yuueii. A hundred feet from Yuueii's moat, the Skegg wheel their horses around, galloping parallel to the wall.
Knight Izuku frowns. "What are they doing?"
In deadly unison, the Skegg warriors draw short recurve bows. Still racing along the length of the wall on horseback, they nock arrows and unleash a stream of fire toward Yuueii's defenders.
"Down!" yells Izuku, dragging you behind the cover of the wall, and shielding you with his much larger frame.
You should be safe up on the command tower, but it's wise to not take chances. The Head Knight glances through a peephole built into the stone wall. He gestures to another peephole, providing you with a view of the horses clouding the air with dust and the warriors clouding the air with arrows.
"Half the Skegg are riding their horses parallel to the wall and shooting arrows," observes Izuku. "They're not very accurate from horseback, but they're enough to keep our archers pinned. The other half of the Skegg are slowing to dismount. They've got siege ladders. My bet's that they'll run and try to climb the wall while our archers are pinned down. What are your orders, my Queen?"
"We're already outnumbered, I don't want to risk losing any archers," you think aloud before nodding with decisiveness. "We wait until the Skegg begin to climb the wall."
Izuku hums and nods. "Sometimes the best action is no action."
Perhaps that will prove to be true. Still, it feels unsettling to do nothing while an army approaches. Your heart pounds in your ears, the only thing louder than the thousands of thundering hooves and feet. Izuku squeezes your hand reassuringly, whispering a few words of encouragement. This is a truly nightmarish start to your reign, but you are grateful to have the Knight by your side.
Skegg soldiers splash through the moat. The deep water slows them a little, but they're quickly across, crawling onto the bank on Yuueii's side. Wooden ladders slap against Yuueii's wall, shaking the fortifications. The Skegg scale them rapidly; your soldiers move to topple the ladders with equal desperation, and your archers loose arrows with wild abandon. Swords clash as Skegg soldiers try to force their way onto Yuueii's wall, and the air grows thick with the shrieks of the dying.
"Your Majesty, there's been a breach!" says Izuku.
He gestures for you to rise. Carefully, you both poke your heads over the command tower's wall.
Your command tower links to the walkway atop Yuueii's wall via a narrow drawbridge. At the moment, the drawbridge is raised. On Yuueii's wall, a dozen Skegg soldiers have climbed up onto the walkway, establishing a foothold. Yuueii's soldiers rush at them from either side, but the narrow walkway allows the Skegg to hold firm. Unless you drive them away soon, more Skegg will come to join them. That could overwhelm your defenses.
The problem is that you have no reserve troops, apart from the small contingent of guards with you in the command tower. Your family's motto rings through your mind. So you do what must be done and prepare to charge into battle yourself.
Izuku's eyes widen when he sees the determined glint in yours. "Your Majesty, please don't tell me you're about to do what I think you're about to do."
You grin broadly over your shoulder. "I've got to give the bards something to sing about, don't I?"
With that, you charge toward the staircase. Izuku shouts in protest, but he knows you've already set your mind on this. With no other choice, he rushes after you, just as determined to remain by your side and prevent any harm from befalling you.
After clattering down the stone stairs, you burst out onto the drawbridge that connects the command tower to the walkway on Yuueii's main wall. Part of the drawbridge is raised. This leaves a ten-foot gap between you and the walkway. You're seventy feet up from the ground. A fall from this height could be deadly, especially since you're wearing no armor. Luckily, you have magic on your side.
Vines snake out from the command tower. They twist and weave together, creating a pathway to fill the gap in the drawbridge.
"Nice spellwork, Your Majesty!" calls Priestess Ibara from the command tower.
You race across onto the walkway atop Yuueii's wall with Izuku hot on your heels.
Yuueii's soldiers part, and you emerge on the front line of the Skegg's foothold. There are about fifteen of them— a bristling wall of spears and swords and battle axes, forming a blockade across the nine-foot-wide walkway that runs along Yuueii's wall. Seven of them face you and Izuku while the other eight face Yuueii's soldiers in the other direction.
The Skegg look amazed. They probably weren't expecting to face Yuueii's Queen.
There are vines coiled all along the inside of Yuueii's wall, planted by arborturgists for a situation just like this. At your command, the vines spring out from the stone, tripping the Skegg, yanking weapons out of hands, and ripping helmets off of heads. Izuku and the other soldiers jab around you, taking advantage of the broken Skegg line.
"Katsuki and I used to be very close," you say slyly to confuse the enemy. "He won't want you to hurt me~!"
The Skegg soldiers gape. Katsuki is probably the scariest man they've ever known, so to meet somebody who their Warlord actually liked… well, it must be an incredibly shocking prospect. Yuueii's soldiers take advantage of the moment and dive in to attack. You continue to use your magic to assist however you can, and Izuku strikes down any enemy who dares inch too close to you.
"Chins up, soldiers!" you say. "Soon, we'll all be laughing about this in a tavern. Drinks on me tonight!"
Your soldiers laugh and cheer as the Skegg gape, shocked at your ability to draw humor even in a situation as grim as this. Your cry rallies the soldiers. Together, you charge toward the Skegg. The air becomes a cacophony of clashing swords.
Yuueii's soldiers break the Skegg's tight-knit defense, hacking and slicing at the enemy. With a strangled scream, the last Skegg soldier collapses onto the walkway. He's dead. They're all dead, thanks to you. Adrenaline pumps through your veins. Renewed energy surges through Yuueii's army. They start chanting.
"All hail the Queen! All hail the Queen! All hail the Queen!"
The Skegg's assault seems to slow. You've shown them what Yuueii can do— and what its Queen is capable of. There's not much more for you to do in this part of the wall. Izuku sternly urges you to return to safety, and you allow him to escort you back to the command towers. Even as he scolds you for being reckless, you can tell that the Knight is impressed.
The Skegg seem endless. Yuueii's defenders hack and push and curse at the enemy as they scale the wall. Skegg soldiers fall from ladders and ropes, plunging into the moat. Other bodies hit the ground with sickening snaps of bone. No matter how many soldiers your defenders repel, there always seem to be more. A swarm of screaming death, advancing as sure as the tide. How long can your soldiers hold out before they are overwhelmed?
A horn blows.
The rumbling sound is deep enough to shake your bones. Suddenly, the Skegg peel away from Yuueii's wall, splashing back across the moat to clamber onto their horses. With a thunder of hoofsteps, the Skegg gallop away. Yuueii's soldiers cheer. It seemed like you were bare minutes from certain destruction. The Skegg's retreat is nothing short of a miracle.
Next to you, however, Head Knight Izuku appears somber. "Look, my Queen."
He points into the distance, and your heart almost drops out of your royal ass. Several miles away, another army of Skegg warriors is cantering toward Yuueii. And this group looks even bigger.
"We just faced an advance force," says Izuku. "They weren't trying. They just wanted to see if we'd be an easy conquest. Now that we've bloodied their noses, they'll set up a blockade around Yuueii and try to starve us out. This isn't the end of our siege. It's only the start."