Brandon. Zack and Reha had made it to the rally point at the front gate. Caldo was waiting talking to some other squad captains before briefing them.
He noticed them and ended his current conversation and quickly walked to them. He wore a leather vest with a short black and orange cape that hung off his left shoulder. Signifying his squad lead position.
He maneuvered around the other soldiers and squad leads all gathered in this one place. He had a calm face with a hint of urgency behind it. Brandon stepped up to be the first to converse with him.
" Good, you're all here."
"What is the plan?" Brandon asked. Reha and Zack all looked at him with awaiting faces.
" They already have troops lined on the wall. Our role here is to be a kind of surprise unit."
" Surprise unit?" Reha asked confusidly. She had received schooling on military tactics leading up to the war but this was never a term she heard.
" It's not a real military term Reha," Zack commented seeing her confused face.
" Let me explain." Caldo continued. " With the current line up on the wall. The enemies are bound to think we are thin on manpower. Once they attack this wave will arrive hopefully catching them off guard."
Letting the enemy get comfortable. Think they overprepared as they began to overwhelm our forces. Then the second wave arrives while they've pushed too deep into enemy territory. If it goes well, they can surround a majority of the Kingdom of Aces forces. Pushing back the invasion attempt.
" All the units here are assigned to a certain sector. Once the invasion begins we move out. We'll move with full mana output arriving in a few hours." Caldo finished
" Understood," Brandon spoke. "Where are we meant to go once this all starts?"
" East side. Sector 5." Caldo answered
" Sector 5!" Zack jumped into their conversation. "That's the furthest the invasion is predicted to go across the border. Why there?" He asked with a hint of disappointment on his face...Brandon also shared this disappointment. They both wanted to play a big role, but Brandon wouldn't voice his complaints, unlike Zack.
" It's actually because of your two's skills that were there."
" Huh?" Brandon and Zack's faces shared confusion.
"You're right. It is the furthest east and as far as the invasion will go. You two are needed to quickly repel the attempt, and stop any possible flanks. Once that's done we'll push west. Providing back up for any sectors we come across needing it."
" Ha. Yeah of course that makes sense." Brandon and Zack's faces transformed into that of confidence. Reha though had a face of slight sadness. She felt left out. Their whole role was simply due to the brother's strength.
[" I'm just a tag along..."]
" Reha." Brandon's voice broke into her thoughts. "You're a part of this squad too. For a reason. I'm sure of it."
However, this didn't do much to boost her confidence. She couldn't help but smile. Brandon was a charming person who always knew what to say to others...Unlike his brother who was often rude. He seemed the most capable to lead them.
Her eyes gazed up to Caldos who she had been avoiding looking at. His eyes haven't changed. While they did carry a veteran's look. They looked defeated, like he had already given up...It made her anxious for the battle. And made her question his ability to lead them.
" Hey, Zack." An energetic voice called to Zack.
" Huh." As his eyes shifted he found a tanned boy around his age. His hair was clearly dyed as it was dark purple at the base but transformed into blue at the tip of each strand. His hair was tall and resembled a smaller afro. " Haku!"
Zack met the boy halfway fist bumping as they got close enough. Reha and Brandon both recognize this boy. He attended the same military school as them and had become close friends. Zack and he were the closest though.
" What sector are you being deployed to?" Haku asked
" East side Sector 5"
" Huh...Dame."
" Uh-"
" Haku! Get your ass over here!"
The sound of an angry man's voice cut Zack off from his explanation as to why they were in Sector 5. Haku frustratedly turned back where an older squad leader could be seen shooting him a stern look.
" Tsk. Old dude doesn't like me...Anyway, I'll be seeing you."
" ...Yea."
" Don't die out there. I want to fight side by side with you sometime."
As the Haku walked away his purple-blue hair swayed in the wind. His all-black outfit wrinkled as his powerful strides closed the gap to his squad leader. Zack cracked a slight smile a said something to himself.
" We don't lose."
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The wall guarding the border to the Emerald Kingdom sat about 365 feet away from the mountain chain's base. A straight clear field provides lots of visuals and little places to hide.
Multiple guard towers sat with the tallest mountain lined up with it. An armored soldier came running across the top of the wall to the base of a tower holding binoculars in his hand.
" Commander Fruger!" He cried.
" What is it." After a moment a man wearing a striped cape of his right shoulder appeared looking over the side rails.
" Take these and look at the top of the mountain." The solder tossed them up and Fruger reached out and snatched it mid-air. Pulling them up to his eyes he saw two figures at the top of the mountain.
The one had long hair the other also did but pulled it into a bun. They were waiting loos clothing. Their eyes seemed to shine down like sharp steel reflecting in the sun.
" That's them." He pulled the binoculars away from his face. " Get everyone ready!"
The soldier nodded and dashed off back down the wall. Stopping at each guard tower before continuing down to a hooded man in the center of the guard post.
.
.
.
" There they are," Kalci spoke looking down on the mountain. The top of the mountain had a little snow piled on the top. on the opposite side of the mountain awaited all the kingdom of Ace's troops awaiting the command.
The glint of binoculars caught Tsucko's eye. As the glint vanished he turned and singled with his eyes down the mountain. Soon after troops using all forms of magic propelled themselves up and over the mountain.
" You join them Kalci," Tsucko spoke watching his troops descend the mountain.
" Hu-" Suddenly a cold breeze blew past them as someone using ice magic nearly grazed him. " Why me?"
" This wall wasn't built to keep us out. They knew we could simply use magic to get over it. Meaning they have troops ready to strike us out of the air...They won't be expecting you."
After contemplating for a moment, Kacli clicked his young and turned toward the trail of ice before hopping on and descending the mountain.
As he descended he caught up to the one who was casting it. A girl with ice blue hair and a baggy thick top and thick pants.
" Hey!" Kalci called out. They were quickly approaching the wall.
" Huh." The girl whipped her head around in shock.
" Give me a ramp!"
The girl pushed her shock aside and nodded. They were only feet away from the wall. She narrowed her cool blue eyes as they grew closer and closer.
" Here they come!" A guard on top of the wall stood at the front prepared. The ones behind him summoned their swords and got into combat positions.
" SHEW!!" A cold breeze blew up into his face but he fought through it...Nothing came. The other soldiers starred as no person or object was ejected from the blow.
" KSHINK!"
Suddenly the one standing in front burst into a bloody spurt. He had been sliced from down to up right down the middle/ The other soldiers looked up and found a man wearing an all-black cloak with a tied bun hovering in the air. A bloody sword in his right hand.
" You bastard!" One soldier dipped his sword grip holding it in a backhand grip. He launched himself up at Kalci and swung.
" KLANG!"
Sparks summoned in the air as their swords clashed. The mand starred with violent eyes into the blood-red eyes of Kalci only inches apart as they began to decend.