1214-02-16
The city of Vieu loomed in the distance, its stone walls casting long shadows under the setting sun. I rode at the head of my column, my hair gleaming faintly beneath my helmet. The air was heavy with tension. As we approached the outskirts, my eyes narrowed. The Emperor's forces were already assembled, their purple banners rippling in the breeze.
The Emperor himself stood at the forefront, his imposing figure clad in white armour with golden trim. His halberd rested casually against the ground. His gaze was fixed on me.
I halted my troops, raising a hand to signal a stop. I dismounted and strode forward, stopping just within earshot of the Emperor.
Oh Lion, grant me your strength, I whispered, gripping my sword.
"Emperor!" I shouted. "This could all be over. Face me now and spare your men needless bloodshed!"
The Emperor tilted his head slightly, as though considering the offer. Then he laughed.
"There is no honor in war," the Emperor called back. "Only victory. Do not pretend your cause is nobler than mine."
My jaw tightened. "If you believe that, then let us settle this here and now. Or are you afraid?"
The Emperor's laughter stopped abruptly. He raised his halberd, pointing it directly at Adrian.
"Afraid? No, Adrian. But I do not waste time on theatrics. Let our forces decide who is worthy."
I turned to my men and raised my sword high.
"For Vieu!" I roared. Soldiers responded with a deafening cry.
"Advance!" the Emperor commanded. His troops surged forward. A tide of steel and fury.
The two armies collided with a thunderous crash. The battlefield erupted into chaos. My heart pounded as I waded into the fray, my blade meeting the first of many opponents.
The city of Vieue stood silent in the background. A witness to the carnage. A carnage that unfolded before its gates.
The battlefield of Vieu stretched before me like a canvas of chaos. Smoke and fire curled into the air. Obscuring the late afternoon sun. The sound of clashing steel rang out in every direction.
I tightened the grip on my sword. My hair whipping around my face. Beneath my battered mask. The weight of command sat heavily on my shoulders. There was no time for doubt. The Emperor was here, and the stakes were higher than ever.
I advanced. My soldiers falling in step behind him. The Emperor himself. He was cutting through my ranks with brutal efficiency. A trail of fallen soldiers marked his path.
We locked eyes across the battlefield. I raised my blade. The edge glinting with a faint blue light.
"Emperor! Face me!" I shouted.
The Emperor turned, his dark helm tilting slightly as if amused. Without a word, he strode toward me, his own weapon—a massive halberd—gleaming with fresh blood. The soldiers around us instinctively stepped back, forming an impromptu circle. This was not a fight for ordinary men.
Oue weapons clashed, sending sparks flying. My speed and agility were pitted against the Emperor's raw power. Each swing of the halberd threatened to overwhelm me, but I danced around the attacks, landing precise strikes where I could. His mask, a dragon-faced mask of blue and white. I could feel the battle turning against me. Every clash drained my strength, while the Emperor seemed tireless.
A brutal strike from the halberd shattered my guard. Sending me sprawling into the dirt.
Pain radiated through my body. I scrambled to my feet. My sword trembled in my grip. The Emperor loomed over me. For a moment, I thought this might be the end.
I threw a handful of dirt toward the Emperor's visor and rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the downward swing of the halberd. Without waiting to see if his distraction had worked, I retreated, signaling my forces to pull back.
"Fall back to the second line!" I shouted, my voice hoarse.
My troops obeyed. My heart pounded as I staggered toward the rear lines. My mind racing. I needed a plan.
The Emperor, however, was not content to let them escape. He pursued with his troops, pushing My forces closer to the cliffs overlooking the River. The terrain worked against them, and my men began to falter under the relentless assault.
"Hold the line!" Adrian barked.
"Prepare the archers. Wait for my signal."
The Emperor's forces surged forward. I steadied my breathing and forced myself back into the fray, my movements deliberate and calculated. I fought not to win but to delay. drawing the Emperor's attention.
"Now!" Adrian shouted.
A volley of arrows rained down from above. The archers took advantage of their elevated position. The Emperor's forces were caught off guard. I seized the moment. Rallying my men for a counterattack. We struck. Pushing the Emperor's troops back step by step.
The Emperor hesitated. His armor was marked with the dents and scratches. His seemingly endless stamina showed signs of wear. The tides had turned. He raised his halberd high and signaled a retreat. His troops obeyed. Withdrawing toward the safety of Kima.
I watched them go. My chest heaving with exertion. Victory tasted bitter. Knowing how many lives had been lost. Turning to Voss, I issued my final orders.
"Station a hundred guards at Vieu. Fortify the position and ensure the wounded are cared for. We'll hold here until reinforcements arrive."
"I'll get that head count started right away," Voss replied, the tiredness evident in his voice.
Voss saluted me. Moving quickly to carry out my commands. I removed my helmet, running a hand through my hair. The smoke was clearing, revealing the full extent of the carnage. I clenched my fist.
This was far from over.