Out of the quiet, a voice broke the long silence. Looking on, something surfaced out of the vast army that embodied the shape of a banner rising and falling in a rhythm. The insignificant noise slid past the ranks of men but when it rushed nearer, all realized that its colors were not of their own.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqMAzdxjRb
“Move, or I’ll whip y’all’s arses down da nine hells!” The bannerman cried with quite the foul mouth, crushing his enemies who did not give way.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkh9fFKnZIi
Daringly, like a surfer breaking out of a wave, from the crowd two riders emerged. It was for certain then, their uniforms did not match that of the Confederacy, but their sigils on their colors were recognized. A white lion on its hind legs stood on a plain of blood, flapping in the wind that rippled the banner. As the air which struck the colors slowed, their horses came to a sudden halt, kicking up mud and sand that splattered onto the gold greaves of the Summer Lion. Hooves pounded the earth as the creatures grew unsettled, feeling the hostility of their environ. But their riders never hinted at having any such fears.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuvi7d6DZo
“Vasilevsky!” The brave soldier called, without the respect of stepping off his stirrups. “I ‘ear you ‘ave my men.” For all to know, he declared his intentions.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfovJjvV0LB
The lion’s leer turned upward and seeing his face, half obscured by the sun just reappearing, he scoffed, “I see no Aelon men here, only Aelon boys.”28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxsFaAY6qr
A chuckle came with a smile that replaced Vasilevsky’s. Shaking his head, the messenger of the enemy unwrapped his hands around his reins and brought his feet out of his stirrups. He swung a leg over the saddle and leapt off swiftly as did his other companion who landed far lighter than the man. Passing by the squad, they caught a glimpse of his face when the sun had turned away and was sheltered behind his hair. His smirk was demeaning, only aimed at the general and none else. Before seeing his chin-strap beard and before his name could be uttered, the squad realized.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRPhVGyi72
“Lieutenant?” Gin was first to address him amidst his comrades’ shock and stammers.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlLJ5ZoTu6
As usually dressed in creased and muddied wear, the delinquent instructor did not appear like the savior that the squad had prayed for. When he came by, without a care for his own appearances, the corners of his mouth dropped. The lieutenant frowned, but before long, upon finding the wreckage and the terror that had bleakened their souls, his irritation was diluted with a sigh. He knelt down beside them, though beyond his reach to help, as he watched one’s wound overflow. Glancing at each and every of his student, the young instructor knew that they had been embarrassed enough by his presence, and without knowing how to act, they were in a bind.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqbAyDkb0z
Crossing his arms over a knee, Adam joked, “Causin’ trouble again?”28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FyeDapsFn
Fearing that the lieutenant would speak of punishment next, Colt looked away. But there guarding the two mounts that had come to grace them was a figure standing far behind. Their stance was familiar and their presence was unnoticed before. Unwanting to be there, he instantly recognized who that soldier was. The one who had seemingly fled the scene was no coward but a true comrade.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CDBC1f6sN
“Alexa?” Rubbing his eyes, Colt made sure that she was not a mirage, but unexpecting the two who have appeared together, a fuse in his head burst. “B-but, the fuck’s he doin’ here?” Pointing back and forth, he landed his question on the lieutenant.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WqIskelWn
Without hesitation, to Colt, Adam recounted, “I’s ridin’ with Nikola when we caught word form ya gal o’er there.” He never explained why he had joined the continental struggle but told nonetheless, “But I warn ya, the general and the major’s piss’d.”28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyUgZrrr28
Looking over to Vasilevsky who was unhurt from the wait with his sights set on the squad, the lieutenant scratched his beard and moved into a crouch. His hands fiddled whilst everything remained a blur. There was not a clear answer that could explain why they were there, alive and fairly well. More oddly so, the enemy took no initiatives to crush his outnumbered, outclassed and outmaneuvered prey. Frowning, heavy in thought, the instructor rose, giving himself a headache as the blood rushed down from his head. Pinching the bridge of his nose, the lieutenant dismissed the danger that he had sunk himself into at the tip of the lion’s claws as he tread closer. The Confederates locked their blades at the new threat that had come and steeled themselves for battle once more.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhfM8sE37g
His eyes were behind his hand when Adam voiced his bewilderment, “What is it dat ya want in keepin’ ‘em ‘live?” Walking easily until his neck was a sword’s length away from the general, he checked himself.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntXd2Yvx8W
Surprised by his ask, Vasilevsky replied, “Their talents.”28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡby8gS09PVl
Lowering his hand, the golden pupils of the lieutenant were like twin suns. Staring into the lion who prided himself as the beast of summer. He burned away any false belief that he was in control and nearer, Adam dared. The humble instructor, who had no background which was known to the squad or any title worthy to note that Confederate troops recognized, overstepped the boundaries of casualness and willingly entered the depths of threat. His thumbs were clipped onto his belt and his expression revealed no sense of danger. Gathering a good look at his enemy, from top to bottom, Adam paused, stilled before him. The lion would not move.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBxILof1Za
“Oh?” Randomly, the lieutenant laughed, whose eyes were level with the colonel general’s. Quietening ominously, Adam raised a brow as he leaned in. “And how much are ya payin’ us for ‘em?” Seven of the eight recoiled when he had set them up for sale.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtc0H0ePzz1
Vasilevsky unhinged the flask on his hip and twisted its cap. He took not a swig but a minute sip, as if he was mocking and belittling what precious time they had remained. But even the dimmest knew that it was a test for the lieutenant’s patience who did not seem to have been bought by his provocation.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cZKtRvrhZ
Setting his drink away, the general proposed. “Name your price.”28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsR0dxElX3p
Although, the lieutenant was unsure why he answered, a chuckle exploded from his breath. A cone was formed from Adam’s hand that covered his mouth, pretending it was a sneeze, but a grin expanded across his face. Vasilevsky paid no heed.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xfOIAa0M2
In a neutral manner, the young man decided to calm and play along, projecting a gaze that was hard to read. “A kingdom or two.” Adam responded with an offer.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc13TwqAfOF
In anticipation of action, the lieutenant changed his stance. Shuffling a foot back, he reeled his hands closer to the front of his belt. But the rustles of his readiness had not gone unnoticed. Vasilevsky turned his eyes downward, for a glance, and was struck by the flare of the sun reflected onto him. Not from his own, worn gold. It had been overridden by the peculiar weapon of the messenger whose breath, like fire, only continued to warm. They bore a sigil that was no stranger to the general who returned his sight onto the young man. Finally, Vasilevsky saw a revelation, knowing why the lowly lieutenant was there, fearless in his act and carrying trouble in his eyes.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzQTblqv11
Vasilevsky’s face stiffened and joked no more, “Perhaps when they are older, their worth would not be so unrealistic.” Lowering the pitch of his voice, his words melted into a grumble, “However, they did slaughter a thousand of my comrades.” He peered at the squad over the lieutenant’s shoulder.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhME5ALidSx
Standing quiet, a word had not left his mind. As Adam moved his hands away from his hooked blades, like whips burrowed in the container of seemingly harmless measuring tapes, their glares clashed.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl83JaYTGwz
“How should that be repaid?” Vasilevsky ruled.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwRHqXntzV
Around them, there were signs of the battle that the general had mentioned. Swords and rifles were littered about with gashes cut through the ground, filled with blood and smoothened with flesh. Bodies were ferried away by the second as medics tended to those on the edge of death. Amidst the thinning lines of the Confederates filing away to meet the suicidal Aelon, the presence of an army before the lieutenant was still enough to keep him in check.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtoXLZcmmI
He found no escape nor peace in his mind otherwise and reverted his stance away from aggression. “Name your price.” Adam returned, intent on diplomacy.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61fn6agI7b
“Six hours and begone, army and all.” The lion offered, tightening his grip on the pommel of his sword. “Or a firestorm shall be wreaked a thousand times costlier than what this battle had cost them since.”28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjvD9iCLTW
It was a habit for the general to speak no lies, that the lieutenant knew. But then, it would mean that the gravity of his words was stronger than his own. From the amber of their eyes, embers ignited in a stare off, with neither man relenting. Only when the sun shuddered, enclosing itself behind a curtain of clouds, did the light fade away and one caved from the needless duel.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHJKCaNXGb
Tapping his feet and clicking his tongue, Adam exhaled and agreed, “Fairs.” Spinning away, he raised hand. “G’day to ya, general.” With little want for him to fare well, the lieutenant bid goodbye instead.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cXctgYu8v
With his back faced against the lion who oft could not take disrespect, he knew that his promise of safety must be abided. It was the chivalrous way. Even if the spirit of the beast whispered into him ideas of betrayal, Vasilevsky’s fists relaxed in time, watching the lieutenant rounding up the Aelon boys. Few of them questioned why they had been freed but many ignored the forgiveness of the general. Some turned back to see that the lion’s frown had not changed, guarding his den. Their faces had tired, having not achieved what they desired to. The enemy was intact, perhaps more so than ever before, and they themselves had been splintered. In the direction of allied land, the lieutenant mounted his steed and led on in the vanguard. The girl relinquished her ride for the worst wounded and joined the able guarding the rear, pushing onwards the squad. But as expected, the troops whose comrades had suffered a wasted fate failed to give way. Sergeants rushed to carry out the will of the general, and eventually, though reluctantly, the friends of the dead moved aside forming a corridor for their prey to escape without the punishment that they had hoped to see be smited unto them. Muttering turned into resentful spitting onto the path that the Aelon took whose heads lowered, minding them not. The banner of the messenger and the backs of their last disappeared with the wind and the day was silent again.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS50yvTy3rH
The crisis had come to an end that prompted the commander’s sigh but a third general approached from behind and wondered if he had permission to speak. “General, might I ask?” Rzhev softly requested.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaYrDic4xn
A hand held up before his face and denied him of speaking any further of the matter that had come and gone.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEUxMb7Iau
“You needn’t trouble yourself.” Vasilevsky assured, lowering his hand. “Or any of us for that matter.”28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvweSK6RSV
The third general tipped his head in apology as the commander leaned over, picking up his shield from its rest.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJF0j9HI1x
Turning away, the colonel general retreated, but not before shedding a glance over his shoulder again. “That was the pupil of the God of War.” said he.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYnWF6ozcn
Paused in his step, Rzhev looked up in disbelief beside a colonel frozen in his dream and thoughts. As always, it seemed as if he had known it too. But the commander did not seem to believe anything that was otherwise. There was an evasive aura, emitted out of him, during and after his discovery. Unwilling to fight a pointless battle, even the great Summer Lion was unsure who would have claimed victory if they clashed. Lieutenant Colonel Serov and his aides, officers and the like followed on with the third general frozen and abandoned. Unhearing the reports that had arisen since the exchange, glints of his mentor’s shield flashed as it swung, hung onto by two fingers, that waked him from his stupor, and he spun around, taking large strides on his return to his ordained seat beside his commander, over the soil which had been nutritiously fed by the puddles of blood yet to soak through.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFChuZph80
