***
Tides of Conflicts
The Lorian Hill once again became a meeting place. The lone oak tree stood as a silent witness, its leaves rustling in the gentle afternoon breeze that swept up from the valley. The tranquility of the scene was a thin veneer over the tense undercurrent of the gathering beneath the tree's sprawling branches. Four figures stood on the crest of the hill, forming a loose circle.
Zachary was there, his pristine white cape fluttering slightly. Sylvanne stood beside him, her usual boisterous energy subdued, her arms crossed over her chest and her expression uncharacteristically serious. A few paces away was Adeline, the refugee representative. And in front of them, was a young girl with blonde hair. Even with tattered silken robe she wore, an aura of royalty still lingered on her.
"We can't do that, Your Highness." Adeline spoke after hearing her plan. "Even with our volunteers, we can't fight Albion knights head on."
"It's okay, Adeline." Princess Adreana said with a smile. "I know the circumstance of the refugees."
"So... You still want to save Brenda?" Zachary asked.
"Yes. Though, Finlay won't help me to retrive her from Albion's captive." She said with a frown, but then her face softened. "But he's agreed to help me with my plan to expose Albion's treachery. The peace talks will be held in three weeks. Silvercreek town will be the venue. I'll save Brenda with my own hands."
Zachary sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He had anticipated this. The princess possessed a stubborn streak a mile wide, a trait inherited directly from her late father. Once her mind was set on something, especially concerning the well-being of those loyal to her, moving her was like trying to push a mountain. Her lady-in-waiting, Brenda, had been like a sister to her. The idea of leaving her in the hands of the Albion Knights was something Adreana would never entertain, regardless of the risk. But that's the quality of her that Zachary admired.
"Very well, Your Highness. We, Castalia Mercenary Company , pledge ourselves to your cause. We will assist you in rescuing Lady Brenda." Zachary said, bowing his head in respect.
Sylvanne stepped forward, her hand resting on the pommel of her greatsword. "You can count on us, Princess. We've got your back. Just say the word, and we'll march all the way to Silvercreek and crack some Albion skulls. It's been a while since I've had a proper fight."
"Thank you, Sylvanne. Zachary." Adreana's expression warmed, a genuine smile gracing her lips. "I knew I could rely on you. Your loyalty is the bedrock upon which we will rebuild our kingdom." Her gaze then shifted to Adeline, her expression softening with empathy. "Adeline, I understand your reservations. You have suffered enough. I will not ask you or your people to take up arms in this. Your safety is my priority. But I... I will need your help in another way. If this works, the people will rise up for the good of the kingdom."
Adeline looked from the princess's determined face to Zachary's resolute one. She knew this was a fool's errand, a desperate gamble against a far superior force. Yet, seeing their unwavering commitment, she felt a flicker of something she hadn't felt since the fires of Merlesia—hope. A dangerous, fragile, and utterly intoxicating hope. She took a deep breath, the scent of wildflowers and damp earth filling her lungs.
"What do you need me to do, Your Highness?"
___
The wind blowed the flowers that grown in the ground of Lorian Hill. Princess Adreana and Zachary stood, overlooking the town below. The other two already back with their own task and prepared themselves with their own mission.
"This town... It's beautiful." Princess Adreana said in a low voice. "The people... they look happy. I want to see this kind of scenery in the whole kingdom one day."
"We will, Your Highness. We will make it happen, one day." Zachary replied. He looked down at the town before turning to her. "The path ahead will be fraught with peril. We know Lord Commander William of Avalon Knight Order will not be easily defeated. He's a veteran of the Second Radiant War, and his strategies are said to be flawless."
"I know." She nodded, her gaze still fixed on the horizon, towards the west where Silvercreek and the Albion forces lay. "But we have something he doesn't have, the truth itself. The truth will be our sharpest blade."
___
The Castalia Company's training yard was a wide, packed-earth enclosure behind the guildhall, surrounded by a high wooden palisade. Grunts and the rhythmic clash of training swords and spears against shields filled the air, mingling with the shouts of instructors and the panting of exhausted trainees. Racks of blunted weapons lined one wall, while archery targets, peppered with arrows, stood at the far end. Mercenaries of all shapes sizes were scattered across the yard, engaged in various forms of rigorous exercise. Some were locked in intense, one-on-one sparring matches, others practiced katas, while a group of new recruits, sweat-drenched and grimacing, were being drilled relentlessly by an instructor.
"Alright! Because almost all of the new recruits are here, for today's lesson, you'll be split into two groups!" Sylvanne announces. "Each group will have a senior as leader. Clara! You'll be leading the first group, and I'll be leading the second!"
"Yes, Sylvie-sis!" Clara shouted in eager, followed by the rest of the new recruits.
"What?? No way. I want to be with you, Sylvie-sis!" Kirsche immediately protested.
"No means no, Kirsche. A soldier must obey an order, you know?" Sylvanne dismissed Kirsche's complaint, "Anyway, that's not the case. The first group will have a mock battle against the second! A basic war game. This game is simple. The winner is the last team standing. Any question?" There's a long silence. "...No? Good! Now get to your respective team!"
____
Meanwhile, in another corner of training ground, four men was sitting in semi circle while sharing a waterskin.
"So, you guys are volunteers from the refugee camp, eh?" Asep asked.
"Well, this is the least we can do to repaid the kindness of this town." The guy with battleaxe on his back said. His bulky body and rippling muscles are more than enough to show that he's a veteran of a war.
"Yeah. The town provide us with food, and shelter once we arrived here after escaping from Merlesia. I hope we can return there one day." Another guy speak, this time the one with the sword and shield.
From what Asep has heard, they escaped the riot and found a safe haven in this town. Some of them are just passing by, seeking another town to live, but some of them have decided to stay and help the town.
"Well... To be honest, I'm kinda a refugee myself. I was there during the riot, and I just follow the stream to this town." Asep said.
"Really? We never seen you in Adeline's group though."
"That's because I went south instead following her group to the east." He chuckled. "After a month and half, I decided to go back to civilization. And here I am, joining a mercenary company to help this town."
"Hahaha, what a coincidence!" Roy laughed. "Well, welcome to the club then. I am Roy, and these two are Mark and Terreli. We used to be a city watch, and during our flee, we become the refugees' guard under Miss Adeline command."
"Asep's the name. Formerly a peat cutter." Asep introduced himself. "Well... I hope we can get along."
"Absolutely!" Roy's grin was wide and infectious. "Anyone willing to stand up for this town is a brother-in-arms to us. Peat cutter or not, eh? Takes a strong back, that kind of work." He gave Asep a friendly but powerful slap on the shoulder that would have staggered a smaller man. Mark, the swordsman, nodded in agreement, a more reserved but equally genuine smile on his face. Terreli, the archer, remained silent, but Asep caught a glint of acknowledgment in his sharp, observant eyes.
"Alright you guys, time to get up!" Clara's voice, brimming with an almost comical level of authority, cut through their conversation. She marched over to them, hands on her hips, trying her best to look severe. "The mock battle is about to start! You three," she pointed at Roy, Mark, and Terreli, "are with me. And... Asep?" She looked at a small parchment in her hand, squinting. "You're... oh. You're with Sylvie-sis's team. Lucky."
"Aww, what?" Roy groaned theatrically. "Come on, you're splitting up the crew already? We just made a new friend!"
"Orders are orders, Roy!" Clara declared, puffing out her chest. "Besides, this makes it more interesting, right? We get to see what our new friend is made of." She gave Asep a wink. "Don't go easy on us just because we're on the other team, okay?"
"Wouldn't dream of it," Asep replied, a smirk spreading across his face. This was... interesting. A wargame. It felt less like a training exercise and more like a schoolyard brawl, just with blunted weapons and a bit more screaming. He glanced over at Sylvanne's group. She was in the middle of argument with Kirsche regarding his position in the group.
"Alright, alright, you can join my group." Sylvanne said with a sigh, "But! I'll leave the command to you, then. So I can enjoy my drinks, Hahahaha!"
"Wha-?! You can't be serious, sis! I-I 'm not good at leading!" Kirsche stammered. He looked genuinely panicked at the sudden, unwelcome responsibility.
"Ahahaha, come on! It's not that bad." Clara shouted from across the yard. "You can do it this time, Kirsche!"
"See? Even your friend said so. It's settled then!" Sylvanne clapped Kirsche on the back with enough force to make him stumble forward. "Asep, you're with this kid now. Try not to get him killed." With that, she sauntered off towards the sidelines, plopping herself down on a miraculously placed barrel and pulling out a wineskin.
Asep raised an eyebrow as he watched her go. *So that's how it is, huh? She's just gonna watch?* He walked over to Kirsche, who's now trying to organize the group. The young ranger looked completely overwhelmed, his face pale and his hands trembling slightly as he tried to assign positions to the motley crew of new recruits, which consisted mostly of nervous-looking refugee volunteers and a few eager farm boys.
"So, what's the plan, Captain Kirsche?" Asep asked, his voice laced with a playful, teasing tone.
Kirsche flinched and shot him a venomous glare. "Don't call me that," he snapped. "And... I-Uh, Whatever! Do what I say and we might not lose too badly. You... you look strong. You'll be on the front line with the spear guy here and the shield boy here. I'll be at the back with another archer."
Asep just nodded. *Hmm... A swordsman, a spearman, me, and two archers.... Hold on, this looked imbalance. We're lacks defensive while the enemy have three shield bearers; Roy, Mark, and Clara herself. But they seems to lack attackers as well. Maybe they're playing with defense-oriented strategy to outlast us?*
"Alright everyone, are you ready??" Clara shouted, her voice echoing across the training yard. A chorus of enthusiastic "Yeahs!" and a few less-than-enthusiastic grunts answered her. "Let the First Castalia Mock Battle... begin!"
At her signal, Roy and Mark, the two former city watchmen, immediately formed a shield wall at the front of Clara's team, their blunted swords held at the ready. The other recruits on their team, mostly equipped with short spears, huddled behind them, creating a solid, defensive formation. Clara stood right behind the wall, her own shield raised, directing her troops with a surprising level of confidence. "Hold the line! Let them come to us! Don't break formation, no matter what! [Shield Wall]!"
Kirsche, seeing the enemy's defensive posture, grit his teeth in frustration. "Tch... they're turtling. Just as I expected." He raised a hand, his voice shaky but firm. "Archers, focus fire on their flanks! Try to break their formation! Asep, you three, advance slowly but don't engage. Just apply pressure. Make them nervous." The other archer on his team, a lanky farm boy with more eagerness than skill, immediately started loosing blunted arrows. They arced through the air, clattering harmlessly against the raised shields of the opposing team.
Asep exchanged a quick glance with the spearman and swordsman beside him. They both looked uncertain, clearly not used to this kind of organized fighting. Asep just shrugged. Equipping a pair of brass knucles, he began advances along with the others.
*There are two possibility here. Either we lost or we won, no inbetween. But seems like this Kirsche kid need to be taught how to adapt a bit more.* Asep thought.
The battle of attrition began. Kirsche's archers kept up a steady, if ineffective, stream of arrows, while Asep and the frontline slowly crept forward, feinting attacks and probing for weaknesses in the shield wall. But Clara's team was disciplined. Roy and Mark were a solid anchor, their shields interlocking perfectly, deflecting every probe and arrow with practiced ease.
*Seems like we won't make it. What is Kirsche thinking?* Asep wondered. *Wait...*
"Asep!" Kirsche's voice suddenly cut through the air, sharp and clear. "Tell them to keep an eye on their left flank! Move now!"
Asep immediately realized what Kirsche was planning. As if on cue, a volley of arrows sailed over the shield wall, forcing the spearmen behind it to raise their own shields, momentarily disrupting their formation. In that split second of confusion, Roy, who was anchoring the right side of the wall, took a half-step sideways to cover a gap. It was a tiny mistake, a fractional shift in balance, but it was the opening Asep had been waiting for.
*Now! Hold on, this is my chance!* Asep thought as he dashed. Before anyone on the opposing team could react, he was already in motion. Instead of attacking the shield wall head-on, he feinted a lunge to the right, drawing the attention of the man next to Roy. Then, with an explosive burst of speed, he pivoted, shot through the small, momentary gap Roy had created, and slammed his shoulder into the back of Roy's shield. The unexpected impact from behind sent the burly man stumbling forward, breaking the integrity of the shield wall.
"What the-?!" Roy grunted, caught completely off guard.
In that instant, the defensive formation crumbled. Asep didn't waste the opportunity. He ducked under Mark's panicked sword swing, spun, and swept the swordsman's legs out from under him. The spearman and swordsman from Asep's team, emboldened by the sudden breakthrough, surged forward, crashing into the now-disorganized ranks of Clara's team. Chaos erupted. But Clara, already anticipated this, has her own plan.
"Formation-B! [Triple Phalanx]!"
Just as quickly as it had broken, Clara's team reformed. She, Roy, and Mark now formed the frontline, their shields locked. The two spearmen behind them thrust their weapons over the top of the shields, creating a bristling, porcupine-like defense. Asep was suddenly trapped on the wrong side of the wall, cut off from his teammates.
"Shit!" He grunted as he now have to fight three opponents.
"Retreat! Get out of there, you idiot!" Kirsche's panicked voice screamed from the back line.
*Hahh.. This boy has no plans to counter-attack , eh?* Asep sighed. He dodged a spear thrust from over the shield wall, then parried a clumsy swing from one of the other recruits. He was surrounded, outnumbered, and his own team was being held at bay by the reformed phalanx. The tide of the battle had turned against them in a heartbeat. *Damn, that short-haired girl is surprisingly good at this. She's a natural leader.*
"Now!" Clara yelled, a triumphant glint in her eyes. "Push them back! Drive them out!"
Her team surged forward as one cohesive unit, a walking fortress of wood and blunted steel. Asep was forced to give ground, backpedaling furiously to avoid being overwhelmed. The rest of Kirsche's team, seeing their vanguard's collapse and their best fighter trapped, began to fall back in disarray. The lanky archer fumbled with his bow, his nerve broken. The frontline fighters hesitated, their will to fight evaporating.
"Don't just stand there! Keep fighting!" Kirsche shrieked, his voice cracking with desperation. But it was too late. The momentum was lost. His team's morale had shattered.
Seeing the battle was all but decided, Sylvanne, who had been watching with a lazy, amused expression, finally stood up from her barrel. "Alright, alright, that's enough!" she boomed, her voice easily cutting through the sounds of the mock battle. "Team one wins! Nicely done, Clara. You too, kids." she added as an afterthought.
Clara's team let out a ragged but triumphant cheer. Clara herself pumped her fist in the air, a beaming, victorious smile on her face. On the other side of the yard, Kirsche slumped to the ground, his face buried in his hands, the picture of abject misery and defeat. The other members of his team just stood around awkwardly, looking at the ground, a collective air of shame hanging over them.
Asep, breathing a bit heavily, straightened up and dusted himself off. "Hey, don't be so down. It's just a game after all. Make this evaluation for your future battle." he walked over to Kirsche and offered a hand. "You did pretty good, captain. Your plan almost worked."
Kirsche looked up, his yellow eyes red-rimmed with unshed tears of frustration. He slapped Asep's hand away. "No, it didn't!"
"Come on, Kirsche!" Sylvanne said while walking towards him. "In battle, you need to plans far ahead. Even with good units in your team, you need solid plan to win a battle. Clara did a better job, but your initial plan to break the shield wall is also a good one." She ruffled his messy green hair. "You just need more experience. And maybe... listen to your teammates a bit more. That Asep guy's got some moves. Should've used him better." She gave Asep a pointed, appraising look.
A bruised but grinning Roy walked up to Asep, clapping him on the shoulder once again. "That was a hell of a move, friend! Came out of nowhere. You fight dirty and efficient!"
"Thanks," Asep chuckled, rubbing his shoulder. "Learned it in a few... unfriendly arguments back home."
Clara ran over, her face flushed with victory. "You were amazing, Asep! For a second there, I really thought we were going to lose! Your charge was so fast!"
"Not fast enough, apparently," Asep replied, nodding towards her. "Your counter was quicker. You're a good commander, Clara."
Clara blushed at the praise, a pleased smile spreading across her face. "Thanks! I've been studying Zachary's strategy manuals."
Asep on the other hand, was now sure on one thing. *This place... is not so bad after all. Maybe I can still find some hope in this place.* He thought with a smile. *I've found something that I've lost for a long time. I wonder what it is... The name is just on the tip of my tongue.*
___
___
The evening came into Loriana, blanketed the town. He stood alone at the top of Lorian Hill with a guitar in hand.
Said guitar was borrowed from the dancing troupe; the demihuman dancers and their associates. They're more than happy to lend the guitar as soon as he asked for it. Especially the fox-dancer, a sweet and kind-hearted woman named Naraya.
*Twing*
He tested the strings.
*It's been a long time since I play guitar...* He thought. *Though, this one might similar to Spanish guitar instead of the one I'm familiar with. Maybe a little singing won't bother anyone.*
"Kh! Tes tes... Hufh, aing jadi rada hese ngomong make Basa Sunda saking ku lila teu dipake. Teu kunanaon pan aing ngomong Sunda di dieu? Da moal aya nu ngartieun. Tapi, keun bae lah." Asep muttered as he sat down, leaning his back against the trunk of the old oak tree. The town of Loriana twinkled below him, a constellation of warm, flickering lights against the deepening twilight.
*Jreengg*
"Di setiap masa yang telah kulewati..." He began.
"Menua bersama kisah tak terganti..."
"Senja mulai membiru, menunggu yang berlalu..."
"Haru air mata menyela, iringi rindunya"
"Jikaaa... Kau merasa sepi..."
"Kembalilah ke tempatku menanti."
"Sebelum waktu menuntut mati..~"
The song rolled off his tongue, carried by the gentle evening breeze. The melody was melancholic, a bittersweet ballad of longing and the relentless passage of time. Asep's voice wasn't polished or perfect, but it was filled with a raw, honest emotion that resonated with the quiet solitude of the hill. He sang not for an audience, but for himself—for the ghosts of a past he could never return to, for the friends he'd left behind, and for the gnawing emptiness that sometimes threatened to swallow him whole in this strange, new world.
"Beritahu aku cara melupakanmu."
"Seperti kau ajarkanku dewasaa~"
"Beritahu aku cara merelakanmu."
"Seperti kau ajarkanku bahagia~"
He closed his eyes, his fingers moving deftly over the frets, the practiced motions a comforting balm to his restless soul. The faces of people he hold dears in his heart just flashed in his mind, Agung, Andi, Riska… Fatimah.
"Biarkan ku menepi jika takkan kembali.."
"Dan yakinkanku bahwa kau t'lah temukan yang kaucari~"
"Izinkan ku membenci, pada sang pengganti..."
"Dan yakinkanku bahwa kau t'lah temukan yang kaucari.."
He let the final chord hang in the air, a soft, vibrating note that slowly faded into the chirping of the crickets. Silence descended once more, but it felt different now. Less empty. He sat there for a long moment, the cool wood of the guitar resting against his chest, feeling the phantom ache of a homesickness he hadn't fully allowed himself to acknowledge until now. That thing... that thing he'd lost and was now seeking, the name just out of reach... it was a feeling. A sense of belonging. The warmth of camaraderie. The bittersweet pain of shared memories. A place to call home.
"I was wondering who might singing with strange language. Turns out it's you."
Asep flinched and opened his eyes, startled by the sudden voice. Turning, he saw Sylvanne and Clara standing a few feet away, their figures silhouetted against the last vestiges of the sunset.
"Oh, it's you two. Did I sing too loud?" He asked with an awkward smile.
"Nah, not at all." Sylvanne grinned, plopping down onto the grass with a distinct lack of grace. "We thought Kirsche were here. He usually sulking in this hill when he's lost."
"Yeah, he's always like that." Clara said with a light chuckle. "Well, seems like he isn't here."
"Anyway, sorry for interrupting your time." Sylvanne said. "I never knew you're a bard, though. Hahaha."
"I'm not. I just... learned a thing or two back then." Asep replied, strumming a soft, random chord. "It helps... to clear the mind."
Clara sat down beside him, her knees tucked under her chin, her eyes wide with curiosity. "You can play this? I thought it's harder than flute."
"Well, two different thing has different level of difficulty I guess. But for your question..." He smiled. "Yes. I can play it."
"Wow... Can you play another song for us?" Clara's request was earnest, her eyes sparkling with a genuine, childlike wonder that Asep found difficult to refuse. He looked at Sylvanne, who simply shrugged, a lazy grin on her face. "Go on, bard boy. Entertain us. Though, I can't guarantee you'll get paid."
Asep chuckled, a soft, wry sound. He adjusted the guitar in his lap, his fingers finding their place on the strings. "Alright, alright. One more. But this one's a bit more upbeat." He cleared his throat, took a deep breath, and launched into a different melody.