Two years after Aeloria joined the army...
The clouds were stormy over the training field, promising rain and cold weather.
Every soldier was accounted for, except Aeloria of course.
Moments later, she entered, commanding every soldier's attention.
She wore the black-and-crimson fit of Runevale's elite. However, there was no armor. Everyone knew the Cannibal wears no armor to battle.
She was wild yet every soul on that field knew one truth: the moment Aeloria the Cannibal stepped onto the battlefield, victory was all but decided. Enemies feared being eaten alive far more than they feared clean blade.
She walked between the parted ranks as though she owned the ground itself, her eyes scanning left and right, searching.
Then she found who she was looking for.
"Yoru!"
Her voice cut across the entire field like a war horn.
The young female soldier in the middle of instructing spear practice snapped to attention, lowered her weapon, and jogged over.
"Head Captain," Yoru said, saluting crisply—the same Yoru who had knelt broken-shouldered on Aeloria's very first day, now her personal aide and a Great Captain in her own right.
"Has the commander arrived—"
A familiar knock cracked across the back of Aeloria's skull before she could finish.
"Why did I have to arrive before you again?" Orin's voice thundered.
Aeloria spun. "Commander, you're already here? I told you to stop hitting my head—it hurts!"
"Don't talk back to me. You've been late every single day since the day you arrived."
"Look at that—they're doing it again," one soldier whispered, shaking his head.
Just then, Orin froze, and so did every soldier on the field.
A new figure walked through the gates. His steps were measured and confident. However, he wore a frown on his face.
"Hey look, it's Migard." A soldier pointed at the young man approaching without an ounce of hesitation in his steps.
"Yeah, you're right, it really is him. But wasn't he suspended?" A soldier asked in confusion.
"It's already been two years you idiot." Another added.
"Migard, why are you arriving late? You've served your punishment and were supposed to arrive on time like everyone else. Tell me, do you want another suspension?" Orin's voice silenced the whispers. The man stopped eight paces from the commander.
"Who is he, by the way? And why is everyone so tensed?" A new recruit asked, wondering how such a handsome young man commanded all attention in a way even the cannibal didn't.
"You must not have heard since you joined a few months ago. Before the cannibal, we had Migard. The only thing he does not do is eat people. He is brutal, ruthless, and is the Heir to a noble family. He was sent to join the royal army due to his untamed nature." A soldier explained to the new recruit.
Orin stepped into Migard's personal space, his brow knitting into a deep, dangerous line. "I asked you a question, Migard. Don't make me repeat it."
"Orin sir, it wasn't my intention to disrespect. I just had a lot on my mind I couldn't sleep early yesterday, and the day before that, for the past two years." He took steps towards Aeloria until he stood just a breath away.
"Things like how you were able to bring yourself to appoint the cannibal as Head Captain..." Before he could finish, a sharp kick slammed into his chest. However, Migard was quick to react. He raised both hands in a cross block.
Aeloria's boots slammed into his guarded arms, sending him a few steps back.
She then looked at the young man with messy brown hair and spoke.
"Sorry, I hate it when men get so close to me without my permission."
"He... He took a direct hit from the cannibal yet he was only pushed back a few paces?" A soldier stared with wide eyes.
"Of course he did, on this field, Migard is second only to the commander, when it came to combat. Be it fists, swords, bows and arrows, or even spears, he exels at everything." A soldier watched with a sweat down his cheeks.
"Migard, Aeloria is the Head Captain, and you will treat her as such. I'll give you a chance to apologize for your actions." Orin's voice dropped to a dangerous growl.
"I'm disappointed in you, Commander. I'm also disappointed in everyone on this field. You asked me to apologize to the Cannibal, don't make me laugh." Migard spoke.
"This is the first time we've met, why are you acting like you already know me?" Aeloria asked. She was now begining to get offended by the actions of the young man.
"Know you? In Runevale and beyond, who does not know Aeloria the cannibal. When I take a life, it's from someone who could at least put up a fight, and I do it putting my own life on the line. Tell me, what fight did she put up when you ate your daughter. Did you put your life on the line when you bit the chefs ear off? The Head Captain position is supposed to be earned. And you have not." He said with a frown, shaking off the numbness from Aeloria's earlier kick.
'To think the two people the queen recommended herself would be here, arguing with each other. This is so troublesome.' Orin thought.
"It reached my ears at the border that anyone unwilling to accept the cannibal as Head Captain could challenge her for the position. Well, I'm here to take what is rightfully mine." Migard said, walking closer to Aeloria for the second time, standing just a breath away.
"Should I accept your challenge, I'll lose my position if I'm defeated. What do you have to offer in your defeat, Migard?" Aeloria asked, this time, she did not kick him away.
"Please don't, he's dangerous. It was same when he killed the previous Head Captain. The commander asked him to stop because the captain could no longer continue the fight, however, he didn't. Before the commander could step in to stop the fight, he plunged his sword into the captain's heart." Yoru whispered behind Aeloria.
"What do I have to offer, you asked? Will my life suffice?" Migard said with a smile, lifting his gaze to match hers.
"Your life?" In her life, she had not met anyone so daring.
"Hey, did you hear that? I thought he might have changed, even a little, since the borders are alway a dangerous place to be. Now, I see I was wrong." A soldier spoke in a shivering voice.
"Is he allowed to do that?" Another asked but got no reply.
As tension grew on the field, Ramius was faced with a tension of the throne room.
Ramius knelt before the queen and the assembled nobles.
"Ramius, Namesh just allied itself with another kingdom, do you still believe you can win this war?" Nyxelene asked in a dangerous tone.
"They allied themselves with another kingdom? How did she know that? Even my spies in Namesh have yet to report of any changes." A noble to the right stared at the queen in awe.
"It is not uncommon for kingdoms to band together in times of crisis. I'm well aware of the changes made. Namesh is up against Runevale, a Great Kingdom. Not many rulers would openly oppose us. It has come to my knowledge that the kingdom they allied themselves with is a kingdom indebted to them. As I promised, things will still go according to plan. After everything you've taught me, a single variable shouldn't be difficult to counter. With your permission, I would like to present the scroll." The queen nodded and Ramius stood, taking steady steps towards the her.
'This feeling of nervousness, I do not like it. It's as though she is just tolerating my existence.' Ramius expression was calm yet his thoughts raged inwards.
"To look at the queen and say that victory is certain, just where does he get his confidence from." A noble asked.
"He may be one of the few who could walk up to the queen with a calm expression." Another added.
The queen took the scroll and glanced to the side where the whispers were begining to grow. The nobles chocked on their words until silence reigned supreme.
"What are its contents?" Nyxelene asked.
"The expenses and personnel suitable for various positions." Ramius responded.
"Take whatever gold and people you need." Nyxelene said.
"What? I don't want to be chosen to oversee anything related to the war. My wife just gave birth, I would rather spend time with my newborn child." A noble whispered, however, his words were heard by most under the intense silence.
Nyxelene gaze shifted to him for a heartbeat.
The noble opened his mouth to apologize but no words came. Air rushed out of his lungs as he struggled to breathe. He forced himself to at least kneel and beg, his body, however, refused to move. His vision darkened until he saw and heard nothing.
Nyxelene stood and walked towards the entrance. 'It looks like something interesting is happening on the fields of Ohlm.'
"Clean up," Ramius said after the queen left.
"Clean what up?" A noble asked.
It was only then did they realized that the man who had whispered about not wanting to join the war had died standing.
'Saying you did not want to oversee anything related to the war is telling Lady Nyxelene that you're useless to her. You only have yourself to blame.' Ramius thought.
"He's... dead?" The word was a strangled gasp. The circle of nobles widened instantly as they scrambled away from the cooling corpse. The person stood in their midst and died without so much as uttering a single scream.
They watched the guards drag the motionless body away.
Ramius sighed; it was as though the Queen's absence had lifted a weight of his chest.
"The court is dismissed." He announced. In the queen's absence, it was clear who the authority belonged to.
Meanwhile, back on the training field...
"Should I lose, you're free to use me however you see fit. My life would be yours. If anyone disrespects you, or slanders you behind your back, they'll have to face Migard." The young man spoke.
"Very well, I will use twin daggers, the first to fall loses. Choose your weapon." Aeloria suggested. She had been practicing to maintain her sanity when she switched to survival mode and her eyes turned red for the past two years. Using her full strength will end things quickly, as such, she chose to give him a fighting chance.
Or so she thought.
"You misunderstand me. The person I'm challenging isn't Aeloria, or the cannibal, it's both. What do you say to a battle to the death or until one of us surrenders?"