107 The Drums of War

[Lyra POV]

As the Free Elven Forces and independent groups finished regrouping, we immediately laid out our plans.

On the cliff illuminated by the sunrise, the leaders of the resistance together with the leader of the individual groups that recently joined stood together facing the resistance soldiers standing in front of them.

Forming ranks, with large elven forces in history since the fall of the kingdoms.

"Now that we have regrouped, we should be able to at least expand our forces in the mountains to build a stronghold, with this we can finally build a kingdom once again!"

The elf-priest Ellarian was elated as he saw the number of soldiers gathered, however one thing was different from the past, the uniforms they wore were the same, there were no special colors nor insignias for those of higher ranks, there was no division between those of noble blood and commoners - everyone was more united than ever, with the leaders setting aside their differences to achieve their one and only goal.

Beside their camouflage uniforms they also carried heavy-bags that contained many different items depending on the unit they were assigned to, the most basic items every fighter has is that they all have carriable with them.

From healing potions, food, knives, clothes. Then there was a space for our own belongings, together with our written will that Slaine told us to write before we set off.

Previously we only thought that once we die, its over, and the spirits will carry us to their realm and make us into their kind or reincarnate us back as elves, and that in death there's no words needed.

That's why all this time, we didn't feel the need to do it. But as I wrote my own will, I felt it… the strong urge to live after the battle overwhelmed me as tears run from my eyes as I wrote my own will, thinking of Valeri and the people I love, and the sense of satisfaction that if ever I die, these words will possibly reach the people that I loved when I was living.

That's why this new method of writing wills made us more ready for the big battle upcoming, the elves with brave faces formed ranks is a proof of it.

Knowing they might die, but their death will serve a purpose and not just something to be written as a number, just like how the other wars went with the hunting of the dark-elves.

They fight now not to survive, but to change something, and with their death being part of it, there's no need to be afraid, as their wills will be passed onto generations and generations in their family, through just a simple written letter.

Aside from the "care package" Slaine had the leaders distribute, there are also special items Slaine gave us from his stock of weapons he has, we don't know where it is coming from.

At the look of it, they look like made from metal work just like his gun.

The unit he assigned to do it, is the unit general Conall, who is known to have a strong spirit that can holes to the ground to provide an escape path or change the topography to a certain area to stop beasts.

But aside from that he only has his large crossbow and a strong stature.

Knowing Slaine, he must have studied him already and thought of him as the best person for the job.

The leaders actually tried to get it out of general Conall and Slaine about the item, but they simply shook their heads, as the unit will be crucial to the success of the operation, they don't want to leak information about it, incase there appears to be a dark-elf that could read minds.

And that is also surprising, how did Slaine know that the higher echelon of dark-elves do actually have this ability?

Now he is casually leaning at the tree beside me as the leaders give passionate speeches to their troops.

Curious about what was the thing he gave and taught those special units to use, I tapped at his shoulder

"Hey, what kind of item was that? The one you gave the special units?"

He opened his eyes that looked bored and sleepy as he responded. If I can remember he has been meeting secretly with the general at night. It's amazing how he can endure being awake during night. My condolences to the general who has to go through his whims.

"Ahh, nothing special, just something that can slow down the enemy's advance"

He rubbed his eyes and yawned.

"I see, then why don't you also give me one of those?"

I inched closer to his face as I excitedly asked about it.

If it's something to slow the enemy, I'd also want it, it's unfair he is giving it to the special units only.

"You don't need it, and stop doing that, its annoying"

"Huh!! Annoying?!"

What the hell is this treatment!

But as I remember his face again, it wasn't as cold-hearted as I thought it was, compared to how he is acting towards me right now.

"Hey Slaine… were you keeping your distance? Was that night still bothering you? Fufufu"

I tried to tease him a bit as I put covered my mouth with the tip of my hand, and in response he flinched as if I hit a nerve and looked away,

"Don't be ridiculous, who would be?!"

"Ufufu, you are raising your voice… it's fishy…"

"You really are teasing me huh… Eagle! Bring me some bugs! The creepy ones!"

He looked at the enormous bird that was sitting at the branch of the tree.

However, Eagle just momentarily looked at him and me, then ignored him and continued on cleaning its feathers.

"Ignored! HAHA, who do you think is feeding Eagle and Raven when you are loitering around with the general?"

It was indeed difficult feeding the two birds as they won't eat my cooking, and one time he came back, with his clothes that stink of dark-elf blood and his gloves had pieces of white dark-elven hair.

I didn't ask about it, just in case he went back to the torture room again to extract information.

"Tch…"

"Tch?"

"After this battle, I'm going to pay you back for this"

He sighed and faced me as if he has given up on scaring me with bugs.

But a part of what he said bothered me, that a sense of uncertainness and anxiety slowly filled my heart.

" 'After this battle' huh… Slaine… what I will ask will probably just be my anxiety… but am I really going to survive tomorrow?"

I held my left arm with my right hand and made a deep sigh as I saw the elven forces bravely listening to the leaders whom each made their speeches to raise their morale.

"Even with the large the force we have compared to the past, and with your help the battle will probably differ from before when we were fighting aimlessly and divided, but when I imagine the large force that attacked us before, the black river of dark elves, who trampled our forces, burned our lands, castles and homes, I can't just help but feel anxious."

He turned around and then patted me at the head, making a mess out of my hair I thoroughly combed after I woke up.

"Don't think about it too much, thinking really doesn't suit you. That's why I easily fooled you into eating the bugs you hate"

I took off his hand from my head and slowly twisted one of his fingers slowly to the opposite side, to inflict pain.

"Isn't that a bit mean?! Even I can think for my own good!"

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! I-I-It will be alright, though I can't tell you that it would be 100% successful, but I don't start a fight I cannot win."

Then I finally let go of it.

"Lyra, I'm supposed to be your superior, you shouldn't do things like that. What are you going to do if I'm unable to pull the trigger right now?"

He shook his hand and held his weapon, checking if he can still pull the trigger, then let out a sigh of reassurement.

"Sorry… you were being mean these days so I couldn't help it anymore. Plus, going by your rules, we are off duty right now, I'm even not in my uniform."

���Well… it makes sense."

"Ahh… I don't care anymore! I feel like an idiot for being anxious in the first place! If you say so, then let's do it commander! Let's win this!"

"Yeah!"

He nodded at me, and we made a "fist bump" something he taught me before when we are both in affirmation, and at the same time, the four divisions of elven soldiers marched under the direction of their commanders.

Meanwhile, Slaine whistled and Eagle, and Raven flew from the branches to his arm and shoulder.

Among those divisions were led by the three Generals and Slaine.

War has started, and there's no more coming back.

…

At the foot of the eastern mountains, an encirclement was formed, and was strengthened with the presence of Nork, the leader of the eastern colony.

He rode in a golden carriage taken from the fallen kingdom, where he sat at a lavish golden seat, it was pulled by a dual-headed manticore, which is also a dark-elf commander class creature, surrounding his carriage were his personal guards, mostly dark-knights and commanders.

Totally displeased of the news he has heard and seen through the eyes of his kind, he went to wage war totally.

But just as he arrived, the challenger appeared in front of him, looking down on him from a cliff, sitting casually as he ate an apple under the bandana that obscured the lower part of his face, his dark mantle was fluttering all-over and he held a weapon towards his shoulder.

He then stood up and looked at the half-eaten fruit, and then extended his hand and threw it in front of the carriage.

"I know… I know that elf!!!"

He pointed out to the man he believes to be a light elf, sitting casually attop the cliff, the one he saw killing his subordinate Licht and throwing his head.

Anger ran through his veins that it made him stand up in anger and reached to the sword at his back to give a command.

"Take that light elf's head and bring it to me!"

He shouted, and with this he mobilized the large infantry of dark knights and commanders.

As they climbed the mountain, the sounds of the drums of war echoed and the roars of the dark elves and their sinister laughs went with it.

The carriage move forward and they raised the flag of the leader of the eastern colony which was a two-headed beast, just like the one pulling his golden carriage.

The other elves in the encirclement also did the same.

His plan was to make sure that no one escapes this sweep.

"Catch the females and murder everyone of them!"

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