Aftermath, by Xinke Auel Han Magnus: Difference between revisions
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'''Disclaimer''': This page is a piece of fiction following the [[The War of Paranoia
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It had seemed fun at first, noble, grandiose even. If only we had known how long it would have lasted, how many would die, how many would sacrifice their friends, their family and their heritage for their own skin. It lasted six months. It might not seem long, but six months feeling exposed, feeling as though your back was wide open, six months feeling as though you might have to defend yourself any moment was very tiring, and very long indeed.
I had been a simple soldier when I started my military career. I liked the feeling of brotherhood
On the first day of December, the
What the Basceys did not have in terms of economy and soldiers, they made up in information and cunning. They struck when we were defenseless
▲On the first day of December, the Rogue King of Imperia, Harau, declared war on my nation. Some were in shock, some were insulted, some were angry, but most were scared. I was part of the majority. Yet, even if I was scared, I would defend my nation. Quickly, Imperia began to prepare itself for battle. The Commanders met, and Commander Kentiman of the Royal Army made a brilliant plan to defeat the enemy. Training sessions were organized everyday by Captains. We could not lose.
Anyways, the war continued. Soldiers began defecting to the Bacseys. Soon, they outnumbered us
The King and the Commander soon began to inspire some soldiers to not be afraid, that the Bacseys were not so threatening, that there was hope. With some of our confidence returned, we won some battles. Yet, with every battle
▲What the Basceys did not have in terms of economy and soldiers, they made up in information and cunning. They struck when we were defenseless. They retreated when help would come. They attacked key figures of the officer core. They avoided our ambushes. Quickly, it became clear there were internal spies in Imperia. The purges began. Some became more witch-hunters than soldiers. Nobody could trust ANYONE anymore. Even ''I'' was questioned. However, it was futile. No matter how many spies they found, the Bacseys were still so well informed...
One day, we were asked to go to the old Imperian province of [[Valerock City|Snow Town]]. Thirty of us met there, in a meeting hall, some dressed in Bacsey clothes. In the crowd was the most infamous traitor of them all, Zaer. The traitor asked us to hide in the pots, under the tables, everywhere possible. Everyone hid except the Bacseyians and Auel. I knew this was the end. Auel would surrender us for his own skin, like half the Kingdom had done. This was just a twisted game, for Harau to have his perfect vengeance, to be able to hunt us down and kill us himself. The true King of Imperia and the rogue King of the Bacseys talked, but not politics. They talked of the latter's past, of his betrayal, and why he had left the Kingdom. Harau was furious. He told our King, my King, that he had betrayed him. It was all a lie of course. We all knew that Harau had left in a quest to obtain more power. Harau finished his accusations. Standing proud, tall, mighty, in front of Harau Bacsey, who had fifteen of his elite behind him, all standing at attention, ready to slaughter us any minute now. Yet, Auel spoke a final order, the last order he would give in this war: "Imperians! You have waited long enough for this moment! Kill the traitor and show him no mercy.". Suddenly, fifteen Imperians sprang out of nowhere, including myself, and we attacked Harau. I was ready to defend myself from the blade of the Bacseys, yet they did not attack me. Instead, they unsheated their daggers and stabbed Harau like us. Soon, we stood before a mutilated, flayed horror, with a crumbled mask besides him. Harau Bacsey was dead. The war was over.
All thirty of us went to celebrate. We were all in the mood, except the common soldiers like me. Once we gazed at the faces of our commanders, we understood what had happened. This plan, this travesty on honor, had been planned by the Commanders and kept secret from us all this time. They had trust the traitors more than us. We, who had fought everyday for Imperia, who had murdered for this nation for six long months now
As I stood there, watching everyone dance like madmen, drinking together like best friends even though they hated each other mere days ago, I understood that this was all a facade. We had lost the brotherhood, the feeling of love for each other in this war, as well as everything we stood for. Even as the King drank with Zaer, he eyed the rogue's hands, hidden deep inside the pockets of his coat. Even as the
▲Anyways, the war continued. Soldiers began defecting to the Bacseys. Soon, they outnumbered us. We started hiding. We, the proud Imperians, were forced into ''hiding. ''Nobody cared about values anymore. There was only survival. Soon, the only ones who went out in the field was the Mad Commander Xinke Han and the King of Imperia, Auel Vist. The Commander had apparently trained so much he could take the entire Bacsey elite out by himself. However, in exchange, he trusted no one, not even himself. He was one of the more scarred by the war, along with his King, yet he fought on.
▲The King and the Commander soon began to inspire some soldiers to not be afraid, that the Bacseys were not so threatening, that there was hope. With some of our confidence returned, we won some battles. Yet, with every battle ''we ''won, more people deserted to the Bacseys in exchange for better ranks, and every time the Bacseys won, more people left Imperia, more people quit and surrendered. Our confidence was the kind a broken man has facing impossible odds. We believed in ourselves because the situation was so dire that it made no difference. Our end was coming. With every day approaching, we knew our death was coming. It was coming too soon...
▲This plan, this travesty on honor, had been planned by the Commanders and kept secret from us all this time. They had trust the traitors more than us. We, who had fought everyday for Imperia, who had murdered for this nation for six long months now! We who had broken bones, lost family, lost precious limbs and our youth to defend our country, were not part of the plan like the ''traitors ''had!
▲As I stood there, watching everyone dance like madmen, drinking together like best friends even though they hated each other mere days ago, I understood that this was all a facade. We had lost the brotherhood, the feeling of love for each other in this war, as well as everything we stood for. Even as the King drank with Zaer, he eyed the rogue's hands, hidden deep inside the pockets of his coat. Even as the Mad Commander danced with a female soldier, he eyed not her face, nor her body, but the unnatural, hilt-like shape sticking out of under the woman's dress.
[[Category:Literature]]
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