Orsgadts
Small Victory

The dawn came with a cold wind. The ice wall that Avena made last night still stands strong even though it melts a little because of the sun's greeting. Just wait until the wall evaporates later.

King Duncan stood staring at the ice wall that covered the view towards the palace of Orsgadt nun far away. After the black army's deadly attack yesterday, he decided to let his troops rest. No word yet from Arsyna's army. Even if they arrived at the border of Orsgadt, they would not be able to fight optimally due to exhaustion on the way.

The armies of Eimersun and Imperia he felt were enough to keep up with the black army but another story goes that the forces of Korta were raised by the witch Goenhrad. Olevander had told him not to worry about supernatural threats but how not, overnight, one-third of his army had been slaughtered.

The news from Arthen who was in Imperia was quite encouraging. The Imperial army is ready.

A news anchor came running. He conveyed the observations of the supervisory officer in the tower. King Duncan's jaw is hardened. Yesterday's war was just a warm-up. Orsgadt was ready with hundreds of black troops behind the ice wall. He told the news anchor to inform Commander Darreth, who was leading a third of Eimersun's army, to get ready to move to the border.

***

Goenhrad grinned sinisterly. He did not want this war but it had already happened. He believed Yhourin was already preparing to resurrect Korta and Anthura. Crazy witch, he murmured inwardly. His left eye suddenly felt sore. He was annoyed at not being able to get out of the hall because Yhourin kept him there with her magic.

“Bring those women!” angry shouting. In a crucial moment, his red eyes still demanded the light of life. He wants this war to end quickly. If he loses, he still hopes to take Yhourin away from here.

Lose out? Goenhrad laughed out loud. He will burn Artamea before it happens, he willed inwardly. He sat with a hardened face. Orsgadt's daughter was not an indiscriminate opponent. He survived a dozen massacres last year and now suddenly appears to challenge him.

“Mr Princess, I will gladly take the light of your life,” said Goenhrad with a wicked grin and sparkling eyes.

Meanwhile in the top room of the main tower of Orsgadt Palace, Yhourin laughed out loud. He was pleased and satisfied to see the retreating Eimersun forces regularly last night. The black army was now preparing behind the ice wall. He would destroy the wall and let the bloodthirsty black army finish off Eimersun's army.

He waited for a brighter day for his full strength to break the ice wall. The ice fairy is brash, she swore in her heart. Avena was indeed not a comparable opponent to Yhourin but still drained her energy if the ice girl made such a large ice wall.

Last night he could feel the presence of Leonz, the little witch of Hertena. The little girl must have been overwhelmed by all the protective magic she had created. Yhourin is disturbed by the presence of other energies that appear with Leonz but he does not know what that energy is. It could be that Leonz brought Hertena's heirloom to fight him.

He won't let anyone mess with him. Artamea will be transformed into a sea of fire. He'll make sure everyone's scared to hear his name.

“I will destroy Artamea,” Yhourin said with a happy smile.

***

Emune, Leonz and Avena are still fast asleep at dawn. Elric was about to wake Emune but was stopped by the Proner who asked him to let Emune rest longer. The news bearer reported that King Duncan was still waiting for the ice wall to melt and used the time to prepare his troops. The Imperian army would attack Orsgadt from the west and if the Arsynese troops arrived, they would assist the Eimersun forces in the southern part of Orsgadt.

Emune tried to open her eyes but could not. His entire body felt heavy as if he had been crushed by a stone. He tried to move his numb fingers. It's so torturous. In the aftermath of not knowing what had happened to her, Emune opened his mouth, calling out the names of Elric, Proner and the others but no sound came out.

Chests rumbling. Something was holding him back but there was another energy that wanted to come out from within his body. Something big and he can't control it. Elzenthum. The warning of Fairy King Dougraff revolved around his head.  Seizing Orsgadt from Goenhrad could unlock another seal. Whatdoes thatmean?

“Emun!” elric shouted as he watched Emune's body float up from the bed. He got up and approached Emune. The girl's eyes were still closed, her hands were crossed on her chest. Her hair was draped and moving played by the invisible moving air.

The Proner jumped up to Emune. Sean and Aiden entered the room with unsheathed swords and riled faces. They think an intruder is about to attack. The two gaped at the sight of Emune floating in the air.

Not yet exhausted by the astonishment of the four knights, Emune's body crashed violently onto the bed. So hard that Avena jumped up and Leonz sat down and rubbed his eyes.

“Do not approach!” prevent Leonz. Everyone back off hearing Leonz say. Avena until she shifts to the end of the bed.

Leonz asks Proner for water. Proner gave Leonz a glass of water. Leonz drank half a glass of water. Stop for a while and drink again and leave a little in his glass. He poured the remaining water from the glass into his right palm and placed it on Emune's face.

“Rain! Rain!” emune shouted as she jumped down from the bed and ran while rubbing her eyes until it collided with Elric. Elric held Emune's body with his chest and both arms. Emune's face immediately reddened looking at Elric's face that was almost stuck with his face.

“I always wanted to do that. Hahaha, the face of the Princess is very funny,” said Leonz who laughed as he rolled around on the bed. He was very happy to be able to prank Emune early in the morning.

Emune glared furiously. He immediately ran to Leonz and tickled the little girl until Leonz asked for forgiveness. Avena did not remain silent. He helped Emune to kill Leonz.

“Bad girl! Watch you!” said Emune fiercely.

The Proner then starts to die, and Elric, Sean, and Aiden understand that Leonz was just a prank on Emune. Really a busy morning. Elric smiled amusedly at the behavior of three women who were now busy interrupting each other in bed. Proner patted her on the forehead, so he thought what Horeen would think if he saw Avena being busy joking with Emune and Leonz like this.

***

Horeen is moving west. The Imperia army is already preparing at the border with Orsgadt. Orsgadt's western wall had to be destroyed so that Imperia's forces could attack freely. Horeen grinned. He should not be rash to use all his energy because there is still Korta and Anthura that they should worry about. Horeen patted the border wall gently with Orsgadt. The next incident was amazing. The wall collapsed to the ground consecutively starting from south to north.

King Theosyes and Arthen were surprised to see the ice wall that encircled the Orsgadt region. It must be the other fairy, Arthen satin. He smiled proudly because Emune had reliable friends.

“There is a black army in there,” Horeen said. “Be prepared.”

“The accursed man will not be able to hide behind his army!” king Theosyes exclaimed with fury blazing like fire.

“One to four. We still need Arsyna. Horeen, how about Emune?” ask Arthen.

“Emune is fine. They were strategizing to attack Yhourin. Leave that to them,” replied Horeen.

Arthen nodded. He was eager to meet Emune.

The sound of the war drums suddenly broke the silence. It was not yet noon but the sudden wind like it stopped being a sign that something terrible was about to happen.

Horeen floated high into the sky. He could see Yhourin standing on the bridge to the palace of Orsgadt, holding a staff up. Unable to ignore his curiosity, Horeen approached to a safe distance and swore loudly.

“Sial! Eltran's wand! How could he have it?” Horeen cursed in annoyance.

Horeen descended quickly and asked King Thenosyes and the Knights of Arthen to prepare. Yhourin would definitely destroy the ice wall with that stick. He then rushed to convey the news to the commanders of Eimersun.

Warlocks and trumpets ardent spirit race over the air. The scream was equipped with a cracked ice wall and then broke into pieces. Ice chunks flew in all directions piercing and befalling all the strongholds.

Alfred ordered an army of arrows and catapults to rain down the black army. Thousands of arrows shot and stuck here and there. As invulnerable, the black troops seemed to be unperturbed by the one or two arrows stuck in their arms and shoulders. Fireballs and large stones floated and fell with a loud thumping sound. The black army was scattered but soon recovered and was ready to hit the enemy forces in front of them.

The black army moved quickly and savagely finished off the enemies that were near them. The black presence was well known throughout Artamea, but it was not as easy to shake the soldiers of Eimersun and Imperia. The clashing sword emitted a deafening sound. The huge axes and hammers used as weapons by the black troops swung about the careless soldiers. Countless numbers of Eimersun and Imperia soldiers were casualties. The battle this time was between the skill of the assassin squad against the large number of troops.

Eimersun's army has reached its limit. There were too many casualties but they could not retreat as the black troops continued to press forward. Seeing that Horeen immediately kicked the ground until a loud wave lifted the ground and made the black troops fall on its trajectory.

This opportunity was not wasted by the Imperia and Eimersun forces. They immediately executed the ruthless assassins that were made special soldiers by Goenhrad. There was no death cry like that issued by the soldiers of Eimersun and Imperia when the black troops were executed, of course because they all no longer had tongues.

Horeen could hear Yhourin's laughter breezing into the palace after making a protective layer around the palace. The descendants of the fire fairy seemed to regard this battle as a pleasant spectacle. Horeen. He had always wanted to face it but he remembered Leonz's message that even if Horeen, Leonz and Avena were united, they would not be able to defeat him.

The victory against the black army was met with excitement by everyone. The trumpet of victory raged all over. As before, all the bodies of the fallen soldiers were left on the edge of the border while those who were injured were treated immediately.

King Duncan stared intently at the palace of Orsgadt. After this, he knew what would appear. The Dark Forces of Korta.