A deep breath, calm.
Steady.
Why had it come to this?
I brought my hand up to block the scalding sun.
Rumor had it, ten enter alive and one makes it out.
If the scent of rotting carcasses were anything to go by, I would say that was a gross understatement.
Even the vultures circling above seemed to agree with me.
Lesto, Hell on Gaia.
And I was looking at a prince of hell.
If the crime existed, he probably committed it.
The air entered my lungs, and I slowly exhaled.
His red eyes narrowed. Veins bulged on the top of his bald head, the sun bouncing off it.
Yes, red, unnatural.
Sweat fell off his brow like a river.
Was he worried, or was it this insane heat?
He glanced at his holster.
"Don't." My lips slightly curled as I tilted my head.
"You're worth more to me alive." While it was true, I'd rather not have to load his body on my truck.
"Is that so?" He cracked his neck, "It so happens." His tense neck relaxed, and his shoulders visibly dropped.
Good, my fingers hovering around my holster relaxed.
"That you aren't worth anything to me at all."
Shit.
His hand reached for his gun.
Bang!
The idiotic birds that had stayed for this long dispersed.
He stopped and stepped forward, his hand moving to his forehead. His two fingers touched the hole the size of a thumb on his forehead.
He brought his hand in front of his face and stared at the crimson stain on his fingers. Then, he tilted his head, his eyes widened, and his eyebrows furrowed.
His wide eyes squinted, and he smiled wryly.
Did the dull bastard think he was unkillable?
A sigh left my lips as he fell backwards.
It was never as romantic as an old western, but I was quick, and in a matter of life and death, the fastest always wins.
When I faced death, I never blinked.
Diana closed the book.
"Perfect." She nodded to herself. This was it, a Novel worth reading, she clutched it against her chest like it was a lifeline.
To her, it was.
Preparing for war was, in a simple way, boring.
Most of it was done by her stewards or her vassals. Meanwhile, she was here in her study doing absolutely nothing.
Her cheeks puffed up; it also helped that this novel was something she commissioned privately, based on a book from her world.
Michael, the bounty hunter.
She unconsciously smiled, her lips and eyes curving like crescent moons.
"This is perfect, thank you." She praised while hugging the book tightly.
She gave her a thumbs up and a gentle smile.
The author nodded. "No." Her brown eyes gleamed, and an excited smile blossomed on her lips. "Thank you, Duchess." She beamed as bright as the sun. "This was your idea after all."
"I could never think of these things."
"So strange, like magic cannons but smaller."
"Umm." She touched her chin. Her eyes wandered to the ceiling as she thought.
In a moment, her face lit up as if a bulb turned on in her head.
"Guns." She nodded profusely to herself. Her voice was tinged with excitement.
"I was in a slump, Your Excellency, and this. This has just fueled my creative mind."
"I mean, cowboys aren't they just insane? People with no magic fighting demons..." She flicked a tear from her eye.
The sound of voices intertwined came through the door.
The door swung open, and two men locked in a heated gaze stepped through. In the background, snow fell.
"No, you old coot, the best place to station troops is in the west, our weak spot."
"You haven't lived here, you fool, the west is where Hilda's jaws are, no sane army will march through there." His yellow eyes narrowed into slits, his usual stoic face broken by a frown.
Jorge poked his armored chest with his finger.
"I could easily scale that mountain with thirty strong."
"No, you can't." He smacked his head with his hand. "A magic beast the size of this castle slumbers at the peak." He bit his lip and pulled back his clenched hand.
"And you think I can't take care of that?"
"This isn't about you, it's about stationing troops where they are needed, like the South entrance, near Count Fredricks Domain."
Jorge flashed his teeth and twisted his head.
"Are you daft? Is that heavy metal you lug around damaging your brain? I already told you we don't need more people in the South."
"Gregor will take care of it."
"And who the" Fenrir coughed and cleared his throat. His lip twitched as he inhaled a curse, his clenched fist unfurling.
"And who in Hathor's' name is this Gregor?"
Diana's sigh silenced the room.
"Apologies, Your Excellency." Fenrir was the first to react, bowing his head. His face was red, like a schoolboy caught stealing.
Jorge followed quickly
"My mistake, daughter of Thunder."
"Raise your heads." She massaged her temple. This wasn't the time for petty squabbles; a crisis was coming, and it wasn't time for division.
She looked guiltily at the book tightly clutched in her hands.
That's one thing and this is another, she huffed.
"War Chief Jorge, and Sir Fenrir."
They stood at attention.
"Did I not mention that we will not be attacked? This is all precautionary..."
"Is this discourse necessary?"
"But my lord, in case of emergency-"
She raised her hand.
"Have you been mistaken, because of my leniency?"
She stared them down with her ruby eyes.
"Divide our forces, some in the south, and some west."
"Splitting your forces isn't wise." Fenrir interjected.
She leaned back and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"You trust me, right?"
"Of course." Fenrir nodded, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Jorge nodded.
Before she could open her mouth, she froze in horror.
[Your faction has been recognized!]
[Updating!]
[You have joined the Dragonhart empire!]
[Role detected, Grand Duchess]
[Adding spawn point!]
[Updating... Updating....]
[Congratulations! The fields of Khione have been recognized as a starting area]
A commotion was happening outside.
The sound of villagers and knights alike yelling.
Kath ran in, knocking over a vase, which cracked, and the water soaked up on the wooden floor.
"Son?"
"My lord, the sky." He inhaled as he hunched over. "My lord, the sky is falling."
She stepped out and saw the stars falling, as the sky shattered like a broken mirror. A purplish tear in the sky, and like rain, the stars fell. The grey sky, engulfed in clouds, was now littered with purple.
A single line of text in her eyes.
[Welcome to New Life!]