Grey fog hung over a desolate field a day of full marching away from Dester. Iulius squinted his eyes, trying to break through the fog but his vision didn't reach far. The world was silent except for the rustling of armour and weapons. Iulius looked down on himself, observing the freshly polished metallic armour, drawing a sense of security from it. Other than the armour it was also the presence of his comrades which brought him a lot of confidence. They trained together, lived together for years day and night in order to protect the empire. Protect their cherished home!
"What do you think? Will they really come?"
A young man, having barely served for a year, walked behind Iulius. His voice was suppressed, carrying a tinge of fear. They were prohibited from talking but Iulius didn't admonish the fresh recruit. Being reminded of his own son he always took good care of these youngsters. Yet his discipline prevented him from talking, only answering with a heavy nod.
The army had been advancing slowly. Their enemies this time were different from before. Over the years the empire had been unstoppable, crushing their enemies and conquering new territories. But everything changed when they advanced towards the north, reaching the fog-shrouded Dark Lands. A place the light of civilization couldn't reach. Filled with barbaric tribes practising witchcraft.
Iulius knew that the senate at home didn't take their warnings seriously. But he had seen the demonic practices with his own eyes. It was not something humans should be capable of. It was a blasphemy of the gods. And yet, these barbaric witches existed. They had become the bane of their army. But orders are orders. Turning around was not an option.
Iulius knew a bit more than others. Having been a legionary for so long he had his connections. One of the centurions let him in on the fact that the senate was interested in the forests of the Dark Lands. The wood was strong but flexible, perfect for the new fleet the empire was forming. If they could construct a fleet out of this wood the empire would not only dominate on land but also at sea.
Knowing the importance of the current mission Iulius moved with determination. For the empire they could even battle demons and ghosts!
Just as Iulius reaffirmed his mind, there was finally movement in the fog ahead. An army of barbarians appeared. They were tall men with bushy beards and unkempt hair. Their brawny bodies were protected with simple clothes made from fur. There was none of the discipline an army should have. And yet there was not a hint of fear in their eyes.
"AHH!"
The barbarians let out thundering shouts in an attempt to intimidate their enemies, but Iulius and his comrades kept their stoic expressions. They had been through many battles. Such a simple display couldn't shake them. However, as more and more enemies appeared their faces slowly turned grave. A long howl echoed through the fog and barbarians riding on wolves got into position causing the horses of their own cavalry to scrape their hooves uneasily.
"Intruders! These are not your lands! You have no business being here! Leave at once!"
A female voice caused the fog to dance but the speaker couldn't be seen. However, just the voice was enough to put pressure on the veteran soldiers. After all, the barbarians had no female warriors. Only witches. The simple fact that the witch could learn their language in the short few months since they had first made contact showed her extraordinary nature.
The steps of a horse could be heard as a man in majestic armor riding on a valiant, black steed appeared in Iulius's vision. The bundle of red hairs hanging from the man's helmet distinguished him as a centurion.
"Witch! You should feel honoured that we, the glorious Holy Veron Empire, are bringing you the light of civilization! We even offered you to trade but you rejected our kindness. But let me tell you one thing: The empire always gets what it wants!"
"Trade?! You wanted to desecrate our sacred ground! You want to destroy the sacred forest! You are nothing but blood-lusted madmen! There is no light in you, only darkness!"
"Hmpf!"
The centurion didn't continue to argue. He made a gesture with his hand and the sound of a trumpet followed. Every soldier recognized the signal. The time for words was over. Now their weapons would do the talking!
With rhythmic, simultaneous steps the army began to move like a well-oiled machine. Keeping a tight formation, protecting the sides with tall shields, they were like an unstoppable flood.
Noticing their enemy's actions the barbarians also readied themselves for war. They bellowed with their loud voices and ran towards the soldiers. There was no formation. They were absolutely chaotic. And yet their heavy steps sent tremors through the ground akin to a horde of bloodthirsty animals.
The first clash came suddenly. Heavy clubs crashed into towering shields. Iulius could feel the force transmitted from the front as he supported his comrade's back. The power these barbarians could unleash with every strike was incredible. But in the end, they were only this: barbarians. Against the teamwork of a real army they fell far short.
While the army's front row endured the heavy blows, the soldiers behind them rapidly pierced their spears from between the shields, trying to impale the barbarians. In the first exchange they already drew blood. The barbarians howled like wounded beasts. However, no barbarian stopped fighting. No matter how serious the injury, to them it might as well be just a scratch. With red eyes they swung their mighty clubs, seemingly getting fiercer the more injured they were. Only after they were thoroughly exhausted did the barbarians close their eyes in death.
Meanwhile the cavalry was having some troubles. In the thick fog they found it difficult to flank the barbarians. On top of that, the enemy's wolves were lurking around, ready to ambush. The cavalry already suffered from the wolves before and knew the danger they posed.
Horns rang through the battlefield, cries and wails followed. It was a brutal battle, but the empire's army held the upper hand. And yet the centurion didn't relax his guard. The witch had not made her move yet. Suddenly he seemed to feel something. The centurion turned his head and stared at the fog behind the army. Did it just move? Or was he mistaken? Suddenly his eyes opened wide in shock. Figures were coming out of the fog. It was another group of barbarians!
"Careful!"
"Enemies from behind!"
"How did they get there? What the fuck are our scouts doing?!"
"Change the formation, quick!"
The appearance of a new group of enemies initially caused panic among the soldiers. However, when the familiar trumpet sounds reached their ears, they reacted almost instinctively. With the discipline ingrained in their bones they adjusted the formation, defending towards the front and the back. But after the momentary chaos the army's advantage had disappeared. And thanks to the fog they didn't even know how many enemies they were facing.
"We need to hold on! Support each other! Keep in formation!"
The officers tried to encourage their soldiers. The battle turned into a slug fest. Everyone felt their stamina gradually wane. Meanwhile the barbarians didn't seem to know weakness nor fear. They fought until all their strength was used up before closing their eyes and letting others take over.
Iulius didn't know how often he had thrust his spear. His head was spinning, and his vision was red. He was completely acting on instinct. As long as he felt the presence of his comrades, he knew that the battle was not lost. He knew that he had to continue!
Suddenly the veteran thrusted his spear but felt no hindrance. Iulius froze for a moment and looked towards the front. He saw in his blurry vision that the barbarian army had thinned out a lot. No new enemies came out of the fog. Could it be… over?
Just as Iulius and many others thought so, they heard a ghostly murmur which floated above the battlefield like a breeze. A chill shot down Iulius's spine. He recognized these murmurs. It was the sign of the witch making a move. He just didn't know what she was doing. With so many barbarians already dead, how could the witch turn the tables now?
While the soldiers were doubtful the battle continued. The cavalry tried to find the witch in the fog but were hindered by the constant harassment of the wolves. Soon, the murmurs stopped. The witch had finished casting her spell. For a moment time seemed to stand still. What was about to happen?
Even the centurion held his breath. He vigilantly scanned his surroundings, looking for any abnormalities. Suddenly he stopped, the blood freezing in his veins. His face turned pale. In front of his disbelieving eyes all the dead barbarians twitched and slowly stood up. They roared without sound and threw their bodies at the exhausted armies.
"How… could this be?"