~~~~~ Ulias' perspective ~~~~~
It's been a week and a half since we arrived at fort Shira at the Shira mountain pass.
The demon attacks are relentless.
Lately they've been pushing through northwest corridor of the Mountain pass.
The snowstorms seem to be little problem for them as they're advancing at a dizzying pace.
If we loose any momentum we will surely be crushed.
The skirmishes to the west and north west seem to be increasing as the days go by.
We were sent here to fortify and hold the fort of Shira then advance a counter attack.
So far we've barley managed to hold the fort.
We're loosing men faster than i can keep up with it.
The demons advance is breathing down our necks.
...
This isn't the usual activities of demons.
Usually they keep to themselves in the lands to the west.
Demons are unable to co exist with any living creature in this world so they keep to themselves.
the results of the skirmishes are not that of savage demons.
No, something isn't right.
The main species of demon we've encountered is that of the lesser kind.
Lesser demons usually stay in groups or packs due to their inherent weakness but their affinity to fire magic makes them deadly in large numbers.
entire villages to the west were wiped out due to that reason.
So what about them has changed?
...
There also seems to be a large number of greater demons present.
It almost seems as if their movements are purposeful.
in the 40 years since the demons arrived on the continent of Alveria this is behavior is yet to be observed in demon kind.
In all the books I've read about demon kind they've never been known to cooperate on this level.
Our mages are outmatched.
This shouldn't be the case.
Even a greater demon accompanied by lesser demons is no match for a knight mage.
our magical firepower is supposed to be superior.
We've lost more than half of our night mages and over a third of our soldiers.
They repel our counter attacks with superior fire magic and break down our front lines with overwhelming force.
We've lost all territory to the west of the northwest corridor and loosing ground in the territory to the east of that.
We're being pushed back into the fort.
Lesser demons have been making light work of our patrols at night with what i can only assume is hit and run tactics.
We were never prepared for this kind of war.
It wasn't even supposed to be a war.
but if fort Shira falls....
The demons will spill out into raven and the lands to the east and south.
It will be war.
humankind versus demon kind.
40 years ago mankind was able to repel the great demon invasion and seal the portal to the wherever place they came from.
ever since then it has been relatively peaceful for humanity.
The of keeping the demons within the western lands and their subsequent subjugation naturally falls upon our house of carmine and the territory of Raven.
Because of that reason Raven is exempt from most of the general taxes.
Raven only has a population nearing 4000 so we rely on mercenaries or neighboring territories for armament and soldiers.
The territory is a great military power though it is fractured due to the task of the land.
For that reason our territory has birthed many a famous adventurers over the past decades.
Raven is still a great farming nation only shadowed to that of the military power that is omnipresent.
...
Lately I've been questioning fathers decision to station me here despite the overwhelming odds.
There's been no word from the lands to the south or west on whether we will receive military aid or not.
The force I was sent with also seems very questionable.
This is not my first time in battle yet this time everything feels different.
It is not my place to question the decisions of father but still.
Nothing is seeming to add up here.
The snowstorm has rendered our counter attacks useless.
"my men are dying".
I slam my fist against the floor I sit on.
In front of me is a battle laid map with scribbles X marks and various lines going from east to west and vice versa.
The candle holder wobbles around as the candle light flickers and dances around the room.
already spilled ink can be seen on the corner of the map from when it was previously spilled due to one of Ulias outbursts.
"This is no time to loose face".
I need to stay strong for my men.
It is true, the morale and moo around the fort is at an all time low.
Many of the usual faces I'd see from day to day are no longer present.
Not to mention I knew a lot of them personally.
With the dwindling numbers chores and tasks are being shared between multiple people creating confusion in even the most simplest of states.
Most of our experienced cooks have perished in the time since our arrival so the food is rather stale and distasteful.
"Man it would be nice to have a nice warm meal served by Ilia".
And with that my stomach growls loudly.
"I guess it's been a while since my last meal, I should probable get something to eat before I'm needed again.
With the absence of our knight commander Bilrach Matthers most if not all of duties have fallen upon me.
I was only supposed to take up that a position of image rather than actually commanding the army.
I was overly unexperienced at leading an army and woefully unprepared.
"Does father seek to test me...or is he punishing me?"
Pushing the though out of my mind I leave my room and make my way to the dining room.
Along the way hurried groups of soldiers can be seen running back and forth.
Some soldiers resting their wounds on the many benches that were taken from the dining room, and placed in the main hallway to form a makeshift infirmary.
The infirmary was already overwhelmed and overcrowded.
If not properly maintained disease could spread.
...
Along the way I run into the senior knight mage Wilston.
He was talking about some strange magic circles that were found in the places where the skirmishes had once taken place.
He said he along with a few other knight mages would study and decipher their reason and meaning.
If successful it could give us the foothold we need to turn this dire situation on it's head.
However I cannot place all of my hope on that on strand.
The demons movements as of late have been mysterious.
whist lost in thought i bump into a young soldier.
"Bump"..."oof"
"Ouch my head"
is all that can be heard from the young soldier dressed in damaged and dirtied armor.
Her black hair still moving about after the contact.
"Oh my, I'm so terribly sorry." I quickly say while regaining composure.
"I was lost in thought and wasn't watching where I was going".
I rub the back of my head sheepishly.
"No no It's my fault, I too wasn't watching where I was going".
As the young lady looks up their eyes meet.
"Oh Sir Ulias!, Please excuse my unforgivable behavior".
She says while standing up straight and then bowing at a 45 degree angle.
"No no It's quite alright... uhhh"
Yona sir, Yona blackcloth, First daughter of duke Vargount Blackcloth and misstress Ellanor Blackcloth.
With that she changes her stance to a court bow.
A nobleman's daughter?
What was she doing in a place like this?
She doesn't look to be any older than I am.
"I remember visiting the Backcloth estate when I was younger on a trip with my father".
"If I recall correctly Vargount had two sons, But I don't remember there being a daughter".
a look of realization could be seen flash across Yona's face.
"Ah yes.. that would have been when I was around nine or ten years old."
"I was studying the sword at the capital at that time".
"If i had not been you we surely would have been acquainted.
Yona re addresses her courteous bow.
"Now that you mention it do do remember Vargount mentioning something about a daughter that was studying abroad".
Though my memories fail me that much i can remember.
"Well it seems the first born duty to the house is the same regardless of land wouldn't you say?
I say in a bid to redirect attention from a now awkward situation.
"Y..yes.. it seems that is so" Yona replies with an un readable expression.
If i had to judge by her appearance, her armor was heavily damaged and mud and dirt was smeared over visible her skin.
By the looks of it she is apart of the forts secondary line.
The first line was broken through two days ago.
attempts to rescue any injured or dead have been un successful.
The Second line is all that stands between the demons and the grounds of the fort.
The outer fortifications are being sieged night and day.
"How is it out on the front?" I ask in a bit to gather the most recent information.
Yona gives looks at me with now hollow eyes and recalls the last nights battle reports.
I had already heard the official battle reports from my second commander however it never hurts to have a first hand account.
I listen with interest but respect and after that I send Yona to the infirmary.
Or the now soon to be overcrowded hallway.
...
It seems the second line is expected to be breached tonight. or at least by tomorrow.
I inter into the dining room to find it mainly deserted apart from a soldier or two having their meal.
I take my food and sit with one of the soldiers.
"S...Sir Ulias" up jumps the soldier in full salute mode.
"Now now there's no need for all of that knight".
"I've just come to refill my energy the same as you".
The soldier could only blink with curiosity and fascination.
It's true that I'm not the strongest, nor the most experienced in battle.
However we've managed to hold onto the fort for this long.
and for that fact alone it seems I've earnt the respect of my fellow knights and mages.
They look to me for direction.
Of course I was supposed to be the face of leadership in the pressence of Mathhers but with all that's happened it seems they really do look to me for direction.
That thought alone scares me.
But I must stay strong.
For myself, and for my men.
...
We cannot fall.
With that I finish up my meal in relative silence.
Sometimes it's nice to just bask in silence.
Especially in times such as these.
...
I make my way to the forts roof where a a group of 3 knight mages can be seen readying a large scroll.
It's the size of a large fine rug. The likes of which you'd see back at the manor.
On the scroll multiple magic circles are drawn one on top of another to create a flower looking circle.
The inscriptions on the circle were vastly different to that the demons ones found in the woods.
This particular scroll was used in place of a ballista.
under the orange glow of fire that blankets the night sky the blue glow of the magic circles can be seen even through the smoke that surrounds the fort.
All around the fort are scattered fires and craters from explosions.
I can see a max of 250 meters away in the direction of the second line.
soldiers are all gathered in the area in-between carrying out their various tasks.
...
The air was thick with tension.
Almost thicker than the black smoke that hung in the air.
The snow did little to extinguish the flames around and on the fort.
...
I spot the second commander Hallowin and make my way over to him.
He is giving out orders to two knights who look terribly nervous.
After He is finished I walk up beside him and join him in looking out over the front.
"All the preparations have been made Commander Ulias".
Hallowin only looks ahead with a resolute expression.
He was a hardened man, a long standing second commander to the knights of raven.
Still, to see him in person in such a situation can only make you tremble in fear... or respect.
"Then we'll procced immediately" I say while looking at Hallowin.
Hallowin reaches into his armor and pulls out a letter.
"This also came for you by magic carrier" He says while he hands me the letter.
"I can only guess who it is from" I reply as I take the letter from his hand.
With that Hallowin turns to the three mages around the magic circle and motions for them to begin.
as ordered the three mages begin chanting.
Pouring their magical energy into the circle light starts to pour out even blighter that before.
just as the chanting had started it suddenly stops and all of a sudden a great force of energy is expensed from the circle.
a large bullet like object is shot through the sky towards the second line.
immediately the three mages begin chanting again.
volley after volley is fired with three more mages standing by on standby.
I look over at Hallowin who is still looking over towards the second line in the distance as newly formed smoke can be seen coming from the volley of fireballs.
In all truth an offensive use of magic like this is fairly simple.
However our current situation and the lack of sufficient mages leaves us to using such primitive tactics.
Soon the mage core wont have any capable mages with mana left.
This needs to end soon>
I turn and walk down the stairs and make my way to where the mages core unit is set up.
If anyone here would have any idea on how to take the upper hand with magic it would be Wilston.
...
Suddenly the whole fort begins to shake as a large explosion can be heard coming from the roof of the fort.
Had the demons found a way to use long range counter attack spells?
I hurrily make my way back to the forts roof.
Stumbling and coughing through the debris and smoke i find the roof to no longer be existent.
It seems i was now standing on the roof of the fort.
Fire debris and rubble is scattered everywhere, along with...
Body parts and scattered remains can be seen strung across nearly every inch of the innermost debris.
There laying there lifeless and limp is Hallowin.
I can only curse loudly.
But before I have time to properly process what has just happened the sky turns bright orange then red.
as I look up I can see what looks like a large fireball coming towards me.
I can only stand there as my surroundings grow brighter and brighter.
"This is it... I'm going to die here". I whisper to myself.