IV
“Colonel Alexander!” cried his aide, Captain Sascha, as he ran ahead. “This way! hurry!”
They had left the Plains of Nobis behind them. At his aide’s urging, Alexander pushed his way into the depths of the forest. Including Sascha, he only had five soldiers with him. They had already discarded their armor, as it was too heavy to run in. Branches clawed at Alexander’s face, but he paid them no mind, focusing only on running. Between ragged breaths, he cursed to himself. “This can’t be...” he gasped. “This can’t be happening...!”
Alexander had volunteered for the rear guard because he’d seen a chance to demonstrate his talent. He hadn’t doubted for a moment that he, the youngest soldier to ever be made lieutenant, could carry out the dangerous assignment with magnificent success.
Not two hours had passed since they came into contact with the Second Legion when Alexander’s forces broke.
It wasn’t a problem of ability, Alexander told himself as he ran. Luck just wasn’t on my side this time. If Marshal Gladden is still alive at the end of this, a promotion to colonel is all but mine. Brigadier general, if I’m lucky.
He realized then that he could no longer hear the breathing of his soldiers running behind him. Confused, he stopped and turned around. There was no sign of the other four.
Suddenly, there came a voice. “Colonel Alexander, please stay behind me.” Alexander spun around and saw Sascha in front of him, his sword drawn. He took a few steps back, and that was when he saw her: a girl in ebony armor, weaving her way through the trees toward them. In her hand, she held a sword of the same color that trailed black mist.
“Ebony armor... An ebony blade...” he breathed. “You’re Death God Olivia!”
“Yep. I mean, I’m not a Death God, but close enough,” she said. “Can we wrap up the game of tag now?”
“Kyaaaggghhh!” Sascha let out a shriek like a monstrous bird and threw himself at Olivia. She lowered her weight a fraction, then slashed up in a diagonal. Blood splattered the trees as Sascha’s torso went flying. It caught on a branch and, from above them, his guts began to fall to the ground with soft plops.
“Next—”
“W-Wait! I surrender! Just don’t kill me!” Alexander took the sword from his belt and flung it away. Only a madman could have seen what he just had and still think of trying to fight.
Olivia rested the ebony blade on her shoulder and tilted her head doubtfully. “Really? I heard the Helios Knights never surrendered, just like the Crimson Knights.”
“I don’t know who told you that, but only a fool chooses death,” Alexander replied.
Olivia nodded in agreement. “I think so too. I don’t get why everyone’s so keen to die, you know? Death means no more books and no more delicious food.” Returning her sword to its scabbard, she said, “All right, follow me then.” She set off with a spring in her step, humming under her breath. She appeared to have let her guard down completely.
Alexander could hardly contain his excitement. She’s a terrifying force with a blade, no doubt, but underneath that, it turns out she’s just an idiot girl. General Patrick and General Kristoff really got themselves killed by this airhead? What a joke. Fighting is about more than just playing fair. So long as you win in the end, it doesn’t matter what cowardly tricks you have to resort to.
Killing the Death God would bring more than mere prestige—he’d be in line for an Imperial Cross, and a promotion to major general would be all but guaranteed. Suppressing a smirk, Alexander slowly drew closer to Olivia’s back. Just as he’d thought, she wasn’t paying him any attention. No longer bothering to conceal his glee, he whipped out the dagger he kept hidden in his right sleeve and thrust it at the nape of Olivia’s neck. Die!!! he thought.
His vision flickered. “What?” he said stupidly. Olivia was not dead on the ground as he’d expected, but standing in front of him, her cheeks puffed out in annoyance. There was something in her hand, an object about the size of his fist that squirmed and pulsed.
That’s not... he thought slowly. That can’t be a heart? A horrible thought gripped him and, terrified of what he was about to see, he looked down at his chest. From a tear in his shirt, a circle of red was spreading.
“Oh...” he breathed.
“You mustn’t lie!” Olivia scolded him. “If you lie, a demon will come and tear your tongue out!” There was a squelch as she crushed the heart in her fist, and with that, Alexander breathed his last.
The Battle of the Plains of Nobis came to an end on the twelfth day since the fighting began, with the Royal Army securing a crucial victory on the central front.
Unbeknownst to both armies, however, someone else had been watching the conflict with great interest...
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