At first, I didn’t realize what those horns signified. Were more soldiers coming? A new weapon or attack? Maybe artillery of some sort? In the end, it turned out to be the signal for retreat. I did notice that sunlight was beginning to fade over the horizon, but maybe there were other factors as well that would lead both sides to issue a retreat order.
It was almost instantaneous that both groups of armored soldiers broke apart and ran toward their respective camps. However, a few small, isolated fights continued until a victor was decided, though most simply retreated as ordered. Including those that fought in the sky.
Realizing it would be much worse to just stand here, I picked a side to retreat with, not yet knowing if it was the right choice or not. I chose to follow the side opposite of the soldier I killed, and although that was one reason. The main reason is that this side looked more fun and cooler to join. They wore pitch-black plate armor, and their helmets had what looked like silk ponytails coming out the back.
So, I merrily followed along while clutching my bloody chest in pain. Still, I couldn’t help but be excited, as that was the most exhilarating fight, I had ever participated in. It was also my first-ever confirmed kill. I might have killed some of those gangsters that I fought at the end of my previous life, but I wasn’t around long enough to confirm if they actually died.
Honestly, I don’t know how I feel about having killed. I don’t feel particularly bad or upset, nor do I feel happy about the killing itself. After all, I love the fight, and the killing is only an effect of the fight. Either way, I pushed those thoughts away to be dealt with at another time, as I am still running, trying to keep up with these retreating soldiers as they are running like Usain Bolt out here even though they have full plate armor on.
I also had to be careful and make sure I didn’t trip over any of the countless corpses and gear all littered about the battlefield as I ran. It would be quite pitiful for me to trip and fall onto some sword or spear and die again, especially so soon after the greatest fight I had ever had.
Eventually, I caught up to the retreating soldiers, who had all filed into formation and stood in front of a tall wooden platform overlooking the entire area. Behind the platform were rows and rows of tents as far as my eyes could see. Standing straight and tall upon the platform was a grizzled-looking middle-aged man. His hair was black with greying edges, slicked back, neat and firm. He was a large man, around seven feet tall, with bulging muscles and dozens of scars on his face. He wore a black robe that covered his entire body and swayed in the wind. Certain sections of the robe were adorned with black steel armor, including the shoulders, wrists, and legs.
The man gazed upon the formation of soldiers before him, a slightly pleased grin on his face. "Soldiers of Ulthuan! Soldiers of the Emperor! The first day of battle was hard-fought and hard-won! Each day of victory brings us a day closer to winning this war! Rest up, as we’ll spill more blood tomorrow!"
"UUUUURRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!" The soldiers let out an ear-splitting roar that shook the very ground they stood upon.
When the noise died down, the man upon the platform was about to turn around and depart, yet spotted something peculiar before he did. If one looked closely enough, they’d see a slightly blue hue form around his eyes as he stared straight at a peculiar-looking man at the very back.
"Hoho, a survivor from amongst the peasant rabble that was sent in first?! How interesting and unexpected. Young man in the back, come to the front," the middle-aged man’s voice boomed, easily heard by everyone in the area.
At the rear, where I had just caught up to the soldiers, trying to catch my breath, I heard the booming voice. I looked up to see every single soul, numbering at least a million, staring straight at me, prompting me to smile sheepishly and wave. At least until I remembered the voice calling me forward, so I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath, taking off running again. At least the soldiers were nice enough to open up a path for me to the front.
By the time I arrived at the front, my hands were on my knees as I was exhausted. I was barely able to raise my head and look upward at the tall and imposing man standing atop the platform, clearly gazing at me with interest.
"Young peasant, state your name," the man stated in an authoritative voice that beckoned no resistance.
Taking a quick second to catch my breath, I answered. "Arthur Vale." Honestly, I was too tired to say much else, and I also felt that this man could probably kill me just by looking at me, so I planned on answering directly and not saying anything extra.
The grizzled man stared as if pondering for a moment. "Good name. It’s quite unusual to see a peasant survivor. Still, by the emperor’s name, what is that you are wearing?! And where is your weapon?" The man paused, and before I could answer, he spoke again. "Forget it. It matters not. To reward your service to the Emperor and surviving to this point, report to Logistics for new gear. You’ll join the regular soldiers in battle tomorrow."
I stared for a moment, puzzled at the turn of events, but still obliged and began to follow the other soldiers who filed out toward the encampment in the back. I then looked up to see the man above jump into the sky and fly off toward the far end of the encampment, disappearing. Well, I still had no idea where Logistics was that I was supposed to report to.
Luckily for me, it seems the man from before figured as much, since I only walked a few steps before a booming sound arrived and something impacted the ground in front of me. Dirt shot up as dust blocked my vision.
"Peasant Arthur Vale, follow me." I heard the sweet but stern melodic voice before I saw her. A beautiful yet gallant woman who stood about as tall as I am, and I am just a few inches over six feet. She had striking blonde hair, tied back in a single ponytail. She even had a menacing scar over her right eye and wore the same type of black robes as the man from the platform, though slightly less regal, perhaps indicating lower rank. Unlike the previous man, she has less armor over her robe, with armor only on her shoulders and legs, and nothing covering her hands.
She then turned and began to walk, clearly indicating that I should follow.