Eternal war

Dear diary,
I’ve had enough. I have had enough of all these deaths. If war is what Xantinya really wants, then war shall she have. As from today on, I promise you, I will stop at nothing. Until now, I was ready to fight, but now I am eager to do it. I will not leave the deaths of all these people be in vain. If it’s the sorrow we must go through, then so be it, but while I have a breath, I will fight to protect any life that’s left. This is OUR world and I have had enough of those who threaten it. Today in Metherol, we gave all we could, but tomorrow, our best will become better(quote by a wise man called Drenizek). We may be small, but we understand the true magic of this world: the faith, love and hope we have. Gilders and Kelly started to feel it too, didn’t they? This is why Xantinya wants to destroy this world, because no matter her powers, while this magic exists, she will never be able to succeed.
We set out to Metherol to save it- and saved it was. We did it. And it wasn’t neither the number nor the force that won the fight, but the strength everyone got in their hearts. During the fight in Metherol, we had a choice: to repent and bear away the memories of our days together, that shall there be forever peaceful but never more than a memory, or, to endure the fight, for the sake of what we all loved. I did not see one person that gave up. Not one soul that wavered.
 
Before we headed to the fight, we spent the night planning and talking with each other. Everyone had unfinished business to solve, and it was the perfect time, because while we hoped that we will all come back, we expected some of us won’t. I talked with Dillen for a bit. After reading the captain logbook, I realized how important Dillen was for the crew. He was the first recruited and he helped Xebec find the others. I felt that if someone had to carry Xebec’s net in this fight, it was him. Somehow, in the end, I think we finally became real friends. I also wanted to talk with Dreniek because, I was afraid he will jump again in front of those undead people and try to protect us. But I realized he is not a fool, I worried for nothing. To be honest, I needed some reassurance myself since I was not feeling quite the best after Xebec died so I called on the second official meeting of the Girls Council. I will say just this, after all the fun games with Nixie, Dillen woke up in the middle of the trip and realised he had a wife and kids. I mean at least don't include Nixie in such games. Cutting a friend in two would be unfortunate, but i would do it for Nixie. Dear diary, believe me I would tell you more, but after all that happened, I can barely remember what we talked about and with who.
 
After some more conversation, we came up with a plan, and got ready to fly inside Metherold, helped by some birds. We couldn’t take everyone with us, so some of the elves stayed behind. Bart was also not coming with us this time. According to our plan, he was supposed to find the necromancers so that Talion can destroy them. Before we took off, we said a heartwarming farewell to Bart. It was a dangerous mission but knowing Bart, i somehow wasn’t that worried. After all, he did make his way to save us from Roib, didn’t he?
 
Once we got to Metherol, the Great Council of the Wise Elves went to talk with the generals of the city. We had half a day to prepare the ground, so every second counted. Metherol was not a very big city. It was surrounded on all sides by stone walls. In the center, it was a castle, big enough to hide all the women, children and elders that were not to fight. Its gates were strong, and the walls were high, so in times of need, we were to retreat inside. On the south-east side of the city, a small harbor was sheltering around six elvish ships. On the other shore, there was the Exterior tower (built to protect the harbor of dangers from the sea) which was not conquered by the undead people.
 
The city has been under siege for a few days, now. The west walls were damaged hard enough to make the entrance of the undead people easier. One gate was completely destroyed. The south side was not doing better either. To try and save the harbor, the elves destroyed the last bridge that was uniting the Exterior tower with the harbor. But to no avail. For a week, the undead people worked day and night to build it back, and now, it was ready for the siege. The north and east side of the walls were not as damaged, but from what the scouts could gather, the most numerous armies was coming from the north. Apart from that, farther away, there were 600 undead horse riders that were waiting to enter the city. If one of the gates were to fall, the city would have been doomed. The east side however, was protected by a river deep enough to slow down the armies for a bit. The fight seemed impossible to win. We were lacking manpower, resources, and preparations. Fighting an army that gets bigger and does not get tired also wasn’t to our advantage. And the pirates that spotted us earlier, seemed that they were sailing to join the undead as well.
 
We couldn’t back down now nor we wanted to. In the end, we came up with a plan: Each on of us were to hold a side, fight as much as possible, then, slowly retreat closer and closer to the castle. Once a side was to fall, the horns would announce the others it is time to back down slowly. The point was to kill as many of their army as possible, while sparing as much as we could from ours. Of course, Xixi went straight to the eastern river, waiting for the enemies. We sent three sorcerers with her, to hold as much as possible. Miremis, decided to take care of the south side, accompanied by none other than Vas (very unexpected duo). Anevys, Marv and me were to take care of the north and protect the gate while Heron, the fastodans and Brunek would guard the north-west side of the walls. Nixie, Drenizek, Eve, and Isbel were in charge of the upper west side, near the gate that was destroyed. The lower side of the west was covered by the two druids that we had, and Marc together with the greatest warriors we had. As for the port, we figured it would be the safest place for our rogues to fight and take care of Tallion (who seemed very excited to solve an old beef he had with the pirates). The three wise elves from the Grand Council of the wise elves, each split on one side: south, west, north.
 
And so, the half day passed. All the armies were now on their position and ready to fight. We were waiting. It was a dreadful wait. It was dead silence everywhere. Nobody was talking, nobody was moving. Only from here and there, there was an elf running from one side to another, doing last minute preparations. But all this silence was broken by the fade sounds of the marching enemy armies. While the last ray of lights was disappearing from the sky, the sound was getting louder. And all we could do was wait, and hope. Soon, the first lines of undead people were coming to sight. We saw nothing but thousands of emotionless purple eyes, watching straight to us. Compared to many of the others, I was used to the feeling of being into a war. Still, I was worried, I have never fought anything like this before nor have tried to coordinate troops. Back then, I was just a soldier, now I had a responsibility. And I knew it very well, my purpose there wasn’t to destroy all the armies, for it was impossible, but to hold them off as long as possible.
 
This was the moment we were waiting for: we either win or we come back as undead people to see the world end. The first exchange of arrows started, and not long after, we could see the siege towers and the battling ram. Anevys was on the left side of the gates while I was on the right one. I lost her sight when the battle started. As soon as the siege tower came closer to us the undead people started to climb the walls. They were killing without any remorse anything that was living. I got caught up in a fight with a big undead person that came to attack us. It had a huge hammer and impenetrable armor. I haven’t felt such force in a very long time, maybe never. I couldn’t see anything out of it, just some purple eyes. My first instinct was to stay and finish it off, but then, I looked behind. Not only we were about to surrounded by undead, but if we were to stay there, the whole northern gate would fall in less than an hour. So, I ran and gave orders to slowly retreat from there. The big undead person came after me, so we continued to fight. I managed to hit it a few times, and some very weird purple liquid came out of the armor. In the end, I kill it, but I was heavily wounded as well.
 
It didn’t matter. We had to keep the fight on the wall just long enough for Marv and the others, to destroy the battling ram and keep the gate closed. The northern gate was made out of a wooden door behind, and an iron bars door in front. If we were to keep both of them closed, the battling ram would destroy them in a second. So, the plan was as follows: we had to close only the wooden door and let the battling ram hit it. Before the battle, I asked a few guards to spill a lot of oil in front of the wooden door. Once the battling ram were to hit the wooden door, Marv had to set the oil on fire, and destroy it. At the same time, the iron gate would close, and our soldiers would destroy the gate mechanism, so it can’t be opened from the inside.
The plan worked, but everything around was a chaos. The Wise elf, was fighting something very powerful, probably a necromancer, our armies were cut in half by the undead fighter and the walls were almost completely taken over. To stop the undead from going down the wall, the poor elves had to build a barricade out of their own comrades and set it on fire. We were losing men by minute. On the north west side, I saw the wall being taken over. It was barely space for any more undead people to climb. I was ready to give the orders to play the retreat horns. But then, a strong ray of light came from the sky and there I saw Anevys and Marv with a few hundred elves, trying to make way through the undead people and down the wall.
 
I was fighting on the right side still, so if I were to retreat, Anevys and Marv would have had no chance to run anymore, because while they would come down the stairs, the fighters on the right sight would wait for them downstairs. So,I had to do something. But with what army? I gathered that around me there were around 300 people left, most of them not trained to fight. Thanks to one of the wise elves, every time I killed someone with my sword, around that area, a magic place would be created, where allies would heal, and enemies would be hurt. I have no powerful magic that can kill dozens, nor that can move the earth or heal the others, but if there is something I can do, is fight till I can no more. And so, I did. The more undead people I managed to kill, the longer I could keep the 300 people alive, so they can fight as well and buy some time for the left side to join us and retreat. It wasn’t anything great, but it was the most I could do.
 
I saw Anevys and Marv join me soon enough. It was time. We had to blow the retreat horns. The sound was heard like an echo over the fight, but soon other horns were to follow. The first one was the west side, then the south and the east. I gathered all the elves I could, and we started running for our lives. To get to the castle entrance, we had to cross the east side. But our retreat way was soon cut short by two legions of undead fighters coming from the eastern walls. While the thousands of undead people from the north were pushing us behind, the others were blocking our way to escape. We were all going to die there if we didn’t do something. With my last strengths, I tried to pave the way by creating shockwaves to push the enemies aside, while Marv and Anevys were trying everything they keep the path open for soldiers. Still, the Wise Elf was fighting the necromancer. We barely escaped but more enemies were coming from the west. The Wise Elf stayed behind and helped us run to get to the others, one of the sorceresses joined him. From there I do not remember much, some archers fired at us, I got hit by quite a few of them and I couldn’t stand anymore. I was angry, that I couldn’t do more, that I had to die like this.
 
The next thing I remember, was Anevys, waking me up. I do not know what I would have done without her in this fight. She saved my life and fought well. She may be new, but I feel she is catching up fast enough. And she is so amusing without knowing. Maybe we could become very good friends. I came to my senses fast enough to realize what was happening. All the army was at the gates, surrounded from all the sides. I couldn’t see the others and I would have searched for them, if not, in front of me, a huge army of soldiers were massacring our soldiers. I tried to take charge again. I searched for the undead that was organizing the others and tried to kill it with one of the sorceresses, Anevys and Marv. The moment we killed it, I ordered the rest of the elves to try to use this moment of small disorganization, to try and push back the enemy. It didn’t last long, but at least we managed to hold on just a tiny bit more. Just an extra few minute to live. But another threat was coming very close to us from the south. It was the pirates. Tallion warned us they are strong and merciless. We couldn’t let them get to the gate. So I grabbed Anevys and went to fight them. A part of the crew was there as well. I was so glad to see them alive. The pirates were led by some kind of big barbarian that looked like a chef. Each crewman attacked him one by one. It is amazing how much everyone has grown in this journey. “If Maltor, Vaderk, Xebec and the others would have been here, they would have been very proud of them” I thought. Sneaky as he is, Dillen waited to give the barbarian the last hit. He came to me with some kind of axe from an undead and we hit the bastard chef until he died.
 
But the fight was far from being over. In the sky, the Wise elf that saved us was fighting the necromancer with some very powerful spells which light up the whole sky. Behind us, each stood upon that hallowed ground, the defenders and attackers, fighting for survival each in their own way. The galloping horsemen were killing lines and lines on the way to the castle. And the more the fight was going on, the less chances we had to live. In a last desperate attempt to survive, each elf, each fighter, was pushing to the limits, hoping that they will make a difference, that they will survive. There were fireballs thrown all over, Tallion was doing his magic spells. Not even now, on the brink of losing, I didn’t feel like giving up, nor did the others.” If I may die as a fool for believing in ourselves then I am gladly accepting it, but not now, because now I still have to fight.” I thought again. Our army was dying; from thousands, it became hundreds, and from hundreds, it became dozens but close to the end of it all, riding from the eastern side, 600 heavily armored horsemen were making their way through the undead people, slaying everything in the way. They were Woranian fighters (not undead fighters), coming to help us. I don’t know about the others, but for me, that was like seeing great meat in a very long while.
 
Right when the warm sun rays ware starting the rise again, the fight was finally coming to an end. A few thousand troops of undead escaped, but it didn’t matter anymore. We were all looking around, searching for each other. Instinctively, I was looking after Nixie. And thank the Almighty, she was near Tallion. Then, I saw Eve sprinting to Bart, and Anevys, Kelly, Marv who were barely standing. I was alive, most of the others were alive, and…we won. Metherol was saved, we fought an impossible fight and won. I felt so happy I felt a tear go down my cheek. Then, I looked again to search for the crew. Marc, Vas, Dillen, Isbel and Drenizek, were still there, hugging each other. I was waiting, hoping more of us would join. We found out from Dillen that the barbaric bastard chef got Orman and killed our sailor before he had a chance to do anything. Poor Orman, after he survived all that journey on the sea, to die here. It is not a sailor’s life outside the boat. He was not only good looking, but smart as well. I didn’t talk that much with him, but we had our fun playing cards from time to time. And there was also Xixi, who joined a bit later.
 
But I was still waiting for Brunek, The fastodans and…Heron. But they never came back.
 
I remember it now. A day before, I went to talk with Lafk’u, Raizo and Menn’e. Seeing them, always gave me courage. I was worried that they did not wish to fight for this, but while Lafk’u told me that they owned the crew and Nixie nothing, he also said they were there, because they wanted to fight alongside us. A few elves that survived, to tell us the story. When the undead people conquered the north west wall, Lafk’u disappeared into the army of undead people, with Menn’e with Raizo following him. They fought to hold the wall until their very end. There were merely a few soldiers left, but our brave fastodans did not retreat, they never do. Another elf told us about Brunek who killed dozens of undead people but got badly hurt. Wounded and exhausted, Brunek was captured. Before dying, a necromancer came to him. The last thing the elf saw, was Brunek spitting on the necromancer’s foot before being killed. Such a Brunek thing to do…
 
And then it was the story about our Bright Eyes Heron, who barehandedly, managed to destroy the bridge from a siege tower. The surviving elves saw Heron grabbing undead people by the neck and smashing them to the ground. It is said that he was the last one standing and fighting, among a whole army of undead people, who could barely take him down (or that’s how I want to remember him).
 
The Enneth elves also lost many people. Two of the Wise Elves dead, fallen after they destroyed the necromancers. Two sorceress and one druid dead. And near them, lays a broken stone, one with the name of Miremis, a stone that kept alone the whole South Wall. I never had much contact with them, especially because I do not know elf language, but they helped us, they always were there to believe us.
 
Before we could search for their bodies, and burn everyone, we first needed rest. We used this opportunity, to talk with the ones that saved us. Their leader is called Sylvia Halvel, daughter of Elsinor, a very well-known noble man in Worania. And she gave us some news that shook us all. The so called Haldric king came with necromancers and orcs and attacked Vormiol, Worania, Cavaconda, Rascodia and Ionolia and all the people that stood against him. 500,000 people, fighters and magic men, fought against the evil, but most of them died. Yanis was killed, and so were the ionolian mages, Endi’e and the fastodans, everyone. Sylvia and those who managed to escape, took refuge on the elvish land, a few days riding from where Metherol was. To add to that, it seems that the boats that were supposed to come from Alomir to help the fight against the necromancers, was instead full of undead people. Everyone suddenly became pale. Eve and Talion had all their family in Ionolia, Bart’s mom was in Worania and all the crew had families in Alomir. We were too late to help any of them, we were too late with everything.
 
“Why…why are we doing all of this…if we can’t even save what we love…”.
 
The energy from a moment ago just disappeared from all of us. Even the sun seemed colder than usual. We kept talking with Sylvia, but none of us were paying as much attention, everyone was away in their thoughts.
Sylvia gave us other bad news as well. Legondol and Faen were under siege as well, and a fleet of orcs and necromancers was ready to depart to the Continent. When she heard that, Nixie fell from her feet. Her family as well…
 
Everyone was destroyed. Nobody was talking or moving. That is until, Tallion stood up. He seemed so tired, but weirdly motivated. He talked about how we have to move on, to fight in the memory of what we lost. I was never happier to hear him talk. I felt for the first time, i saw a true Ionolian wizard, one that was imposing respect. He was changed. Myabe it was there all along, or not, at any way I will remember that momen. The moment Talion became more than a magic man. Drenizek supported him, with a voice that was stronger than I heard before. And I tried to join. Somehow in their hearts, I think everyone feels the same, but in times like this, someone must say it as well. It won’t help them, nothing helps with this pain, but it will maybe remind them why they are here. Or not. I cannot tell, everyone needs to find their own strength to move on. I want to be there to comfort them, and I will try my best. I did feel sad, and motivated, but most of all I felt like I had enough.
 
I went to talk with Nixie, knowing the others would join. She was nostalgically looking in the direction of the Continent. She could barely talk. We talked about this path we are taking. We will encounter in the way all these bad things, all this sorrow, but we must endure it. Everyday, our world is ending, and the new order begins. But this is exactly why we must endure it, because, if we die and the magic of this world dies with us, then, the new order would have won.
 
Nixie knew what she had to do next, she knew that we had to fight. But what to do next? Where to go? Legondol or back to the Continent? I know where her heart was pointing at, after all her family was there. But she was hesitating to say it. She just said that we should warn them. And I agree. There are people there that would listen to us, that would fight for the Continent. But I do not think that we should go there. The Enneth elves here helped us when we needed, it is our time to help them. Ionolians did listen to us after all, they did fight alongside the others, it is our turn to fight against what we told them. And now, unlike before, the humans and elves seem to be coming together. The rest must have seen it today, elves in Metherol almost cried when they saw that woranians came to help them. If the Continent is still standing, then Ghebaro must have won, so there, they are united, but here, these people need someone to unite them, to lead them into this fight. On the other hand, what the High Sylph said…. That we should keep our eyes open, and Nixie’s family…I don’t know. Maybe…if we reach Legondol in time, they could help us. Even if I lived there for so long, I know nothing of the Continent. Maybe, something in this world, could help us understand what Is going on with the Continent. But maybe, if we go to the Continent, we will find it our ourselves.
 
I don’t know dear diary, maybe I am biased, but I do not feel it is yet time for Nixie and me to return home. Soon, but not yet.
After all of this, we found out the bodies Brunek, Heron and the fastodans close to the castle gate, meaning they were risen as undead people. I didn’t say anything to the others because they were upset. That was it, that’s where I lost my cool. “HOW DARE THEY? FUCK YOU DEMONS! FUCK YOU NECROMANCERS AND UNDEAD PEOPLE! FUCK YOU XANTYNIA”. I have had enough. ENOUGH.
 
“Eternal war upon the strong,
For there lies home to which we long
In the hall of Gods an empty blade
Is empty Heart and Will not made”
That’s what Lafk’u told me a day before, when we were preparing for a fight. It was the fastodan call on arms. And now, I heard it in my head again and again. Lafk’u was the closest thing I had to a father. I looked up to him and admired him. I understand why Raizo and Menn’e followed him to death. I would have done it too. Lafk’u really was…UGHH I CANNOT CRY. He trained me to become a true fighter. I may not be a full fastodan, but I do hold all of them dear in my heart, and they called me on arms, so I will join.
 
HOW DARE THEY TRANSFORM LAFK’U AND BRUNEK (THE KILLER OF THE UNDEAD) INTO THAT HORRIBLE THINGS? HOW DARE THEY DO THAT TO ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER? HOW DARE THEY HURT ALL MY FRIENDS LIKE THAT? HOW DARE THEY KILL SO MANY PEOPLE AND DESTROY SO MANY LANDS?
 
There is only one Almigthy that watches over this world. “HOW DARE THEY PRETEND TO BE GODS”. All of them, they think we are weak, and maybe we are. But even the weakest fastodan will fight till his end, even if they go full force into the darkness. No pain can be enough to make me give up, for no pain is worse than what all these people suffered. I am not sad anymore, I am fuming. That little flame inside transformed into a whole fire. ETERNAL WAR TO ALL THAT THREATENS OUR WORLD!
 
We were all too tired to take a decision at that, so we rested for a few hours. By the time I would have finished writing, it will be probably the time to decide what we do next. Contrary to what they say, we won a battle today. What tomorrow brings might not be as bright, but I will consider today a success. One day at a time.
May the Almighty watch us fight for Him, and take care of all the souls that were lost in this war.
 
PS.: Thank you to all of you: brave fighters that believed in us and all of you that fought into this war. Thank you , Wise Elves that helped us, and believed in the younger ones. Thank you Miremis and Maldis, for all you have protected. Thank you, Orman, for being so brave and fighting such a brute, and for repairing all our sails all the time, maybe you are not as normal after all. Thank you, Brunek, for showing us, that the goznians are the greatest Undead killers, and extremely funny people. Thank you Menn’e and Raizo for all the trainings, fights and for being our comrades in arms. And Thank you, Lafk’u, who beside being a great fighter, you were also a great soul, who cared for his children.
 
PS2: Heron, thank you. Once again, you saved us all. I will miss you dearly. We began as such good friends, winning the running marathon in Ionolia. You were always there to make us laugh. And your fighting skills surpassed mine by far. I always looked up to you. When you fought Kelly, especially. It was such a great battle. Ever since I lost the battle with you, I was always training, hoping that we will have a rematch. I hope you rest well there, near your family. I love you dear friend. Although, I have seen you naked too many times, In my eyes, you will always be the BRIGHT EYES HERON VALNOR.
 
PS3: I want to hear all the stories about the fight. We never got a chance to talk about it. I want to know what everyone did. I heard here and there that Talion had a very fierce fight. I am so glad he is alive, especially after I heard he fought with his old foe. I do not want to lose him. I will not admit it, but he is a great wizard and a good friend. And he is always giving his best, for us. Maybe it doesn’t work all the times, but he tries his best. But do not tell him that, we don’t want him to start thinking he is “a blessed person”.
 
PS4: We asked Gilders to go and bring help. He is not an emotional person, but he had a very nice speech about what we saw today. He seemed also a bit beaten up as well. It seems that this world is changing people by the day. We don’t know him for long, but I think we can trust Gilders, right?