The Embers of Conflict

The day was still young, the sun barely peeking above the horizon. The first rays of morning illuminated a twilight-laden mist that appeared bound to the uneven earth, creeping through the thick rows of trees that lined tall hills, valleys, and rock formations, rolling up to the wide range of mountains in the distance. The canopies yet hid most of the morning light, the waking forests, filled with the characteristic sounds of nature, the rustling of leaves, the song of early morning birds, and the cries of the wind as it permeated every corner of the shadow-covered woodlands, appearing almost tranquil. A stark contrast to the field of battle they were certain, no, destined to become.

One location stood out amongst the trees, however, a tall cliffside that approached the snow-capped mountaintops in the distance, ethereal streams of water flowing from a plateau as they descended groundward, the same thick blanket of green vegetation coating these rock formations. Still, one particular space had been cleared where a tall, grey structure emerged from the cliff, towering over the surrounding landscape as a defining feature. The faint glint of water could be seen in the distance, the ocean’s surface and a gravel beach visible some dozen miles away. Towers of cold stone reached towards the barely lit sky, unmoving monuments of a time long passed, though its importance was just as relevant as it had been upon its construction. Still, the place, despite the time, bustled with activity.

This fortress, a place called Castle Gratia, had been built 500 years ago during the Civil War that had separated the province of Bellum from the Empire of Pergrande, only maintained as a garrison since then. Today, however, Castle Gratia had become home to two full Crusader Armies, each 10,000 men and women strong, not to mention the troops that the Rune Knights had sent. Provisional structures and tents littered the castle grounds and even the free space outside of its walls to accommodate the number of troops now stationed there. Magical lights and fire alike twinkled like an array of stars, driving away the fading night. It would have given an almost joyous impression to anyone beholding it, had it not been for the expressions that soured the soldiers’ features and seemed to vary little from person to person, their faces making their purpose here all the more clear. They knew that battle was coming.

These armies had come to intercept the march of Pergrande deeper into Bellum’s territory, to oppose the flood of Imperial soldiers that had come over the mountains and thus far defied all opposition. Their strategic position was far from optimal, but morale hadn’t taken a turn for the worse now that the Cardinal of Peace had taken command of this force. Rumors had it that, in addition to Vivian Salvina herself, the force had been joined by three Gods of Ishgar from Fiore mere hours prior along with the other volunteers from Fiore, this fact giving the Crusaders, who were watching the turn of events in their homeland with worry, some hope. Perhaps with these titans of Magic, not all was lost, after all.

The night had been a restless one for the Cardinal of Peace, who now stood before a large, round wooden table in the castle’s war room, a map of the area sprawled out on it. Several flags had been placed and pointed on this map, which further bore the Cardinal’s notes on the size, assumed composition, and direction of enemy forces. There had been much to contemplate and more to organize still, but the planning had been wrapped up. Now, the last thing that remained was to brief the Fiorean volunteers, who had only arrived not long ago. The 5 people, some of whom carried more fame and reputation than others, had been called to the war room just a short time prior, and now found themselves standing around just the same table. Vivian had greeted them all as they entered, curtly, but not in an unfriendly way, and when the last of them arrived, she finally granted them the entirety of her attention, placing a last miniature flag, which was colored blue to represent the movement of Pergrande, on the map before her, the flag distinctly located in the part of the map that represented the ocean to the east.

The fair-haired woman, dressed in a flowing white and red garment, appeared elegant and certain in every movement she made, no matter how minute it was. The sword at her hip was sheathed, but it gave the impression that it would be ready for use at any given moment, and had been used extensively in the past. It was obviously not just a ceremonial piece. She raised her head.

“Now that we are all here together, I must express my gratitude to you for coming here today. I am Vivian Salvina, the Cardinal of Peace and leader of Bellum’s Armies. Some of you may know my name, but this is certainly the first time we have the pleasure of meeting. I only wish it was under more enjoyable circumstances”, the woman began, giving all of the people gathered a stern look as she let her gaze wander over each of them following her introduction. Her rainbow-hued eyes would rest on all of the people there individually for a few passing seconds, her attitude reflecting the gravity of this discussion. “As you undoubtedly know, the situation at the front not far from here is very dire and Bellum is in serious danger. Pergrande has struck a heavy blow, but with you here now, we intend to turn the tides of war here, today”. Her voice, although acknowledging the weight of her words, was laden with determination. She radiated the impression of someone who was certain of their qualities as both leader and fighter.

“First, I would like to address the three Gods of Ishgar gathered here”, her eyes would first fall on two distinct figures among the group of three, the Cardinal calling out their names. “Field Marshal Sinclair, Director Ragnos, your reputation precedes you and I am relieved that you could make your way here on this day. It is an honor to finally be able to meet you in person. I wish I could offer you a more courteous introduction, but the circumstances do not allow for it. Still, know that the nation of Bellum is endlessly grateful for your assistance, and the assistance of the Rune Knights in this conflict, of course”.

Her eyes moved next to the third God of Ishgar among the volunteers, addressing him next. “And you must be Mura Kensho. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Guild Master of Fairy Tail. I have to say-”, she paused briefly before she continued, “- I was surprised someone of your renown would volunteer their service in the armed forces of Bellum, but I appreciate it greatly nonetheless. I hope the cooperation between the groups we represent will be fruitful”.

Finally, she would acknowledge the other two people in the room, women both, who she could only assume were Rune Knights based on their uniforms. “I’m afraid I do not know your names, regrettably”. It was a more or less subtle prompt for introduction, of course. “Still, I speculate that you are associated with the Field Marshal and the Director. I thank you for your presence, as well”.

“Now that my introductions are out of the way-”, she would continue seamlessly once everyone had said their piece, “-we have a battle to plan. I will give you a brief overview of the situation”.

Vivian took a deep breath, focussing her attention on the map before she began to point at a particular spot, denoted by a miniature-sized red flag. “This here is Castle Gratia, Bellum’s forces in red, and this-”, she moved her hand elegantly, pointing at a long line that had been drawn in black across the map, bisecting the pictured land area into a northern and southern half, “-this is the front line we have established. Our Crusader troops currently occupy it among several trench lines. As you can see, Pergrande, here in blue, outnumbers us drastically, I estimate in a ratio of about 10 to 1. This-”, her hand would move again in the same elegant fashion it had before, her finger drawing an arc across the map until she found her way to the waters, “-is the fleet of Pergrandean ships that have been spotted near the coast. Sources suggest a total of 10 battleships and an assortment of smaller vessels. They are assumed to act as a blockading force to ensure that no troops land behind the lines of the Imperial army. As such, I surmise that they can safely be ignored for now, but I would like the opportunity to strike at them when this battle is won, if possible. It would deprive the Empire of valuable resources”.

“In any case-”, Cardinal Salvina began again after another brief pause, once again swerving to the simulated frontline on the map before her, “-this is expected to be the point where the most fighting occurs, as Pergrande appears to mass forces here-”, she pointed at a specific point that showed a concentration of blue flags, “-and here”, moving her hand to a similar spot about 1 kilometer west from the other position.

“We intend to stop these attacks and back up our line with the reinforcements that have arrived today before mounting our counterattack to drive this army from our homeland, which is, of course, where you volunteers will come into play. I myself will also take part in the fighting. That said, I would like for all of you to give me a brief idea of your combat abilities so that I can functionally integrate them into battle tactics. That aside, if anyone has any questions they would like to bring up, now is the time. We don’t have much of it and will leave our post here at dawn”.

The same morning would dawn elsewhere, the same sun slowly rising over the horizon to the north. Between the trees, shrouded still in silent darkness, Pergrande had established a Forward Operations Base. It wasn’t far from the trenches that Bellum had dug along a so-called frontline, its troops stationed and ready, but the Pergrandean army was in no particular worry. The mood was light and spirits around the ad-hoc tent city where the army had made its temporary rest were high. And why would they not be? The Empire of Pergrande was winning on all possible fronts, having completely annihilated the first two “armies” that Bellum had sent against it, if they could even be called that. Any modern military should be ashamed to do so, but it was all the more reason to relax and take things easy, the soldiers here previously being more concerned with their MREs and their vodka rations. Sergeants took care that things weren’t getting out of hand, but most appeared entirely complicit in the drunkenness induced both by victory and alcohol.

Now, with the supposed onset of a real battle and the prospect of intensifying combat operations, there had been no drinking, no songs, and no toasts to the motherland late into the night, but that did little to detract from the mood of the average Pergrandean.

The fact that Pergrande had a fleet of Warships and their Marshal herself to back them up, well, that just about made the soldiers feel undefeatable. There was many a rumor coursing the ranks of the Pergrandean military, the lowest recruit to the highest officer speculating about this girl that had suddenly taken command of the entire Army. She wasn’t just any girl, of course, being the sister to the current Empress of Pergrande. Nepotism, however, was unheard of in Pergranti society, and the Marshal had quickly silenced any rumor about such a thing in her first battle, some saying that it was her intervention alone that caused the overwhelming and undeniable defeat of the Bellian army. Still, pushing one’s advantage further yet was of unquestionable strategic benefit, and so, the Marshal of the Imperial Army, with the blessing of the Empress, had authorized the employment of mercenaries from all over Earthland.

A group of just such mercenaries, in fact, accompanied this army, the Pergrandean Soldiers looking upon them with suspicion at best and open contempt at worst, though the Marshal’s orders prevented any of them from acting on their feelings. Still, the mages among these people who had come to fight for the Empire were often kept separate from the natives of Pergrande for obvious reasons. The officers, the noble-born ones especially, however, appeared to be much more friendly and open to these new additions to their forces, undoubtedly not least due to the strategic worth they held.

Thus, the two volunteers from just such a unit of mercenaries, in addition to another individual, had been summoned to the command post in the rear of the Pergrandean base, a particularly large and lavish tent painted with the double-headed eagle banner, the symbol of the Pergrandean Empire. They would find themselves standing in a space largely crowded with all kinds of machinery and equipment, especially communications devices and sensory relays. A team of personnel manned these strange devices, giving their information to other officers who seemed to log, store, and process the data accordingly, the whirr of Pergrandean voices speaking in a foreign tongue unceasing and ever-continuing day and night.

The group of three found themselves before a device that seemed to be the base for some kind of holographic function, a square, blue-ish screen on a plate of light-silver metal stretched out before them. There would be little time to inspect it closer, as the rush of voices in the tent now, for the first time in a while, abruptly stopped as another person entered the tent, two guards flanking her, one on each side. The woman, clad in a black, silk-like uniform, her neatly kept fair hair extending down to her wrist, not acknowledging this fact in any way, her expression stoic and completely unchanging, made her way towards the group of three with swift, confident steps, coming to a halt on the other side of the holograph device before turning toward them. Her eyes, oculi of an unusual color, were cold, unfeeling, scanning the people opposite of her more, categorizing them than looking at them directly.

“Volunteers of the mercenary force-”, she began, her voice soft, neutral, almost entirely devoid of tone, rang out, the notable, although light accent of a Pergrandean giving her words a characteristic ring, “-I am Aleksandra Polyakov, Marshal of the Imperial Army of Pergrande. You stand before me today because I was personally assured of your capabilities. I expect that you bring Pergrande victory on the battlefield today. I will accept no other outcome”.

Before anyone would get the chance to speak up, to even think about saying something, she continued, the holographic device before her switching on, the screen humming to life, displaying the positions of Pergrandean forces and their Bellian counterparts on a satellite map updated in real-time. “We will attack the Bellian army between these two points represented here at precisely 0600, in about 49 minutes time. I myself will directly take part in this assault. Our attack will be accompanied by shipborne heavy artillery fire aimed at the Bellian lines here-”, she pointed at a spot that was marked on the holographic representation before moving on to a different spot on the map noticeably behind enemy lines, “-and here. The latter constitutes the enemy’s center of command, which will be shelled before the beginning of our assault”.

The Marshal of Pergrande’s Imperial Forces moved, her arm indicating a position in the waters before Bellum’s coastline. “This is the current position of our fleet. I expect a retaliatory attack once the Bellians find out where the attack is coming from. We will split into two groups. One of you will back up the fleet and dissuade any fool willing to try and attack it. The others will follow me onto the battlefield”.

Her tone did not shift, her expression did not change, the girl maintaining an almost mask-like facade for the entire duration of her explanation. “Before we begin, you will give me your name and a brief overview of your combat abilities, with the exception of Michael Morgan. I have read enough information provided to me by Envoy Borisov to form my own impression of you”.

Her eyes shifted, now directly staring at the Esper among the three who stood before her, her gaze, piercing and unwavering, fixated entirely on the man. “Some of our soldiers call you a hero of Pergrande, Esper. I will trust them in their assessment once you back up these rumors I have heard with deeds to match. Until then, you are just another outsider. I hope I have made myself clear”. For all she cared, that scurring little rat called Borisov could’ve died in Felidae with the rest of the trash, but her sister seemed to have plans for the Envoy still, and as such, Michael’s achievement was probably in Pergrande’s favor in one way or another. Her eyes remained on the Esper for a few seconds before moving back to the hologram before her, her gaze once more wondering over the display as she spoke with a certain uncompromising finality.

“If any of you have any comments to make about the information I provided, speak now. This is your last chance”.

Michael Brooklyn Morgan "Red Alert"

The Embers of Conflict

He was greeted with a familiar scene he could have sworn he had seen before, a wave of nostalgia hitting him a little. Yet this scene he could not point out what it was, or maybe he was used to walking through rows of soldiers on standby while he was on his way to be brief of his mission. Yes, this might be the familiar scene of the time walked through the pavements of Bellum before he was deployed to annihilate Pergrande’s forward bases during the events in the Border War. Ironic, is it not? That he, who had slain Pergrandians for the greater good and sake of the freedom of magic, is now hailed a hero by their enemies and sided against Bellum. This sudden change is not random nor a product of a sudden change of heart. No, he had reasons to side with the Ironheart Pact.

One of them is revenge.

He’d rendezvous with the rest of the hired help, keeping his own aura in check. It had been difficult to keep this otherworldly and hellish aura inside him, but lately he was doing well in keeping this animosity from being felt by everyone, concealed by his own psionic energy. There, he’d walk with two other mages whom he was unfamiliar with as they were led to the tent where he would be greeted with a woman who introduced herself as the Marshal of the Imperial Army. As she laid out the plans, he couldn’t think of any flaw, which justified her position in the army to his eyes. Brilliant, and cunning. Mayhaps he’d be asked to secure their position, or to head straight into battle. Regardless of where he’d be asked to go, he will do his best to see this mission a success. She’d then ask for his comrade’s identities and powers, save for himself. Him being an esper is no secret considering he risked his own life to save the envoy of Pergrande, and was hailed a hero due to his ‘heroic’ deed.

Though, he’d prefer not to be referred to by his real identity to avoid a confrontation from his  relatives. Doubtless his twin brother, Francois, would join the fray as one of the Rune Knight’s wizards.

First was the slayer, Drekka. Her fearsome appearance would do justice to her strength and skill as a slayer if only for the fact that she could do well in a one on one scenario. He doesn’t think highly of her mostly because he doesn’t feel that much power emanating from her, thinking that she might just be all bark but no bite. The other woman, however, is much more different, as if she was on a whole other level than the twins who nuked Joya. She’d be a dangerous enemy if she was to side with Bellum, and he doubts he’d be able to deal with someone like her.  Needless to say, he’s glad to have someone like her on their side.

He’d shift his gaze at the marshal, then towards his comrades, before speaking. “I’d rather if you referred to me by my Pergrandian identity. Please refer to me as Mikhail Levin from now on.” It is true that he indeed has house Levin’s bloodline flowing through him, but the 500-ish year discrepancy would say otherwise, considering there’s proof that his mother was born 500 years ago. The reason for the whys and hows is beyond him and/or. What mattered was that house Levin serves Pergrande once more. But if word got out that a Morgan is fighting for the Ironheart Pact under the command of Pergrande, there's bound to be repercussions to his twin's reputation, as well as to the entirety of house Morgan.

While it's a great idea for the other two to get a gist of his abilities, he thought otherwise. It’s best to hide what he’s capable of from the two. After all, he doesn’t fully trust them, especially since the most powerful of them can just as easily wipe out the entire Pergrandian force with just a snap. Considering his previous altercations with said wizards who nuked an entire city, it’s justified that he had his reservations. It’s no secret to the Pergrandians that he has some varying degrees of manipulation, though the highlights of his abilities would be his telekinesis and portal creation, the latter of which he used to save him and some of the Pergrandeans from the nuke. His high level of reality, dimensional, and spatial manipulation might be known to them, as well as his demon arm, which can be of great use to the marshal. Yet there are some talents that he is hesitant to show, all of which concerns his… demon arm. Regardless, considering that Aleksandra is only asking for his comrade’s strengths, he had no need to indulge their curiosity of what this famed ‘Hero of Pergrande’ can do. He can only trust the marshal to send him where his talents are needed the most. “As for my part, I can offer no comment on the plan. Though, I do wonder what criteria must be met as the backup of our fleet.”

Aleksandra listened to the first of them, a woman who appeared quite confident in her abilities as something she referred to as a “Dragon Slayer”. Of course, The Marshal had heard of these beings during her studies, mages that claim to have inherited the power of the once-mighty mythical beasts. In the end, of course, they were mages like any other. While Aleksandra Polyakov lacked the distinct indoctrination most Pergrandeans displayed, and indeed, benefited from a kind of insight into magic and its workings in Ishgar unlike the majority of Pergrandeans, she couldn’t help but despise this phenomenon in her own right, not for the simple fact that it was magic in itself, but for the innate limits that were inherent to magical power. The use of psionics, the power of the mind, bore so much more power, but these cretins failed to realize that, as did the whole of Ishgar. A pity, that was, well, for them, at least. It would be the reason why Pergrande would stand victorious on this day and in this conflict, she was certain.

She would raise her voice anew, responding to the first of the volunteers and her question.

“Your enemy will obviously be the Crusaders armies of Bellum, mages all. Bellum, as I have been informed, is also reinforced by an organization known as the Rune Knights from their allied nation of Fiore. The force is led by a Bellian Cardinal. We know where the troops have been stationed and we can anticipate the movements of their brigades and will take measures accordingly”. It was strange. Why would dragons even be a question when their age had ended so long ago and real dragons were seldomly seen these days? Was this woman scared of an unexpected turn of events or did she possess information that the Marshal was not privy to? The notion peeved Aleksandra, even if she showed none of this smallest sliver of emotion she felt in any perceivable way, though her next response came as somewhat uncharacteristic.

“That is all the information our scouts have managed to obtain, and it is all the information we need, … or have you changed your mind, Drekka of Iserheim? I didn’t know that Vikings would waver in the face of dragons, especially a dragon slayer”. Her tone did not change, it remained neutral and stoic, her expression the same plain one as ever, but it was clear that her words had issued a challenge. The Pergrandean Army made heroism and bravery a de-facto requirement for troops, and these men and women readily obliged. They would have felled even the mightiest of dragons for their motherland, and if that would be too much for one of these oh-so-powerful mages to keep up with, well, perhaps it would be best if they remained on guard duty here at the base instead.

The next one introduced herself, titling herself as the “Warlady of Lust”. Yet another arbitrary title that mages would give to those they despised. These “Warlords”, Aleksandra knew, were criminals wanted for especially heinous acts. It was an ominous thing to speak aloud, but the Marshal cared very little if the forces under her control were classed as criminals in other countries or not. What mattered was that they delivered results for Pergrande, and if they didn’t, somehow trying to display their particularly manic streaks among her own forces, then she herself would strike them down immediately and without hesitation. She would have to keep an eye on this Medeia based on that, but the woman before her appeared exceedingly confident in her arcane skills, even more so than the previous one, this one, too, being a slayer.

Aleksandra acknowledged the Warlady’s explanation with a curt nod, knowing that, based on her description, she would be best suited for the open frontlines, not least due to the fact that the Marshal herself could monitor her there. If she did speak the truth, that was. From what she’d heard of Borisov, these mages came in two categories: One of them too weak to save even a single civilian, and the other one possessing the ability to erase a metropolis in a single instant. She would have to see where these two fell over the course of the battle, her trust in them non-existent from the very start. “We’ll see what you can do on the battlefield, then, Medeia”, her reply came short and non-committal.

She had, however, a little more sympathy for the last among the group of volunteers, even if he had much to learn about Pergranti society still. For example, making demands of a member of the imperial household would, by some, be seen as enough of an incident to warrant charges of high treason. It was his luck that Aleksandra, as a member of the imperial household herself, was free of such ideological bias. She responded to the Esper, her voice and tone shifting ever-so-slightly, though it was enough of an indication that she would allow no discussion or critique of her actions. “You will be called by a Pergranti name when you have earned it, outsider”.

She paused briefly. There was no reason to dwell on this point any longer. “The capability for long-range deterring fire and pin-point accuracy would be excellent prerequisites for someone assisting a fleet. Perhaps your skillset is suited best for this task, Esper, wouldn’t you agree?”.

“In any case-”, she spoke again, turning towards the opening in the tent she had used to enter not long ago, the holographic device before her switching off, its lights extinguished “-your skills will be put to the test very soon, volunteers”. The guards beside her stepped forward, handing all of them all a piece of equipment in resemblance of a single earbud. “Use this to stay in contact with the officers in charge of the assault as well as myself. If you have any important status updates you will relay them back to me, but don’t dare to waste my time. Now, follow me, we have idled long enough”.

Without further words, she would head out of the tent, her guards remaining where they had stood. Outside of the tent, the situation in the Pergrandean camp had gotten vastly tenser. Soldiers ran about, officers shouted commands, and the roar and hum of machines and vehicles drowned out almost all other sounds. A column of war machines never before seen in Ishgar stood on standby in a flattened area not far off, beasts of metal of charcoal hue stretching out in long rows. They were vehicles of an armored kind and covered entirely in metal, no doubt, each sort sporting a different type of what was unmistakably a cannon, movement across tracks appearing to be their method of propulsion. What these volunteers were looking at were state-of-the-art tanks manufactured by the Pergrandean Empire, the division being readied for combat.

A constant number of trucks laden with soldiers and supplies followed a road that had been driven through the trees, undoubtedly heading directly for the front lines. Helicopters, another thing the mages among the volunteer force would have never before seen, stood close, crews preparing them for take-off, the rotor blades slowly but surely beginning to spin, adding to the soundscape of a modern army preparing for war.

The Marshal, of course, was used to these sights. It was, after all, the army she had personally composed for this operation, and all of this had been planned meticulously. She took a single glance at the watch on her wrist. “It’s time to begin our operation. All those seeking to join me on the battlefield enter this helicopter with me”. She indicated the closest of the transport helicopters before pointing at a different one further away. “The one protecting the ships will take this helicopter. It will transport you directly to the fleet. Speaking of-”, she paused again, putting a finger on her earpiece before speaking again, now in Pergranti, which those who did not speak it, naturally, would fail to understand, “- let us teach these dogs the meaning of Artillery”.

“Kapitan, nachnite operatsiyu! Vy mozhete strelyat', kogda budete gotovy (Captain, commence the operation! You may fire when ready)”.

One second passed, two seconds, then, the horizon was alight with flame, a rhythmic sound, repeated again and again like the drum of a thunderstorm shaking the earth, making even the ever-present noise of the Pergrandean base appear quiet in comparison. Flashes lit the still not fully illuminated sky, unmistakably coming from the direction where the fleet was located. It was the sound of shipborne artillery being fired, dozens upon dozens of guns of enormous caliber roaring one after the other, unleashing a hail of shells upon the enemy’s base. This, indeed, would signal the beginning of the battle, and the Marshal wordlessly turned and entered the helicopter, which, in just a few seconds, would be ready to head to the battlefield and arrive there in the span of only minutes.



@Knight Owl @Medeia @Thatcywalker

Vivian Salvina reacted first to the Gods of Ishgar, the leaders of the Rune Knights and Field Marshal Serilda Sinclair specifically, a grateful nod affirming that which the God of Ishgar in charge of their allied force had stated. Apart from Serilda, no one seemed to have much to add to her admittedly lacking greeting, the Cardinal, therefore, proceeding apace with her other explanations. When it was time for the mages to describe their combat abilities, the God of Ishgar that served as Fairy Tail’s Guild Master was the first to take the initiative, detailing that he was a mage whose abilities excelled in close-quarters combat. The Cardinal of Peace nodded. She could empathize with that, her fighting style, after all, being vastly similar to the one the God of Ishgar seemed to rely on, though she wasn’t sure about Oblivium. It was concerning, the curious metal going by that name, known to automatically disperse all ethernano it came into contact with in an instant, especially knowing that Bellum relied so heavily on the arcane arts. It was something that had busied Vivian continuously for the past hours and days as she pondered what exactly Bellum would face on the battlefield. Very little was known about the armed forces of Pergrande apart from the information they had been able to gather during the clashes at the border that were responsible for the escalations that followed in the first place, the properties of Oblivium being one such piece of information. As such, the Cardinal replied with a still stern expression, though her tone carried with it a hint of optimism. “Then perhaps you will be our trump card on the battlefield, God of Serenity. I pray to Arcanos that it is as you say”.

The next to give the Cardinal the details of their abilities would be the Field Marshal of the Rune Knights herself, not going into too much detail initially, though God Slaying magic and Summoning were something the Cardinal could work with, even if the exact meaning of Serilda’s defensive nature, as well as the manipulation at atomic level, eluded her. From the sound of it, however, and the fact that she was one of the Gods of Ishgar, mages famous for their outstanding power and virtue, her place, too, would be the battlefield. The same applied to almost all the other Rune Knights, the Director, a God of Ishgar much the same as the Field Marshal, professing that he appeared to be an all-rounder, and while he gave no details about his magic, he admitted that he was more offensive in nature when compared to the other leader of the Rune Knights present here. The woman, a blonde by the name of Aliannah, joined the director in a similar manner, having nothing unique to add apart from the fact that she seemed proficient at attacks that would target a wider area.

From what Vivian and her magic sensory could tell, these people were certainly no liars, all of them possessing the aura of truly high-ranking mages worthy of acknowledgment. Perhaps, with Aliannah’s skillset, she would be best suited for the task that would follow at the end of the battle. “If you are specialized in attacks that target wider areas, perhaps your skills would be useful in pursuit of the Pergrandean fleet once our battle has been won? It is certainly something to consider”.

The last one from within the group of Rune Knights would be a surprising one, though, the woman, well, girl, really, if appearances were to be trusted, offering an answer that differed significantly from that of the other mages. She did not offer a name, only the nature of her abilities, and while her magic left even someone like Bellum’s Cardinal of Peace somewhat speechless, the follow-up to that grabbed Vivian’s attention almost immediately. The abilities this girl described were of a nature that was rare among the armies of Bellum and in her force especially, making them all the more valuable, even if the notion of immortality was a little bit too outlandish. Vivian was slightly taken aback, though she had no reason to doubt the Rune Knight’s words.

“Then, I have a proposal to make…”, the Cardinal of Peace began, ignoring the fact that even now, the Rune Knight girl had yet to officially introduce herself, the Cardinal instead looking to the Field Marshal and the Director for approval. “The infiltration of Pergrande’s base of operations could give us not only important data that could change the course of this battle, but this war as a whole. If we obtained more information about Pergrande’s technologies, doctrines, their lines of communication, their battle planning… all of it would all be useful to the war effort. If it is as you say, then I would like to ask you to, instead of heading with us to the battlefield, use the coming battle and the distraction it provides to make your way into the enemy’s camp and gather as much intel as possible. It is a risky operation and you would be on your own behind enemy lines, but it is an opportunity I would rather not pass up”.

The girl, of course, would have to give her agreement to the proposal, as would her superiors, but it was something that suited the skillset the girl described and the agenda that Bellum had in this battle, and indeed, this war in general. “With that said-”

The Cardinal began, elegant words once more directing the attention of the group before being interrupted first by a loud, whistle-like noise that would divert the focus of all present before they were violently cut off by the sound of a massive explosion, the stone beneath their feet shaking violently. “By Arcanos, what the-”. Another explosion, much the same as the previous one, though this one appeared closer, heavier than before. The door to the war room swung open, a crusader in full plate armor bursting through before practically yelling towards his Cardinal. “My Lady, we are under attack! It’s- it’s the Pergrandean fleet!”.

Realization twisted the Cardinal’s expression into a grimace. It was evident that she had underestimated the range of the enemy’s fleet, vastly so. How was this possible? Cannons shouldn’t be able to reach dozens of miles inland or possess such a firepower, not without the aid of magic, of which she was sure Pergrande possessed none whatsoever.

“The plan has changed”, she commanded immediately, directing her now even sterner expression at her subordinate. “Give the command to ready all of the troops! I will transport all of us directly to the battlefield”. Another explosion rocked Castle Gratia, this time being so severe that it would throw anyone but the most steady of people to the ground, even the Cardinal herself stumbling from the sheer force that resonated through the stones. Clouds of dust rained from the ceiling, the sound of splintering stone echoing through the structure around them. From outside, passing voices could be heard shouting in horror. “Shit”. “What was that?!”. “A tower’s been hit. We have casualties!”.

The Cardinal didn’t hesitate. “We have to get out of here, now! Follow me!”, storming out of the door that the volunteers had used to enter the war room before, through a hallway, and into the large inner courtyard of Castle Gratia. It was indeed as one of the soldiers had said. A collapsed tower covered part of the wall of the fort in rubble and still swirling clouds of dust. Soldiers could be heard screaming and crying in agony, and beyond it all, what seemed like the echo of thunder and the flashes of lightning on the ocean in the distance. The cliff around them practically exploded with shellfire, dirt and dust raining upon everyone who did not find cover with every resounding impact of heavy artillery, with every massive fireball that momentarily blossomed before fading into charcoal smoke. Still, the majority of the soldiers were unaffected by the first volley, it seemed, only sustaining bruises and light injuries. Castle Gratia was holding, but how long it would continue to hold was entirely uncertain. The situation did not look good in the slightest.

“I hope you all are ready for battle! Someone has to attack the ships now or we'll all be blown to pieces, by Arcanos! The rest will follow me to the battlefield!”, the Cardinal shouted in obvious agitation, her voice barely overpowering the distant thunder and the crash of explosions. This was not at all how she had anticipated this battle to start.



@Mura Kensho @Serilda Sinclair @Mythal Ragnos @Dela @Aliannah

Michael Brooklyn Morgan "Red Alert"

The Embers of Conflict

If there’s one thing he’s good at, it’s proving his worth through his deeds. As a lone mercenary, he was able to get everything done with only him and him alone to rely on, although in the end he’d get beat up badly that one time he almost died. This time is different. No more underdogs. It’s just as she said - he had to earn his Pergranti name if he wanted to be known as a soldier from house Levin. Did he really have to go through such lengths to earn this name? Though if he thought about it, he is technically an outsider and he’s not known enough by the Pergranti people to be considered one of them as much of him is still a mystery. It would be far easier to just be referred to as his alter ego. Regardless, he had a job to do.

As a sniper, his accuracy is unparalleled and his aim true. With just a single shot he can assassinate his targets from afar with no chance of retaliation. Those who would survive somehow have no chance to close this massive gap. If only the same can be said in this circumstance as he knows full well that powerful mages are among their ranks. One shot wouldn’t be enough, and if they manage to close this massive gap, he’d resort to close combat. Though as an esper with pin-point accuracy, it is an entirely different story. The marshal’s assessment is correct that he’s the man for the job. He has high hopes that his part of the mission will go well for his end, but in the event he has to face someone of similar power to Medeia, his chances of succeeding will be around… 20% or so. Other variables will come into play to tip the balance in his or their favor, and the only thing he could do was to do his best. He reached for the object that appeared to be an earbud, handed to him by the marshal herself. He’s no stranger to such devices, knowing already that this is a communications device. The one he used before, however, was different, and lacked access to communications with the Pergranti channel. Without hesitation, he fitted this device to his ear just as he was handed his, fitting snugly without any issues.

And then, it was time.

The assault was now underway as he saw the soldiers going about at the order of their officers. Familiar vehicles stood idly, no doubt the one he crushed during the border clashes, and one he was lucky enough not to face head on. Then there were the helicopters, a rare sight for him as he’d prefer to travel by land or sea. As far as he knew, his twin brother had one of them but never got the chance to ride one. His memories as a former soldier were vague and he may or may not have ridden one in the past as much as he tried to recall. Still, it looked like he was used to this sight as he was no stranger to war and not at all surprised at the fact that these all were not powered by magic. Perhaps he was already used to this as he lived in the Neutral Grounds, where magic was absent.

The marshal would then point towards the helicopters, one of which she will lead along with the rest of the mercenary mages. She’d then point towards the other one that would lead directly to the fleet, which he will be taking. He moved towards the helicopter that led to the fleet and prepared for the defense, channeling the chthonic powers of the coalesced souls within him to warp his body into a more perfect one. There’s no notable difference on the surface save for the white tufts of hair and black sclera that made his red eyes pop out even more. He would then immediately call upon his gambit, red hexagons appearing around him as parts of his armor would protrude from them. Threads would wreathe and weave around him to form his exosuit, after which his warframe armor, Knight Owl, would connect themselves to the ports around his exosuit. The final touch to his arsenal, his cloak, would weave themselves around his shoulders.

He watched the marshal yell something in another language - Pergranti, no doubt, a language he couldn’t understand. Or perhaps he could, if he bothered to suffuse himself with knowledge of the Pergranti mother tongue. He could hear the fleet’s cannon roar as they opened fire, watching the sky flash briefly. A rain of artillery fire, doubtless something the Bellian faction did not expect. They made their first move, and now it’s time to keep the momentum of war to their favor. He climbed up the helicopter and waited for lift off.

Things would turn out as envisioned by the Marshal of Pergrande’s armed forces, Michael, or rather, Mikhail, as he seemed to call himself now, splitting off to protect the fleet as intended. Aleksandra figured that, based on his combat abilities, he would face little issue, especially considering the sheer might that the battlefleet of Pergrande held. In truth, she was somewhat glad that the man had bought her excuse so readily and made for the other helicopter that would transport him away from the battlefield. Away from the majority of the soldiers, away from the front lines where the Marshal did not want him. He was an enigma, more or less, after all, and his appearance on the world stage, no, his entire being by itself was an enigma, especially based on the information provided to her by not only the Imperial Envoy Stefan Borisov, but also the impression she had gotten from her sister. He was someone who insisted on a Pergrandean identity despite appearing in no historical records whatsoever. He was clearly endowed with the powers of an Esper, a strong one, at that, but also bore other powers of mysterious, and, as much as the Marshal hated to admit to herself, perplexing nature. Not to mention the fact that an outsider would step up to become a Hero of the Nation. No, that would most certainly hurt the public image of the Imperial Family more than it should. The fact that she allowed mages to fight side by side with the troop was enough stain on the Polyakov name in the eyes of most average Pergrandeans, but they accepted that it would be for the sake of victory. The mages were tools, weapons to be utilized, and that was the end of it. The same excuse, however, wouldn’t work on someone who was evidently not a mage.

No matter. There were more important things to worry about now. The Marshal boarded the helicopter, the two mages, after making sure they were ready for battle, following immediately. As soon as they had all entered the machine, of which there would seldom be any at all outside of Pergrande, it would begin it's immediate ascend to the sound of straining rotors, swerving to one side slightly before tilting forward, beginning flight at a rather swift pace, even for a mage. Still, considering that, one of the two still had to act out.

The woman known as Drekka appeared to throw all sense out of the window, sadly more literally than metaphorically as she, not long after ascent, stirred, made motions, and jumped, Aleksandra’s radiant oculi fixated on her as she exited the helicopter in mid-flight. Things, however, would go quite as Drekka imagined them to go. Something, a mysterious kind of force, would surge through her body as she attempted to form her magic, the wings that she produced being misshapen, malformed versions of their original selves. They served to keep her aloft, but as much as she would push and fight this force, it would take all of her strength just to keep up with the helicopter in flight initially. “Looks like your method isn’t too efficient either, Slayer”, she responded coldly into the microphone by her ear, a mix of irritated and simultaneously impressed that someone, despite her directive minutes prior, had already wasted not only her time, but also the time of her army, with their display of perceived bravado. The icy tone only grew more frigid with her next words, the distinct absence of any kind of emotion making the words she spoke sound harsher than they were. “You will do well to remember that you fight on our terms today, Drekka of Iserheim”.

As the group would move away from the military base Pergrande had set up, Drekka would feel the influence of the mysterious force gradually grow duller. Her wings, the magic she had attempted to cast that had been thrown in complete disarray, would slowly but surely stabilize, allowing her to fly as she was used to the closer they got to the front lines. They would fly for only a couple of minutes at most before finally approaching a treeline that signaled the beginning of a deep forest in the distance, a distinct array of trenches and encampments following the flow of the forest’s edge. Opposite this treeline, among fields of grass, grey stone, and rocks, Pergrnadean divisions would assemble, the helicopter slowing and setting down some two kilometers away and out of the direct line of sight from the trenches where, very soon, the fighting would undoubtedly begin.

Aleksandra, without any haste or worry, stepped out of the vehicle, her head turning first to one, then to the other side, her eyes scanning the scenery. Field Artillery was assembled, squads checked their weapons, their commanders briefing them on their objective one last time. Soldiers jumped from the back of heavy trucks, armored vehicles moving up and forming brigades. Soon, the first wave would be ready. All according to plan. “Volunteers”, she began curtly, speaking into the earpiece to bypass the constant and nigh omnipresent noise that seemed to flood this area much like the base had been, “You will follow the first wave and infiltrate the Bellian lines. You will act as independent units and have only one objective: Cause as much destruction and chaos among the Bellians while avoiding as much damage to Pergrande as possible. If you see the potential for tactical opportunities then I will give you the freedom to act as you wish, but know that I will keep an eye on you”.

As soon as she had spoken, a man approached, tall, slim, his blonde hair neatly combed back, his uniform of unmistakably Pergrandean design, though it did not resemble that of the ordinary soldiers around them. Indeed, he would not salute the Marshal, but rather, bow in a classic gesture associated more with nobility than military. Aleksandra turned towards him, acknowledging him with the same uncaring, icy demeanor as she did everyone else. “Vashe vysochestvo (Your Highness)”, he began before straightening his back, based on his stature towering over the Marshal. “Podgotovka zavershena… kak ty velel (The preparations are complete… as you instructed)”. “Ochen' khorosho, general (Very good, general)”. Without another glance at the man, she turned, facing the frontline, her voice, when she spoke next, carrying an immense determination despite the clear lack of emotion. “Zakazat' pervuyu volnu dlya zaryadki (Order the first wave to charge)”. The man bowed once more before shouting an order in his own earpiece, and immediately, the area, apart from the hum of machines, seemed to fall completely silent, the tension almost palpable. Then, with a roar, the first wave, a long line of armored combat vehicles and tanks, rolled forward, charging towards the front with an impressive speed. Aleksandra beheld this for a few moments, then turned to the mages. “That’s your signal, volunteers. As the Marshal of the Imperial Army of Pergrande, I order you…”

“...Attack!”.

Simultaneously, Michael would board his own helicopter of the same type as that of the Marshal, which, after a brief moment, would take off in a similar manner, lifting into the air under the clamor of heavy machinery. This helicopter, in contrast to the Marshal’s, would turn towards the sea, the coast immediately coming into view as soon as the vehicle Michael now found himself in had gathered some altitude. In the distance, under the rays of the rising sun, the Pergrandean fleet could be seen, the battleships especially, a scattering of smaller vessels surrounding them. Their massive guns, aligned in armored turrets along their hull, were trained on the mainland of Bellum, and every second that passed another shot would ring out and light up the dim, twilighted sky, coating the surface of the ocean in distinct ripples and the smoke of copious quantities of powder charge. The pounding of artillery did not stop or relent, even as the helicopter approached and began to hover in the air above the fleet, though if Michael kept his eyes open and scanned the horizon, he would soon see two shapes approach at a rapid pace, growing closer and closer with every passing second.



@Knight Owl @Medeia @Thatcywalker

One of the Gods of Ishgar shouted a question at the Cardinal of Peace, the woman unsure how to answer the question. She did not know whether the Pergrandeans expected retaliation in response to their surprise attack, it was likely, but she knew this attack couldn’t continue like this. “I can’t tell you, but we have no other choice! Someone has to-”.

The man who had asked her the question, the Guild Master of Fairy Tail, would make her somewhat speechless with his next action, declaring that he would go attack the fleet to distract it. For a few passing seconds, no more than three or four in total, she felt paralyzed, dumbfounded by this turn of events, and the man seemed to take this as permission for his actions. Before she could really say anything, he was off, the Rune Knight called Aliannah following him almost immediately, and without as much as another word, they were off already.

Another explosion sounded, this time near one of the walls that were close to the cliffside behind them, rock shattering with an ear-splitting crash, ripping the Cardinal from her momentary inaction. She couldn’t idle. It would be a fatal mistake. “If those two want to take on the Pergrandean fleet then I hope they will at least be successful!”. Her words came out sounding perhaps a bit more angered than she meant them to. It was, after all, exactly as most members of the little volunteer group had already surmised. After the God of Ishgar had declared that he would be especially useful against the enemy’s secret weapon on the field of battle, for him to abandon this idea and run off…, no matter. They had to make the best of it now.

“We have no time to lose, I suppose. Troops-”, she began, her shout growing in intensity “-, steady yourselves!”. She stretched a hand skyward, a burst of magic surging out from her position in the form of golden, auric strings that permeated through the entire space occupied by Castle Gratia. In a blink, Castle Gratia would be filled with a warm, golden glow that shifted into an unblemished alabaster flame before, at once, its walls were suddenly empty.

The people of the Bellian crusader force and the volunteers could only blink as the scenery around them had shifted instantaneously. The grey walls of Castle Gratia had been replaced with trees, early morning light shining softly through the canopy above. The sound of the roaring thunder now seemed distant, although it could still be heard. With the exception of Dela, who had been teleported far further north than them as per the plan they had come up with, the Cardinal and the volunteer mages were surrounded by thousands upon thousands of Bellian troops and Rune Knights, all of them appearing more confused and disoriented than harmed. This was the woodlands immediately behind the front line, the forest seeming to cut off abruptly only a few dozen meters ahead of them. Provisional structures were visible there, simple camps and stockpiles, housing hundreds of disheveled, but unbroken crusaders. Trenches dragged themselves across the dirt, cutting deeply into the earth and stretching to the left and right as far as the eye could see. Bellum had been busy reinforcing this front as swiftly as possible, and Vivian was sure, this was where they would make their stand against Pergrande.

“Cardinal Salvina, is that you?”. A man in plate armor, though he had currently relinquished the helmet, hurried towards her from within a crowd of soldiers, bowing to the woman once he had gotten close. He was tall and, evidently, muscular under that armor, his short brown hair and rough face dirty with mud as if he had until now spent all his time in the very same trenches of the front line. “Commander Drazos. We’re here a little earlier than expected, but Castle Gratia has come under enemy fire. We had to abandon our position or face an unsustainable siege. I’m afraid we’ll have to sacrifice the castle”. The man grimaced briefly, but seemed to accept that fact swiftly, giving the woman a nod. “At least you’re here now, Cardinal. Just in time, too. It seems like Pergrande has made its move. Our scouts are noting massive troop movements. The attack will likely begin very soon”.

“I see…”, Vivian accepted and then briefly pondered over the report from the frontline commander. Her eyes peered past the man, towards the frontline, scanning for a few seconds as if looking for something, then, she would finally nod. “We must act swiftly and decisively”.


She turned, facing the thousands of men and women behind her before speaking again, her voice amplified by unknown arcane qualities as it echoed through the forest.

“Crusaders and Rune Knights. Looks like the time for rest is over. Pergrande is upon us. The time for battle has come! Report to your nearest superior officer and organize for combat, then take your positions on the front lines!”.

It was an unmistakable order, and the troops began moving immediately, dozens upon dozens reading themselves. Weapons were brandished, arcane incantations chanted, spells cast by the hundreds. The forest was aglow with magical lights, small and large, before the first squads would hurry towards the trenches at the front.

Vivian, however, would turn to the remaining two volunteers by her side. “I would like for us three to act as a unit to reinforce critical sectors of the front, if possible. We know that Pergrande has a massive advantage in numbers, but mages are fighters of superior quality, of that I am sure. If we can destroy attacking forces and drive a breach through the enemy lines we can-”.

It appeared that Cardinal Salvina had a talent for being interrupted, an array of shouts echoing from the front lines. “Here they come!”. “Pergrande is here…”. “Let’s give these bastards hell!”. “By Arcanos, what are-”.

Again, the sound of crackling explosions would drown out the words of the soldiers, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of rifles firing at the Bellian lines. The line of armored vehicles that had driven within firing distance of the Bellian trenches had opened fire, as well, and while they did not seem to possess firepower on par with the Pergrandean fleet, it was evident that they, too, could deliver devastating explosive projectiles. Mud, dirt, and splinters were thrown everywhere as the battlefield immediately turned from eerily quiet to chaotic. Bullets impacted, explosions rang out, spells were thrown back at the attacking force. Soldiers were screaming, some crying, some clamoring in agonizing pain. The Cardinal herself managed a resolute “Take Cover!” before dodging an incoming high-explosive round with a swift dash to the side, avoiding the ensuing explosive force and retreating behind an improvised piece of cover consisting of a wooden palisade, now splintered in two. Her eyes searched for the remaining two Gods of Ishgar, shouting for them in a strained voice. “Guess we have our first objective! Whatever those things are, we have to take them down! Now!”.

The chaos of the front would not be something that Dela would experience as she successfully found her way into a unit of Pergrandean soldiers who, just as expected, did not notice the foreign element among their own numbers. This unit, however, as was every larger unit at this time, was not headed directly into the base itself, but rather, a gathering point outside of it where they would act as a combat reserve.

Wounded soldiers of other units were treated here, as well, trucks bringing the men and women in from the front lines in no small numbers, some of them driving past the marching Pergrandeans on this improvised dirt road deeper into the camp, undoubtedly carrying the heavily wounded combatants. Logistics personnel accompanied the vehicles moving to and fro, making sure that supplies of ammunition, fuel, and rations would reach their destined place from the storehouses inside the base. There appears little in the way of guards on this dirt road that led to a field in one direction, the gathering point for this unit, and the veritable city of tents and portable structures some distance away, certainly a kilometer or two. The distant sounds of rapid gunfire and explosions were less prevalent than on the front, but present enough, and, coupled with the roar of engines and machinery, served to drown out most audible noises for brief intervals when they appeared. If Dela wanted to make her way to the heart of the Pergrandean base, then she would somehow have to find a way to bridge the distance in the other direction and then see from there. After all, it was as of yet unclear what exactly would await her there.

It would take Mura not long, under a minute, to finally finish his approach on the Pergrandean fleet, a mighty sight appearing on the horizon before him. Aliannah would arrive only seconds later. Titans of steel littered the waters off the coast of Bellum, ships glistening with grey steel, unlike anything they would have ever seen before. Their cannons, massive and arranged in strange configuration when compared to regular shipborne cannons, fired relentlessly, the mere flashes they produced with each shot enough to stun a man into an awe-struck silence. The air reeked of gunpowder smoke and faint wisps of ethereal white streams covered the ocean for miles around. A single vehicle appeared suspended in the air above the fleet, something the two had most likely also never seen before. This was undoubtedly the fleet that they had been sent to attack, the fleet which was, at this very moment, continuing to decimate Castle Gratia.



@Mura Kensho @Serilda Sinclair @Mythal Ragnos @Dela @Aliannah