Project Schemer - Salvatore Trilogy: Prelude

Arc 2 - Chapter 1: First movement: Awakening

"Anything from your scout, my lovely lady of the night ?"

"Their movement, they're approaching the our first post, so they are not that stupid afterall. Really know where can give them the best advantages, Ebony, give me more detail about their tactics."

"This could be a problem."

"Anything caught in your eyes, Grandfather ?"

"Their movement, i can see their intention, i think you can see that too, Libitina. They devided their forces, not just focus on the front but also the back."

"Very creative, we can't set up the an ambush for them but i think i have some idea."

"We welcome any idea since we can't accept the fact that our force in the first post need to be devided for their first battle."

"Not an idea that can solve everything, it may can buy us sometime, we still need you to prepare your plan."

"Even if we can have more time that is appreciated."

So we explain the plan to the group and everyone think it is good enough to buy some time while the original plan is conducted. The first post is located in the forest, an ambush is predicted, the terrain is too perfect an ambush, to miss out this opportunity is a foolish decision. But if they ambush then this should be a good opportunity for us, they divided their forces and our plan would be a great success.

"Please ready for tomorrow and rest as much as you want, we will try our best to finish everything."

"Don't worry, lady of the night and the child of light, everything will be done, even i don't mention my plan but i know it can buy you some time. Please don't waste it."

I already have a plan, people believe in what they see, even if that is just an illusion, then why don't use an illusion to buy us time. Water and smoke, i felt myself like a real magician, smoke and mirror is quite fun but to think i will participate in a war now that is a different thing. From the books i read, people usually parting with their life in a war, but i guess that is a must even in my heart i felt pain and uneasy when someone life is taken and i am a part of that crime. The feeling i am responsible for the death of someone, the sin bearing on my shoulder but other have to carry a lot more than me, i should be greatful because the weight of the sin i have to bear is not as much as them.

"I know you are worried maybe a little bit of fear but don't worry, imagine you don't have to bear any sin and consider those are mine sin."

"I can't do that Sou, i know you worry about my mind and this can cause influence on my mind but i must learn this feeling to growth. So, i will bear my sin."

"Maybe not helping much but if you consider that is something has to be done, maybe you will feel different."

"Maybe i should consider asking Tomoe to cleansing my memories if that is too much too bear but i will try my best to live and accept."

The sun rise up from the horizon and our movement start, the nobles will ambush anytime even during the day or the night so we have to becareful. We arrived to the post before they can start the ambush, spirit of the soldier seem good but even with good spirit that doesn't help much with the fact of being outnumbered. We goes through the plan with the soldiers, the soldiers only have to focus in defending the attack from the north while we will defend the south.

"So our plan only used to buy the lady of the night the time she need ?"

"We are outnumbered by them, at least that is what we can do. I am apology for delivering this bad new but i don't want anyone to fall. But they don't give us any other option, they choose to be traitor to your country, if you don't fight then who will. Be the frontier and show them your bravery."

"We don't afraid of fighting or risking our life for victory, so can you help us ?"

"I only wait for this answer, we can do this everyone."

We get into our position and the soldiers seem to vote for something, but first is our plan, this is important so we have to goes through them many time. The smoke Sousuke created and create illusion at the same time, rain of arrow, and soldier marching. During that Tomoe will use his power to create ice wall and many other obstacles to slow them down, and then we will end with rain of knives, crystal traps, snowstorm and hallucination smokes. Our advantages is the fact we have Ebony's power to see their power while they know nothing about us.

"Higeki right ?"

"Yes, anything special you wanted to ask ?"

"Nothing really, we think we should send someone with you he should keep you safe."

In front of me is a knight, no much more like a iron giant, i think i can only reach his belt, from the top of his head to his foot is a steel armor. Even with that shape and size he seem to be a really shy person maybe a little bit bashful and not speak a lot. But Tomoe seem really him so i guess there is no harm for that, and beside he has that posture of someone i can trust. Somehow i can trust him even i don't know much about him, a worthy ally or something like that but let future tell us everything.

"So... i will work with you now, please give me any order, i believe i can complete them."

"Nothing much but please, watch my back can you ? I entrust my life in your care."

"... I promise i will protect you..."

"Thank you and what was your name again ?"

"...Flour..."

"A good name, prosperity, a wish for a full-filled future, also meaning for the purity. A great name."

"...Thank you."

Really shy isn't he but i felt under that layer of personality is a gentle person by the way he acts, he carries Tomoe on his back can almost say he spoils Tomoe more than i can. I guess people have different talent, but the sun is setting, they are coming, the tension is peaked with the silence of the forest. Just one movement and our emotion can break, they waiting for the right moment, maybe waiting for the moment when we are tired.

"Tomoe, can you see them ?"

"Yes, their faces reflected on the surface of the stream near here, i can see all of them but why ?"

"I think we waited long enough, our guest are precious after all, can't let them wait that long. Post Captain, any news from Libitina ?"

"They are on their way here."

"Then let's start our movement, on the stage, there must be one who lead. If they don't want that role, that would be our role, Sou."

"Anything you need ?"

"Can you manifest illusion while you are staying in here..."

"Don't worry, i have another way. By the command of the sacred lord of clear water, come to me, the guardian of this forest, answer my longing."

The leaf and the branches formed a door, the door opened and walk out from behind all the leaves is a scholar with white hair riding on a white deer. On his hand is book and a white staff, his eyes reflect nothing, maybe he is blind but from the act of reading book that's not that case. Also a strange smell, aroma of flowers, scent of earth and tree sap come from him, it is enticing, also... baked potato ?

"You summoned me ? My lord Tomoe, i am finding a way to deal with all these stranger approaching the forest and the river you gave us long ago."

"What a lovely coincident, i also have something to do what those stranger and i guess we can help each other in that matter."

"And another thing my lord, even everyone here is soldier they still kept their purity even after all the battle but those stranger, they are something different, i can sense from them... corruption."

"They can't corrupt anything anymore, the moment i enter this forest, the stream i grant you as a gift can purify everything it touched. But these people like you say, reek of corruption.

"I never felt this heavy since the great war of Soleil, these people, reek the smell corruption like those fallen noble."

So we discussed with Killua - the guardian and we come up with a plan, the pollen have a lot of power, one of them is causing hallucination, with the pollen and Sou's power we can make them move the way we want. Pollen of flowers with some other component, that should create a powerful drug and with that an illusion can be created. 

"Everything you need is here my lord, now pardon my departure for some other plan. I still can't accept anyone outside Tyerran enter my forest not those corrupted people like this. And you strange child, you not smell like those corrupted human but not a child from Tyerran, i can not trust you yet but i will follow any command from my lord."

"I know but the most important thing is drive those stranger away, a stain on my stage, how dare them do that. Sou, give them pain."

"A nightmare they can't ignore."

Illusion is not a harmless power, with enough suggestive force, illusion can kill or even torment other people in an endless loop. Much more dangerous than death is the fear of slowing dying in madness, not knowing where to return, illusion is a deadly force, it can be a painful purgatory or a heaven of euphoria but in any manner it is pain. But my other command is only made them goes to the location we wanted, even how much i hate them, the plan is much more important.

"Everything is great till now, let's go Tomoe, Flour. The show must goes on."

The enemy is lured out by the illusion Sousuke created and everything goes according to the plan, the crystal, the torrent, the cold wind is performed by Tomoe. Flour takes the matter of rearguard into his own hand, his hammer bash on those who dare to attack me but something really strange, they don't bleed, small wound slowly burned in black flame and restore them. So this is the corruption, this is no joke, i thought that is just normal person, never expected to face against enemies like this.

"So the guardian is right, they are truly corrupted, Flour, please protect me, don't be angry if you can't defeat them. We only need to stall for Kuoni and Libitina, everyone, stand strong. Believe in everyone stand in the same line with you. We can defeat this nightmare, a new dawn shall come."

"(That's right, but why don't you protect them on your own, why not fight with them, why only motivate them. Why not lead like a true maestro.)"

A voice speak to me but i can't lose focus now, the tide of the battle depend on my decision and my will to stand strong. Even if that voice echo in my mind, i can't lose to it. I am a musician but i never consider myself as a leader, i don't want to above anyone, i want to stand with everyone. I want to join in that song with them, i don't want to be alone in this world.

"(Then why not leading them to victory, why not earn their adoration, why not make them follow every of your order ?)"

Why do i need to force my will on them while they already want to work with me, there is no use in tempting me no matter who you are. I will not fall for the corruption you brought upon me, I will move forward in this world with my new friend.

"(You done well, all those before fell before our temptation, i am no corruption, or at least we hope so. We saw a lot of other gods corrupted but some of us aren't, we tried to avoid those corruption and we found you."

"(But who are you ?)"

"(I am sorry for not introduce myself, i am Ser and this is Mer. We have complicated relationship but for now we are business partner, may not reach the bond like you and Tomoe but we're quite good at assisting each other.)"

"(So what is the purpose for our meeting like this, my friends are fighting out there and sitting here is irresponsible.)"

"(Don't worry, time flowing out there is slower than in here nearly one hundred time. Your friends are fine but much more important, we want to awaken the rule inside you but it seem like a god is already faster than us, we can't become your manifestation. What a shame.)"

"(Tempting but i am not going to betray Tomoe and running with someone else, i can accept your gift to protect my friends but forming a bond with you two is impossible for me.)"

"(It is alright, we waited for so long, we can wait a little bit longer but we still want to help you. If you meet Zorold, please say i am sorry for left so much for him to carry on his shoulder.)"

"Rule of Creativity."

Words came out of my mouth formed into speech and turned into a barrier in front of my eyes. The barrier push any corrupted soldier from us, but it is more than just a barrier, a mirror reflect all magic casting on us, a magnifier that magnify Sousuke's illusion. I don't want to lead but i want to join in that beautiful choir, i want to be with everyone, i want to help everyone shine.

"Everyone, join me for this song, we will win. Flour, protect me and Tomoe, Sou, i trust you with our front. You know what i wanted right, Tomoe ?"

"Sorry for the wait, everything took too long to complete."

The moment Tomoe's blessing complete is the right time when Libitina and Kuoni arrived. A flock of raven flew across the battlefield while Kuoni threw some small rocks, they grown bigger and turned into golem. Our battle continued until the sun arrived, we defeated the rebel army, everyone's spirit is improved but we also prepare for what come next. No matter what, i will protect everyone because i am no longer powerless now.