The Era of Chaos

agated that sense of fervor.

”Psst, Leo. What
e you gonna choose? ” Landon walked over to Leonel who was inspecting the weapons from his position. ”Im thinking of the halberd. ”

”Of course, Im choosing the halberd, ” answered Leonel determinedly, ”my father has been drilling me in the halberd for the last year since I began training here. And Ive already undergone a basic training regimen before coming here as well. ” Thinking back to it, Leonel shuddered, hoping to push those torturous thoughts behind him. Ah, well. The halberds what my familys known for anyhow; itll be much easier to get advice on how to use it from father.

A short while later and after some scrambling, the trainees all managed to get their hands on a wooden weapon and grouped up with their respective instructors. Leonel went with Landon over to Sir Hafnir, the halberd instructor, along with around 20 other kids.

The majority of trainees preferred the sword given its relative ease of use compared to the halberd or bow. To top it off, the shield provided a sense of security that the kids felt they needed, especially on a potential battlefield. Very few chose the bow willingly, though a handful of trainees did settle on it eventually after feeling that they didn want to fight at the frontline. The more hot-blooded the kid, the more they leaned towards the weapons they felt they could ”get into the thick of it ” and become the heroes in the fantastical tales.

Leonel believes that the halberd is strong and powerful. Thats why hes determined in his choice and his familys choice on that matter. As his 14-year-old mind stands, being able to swing away and overpower the enemy sounds great to him.

For their training, they are using wooden halberds instead of the real thing. Else, its likely that the kids accidentally wound themselves before ever stepping foot onto a real battlefield.

Sir Hafnir looked ponderously at the group of kids staring eagerly back at him, Leonel among them.

”I am Sir Hafnir Urson, ” Hafnir began, ”and I will be your instructor for the next two years. I will teach you the basics of the halberd. How to stab, how to sweep, how to guard, how to hook, and most of all, how to kill. ” He paused, waiting for reactions. The kids continued to look on eagerly, causing Hafnir to snort lightly and sigh.

Hafnir stretched out his arm, stamping the halberd he was holding into the ground in front of him.

”This is the halberd. It has four basic parts: the forward part, the front, the back, and the bottom. The forward part, the blade, consists of three essential components, ” Hafnir began explaining, ”the hook, the point, and the blade. Each part is best in different situations, though every part can be used to kill, of course. ”

”The front part of the staff is meant for controlling, for fighting the opponents weapon. ”

”The back part is meant for defense–to guard yourself first before striking the enemy. ”

”The bottom is meant for…. ”

In the center of the city, as Hafnir continued his lesson, a tense meeting is taking place, in which the entire countys higher officials are gathered.

— — — — — — — — — — — — —

”So, how should we go about this? ” inquired Count Edmund Coldblight, the reigning lord of Coldblight County, ”the reports from the border colonies state that they have spotted signs of another Chaos invasion, the force of which matching, or perhaps even exceeding, the one from two centuries ago. ”

In the Hossendorf city hall, the nobles of surrounding territories of the Aesir Kingdom gathered to discuss the report. While the building was built to tough out heavy storms and brutal weather, its function gave way to form, and a beautifully sculpted city hall was created with elegant archways and reinforced stone walls.

”My lord, don believe those alarmists. Their distance from the heartlands obscures them from the might of the kingdom. From my estimations, this invasion should not even be as strong as the Scaleborne Incursion of two decades ago! ” An old noble interjected.

As a long-standing member of the Coldblight court and the stalwart defender of Whitepeak Pass, Baron Geoffrey Elrod perceived the report as from people whod never seen a true threat before. His presence as one of the only 4th-rank Spirit Guards within the territory further solidifies his standing.

However, he added, ”though, if they were right, we will need to prepare for a siege at Whitepeak Pass, ” trying to give himself and the plans some leeway.

”Exactly. But, its difficult to judge the legitimacy of this report, ” another official chimed in, ”who sent the message? ”

”A messenger from Frospera, the border colony up North. Its a mining town, but its an integral part of our territory and takes orders from me directly, ” answered Edmund, ”they would not lie. ”

”Hmm, if thats the case the– ”

*BANG* The door of the council room burst open.

”My Lord! ”

A tired courier stood at the door gasping for air. He quickly collected himself and presented his message to the court. ”My Lords, I have come with a message from Frospera, ” he pantingly continued, closing the door behind him.

”Continue, ” ordered Count Edmund.

”Frospera…Frospera has fallen. ”

The room was stunned into silence. They were just talking about the issue of fallacy and potential threats. Little did they know that danger had already struck before they had a chance to react.

”Wha-, ” Baron Elrod was stunned, ”are you sure? ”

”Yes, *huff* *huff*, the message came directly from the Frospera messenger, ” answered the court courier.

Yet another stunned silence ensued. The lords and officials muttered and looked around for answers. Small discussions broke out between officials and lords began asking their subordinates to prepare their own countermeasures. Count Edmund watched as the court devolved into a rabble. This can not go on, he thought. However before he was able to regain order in the room again, he was interrupted by another loud *BANG* at the door.

”MY LORDS! ” another courier burst in frantically, ”Weve just received word that the border towns of Everest, Proteus, and Lovlun have all fallen, their inhabitants massacred and their homes burned to the ground! ”

The officials were stunned yet again, but this time the count was quick to respond. ”Prepare the troops immediately! ” Count Edmund ordered, standing up and slamming his hands forcefully onto his desk, ”enact wartime rationing and policies. The filthy armies of the North will step no further into Aesir lands! ”

”Yes my lord! ” echoed the voices of the officials.

As Coldblight County began frantically preparing for war, the forces of Chaos in the North stay one step ahead. With a fully amassed army of darkness at the doorsteps of the kingdom, they prepare themselves to begin the invasion. The age of darkness is nigh, the Era of Chaos is upon us. Mortals cower while the Sages fight back. Yet among those mighty, are also those who are cowardly and spineless. To gather more power, they will do anything to achieve it, even it if means turning to the Chaos Gods…