The Era of Chaos

ething about treating your weapon like a lover kind of situation, Leonel figured.

Exhausted but happy they got a break, he walked over to Landon with Hal and Ariel, two new friends he met during the workout. At this point, the sun was beaming down rays of fire on them, and sweat seemed to pour down every trainees entire body. Leonel found Landon talking to another person before he noticed Leonel and waved him over.

”What do you think happened? ” asked Landon as soon as Leonel came within range. They formed a small circle partially facing away from the three instructors chatting.

Ariel tiredly said, ”I don like the look on Sir Gideons face. Its for sure not something we should be excited about. ” She wiped her brow and panted deeply. Hal nodded in agreement, ”Whatever it is, it doesn look like its much good for them either. ”

A couple more minutes passed as the instructors spoke in hushed tones and the trainees chatted. Then, the instructors gave each other a nod and headed toward their respective groups.

Hafnir strode back in hurried steps, gesturing for the halberdier trainees to come over. Leonel gave the others each a look and nodded before he walked over with them.

After all the trainees gathered up in a semicircle in front of Hafnir he began talking.

”We are being attacked, ” he started, ”the borders towns have fallen and our scouts are being intercepted. ”

Leonel looked at Hafnir with a shocked expression. So the rumors were true? A Chaos incursion is upon us? He couldn believe it, though Hafnir couldn possibly gain anything from lying to them. Looking around at his friends and fellow trainees, he saw similar amounts of shock on their faces. Only Hal looked with an indiscernible expression.

”Hal, you okay? ” whispered Leonel.

”Mhm…, ” Hal muttered back, ”m…my father was part of the resupply caravan to the border towns. He left for Lovlun only four days ago… ”

”I know its scary to hear, but its the truth. You all must prepare to fight in the coming future, ” Hafnir continued, his eyes scanning the faces of the trainees. When his gaze landed on Leonel, he paused for a second before resuming his sweep, eventually landing on Hal next to him. ”Your father…your father sent us the message. ”

At this point, blaring horns erupted in Leonels mind, the loudness of which muffled the sounds of his surroundings. He began shaking, both from the excitement of the oncoming battle and the nervousness of the very same thing. War is coming to Aesir. I will wield my halberd in battle and strike down the heretics of the Chaos realm.

Leonel looked at Hafnir with a burning fervor in his eyes. The same thing happened to a few of the other trainees, though many were still processing the info.

”Go home. Tell your families to prepare, and make certain you are ready for war, ” he finished, ”class is dismissed. ” After saying that, he turned around and headed back toward Gideon.

”Lets go home I suppose. I will ask my father about the situation, ” Leonel determined, ”we shall meet again during tomorrows training. ”

Collective ”ayes ” came from the members of the newly formed group, and they all dispersed back to their homes. Ariel and Hal waved them goodbye and walked off in separate directions. Leonel and Landon began walking home together as they lived in similar areas, chatting about what they learned and the news that Hafnir just broke to them as they went along.

However, they soon noticed a definite hush in the city as more and more people learned about the coming war. Noticing this, they walked faster home.

—

At the Coldblight Estate…

As Leonel closed the door behind him, he was greeted by the agitated sight of his mother who rushed towards him in a flurry of strides.

”Leonel, you
e back! ” his mother, Alea Dumas cried out.

Leonel was taken aback, but he understood her distress, ”Im back mother. I was just at training. ” He took a few steps forward and gave his mother a reassuring hug, to which she reciprocated gratefully.

Separating, she said, ”lets get you some lunch and wait for your father to get home. Jev just told me about the news and I was worried sick about both of you. ”

”Yes, mother, ” Leonel complied. He took a seat at the table and began telling his mother about his day.

—

At sunset…

Edmund Coldblight opened the door to his manor, patting the snow off from his cloak before hanging it up on the coat hanger. He walked to the living room, where Leonel and Alea were waiting for him on the couches.

He sighed and took sat down deeply on a sofa. Taking out a pipe, he lit it and took a whiff. ”So youve heard, ” he stated, ”that war is coming. ”

”Yes, and that its another Chaos incursion. One far larger than the one two decades ago! ” Leonel exclaimed. His excitement only drew a disapproving look from his father, who only shook his head.

”May Usha bless us all. ”