In late 1086, a thin layer of snow finally began to melt on the time-worn rooftops of Oudestre town, signaling the quiet transition from winter to early spring. The biting winds were no longer as harsh, merely brushing the skin, replaced by golden rays of sunshine peeking through the cracks in the doors.
Antonio gently knocked on the ancient tailor shop's weathered wooden door.
Knock knock.....
"Elder Sehvar… Elder Sehvar, are you home?"
"Oh… Keraleas, come in, child…"
Click..
A young man entered, about twenty years old, dressed in military uniform. Antonio Keraleas took off his shoes, placed his hat on the table, and sat close to Elder Sehvar, who was relaxing beside a rusted sewing machine.
"I'm here to have some clothes made. Would you mind making them for me? I'll come back to pick them up around early next year."
"Going somewhere? On a mission?"
"Yes, I have to go to Aridonia to assist them."
"Is Adonis going with you...?"
"No, he'll continue his studies here…"
"Is that so? You must be tired. Just leave it; I'll bring it to your house when it's done."
"Thank you, Elder. Where's Diana? I don't see her...?"
"Looking for her? She's in the kitchen… been doing something all morning…"
"Oh no, I meant that sassy girl isn't helping you today…?"
"Hey, Antonio! Can't you call me by another name… like…?"
"Lazy…"
"HMPH! I'm not talking to you anymore…" Diana, who had just poked her head out to scold him, immediately turned back into the kitchen.
"Well, goodbye, Elder, I'm heading back to make it on time for the march. I'll leave the money here…" Antonio smiled faintly, then quickly grabbed his hat.
"Alright…"
Antonio stepped out of Elder Sehvar's tailor shop, walking along the ancient street, built centuries ago, towards Rothanrium. Along the way, he gazed at the place he used to frequent before becoming an officer in the capital.
"Hey… You, heading to the capital? Get in; I'll give you a ride…"
"Uh… Um… Yes, thank you, sir." Antonio hesitated, then finally got onto the cart.
"Thank you."
"No problem… my son is an officer too… he's on a mission this year, I suppose you are too?"
"Yes… in Aridonia." As he replied, he looked for a place to sit.
"Sit here, it's the cleanest spot for you."
He happily agreed, as a ride here would likely cost him a day or two's wages. On the way to the capital, the driver picked up a few more cadets.
Back in the capital, he got off the cart, found a spot, and waited for his friend. From a distance, a slender figure approached; it was Meuner Loernt, a Karma officer and his roommate at the academy.
"You're later than expected… is this a gift for me?"
"You're dreaming too early. These are our new uniforms. I happened to pick them up when I passed through Rosterling; ours were old anyway."
"Didn't Quartermaster pick them up for us?"
"Didn't you hear the commander say the other day? They're all focused on the front lines…"
The two carried numerous items they had retrieved from outside the city after Antonio's leave. Big bags and small bags, they tirelessly returned to the academy after a short leave. In the next three days, both would be transferred to Aridonia.
Three days later, all the snow had melted. Quartermaster support helped both of them, along with a few other officers, travel to Aridonia. The journey, which would normally take half a day, was now halved. They would be assigned a mission in a small village near the Floravon border.
"You two stop here! Assist the reconnaissance team with the Kobis. It'll take a few days!" Another officer assigned them their task before leaving.
Antonio and Meuner, after getting off the vehicle, proceeded with another officer to where the reconnaissance soldiers were operating.
"Do you need any help?" The accompanying officer asked.
"No, but please pay attention to the civilians for me; Dasader might attack here too!"
"You mean Daiwaking?" Meuner sharply turned.
"Not exactly. He won't act directly because there's no one here with strong enough Karma…"
After chatting for a while, only Antonio remained with the reconnaissance team. Meuner and the other man, known as Tarom, would assist the soldiers protecting a nearby village. Aridonia was not a superpower, and having a vast territory made them more vulnerable to falling. Those who came to assist, like Antonio and Meuner, were called mercenaries.
The reconnaissance team he needed to protect consisted of seven people: three scouts, two communications soldiers, and one operations engineer. He and his team were hiding in a small trench, covered with a thin layer of Karma and camouflaged with dirt on top. In front, facing Floravon, was an open space dug out for the Orbis to operate. This type of setup could easily evade air forces but would be difficult to hide from infantry.
Wongg....Wongg
About five minutes after they left, the Kobis detected the existence of Karma while monitoring enemy logistics. The light continuously flickered on the sphere.
"Enemy detected, about a dozen of them, Karma is very clear," a scout told Antonio.
He understood what the soldier meant.
"Alright, you guys continue; I'll keep an eye on them."
WHOOSH WHOOSH...
"VALUM GLACIALE!!!!"
An ice wall created by Antonio unexpectedly blocked an incoming rocket arrow.
"Did they detect us?" Antonio wondered in surprise.
Before the ice wall could fully form, another arrow shattered it. Fragments of ice scattered everywhere; this time, the enemy was clearly visible before them. The Kobis was active; they couldn't stop to assist.
"IACULUM FRIGIDUM!!"
Antonio counterattacked the charging troops. A giant ice arrow he created flew straight towards the advancing enemy. One was hit and thrown back; the remaining two or three hesitated upon seeing this, then charged forward.
"Gladius Glaciei." Antonio directly summoned his own Karma, a Karshia in the form of an ice sword nearly as long as himself.
The advancing enemies also used their Karma, all mediocre fire-type Kartocus and Karshia users who only knew how to fire arrows and slash wildly to deflect blows. Thanks to the defensive terrain advantage, he easily defeated them.
On this side, the scouts had finished their work and sent the information to the southwestern front. They began to hastily retreat towards the village. Antonio did not rush after them; he slowly concealed himself and retreated a short distance behind them. Immediately after dismantling the Kobis and moving up the trench, running towards the village—
"Occulta Nefas!" A slash from the right side of the retreating soldiers' vision flew towards them.