"Our weapon is truth, and our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children, and we will defend all of this."

  Act two: Darkhearts' invasion of Navara.

  Lance Corporal Kasey James Carter.

  February 19th, 1846.

  Seven months before the War of Reclamation.

  We climbed up the large hill, my mind drifting to the men who hadn't survived this age of despair. In the distance, I heard the sound of Jason humming a thin broken tune, his eyes red and puffy with unshed tears. Two have died to reach this small hill. The Sergeant persisted, his horse stamping into the snow. Our feet were numb. The pitch darkness made it difficult to see anything. Finally, we reached the top of the hill.

  "Can you see anything?" The Sergeant asked. I glanced up at him and then shook my head.

  "No, sir, the darkness makes it impossible - wait.." I pulled out my binoculars, crouched down, and caught the faint color of a flame that grew bigger and bigger. Soon, one flame became many, and the silhouette of different ships became clear as day.

  "What is it?" The Sergeant asked.

  "Lots of ships.. Old ones. Unknown flag looks to be filled with people." I replied before lowering the binoculars. Robert and Jason stood behind me, squinting to see the ship.

  "I see it to Sergeant," Jason whispered, his fingers fidgeting with the gun. The sound of clicking echoed, and the sergeant snapped his head toward the sound before he ordered.

  "Jackson! Cover our rear and make sure no clicker gets close."

  Clint nodded and pulled his scarf tighter around his neck before cocking the hammer of his rifle and stood guard.

  "Reckon the boats stopped... looks like the pirates are yelling," Robert said, pulling his cap off his eyes, darting around before landing on the ship in the distance.

  And he was right. The ships had stopped on the rocks, and the sound of yelling echoed. Then docking boards were dropped, figures clad in armor, some tall, others short; some carried spears, others swords, and bows.

  "These aren't pirates," I whispered and watched my Sergeant's expression harden, his eyes tracking each figure before whispering.

  "It's a full-fledged invasion. The numbers are in the thousands here." He then turned to look at the four of us. Me. Jason. Robert. And Clint.

  "Our courier is dead.. sending a man alone on foot is too slow and a death wish. Kasey. You're in charge. Watch the enemy dog'em them if need be. I'll need to report this... I'm sure I'll find some militia or national boys to keep the enemy at bay until more regulars get here." Each word came with an icy mist, his eyes uncertain as he looked at the darkness behind us. Then dug into his satchel taking out a single silver bullet, and handed it to me.

  "It's your only lifeline if you encounter a high-class threat.. make it count. Best of luck." He said and saluted us. We returned the gesture, and with the whip of the reins, he rode off, disappearing into the dark shadows of the forest.

  "So, what now, Lance Corporal? I don't reckon we can fight a whole damn army." Robert said, hugging his rifle as he looked down the hill and then back at me, his blue eyes looking into mine for an answer.

  "I don't plan to fight them. We follow them. Find out who they are, why they're here, and get Intel until we... until we find a chance to do something." I ordered and watched Robert shrug his shoulder and pull his cap low. His dark blue coat was swooshing in the wind.

  Then he threw down his rifle and slid down the hill. I followed suit, tumbling in the snow before landing on my side. I felt Robert grab my coat and pull me up as Clint and Jason came down.

  Clint landed face-first in the snow he sat up, swatting the snow off his face and spitting some out.

  "Not one helping hand?" Clint exclaimed and pushed himself up. Jason was behind him, lying in the snow and looking up at the dark sky before stumbling up.

  "You know the drill..cover your ears if you hear sirens. Don't listen to whatever sounds human, and if bones start cracking, you'd better start running." I muttered and began walking through the woods, trailing behind the large, unknown force.

  "Hey. Kasey, that army doesn't look like pirates." Robert said before Clint slapped Robert's cap off.

  "I thought we already established they weren't pirates ten minutes ago." Clint bickered his voice, pitching in annoyance.

  "I'm trying to say they aren't modern! They're holding spears! Who holds spears but savages in the mountains now? And some weak militia, but them folks don't count." Robert countered and picked up his cap hitting it across Clint's back.

  "You two want to stop arguing!? You two make so much noise we'll be the ones falling into an ambush at this rate!" I barked out my voice hoarse from the cold.

  "Told you," Jason whispered.

  "TOLD ME WHAT!?"

  "Enough! Silence! It's an order!" I demanded before raising a hand. And then I crouched down watching the banners of these men. Some wore nothing but leather, others wore chainmail, and a select few wore Steel. They were all shivering and chattering amongst themselves.

  "Looks like a duck.. quacks like a duck. Must be a duck." Robert muttered, raising his rifle, already setting his sights on one riding a horse.

  "What kind of damn ducks quack like that? The whole language sounds like my brother tryna speak Virginese." Clint responded before we moved close enough to see their face. The colorful eyes, their beautiful skin, which made us look like rotten hides, but they were taller, leaner. Their skin is perfect, their eyes are colorful. Their attitude is arrogant.

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  "I could've sworn I saw pointy ears," Jason whispered and rubbed his eyes.

  I squinted my eyes at a woman passing by, and it was true. Her ears were too pointy.

  "Elves?" Clint said in distress, his voice cracking as he raised his rifle.

  I pushed his gun down and shook my head before whispering.

  "The Kalmarians weren't lying. Elves are really trying to invade us." I breathed out.

  "If they wanted to invade us, they could've had the decency to use some actual guns," Robert murmured with a breathy chuckle before crouch walking backward.

  The entire force passed by us. Then, screams echoed alongside the undeniable sound of a pale walker attack. The sound of long nails clashing against iron swords, their piercing shrieks and guttural groans, before they left as quickly as they came.

  The sounds of crying and whispers from the dying echoed, yet the sound of scratching on wood never stopped. They were waiting for another opening.

  "Sounds like they killed one.. one less to worry about, huh?" Robert said and pushed me ahead as we stalked toward the area, staying in the cover of darkness and the forest. Clint kept his rifle aimed toward the trees Robert aimed his toward the elves. Ahead of us on the trail was one dead elf, his face so mangled he was unidentifiable. The other was wounded, his stomach cut open, his hands holding his organs as he whispered something.

  But soon, an older one came close to him. He muttered something, placing a hand on the wounded's head, before a green light emitted from them. It was as if his organs had grown a mind of their own, finding their place back into his stomach. As the glow dimmed, the wounded was healed, not a scar on him. Yet the old man looked tired, so tired he could faint.

  "What in the fuck!? Did you see that? Am I dreaming?" Robert whispered as he looked back at us, then at the wounded, who kept marching.

  "Hush! We all saw it." I hissed and watched as the entire force continued. I looked back at the team Robert was eagerly twitching.

  "Why are we waiting? Let's give chase! We're patrolling, aren't we?" He rasped out, already walking toward the main force.

  "We don't have to rush. Middle-aged armies never moved fast, and them elves look like they Middle aged. They're slow, and it ain't hard to follow an army." Jason uttered and looked around before stepping to my side.

  "Silence," I ordered as two elves came back holding what seemed to be a large sack. One was paranoid, his head whipping around frantically as he crouched down to begin covering the body.

  The other was calm holdung a torch up. his chest puffed with pride as he mocked the other.

  "Two men for each inhuman. Jason, you got your axe?" I murmured and slowly drew my bayonet.

  "I never forget it," Jason said and took his hatchet with a smile as he tested the sharp edge.

  "Move. Fast and quiet, don't shoot unless you have to." I whispered and slowly approached the path. Then I sprinted toward the elf standing.

  He spun around, attempting to grab his sword. I slammed him down on the snowy floor as Jason ran behind me, stomping on the inhuman's head before his hatchet swung across the inhuman's face.

  The inhuman twitched violently before his corpse calmed. I looked toward Clint and Robert, who were gutting the other elf.

  The sound of bone cracking echoed as Jason began to try and dig his axe out of the inhuman's face. He eventually pushed his foot on the head of the inhuman and stumbled back as the axe came flying back, a string of blood following him.

  "Them folk got bones, that's for sure.. I got excited, Kasey. I didn't mean to hit him that badly." Jason breathed out and cleaned the blood off his hatchet with his coat.

  I looked down at the inhuman's face. If you could call it a face, the hatchet had cut through everything there, leaving behind a smushed mess of flesh and destroyed bone carved deep into his skull.

  I wiped the blood off my face and staggered up before wincing in pain as I walked toward Clint and Robert.

  "What's wrong with you?" Clint said and stumbled up, looking down at himself before looking at the elf with weary eyes.

  "He hit me with the pommel of his sword.. I never would have guessed they hurt this much." I stammered out before the sound of footsteps echoed. I looked back, seeing the faint color of torches.

  I immediately stomped out the torch the Inhumans had dropped and picked up the corpse of the disfigured Inhumans. "Take the bodies into the woods! Go fast but quietly.. Jason, you cover our tracks!

  I began to haul the corpse into the woods. Clint and Robert lifted theirs up and ran into the forest. Jason began to cover our tracks with snow as much as he could before running into the forest with us.

  Gurgling growls echoed as the sound of a fight breaking out echoed in the path. The elves yelled frantically, and their steps rushed away.

  Jason then lit a small lantern, holding it near the inhuman corpses.

  "sounded like a beheaded man," Clint remarked before turning to the inhuman corpses and kicking them.

  "Bones. Red blood. I was told elves had gold blood and were made up of pure magic! I don't know whether to be relieved or disappointed." Clint said and then flipped the bodies over. I crouch down and snatch the elf's sword before wincing in pain as I stand back up and hold the sword up.

  "It's.. lighter than our rifles. We were lied to, Clint. I believed only the strongest man could hold a sword!" I exclaimed and then grabbed the elf's belt and wrapped it around myself, sheathing the sword as I nodded.

  Clint soon followed suit, taking the other elves' dagger, Robert the shin guards, and Jason the pouch the elf had.

  "Now we're ready to fight in style," Robert said with a grin as we began our column march behind the elven army.

  Approaching the area where the other elves were ambushed, we saw the corpse of the beheaded man. I got closer and kicked the corpse over to see an arrow right in its chest face.

  "So they have accuracy," Jason whispered.

  "Anyone can hit a point-blank shot." Robert barked out before I pulled the arrow out and held it up to the lantern.

  "Bronze tip.. wooden stick. A nice plume at the end. Nothing special." I said and then slid the arrow into my pouch.

  "Turn out that fire, someone might see. We're getting closer." I ordered and watched as Jason blew out the flame.

  We followed the trail the inhuman army had gone and found more dead corpses. Some died by a pale walker, others by a bloodsucker, some by proxies, and others still being eaten by wolves.

  We saw the large banner, the row of torches, and their glinting armor. Plastered to a large tree was one sign that read in bold letters.

  'BEWARE OF THE WENDIGO'

  "Kasey. Do you think a silver bullet can stop a wendi?" Jason asked, his eyes scanning around, his finger twitching anxiously.

  "Kill it? Only the ghost hunter Battalion had the means to do that.. but it'll slow it down enough to buy us time to run and hide." I answered and raised my hand as we got close to the inhuman army. We went deeper into the woods where the light of their torches wouldn't find us.

  The Inhumans were notably tired. Many had dropped their equipment and were still stumbling while holding each other up. Their horses were frail things that seemed to have been bred for speed and not strength in a land that wasn't so harsh as ours. Unfortunately, those horses were too tired to keep moving, and I watched as one collapsed. Its rider hit the ground and climbed toward the beast, attempting to bring it to life, yet there was none.

  A horn echoed, and the Inhumans stopped moving almost in unison. A relieved sigh came from them all as they began to set up tents and makeshift walls. They were at least smart enough to bring their own wood.

  "So, are we camping out too?" Jason whispered.

  "We are. Further away from here. Me and Jason will watch till the clock hits twelve. Robert, Clint. You sleep and be ready for anything." I ordered as we marched deeper into the woods, then Jason took out a mix of salt, pepper, rosemary, garlic powder, and paprika and spread it around the area.

  "And what's that for?" Clint said, eyeing the mixed powders as he set up his shelter half with Robert.

  "It's a little trick. Most beasts hate the smell, and it throws off any trackers who might be tailing us." Jason responded and tucked the pouch of powder back into his pocket before grabbing his rifle and going by a tree to our rear where he crouched down and began to drink from his canteen.

  I went to the opposite side and stood guard listening as the two rolled their wool blanket and fell asleep almost immediately.

  Nothing happened to us in those hours, but the sounds that came from the elf's side were everything. Screams of all sorts mimics successfully luring in unknowing elves. Attacks from whatever heinous beast is roaming. Cracking echoed, and that was the clear sound of a cursed beast, one almost unkillable.

  I flipped open the door to my rifle and slid the bullet in before closing it and whispering.

  "Jason. Did you hear that?"

  "I wish I hadn't." He responded quietly.

  The sound that followed was flesh ripping, bones snapping and crunching, and the piercing screams, gurgling groans, and cries from the dying.

  Suddenly, footsteps began approaching an elf running and yelling frantically. He had dropped his weapons. He ran forward, yet he kept staring back unknowingly, running right toward me.

  I shoved him back with my rifle, and he fell back, looking up at me. He froze. His face went paler than it already was, his eyes wide, his whole body began to tremble before he whispered, shaking his head, and kept rubbing his eyes as if we were some hallucination.

  He raised his hands in surrender. I stared into his wide, fearful eyes and pointed behind him.

  The elf looked back immediately, and I stuck my bayonet into his neck. The elf still looked toward me, his eyes staring into mine as he let out a soft wince of pain and collapsed onto the ground.

  "First kill?" Jason asked and turned around to face me. I looked back and shook my head.

  "Second. The first one.. shot a man, turning him into a cursed one. He was still sane enough to beg for mercy.. I gave him mercy. It's better to die than become one of those things." I said.

  "Well..he should've known better. Only fools who try magic turn into those... things." Jason muttered and turned back around.

  The final hour was pure silence. My watch hit zero hours, and I turned and kicked Clint's and Robert's legs.

  "Sentry duty," I said.

  "Already?" Robert groaned out before getting on his feet and patting my shoulder.

  I laid down on his blanket using my knapsack as a pillow of sorts. Jason laid next to me, hummed a low tune before falling asleep.

  Soon, the adrenaline left my body, and my eyelids became too heavy to hold up. And I found my small moment of peace.