The appearance of the Corvus entity in his mind was like a twilight filled with crows, the surroundings dark with the power the man held. Yet, in reality, he had only grown drowsy and fallen asleep in his chair. But he clearly saw the one he was speaking to. However, he couldn't make out the face because it was covered in smoke. The man's voice was as deep as the ocean and hair-raising. In that man's voice, he heard about the upcoming war.
The vision is so vivid, yet I'm just sitting here. The voice… it's not just a voice, it's a presence. It's ancient and powerful. It's the Corvus Entity. He knows what's coming, what I must do. He's not just giving me advice, he's giving me a path to victory. The Thallerions will fall, just as he said.
"If the Thallerion race goes to war with you because of what Sapar will do?" it said to him. "Those people will only defeat you!" Matar just listened as he was being spoken to. "When Xerxez, the king of the Thallerions, declares a challenge, you must only send a letter saying that you are not afraid, but tell him, 'six months from now.' On that day, Peronica will deliver her son." This was his command. "If the king agrees now to hold your duel six months from now, go immediately to Moonatoria before that appointed time."
A duel with Xerxez? Six months. It's a risk, but the entity's words are a promise. I have to trust it. The timing is crucial. This will give me the leverage I need. I must keep this a secret from everyone for now, even from my own people. My father is already causing trouble; this will be my next move, my quiet and peaceful plan.
Matar smiled a long smile when he woke up in the chair of his throne. He didn't speak to anyone about his plans. Instead, he would wait for his father to return from causing trouble for the Thallerion farmers. And he already knew his next step, just waiting for the right time to quietly and peacefully lay out his plan.
...
Sapar and Fhajo also arrived in Wendlock. They saw that the Thallerions were now managing the Ossibian farms there, which were formerly worked by their farmers.
Look at them, the arrogant Thallerions, claiming Wendlock as their own! They think they can just take our land and resources? Never. This is a disgrace to our people. The rage is a fire in my blood. They deserve to feel the same pain they've inflicted on us. This isn't just protest; this is a reckoning.
"Those shameless Thallerions, so quick to claim Wendlock!" Sapar said, as they stood on a high cliff, watching the Thallerions on the plains. Sapar brought many soldiers and farmers to protest, but they weren't just going to protest—they would cause chaos and destroy the crops.
"Destroy all their crops, cut them all down, and trample all the vegetables, burn the rice paddies!" said Fhajo. "Beat the farmers, and kill them if you must."
"Yes, leave no one who won't experience true pain!" said Sapar, blowing smoke from his nose. "Charge!!!"
The horses ran toward the plains, thundering like rocks rolling from above. Sapar's men were driven by anger and revenge. Fhajo and Sapar just stood on top of the cliff, watching their men do what they wanted to happen. Crows came like a storm that landed on the plains, pecking at the fruits and snatching and eating the chicks.
But what was grim, they also pecked at the wounded farmers—one was pecked in the eye and blinded. It was as if they feasted on the slaughtered farmers, as well as the slit sheep and pigs.
The fate of the Thallerion farmers at the hands of Sapar's men was horrible, especially with the help of the crows who aided in the destruction of the farmers. Some escaped, but those who fought only met their death.
"Haha, finally the crows are full, go back to Ossibuz." Sapar said to the crows.
"Crow! Thank you! The taste of the Thallerions is delicious!" said a crow that still had blood on its beak, but only Sapar could hear it.
The crows are our allies, the Corvus's messengers. They are an extension of our rage. This is more than just a raid; it's a warning. Let Xerxez know what happens when you cross us. Let him know that our land is protected by something far older and more terrible than his armies. The blood on their beaks is a message.
***
For several nights, Xerxez did nothing but get drunk, but when he read Matar's first threat: "You have driven the Ossibians from Wendlock where blood has run on the ground. Hmph, you will pay for what you have done." Xerxez's brow furrowed, and a thought crossed his mind that Ossibuz might have some evil plan.
Matar's threat. It's not just words. This isn't like him. He's always been more calculated. He's been quiet, but his silence is a storm. Is this what's to come? Am I too late? My grief has made me weak, blind. I should have acted sooner.
He wasn't wrong. It was that afternoon, and the surroundings were getting dark when a bloody farmer suddenly burst into the Thallerion border. The guards were surprised to see the bloody woman wailing. She had a wound on her arm and blood was still gushing out.
"Help me, help me." The woman fell in her haste. "I'm wounded!" They felt the weakness of the woman's body, almost hoarse from the pain as if her arm was being sawed off.
"What happened, why are you wounded?" The border guard ran to the woman. His heart was almost crushed when he saw the deep wound on her arm.
"The Ossibians." She was out of breath, her heart pounding as if she was having a heart attack. "The Ossibians are attacking us."
"The Ossibians?" Another guard at the Thallerion border confirmed it. And he rushed to Xerxez.
The threat has become reality. This is not just a raid, it's a direct insult. The blood of my people is on my hands because I was too lost in my own sorrow. I must act. I have to protect my people. There will be no more hesitation. This is war.
Meanwhile, Xerxez called for a meeting with the military leaders, even though it was getting dark. Commander Matheros was with him, waiting in the meeting room.
Xerxez wanted to talk about Matar's threat. He knew that Matheros was only temporarily managing the kingdom, so he didn't know much about what was happening inside the kingdom. But now, while they were waiting for the arrival of some leaders, Matheros told him that the Thallerion soldiers were preparing for the possible trouble Ossibuz would cause for the Thallerion citizens in Wendlock.
It took a while for the leaders to arrive because there was a commotion outside. Phalleon was annoyed by the arrogance of some soldiers there. He scolded them because some were just as stubborn.
"Those damn soldiers! They do nothing but complain!" Phalleon's cursing echoed outside the meeting room. Xerxez and Matheros heard it because they were near the door. Xerxez already knew the reason, so he was no longer surprised. When the four entered, they were greeted by the king's gaze. There were six guards on the side. "You, improve your guard duty in the kingdom," Phalleon said to the six guards.
"Your Majesty, it's good that you're feeling better." Phalleon's first greeting when he stepped through the door of the meeting room, and their eyes met. His grim tone softened a bit compared to earlier.
"Commander Matheros, it's good you're here too. When I entrusted the soldiers to you, they looked like wild animals. So stubborn."
"General, how many times must I tell you that you need to be kind to them?" Matheros said. "That's why your blood just boils because you don't get along with them." Phalleon and his companions, Catana and Vethor, sat down.
"Well, listen all of you." Xerxez began. He looked at each of them. And sighed deeply. "I apologize for these past few days. It's probably because of me that you all had a hard time." Xerxez's voice was cold, but the sadness and loneliness for his recently deceased wife could still be heard within it.
"We understand, Your Majesty. Don't blame yourself for the stubbornness of some soldiers," Phalleon answered with a serious face.
"In that case, let's start our meeting—" said Xerxez, but a breathless guard burst into their gathering. Even though he was in a hurry, he still showed respect to all the senior leaders and to Xerxez.
"Good evening to all of you, but I wish to interrupt your meeting at this time," said the guard. His head was bowed, facing the seated leaders.
"It seems this guard's purpose is important," Matheros said, turning slightly to the guard. "Speak quickly. We have a meeting to get to." Matheros ordered. The others also nodded in agreement.
"A shocking event has occurred in the land of Wendlock. The Ossibians have attacked the Thallerion farmers."
"What!!!" The voices of all present echoed with shock at the news from the guard. Their eyebrows furrowed in anger.
"Many Thallerion farmers have died." Catana's hand went to her mouth and tears fell for the tragic fate of the farmers.
"And what's even more pitiful about the farmers' fate, they were pecked by crows!!!" Xerxez's jaw hardened and he clenched his fist, his eyes blazing at what he heard.
"Crows?!!!" Phalleon stood up in disbelief, goosebumps appearing on their skin at the horrific event. "They play so dirty!" Phalleon said, his brow furrowed.
Phalleon's Inner Thoughts: (Crows? This is not just a regular attack; it's a symbolic act of terror. This is the work of the Corvus Entity. They are not just men; they are monsters. This isn't a war for land, it's a war for our very existence. This is a disgrace. We will not let this stand.)
Xerxez immediately stood up, his heart heavy for the farmers who were attacked by the Ossibians. Matheros also stood up, following Xerxez to the door.
Xerxez's Inner Thoughts: (I was too late. I was weak. My people are suffering because of my inaction. This pain, this rage... it will fuel my vengeance. I won't let them die in vain. They will get justice. Every one of them. We will find whoever is responsible.)
"Let's go to the farmers there, maybe we can still save someone," Xerxez said, grabbing his sword and asking one of the guards in the room for a gun. "Maybe someone is still alive."
"Hurry up, follow our king," Phalleon said, bristling at Xerxez's urgency. He called out to the soldiers he saw on the way. They mounted their horses and galloped toward Wendlock.
"No one sleeps tonight," Xerxez shouted as they went to the Thallerion border. It was painful for Xerxez to see the fate of the farmers, and he blamed himself for not acting immediately on Matar's letter. If he had only studied that letter right away, perhaps the Thallerion farmers would not have met with such a tragedy.
"Your Majesty, the Ossibians have a Protector. That is none other than the Corvus entity..." Matheros said. "We will be entering a dangerous challenge with this."
"I am not afraid of their Entity," Xerxez replied, as his white horse ran straight ahead. "The Thallerion nation was not born to be trampled on by nations boasting of their entities." Xerxez said with full conviction to Matheros.
Xerxez's Inner Thoughts: (Corvus Entity or not, it makes no difference. I will not let a god, a demon, or a man bring this much pain to my people. They can boast all they want, but true power is not in some ancient entity; it's in a king's will to protect his people. I will not be swayed by their dirty tricks. This is personal now.)
The moon was peeking from behind the trees on their path. The sound of crickets hinted at the mournful scene ahead. A cold wind met them as they left the woods, like the caress of victims asking for justice for the violence done by the Ossibians.
They found no survivors. Only the grotesque faces torn apart by crows, and weapons. The blood, engulfed in terror, became a shadow of the land of Wendlock.
"What a waste, we arrived too late. We can't save them anymore," said Catana, whose heart was almost pierced with pity at the sight of the tragic fate of the farmers, even the innocent children caught in the land conflict, who were also included and killed.
"I only took one life from them, why did so many of ours perish?" Phalleon said, kneeling in shock. "You crows! You will pay!" Phalleon's voice echoed in the plains and the hoots of the owls in the wild sounded and flew away.
"Give them a proper burial," Xerxez said, crying. "We will not sleep tonight until we have planned our revenge against them. If war is needed, I myself will declare it—even now; I will gamble everything, just to give justice to the farmers."
Xerxez's Inner Thoughts: (My tears are not for my wife alone anymore. They are for every life lost here. This is a debt that can only be paid in blood. They think this is a game? They think they can attack us with impunity? They've underestimated the Thallerion nation. They've underestimated me. They will pay. Every last one of them. This is not just revenge; it is a sacred duty. We will have justice.)