Human leader's Story

At the same time in the mages camp:

Ronwair stood next to the table in one of the tents. He looked the map on the desk and shuffled the pile of papers on his hand. He tried to sort all this information out. Several scouts had brought their reports. "Hmm... vampires, demons, werewolves..." He looked at another paper. "Vampires and elves over there" he pointed the map. "Hmm... How many men we need? At least those fire mages should attack on the vampires... Where's The Prince? He should lead them. What else? Some weird-looking giant? What's that supposed to mean? Damn, these reports are just horrible!" Ronwair slammed the papers on the desk and sat down. "Isn't there anyone who could write a decent report!?"

"Are you troubled, my lord?" a woman asked, standing behind him. Ronwair's advisor, Minerva, whom had almost always stayed by his side before battle. Not many know where she came from, but supposedly, the King had sent her to be an advisor for Ronwair, whom was the leading general in the fight against the paranormal creatures that endangered the kingdom. Minerva looked over the reports over Ronwair's shoulder and spoke in a soft voice. "These reports do, however, give us a clear idea, of what their plan of attack will be like."

Ronwair sighed a little. "I have at least twenty different reports that has nothing in common. Those creatures are just scattered everywhere. Do they even have a plan? There's no clear front line or anything! This is just frustrating. How should I make the plan when I can't predict how the enemy is going to fight?" And I don't even know all of theirs weaknesess. Vampires are weak to fire and werewolves to silver. That's pretty much it." He started to walk around the tent, trying to calm himself down. "Minerva, you were sent here to help me. What do you know about those monsters and their vulnerablities?"

"Well," she said softly, "I know that magic isn't the only thing that stops magical creatures.." She began to pace. "Everything in nature has a natural weakness. Perhaps with a little bit of encouraging magic, you can have nature on your side." She picked up a paper and read off it. "Vampires, demons and werewolves, oh my! Elves and even the Blood Angels, all have been reported by your scouts. They're likely to go all-out, bringing so many men, skilled men, to the fight. It's unlikely they have any sort of plan besides 'shock and awe'. Not to mention, they'll likely be counting on our weakness, which is why your reports are confusing. They're going to mobilize quickly, and likely wont be doing much reconnaissance. So, you should set up a trap."

"Hmm... A trap you say?" Ronwair looked at the map and pointed the large meadow in it. "This will be the battle zone. And as you can see.." he pointed the forest next to it. "The White Forest is right next to it. It would offer a good place to hide. The problem is, however, that the forest is nearer those creatures camp than ours. If they are clever at all, they will take over it." Ronwair stared the map focusing on it. "And if they have no strategy it makes it harder for us as well. I mean that if vampires would be in the first line, we could put fire magic wielders against them... But now..." He sighed and started walk around the tent again muttering in his thoughts. 

Minerva gazed at the map. She placed her finger on various points, marking them in her mind, while formulating something in her head. Much of the odds were not in their favour, as Ronwair could tell as well, but Minerva still was intent on coming up with some sort of plan or suggestion. She then traced an X with her finger over the White Forest. Minerva frowned a bit, but smirked. "Why not we get rid of the forest? Send fire mages to burn it down. It may slow their attack and allow us to set up our traps!"

Ronwair glanced over Minerva. "Could we really do it? What about plant mages? They could get benefit from the forest as well." "Which is why we will create our own forest," Minerva said with confidence."

Ronwair was confused. "Own forest? What would we benefit from that? Forest is a forest." Minerva traced her finger to a spot on the corner of the map. "Well," she began, walking away from the map as she slowly approached Ronwair, "There is a specific type of tree, a magical tree. A big magical tree that consumes all that come near. Of course, it wont eat it's caretakers, as it's a smart tree. It also prefers our enemies over ourselves. We can get our plant mages to enchant the seeds of these trees to grow into an entire forest, where the battlefield is supposed to be. Once the enemy forces make it past their own burning forest, that's when they fall into our trap!" Minerva crept behind Ronwair, and spoke softly, "And, of course, Ronwair, our leader, will have all the credit for such a deviously good plan, that led his men to victory." "Are you sure it would work?" Ronwair asked. "You shouldn't underestimate our enemy. They might have no plan but those creatures can be clever. Think how well they have been hiding all these years. They have caused troubles, of course, but it's been rare to even see one."

"You worry too much," Minerva said, "Nobody is going to expect a man-eating, sorry, monster-eating forest at the battlefield. As long as your men are there to attack them while they are trapped. Besides, these creatures have been living in obsurity, that is the success to their privacy." "Hmm.. Alright then. I'll call the plant and fire mages together. We're going to give those creatures a lesson!" Minerva smiled. "Only one problem," she said, "We need to collect the seeds first... However, just give me the time, dismiss me for just a little bit of time, and I can collect them." "Of course" Ronwair answered. "Do you want someone to come with you? In case some of enemies are going to attack earlier?"

"No!" Minerva yelped, stepping away from Ronwair. She regained her composure and explained, "I mean, no thank you, milord. Unfortunately, the circumstances of which the seeds are obtained are very difficult to achieve, and I'm afraid the presence of another may increase the chances of unsuccess. Such rare and smart trees are difficult to deal with, after all. I would prefer that I am completely unaccompanied, and that my errand is kept a secret untill I return, in case there are spies lurking among us. Besides, you have a tight schedule, you have to ready the men to fight tonight." "If you're sure about it. I would prefer to send someone with you but I trust you. I'm going to gather the men together. The prince will lead the fire mages, and I will lead the plant mages." Ronwair glanced to Minerva. "You should probably go now. The faster we can do this, the better it is."

Before Minerva left the tent, she looked back at Ronwair and spoke, "I will do all in my power to assure that we have victory, milord. However, once I return with what we need, I cannot promise I can stay for the battle, as the King requests my presence elsewhere by the morning. I do look forward, however, to seeing you again, in victory I'll assume."

"Alright Nothing at all. That's an interesting skill you have there." He said with a small smirk. This one was a real riley kid why he was talking to her he wasn't entirely sure maybe it was to ease his nerves before the oncoming storm. Looking up he realized he was late. "I have a meeting to be getting to but it was a pleasure meeting you Kotomi." He said as he waved and walked away towards the main tent.

He entered and then looked around before spotting the warlord and walked over. "Sir a moment of your time?" He asked.

"You elves are always thinking too much about dignity and shame. What is done is done." Hekate shrugged her shoulders. "I have lived over hundred years. Is there something I regret? Yes. But do I let it ruin my life? No."

She walked slowly next to Gilraen. "I can tell just by looking at you that you can fight. I would say it's rare among elves. So, let me give you an advice. Go there, talk with your Queen and offer your help. Show that you're not like your family. I'm not going to ask what they have done 'cause it's not my business. But if your Queen has any sense she will accept your help."




Ronwair glanced over Alric. "If you have a report, put it in the pile." He said pointing the papers on the desk. "If it's something else I can give you few minutes. I need to go to talk with the Prince. Is that cat yours?" He asked when noticing Jikorin.

"As I said I can give you few minutes." Ronwair answered to Alric. He walked in front of Jikorin. "Who the hell brought cat in the war?" he mumbled and grabbed Jikorin throwing her out of the tent. "Damn nuisance."

As the human walked into the tent to speak with the warlord, Jikorin joined him, slipping in utmost inconspicuously. The Warlord had seemed to already have taken notice of her, but she didn't mind. "If you have a report, put it in the pile." Jikorin looked over toward the desk and immediately ran and hopped onto it, hoping she could learn a bit more about their situation, out of pure curiosity, such as what the enemy was planning. Unfortunately, she couldn't make heads or tails of any of the reports, at least, not before the Warlord had dealt with her. "Who the hell brought cat in the war?"

Jikorin made a couple short cries as she struggled in the human's grasp and yelped as soon as she hit the ground, perfectly on her feet, of course. She made a short hissing sound, like an exasperated sigh, as the human went back into the tent. Although, despite her previous urges to want to check out what was going on inside the tent, she had simply lost her interest altogether. Maybe she'd continue looking for humans to give her affection.

Such as that of a particular girl, perhaps no older than seventeen. Indeed, one was considered an adult once they reached fourteen, but they were still a child to Jikorin, and she likely wasn't the only one. She looked like she had no other company than her steed, so Jikorin figured she would be easy to deal with.

Slowly, Jikorin approached the girl, making no notice of her horse. Many animals whom were unrelated to each other often were rather indifferent about each other, and thus had a habit of ignoring each other entirely, humans and dogs being exceptions. The horse, if it was unaware of her Youkai nature, probably thought of the cat just the same. Standing at the girl's feet, Jikorin meowed softly.