**Kuro**

  The arms production for the ‘Elvish Expeditionary Forces’ began in earnest once I paid the initial settlements. Lady Srexe assured me that she would personally watch over the factories so that the quality wouldn’t be compromised because of the urgency of my request. Knowing the goblin dy takes off my mind in that matter, and I can focus on the more pressing ones…

  …like the training of the soldiers.

  And, as someone who read lots of historical stuff, I was aware of the risks of ‘shortened’ training regimens, the impossibility of the logistics surrounding arms manufacturing on short notice, and even the difficulty of organizing a ragtag band of elvish folk—used to the conveniences of a peaceful world like Chersea—into a competent fighting force. Then, there’s also the matter of the information avaible to me, like the situation in Cherwoods. What were the sentiments of the elvish popution there towards the one in charge, or how severe was the Seductress’ influence in that realm?

  So far, the spies we sent have been trapped in that pce, with no way to send precious information on the ground, and some have even been captured in the line of their duty.

  I have no idea of what happened to them…

  “…”

  God…thinking of those people I lost stresses me more. I always imagine my hands filled with blood from those who sacrificed their lives for my cause…

  But I have to steel myself for the worse. Letting my emotions affect me will only lead to more deaths, so I shouldn’t waver now.

  Anyway, I had no other option but to rely on the outdated information I gathered from Her Lazy Holiness, the Lady Hinwe, and her maid, Lady Meanor. I even asked the elders of every elvish vilge in my realm for maps and other helpful tidbits of the elvish homend, like their culture and society in Cherwoods, since nothing was avaible in the market.

  However, the older generation of elves here in Chersea were mostly the third wave of the first immigrants. Because of this, memories of their old customs and traditions were already forgotten or diluted, with the culture of the humans influencing their own society. Asking Lady Hinwe and her maid about these things was quite useless since they had lived secluded inside the tree pace for so long; they got another culture going there.

  It's like the politics and society of Imperial China, where pace life is vastly different from that of the commoners.

  It was good that the elder of the vilge of New Elebor, Lady Manahad, kept one for herself, so I bought it (it’s the one I presented in our meeting at the library before). The only problem with her map was that, it was also an old one; the pces showed there might or might not exist anymore because of the desertification of Cherwoods. As for the cultural stuff…I guess I’d just cross the bridge when we get there, huh?

  Haa…this invasion pn is more complicated than I have envisioned before…

  “Hoh, busy with the recruitment, I see?”

  “Whoa!”

  “Hey!” Just as I inadvertently threw my pen into the air, the elf maid, Meanor, quickly moved in to catch it. Then, she gave it back to me. “What’s with you being so jumpy, milord?”

  Are the dies in this pce always sneaking around my back nowadays?

  The elf maid narrowed her eyes, “I feel you’re thinking something bad about me.”

  “Nothing, haha…” I replied as I thanked her for catching my pen. “Any case, why did you sneak in my study?”

  “I did not,” she retorted. “I knocked before, see? Never would I dare to be rude to our benefactor, even more so in his own home. However, milord seems so busy, you didn’t even notice me get behind you.”

  “Is that so?”

  Meanor nodded. Then, she continued, “Also, I came here earlier, and saw the Lady Seirna talking to you, so I left you alone. Anything wrong with her?”

  I shook my head. “Nothing serious. Well, I guess just some few personal matters we both need to address.”

  “I see…” Then, Meanor fell silent. She wanted to tell me something, but she was holding back.

  “You…need something?”

  The elf maid took a deep breath and smmed her hands on the table, much to my surprise. “Okay, milord,” she stared at me, “tell me, how can I serve you?”

  Naturally, her sudden question put me on an awkward footing. I mean, I didn’t even know what she meant by that! “What?”

  “Milord, please do not think of this as my mistress’ initiative,” Meanor expined. “It is my decision to ask you that question. I want to know, how can I repay you for your sacrifice to me!”

  “Err…I don’t—”

  “Please don’t say ‘I don’t know.' Look, I may not be a holy dy, but I can tell what happened to your right eye. In exchange for my life, you gave up your sight; midy has told me you did it. As someone who tries to be faithful to her mistress, how can I not be satisfied by your own expnation to the deed? You may cim it’s alright, but to my mistress and I…it isn’t!”

  “It’s really alright—”

  “Don’t say that!”

  “Okay? So, what should I say then?”

  “How can I serve you?”

  “Serve your mistress, then you can consider it serving me,” I reiterated. “And well, it’s not like I really did ‘lose’ my sight. If I can describe what I see in this eye, the proper word is ‘silhouette’.”

  “What?”

  “Think of moving shadows or blobs, that’s what I see. No details, only walking bck masses,” I pointed to my eye patch. “That’s why I cover this eye, so it won’t affect my vision on the left one.”

  “Err…it’s still difficult, right?”

  “One has to live and get used to such condition. So, I’m thankful for your offer of service, but I really would like to decline.”

  “I don’t accept it.”

  “You should. I got more help than what I really need.”

  “Milord!” Meanor kneeled before me, even trying to kowtow, though I stopped her from doing so. “Please! Give me something I can repay you with! Anything! Even if it’s my chastity—”

  “Please, no!” I quickly refused. “If you keep insisting on that, I may have to ask you to leave.”

  “Then, I shall do—”

  “Okay, I’ll be the one to leave this pace!” I forgot that Meanor could get quite overly zealous with everything.

  “A lord who threatens to leave his own pace for the sake of a mere servant? Pardon me for my words, but are you alright in the head, milord?”

  “I’m crazy and I know it,” I chuckled.

  Meanor could only cast a stare at me. She couldn’t believe someone like me would say those words—and meant it. See, I was not one to take advantage of my fellow just because she felt indebted to me; I’d rather die than do it.

  The elf maid sighed. Then, she kneeled before me again, saying, “Milord…I…really don’t know what to say to your magnanimity. I…I’m just overwhelmed by your sincerity, even when I don’t trust you that much before…”

  Wait, you really don’t?

  Nevertheless, Meanor wasn’t done yet. “…I don’t know if I can ask you about this another request of mine, if you permit your servant to be bold.”

  Oh…so this is how it is. This elf maid got something in mind to ask of me, that’s why she’s here alone, huh? Good lord, based on what I’m getting from her, it seems Meanor’s upcoming request is a massive pain in the ass. Well, as long as it was within my means, it wouldn’t hurt to have some ‘powerful connections’ in the future, just like how it was done in my old country.

  “What is it?” I asked, overruling my objections to hear her petition. “As long as it’s reasonable, I don’t see why I would not grant it?”

  “Milord, thank you for your kind words,” the elf maid smiled with relief. “Please, this is my selfish request, and not from my mistress…”

  “I understand.” Of course, while I knew this request was from the elf maid and not the Lady Hinwe’s, that zy saint still had a hand in encouraging her servant to be bold in approaching me about this. Okay, if I could do it, it’s all good. If it’s beyond my means, I’d have to refuse it.

  “Once again, I express my sincere gratitude for listening,” Meanor bowed again. “Your humble servant wishes to ask for milord’s aid in saving the Lord Gerard of Yusave, if possible?”

  ----------

  How to save a person ‘corrupted’ by the Seductress’ influence? Honestly, I don’t know. If I were to base the solutions on what I’ve read before, there were several ways to do it. One was to ‘kill’ the Seductress so that her ‘spell’ would be broken, simir to the fairy tales from my old world. Second, the savior must do something to break the ‘curse,’ like giving the victim a dose of ‘love’s true kiss.’

  “…”

  No, I won’t do it. I do not lean that way.

  Third, having a holy person call on the heavens to provide him the power and authority to drive out the evils inside the victim. However, I was unsure if such prayers and invocations would work on an ancient monster hailing from the Void. I was not a priest, not even in my previous world. The prayers I knew were taught to me when I was young, and there was never mention of driving out demons in those verses.

  ‘And even if you are, Kuro, it won’t work, those ideas you have in your head,’ Gaius told me from my mind. ‘You’re dealing with a creature that defeated gods and goddesses before, and consumed their worlds. She knows how to crush our powers.’

  Right, and so what do you think about granting the elf maid’s request?

  ‘Wait, why are you asking me that? You’re the one who made the promise to the elf girl!’

  I did that because I’m confident in your knowledge, Gaius. You fought the Seductress in the past, right? You also showed me how to defeat her using the god-powers of the Human Saint before. Of course, I trust you must know how to save someone from the Seductress’ influence.

  ‘Aren’t you trusting me a bit too much?’

  Can’t I? I mean, with all that we’ve been through together?

  I heard Gaius sigh. ‘What? Are you really serious about doing it? You haven’t learned your lesson sacrificing for others before?’

  Well, why not? If we have something, then why not use it? And besides, it’s not that I’ll sacrifice myself again—

  ‘Ahem. Your right eye.’

  My hand quickly went to the part he mentioned. This and that are two different things.

  ‘I’m aware. And yes, I support your decision to ‘save’ the elf maid by giving your normal sight to Time. After all, Lady Hinwe’s mental well-being hinged on her servant and friend. However, this time, the elf maid’s request to save her lover isn’t part of your responsibility anymore.’

  I already promised. I can’t simply take that back.

  ‘You’re one bad politician, Kuro. Even though you’re one of the leading nobles of the Empire, you try to deliver on your promises, even to a mere servant. Try learning from me, even just once; I had my political enemies at the palm of my hand—’

  And they still killed you in the end, betrayed by your closest friend. Thank you for the compliment, Gaius; I’m gd my principles still work. I have no pns to become a politician, anyway.

  The former god sighed. Then he said, ‘I just hope it won’t come back biting to you at the end.’

  Well, do you have any way of dealing with Lord Gerard’s predicament?

  ‘It is quite easy, you know? You just have to cast the Human Saint’s god-power on the Lord Gerard, and poof! Her influence over the poor elf is gone.’

  That was…quick.

  ‘You did hear me say ‘it is quite easy,’ right?’ Gaius replied, putting emphasis on his own quote.

  What’s the catch?

  ‘The Lord Gerard dies.’

  The fuck? How’s that ‘quite easy’?

  ‘Well, if you don’t care about the elf maiden’s feelings, her request is easy to solve!’

  The Lord Gerard dies; how’s it saving him?

  ‘At least he dies a ‘free elf.’

  You don’t understand. The Lady Meanor is Lord Gerard’s lover; of course, it’s common sense that when she asks me to save him, she expects that I’ll save him alive.

  ‘What happened to that line, ‘If it’s impossible, I can’t grant it’?’

  I already promised.

  ‘Then be a politician.’

  Fuck you.

  ‘Haa…’ Gaius made his dismay known to me. ‘Look, buddy, you know what happened to me. Because of my stupidity in running after the godhood of Chersea, I let that monster possess me. Did I get to live? Yes, but that’s because my body isn’t like the body of mortals. You’re aware of that yourself, Kuro; that body you own isn’t the weak one meant to die in one sword ssh. And no, don’t bring up the example of your waifu #1, the Lady Madeine. You should remember two things about her; yes, she is mortal, but she’s a creation of that vilin…her ‘child,’ though the Lady Madeine fought hard to escape her grasp. And, number two, the Human Saint was granted the god-powers of healing, one of the two god-powers that can hurt the Seductress. So, she gets to live.’

  What about the padins and servants who were influenced by the Seductress before?

  ‘Direct possession differs from just controlling a person with her miasma,’ the former god pointed out. ‘You know that movie about that disgusting alien tching itself on human face? The victim has zero chance of survival, yes?’

  The Al*en series?

  ‘Yep.’

  I feel the comparison is off but I get the idea, yes. Still, that doesn’t expin the survival of the padins and other servants of the Human Saint when they also fell under her influence.

  ‘They weren’t subjected to the Seductress’ 100% power, so the damage is minimal. There’s still damage in them though it is negligible enough, and probably got healed in time since they are always near the Lady Madeine. Lord Gerard, however, is the host this time. Like a parasite having finished feasting on its prey, the moment the Seductress is removed from his body is when he dies. You know that show about some Soviet firemen battling radioactive fire from one of their exploded nuclear reactors?’

  Yeah, I know that show. I love it, too. You know it’s based on actual events?

  ‘It does?’

  Yep. Check out the ‘Chernobyl Disaster’ in Earth’s history.

  ‘Okay, I will ter. Anyway, going back to our topic, some of those firemen got fully exposed and died almost instantly. Others got to live for a while…you get the comparison?’

  I told you I understood. I just can’t help but feel you’re flexing the shows you’ve watched on me.

  Gaius never replied after that, though I heard him ugh. Well, I guess the former god’s getting a bit bored in his new pce inside my mind nowadays, but he did give me an idea of how to grant Meanor’s request. I only had to figure out how to go around the ‘death’ part.

  “…”

  Well, I also felt responsible for Lord Gerard’s tragedy so that I couldn’t refuse the elf maid’s request. After all, I was the one who pnned this whole affair, thinking I could help the Lady Hinwe mend her ways. I did somehow succeed. What I failed to consider was Lord Gerard’s sentiments toward his liege, so I couldn’t just simply drop Lady Meanor’s request.

  ----------

  ***The city of Berondin***

  Not all was bleak in the plight of the survivors of Dorian. While they were ‘officially’ captured by the army of the ‘mud’ elves, they were still treated better. The only problem was, though they were given proper shelter, the longhouse was too small to fit everyone in, so some had to brave the elements outside. Those who did were given spare clothes and were taught to make tents.

  They were heavily guarded. The Berondin elves wouldn’t easily trust anyone, given the bad history between them and the ‘forest elves’ of the interior. They would give the refugees extra food, if they could help it. Otherwise, the Dorians would have to spend long sleeps hungry, for they weren’t permitted to hunt…which would entail letting them out of their enclosure.

  “…”

  Meanwhile, the leader of the Dorian elves, Lord Ingwer, talked with the elders of Berondin.

  “You mean to say that the one who sat on the throne of the Elf Saint is a human, yet this human is not ‘human’ at all?”

  “That one is an impostor,” Lord Ingwer reiterated. “The Lord Kuro of Arles is a friend to everyone, including us elves; and he gave good counsel to Her Holiness, the Lady Hinwe. That ‘Lord Kuro’ in the Saint’s Tree is another person, originally meant to ‘safeguard’ the saint’s throne, but ended up usurping authority ‘in her name.’”

  “It’s confusing,” one elder remarked, shaking his head. “And what type of magic this ‘Lord Kuro’ used to convince the saint to agree to his pn?”

  “There is no magic, milord,” the Dorian leader replied. “The Lord Kuro only highlighted the merits if everything would go according to his ideas. And I think you and I will agree that the pace officials of Her Holiness have grown corrupt and decadent after she has withdrawn from governing us.”

  “This is why we Berondin elves would prefer living in this accursed pce than submit to her,” another elder commented. “The Lady Hinwe Tal-Inwir may be wise in the old days, but she had lived long enough to be a vilin.”

  The Lord Ingwer, though he was pained to hear such words about Her Holiness, remained silent. He had to admit that their observations had slivers of truth in them, and that he also needed the help of the Berondin elves was another factor he had to consider while negotiating with them.

  “There are several things that I find impusible in the Dorian lord’s story,” the army leader of Berondin noted.

  “Speak your mind, Lady Elsa.”

  “The Lord Ingwer cims that there is someone disguising as a ‘human’ noble ordering the forest elves on the Elf Saint’s throne. As far as I’m concerned, the forest elves are a proud people. They will never let humans—though we may have been allies in the Human-Demon Wars of old—to lead them. Their folly even drove us to these parts, at the fringes of Cherwoods, because we have different beliefs in the authority of the Elf Saint. If the Dorian lord’s story is true, then why didn’t the other elf cities rise up to fight that human? And also, why didn’t the Elf Saint’s Life Guards overthrow him?”

  The elder council members of Berondin rallied over Lady Elsa’s statements and accused Lord Ingwer of fooling them. However, their senior elder rose up and chanted a silencing spell that removed their voices, much to their surprise. When they realized they couldn’t air their arguments, the elders sat down, dejected.

  “My kin,” the senior elder, the Lord Fenorian, gestured for them to keep still. “I recommend we listen first to the answers of the Dorian lord, before we throw accusations. These forest elves treated us with contempt; let us be better by understanding them.” Then, he turned to the Lord Ingwer, and said, “You may expin your side, forest brother.”

  “Thank you for the opportunity, milord,” the Dorian elder bowed, and paused for a moment before continuing. “To answer the Lady Elsa’s questions and dispel any accusations the members of this honorable council have leveled against me, let me tell you that the impostor at the Saint’s Tree is no ordinary human.”

  “You said it earlier, that this ‘human’ is not human at all.”

  “With all due respect Lord Fenorian, I think you misunderstood my meaning of ‘not human.’ As I said to Lady Elsa before, we came from the city of Dorian, which was destroyed following an attack from the Elf Saint’s Life Guards. The soldiers, though they looked like elves outwardly, are not the ‘guards’ we remember them to be. These people are emaciated, their eyes—while open—are bnk…as if they stared at nowhere. Take note that they are killing our people, yet they have no expression at all. No fear. No anger…just bnk, as if they’re devoid of life.”

  By this time, the entire council never moved. Everyone leaned forward as the Dorian lord narrated.

  “And here’s what even more strange. Of course, we have our own army to resist them. But, no matter how we shoot at them, they’d keep advancing, as if the arrows are nothing. Then, it came to the part where we fought them in melee, but these Life Guards never mind our attacks. Cut off their limbs and they’d fight by biting or kicking you.”

  “Are you telling me they turned into undead?”

  “I don’t know milord, but what I can say for sure is that they are not scared. Not one bit. And they can’t be reasoned out either, so we really have to fight with our lives. But that’s not the worst part.”

  “Good heavens,” the Lord Fenorian excimed. “If that’s not the worst part, then what is?”

  “That impostor came amid the chaos and carnage, and stood right in the center. I remember it clearly, when he began chanting some spell…and bck smoke slowly came out from under him. That smoke then shot out from all directions, even as armies and the Life Guards battle it out. Those who were hit by the smoke suddenly got even more emaciated, as if life was sucked out of them. I can still hear the terrible screams of those who were trapped in that smoke; our trees, our families, and even the enemies. It was loud at first, then slowly died down with every moment passing…we don’t know if it’s because we ran as fast as we can, or it’s the dying sound of the victims.”

  The Lord Ingwer paused and collected himself since he was getting emotional recounting his and his people’s experiences. When he settled down, he added, “I don’t know what happened after we ran from Dorian, but I’ve heard the news of other ‘rebellious’ cities getting destroyed by that impostor and his accursed army. This pce can be next…”

  The council hall was so quiet one could hear the pin drop. The members couldn’t believe what they heard, or what to do about it. It was then that the Lord Fenorian broke the silence…

  “Lord Ingwer of Dorian,” he was restless in his chair. “Let’s say we believe your story. Won’t it mean that the human—or monster—that sat on the throne at the Saint’s Tree is a formidable enemy, notwithstanding his army of…undead elves? What can we even do to resist him?”

  “Well, here’s the thing milord,” the Dorian elder replied. “Not all is lost. As I’ve said earlier, that ‘human’ in the Saint’s Tree is just an impostor. And the human whose disguise is being used by that monster is actually the powerful one that even Her Holiness the Elf Saint respects him.”

  “You don’t mean to say…”

  “Yes, Lord Fenorian, the Lord Kuro of Arles—the legendary hero of the human, beastmen and demon realms, is coming to Cherwoods. I’m sure he knows the situation now, and is moving to save us,” the Lord Ingwer then presented a letter to the Berondin council, with the wax seal of the duchy of Maverny on its end.

  “That’s a human noble!” the Lady Elsa cried out. “You’re entrusting yours and our people’s lives to human hands?”

  “Times are desperate, midy. Again, my apologies for the te introduction, lords and dies of this venerable council, but I really led my people here in your city not only to seek help. I am the Lord Ingwer of the city of Dorian, and a representative of Her Holiness’ adviser, the Lord Kuro of Arles, Duke of Maverny. I know it’s strange that we only approached you now, our Berondin brothers and sisters. However, will you set aside our differences and work together, just even for this one moment. A monster will consume these nds, killing everyone—including us and your people. Will you help us, Berondin?”