"Mono/Dialogue"

  'Inner thoughts'

  Narration

  [Message/Communication Apparatus]

  Date: December 1078

  Location: Somewhere in Southwestern Kazimierz.

  POV: Narrator

  Kawalerielki was deemed to be the purest form and example of a technologically radical level of change. The historic mobile city had been refurbished from a mostly administration stronghold into a gigantic trade hub on Terra, rivaling other mobile cities that had their early starts on industrialization decades if not centuries ago.

  Inhabitants of this mobile city also show an extremely high level of cultural acceptance, it can be seen through its numerous and varied social strata without noticeable discrimination. This level of tolerance allowed a much more fluid exchange of social mobility as long as they knew how to capitalize on an opportunity.

  Of course, the infected are not included, but compared to Ursus gug, open oppression in Victoria, and the dubious capitalistic venture of Columbia pioneering settlers, they're comparable with the Leithanien infected in terms of treatment. Being grouped up somewhere and generally left alone... which will soon change after a certain event in the future...

  But that's a story for another time.

  Now let us focus on the primary subject of interest.

  The situation around Kawalerielki has become even more peaceful than ever due to the diligent efforts of a certain Pythian dy. Her reputation had more or less normalized with the 3 factions of Kazimierz. She of course has more under-the-table dealings with Adeptus, how very surprising that even they know how to py dirty… anyway.

  The most prominent ties were with the Nearl family specifically. No matter how hard she had tried to keep it hidden, the truth finally surfaced. It is puzzling who actually won out on their retionship, Nearl giving her a shield or her giving Nearl a deadly venom-coated sword.

  Nyx had even grown closer to the Nearls family as a whole, especially with M?ynar and Margaret, both have their respective reasoning and cause. Of course, it armed the K.G.C.C. but several chairmen dismissed it since they have, self-procimed, a rather close retionship with Nyx who just nods and does her work as ordered without too much of a fuss.

  M?ynar is pleasantly surprised to have someone almost his equal in pure swordsmanship, Nyx is learning from him in the matter of stance, derivation, and incorporating swordsmanship into her usual dagger-style combat while in exchange giving him help during his usual excursion as the Tenebrous Hero with his merry band of adventuring folks.

  Margaret meanwhile, had come to adore Nyx due to her knowledge and a lot of otherworldly stories she never heard before. Then there is the matter of how caring Nyx has become of her, to the point of Margaret, reflexively, calling her Aunty. Margaret was about to apologize for that, only to be hugged warmly. She doesn't understand why her new aunty looks conflicted when Margaret aspires to be a Knight, but Nyx ultimately supports her.

  During that time, Nyx had also learned about a branch family member who doubled as a dy-in-waiting named Zofia, who seemed to be only 2 years older than Margaret. She also had noticed to be very observant and showing talent in commanding and decision making.

  Ionta had informed her that she was expecting a second child. If the child turns out to be a boy, she would name him Zawisza. If the child turns out to be a girl, she would name her Maria. If twin? Well, Schnitz and Ionta had yet to reach a common consensus…

  She has been utilized nicely by the K.G.C.C. with a mutual level of understanding most of the time. K.G.C.C needed her to help the local catastrophe messenger in charting a path and also use her as a medium of promotion, much to her annoyance.

  The K.G.C.C. had paid her with higher rates compared to other contractors. There are, of course as predicted to be, those who envy her for a higher commission rate. To the point of sndering that she used her pretty face to entice a better reward or outright sexual transaction.

  Such snder had once become a very hot topic for local media to use for gossip and entertainment. Her presence in the city had turned her into a pseudo-celebrity and even spawned a hardcore fan base. The person in question was once asked by a reporter about this snder and the only thing they got was a bnk face of utter indifference or just a cold stare.

  These snders came from new mercenaries or people who barely knew her, those who did just stay silent. The st thing they want is offending her, she is not invincible but the amount of potential damage that would be accrued is enough to deter unnecessary hostilities. Between having a cooperative retionship and spending resources on a conflict that might not only fail but also weaken them, it is pin which is the superior choice.

  Another one is that Nyx had been hounded by entertainment companies simply by the fact of how nicely fit she was. Several paparazzi had snuck in shots about her doing a lot of mundane things within the city, including that one time she tried entering a gentleman club and then leaving slightly mortified...

  There was a lot of... um... explicit content using her image, but no one believed it to be real. A lot of snders and entertainment materials centered on Nyx have become more or less a public consumption now. The person in question opted to stay mum unless she wanted to add fuel to the wild fme that is the process of burning down the whole forest. Suppression only made something even more desirable, so she only reacted when the snder was particurly insolent.

  The amount of materials with her face on it starts making her contempte leaving the country and come back after a few years. Deep inside the crevices of her ego, however, she enjoyed the amount of attention that had been garnered during her, retively short, time being there.

  The next faction she is aligned with is none other than the Knights Association. They had been contracting her to help with security and even combat seminars for several knight aspirants and acolytes. Her combat seminar was centered on the fluidity of motions and dispersion of incoming force, something the aspirants and acolytes take note of very seriously.

  Knights Association also held mini-tourney every now and then to promote the national interest. Including an event where knights have a chance to spar with Nyx directly, her prowess was real, and getting knocked out by her had become a sort of medal.

  Other contracts for this Pythian dy had also touched upon a subject of rebellious knight clubs who had been causing trouble. Nyx took this job to further enhance and train her self-restraint. She is better nowadays compared to when she started. Back then Nyx applied too much force to the point of knocking the rebellious or problematic clubs into months of coma.

  The st faction she has ties with is of course the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi Kazimierz. Nyx combat prowess was seen as a refreshing mix of traditional style with a twist of modernity, something the Adeptus valued and even learned from. The contracts offered usually centered on training, combat expedition, and plenty of extermination jobs due to the Adeptus being spread thin managing the national stability outside of mobile cities.

  The Adeptus had also conferred an honorary title of Baroness with the 4th tier of honorary knighthood on her to signify she is a part of Kazimierz Nobility to an extent. Her title also comes with a yearly stipend of 50.000 Heller as long as the title persists. It is now warranted to call her Lady in public, much to her exasperation.

  Nyx had once tried to decline but backed down after hearing that an honorary title doesn't include nd ownership and acted more like a certificate. Her utmost relief was immense of being freed from the ruling, nd ownership, social gathering, and most importantly, paperwork.

  Nyx also acted impeccably during a certain knight ball or nobility gathering. She exuded a noble atmosphere and fitted right in without too much problem. The Adeptus doesn't know that her old life memories had already experienced dealing with nobles before, thus giving her ample reference on how to behave and interact with high society. Admittedly, Kazimierz's nobility has a touch of modernity thus making it easier for her to adapt.

  Regarding contracts that Adeptus had offered her, she had finished numerous extermination contracts, combat and strategic seminars for Campaign Knights trainees and squires, and the occasional border patrol. Since she is technically a noble, her accommodation included a private quarter and rights to lead a unit of campaign knights when she agreed to be enlisted as a mercenary during wartime.

  Her status as a mercenary but being able to lead a knight made her feel weird...

  Thus, these factions are vying for her services and assistance, while the person in question had delicately navigated away from being pulled into any faction too much. Her status as a mercenary provided ample opportunity for her to choose her own moves, something several control freaks found undesirable but knew better than to challenge since one side pulling also meant a pushing had also happened.

  Now let us move to the present.

  Nyx is in the middle of a contract with a group of Campaign Knights. The commander had stepped down from command out of sheer respect and believed that Nyx would be better to lead the operation this time around, also because said commander was a Silvernce she and Kiril had once saved.

  Her unit is composed of 4 Knights and 8 Squires, a slightly higher number than usual for subjugation by Silvernce force. The mission pertained to the elimination of several tamed beasts and foreign deserters that had gone too deep within Kazimierz.

  Normally the Silvernce Knight Captain would lead the operation, but instead, the Silvernce are developing a new method of a much smaller and mobile force to avoid being encircled like what happened in 1072. This new unit is comparable to a little bit over a squad of infantry from the 21st century, and they're undergoing a viability test with the deserters as their target.

  Now let us view the combat situation on the ground...

  POV: Nyx

  'They're quite prudent to not just hide in a cave but also create makeshift dugout for soldiers and ying mines and traps around.' I complimented them this time around. Usually, outws would just create some really primitive warning systems and traps then huddled in a tight space.

  This time around, we're not hunting outws but deserters from Ursus 6th armies that have been pushed out of their country from losing the civil war. From what I heard, the country is kinda screwed with uprisings, dissatisfaction, noble politics, and all sort of socio-economic problems… makes me wonder how they can even function as a nation…

  These deserters aren't the stubborn ones, these are the pragmatic opportunists and cowardly defeatists from the knights' point of view. I, however, respect them for it. You're never truly defeated as long as you're alive, only the reckless and foolhardy believed otherwise.

  Of course, I may respected their choice, but I never said anything about letting them go away just like that when contracts are demanding their annihition. Especially when said deserters include war-mongering criminals and lunatics, so more moral superiority to stroke my ego there.

  ‘Oh well, I'll use that as personal justification.’ One serious problem, however...

  We're still unable to find out how they could even penetrate this deep within Kazimierz territory, which reminds us all about their sudden invasion of Lungmen. They're remnants from the old Ursus Empire 6th army that was destroyed during an event they called The Great Rebellion.

  The 6th army, according to the official statement from their current and legitimate government, was made up of traitors and turncoats against the rightful ruler of Ursus. The newly ascended Tzar to the throne of Ursus was Tzar Fyodor Vdimirovich, with the backing of the 4th and 5th Ursus Empire’s armies.

  The new emperor was not a warmonger but instead a reformist. His speech included normalization of retions and also inward development. He did try to normalize retions, pushing for civilian life improvements and so on... was what the rumor said.

  Well, that is nice but the news of oppression against infected in their country is still as prevalent as ever, thus I take his words with grains of salt. It might be his faults, his supporters' faults, or even his subjects' faults. Honestly, things are hazy within the faraway political realm.

  On a much more positive, for Kazimierz that is, note. The 1072's War had been pushing for military reorganization and restructuring to a quasi-modern level of division. The Campaign Knights will start gathering more of their squires and servants to act as support elements under a designated unified command of regional or sector commanders.

  Getting closer to the Adeptus also allowed me to further understand their hierarchy. There are predominantly 8 Tiers of knighthood with varying levels of authority and autonomy. These tiers were established to ensure the chain of command and risk management ran smoothly. I did overhear a rumor of rank compression, but I have little interest at the moment. Where was I? oh yes, the tier ranking structure.

  Tier 6 – 8 are considered to be the newer and fresh from attaining knighthood Campaign Knights, comparable to private and at most lieutenant. They are usually moving in groups of 4, with a tier 6 knight leading them. This tier is the most numerous and considered to be the lowest in terms of authority and responsibility.

  Tier 4 – 5 are considered to be comparable to at least captain or major, an astounding jump in responsibility and authority. Tier 5 might act as coordinator of 3 -4 teams made up of tiers 6 - 8. Tier 4 is considered to be the middle management and might act independently according to Adeptus and or higher tier knights' directives.

  Tier 2 – 3 are considered to be comparable with the colonel to the very least. Tier 3 knights might oversee a sector of the battlefield as well as having a say on the grand strategic council. Tier 2 knights have the authority to command an entire sector, region, and or several knight expeditionary forces and have the right to propose a strategy in the grand strategic council.

  Tier 1 is considered to be the best of the best. Tier 1 is made up of primarily Knight Primuses and comparable to general. They have the authority to override and or dictate military operations as well as the rights of being elected as Grand Knight. To reach this tier, a knight must be both resourceful and formidable.

  Another valuable lesson the war had for The Adeptus, was that of utilizing independent scouting assets to its utmost limit, drones are one of them. Then there are downsizing and prototype creation of a smaller, yet still concentrated, force to better help the mobility and initiative during the prolonged war.

  Such as after seeing the effectiveness of drones on a battalion level during the st war, The Grand Knight, Kazimierz's official rank for Field Marshall and Defense Minister, started incorporating them into actual and more widespread military use.

  The result was visible with the Campaign Knights now being able to cover more ground and immediately react when hostiles are detected. This also opened up the potential for hiring more squires and servants to bolster the army composition with the Campaign Knights as the primary combat force.

  The usual composition of ordinary Campaign Knights ptoons is 36 Knights with extra complements to make a company worth a modern military unit. This is standardized and has been enforced for decades, but Kiril said that it will change soon enough.

  This time, Silvernce volunteered to test a new prototype guerril unit that is under development. The limited numbers of Silvernce and their combat prowess will become the first test bed of this experiment. Their roles were meant to cover for the squires who would do most of the work periodically.

  A safety net that would be pushed periodically toward the limit to ensure that no manpower was wasted during a military operation and no more bureaucratic mess that caused them to almost get completely annexed when Ursus came in the 1060s.

  Kazimierz still believed in quality more than quantity as a whole. I won't comment on that notion. Take the Silvernce for example who rarely goes above 1000 in total numbers from their historical record. But they don't need numbers, their quality is above what numbers can offer.

  Another interesting fact is that they, the Silvernce, are all made up of Pegasus, an Elder race of this world called Terra. They have always, according to official records, been the guardian of Kazimierz.

  From what they told me, Pegasus is something like a special race under the Umbrel of Kurantas as a whole. The Nightzmoran Khaganate world domination, something that mirrored the Mongols from my past lives, had allegedly sped up the decline of Elders.

  Such as the Hippogryph Empire which is now called the Ursus Empire... guess that's why their fg wasn't a bear or something, which is curious because the newly made regime made new fgs and symbols often... or this one is actually new? Meh, who cares...

  'Well, enough thinking about them. Focus on the task at hand.'

  Turning my attention back to the operation, I can see several team movements through the Adeptus drone. The squads are now creeping in slowly, 1 Silvernce and 2 squires per team seems terribly small against hundreds of deserters. That is a correctly wrong assumption for Terran anachronistic warfare...

  My earpiece comes alive with an update from one of the 4 team leaders.

  [This is Shield 1 to Grey, hostiles spotted.] Sounds were heard from my earpiece.

  "Shield 1 proceed as pnned and lure them out of their hole." My reply came immediately while observing through drone.

  [Wilco, Shield 1 is ready for the first phase of engagement.]

  "Shield 2, are you in position?"

  [Shield 2 here, we had reached the projected hostile exit point. The bridge seems worn out.]

  "Maintain overwatch, use the explosives when necessary."

  [Understood Lady Baroness.]

  "Hah... just call me Grey or Nyx... Sword 1 and 2, status?"

  [Sword 1 is ready for a fnking maneuver.]

  [Sword 2 is also ready for fnking maneuver.]

  "Alright. All units, Fall Grün will now commence. I repeat Fall Grün will now commence."

  With that, the operation commenced.

  POV: Narrator

  This is just a normal morning as any other day since their banishment from the country as losers of power struggles. The remnants from the old 6th army had been disgraced on top of having a bounty on their heads. Such is the fate of losing against both the Kazimierzian Offensive and the political struggle back home, the bounties are merely a spit on their faces by comparison.

  They had been pushed, most likely in deliberate manners by the royalist 4th and 5th army, towards Kazimierz to let them do the dirty work. They had been marched into the proverbial gallows by their former compatriots.

  This suspicion had been turned into certainty the moment their fatigued rest was interrupted when their network of early warning systems was alerted. The deserters still managed to move with precise and well-trained reflexes, courtesy of their training.

  But with battered and tired bodies, they don't know how long they will st.

  "Check the perimeters!"

  "You! Get the supplies secured!"

  "I need someone to help me with these explosives!"

  "Damn! What were the guards doing!?"

  Even with their relentless cursing, they still moved efficiently with practiced motion. Then it happened in a fsh.

  "Wher- AGH!"

  One of them was felled with a single arrow through their skull. With a thud, they fall and die. Before the deserters could exactly react a Silvernce came battering forward with shield raised and with a strong swing bashed several soldiers away, killing them instantly.

  The knight armor is no longer silver but painted with mottled green and suitable colors for woodnd areas with metallic parts being dampened by fabrics to lessen noise. Warfare grew sophisticated, and so too the knights if they wished to stay relevant with the necessary advantage. Is it dishonorable? Maybe. Will it help in preventing further atrocities like Ursus' army did? Absolutely.

  Nyx's expertise is guerril warfare, thus the Adeptus are contracting her to help develop guerril units capable of being self–autonomous when cut off behind enemy lines and then to rejoin the ever-developing frontline.

  The 10th Kazimierz – Ursus war was a painful reminder for them, that they'll never again be left ignorant of the advancement of military tactics and strategy. Who knows that being merely more intimate with the knowledge of when to attack and retreat can make a difference in the future?

  The Pythian dy has no qualms about teaching them, if anything it helps her gain favor and wealth for something the Adeptus will learn by themselves eventually. She gained something, they gained something. A healthy partnership was based on understanding.

  The deserters are shocked but quickly move to surround the lonely knight. Then several arrowheads come picking them off from their exposed side. The fnking squires had climbed the nearby trees and hid themselves while peppering the distracted deserters.

  They are wearing what Nyx called a ‘ghillie suit’ to help blend in with vegetation while masking their odor with earthly and woodnd fragrance. The squires stay calm when the 6th Army deserter caster and ranger units begin to retaliate.

  Some of the deserters come rushing at the knight immediately, only for the knight to quickly fall back and disappear into the woods, their armor is much quieter than usual thus helping them from getting caught. Coupled with kuranta superior racial agility, they have themselves a disturbingly agile adversary.

  Accurate arrow strikes keep on coming with the deserters firing blindly into the woods with minimal or little to no result. The knight had finally returned but only using their arts and striking a single pin-point thrust before retreating back.

  Morale starts to drop sharply due to the Kazimierzian unusual tactics. They had created a number of contingencies specifically to combat the knights. This one however is outside their expectation. They had always thought that the Adeptus wouldn't change their approach that quickly.

  While 6th army deserters are still disoriented, screams are heard from the fnks. 2 knights from the fnks around them had conducted a hit-and-run while blending in with the vegetation. The situation had turned utterly hopeless, but they couldn't be returned home anymore.

  With every ounce of their willpower, the deserters start to consolidate in the middle while the heavy shielders form a box formation. The knights keep on attacking with arrow volley support.

  But then all turned quiet, the knights retreated and the arrows stopped.

  There are still 140 out of 228 soldiers alive. Hope bloomed that the knights were finally retreating. Several former officers exchange gnces but the action is enough to convey their intention, they will direct this group to leave Kazimierz and into Victorian soil.

  But all hopes had been dashed and shattered by her arrival...

  "Wonderful, you're neither completely annihited immediately nor ran for your life the moment the situation turned for the worst."

  A dry cpping sound with fake enthusiasm heralded her arrival... the Grey Serpent. The veterans that had escaped from the Massacre of 1072 started shaking uncontrolbly, breathing hard, and with despairing expression.

  The people who weren't there noticed their comrades' distraught expressions. A terrible chilling pressure struck them to the core within the deepest crevices of their soul.

  They now id their eyes forward, a demon in Pythian skin stood with a dagger in hand. Her expression already morphing into a sneer of sadistic euphoria.

  "I must give you all credit for keeping up the cohesion." Her dagger glinted despite the darkness of the forest, it reflected their expression: fear, sadness, helpless rage, morbid acceptance, and they could see some of their own giggling madly in despair.

  "Usually, people start running around like headless chickens when being under extreme pressure, you guys don't."

  "For that, I congratute you."

  She performed a noble curtsy and bowed her head. Then she spoke succinctly, gently... and coldly...

  "Good night."

  POV: Squire Estevan

  'What the hell is she?' That's the only thing I can voice out within my mind. I thought that her reputation should be a good enough indication of what she's capable of. Seeing the real thing just shattered that perceived awe to be an understated one...

  I shivered to see her rip someone' head off, spine and all, then threw it away. Her expression was obscured but I briefly saw a delightful yet mocking sneer gracing her emotionless face, the only face I know of...

  I thought she would be the usual snobbish, dismissive, or even cruel mercenary, her cold and uncaring expression looks very unwelcoming. Her voice was also void of emotion, she spoke bluntly without mincing words.

  Some of the squires started to get disgruntled, we thought the knights were going to be the same. They instead spoke normally, like close friends, with her even when the reception was utterly cold. We had already given up on having a rather pleasant mission.

  Those were turned upside down when we were making up tents, she was cooking for us. Her cooking was simple yet delicious, her cold nature doesn't transte into her extremely high-quality meals... Not to mention that when one of the squires was bitten by a dire alpha fangbeast, she quickly applied medical aid without being prompted to while mbasting that squire for carelessness...

  Was she what the Higashian or Yannese called tsundere I wonder?

  I'm quite conflicted with this...

  "Shocked?" I jumped when a knight asked me, the knight was supposed to be the commander for this test run, so to speak. The knight however stepped down the moment Baroness was added to this experimental unit.

  "I... um..." I don't know what to say, Silvernce held her in high regard from rumors of them sparing with her resulting in a mixed set of victory and defeat. It is affirmed by how she interacts with them and how attentive they are when she speaks.

  "Just speak freely d, she won't mind. She only hated people who deceived her or intentionally tried to get her furious. She hates people who use children as meatshield, going as far as… well… you know how the rumors go from here on, right?"

  "Well... I heard rumors about Baroness... I just didn't know how real it was."

  "Hahahaha, indeed. Lady Baroness is truly something else. She had cleared several dire fangbeasts ir near Prerie Upad?ych. How long does it take? A week. You would be shocked seeing a mountain made of carcasses there."

  "..."

  "Listen, d, she is not going to do anything that won't pay. Not every kind of pay 'course, she still has limits. But make no mistakes, loopholes exist and she knows how to use it to hurt someone."

  Now we all watched the carnage happening not too far from us. Some of the deserters start running away, well they're dead if they go across the river using the bridge there... Shield 2 will send them into oblivion...

  Not long after the subjugation was finished with admirable results. Of course, further tests would be necessary from what the higher-ranking knights told me. Even I know developing new tactics and units takes time and a lot of field experience.

  Lady Nyx had returned to us... with nary a blood on her grey clothes. To say I'm bewildered was an understatement. She is something els-

  "If you're wondering why my clothes weren't drenched in blood, it is a hassle to always be questioned by Kawalerielki checkpoint."

  ... welp, I need a drink...

  [END OF CHAPTER]

  Author Note:

  Hello this is me, myself, and I, the author who would be swamped by graduation thesis soon enough.

  Update will come sporadically from this point on, my time would most likely be divided between this and my damn graduation certificate.

  Update as usual... Hopefully, I'm still alive...

  Ciao.