Romagi Campaign
Feyra PoV
After the city of Sicilia fell to our hands, we set out for Napalia, crossing the Romagi countryside at breakneck speed.
Our tasks were to destroy the three main cities of the Roman Empire; Sicilia the border city, Napalia and its flourishing market, and finally Roma, the capital.
We were the spear tip of the Keovara Empire; fast, deadly, and unstoppable.
The rest of the army would follow behind us, capturing and securing the cities we left behind, before we would claim all the land of the Romagi Empire as our own.
I shook my head at the thought of Princess Lux.
In my previous life she had been the black sheep of the family, creating a large harem of various noble women and commoners alike. She had dozens of children, and after a decade or so she trained all of them into competent Squires and Aura Users. Many thought that the reason she had created her harem was for that purpose; to create her own group of elite soldiers completely loyal to her.
They were right. She led her family into the palace and massacred the other members of the Royal Family, seizing power for herself.
What followed was a century and a half of a very divisive rule.
Many claimed she had turned the Keovara Empire into one of the strongest military forces in the world, raised the standard of living, and created a place for everyone and anyone to thrive.
Others called her a murder, a despot who ruled with an iron fist. She had killed anyone who opposed her, slaughtered innocents in the name of peace, and had no problems sending her children away to marry someone just for power.
She was similar enough in this life, as she had managed to snag a Ducal Heir, a foreign Princess, and a few commoners from around the Empire, but after meeting me after I had left the Academy, she had changed.
She pleaded for me to become hers, and after finally accepting that I wasn't interested, she offered me a promotion from just a normal soldier to a Knight; specifically, a Captain for a squad she would nurture.
It was a lucrative offer, so I accepted.
Princess Lux showed her incredible acumen and nose for talent, as she proceeded to assemble the strongest Knight Squad the Keovara Empire had ever seen.
Each member was an accomplished and talented warrior, and we had singlehandedly decided many fights around the Empire, as well as quelling multiple monster outbreaks, of which a few held Behemoth Class monsters like Dragons, Arachnid Matriarchs, and Lava Giants.
We accomplished feats deemed impossible, and as the Captain of such a squad I was questioned and doubted at every turn.
I had to prove myself to everyone, and I fought dozens of warriors, both from our Empire and from around the world, and each one was easily crushed beneath me.
Now here I was, standing on a cliff as I overlooked the city of Napalia, the citizens unaware that death was here for them.
Turning, I looked over my Knights, all kneeling in a circle, their aura pooling in-between them.
Taking a breath, I stretched out my hand, wrapping their aura with my own, before looking back over the city.
With a shout I sent the large sphere of our combined aura hurtling towards the large palace in the center, watching as it exploded as it collided with the bricks of the palace.
The building crumbled, the bricks turning to dust under the pressure, before the surrounding area was covered in the mist like aura.
People screamed before slipping to the ground, their bodies withering before turning to dust.
Buildings crumbled, people died, and I felt... nothing.
This wasn't my first time causing a massacre, nor would it be the last.
My Knights stood beside me, watching the crumbling of the city with mixed feelings.
Gia clasped her hands together, fervently whispering prayers for the dead.
Leon looked on with a grim gaze, sighing as he watched the citizens scream and run, only to be caught by the deadly aura.
Morian had his lips pursed, his eyes dark before he turned away.
Sif was grinning, her sharp teeth on full display as she laughed.
"Haha~ Damn Romagian's are getting what they deserve!"
The city slowly fell, the aura eventually dispersing.
We could hear the cries and shouts of those still alive, desperately pleading to their gods for an explanation.
"Alright, let's go clean it up."
Grabbing my claymore, I started making my way down towards Napalia, intent on finishing the job before resuming our journey to Roma.
~~~
Myla PoV
I sighed, another long shift over.
Standing in the kitchen with Lea and Tania, I leaned against the table, digging my hands into my shoulders to alleviate the tension.
"Hey Big Sis, you hear about the current campaign going on?"
Looking at the bubbly Lea, I chuckled before shaking my head.
"No, haven't read any papers in a long time now... what's happening?"
Bouncing up and down, Lea started explaining it to me.
"So basically, Princess Lux, gods bless her, declined the proposal from the Emperor of the Romagi. However, he didn't take no for an answer, and tried to kidnap her!"
I covered my mouth, saying "Really? So what'd the Princess do?"
Laughing, Lea punched the air, looking comical as she took a boxer stance.
"Ha~ She sent her Knights to go conquer the Romagi Empire! Apparently Sicilia has already fallen too!"
Sending out another punch, she was about to speak when Tania spoke.
"Yea, I heard about that. Apparently the woman leading the charge is the number one ranked Knight in the Empire... Hell, I heard she's the strongest woman in the world!"
I tilted my head, asking "Who?"
Sending me surprised glances, Tania and Lea looked at one another before saying...
""The Raven Knight, Feyra!""
I widened my eyes, my body shaking.
Seeing my shock, the two girls looked at me with worry, asking if I was alright.
Giving them a fake smile, I just said I was tired, that I needed rest.
Stumbling out of the tavern, I made my way home, my head pounding.
Feyra...
My heart clenched, and as I entered my home I punched the wall, angry.
"DAMNIT!"
I didn't even feel the splinters that were lodged in my hand, as I slammed the wall again.
"WHY IS SHE..!"
Feeling my eyes water, I let out a shout before storming to my room, collapsing to the bed.
My anger left me as I hit the straw mattress, and for the second time in a week I cried, my heart shattered.
"Why..."
Shuddering, I wiped away my tears, only to feel more stream down my cheeks.
"Why did you leave..."
I fell asleep, my dreams haunted by the smiling face of the woman I used to love.