Inheriting the art of war

Silver swept left and right, marking the beginning of the war at his border together with his swaying sword in his hand.

It didn't take long before the first droplets of blood got spilled as the battlefield roared to life.

"CHARGEE!"

His voice rang loudly over the field, it was sure to be hoarse by morning, soldiers joined in with raised swords.

His own figure signaling the start of what could be either a long day or an even longer day.

It didn't take long before swords clanging against each other overtook the battlefield and yet all he heard was himself.

Blood drummed in his veins and heart beating loudly in his ears as he hit another soldier of Asani with his hilt.

Causing the other to go down immediately, he stayed for a second. Contemplating his situation, whether or not he was doing right by trying to only hit them hard enough to become unconscious.

If reversed he would be dead by now but that wasn't the case as he wasn't in a position of making any mistakes or impulses. Definitely not when he was so, so very close to his goal.

Following his system's warning closely he leaned left and with a lift of his arm hit the other with the side of his sword. Only hearing him go down as another already charged right at him.

Right now he had about a 1000 soldiers following closely, the other with Sophie.

More than half properly raised in the way of war, the other some unlocky fools on their way to death. It would seem that their number was an advantage yet Asani had masterfully made use of both his connection to the magic kingdom and the sword one.

His army was smaller yet ,even though divided in skill, the two sides from the two kingdoms fought together in a harmonious way.

It was clear their grouping had been thought of!

Those skilled in bow and arrows were farther off and merely protected by two mages, who kept up a schield. All arrows could pass but none could get in, very remarkable and also very intense.

Most consume quite some energy, which is why they continuously shot at any clear mark they could find. It seems Asani wasn't taking quite a big risk like him by leaving his enemies alive.

Smart boy.

Same could be said about every other position, some quick runners, some strong protectors and so on.

It was clear the main goal was to get closer, as soon as they got closer the mages could use their magic faster and more efficiently. He didn't know how many exactly but it seemed there were about a hundred or so mages.

More than he thought. Wasn't it only a trait of the royal family?

Having wasted more time than he could he quickly went back to at least pretend to slay, one here and on there

Still it was dangerous, he had to keep tight control of his skills.

His body had trained for decades, their reflexes were in his blood.

The skill passed on from father to daughter and mother to son.

Point is it was hard to ignore, besides the dozens of swords and other deadly weapons swinging at him that is. Most definitely with the intention of killing, he wasn't really keen on finding out.

While taking note of things, he kept running, careful of the quickly piling up bodies and the blood that spilled from them. Blood that had splattered all over his robes and that had started to drench the once green field.

Which made it a lot more slippery, definitely after having rained.

Poor choice of timing was evident as dark clouds started to appear in the once clear sky, warning them of the storm ahead.

No one gave mind as each and every single one of us did their best to stay alive, evading one sword after the other. One spear after the other and one arrow after the other.

On both sides soldiers were dropping like flies, Acacius could see the faces of men and women laying around them, dead on the hard, cold floor.

Last thing that had most likely crossed their minds as they passed on was the cold corroding their once warm and hopeful self.

He had seen, and while he didn't want to admit he had been one as well, people comfort their youngest recruits by smiling encouragingly. Some smiled back nervously, others had broken down barely refraining from calling their mother or father.

It had been a serious side to a dimension of war he never knew and while he tried to ease their worries it hadn't been as helpful as he hoped.

Acacius had tried, not an ounce of him acting, to beg Sophie to let them free.

She had followed up with the beginning of her favorite spell, the creaking of bones the only thing he needed to hear as he slumped down in defeat.

Her eyes distant as she looked at him, it was confusing how the spell worked but one thing was sure Sophie was losing any and all humanity she once had.

His resolvence had been made, he should never ever use it on another human being again!

It was why he was struggling throughout the fights, he got what he wanted but all those younglings had to pay.

It didn't help that magic was flying around him, a fact he had never been more jealous of then right now, when he was a literal mess.

At Least he could applaud himself for having good timing for his half breakdown.

It was getting even more intense, avoiding numerous weapons was one thing but magic was another.

All over and all kinds of spells, spells turning his soldiers to ice. Other spells burned them to crisps or ashes in mere seconds. If he wasn't so afraid of the same fates he would ask them for tips.

Very advanced and dangerous, it would make sense to take them out first but no one could come close. They were very well protected, as soon as one was in danger they would get surrounded by a spear wielder, some sword wielders, shield wielders and arrows.

It became more clear that his nephew was a tactical genius, he had thought it all through. The space between each and every one of them and how far they could split from their assigned person.

Spoiler; it wasn't very far.

The formation itself would be catastrophic if it were only weapon wielding soldiers. The mages pretty much made up the flaws of the formation.

Neither he or the other generals and so on could spot an effective opening, they tried sure(them more than Acacius) but alas it wasn't meant to be.

Unfortunately what was meant to be was the confrontation between him and Asani, beside his mind being perfectly trained his body was too. Effortlessly twisting and turning while perfectly taking out everyone in his path.

He hadn't, didn't want to think about it but it looked like he was suspiciously coming closer, distance closing too fast between them.

In the split second he stared, Asani returned it.

Spooked, he cut the gaze short, turning and leaving in the opposite direction.

Slashing everyone who came upon his path and sometimes even going out of his way to save some of his own soldiers. As he had come quite far to Asani's side, upon running he had crafted a way back to the middle of the battlefield.

A place where some of the strongest mages were present, he could feel their magic brimming, the very essence of them coming alive as they used every bit of their power as efficiently as possible.

Before doing anything to them, he stopped, rapidly blocking a strike that would have taken his soldier's life.

He was surprised at being saved by him, should he feel offended?

Knocking the other out for a few hours, he ignored the stammered thank you.

Brushing his long hair out of the way as it became freed from it's ponytail.

What was worse was his nephew was still following him, he couldn't even plan his next step in peace!

If it wasn't June then it was Sophie and if it wasn't her it was Asani.

He was ruthlessly killing all who crossed their paths, their voices being heard for the last time as they wailed in pain until death took their voices away.