Melka Luns (Princess of the Kingdom of Wintkin) (Animalistic Humanoid)

  6/11/2031,

  (Eastern Territory, Kingdom of Wintkin)

  (Military encampment)

  “Set up scouts from here to here.” She pointed to the map that showed the entire province in the region. “I want this village surrounded.” Melka had the army set up camp in the ruins of the trade city Athmell an hour from the fishing village Chesk. Something did feel off about all this. Not a single one of these Forest spirits the messenger described. The crisp, cold air of the distant ocean surrounded the area, causing the lofty scent of old ash and blood to blow inland. She had yet to see what this small village looked like, but she could taste it in the air; the scent of death was apparent even if she was far away. Just what had they done to the Fishing Village.

  “Yes, your highness.” the officer said before scurrying off to relay her orders. From one of the shadows of the old stone walls, a hooded figure clothed in black from head to toe approached her before kneeling down in front of her. his clothing a stark contrast to the Blue gold-lined attire she wore, a symbol of her Royal status and the future of the kingdom she carried on her back. A uniform of war. The chest plate made that apparent.

  “Shadow report.” she said to the black clothed figure. Assassins, an order meant to dispatch or capture enemies of the kingdom. They lurk like predators in the night. Infiltrating enemy strongholds, moving with seamless grace as they remained unseen. true hunters in her eyes; luckily she had a few under her command and had sent them out a day before to gather what information they could. And now…they have returned.

  “Your Highness, we have made contract and have discovered an unknown force within the village. they have taken over the Chesk village. They are highly trained to the point we had trouble moving around without being spotted, your highness.”

  “So some highly skilled forces, is there any connection to the Selvis?”

  “No your highness, they’re behavior and gear suggest no connection.”

  “That's good at least. what else.”

  “We found one ship of the coast, hard to tell its size due to the darkness but it is large and had peculiar lights with some small black colored boats at the harbor.”The shadow stated, one ship brought them here huh, Well that's good at least, it will be easier to take care of then a fleet. The peculiar lights were something to question about, but for another time. Maybe she could capture it with some wyvern’s

  “Is there anything else shadow?”

  “Yes Your Highness, we have lost a shadow, his whereabouts are unknown, and most importantly, we had captured one.” The shadows nabbed one, this is the perfect chance to get some information. But they lost one, that almost never happens. They're expensive to train so losing one will be a loss that will take awhile to recover from.

  “What happened to this shadow?”

  “Unknown your highness, he was scouting unknown sounds to the southwest of the village. We couldn't investigate due to the daylight.” understandable, hard to dash around when you are wearing all black in the middle of the day, one downside to their abilities.

  “Alright, once we mop this up, we will start a search party for him.” A great leader is one that looks for the needs of her men, or at least that's what her mother had instilled in her since she was young. Now the faster she gets that prisoner to talk the faster she could stop this incursion into their territory.

  “Bring this Prisoner here to my tent.” Her voice was cold and demanding, making the shadow vanish, Later, as she shifted through reports, 2 shadows appeared, much less stealthy this time, as they carried the Prisoner to her tent. At least they were correct in one thing…it did look like a forest spirit, though just a little. There were no leaves or branches on the body, but the color scheme did match the description. At this moment, her second-in-command joined the tent as well, looking not too pleased.

  “Why must we sit here when we could just go in and Liberate the village?” The commander of the 8th Royal Guard, Icar Nerl stated.

  “Because we don't know who we are fighting, it's better to have caution right now.”

  “Easy for you to say, the longer we wait the more those people in that village suffer under tyrannical rule, We must push them out before any more reinforcements arrive for them especially due to signs of a Selvis raiding party nearby.” Melka gave an exaggerated sigh as he said this, the man objected to her in every turn; this was just icing on the cake. The prisoner just looked at the two as they bickered. his expression unreadable due to the mask it hid behind.

  “We will talk about this later as you can see i'm in the middle of something.”

  “You should just kill the thing and be over with it.” with those parting words he left, and the atmosphere of hatred surrounding the man seemed to leave with him. She turned her attention back to the prisoner. its equipment was stripped, its tools and armor were in the hands of the other shadow. Though a mask and a vest were still on it. The mask was as black as a Wyvern scale, its faceless facade intimidating in a way she could not describe. The vest on the other hand, was a dark tan color, made out of some sort of material, and had a seal on it. A closer look showed that it was a Translation seal. At least he knows what she is saying. What was really interesting was the fact it looked like them. Well to a degree, round ears on the side but no Horns. no extra Beast-like ears on the top of its head, no tail of any kind, no scales across the skin she could see. Its skin tone looked like theirs.

  “Who are you? what is your purpose?” she said, venom in her tone. She tried to sound intimidating, but it did not show on the creature.

  “I am Lucas Parker, Staff Sergeant of the United States Marine Corps, Number M-2964480551.”

  “And What is your purpose?” she said. This was going easier then she had thought, maybe she could have this done within the hour.

  “I am Lucas Parker, Staff Sergeant of the United States Marine Corps, Number M-2964480551.” she spoke too soon. She almost face palmed herself as he kept repeating himself over and over again, definitely A way to block her out.

  “Stop that.” She said loudly, but it seemed to not listen to her. it kept talking in a loop like a lunatic. She ripped off its mask to see…It was a male. There was nothing odd about that, but you don't see many this handsome. His face look exactly like most of the kingdom too. Yet it was so foreign, it was kind of unnerving, as if she was gazing into an alternate reality.

  “Get me a Seeker. If he won't talk we will make him talk.” She said turning to one of the guards in the tent. The guard nodded and ran out of the tent. Turning back, the man kept saying the same sentence over again. Was it some sort of way to reject the interrogation? If so, it wouldn't last long.

  “Why the Mask?” he did not respond; rather he just kept repeating himself once more. He only stopped as Melkas fist struck his head causing him to fall over on his side, his bound wrists behind his back making it difficult for him to get back up. This was getting infuriating. Just who are these people?

  “Get him up, at her words At that thought, the guard arrived with the Seeker in tow.

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  “Your highness, you called for me.” The seeker said, respectively getting on one knee.

  “I need you to work your arcane on this man and make him respond to my questions.” she stated bluntly, truly getting fed up with all the work to get this man to say more than his name and rank.

  “As you wish, your highness.” The seeker got up and approached the Man After a bit of studying, He began to use his arcane abilities to transcribe word of the gods onto the man's skin, causing him to try and break free as he grunted in pain. The burning sensation must be painful. After A bit the Seeker was done, and the glowing words started to fade into the man’s skin. Soon, it was over.

  “For the next half hour, the man will respond to any question you may ask; however, they may be the twist of the truth. It will cause terrible burns if he were to lie or not give you a proper reply.” The seeker said, showing himself out, joining up with the rest of the army as they moved about in the encampment, preparing for the next step in dealing with this new threat. Little did they know about the RQ-21 that flew high above, watching their every move. Well, hopefully, this will at least make him give her something.

  “What's your goal?”

  “Wouldn't you like to know?” The man's sarcastic response only caused the spell to activate, unbearable burns to appear on parts of his body, only to disappear after a couple seconds. She snapped her fingers, causing one of the shadows to pull out a blade and press it against his neck, drawing a little blood. All to add more..persuasion to the interrogation, if the spell wasn't enough. “Why…why should I talk to those who kidnapped my friends, kidnapped Bradford?”

  “...what? what are you talking about?” The man looked up at her in confusion as she said that.

  “You mean you aren't the ones who have taken some marine buddies of mine.”

  “No...we just got here, You are the first one we have captured.”

  “...oh.”

  “Now answer me or I promise you, you will suffer a painful death.” he seemed to hesitate as she stated that. The serious tone of the conversation came back in full force.

  “I am a Marine from the United States of America, a nation on the North American continent.”

  “Good. now tell me, what is a Marine?”

  “Soldiers for the United States military,” he stated. This was good; he understood his position now. Fear can really get in a person's way at times. Why are soldiers in her territory?

  “Why are you in my kingdom?”

  “You wouldn't believe me even if I told you.” He grunted out, the shadows blade pressed harder against his neck. Before he could give a reply a guard came into the room, his pace hurried as he quickly bowed down to her. “Your highness I bring news.”

  “What's so urgent?”

  “Message from the scouts: large unknown flying Beasts coming from the direction of the Chesk Village, heading directly towards us at quick speed.” The message was quick and to the point, showing just how urgent this situation was. Spurring her to action as well as everybody else as the message was automatically spread amongst the Army. Just shows how experienced the 8th Royal guard was to the point that they don't need orders to understand what to do next.

  “Set up defenses, battle mages, bowmen, and any other soldiers that can deal with aerial threats are needed.” The marine suddenly pauses before something changes in his posture. “how about this, you let me go, and maybe I could tell my people not to blow this place apart.” He seemed to be a completely different person now, his eyes now locked on hers, A dangerous look in them. If he said that, then he knew what was approaching, and that meant they were on his side.

  “Your one ship's worth of men you could go up against my army of 16 thousand.” She cut herself off as a fast, repetitive thudding noise filled the tent, her ears standing tall on end, including her tail as she felt something monstrous approaching at great speed. Even if it was a mile away her ears could still pick it up, and her guards can too. They rushed about, preparing defenses from something unseen, something that could pose a threat to every person in the army.

  Well maybe she could use him as a shield if he is so confident of his rescue, she must use every tool available to achieve victory, or so her books back at the capital say, though with how this war is going, they really are not helping. “Bring him outside, next to me.” leaving the tent she saw as two wyvern riders that were not on patrol began to lift off into the sky. Their low altitude allows for the possibility of an ambush on anything approaching recklessly.

  “If you plan on publicly executing me in front of them, I can assure you, you will all die.”

  “I can assure you that you still have some use, so you won't die…yet.”

  “Ha, alright, I just hope you didn't kill anyone yet, If you did, then expect no negotiating.” he stated, his posture is that of someone who has lost his fear in the moment.

  The thudding of something cutting the air came closer and closer. everyone was on edge, including herself, those who could not fight were sent to the rear, she pushed Lucas onto his knees, her own sword drawn and at his neck. A display to whatever is approaching that they will have to meet her demands.

  What approached was something out of myth. Two grey-colored beasts revealed themselves from behind one of the many mountains. Their bodies did not move about but were stiff as steel. Their metal gray bodies held many shapes and symbols that could hold a plethora of stories behind them. It reminded her more of a ship than a creature. It had short wings on its side, but oddly, the wings did not flap. It seemed to carry something below it.

  "What in the forge father's name is that!?” one of the guards said softly, more approached a short distance behind the two. They looked more fatter than the 2 thin ones in the front, inside these…things, where more of these Marines, they all looked just like the man she has next to her sword.

  Quickly, the 2 wyverns tried to ambush the two as they approached, their claws out as they quickly approached the two from their side. They seemed to be noticed quickly as the two grey beasts turned in the direction of the Wyverns. BURRRRRRRRRRRT! A thunderous crackle washed through the air, causing all of them to cover their ears, Looking back up, she saw one Wyvern was downed, its right wing torn apart. It limply fell down, dead before it hit the ground. its rider falling out of its saddle and down into the forest below. Maybe there was a chance he survived. though she was hoping.

  A bright flash of light came from the other grey beast. A trail of smoke followed as the light approached the last wyvern, which erupted in an explosion of blood and gore. Eviscerated in a moment. Their ambush was dealt with before they could even get close. She had never seen such displays of power before. Quickly the royal guards stood in front of her, shields raised, spear drawn. They stood between her and the possible incarnation of Death. Where was Icar Nerl? She tried to hide it as best she could, but her body trembled in fear. Her ears flattened upon her head. But she quickly regained her composure. She turned to her Prisoner, fear and fury etched on her face. “JUST WHO ARE YOU!!!”

  “Being one of the few Marine recon on this ship, you tend to be noticed if you go missing.” he said with a shrug.

  “What are you, some elite guard?”

  “Well uuh..” Whatever he was going to say was cut short as the two grey beasts turned back to address her army. The 3 less intimidating ones of the beasts moved in behind the two, they landed in the grass meadow where they all were situated. The Marines disembarked from things like they had just come from a 6-month voyage. All except for one; instead of a helmet, he wore a hat. It still had the same color scheme and pattern as the rest of the marines, but he carried himself with authority, casually strolling up to them, unlike the other Marines that aimed their odd weapons at them. Once getting close enough to speak, he stopped his hands behind his back

  “I am 1st Lieutenant Norm Kazinski. You have one of my men, and I want him back. Hand him over or face the consequences.” She gestured towards her men to move aside, their shields parting, allowing this man's eyes to see her and Lucas.

  “I am Melka Luns, Princess of the Kingdom of Wintkin. Why should I do that? You have invaded my kingdom, and that gives me the right to destroy you as I see fit.”

  “Lady, the only people that will get destroyed here will be all of you.” he gestured to her army as he said that. “If fear won't work, how about we do a prisoner exchange?”

  “And who do you have that is worth as much as this man?” The lieutenant turned, signaling to one of his compatriots; seconds later, a Shadow was brought up beside the man. it was the one that went missing. They captured him, she had never heard of one getting captured. killed yes, but captured…no.

  “I'll release him if you meet my demands. Leave Chesk village and hand over that shadow, those are my terms.”

  “Agreeable as long as you return the gear you have stolen as well.” She nodded in agreement after a second of deliberation. “We have terms.” The Lieutenant nodded towards one of his Men, who began to nudge the Shadow forward. She did the same, pushing Parker forward. One of her guards is carrying his stuff. Before the swap was done, Lucas turned to her, his expression unreadable.

  “May the next time we meet not be like this.” Surprisingly, she did not hear any hint of hatred in his tone.