Lucien lazily sat by the grassland as a battle of soldiers erupted behind him.
And an army of twenty five thousand marched before him. They were slow, and with the cavalry behind him engaged in a fight for their lives. There was really no one to entertain him.
Until a horse runs through the lines of soldiers, Earl Audrick has decided to duel him.
"Lucien! You bastard! Show yourself! I know you're here!"
Lucien yawned as he appeared, sat. "Yo! You need anything?"
"Duel me!" Audrick roared, fire exploding from his mouth as he glared down at me.
"I refuse." Lucien shrugged, "Why would I do something as stupid as that?"
"You!" He sputtered, "I am giving you the dignity of defeat."
"And I'm bored, is this all you have to say?"
He tried to calm himself down, "What is your reason here? Bastard?"
"Reason? why am I even doing this? Didn't you hear?"
"Heard what?" Audrick's face crinkled in confusion.
"My father promised me your lands, promised me to name me to grant me the title of duke, the title you've coveted for so long and all I have to do is take you out."
"What!?" Audrick's face slacked before he roared, "He dares!?"
"Well, it is his majesty's prerogative to do what he wills with traitors." Lucien shrugs, looking at his nails.
"I demand a duel!"
"Again with the duel, I already told you. I'm already planning on wiping out your men. They'll be a problem anyway, so better get on with it now and show examples than dealing with them piece by piece."
"You monster! Have you no shame? No honor?"
"Bastard? Remember? Isn't that what you already thought of me?"
"If you refuse to duel, then I shall take your head!"
Audrick charged at him and Lucien lazily sat, the link with his shades clicking into place as he dodged a strike, the sword barely grazing him.
Lucien slaps him, "You missed."
Audrick swiped his sword again, fire brimming at the edges.
Its flames flickered in front of him before exploding.
He smiled, "Wow, you are actually good at this, color me impressed."
His body reformed as the shadows stitched themselves together.
Audrick widened his eyes, "How did you?"
"My body could turn into a shadow for a few seconds, pretty handy if you ask me."
"Such weak bloodline magic and you dare act superior."
"Hey, I will have you know. That it's a good enough magic."
He raised his sword up in the air as magic swelling around him—until Lucien threw something at his face, snapping his focus.
"What?" Audrick caught the object,staring. It was a glowing red stone.
"You know it?" Luien smirked, "Mana stone. Filled to the brim with fire magic."
Audrick shifted fast—from confusion to horror, "STOP! RETREAT!"
"It's too late, now." Lucien said, as the light in his bracelet flared.
Hundreds of shades erupted from his shadow, "If you haven't come here you could have dispersed them in an instant. But now? They've activated them from dormancy and—"
BOOM!
As Audrick bolted back towards his men, an explosion ripped through the battlefield.
Then another. And another.
A chain reaction tore through the ranks like a gaping maw.
Devouring, tearing as it consumed the army in it entirety.
Armor melted with their skin as screams rang out.
Shadows dancing across the walls of fire like a reaper.
The very air pulsed with heat and smoke—thick, choking, all-consuming.
Like a judgement from God.
The once proud knights broke rank at the sight and fled around him in sheer panic.
Lucien glanced at his bracelet, and saw the light dim.
"Guess that's the last of this crysal." He muttered,
He turned and weaved between, leaving behind a battlefield that no longer resembled earth—just fire, smoke and the screaming figures that used to be men.
Lucien walked back into camp, smoke curling as the cheering of his men thundered behind him.
He entered the general's quarters as the guards saluted him, their eyes wide in awe as his officers seemingly ran around like headless chickens, already preparing themselves for the next battle. "Sooo, guess that's over and done with, eh?" He asked Siegfried, eyes down at the map.
"It is, I've sent out the troops to mop up what's left." He answered, not even bothering to look. "Audrick has escaped."
"It'll be fine, he's harmless. We'll be marching to his city, make the necessary arrangements."
"On it, we're already preparing supplies and I've already prepared a route, also." He throws a bracelet, "A new mana crystal."
Luciene caught it as he laid down inside a carriage. "Thanks, I'm gonna take a nap. Wake me up when we're there."
"Yes, my prince.."
Lucien woke up with a slap, "GAH! What the fuck!"
"Wake up." Siegfried's deadpan voice made him look up.
"Was the slap necessary?"
"Yes, I felt the need to relieve my stress."
"You know, this is lese majesty. I could have you executed for this."
Siegfried stared at him, "And?"
"Ugh, let's go," He wore the bracelet, the crystal illuminating as shades dashed away from his shadow, under orders to scout.
He stood up, flipping his robe over his shoulder. "So, status report."
"The troops have started sieging the city, simply waiting for you to lead."
"Yeah, I got that but why are we sieging?"
"It seems the lady of the city has convinced its citizens to rise against you."
"That sounds dumb." Lucien rubbed his face in annoyance, "Why would anyone want to die for that? Also what happened to Audrick if its his wife dealing with the problem."
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
After you massacred his twenty five thousand troops, he fled on horseback along with a few hundred or so knights. More than likely, he plans on ambushing."
"I see, what about our casualties."
"About a thousand and five hundred, most died from the Earl Audrick's attack."
Lucien groaned, "Stupidly powerful bloodline magic."
"Speaking of which, my prince. I would like to request the mage corps."
"Denied." Lucien answered, "I can't have you carpet bombing my future people."
"You just massacred twenty thousand men?"
"Twenty five thousand mercenaries." He pulled out a contract, "That's what it stated here."
Siegfried gave the parchment one look, "Then what do you propose we do? I don't believe starving them would be any better."
"Do you have any info on that woman? If she's anywhere near his age, I'm assuming twenty-ish?" Lucien asked, stretching. "And since I'm a young pretty boy, maybe I can use my wily charm."
"Your wily charm?" Siegfried gave a mocking smile. "Heh, you must be joking."
Lucien huffed, "Why must you smile only when mocking me?"
"Because those are the only times I'm ever happy?"
"Oof, okay, wow. Even after all I did for you?"
Siegfried stared at him in silent judgement before.
Lucien looked away, "Ok, my bad."
Siegfried coughed in his hand, "She is currently twenty one, a daughter of a count and is a renowned swordmaster."
Lucien combed his hair, "Bloodline magic?"
"None, I've heard of."
"Really? That's peculiar, why would Audrick. A borderline supremacist marry a woman, that could barely qualify as a human being in his eyes?"
"Perhaps, she's a nation ending beauty?"
"Then we'd have known about her, maybe a love potion? Do we have that?"
"I doubt it, it goes against the laws of magic and even if one did have access to it? Why content oneself with an earl."
"Hmm." Lucien nodded, "If it isn't love, perhaps it is wealth?"
Siegfried furrowed his brow, "That would explain the mercenaries."
"Do we have any reports on his taxes, audits?"
"We do," He handed it to him. "But no sudden increase indicated it. And yet, a bank, nay, a merchant company has registered around the time of their marriage"
Lucien chuckled, "It was never his money from the start, of course it wouldn't be indicated. But an increase in his taxes means prosperity."
Siegfried nodded, "She'll be useful."
An officer cuts them as she ran in, "Your Majesty, a messenger from the city."