Author's note: Sorry about the delayed update. I recently changed my computer and there was a lot of stuff to take care of.

The story of Crimson Sky is becoming increasingly complex as it goes on. This makes it take more time and effort to write and my chance of making mistakes goes up. If you happen to see any, let me know. Thank you for reading :D

Evening has arrived for the city of Tyrin. Farmers return home from the fields and lock up their animals for the night, merchants are busy closing up shop for the night and shifts for the city guards are changed to ensure they won’t be falling asleep on the job. Shadows become stretched out across the ground as the sun moves lower on the horizon.

Five people are waiting in Henin Asher’s room at the Rolling Barrel Inn. The mage Gamonias is sitting idly on the bed. Leaning against the wall beside him with a bored expression is an imposing, muscular warrior with scars covering his entire body, Mikel. Asher is sitting on a simple wooden chair a short distance away. He is polishing a shortsword using a piece of stone with one hand. The second mage of the team, Inaya, is looking out the window with her arms crossed. In the most obscure corner of the room is Qasim, a young man with such little presence that he seems to blend in with the surroundings due to his dark grey cloak. Everyone is simply waiting, some more patiently than others. There is a quiet atmosphere lingering in the room but there’s something off about it, like the calm before a storm.

“I don’t like it.”

Inaya is the one who speaks up while still looking idly through the only window in the room. Gamo looks at her with a raised eyebrow and asks “Something wrong?”

“I don’t like that they’re keeping so many secrets from us” she says matter-of-factly.

“Who’re you talking about?”

She turns to face him, arms still crossed, and says “That boy and that strange woman, who else?”

Although no names were given, everyone understands she is talking about Rigel and Nashira. Gamo rolls his eyes and says “Oh boy, here we go again…”

“Listen, I get that he helped us make peace with Tyrin and there’s no reason to suspect betrayal or anything like that, but isn’t it even stranger then? They shouldn’t be keeping secrets from the people they’re working with.”

“You say that like you’ve been 100% honest with us.”

“Pfft, none of those times involved being acquainted with hideous creatures that are thought to exist only in legend or being able to stop bloodstone poisoning with my bare hands.”

“Lady Nashira is not employed by Bloodmoon and has no obligation to reveal anything to us. Despite that, she still aided us when asked and expects no reward in return.”

“That’s another thing that bugs me. At least for Rigel Artemia we’ve more-or-less figured out his background, but that woman he brought along is still a complete unknown. She’s a mage who is not affiliated with the Magic Guild, the Alchemy Society, any mining companies nor other known organizations. How is that possible given what we saw? On top of that, she acts like a selfless saint all the time. I openly insulted her a few days ago and she just brushed it off and politely left. A complete lack of pride; that pretty much confirms she’s not nobility. Either that or she’s just mental.”

“… Not everyone has an easy-to-find written history. You know that. As for her manners, why does that concern you?”

“Even a nobody can walk to the Magic Guild’s doorstep with the cure for bloodstone and make a small fortune by selling it. Why hasn’t she done that?”

“Maybe she doesn’t need money. Lady Nashira has a number of gemstones and magic catalysts in her possession. Clearly she doesn’t need the Magic Guild’s assistance. Plus the Magic Guild is entangled in nasty politics and old traditions. I would stay away from them too in her position.”

Inaya brushes aside a strand of hair from her face. Her eyelids are lowered disapprovingly and then a smirk appears. “You sure like making a lot of excuses on her behalf. Saying Lady Nashira even though she’s obviously not nobility, it sounds like you’ve got a thing for her. Do those huge breasts make you all hot and bothered? I bet you’d like to spank those curvy buttocks of hers” she says while making rude gestures. Gamo’s eyelids twitch slightly at the sudden taunt. The other three people in the room who are listening to the conversation roll their eyes.

“Inaya… I know you like to be provocative, but we’ve known each other for what, 5 years now? You’re 34 years-old. Grow up already.”

Inaya’s face is flushed red and she looks ready to start shouting, but her lips remain firmly sealed. She remembers hearing that Gamonias had a wife and child when he was younger. They tragically died in a massive fire that burned down a whole neighborhood in southern Zamora where they lived. Gamo survived because he was away for work. All he managed to recover from the fire were the charred remains of his family. It’s unknown whether it was an accident or arson. What is known is that he joined Bloodmoon shortly after and hasn’t had any close relationships with women since then. This happened over a decade before Inaya joined, making him one of the oldest currently active members.

The one time Inaya had asked him about it, a tear was seen falling from the corners of his eyes. Gamo’s sadness immediately changed to anger and he warned her never to mention this topic again. Inaya sympathizes with this reaction. She is in love with Asher and wants to be by his side for the rest of her life, despite the danger it poses.

I don’t want to imagine what it would feel like to watch the captain die. It’s better if I’m the first one to go…

The discussion ended as abruptly as it began. She almost trespassed on the wrong topic again, but remembering the anger Gamo showed back then made her press her lips together to avoid mouthing off any further. She returns to staring idly out the window.

Some minutes later, there is a loud knock on the door.

“Enter.”

The door opens with a faint squeak. A guard dressed in Bloodmoon’s characteristic style of light armor is standing there along with someone else behind him.

“Captain, the last member is here” the guard announces.

“Rigel, you’re just in time. Come on in so we can begin.” Asher replies with a casual tone.

The guard moves aside to make space for the young man to walk in.

“Before we begin the briefing, there is something urgent you need to know” Rigel declares with a serious tone.

Everyone turns toward him with a hint of curiosity in their eyes.

“Let’s hear it then.”

<><><><><><><><><><><><>

Rigel delivers the information he received from Selene and Laila about the approaching army. Asher wants to meet with the two women in person, so he is led outside the city walls where they wait. Mikel, Gamo, Inaya and Qasim come as well. The two Silver-rank warriors greet him in the manner of a professional and then go into greater detail about the things they witnessed. Asher listens closely with an open mind before commenting.

“The red fox banner? It’s the symbol of the Hadwin clan. So he’s the one they sent...”

“We also saw the blue mountain of Councilor Frugi. His forces are the minority though” Selene adds.

“Wirat Frugi of the Amisos Royal Council is old and has poor health. I doubt he’s in any shape to lead a military campaign, especially when traveling all the way from the east coast of Amisos where his home is located. He might’ve sent one of his sons or maybe even lent control of his forces to a 3rd party. Qasim, do you have any details on that?”

The shady-looking man steps forward. “The most likely candidate is one General Ulrich. He is married to one of Councilor Frugi’s daughters and has personal relations with him. Councilor Frugi’s land forces are small compared to the other clans. Rumors also say he doesn’t get along with Councilor Hadwin. If he trusted anyone with control of his forces, it would have to be General Ulrich.”

Asher nods. “One more thing; go tell the other squad leaders to begin the next phase immediately. They should focus on enemy patrols and scouts. We will wait for you at the stables.”

“Understood, captain.” The young man has a timid-sounding voice but his sharp eyes show an uncanny determination. He swiftly runs to town following his instructions.

Asher then looks at Selene and Laila. “We could use more sword hands in the upcoming conflict. I would be glad to hire the two of you, assuming you’re interested.”

“If I fight, it will be for my own people. I won’t fight for a foreign lord, even if it’s the renowned Hamal of Zamora.”

“Selene and I share the same opinion” Laila adds with a tone that masks her concern. “I don’t know why Zamora decided to intervene in the internal affairs of our country. It could end up escalating the war, resulting in even more casualties. I want no part in Zamorian affairs.”

A sardonic look appears on Asher’s face. “Since you told them who we are, I’m assuming this means you trust them, Rigel. They are friends of yours, correct?”

“I only mentioned the bare minimum for understanding the situation, captain. And yes, they are people I trust.”

Asher nods and turns to Selene again. “Very well, I won’t insist further if you feel so strongly. It’s good to know that the citizens of Amisos still believe this country has a future even with the grim situation here. Let’s change the topic then. I heard about the misunderstanding you had with the city guards.” He detaches a small, rectangular item with rounded edges that was strapped on his belt and holds it up for the two Silver-rank warriors to see. “This badge has the mark of Count Faustina, the lord of Tyrin. If you show it to the guards, they will let you pass with no questions asked.” He holds out the hand with the badge.

“Is it really alright to give us something like this?” Selene asks incredulously.

“It’s yours to have for the immediate future. If you cause trouble in town however, I can’t make any guarantees that you won’t be thrown out. We soldiers of Zamora are guests here in Tyrin, not conquerors. We do not wish to impose our will.”

Although still hesitant, Selene reaches out and accepts the badge. “We are grateful, mister umm...”

“Captain Henin Asher” a woman’s voice comes from the side where Asher’s team is waiting.

“Ahem, thank you captain Asher. We pray for your well-being. You too, Rigel. Take care and see you soon.” Selene responds after clearing her throat.

“Don’t worry about me. Nashira will help you out while I’m gone. Be sure to ask her if you need anything. I hope Lyssa feels better when I’m back.”

Selene smiles and nods graciously. After that, she and Laila politely take their leave and return to the city gate along with the young girl Lyssa who was waiting patiently the whole time.

With only Bloodmoon members remaining, Rigel asks “What’s our mission tonight, captain?”

“Originally we were meant to look for a missing scout of ours who disappeared on a mission to the north-east of here. Now we know that it’s a futile effort since he was either killed or captured by the enemy, so we’re changing objectives. We’re going to ride in that general direction and eliminate as many scouts and patrols as we can before the enemy army gets here.” He looks at the entire group. “Listen everyone, this is not a covert mission. You’re free to be as loud and showy as you want as long as you come back alive. Allowing survivors to escape is fine. They will be our messengers. If we happen to find our scout, we will pick him up as well. The goal is to compensate for our low numbers by reducing enemy morale and ensuring they don’t have a good grasp of the situation. Information is crucial in warfare and foiling the enemy’s efforts to acquire it is Bloodmoon’s purpose. By the time a battle actually starts, we’re already winning. This is how we bring victory to our King.”

“About time too” the muscular warrior Mikel comments in a rough voice. “Haven’t had a good bloodletting in some years now. My blade’s getting rusty.”

Everyone in the group shows a chilling smile at these words. Rigel is reminded once again that Bloodmoon is, above all, a gathering of professional killers and they love their jobs.

------------------------------

At a certain location to the north of Tyrin’s walls, a large grassy plain was turned into a campsite for an army numbering 9207 soldiers and the 1692 non-combatants accompanying them. 504 of these soldiers are mages of varying skill levels, most of which have battle experience. This high proportion of mages is due to the influence of the Amisos Magic Academy, which produced a large number of mages over the last several decades. One could argue that the Academy chose quantity over quality. It should be noted, however, that even a low-level mage is a boon to any army. They are well-educated compared to a common soldier and can aid in maintaining the army’s well-being. Magic is very useful for purifying water to make it drinkable, among many other things.

On the other hand, many of the common soldiers in this army are not professionals. Half of them are either paid mercenaries or peasants which were drafted into military service and ordered to fight for their lord. Refusal is not an option, as anyone who does so is branded a traitor and severely punished. The normal sentence for evading military service is death.

The drafted soldiers are commonly farmers, lumberjacks, smiths, tailors and so on. They have little to no combat experience and receive only basic training once they are assigned to a commander. Consequently, their discipline, teamwork, and overall value as soldiers is small. Commanders think of them as highly expendable and few hesitate to sacrifice them by the hundred if necessary. With very few exceptions, drafted soldiers represent the majority of casualties in armed conflict.

As nighttime approaches, various drills are being performed by squads of soldiers while the camps are being set up. Peasants are used for manual labor such as transporting water from nearby sources and preparing food. At the commanders’ side of the campsite, large tents were installed to provide comfort for nobles and other important figures. The sound of musical instruments is emanating from the largest of these tents. Inside it, a group of nobles are watching a show put on to keep them entertained and relaxed. Young women in beautiful, colorful and revealing outfits are performing elaborate dances for the spectators’ enjoyment.

Sitting on a tall, wooden chair and watching the show with a bored expression is a middle-aged man wearing a white, perfumed shirt with a gilded vest designed for high nobles and comfortable silk pants. The vest carries the symbol of a red fox printed on the front. A black leather belt with semi-precious gems embedded inside is strapped around his waist. On most days, he would also be seen wearing a special uniform reserved for the Amisos Royal Council. The uniform comes with a cape attached to the back which displays the symbol of the clan leader, in this case a red fox silhouette.

While trying to relax, an awful noise coming from outside the tent intrudes on his attention. It is the sound of a man screaming in pain. The bloodcurdling cries are muffled somewhat but can still be heard well enough to be alarming. A few of the nobles start to shuffle nervously. The man wearing the red fox symbol violently slams his fist into his chair and stands up.

“What in Hades is that racket out there!? Guards, report!”

The dancing girls are startled by this sudden outburst of anger from the lord and put the show on hold, waiting to see what is happening. Two soldiers at the tent’s entrance immediately respond to their lord’s orders by venturing out to check the commotion. They return a minute later, accompanied by a conspicuous-looking man of similar age to the lord, wearing dark clothing with a brown leather coat on top. The coat has several splatters of blood from some external source and a few scratch marks. He has a somewhat bulky constitution but is quite muscular, suggesting that he is a trained warrior. He arrives before the lord and makes a deep bow.

“My sincerest apologies, Lord Hadwin. We did not intend to disturb you. An enemy spy was captured a short time ago and we are in the process of interrogating him. As you can see, it’s a bit messy” he explains while pointing out his bloody leather coat with a quick gesture.

“General Ulrich... You’re responsible for that noise? Why didn’t you inform me of this immediately? I am the leader of this expedition! Are you attempting to subvert my authority?” Hadwin demands angrily.

“Certainly not, my Lord. I simply did not wish to disturb you with trivial matters. Rest assured, I will immediately report anything we learn from the captive” the general replies with his head lowered.

The other nobles in the room are watching the exchange with nervous glances. Councilor Hadwin is known for his quick temper and harsh personality. Those who make him angry for any reason tend to disappear suddenly or are publicly executed. Even those who are close to him must be careful to avoid his wrath.

Hadwin narrows his eyes, making his angry look ever more prominent. A purple vein under his left temple looks like it’s about to pop from the tension. “Don’t give me that bullshit. I know very well how you Frugi clan scoundrels operate behind everyone’s backs. I’m warning you, let this be the last time you do something like this without my knowledge. Take me to the captive right this instant. I want to see the interrogation myself.”

“As you wish, my Lord. Please follow me” the general replies calmly.

Hadwin steps away from his chair and moves toward the exit with a few of his personal guards following him. He stops halfway and turns toward the group of girls in the room.

“And who ordered you all to stop the performance? You will dance until I tell you to stop. Is that clear!?” he roars.

“Y-Yes milord!” one of the frightened girls replies.

The whole group resumes their dance as Councilor Hadwin leaves the tent along with his guards and the general leading the way.