Twenty years ago at Torima Island, an island close to the Sehus, there was a battle between the newly created Pure Sun and a Cult Of The Moon. Three hundred against five hundred. At the time Pure Sun wasn’t as powerful as it is now. It nearly had five hundred and only one village under them. As for the cult it was well known around the sea, especially for its shamans. Mani’s believers were at an advantage because the battle began at sunset.

One hour before the battle. One man stood on a barrel and everyone was watching him. He had short blond hair laid backward and a long beard with golden rings woven into it. He had a light metal plate armor and a banner of a sun on his back.

[ Barnir ]

“Warriors! Even though our goddess is going to sleep now she goes to sleep without any worries! Because she knows! She knows that we will win this fight! We will achieve victory and their god will observe the loss of his followers!”

Warriors of Pure Sun were screaming with excitement after Barnir’s great speech. Even though they were outnumbered this speech helped to keep the morales in a good state. Afterward, everyone took off to prepare for the battle. Some ate, some sharpened their weapons, and some prayed to the gods. Young Astvar was the one who prayed. Not to Sol but to Odin who he believes in the most. Once Astvar ended his prayers his father patted him on the back.

[ Barnir ]

“Is Odin in our favor?”

[ Astvar ]

“Can’t say much for a god of his standing but I think he would like for us to win. You did well with that speech father. Some were afraid but after that, they were ready to fight right at this moment.”

[ Barnir ]

“That’s what leaders do. We help our people however we can. I plan on helping them all by killing two hundred men myself to even the numbers.”

[ Astvar ]

“Isn’t it too much? Even for you?”

[ Barnir ]

“Maybe… But you achieve much more when you set your goals higher than usual.”

[ Astvar ]

“Always aiming high. Almost as high as gods.”

[ Barnir ]

“I’m just doing my best so my god would be proud of what I’ve become.”

While Pure Sun was preparing for the battle the cult was completely silent. No shouting, no sound of any blade sharpening. There wasn’t even smoke from bonfires. It was like they weren’t even here. The only suggestion would be the ships on the other side of the island.

[ Berfor ]

“Barnir! Don’t you think there is something odd about those cultists?” Said Berfor as he sat beside Barnir by the campfire.

[ Barnir ]

“Definitely something is wrong. That’s why I’m watching this one hill for hours. I feel like they would attack us first from there. They also might have prepared a trap if we attacked first but we don’t have another option. We need to go now before it’ll get dark. Get warriors ready.”

[ Berfor ]

“Yes, my lord!”

All three hundred men picked up their weapons, put on helmets and armor, and were ready to fight. They all have been waiting for only one command “attack”. In front of them, all stood Barnir with his last speech before the battle. In one hand he had a hammer and in another a wooden circular shield.

[ Barnir ]

“Let’s make their goddess regret showing up in the sky to watch her people die!”

Barnir tapped his shield with a hammer and the rest of the crowd followed him. Some tapped two axes and some their helmets. Before Barnir could even give the order to move there was a loud sound of a horn. Everyone from Pure Sun became silent and confused because none of them had a horn in their hands.

*swish* *swish* *swish*

Many dark dots appeared in the sky. Once they got close enough everyone knew what that really was. Rain of arrows. Everyone took their shield up and blocked them. Those who didn’t have anything to defend themself stood behind people with shields. Unfortunately, some people died because they weren’t fast enough or didn’t have anything to defend themselves with.

The first place Barnir looked at was the hill that he suspected and they there were. Cultists with dark cloaks and white masks covering their eyes. There were a hundred men with bows in their hands. From the line of archers, ten men stepped forward and whispered something while they were on their knees with one hand touching the ground. A thick black fog appeared and covered everything below our waist around the camp. As warriors of Pure Sun struggled to move, archers of the cult drew their bows. With another sound of a horn, arrows came down on Pure Sun’s camp.

[ Barnir ]

“Brace yourselves!”

Barnir raised his hammer and a bright light came out of it and destroyed the fog around him. He walked around and created a clear path for his people. From time to time archers shot but luckily not many people died. When he ensured that most of his people were safe he created a path out of the camp and shouted.

[ Barnir ]

“The light shall lead you, my man! CHARGE!”

Right behind Barnir was his son Astvar and his friend Berfor. It didn’t take long for the rest of the warriors to join them in the charge. The first spears from Pure Sun were thrown. Few shamans and archers were killed by them. Shamans ran in panic into a crowd of archers preventing a few of them from drawing their bows. Before they could reach for another arrow, the warriors of Pure Sun were already in front of them. The first lines of archers died without any resistance since they didn’t have time to pick their swords. Barnir with his hammer easily got through. He was expecting warriors to be right behind archers but down the hill there was nothing.

[ Barnir ]

“Berfor! Berfor! There are no warriors here!”

[ Berfor ]

“WHAT?!”

As the killing went on there were no signs of enemy warriors. All the enemy archers were killed none of them were left alive. Barnir was walking all around the hill to spot at least one enemy but he couldn’t see any of them. Their ships were still there but like last time there was no sign of the enemy.

[ Barnir ]

“The camp! How is the camp looking!”

[ Astvar ]

“Black fog didn’t disappear! It’s still there!”

[ Barnir ]

“We didn’t kill all the shamans?”

[ Berfor ]

“We did kill them. Do you think they weren’t the ones who made that fog?”

[ Barnir ]

“It is possible…”

[ Astvar ]

“The fog is there but it looks like it doesn’t slow down our men anymore.”

[ Barnir ]

“Doesn’t slow down… Get them out… GET THEM OUT OF THERE! GET OUT OF THE CAMP IMMEDIATELY!” Shouted Barnir as he ran down the hill.