Her green eyes scouted the distance, awaiting the sight that would make most men shiver in terror. The tall young woman stood at the front line, with her men in formation behind her. All were ready, as always. All gazed upon the field ahead, anxiously, but firm.

Nerys waited motionless, sure of herself. They were letting the enemy approach them, just enough. Her troops were settled near a river, in a region that had been disputed for months. This territory was under vampiric rule; its few villages were enslaved and treated as fodder. But she had come to claim them back.

She glanced at the letter in her hand fondly. His words were always wise, guiding, and trustworthy. She grinned when she raised her gaze once more, batting her long red hair back and away from her face. The sun was going down, and it made her eyes glint. She knew what would come with it.

They had spent weeks fighting near these fields. Now, they were finally ready to end the vampire sire that ruled in this region, after multiple ambushes from both parts. The clashes had been brutal and taxing, but they had been following a plan. She had a strategy, something she always relied on, in the most crucial of moments. She would not be one of the best generals of the insurgence if not. Her fierce strength and fearlessness were just an addendum.

Her troops fidgeted when banners began to rise in the distance, while she did not even blink. Their enemy was as ready as them, perhaps more. Flags emerged in the horizon, displaying the symbol of a drop of blood. The sight of a troop of organized vampires could make any man cower. But she stood tall with a proud intake of breath. She had never lost a crucial battle in all the years she had served their cause. Today it would not be any different. Her vigorous voice rumbled through the painful silence.

“Archers.”

Her second in command nodded, raising a hand. The soldiers behind the frontline raised their bows, the cords impossibly tensed, arrows ready. But she did not command yet to let them loose. She waited, she did not let out the order, not yet. They would not be allowed to act until those beasts were closer. Those sharp eyes were glinting in the dark, for the sun finally descended.

The monsters did creep closer, and soon, they were able to discern their fangs in their malicious smiles. It was then that the general gave an intense nod. As always, her second in command whipped down her hand. The archers released their hold, and the arrows flew. None were surprised when the beasts hissed in anger, few of them struck. They could display fast reflexes, able to dodge most attacks. But Nerys did not lose her small smile.

She could see the vampire lord, the sire of all the disgusting fledglings they were facing. His fangs showed while he rode calmly on a steed, confident upon humanity. He was giving her a hateful glare, concealed behind his beastly troops. As always, they were arrogant creatures. They saw them as weak, lesser beings that only served one purpose: satiate their hunger and thirst for grandness.

Nerys finally unsheathed her long sword, all behind her following the motion with their own weapons. The vampires fastened their pace, holding spears between their claws. The big field did not seem as large with their quick moves. Her small army finally moved forward. And no vampire questioned why it did so slowly. They were ready to finally fight and kill, both sides nearing.

Humans had a low survival rate against vampires in close range. The beasts were unnaturally stronger. They had sharp fangs, claws, and evolved traits. With time, the oldest always developed three sharp nails in their hands and feet, mutating and assimilating any trait their lord and bringer achieved. Fledglings were not as fast to evolve; they were weaker, more human-like. But they still shared the same disgusting inhumanity. Some vampire clans barely resembled humans anymore, and that was without addressing their actions. She had seen many gruesome things in her life. There were too many dissimilar beasts, many vampiric clans. All were as sickening.

Most shared the same weaknesses though, in one way or another. Fledglings, young vampires, had to avoid the sunlight. It burned them if endured for long spans of time; it was not deadly, but painful. It was obvious what fire would do to a vampire. She always had those facts in mind. One had to know their enemy. She always took them down, using all she could to achieve it.

The vampires finally leapt onto her troops, and their weapons clashed. Hisses and curses echoed all around. Torches were used, smartly avoided by thought or instinct. The rebels who fought for humanity found a good ally in fire, and they used it accordingly. It was one of the few things that allowed them to fight for freedom. The age in which they lived was one of darkness and death. Humans were oppressed by the sheer number of vampires, most of humanity in chains. But not all were.

Nerys huffed, stabbing her sword into a young vampire, always the ones sent first. She did not even look at it, letting it die as she pierced upwards. Her green eyes glared ahead, at the lord who was keeping his distance on his horse. He looked so proud, and yet, he was cowardly.

She retrieved her sword from the fledgling she just slew. Most vampires kept their distance from her, knowing her a general, a human who was as strong as them. They did not dare bite her, focusing on slaughtering her men instead. She could smell the blood all over. Even though death surrounded her, she snorted, nodding sharply to taunt the leader. She dared him to come closer. And she was not surprised when he growled, giving a kick to his horse to gallop towards her direction, sword raised.

Nerys smiled, with her own weapon ready to greet him. Not only that, however. Luck was not what had made her become one of the best between insurgents. She whistled. The vampires blinked, some even stopped their feeding frenzy on beaten soldiers. A snap echoed far away in the distance, which was heard by the beasts, thanks to their sharp hearing. That sound was not the only one that flowed to them.

Water was not healthy for these creatures in big quantities. Nerys and her men could only laugh as their enemies doubted, moving their claws and weapons slightly away. There was a sudden rumble. Not far away, there was a river, and the field was sloped.

Nerys always trusted in Bastian’s word. She pressured her feet strongly on the ground, and all her troops followed her move, foretold of the plan. The vampires gasped, and some even dropped their weapons. A big flow of water was rushing downhill, towards them. Most of the day was spent setting a trap, changing the river’s course. Some men had been ready to unleash it upon her signal.

The vampires tried to run, they were quick. But the river was faster. Nerys heaved when the flow hit them all, but only the beasts screamed. Their skin ached below their armours, the water flowing past any metal to brush it. It did not hurt, but it did daze them.

The flow was gone soon enough. And enough it was. Nerys let out a loud shout, her arm dashing to point her sword forward. All her men ran past her, the morale high. Their faces showed pure determination and pride. Their weapons went down onto the panicking mess that was their enemy. They were not as divine as they claimed, as mortal as them. The vampire lord cowered in the chaos, his clan easily put to death. With every minute that passed, he was all the more alone. Only he evaded the currents, thanks to the fact that he rode on a horse. But he did not manage to flee, even if he tried to. He bolted away from all the humans nearing him, but soon found himself in a dead-end, because his horse screeched and halted. His sharp eyes widened when he felt a stab.

He looked down slowly, at what had blocked the path of his steed. The tall general was staring at him, sword held upwards, pushed right through his torso.

“The hunter becomes prey.”

Nerys took back her sword once more, with a fast pull. She let the vampire hit the humid ground, unmoving. A smile escaped her, seeing the moonlight reflect on the droplets at her feet. Water and blood mixed all around them. While she had lost some men, most of them still stood, over the ones who wished to bring them to their knees.

No beast was left alive.

—————-

His eyes narrowed, seeing Lyssa plot to evade her duties once more. She waved off one of her men, having to raise her voice to be heard.

“Take the provisions there, near the medic’s tent.”

The soldier nodded, hurrying to help set up provisions like all the others, the camp chaotic at the moment.

“Yes, captain.”

As soon as he walked away, she looked once more at her hands. Sergius sighed, seeing her try to practice a spell once more, leaving all the work for her troops. He approached slowly, and his young apprentice stayed unaware of his presence. She was too focused on her hands, which were now shining with a faint golden glow. He stared for a full minute. She yelped when he spoke up behind her.

“Shouldn’t you help our troops set things up?”

She faced him with a sigh, her hands lowering.

“I’m not slacking.” His eyes were scolding, and so, she defended herself with a sly smile. “A captain must be ready and prepared for battle! My spells are something to study! There is time to spare!”

He looked up to the sky, smiling slightly. He knew well why she was wasting time.

“You want to wait for her.”

She blinked, and then tried to hide her blush under her blond hair. Nerys’ letter said she was coming back, that she managed to win, as always. The old mage chuckled when Lyssa crossed her arms at him, raising an eyebrow gruffly.

“So what if I’m purposely delaying? We are not needed yet back at Hollowgrave! There is no hurry, we don’t have to go back and report our success yet!”

They just came back to this camp, after an incursion into an eastern region. They were not needed yet at the underground fortress, where all the insurgents gathered. Their superiors would manage for a few weeks without them, for vampires would never dare attack Hollowgrave. It was the safest place in the world for a human, the last stronghold their cause could count on. Its location was heavily protected. It was a decaying fortress, surrounded by multiple rivers and lakes, with a million underground tunnels in which to hide when vampires had the upper hand in the war.

Right now, she and her troops were of more use out in the fields. They were hunting lone vampires, exploring, gathering resources, fighting… They followed their oath diligently. She glared at a figure in the centre of the camp, a dead vampire, impaled yesterday. She killed many, much like Nerys did. Her old friend and mentor smiled when she stood proud, finding an excuse to walk away.

“You know, I do have something I must attend to!” She turned, giving him her back as she dashed between busy soldiers. “The moon is up! And I bet someone has been working too much again. A soldier needs sleep!”

She smiled, because she did not hear any retort from her master. And so, she looked forward, setting her gaze onto a small tent. It was a little away from all the rest, separated from the noisy troops in the camp, in the shadows of the field. Only a single small torch signalled that it was there at all. Bastian loved silence and quiet.

She paid no mind to the chatter around her while she made way. She dodged her troops and Bastian’s scouts while they leisured in the camp. Their battles had been won, and messages had been delivered safely all week.

That noise was faint by Bastian’s tent. She stood by its entrance, her ochre eyes able to discern a shadow inside, which seemed to be leaning against a table. Indeed, when she peeked in with a mischievous smile, there he was, again.

Bastian had his grey eyes fixed intently on his documents, holding two fingers onto his forehead. His face would be handsome if he did not adorn it constantly with a brooding pensive frown. Even if he kept most of his black hair tied up in a long ponytail, multiple strands always managed to escape and dangle over his tired expression. But he never seemed to mind it; he was too focused, busy trailing a map with his free hand. That intense concentration allowed her to sneak at his side without him seeing her. He jolted and yelped loudly when she called and touched his shoulder.

“You have been locked in here for two days already, Sebastian!”

She chuckled with a grin while he stumbled, almost falling against the chair at his side. He was fast to scold her, with one of his usual gripes.

“My god, Lyssa!” He glared at her and stood upright, brushing off his previous startled reaction. “Don’t you know how to announce yourself?! All my scouts warn me before coming in!”

She shook a finger jokingly, winking and taunting.

“I’m not one of your scouts! And I can actually boss you around, remember?”

Bastian raised an eyebrow at her, knowing well that she could, being a captain. He was only a mere strategist. However, that did not mean she would. He rolled his eyes and looked back to his papers, trying to steady his breathing. Lyssa always loved to make him jump out of his skin, taunt him. And somehow, he never truly resented her, no matter how much her words could annoy him.

“You are still easily scared.”

There it came, again.

“I’m not.”

“You are. It seems my ambushes don’t help you be brave. All these years, and you still react in fear instead of instinctual fight.”

He leaned and pointed a finger at himself, angrily.

“It is not about flight or fight, Lyssa. As dreadful as you are, you can never be like those beasts. You will never invoke the same reaction. And let’s make this clear, I am not afraid. I don’t have to be, because I don’t have to face them like you two do.”

She leaned her head to a side, watching him sit tiredly onto his chair. As he tried to focus on his documents, she peeked over his shoulder. Perhaps he was not scared, but she could see the concern in his eyes. She knew him well.

“What nags your mind tonight?”

Bastian sighed, and then rubbed his eyes wearily. He whispered and admitted, because she spotted Nery’s letter on the table, open and read multiple times.

“She should be here already…”

The letter said she had won. His ploy to block the river and then let it flow had indeed helped her out. Those villages in the south were now secured, more or less. Nerys had written that she would be back in three or five days. However, six days had passed, and she had not come back yet. Lyssa knew those facts too.

“Sebastian, don’t worry. She is-”

“Drop it. You worry as much as me. And we both know there’s a reason for it.”

Her ochre eyes closed for a moment. She could not deny that she herself had been ambushed on multiple occasions. Their enemy was feral and smart. Vampires were as mortal as they were, and yet inhuman at the same time. Every time they went out of Hollowgrave, they were in for a dreadful time, never knowing if they would come back alive. She was very aware of it. And in her own way, she tried to ease that fear, for all of them. Bastian groaned when she laughed, ruffling his hair playfully.

“She will be alright!” Before he could retort, she continued. “After all, she has your plans!”

Bastian closed his mouth, blushing faintly as she reassured him.

“She is a general now, thanks to your smart plots! So-”

Both blinked, because the voices outside grew louder, suddenly. Their eyes widened, smiling as they recognized the familiar commotion. It would always rise when another group of rebels returned to camp. Lyssa was the first to bolt out of the tent. Bastian laughed faintly and followed, much more calmly. He noticed well the love in her ochre eyes as she ran off.

Her gaze was fixed on the distant fields. She almost flew over the grass when she spotted Nerys ahead. She and her troops slowed their march, their banners peeking between the trees that surrounded the field. The soldiers grinned smugly, because they noticed how those green eyes brightened. She heard and saw Lyssa run fast towards them.

“Nerys!”

The general smiled and opened her arms. She did not stumble when the captain leapt onto her, laughing loudly. Nerys’ hold was gentle, even if firm and strong; she felt how Lyssa clutched her tightly, burying her face on her shoulder. After their embrace softened, there was a loving whisper, their eyes never looking away.

“I told you I would be back.”

Nerys always kept her word.

“Did not doubt it for a second.”

Though she never lost, that was not what made Lyssa believe in her return so fervently. Nerys’ soldiers walked ahead towards the camp, letting them hold each other. The other troops greeted them with loud calls and greetings. Most praised the general, for all the battles she had won. She was always the one to be honoured and recognized. Her strong physique and hearty might were not something common, which would always attract attention.

All were unaware that the true brain behind her impressive feats was the young man approaching the two with a calm smile. Lyssa smiled warmly when Nerys left her side, in order to approach Bastian, greeting him with a strong pat on his back.

“My, they really did not expect it!”

Bastian grinned up at her, shrugging.

“Few humans think of water as dangerous, and so, they don’t consider its possible uses…”

Lyssa waltzed behind them, laughing.

“Why soak them, if you can roast them?”

Bastian gave her a friendly glare, nodding back to the stake in their camp.

“You always roast them, Lyssa. Open your mind to alternatives.”

Nerys commented, admiring her work.

“It’s effective. She knows it, we all use fire.”

Bastian crossed his arms, pondering every detail seriously, as always.

“We can get burned too. There can be collateral damage if flames are invoked.”

“Not if you are careful, Sebastian.”

“I’m always careful, Lyssa. Meanwhile, you are a wild fighter.”

“Are you calling me reckless?”

“I call you impulsive and brash.”

Nerys shook her head, hearing them argue again. And so, she placed her hands on their shoulders, taking their attention with a soft but firm whisper.

“You two, leave it for later, please.” She closed her eyes and leaned her head, giving them a warm smile under which they complied. “I have just gotten back, I’m tired, and the provisions we have been eating are simply awful. I would really like to have some decent food and sleep. Maybe some chatter by a fire, before I hit the hay.”

She would like to hear what they had been up to. Perhaps how Lyssa dealt with the lone vampires that had been roaming these regions. The two exchanged glances, speaking without words, as always. Nerys felt at home when they affirmed at once.

“Sure thing, Nerys. Come, I’ll light our own fire away from everyone. I’ll make some stew!”

“I kind of missed conversing with someone well-spoken. No one here has manners.”

Bastian blinked when Lyssa nodded and patted his back tauntingly.

“Yes, Bastian, no one here is as graceful as Nerys. The faint curses that sometimes echo from your tent would make a priest faint.”

Nerys laughed silently when Bastian tried to swat Lyssa’s hand, a move she dodged easily. He grumbled something under his breath, annoyed to be called out, as he was very self-conscious of his spontaneous profanities. His brain just worked too fast sometimes, manifesting his inner uncertainty in faith.

The three began to walk back to the tents calmly. Lyssa smiled, noticing well how Bastian was much more open and outgoing near Nerys.

It was a calm night. There was no dread in them, together again.