The demands came again, loud, and insistent.

“We need to send as many as possible, they are pressuring, and they may breach our lines once more.”

Itzal took a deep breath, much like the rest of the officials gathered in the large tent; all were tense as the distorted echo of the radio flowed. Their general was sitting silently, pondering the demand very carefully. When she answered, she did so with the same authority as the officer who spoke through the signal.

“These recruits have barely been taught to hold a gun… Do you expect them to offer much aid to your troops? Surely, you can fend off the coalition with the additional armoured vehicles you’ve been forwarded.”

“Perhaps we can keep their tanks off, but if they send yet another aircraft past the broken barrier, we won’t be able to stop them.” The demon who powered the radio flinched, because the tone of the officer grew louder, reproving. “Sir, either we receive fodder, as you call it… or we get the damn airliners we were promised. We need both, one of the two at least!”

Dorothea could not deny the truth. Reinforcements were needed near the wall. The government was doing its best to supply armoured aeroplanes with which to match the ones of the coalition. But armouring their previously trading aircrafts was not an easy task, and not a fast one.

There was only one viable option until their factories could produce more armament. Men would be sent to coastal areas to serve as a target, in case more hostile aircrafts flew over the waters. She had no choice, but still, she would bargain.

“Men will be directed to your position, and you may deploy them strategically in vulnerable zones. However, not all these recruits shall set off. Many are still…”

“Incompetent.” Dorothea knew that the officer was both referring to those recruits and her, sending a thinly veiled insult through the radio’s echo. “Fine, we will be able to hold on with that, for now. But do make haste, general, both in training these weaklings of yours and procuring those planes. It is long overdue, and refugees keep pouring past our lines.”

She could curse and insult him back, donning a higher rank. Instead, she simply agreed, finalizing the meeting and call with some last cordial words.

“I’ll do everything possible to aid, commander. Do so as well.”

There was a buzzed scoff before the demon who powered the radio moved away, following her nonverbal directive. She soon stood, eyeing Itzal intently. He did not need any words to understand her intention, and so, he commanded the rest of the officials away.

“Assembly is over.”

They as well knew what to do. All marched out, carrying on with their duties. Some would proceed to send aid to the towns that had been bombarded last week, while others would direct patrols to ensure no lone enemies had ventured past the frontlines.

Dorothea and Itzal walked far from the tent, which was slightly isolated from the big camp. It had been an arduous week for the novices, for he had made sure to dictate a rigorous and tiring training routine, as he promised.

“Guns and aim?”

“Adept enough now.”

“Navigation skills?”

“Not quite proficient yet. Few have ever handled machinery of such calibre.”

“Understandable… What about endurance?”

“As always, demons display great fortitude.”

“That is expected. What I must know is-“

“The humans we recruited are capable, even if less gifted.” She eyed him down, noting his reluctance to admit one thing. “Yes, feebleness is displayed, and a serious risk to consider in some circumstances.”

Dorothea scowled for once, assembling a million thoughts together. Her next words were poignant, for the two stopped to contemplate the training ground ahead.

“I do observe frailty. It is something we must evaluate carefully, for we may not be able to expunge it.”

The recruits were being overseen by an officer Itzal had left in command. They were all moving through an obstacle course, which they had been forced to build themselves. Both humans and devils were running concurrently, and it was not a surprise that the demons were much faster.

Most humans were keeping a good pace, all things considered. Yet there was one that seemed to struggle slightly. And it did not fail to take her attention, and the one of other novices.

Alexis snarled, climbing for the hundredth time the tall obstacle in his path. His amber eyes narrowed with anger as other men passed him by, tired but constant in their advances. Although he had displayed strength and speed equal to the demons at first, his endurance was not the best.

They had been here since morning, and it was not the first day. Humanity was known for its persistence, something he could match for a while, but not for this long. A hiss escaped him as he kept climbing the ropes, for the constant effort was putting great strain on his old scars.

Still, he refused to take a break to breathe, knowing he was being watched and judged. All these days, he had been eyed by everyone, even his supposed kin. The more time passed, the more his weaknesses showed.

At last, he reached the top of the structure, which he would have to descend now. He glared at the ground below, at least ten meters down. He halted for a second, and he soon regretted it, because a tall figure reached the top behind him. The whisper came, caring and worried.

“Hold onto my shoulder, I’ll-“

Uriel frowned, because Alexis snarled and began to descend alone, hurrying more. His violet eyes clearly discerned the pain in his expression, which he kept trying to conceal.

“I don’t need your help.”

That was a lie, yet he meant it so much that he was able to voice it like if it was the truth. He slid down a rope before anything else could be said, far too quickly. The demon opened his mouth to warn, yet he did not have time to do so. The angel reached the ground and slammed his feet with a hissed huff, the collision inflicting an intense flow of pain through him. Still, he took a shaky stubborn breath and faced the rest of the course. He sprinted again, even if he did so with an obviously exhausted posture. Not only Uriel could notice it, and it really bothered Alexis.

All saw Itzal and Dorothea observe them. It did not take long for the captain to call, with a stern growled tone.

“Stand in formation!”

And so, they did. The humans exhaled in relief, much more tired than the devils, who simply cracked their necks or outstretched before standing in line. Uriel proceeded to stand by Alexis, as always, not doubting to scold him with his gaze for a moment. As always, he was ignored, for those amber eyes were glaring at the distance, at nothing.

All fell silent as Dorothea eyed them, one by one. They stood at attention, not daring to meet her scarred gaze. There was no emotion in her expression, yet the judgement was clear, even if her monotone voice did not hint it either.

“I must compliment many of you.” She took off a pistol from her belt and threw it at a man, who promptly caught it and held it diligently. “Your progress is to be commended. You may see battle soon.”

Those words were inspiring for most, but not all. She kept speaking, and her eye narrowed as she moved closer to where Uriel and Alexis stood.

“Others, however, should avoid an encounter at all costs.” Alexis scowled and met her gaze angrily, for it pierced him. “No, we can’t send some of you to the frontlines, death may find its way with ease.”

Uriel wanted to say something, but he had to swallow his words. Even Alexis did so, knowing it would be a very bad idea to speak against an officer. Dorothea’s next words were painful to hear, but also relieving.

“Those of you at risk may still serve, but perhaps differently. Not only by shooting or fighting can one aid this land. Medics should never confront opponents but stay behind cover, to mend wounds when needed. Tacticians, they also can be of help, arranging manoeuvres for others to follow. Technicians are invaluable, for they should be the ones to keep our machinery up and going. Each unit has a purpose, and these days have been critical to assign yours.” She crossed her arms behind her back and finished, relaying what was to be of them. “You shall be given orders soon, assigned to different squads. For now, you are dismissed. Go rest.”

And off she marched, followed close by her captain. All relaxed, finally able to call it a day. The big crowd soon scattered, dispersing towards the camp. As always, demons gathered, and humans did the same. There were two who did not do so, however.

A devil stood there, focusing on the pulse of his heart, which was tolerable thanks to the fact that an angel was nearby. That could change, whoever, and he could not avoid but fear the thought.

“They may divide us.”

He hated to admit it, but it was clear that he was a better candidate for battle than him. Still, there came the rebuttal.

“I… will not let them. If you die, I will too.”

It was not a metaphor or allegory. If their bond ended due to his death, he would be sent back to a place where he would be in dire danger. He needed to be there by his side, at any cost. Both needed to be shielded, even if they did not want protection for themselves.

“Alexis, if they send you away and we are not in the same squad, you can’t possibly refute their decision.”

“But I can do one thing to get another chance of proving myself.” The angel scoffed, recalling the reports they had been hearing about. “Many refugees are pouring into these lands from the isthmus. No one would question one more, nor the death of a useless man.”

He had changed names many times, and nothing could stop him from doing so again. He could keep trying until he was seen as worthy of this world.

Uriel sighed, because Alexis began to walk away. He would no doubt stop by some crates by a campfire, where some ale was stored. His coping mechanisms were not healthy… and he had no way of preventing him from resorting to them. He had tried.

———–

 

“Come on…”

The rumble came again, shallow, and intermittent. Like a drowning beast, the metal surrounding her shook, while an engine did its best to come to life.

She never had claustrophobia, but the interior of the vehicle she put together was quite small, and it did not help her feel any better. Three individuals could go inside, but the seats were very close, and all would need to stay seated or crouched.

No one had the means to match the craftsmanship that the government could pay for. Still, she had not lived with an experienced and stubborn artificer for nothing… He had taught her many things, and angelic knowledge was not easily attained by the common folk.

Once more, she slammed her hands onto the metal, sending magical heat into the inner boiler. The steam made the pipes inside the layers of steel quiver, the whole frame of the vehicle bending slightly due to the force. Below, the continuous tracks struggled to roll, heavy due to the metal they sustained.

Outside, Aurora tensed, seeing how the vehicle advanced a few inches over the sand. The terrain was uneven, and not easy to traverse. That was why the engine stopped, once more. She let out a sigh as her sister opened the hatch on the top of the small tank, slamming her claws furiously on the lid as she climbed out.

“Steam and magic! It should be enough!”

Aurora contemplated, walking around their craft. It was much more rudimentary than the ones of the military, and it looked more like a caterpillar, thinner and less robust.

“What do their designs have that ours doesn’t?”

“It must be their engines or their fuel tanks. Bigger, and of better quality.” Ariel let out a snarl, because even if they put it all together efficiently, it was still a bundle of scraps they melted and reforged. “I can’t afford such expenses, and the authorities won’t allow us to purchase stronger materials anyway.”

“Then…”

“I’ll keep trying.” Aurora gave Ariel an apologetic glance, knowing that she could not invoke any magic with which to try to move the machine. “This thing will move, or else.”

A wing was pointed, for she dreaded the thought of beginning anew.

“Oh no, do not melt it all again to start over.”

“If I must, I will! Another design may work.”

Ariel crawled back inside, without closing the hatch. Like many other days, they had ventured to the fields alone. But they were always observed, watched. Those hairy wings twitched when a noise echoed. Aurora looked over her shoulder, hearing steps approaching. Unlike other days, they were not big and imposing, but small and soft.

Lykaios jumped down some rocks from which he had been looking down at them. He always liked to change into his real form out in the open, but now he was small, a simple lynx. His next words were caring, calculated.

“You follow the teachings of an angel, yet you fail to recall the ones of a devil.”

Ariel peeked again out of the hatch, hearing his voice. The two blinked as he neared the front of the vehicle, which had a pointed frame, to allow it to part sandy dunes. Without further comment, he clawed at his own right paw and then slammed it on the metal.

Their eyes glinted, because he drew a rune with his blood, which they recognized quickly. It was Ariel the one who commented, cursing mentally her own disregard.

“Of course!” She jumped down and went to one of the sides of the tank, taking some chalk from her pocket and drawing another near the wheels. “If armours can be controlled, why not this?!”

Surely, the local demonic engineers had to give use to this spell in some of their crafts. Her mind began to ploy, and she proceeded to unlatch a plate of steel to reveal the inner engine. She drew another bigger rune there, on the core of their contraption.

Soon, she stepped off, closing her eyes to remember how her father controlled the armours that had always decorated their old home. It was a very long time since they saw these runes, but she still recalled them fondly.

“Lykaios, hop in.” She offered to help him up onto the top of the vehicle, even if he could climb with ease by himself. “Will the metal forward while I heat the boiler.”

He acknowledged her offer and jumped against her arms, quickly reaching the hatch.  Inside, he proceeded to eye the interior judgingly.

“Is this where you plan to spend days travelling? Even in this small form I-“

She scolded him as she went in herself, slamming her own blazing claws onto the main panel and steering wheel.

“Just focus! I can tweak this thing once it works!”

Lykaios obliged with a sigh, his red eyes shining as he enforced his will onto inanimate matter. Aurora winced, hearing a louder rumble. The wheels screeched as they inched subtly against the sand, the whole vehicle moaning with steam and grinding noises.

There was doubt at first, but it soon turned to hope. The two women smiled sharply, seeing the wheels finally turn strongly enough to advance. They did slowly, but without halt. Steam escaped slightly from some crannies, and they quickly noted it, to fix it later.

Ariel stopped sending heat into the engine, causing the vehicle to begin to slow down. Its stop was not immediate. It slid down a small dune, not yet given brakes. Once it halted completely, the three devils moved away to observe their craft, not yet perfected but functional.

“A few more days…”

Ariel nodded, knowing that the defects were easy to mend. Her tail swayed sadly, and her eyes closed, for she would have to write a letter to excuse her possible delay in responding. They would have to leave the home they had provided them.

————

 

“They have attained a few crystals… Oversee their moves.”

Her orders were clear, direct. Viljar trusted in her capabilities, and she would prove them, once more. They shared the same cause, the same hope. If she had to roam near those beasts to achieve it, she would.

Her icy eyes were fixed in the distance, shadowed by her tattered hood. Ahead, she could see many troops, which patrolled the area. There was a village not too far away, torn and burnt by a bombardment of the coalition.

Her presence and advance through the region would be questioned if she were the only one who marched. Many figures moved towards the military camp, refugees. All came from the areas near the barrier, or from the isthmus.

With that wall broken, she had no trouble while venturing into these wretched lands, blending in between the ones who fled from their surge.

She scowled, noting well how the humans around her looked worn out, exhausted emotionally and physically. They had lost many things, and they had her sympathy for it… Yet she was still sure of her conviction. These people chose to leave their former lands, when they could have joined their efforts.

A snarl escaped her, because ahead, she could see devils leading the march. Although they coexisted with these humans, they kept their distance and used their strength for themselves. Their clawed feet allowed them to traverse the unforgiving terrain much more easily, and their strong bodies endured the blazing sun much better.

There was no help offered, no regard. These creatures had not doubted to flee and leave anyone behind, to save their own skin. She knew for a fact that they did not doubt to use their strength to steal food and resources from other refugees, for she had seen it as she crossed the disputed borders. It sickened her to see them impose themselves. Like vermin, they would one day outnumber the ones who lived on this continent.

That patrol soon neared their march, and it was mostly composed of devils as well. They began to direct them all, baring their claws instead of their firearms, intimidating any who dared step out of line. She could not understand how these humans could not see what they were promoting.

She stood between them all, apparently submissive to the orders that were given… Yet she had an objective. These monsters would not hide their bestiality for much longer, for she would foster their end, to prevent them from clawing the world apart.

———-

 

“At last…”

The light was welcoming, warm. She had not seen it in a very long time, not ever since they took control of the region of that temple. After years of arduous battle, she was given orders that would allow her to return.

She closed her white wings sharply and stepped close to the gateway. Two angels eyed her carefully, but they soon let her advance when she presented the sealed letter in her hand. Her superiors needed to inform of their loses, and she was a fast flier.

This would be the second time she would step into the portal. Like the first, it was a strange and foreign sensation. Her whole body felt torn, yet there was no pain. The light consumed her, but at the same time reformed her.

When she awoke, she did to the sight of her homeland, the thing she most yearned for. As instructed, she wasted no time, heading diligently for her superiors. She opened her huge wings to salute and relayed the state of their troops in the eastern continent.

She did care that they were losing ground, that the humans were making them retreat thanks to their newfound magical machinery. But something else kept clouding her mind, a thought that almost made her stern focus waver.

They gave her a day of grace before she would have to descend through the abyss once more, and that was exactly what she had hoped for. She left the camps near the void and proceeded to march towards the citadel, into a humble district.

She had once lived surrounded by lavishness, but she still felt longing for their home. It was what she would find there what she cared for most, apart from her struggles for glory. She ignored the mighty temples she passed by, for her mind was resolute in its intentions.

Her expression was always cold, firm, and serious. Yet when she neared the old door, a faint smile grew on her lips. Her hand raised slowly for the handle, the moment feeling precious, her anticipation immense.

She had been away from home for years… so when she opened the door and stepped forth, her strong heart skipped a beat. Her blue eyes opened in fright, something she never felt. She saw nothing but darkness, not a single candle lit in the living room.

“No…”

For once, there was emotion in her voice. Her white wings shuddered subtly, as she ventured into every room, slowly recognizing the fact she was witnessing. She had returned, to solitude. There was shock, then fear. Those were emotions she could not process or understand, and soon, they turned to fiery rage. She clenched her right hand slowly, causing her huge steel gauntlet to grind.

It took her seconds to bolt, one of her wings making sure to slam the door behind her. She marched through the streets, pushing past all who stood in her way. Her eyes pierced all the novices around, for she recognized what they were training for.

She had lost many things, yet she had fought to overcome it all. This was something that she could not accept, and she would make sure to correct the fact, or at least avenge it.