In a village far away from the empire stood.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
A bell rang four times, signaling that a threat was approaching. The man ringing it shouted, "Traitors! Traitors! They're coming from the west!"
A few people who had been casually strolling outside their homes panicked. They ran in all directions, bumping into one another in a desperate attempt to escape. But one boy remained unfazed by the alarm. Instead, he climbed on top of a house to get a better view of the approaching "traitors."
From his vantage point, the boy saw numerous men and women wielding swords and guns, slowly advancing toward the village. As they drew closer, they broke into a run, flailing their weapons wildly.
"The traitors have come," the boy whispered to himself. "They'll save us from the Royal Empire's shackles!"
"Tores! Get down here—now!" A woman, no older than thirty, called out with a worried expression. The boy didn't respond, still fixated on the incoming army.
Frustrated and panicked, the woman climbed the house and grabbed the boy. Only then did he realize it was his mother calling for him.
"Come now…" she said gently.
"Yes, yes, Mother," the boy replied, finally complying.
She quickly led him back home. As they walked, a loud horn echoed through the village.
"It's the Royal Army," the mother said with a small, relieved smile.
They soon reached their house. She unlocked the door, ushered him inside, then shut the door behind them. Grabbing a nearby chair, she sat down and exhaled deeply, trying to calm her nerves.
"Can the traitors win this time?!" he shouted, his voice echoing in their dimly lit home. "I want to eat something other than the small rations the Royal Empire gives us!"
"Shush, boy. Be grateful that we are eating at all," his mother snapped, her voice weary.
"But the traitors can eat anything they want!" he protested, his small, frail frame trembling with emotion. He clutched a red ball to his chest, a childish relic in his malnourished hands. He stood barely 4'4" and looked as though a strong gust could carry him away.
"They are evil!" his mother snapped again, anger flashing in her tired eyes.
"So is the Royal Empire, Mother Teresa!" Tores fired back. "They say what they do is for the good of the people, but everyone knows that's a lie!"
"Stop cursing, boy," she said sternly. "You only think this way because of your uncle... that damn traitor to the Empire."
"Uncle is the only reason this village isn't starving!" he shouted. "Why do you still call him a monster?!"
Realizing he had raised his voice too much, he immediately covered his mouth, shame flooding his expression.
His mother sighed deeply, her anger softening.
"He steals," she said. "The food he gives is stolen. He kills to get it. Do you want to eat meat soaked in the blood of someone else's child? Someone else's husband?"
Her voice cracked with the weight of reality.
Tores lowered his gaze, his grip on the red ball tightening.
She saw his eyes beginning to water. She had shouted again, and though this wasn't the first time, it never got easier seeing her son flinch.
"Knowing what he does... how can you still admire him?"
"Because... he's a strong....
~~~***.....***.....***.....***~~~
Meanwhile, outside the village gates, the Royal Army waited for the traitors' arrival. Led by Captain Dalgogololo, the force was made up of 2,000 elite soldiers—some trained since childhood. To his right stood his Vice Captain, Morgan.
As minutes passed, the traitor army stopped about 500 yards from the Royal Army's position. Between the two forces, a crow stood alone, letting out a sharp caw.
Captain Dalgogololo stepped forward, eyeing the unusual bird. It faced roughly 45 degrees toward the Royal Army. Seeing the crow, the captain thought to himself:
Black Winged Dragon, Sapphire!
He approached cautiously, finally standing face-to-face with the red-eyed crow. Bowing slightly, he spoke:
"Black Winged Dragon, Sapphire. Do you still believe you can defeat us?"
The crow said nothing.
Sapphire was known for his ability to morph into a crow, so Dalgogololo assumed this was the man himself. But after several moments of silence, he grew suspicious.
"What are you doing?"
A man approached. Barefoot, shirtless, dressed only in red-and-black shorts. His long black hair was tied behind him in a loose tail, and a grin danced across his lips.
"You talkin' to an animal?"
Captain Dalgogololo turned toward the man.
"..."
"Ha! Sorry. I told that crow to stand there while I went to take a piss. Took longer than I thought," the man added with a laugh, scratching his head.
"Ahem," the Captain cleared his throat, regaining his composure. "Sapphire, you dare attack this village once again?!"
"Yeaaa?" Sapphire answered lazily.
"You are a fool. For someone whose ability is only to teleport and communicate with crows," the Captain sneered, "you are remarkably persistent."
"Teleporting is a very good ability, you know!" Sapphire replied with mock indignation, then chuckled.
"You laugh, despite having attacked this village twice already—and failed both times."
"Those two attacks?" Sapphire grinned. "They were just... trial runs. Weaken your men, memorize the terrain. This third one? This is the final assault. This village—shall be ours!"
"Fool. Then let us fight... once more."
With that, both leaders turned away from one another, walking back toward their respective armies.
Their footsteps marked the rhythm of fate.
They stood once more at the head of their forces, both raising their voices at the same time:
"Let us end this battle... once and for all!"
Seconds passed.
The wind stirred.
Captain Dalgogololo took a deep breath, stepped forward, and shouted across the battlefield:
"Black Winged Dragon, Sapphire... You are truly strong—"
---
"SOUL BOUND TRAITOR!"