Recorded and compiled by Dr. J'an, Archivist of Conflict Studies, Velaturum Noble Academy. Sources include military records, personal testimony, and reconstructed accounts from surviving participants.
Ren – General of the Seventh Division
It was the night after the festival.
Most of my men were drunk.
No—worse than drunk. Careless. Laughing with people they would soon watch die. Warriors of tribes and kingdoms stumbling through streets like brothers when, in less than two years, many of them would be ash.
I was asleep.
Or at least I was trying to be.
Then—
"Ren, you half-blood. Get up."
I knew that voice anywhere.
I didn't even open my eyes.
"Qiu… what is it you want, and why are you in my house—let alone my room?" My voice was flat. Unamused. Annoyed.
"If I wanted," I continued, sitting up slowly, "I could strike you down right now for breaking into my home."
"No," he said casually, leaning against the wall, "you couldn't. I didn't break in. I was given a key by master Fuxi."
That made me pause.
"…And why would Master Fuxi do something like that?"
"Because," Qiu said, smirking, "he knew you'd be flat-out drunk."
My eye twitched.
"Don't test my patience, yellow fang."
"Don't talk down to me, half-blooded, half-free, purple-horn freak."
I laughed—low and dangerous.
"Clever insult. Blue and red makes purple… but what color will your blood look like on your yellow fangs?"
He grinned.
"I don't know. And I won't."
"Oh, but you just might today."
We stared at each other for a moment—two predators deciding whether this was the day we finally tore each other apart.
Then he clicked his tongue.
"As much as I'd love to put you in your place," he said, "we have somewhere to be. The final meeting is today."
My stomach dropped.
"…What?"
"The meeting," he repeated. "To decide who's going to be the lamb."
"…Shit."
I stood up immediately, grabbing my armor.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
He hesitated.
"…Because I hope you don't get picked."
I paused mid-motion.
"…Why?"
He looked away.
"I don't want my only friend to die on some suicide mission."
Silence.
Then I scoffed, fastening my armor.
"Aww. That's nice. But I would do anything for my lord."
"Oh my sun," Qiu groaned, "you and this 'my lord' shit is beyond pathetic."
"I should have your head for that."
"Yeah, yeah," he waved it off. "Are you ready?"
"…Yes."
Lee – Slave Soldier
Goddamn, I love festivals.
It's the only time slaves aren't treated like shit. Or at least… not openly.
Last night—
…last night I got unlucky.
Or lucky.
Depends on how you look at it.
A warrior picked me. Strong. Red-skinned. Drunk. Wanted me.
I tried to say no.
But slaves don't get to say no.
So yeah. That happened.
And when she passed out, I finally got a moment to breathe—to look around, to think—
—and then it hit me.
This wasn't just some random house.
No.
I was in the palace.
The palace.
"…Oh I'm so fucked."
So I did what any sane person would do.
I tried to escape.
Through a window.
Like an idiot.
Ren
As we approached the palace, something caught my eye.
Movement.
High.
"…Qiu. Do you see that?"
"See what?"
"Look, you blind fool."
I pointed.
A figure was climbing down from a window.
Not just any window.
Lady Ki's.
My blood ran cold.
"…Oh fuck," Qiu muttered.
"Language."
"Oh shut the fuck up. Do you know what you just roped us into?"
"A mission to save Lady Ki."
"NO, you idiot. If the emperor finds out we were near this and she's dead, he kills us for being late."
"…Yes. I suppose so."
"But if we kill the assassin…" I continued, eyes narrowing, "he might let us live."
"That's if we can," Qiu said. "Lady Ki is only not a general because our lord doesn't want her in battle. She's stronger than most of us."
"Then shut up and move."
The figure hit the ground.
And ran.
Lee
I ran.
I didn't think. I didn't plan.
I just ran.
Behind me—
Footsteps.
Fast.
Heavy.
They were catching up.
Shit.
I turned sharply, cutting through an alley, vaulting over crates, my long limbs stretching as I leapt onto a wall and climbed—fast—faster than most could track.
Green-skin advantage.
Height.
Speed.
Vision.
I could see everything.
I leapt from the wall to a rooftop, rolling, then sprinting across tiles that cracked beneath my feet. I didn't stop. I couldn't.
Behind me—
They were still there.
How the hell—?
I jumped again, clearing a gap between buildings, landing hard, sliding, catching myself—
A blade flew past my head.
Close.
Too close.
I dropped down into a lower level, crashing through a wooden awning and into the street below, then darted into a sewer entrance without hesitation.
The smell hit me like a wall.
Didn't matter.
I ran through the darkness, feet splashing through filth, breath ragged, heart pounding so loud I thought they could hear it.
Then—
A shadow.
In front of me.
I turned—
Another behind.
"…Fuck."
I bolted forward, climbing up the side of the tunnel, using cracks and pipes, launching myself upward back into the city—
Only to be tackled mid-air.
I hit the ground hard.
Pain exploded through my body.
A blade pressed to my throat.
"Please!" I choked. "Please, I didn't mean to sleep with Lady Ki! She forced herself on me! I swear—I would never think myself worthy to touch a royal!"
Silence.
"What… are you talking about?" General Qiu said.
"…Wait—you're not going to kill me for that?"
"What? No. I don't care what royals do with their slaves," he said. Then he glanced behind me. "He might."
Heavy footsteps approached.
"QIU," a voice growled, "WHY IS HE STILL ALIVE?"
"Because he didn't kill Lady Ki," Qiu said casually. "From what it sounds like, she's fine."
"Then why is he—"
"Soldier Lee."
I froze.
"Yes, General Ren."
"What in our lord's name is going on?"
"I… I believe," Qiu said, barely holding back a grin, "that we thought he was an assassin when really… he just slept with Lady Ki."
Silence.
"…Then we should beat him nearly to death," Ren said.
"Chill," Qiu replied. "Slaves don't get a choice. You know that."
"…Even so."
"Shut up. We're late."
They turned and left.
Qiu glanced back.
Smiled.
Winked.
He had just saved my life.
Ren – The Meeting
The hall was already full when we arrived.
Generals. Commanders. Strategists. Nobles.
And at the center—
Him.
Marrick.
He sat upon his throne like it had been built around him—not the other way around. His presence alone silenced the room without effort. The faint glow of his markings pulsed like something alive beneath his skin.
I dropped to one knee immediately.
"My lord."
Around me, others followed.
Then—
"Rise."
Not spoken.
Imposed.
We rose.
High Xiwu Fuxi stood beside him, calm as ever, his wings folded neatly behind him. His eyes moved across the room like he already knew how this would end.
Marrick leaned forward slightly.
"You all know why you are here."
No one spoke.
Good.
"You all know what is coming."
Still silence.
Better.
"We are going to war."
A ripple passed through the room—not fear, not excitement—
Expectation.
"We will face a creature beyond armies. Beyond kings. Beyond nations."
His eyes gleamed.
"And we will kill it."
That was when the tension broke.
Murmurs. Shifts. Unease.
Then—
"We require a first wave."
Silence returned instantly.
Cold.
Heavy.
"We require warriors," he continued, "to engage first. To test. To weaken. To draw its attention."
No one moved.
No one volunteered.
Of course they didn't.
They weren't stupid.
Marrick smiled.
A cruel, knowing smile.
"The ones chosen will be honored," he said. "Those who survive…"
A pause.
"…will be rewarded beyond measure."
I could feel it.
The shift.
Greed.
Hope.
Desperation.
"…And those who do not," he finished, "will serve a greater purpose."
Fuxi stepped forward slightly.
"The army will be divided," he said calmly. "Assignments will be made over the coming months. Units will be… carefully selected."
Carefully.
I understood what that meant.
Slaves.
Lower ranks.
Expendables.
My jaw tightened.
But I said nothing.
Because this was war.
And this was how war worked.
Marrick stood.
And the room felt smaller.
"Prepare your men," he said.
"Because soon…"
His eyes burned.
"…we march to the flame."
And in that moment—
I knew.
Some of us were already dead.
We just didn't know it yet
2 WEEKS BEFORE WAR