Chapter 226 Alison IV (1/2)

VOLUME X - TITAN REALMS

CHAPTER 226

ALISON (IV)

What used to be a straight flatland was now a ravaged canyon of cracked and twisted stones, the entire hollowed sections littered with corpses, some whole and some not. The darkened clouds mirrored the burdensome atmosphere down below, upholding the eerie and ghastly silence that had enveloped the world.

On one edge of the ravaged land stood erect a grayed castle of stone, encompassing quite a large swath of land, surrounded with thick and tall walls hoisting four massive towers altogether. On one of the towers, three people were currently standing still in silence, overlooking the damaged reality before them with darkened expressions.

Alison felt her throat burn, yet couldn't wince a sound; though her eyes were slightly moist, she refrained from letting the tears flow. Holding it all in, she felt as though she'd explode, the only barrier between that end the two people standing next to her -- Emma and Sae, her personal guardians.

”... Lady Alison,” Emma was a young girl in her early twenties with boyish, black hair and a pair of hazelnut-colored eyes and a build on the taller, slender side. ”We should go back inside.”

”... how many have we lost?” Alison took a deep breath and repressed her emotions.

”... altogether 2,683.” Sae had a rather child-like appearance, with curled, blonde hair falling over her slender shoulders. The pair of green eyes held seeming indifference to the world around her, as though it was an empty room of nothingness. ”They've lost 1,966.”

”... dammit.” Alison cursed lowly, lamenting her own incompetence. ”This is a third loss in a row. We can't take any more of this.”

”You will figure it out.” Sae said.

”How?! How am I going to figure it out?!!” Alison lashed out in frustration, gritting her teeth nearly till her gums began to bleed. ”I don't know how to command an army! I don't know how to lead people and get them inspired and motivated to literally throw their lives away for a cause!! At this point they are just dying for no reason!!”

”They're not dying without a reason, Lady Alison.” Emma chimed in. ”They know very well that this is your training, and they've no doubts about their calling.”

”What calling? To die so I can figure out how to fight a battle? Haah... why'd I ever agree to this. I should be the one down there fighting, not standing here and watching thousands of people die. This is pathetic...”

”Lady Alison,” Sae said as her green eyes flared red for a moment. ”You've been summoned to the headquarters.”

”... alright. Go and assess the morale,” Alison said as she turned around to leave, her golden hair fluttering momentarily. ”As well as who can still fight.”

”Very well!”

It has been nearly a whole year since Alison had begun actively participating in the current Holy War between two Holy Lands -- her own Eternal Paradise and Aeonian Soul. Though no one has said much of her performance so far, she knew the best how horrid it was, particularly so since she was forbidden from fighting directly, restricted only to ordering troops about.

Quickly into the war she realized she wasn't the Commander-kind, or an inspiring leader -- what's worse, perhaps, was that she couldn't lead through an example. While she remained on the sidelines, watching the chaos unfurl before her eyes, others went ahead in her stead, dying in droves... over and over. The swirl of emotions festered in the depths of her now-broken heart, bit by bit devouring her inside out. Time and again she'd lock herself up in her chambers for days at a time, crying her soul out, but it hardly ever helped.