Chapter Text
Ego bounded across their temporary camp into one of the tents where Gouma stood, looking over some reports. He lifted his gaze when Ego entered, fixing his glasses before putting the files down.
“Ah, Ego. There you are. I was about to send someone out to look for you.”
”I was just looking over that town…” Ego muttered gruffly. Gouma went back to half heartedly flicking through the files.
”No need. The privates can go looking for supplies. They already have, didn’t find much.”
Ego turned towards the mirror, fixing his hair and keeping his gaze off of Gouma.
”So you sent our soldiers to attack a town and we got nothing out of it but more exhaustion and a few more rowdy disdains?”
Gouma snorted as he put down the files a second time and walked over, reaching up and pinching Ego’s chin, placing it in the palm of his hand.
”Ah, my dear little brother. It’s not about supplies. It’s about the message. It’s telling those humans that we can easily take whatever we want. While they spread themselves thin just to defend, we are secure and powerful. It ensues fear in the public. Doubt towards the royals.” Gouma twirls his finger around his low ponytail.
“I know you’re new to this. But trust my judgement.” He pats Ego’s cheek reassuringly, but also condescendingly. “Your strong big brother has it all figured out.”
”I’m not a child. Don’t patronize me.” Ego sent him a sidelong glare. “I’ve led armies on my own before. I simply believe it was unnecessary. But that’s not what I came here about.”
”Do tell, I’m listening.” Gouma leaned against the table, playing with one of the chess pieces on a nearby board.
”I’d like to take a few soldiers deeper into Trump Kingdom territory. It’s risky, but I’m sure they’ll be on higher guard after this. Which only makes it harder for us. Thanks for that, by the way.-“ The little shit just gave Ego a small shrug. “-Either way, it’s best to know enemy territory. And we may be able to find more food while we’re out. From what I’ve studied those who live in the western area practice a lot of agriculture, perhaps a few small expeditions there to grab food will prove useful. Getting supplies while keeping the people alive so they can continue to plant more-”
”I don’t mind.” Gouma cut him off. “Just make sure you’re careful, and don’t take too many of our strongest. We don’t want to risk all of you getting ambushed. Especially by those “Precure” or whatever. Some mysterious girls who help the humans, most of the reports say that even the humans don’t know who they are. But they’re strong. And have the ability to purify psyches.”
That caught Ego’s attention.
Humans with the ability to purify psyches? That’s never been done before…. The bat wings on the sides of his head stretched out in interest, something that didn’t go unnoticed by Gouma as his older brother let out another snort.
He was planning on simply taking those who hadn’t been present in that raid, they were likely the most well rested. So he just nodded and walked out, calling over some familiar faces to pack up some food, weapons, and medical supplies before setting off.
They didn’t travel too far into the enemy territory but it was enough to get a grasp on the surroundings. It would be hard to find cover in these bright and vibrant areas. They’d stick out like a sore thumb here, luckily they had based by a cliff side area that provided good coverage through the rocks and enough area to build a camp.
The best part by far was the cave channel.
Ego jumped into a hole near the cliff side, it led to a channel of caves that led down into a nearby town. One full of farmers and markets.
Perfect for sneaking into to steal supplies or gather information. And looking further into a cave near on the opposite end was a cave that could be dug a bit more to lead back to their main camp. It was perfect.
Deciding it would be best to report back to Gouma, Ego had most of the soldiers stay while he took the rest back and report their findings.
However, once they were a few miles away, Ego halted. Straining his ears as he heard a faint sound,
”Soldiers, arm yourselves.” He whispered. Just as he did, Ego tilted his head to the side a bit, letting an arrow fly past his head.
Extending his hand, Ego summoned his spear, turning towards the Trump Kingdom soldiers.
How long have they been following us? Surely they haven’t seen us leave the new campsite.
The man in the lead had long golden hair in a tight, high ponytail and wore a bulky silver suit of armor. He was strong, and had a great amount of protection but surely that would make him slow.
The man mounted from his horse and pulled out a great sword. Ah, he’s heard of that weapon.
”A Klondike, I presume.” Ego observed casually. The man stepped forward to meet him halfway. Ego observed the soldiers behind him.
The Mercenares were fairly outnumbered, around 50 human soldiers and Ego had 20.
“Ego.” The man greeted stiffly. “I’ve heard of you.”
”All good I hope.”
”Not at all.” Klondikes voice was laced with venom. “What are you doing on our land? Has what your kind already stolen not sufficed?”
“Sir Klondike, I’m merely a man doing what he’s ordered by his king. This is nothing personal.” He kept his voice even. “I’m sure you understand. What me and my soldiers are looking for is merely some food.
And no, we don’t eat the ‘souls of the innocent and pure’, I heard that was a rumor going around for a time. There is no need for a fight. We aren’t here for trouble, no need to shed blood over this.” Ego just wanted to get back, and fighting was an unnecessary obstacle.
Klondike, however, wasn’t having it. Raising his great sword towards Ego.
Ego sighed and signaled for his soldiers to halt. That is until Klondike shot forward, his army following in suite.
“Now!”
The field became a mess of yelling and weapons clashing.
Ego was blocking Klondikes attack with his spear, pushing him off and using the metal pole part of his spear to hit his exposed head.
Klondike just barely dodged, signaling for someone in the distance and Ego teleported out of the way of an incoming soldier. Kicking them away midair while they tried to leap at him.
“Animus!” He yelled at one of his swifter men. “Go report back to camp. Don’t let anyone follow.” Lifting his hand he used his reverse wind technique, sucking enemy soldiers closer before sending them flying with a blast of dark energy.
Another soldier jumped infront of him, sword grazing Ego’s cheek. Blood ran down it but another of Ego’s own soldiers came down on the man, splattering the human soldiers blood on him.
Looking around at his surroundings, it was clear to Ego that while they were fairing well but eventually the numbers would get to them. This fight was unnecessary in the first place.
His mind was racing with thoughts as he looked for an escape route.
There!
A pathway where two rock walls stood and a large opening at the top. Gives them enough room to escape and allowing them to fly off without getting intercepted but not enough for Klondike’s squadron to flood.
Ego made a sign of retreat and they followed the direction of his gesture.
Ego was about to follow when he felt a sharp slice in his stomach. He turned his eyes down towards Klondike who had sent his great sword through Ego’s stomach.
Attacking while the enemy was retreating. How low.
”Coward.” Ego hissed.
“If I must be one to protect my kingdom, so be it.” Ego’s eyes widened at his words as he pulled himself off the sword. A few of his soldiers paused, staring back at him.
“Keep going! I’ll handle myself!” He ordered them and they did so.
He sent one last glare towards Klondike. He needed more cover. Now.
Mercenares didn’t often teleport when they needed energy like in war. It took up too much energy and too much time to replenish. But he didn’t have much time so his mind went to the first place he thought of. The cavern near the human town. And he teleported away.
Ego leaned against the wall, hand pressed to his stomach; the cave was fairly well hidden from the humans, but he could see down at the village.
Damnit…he got careless. How unlike him. Why had he’d bother holding back on them? Ego could’ve wiped out almost all the soldiers by himself easily…. Klondike would’ve been the only issue…
Yet he couldn’t bring himself to do so until they had outright threatened his life….
Perhaps Gouma was right, he was too soft.
“If I must be one to protect my kingdom, so be it.”
What an…unfamiliar sentiment….
To willingly fight for the sake of your kingdom…not simply because it’s what your king wishes….
Humans are fascinating…
I wonder if…
He couldn’t finish his thoughts before the world went dark.
Aiko was in the western village: Moonglave. It was a village known for its agriculture and was a main supporter for the soldiers on the battle field with supplies.
Although she was mainly here because she had gotten wind (eavesdropped on a conversation on a town messenger and the royal advisor) that there was blood in one of the lakes, causing a great stir among the villagers.
Looking over a bridge, Aiko peered at the water below. It was clear as ever. She’ll take a look at the lower channels. Luckily she brought the water tester she built awhile ago.
Before she lifted herself back up, Aiko was nearly knocked over by someone jumping on top of her.
”Aiiiikooooo!!!!” The familiar voice cheered loudly in her ears and Aiko could feel Reina jolt awake, hidden away I her hair.
”Ack! Mayumi!” She scolded her friend. “I could’ve fallen!” Mayumi just laughed nervously, scratching the back of her head.
”Sorry, sorry. I was just excited to see you.”
Aiko sighed but couldn’t stay mad at her.
”How was…the other day?” Aiko asked and Mayumi’s gaze saddened.
“Well I purified a lot of them…but I was running out of energy…and then more Mercenares came…and I couldn’t…- I’m sorry.” Mayumi’s voice softened to the point of a whisper, looking down in shame.
Aiko reached out to put a hand on Mayumi shoulder. She was always the worst at comforting people so it came off as more of a stiff pat on the back, added on with her dead facial expression; Mayumi immediately burst into laughter.
“Oh Aiko! You really know how to- ahaha- lighten up a gloomy day!” Aiko smiled, it might not have been the way she hoped but she had cheered up Mayumi.
”You shouldn’t feel guilty about it. You did the absolute best you could. And next time, me and Shizuko will be there to help you. We’re a team after all.”
Mayumi’s eyes sparkled and she looked about ready to jump on Aiko to embrace her but before she could, a loud bell sounded.
A bell warning of an attack. The two immediately straightened up as they heard the sounds of screams. Melan and Reina appeared out of their hiding spots and took on their Lovely Commune forms.
They’d have to do this one without Shizuko.
Transforming, the two girls made their way over to where, surprisingly only a few Mercenares were. Chasing villagers and conjuring some disdains.
Cure Wisdom looked for the one in the lead of the whole attack, normally they weren’t fighting and led giving hand signals.
Cure Empress fought off some of the lower ranking soldiers as Wisdom searched. Eventually she laid eyes on the soldier barking orders.
He didn’t seem to bear the patch of a high ranking soldier, so this must not be huge attack.
A bird disdain came up in front of her and Wisdom summoned her arrow of knowledge and shot it, the blast so strong it purified four more nearby as she jumped over to wear the soldier floated.
“You- A Precure?! What are you doing here?!” The soldier shouted. Oh, so they had gotten wind of them already.
”Better question is what are you doing here?” Wisdom said, summoning her arrow once more and creating an arrow made of magic. “You and your comrades can get lost.” The solider sent blast of dark magic her way but Wisdom shot her arrow, destroying it and sending him flying back.
“Gah! Damnit- this wouldn’t be so hard with General Ego here-“
Cure Wisdom jumped down to where he sat. “What are a bunch of privates doing here? You’re clearly unorganized. Where’s your sergeant’s? Or your generals?” She aimed her arrow at him again, the private stumbled back and glared at her.
”This is far from over! Once our reinforcements come well-“ he was cut off with a shriek as he narrowly dodged her arrow. This was almost too easy. He floated up and yelled to his comrades. “Retreat!”
They followed behind him and Cure Empress jumped down from where she was purifying the last of the disdains.
”That was…strangely easy.” So it wasn’t just her.
“They were just a bunch of privates. I don’t know why they decided to do such an uncoordinated attack. This would be a good area for them to attack to cut off food to our soldiers, but you’d think they’d send more….”
Just as they were talking, the townspeople ran over, thanking the two mysterious hero’s for their bravery. Immediately Cure Wisdom began scooting away. She hated these crowds that always formed after a fight and had become quite good at finding ways to sneak off.
And as they clasped their hands around Cure Empresses and bowed their heads in thanks, she immediately made her escape. Running near the cliff side, Wisdom paused.
Looking down at low water channels, her green eyes sparked with interest.
The water was splashed with red.
The blood in the water….
Where was it coming from?
As Wisdom looked around she as a small hole in the cliff side that leaked into lake…blood was dripping from it.
Pushing against the ground she launched herself onto the cliff and began looking around for some entry point. The blood had to be coming from something or someone…, so there had to be an entry.
After a few minutes of searching she found a fairly large hole in the ground and jumped in.
”What are we doing?” Reina whispered, panicked. “What if we find a dead body?!”
“Then we try to find out how they died. If there is a dead body here it wouldn’t be an accident, that’s a whole other issue.” The cave had a fair amount of light due to several openings.
You could look down at the village but they wouldn’t be able to see you.
As Wisdoms eyes scanned the area, she saw the limp hand of a person and ran over to them but halted immediately once she saw who it was….
A Mercenare!
”What?! What’s a Mercenare doing here?!” Reina screeched. “Is he dead?! Why would someone hide a body of a Mercenare?! No one would fault a person if they’d-“
“Sh!” Wisdom shushed her fairy partner as she walked over to the body, observing him. He seemed to be around her age, maybe two or three years older, but that just could be the scar on his cheek adding an illusion of age.
Fairly well built, wearing a chest plate, armored arms and neck, but none on his lower body…. Strange. Almost like no one’s gotten close enough for him to worry about that.
Speaking of the lower body, there was a large bleeding gash on his stomach. Clearly someone had gotten close enough.
Looking at the cloth cloak he was wearing over most his outfit, that was now splayed across the rocks, she saw a rank patch and her breath hitched.
”He’s a general.”
”Even more of a reason to leave him!!!” But Cure Wisdom paid no mind to her partners worries. She reached out and took his hand, feeling his pulse.
”He’s alive….”
“Okay. Great. So let’s notify the village chiefs. They can take him into custody.”
”He’ll die if he isn’t treated…,” she murmured to herself mostly.
”What do we care?! Hello! It’s a Mercenare GENERAL!”
That was true but…was it really okay to just…leave him here? Just let him die in such an awful way? Wisdoms been called a number of things around the lines of ‘apathetic’ and ‘immoral’ in her pursuits of knowledge but that didn’t mean she didn’t have morals…and she didn’t feel comfortable leaving him to die.
”I know that look. Don’t. If you really want him to live, tell the medics to see him first. Then we can take him into custody. Wait-what are you doing?! Don’t get close to him! What if he wakes up?! He could attack you-“
”I don’t think he’s in the physical condition to even get up fast enough.” Wisdom pointed out. Summoning the bag she brought with her.
She wasn’t a medic but she always carried medical supplies with her. Knowing her she might eat a toxic mushroom just to tests its effects. (An exaggeration made by Shizuko).
“Or just ignore me completely. Yeah. Let’s do that.” Reina groaned.
It would be better to report this to the authorities but…Wisdom had her own goal. This was finally the chance to learn more about the Mercenares. This wasn’t a chance you come by so often!
And he couldn’t even get up and avoid her questions! She could finally learn about their culture and history!
”Oh no…I know that look…. Are you seriously going to torture this poor guy for a history lesson?”
”Oh so suddenly he’s a ‘poor guy’ now? And I’m not going to torture him. Seems like he’s been through enough.” Wisdom said as she lifted his shirt and began cleaning the wound. He’d definitely need stitches.
Wisdom probably has something that’ll suffice for that. (Note: Never stitch someone up with something that’ll ’probably suffice’).
“Getting questioned by you is a type of torture. I’ve seen professors jump out of windows to avoid your questions on their latest lectures.”
Reina was cut off as the man let out a small groan and she immediately shrieked and made herself as small as possible in her lovely commune form.
His eyes fluttered open just as Cure Wisdom finished the last stitch.