March 12th, year 1817, time: 10:07 a.m. Erich von Stapel got intelligence that Selina had managed to breach the south gate. Erich couldn't help but grin a bit to himself. As the Wienian air filled his lungs, he looked at the northern gate, his men, his gun. He could barely recognize himself. He had grown a beard, and his hair had grown out throughout this campaign.
He caressed the barrel of his revolver and shook his head. Now wasn't the time to get all sentimental about his looks. But then he heard a familiar sound that he loved, the sound of the Wienian gates opening after a long winter. It marked a period of freedom when animals and people alike could go out. As a kid, he would run joyously out as the gates lowered and feel the soft touch of grass, how the river's water cooled his feet, how the sparrows soared through the sky.
To his shock, the north gate lowered itself, but it wasn't an army that rushed out, only one man.
He ordered his men not to shoot. He knew that man. It was Alaric von Eisenherz, his former lieutenant, his brother, and the current emperor of Wien.
Alaric walked out onto the battlefield without a hint of fear and called out for Erich.
His soldiers looked at Erich, confused, awaiting his next order. Clutching Kampfer Frei, he took a step out of the trenches and stood in the enemy's line of sight.
The emperor of Wien raised his hand, signaling his soldiers to stand down. The two men approached each other with heavy steps until they stood face to face.
"It's unfortunate that things had to go this way, Generalleutnant."
Erich looked at his brother, biting his lips and squinting his eyes, his gaze averted from Alaric.
"Do you resent me, Brother?" Alaric asked.
Erich raised his gaze at the man he once knew. He was now covered in jewelry and expensive pelts, with medals from their campaigns together.
"I do not. I taught you, Alaric, a soldier doesn't harbor hate towards an enemy. They solely fight for their people."
"Even though I used the power from the royals who once exploited our country to usurp authority?"
"Alaric, do you remember the war against Fukviyu?"
"How could I ever forget?" He raised his hands, smiling.
"Do you remember what they did to our people once they captured our cities? They massacred us, they raped our women, they brainwashed our kids, they exploited us for years."
Alaric's expression grew grim.
"We were brothers. On that day, I found you all alone in that house. You were merely a child. Our mother, Wienian, took care of you. Our father, Wienian, made sure that there was always something on the table for you to eat. Our sister, Wienian, always made sure you slept with a smile on your face. How can you walk proudly in those streets knowing you support those who have caused so many atrocities? THIS IS OUR PEOPLE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT! YOU ARE EMPEROR FOR WIEN! Not these sick royals." Erich took a breath to calm himself.
Alaric smiled softly before shaking his head.
"I know, Brother. I forsook you, our country, our parents. But the fact is, I'm not Wienian."
"IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BLOOD!" Erich screamed in anger.
"You are not sick and evil just because you have royal blood. If you are doing this simply because you wish to have power, then brother, I will have no choice but to kill you."
"Brother, I do not ask for forgiveness, the time for that is long overdue. But the only thing I ask is for you to put down your weapons and trust me."
Alaric reached out his hand to Erich, his eyes dead serious.
"Like hell."
Erich slapped his hand away.
"You are no longer my brother. And those medals you bear on your chest, you are tarnishing the spirits of those who died for your freedom."
Alaric looked at his medals sewn onto his chest. He tore them off with his hand and threw them at Erich.
"I'm sorry, Generalleutnant." Alaric turned his back to Erich and began walking back to the north gate.
Erich walked back to his trench and heard soldiers whispering to each other. He knew it was a shock to many of his men that he was the emperor's brother. But that fact didn't sway them from trusting their general, because they were fighting the same enemy.
That's when the battlefield began rumbling as thousands of soldiers came out of the northern gate, screaming.
Eirlys, Aylin, Lilith, and I stood on a cliff a few kilometers away from the battlefield, overlooking everything.
"WOWAWIWEIEEEE, ERICH VON STAPEL IN THE FLESH!" Eirlys cried out, jumping up and down in excitement.
Aylin looked around in shock at the number of bodies that riddled the surrounding area. It was the first time she had actually seen warfare in her life, and she couldn't help but feel sick, so she went over and sat down by a tree. I, on the other hand, thought about the situation Wien was in and how something similar could occur in Nautilus. I wondered about the innocent civilians who lived in these war-plagued areas, what thoughts or emotions went through their heads. These soldiers, how could they continue fighting in such horrendous conditions?
Lilith asked Eirlys what was so good about this, and that's when Eirlys pointed at the battlefield and told Lilith to shut up and watch the magic unfold.
Erich von Stapel had positioned his troops in the shape of an outward curve. The Königsteuers were charging right into the defensive position, pushing the curve backwards.
"The Königsteuers outnumber the Umstürzlers 5:1, but look at that brilliant formation, that strategy, ooooo what a man you are, Erich von Stapel…" Eirlys drooled, holding her face.
As the massive Königsteuer army pushed deeper and deeper, bending the Umstürzler position, the sides of the formation curved inwards, and suddenly it was a military general's dream, a complete and utter encirclement of a larger enemy force. He had used the Königsteuers' own massive size to his advantage, and Eirlys was going crazy over it to the point it was creeping Lilith out.
Then, to seal the deal, the Umstürzlers began a series of lox barrages into the trapped and encircled Königsteuers. Packed like sardines, they were slaughtered in masses. Aylin covered her ears, trying not to hear the explosions.
It was my first time witnessing such brilliance being played out on an actual battlefield. This was completely different from playing a game of checkers or chess. Here, you had to take into consideration reality, like the soldiers' morale, supplies, and leadership.
But then the Königsteuers' royal backup with lox users arrived and broke a link in the Umstürzlers' position, allowing the Königsteuers to pour out of the pocket.
"Auhhhhgh…." Eirlys moaned.
"Concentrated fire and fast, coordinated attacks leading to a counter-encirclement. Wienian generals surely know how to make a girl feel squeezy inside…"
Lilith and I stared at Eirlys, speechless, and just shook our heads.
"NOW! How will the brilliant Erich von Stapel respond to this attack!?" Eirlys was on her toes, watching every single detail of the battle.