Author's Note:
This is my first attempt at a true fantasy story. Much inspiration was taken from Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, as well as several anime I've watched over the years.
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The rising sun gradually woke me up and I opened my eyes. Like most days, there was a moment where I was blandly content, but then the reality of what the day held crashed into me.
Exhaling heavily, I rose from my bed and got ready for the day.
Jacqueline was already awake, tending to the horses. She heard me approach and looked at me somberly.
"Good morning, Gerard."
I nodded in greeting.
Jacqueline was one of the few people I allowed to call me that. Everybody else in my battalion called me Captain. But she was my second in command, as well as my friend. Considering that, I allowed just a hint of worry to seep into my expression.
Being a pure human in a sea of various beasts and hybrids set me apart enough, I had to train night and day to keep up with the orcs and lycanthropes and merfolk in our society, but I was also the captain of a battalion of warriors. Over a few years I had proven my worth to the kingdom and they entrusted me with various battles and offensives. But despite my pedigree the prospect of today still scared me.
The day's goal was to recapture Fort Antra, which long ago had been taken by the Southern Territory. It cut off a crucial bridge over a canyon in our land, choking up trade routes. Legions had tried and failed for decades to take it back, but were stopped mostly due to one enemy soldier: Lionel.
Lionel was a behemoth of a centaur. Stories told of his long, wild hair, his stone wall of a body, and his massive club that could render enemies to mush. He was their trump card. When armies fought, he would act as a berserker, racing around and wreaking havoc with his speed and power.
Our strategy was simple, but dangerous, so much so that many would find it insane. One knight was going to keep Lionel distracted, keeping him away from the rest of the battalion so they could take the fort in peace. If all of us attacked Lionel at once, the enemy would catch on and protect him. But they wouldn't predict that one soldier could be suicidal enough to try to take on Lionel alone.
Unfortunately, that lone soldier would have to be me.
I was the best option out of all of us. Me and my horse Slate were so in-tune, we moved as one. We could keep up with a centaur, and I would be able to hold my own in a fight. I wouldn't have to win, I just had to keep Lionel occupied as Jacqueline led the rest of our group to victory.
Jacqueline's hand on my shoulder pushed me out of my thoughts.
"Calm yourself, Gerard. You can do this."
My second in command was a valkyrie. Like most of my battalion, she towered over me. She was intimidating, with her sharp features, yellow eyes, and powerful body. She could jump over walls, run like the wind. I wouldn't have to worry about the rest of our team. She would do her part, I just had to worry about doing mine.
I nodded.
"You're right. It's time to begin."
Jacqueline moved to the center of camp and blew the horn, signaling everyone else to wake up. Over time the battalion got out of their tents and assembled, eating a quick breakfast and preparing their battle armor.
Once everything was ready, I climbed on Slate so I could address all my comrades.
"We have been training for this day for the better part of three moons now. We've made it through more difficult situations than this. Stay alert. Remember the plan. Trust in your fellow soldiers."
I raised my arm and made my voice boom.
"PERIGRINE BATTALION, MOVE OUT!!"
After we began our journey to the battlefield, one of the squadron leaders, a lycanthrope named Quintus, walked up to keep pace with Slate and I.
"You don't have to be nervous, sir. You can take on Lionel, no problem."
I sighed. "I thought I was doing a better job hiding my worry."
He chuckled deeply, his normally blank expression curling into a smile.
"Maybe from everyone else, but I've known you too long, Captain."
I looked at my comrade. Quintus was intimidating, no doubt. His wolf head was fearsome, his body muscled and rugged. His heritage of the island nations from far away gave his skin a dark brown color uncommon in the Northern Kingdom.
However, it didn't take long for me to learn that despite his exterior, he was a gentle soul. He used his strength only to protect and was just as skilled at diffusing conflict as he was fighting. He was one of our first recruits when Jacqueline and I started the Peregrine Battalion four years ago.
I gave him one of my rare smiles.
"I appreciate your concern, lieutenant. But right now your responsibility is to your squadron."
He nodded.
"Yes, Captain."
In what felt like no time at all, we made it to the point of no return. Fort Antra was on a plateau, and we were in the forest at its border. When we crossed, the lookouts would spot us and the enemy would assemble at once.
I stopped at looked back at my brothers and sisters in arms. I took a deep breath and nodded before rushing forward, leading my battalion out into the open.
We didn't get far before I could hear the loud signal that the fort was under attack. Some enemy soldiers were ready for immediate action, but a majority would need a few moments to get ready. That was our opportunity to strike.
Our worst suspicions were confirmed when Lionel was one of the first to exit the fort. I couldn't make out much over the distance, but he didn't appear to be wearing any armor. All the preparation he needed, it seemed, was to grab his club.
I took another deep breath and focused all my attention on the task at hand. At that moment, I couldn't afford to think about how the rest of the battalion was doing. I needed to trust that they could take the fort without me.
Once I got close enough I notched my crossbow and fired a bolt directly at Lionel's chest. He dodged, but it was enough to get his attention.
"How foolish," he taunted. "A mere human thinks he can shoot down me?"
Without hesitation I rode up as fast as I could, managing to jab him slightly with the tip of my spear before he swung his club.
That thing looked like it was made from the entire trunk of a tree. Up close, I could see various stains on it. The blood of his enemies. One instant after I got out of range, I felt the wind of that club flowing behind me.
I would be done for if he landed a good hit with it, but his weapon was so big and heavy that it took time for him to swing, and I couldn't imagine he could use it very well while running. I could use that to my advantage.
Lionel grunted, noticing the small wound on his flank. He looked at me with fury burning in his eyes.
"You've dug your own grave."
After a snap decision I made a horrified expression and had Slate run us away at full speed.
As expected, Lionel gave chase. I heard him roar behind me.
"NO YOU DON'T! GET BACK HERE, COWARD!!"
This was good. I could now lead him away from the battle.
I went up to a cliffside far enough from the fighting and turned around.
The beast grinned.
"Nowhere to run now."
He ran up to me and brought down the club, and once again I was just barely able to escape the range of attack.
Lionel attacked me in earnest and the resulting brawl was intense. I had to use every move, every trick I had learned in my life to keep the centaur on edge. Over and over I escaped his blows by just a hair's breadth. But I was buying my battalion time.
Even so, it couldn't last. Slate and I were both sweating from the exertion. I was running out of ideas.
The original plan was to fight Lionel until the fort was won and then a large group would come to my rescue. But now it seemed like a better idea to end this fight once and for all.
Throughout our battle, I had been examining Lionel's attack style. It was all offense, no defense, which was hardly surprising. He seemed to have two moves: swinging the club in a gigantic arc, or rearing up on just his hind legs and bringing the club down with all his might. The latter was enough to crack the stone we were standing on. But there was a brief moment, just the smallest sliver of an opening, where he was up in the air, supported by just two legs. He was so top-heavy. Just one push...
