Editing Aeric Dalia/Vol 3 Chapter 1

[[Aeric Dalia/Vol 2 Chapter 6]]
----------
Two days passed since the Di incident Voren hadn’t spoken a word to Aeric. Their formation took up the width of the small dirt path they were on. Aeric was at the head. The vast grassland greeted them with a warm summer breeze. A head of them in the great distance was a wide blue mountain range with snow that dotted along the peaks.

Dalia was enjoying the warms on her face as she smiled up at the sky. She had dropped pretense and didn't mask her appearance. Her wings spread out, lifting her slightly as a gust of wind hit them. She fell back in her formation for have her horse trot along side Faline. The elf was still getting herself used to the whole 'demon' aspect of her traveling entourage. She nodded at Dalia.
“May I ask you something?” Dalia spoke quietly.
“Speak.” Faline kept looking forward. The wind catching her long blond braid.
“Where is Aeric from? I've been around this continent for quite some time, and I can't tell which part he hails from.”
“He's not from this continent.” She glanced over at the demon, with one eye.
“So, hes from Visea?” An audible grunt was heard from Aeric. Faline snickered a moment. “ Well, where then?”
“Ask him yourself.” Faline winked coyly.

The succubus spurred her horse and its pace increased enough for her to match strides with Aeric. Before she could get a word in Aeric signaled for his group to halt with a fist raised in the air. He then pointed to a patch of dirt under a tree. He lead his horse, and dismounted it under the shade. The rest started together.
“We should rest here a moment.”

Aeric procured a canteen from his equipment, unlatched his helmet, and began drinking. The others sat around discussing things amongst themselves, or loosening their armor. Hale started eating food from Alistar's estate. Aeric Sat comfortable with one leg extended taking occasional sips of water. His acolyte stood next to him bending over with a smile in his face.
“Mind if I ask you a question...sir?”

Aeric ignored her as first. The smile faded slightly. She knelt beside him. She tried to pose the question again. He held up a hand and took another drink. She sighed and remained patient. Watching his through bob with each swallow. She felt her tongue instinctively start to lick her lips. She caught herself and changed her position to sit relaxed next to Aeric.
“So you want to know where I am from?” The demon nodded excitedly. “ Weapons training!” She shouted. He looked at his acolyte “ Earn it.”

The acolytes walked to their horses and grabbed their weapons. They stood across from their adept and began exchanging bouts. Dalia leveled her spear, and Aeric simply held his sword to the side. The demon readied a thrust. As it flew towards the paladin he simply flicked his wrist and stepped to the side, parrying the weapon effortlessly.

She recovered and readied another attack that flew past Aeric. He took a step forward and tapped her back with the flat of his blade. His weapon still held to the side, in no stance whatsoever.
“For every bout you win. I will give you a hint” Dalia's eyes lit and a wicked smile crossed her face.

She lunged with another thrust, that Aeric began to motion for a block. She feinted and lunged at his dodge with the shaft of her weapon. The paladin slowed its swing with the palm of his hand, ducking under its follow through, and tapped the side of her leg. She continued her momentum and dipped the tip of the spear low to reach the back of Aeric. He raised his blade, deflecting the hit. He extended his arm and flicked the demon's forehead.

She retracted a step. Lowered her spear. Her wings moved forward to cover herself. She thrust them back launching her forward and drove her spear low. Aeric moved to block, Dalia drove her spear into the ground, vaulting off. She threw both of her legs into a hard kick. Aeric stepped to the side letting her pass. In an attempt to humiliate her more, he didn't notice her elbow extended. It landed square into his side. He was knocked off his step partially. Dalia recovered by drawing her weapon from the dirt and using its momentum to whip Aeric with it. He leveled his blade in time to deflect. He smiled.
“It's to the north.” He spoke awaiting her next attack.

Dalia took a different approach. She cocked back her spear and slowly advanced towards Aeric. This time the Paladin took up a defensive stance, albeit relaxed. She thrust quickly and retracted just as quickly. Aeric's block swept past harmlessly. She thrust again and tilted the shaft to try and strike past Aeric's sword. His sword fell harshly onto the demon. She flinched as the blade stopped an inch from her face.
“Don't try to outsmart your foe. Simply predict how they will move.”

His blade withdrew. As the demon let out a sigh of relief another attack came from the same way. She blocked and parried his attack. His blade tossed it aside and swept for another. She deflected again. They exchanged attacks increasing in ferocity. The demon began grunting and spewing out swears and Aeric continued to press forward starting to knock her off balance. She swatted her wings to regain balance. Aeric followed with a powerful downward swing. Dalia held her weapon flat to brace for the impact. Once it did , she dropped one end, letting Aeric's sword deflect along its shaft. She twisted to dodge its path and tapped her spear head on Aeric's arm.

Aeric disengaged and nodded.
“It's near mountains.”

As he readied another attack he saw a gathering cloud of dust in the distance. It was thick and filled a good portion of the horizon. Dalia's appearance changed in the blink of an eye. Soon war horns were heard. The group quickly made for their mounts. The plume grew closer and closer. The thunderous sounds of hoof beats pierced through the concealing dirt.
“Damn it, I didn’t think you pissed them off that much Aeric!” Faline blurted out.

His blade withdrew. As the demon let out a sigh of relief another attack came from the same way. She blocked and parried his attack. His blade tossed it aside and swept for another. She deflected again. They exchanged attacks increasing in ferocity. The demon began grunting and spewing out swears and Aeric continued to press forward starting to knock her off balance. She swatted her wings to regain balance. Aeric followed with a powerful downward swing. Dalia held her weapon flat to brace for the impact. Once it did , she dropped one end, letting Aeric's sword deflect along its shaft. She twisted to dodge its path and tapped her spear head on Aeric's arm.

Aeric disengaged and nodded.
“It's near mountains.”

As he readied another attack he saw a gathering cloud of dust in the distance. It was thick and filled a good portion of the horizon. Dalia's appearance changed in the blink of an eye. Soon war horns were heard. The group quickly made for their mounts. The plume grew closer and closer. The thunderous sounds of hoof beats pierced through the concealing dirt.
“Damn it, I didn’t think you pissed them off that much Aeric!” Faline blurted out.

Riders could be seen poking out at the forefront of their formation. They drew closer, and the paladins stayed under their shade, mounted on their horses with their weapons ready. The horde of riders began to pass by by. Their numbers well into the hundreds. They flew the banners of the Kharothi kingdom. A stray man broke from the formation, he went to the group of paladins in the shade.

“You there, why aren't you with the rest of the cavalry?” He spoke with a sword pointed at them.
“We bare no allegiance to the lords of the land.” Faline shouted over the thunderous clamor.
“Then why are you so readied for war?”
“We are Paladins of the Order.” She replied several times to be heard.
“There is need of mighty warriors to fight off the invaders. Will you join us?”
“We have no part in your wars.” Aeric added. “ It is you who started the war with Varvistahd”
“It's not Varvistahd.”

The rider joined the rest of his warhost. The Calavry passed them and soon the ubiquitous noise had ended. Faline grabbed at her ears rubbing them gently in relief. Aeric watched them ride away. He sheathed his blade and pulled his reigns to face them.
“Well should we see whats going on?” Faline spoke still hearing a loud ringing in her sensitive ears.
“It's like you said. He have no allegiance to any of them.” Voren spoke.
“There will be people needing our help after the battle.”

Aeric spurred his horse forward and a calm pace. He was in no hurry to see the battle fought. As much as he would like to prevent the battle, there would be no way for them to reach it in time. He sighed wistfully. The rest of his group caught up with him.
“Halmar can wait?” Faline asked the intrepid paladin. “ That Blackguard can wait?”
“Yes.”


Many miles down the path of the Cavalry war horde, the trail suddenly appeared to jut into a different direction. The cloud that betrayed their position had long since faded. The paladins weren't following them anymore. A smell stung Aeric's nose. He spotted flickers of black in the sky to the distance. Crows. He recoiled a moment. His horse stopping entirely. As the others passed Faline stopped by his side.
“What is it?” She asked in a calm but assertive manner.
“The battle is long over. My guess is the Cavalry broke for a camp. We press forward.”

The smell began to grow. It was an unpleasant sour and rotten odour. The skwacking of birds soon filled the air, along with small plumes of gray smoke. Voren tightened his grip on his scabbard. His heart slowly began to beat faster. Dalia instinctively looked towards the man and saw an expression of worry grow. The poor man was soon to be confronted with the scene of yet another gruesome battle.

The Succubus Smiled at Voren reassuringly. He returned the smile but his unease still hadn’t been abated. Dalia's horse trotted alongside his.
“Scared?” She spoke softly.
“No. Of course not. I'm just...” His voice trailed off.

Aeric crossed over the threshold of a hill overlooking a valley. He stopped entirely. The rest approached. The valley was charred brown and black from horizon to horizon. Wooden structures burnt to cinders and toppled over. The ground that wasn’t blackened by fire was muddied and upturned from thousands of feet. Corpse stretched just as far. In some areas the density of the slain was greater. In others piles of fallen soldiers gathered in mounds.

Trumpets blared in the distance along with the beating of war drums. Several blocks of hundred or so men marched in rigid squares. Marching back up the hill to the far side of the battlefield. Some patrolled the area. At the center of the formation was a large red flag with a tilted black cross in the center. In the middle was a gray eagle with outstretched wings. Each cohort of soldiers had a smaller flag flying to their front. Faline looked towards Aeric, then to the young Voren who looked on with wide eyes and a loose jaw.

“The Empire! Whats Arnay doing here?” Voren spat out furiously. His blade rattled in its holding.
“Calm yourself Voren!” Faline barked. “ I know it's tough but you can't do anything rash here.”

Voren gritted his teeth and tapped his horse. His composure slowly fell apart. He looked at the thousands of dead bodies all around him. He felt a tinge of satisfaction at every imperial soldier he found. He turned back to his companions. His gaze was narrow and pained. Eyes slightly glazed over.
“Voren. Calm yourself.” Faline repeated.
“You weren't there Faline!” He looked at the withdrawing army. Voren drew his blade.
“Don't be stupid, boy.” Aeric retorted.

“I faced down an army once already. I can do it again.” With those words Voren tugged on his reigns and galloped off into the battlefield.

He was followed in suit by Aeric whose horse charged as violently. The sunlight glinting off their white plate alerted the soldiers. A cohort broke off and slowly the square moved towards the riders. Voren charged headlong through the war torn landscape, his mount jumping and weaving through the obstacles in his way. Aeric charged directly for him. His horse taking a straight line, diligently landing its feet between bodies and pits.

Faline and the rest were in close pursuit. The elf was praying to her god in a manner of cruses, swears, and broken verses. The acolytes behind her. Their charge was slowed by the difficult terrain. Their horses were less inclined to traverse the battlefield than the other two. A confused Jenis watched on as Voren's charge drew closer to the block of infantry.
“I can't help but feel I've missed something.” He spoke
“Short history lesson!” Faline shouted back. “Twenty years go the Empire invaded the continent. Voren was a kid, but his town got swept up in the war. Sad story short, he lost his family.” The elf was more focused on navigating the ground than regaling her acolyte with tales.


Voren halted his charge a dozen yards from the soldiers They likewise halted their advance with a sudden bark of 'halt'. Voren's Horse continued to circle and strut as it worked to calm itself. The Paladin leveled his sword at the throng of soldiers. They planted their tall shields into the mud. In a mechanical fashion swords and spears poked through the gaps as they formed their shield wall. A Tall and scared figure emerged form the middle of the formation.

A tall dark skinned woman adorned in heavy banded plate, and red bristle plumed helmet. Under her plate was chain-mail that covered the upper arms of her red uniform. Her skin was bloodied and her face showed a long scar running from the corner of her mouth to the bottom of her jaw. Her sword was held to her side, lax in her grip.

“You will leave this place immediately.” Voren shouted commandingly at the officer.
“My aching cunt we will!” Her voice was harsh and scratched. “ Who do you think you are to order us off?”
“I am Paladin Voren! I defend these lands from vermin like you.” The tip of his blade pointed firmly at the woman.
“You're brave, Holy man. I'll give you that. Still doesn't change a damn thing. We are here, and we plan on staying.” She spat on the ground. “ Let me be clear, you should leave now.”

Aeric's horse stopped violently, kicking us mud as its feet powered into the ground. He glared at Voren to his side. The young man ignored him and made the attempt to return a rebuttal to the officer, and the soldiers who were awaiting one order. Areic's arrival did little to quell the air of tension between the groups. The woman rolled her eyes.
“Great another one.” Her tone irritated. She noticed the rest. “And with aid. I won't say this again. Leave.”

“Paladin Voren!” Voren refrained slightly hearing Aeric's voice suddenly booming over him. “ If you wish to die, do so without endangering others!”

Aeric's horse circled around the man. He paid no attention to the imperial soldiery not far from him. Instead he gazed into the young mans glassy eyes. He was incensed by his past. Acting out on pure emotion. The veteran knew that look well. He wore it many times. He knew what damages it could bring. His chastisement of Voren was for his protection. Like a parent scolding a child for acting out. Voren recoiled as Aeric's path swept around. His neck snapping from left to right as he passed behind.

“I told you to stand down. You disobeyed me.”
“This isn't about you anymore Aeric! You know nothing of these people!”
“Is that so?” He halted.
“We must stop them.”

The Arec watched on. The captain was unsure whether to order an attack or simply see if the other was to calm the incensed man to his senses. She barked at a few soldiers who became lax in the formation. They watched as Voren began to speak of his past, and how the Empire of Arnay attempted to take the land many years ago. He was a child no more than four when his town had been the center of a battle. The town as destroyed, and he was the sole survivor of his family. He explained this to Aeric who knew the story well.

It was how he came to be a paladin. The Order was keen to take in orphans with tragic pasts and shape them into righteous men. So that the sins of their past would not shape them first. Voren's past was in front of him. Mocking him with its existence. Aeric could do little to calm the man.
“So you are determined to fight?” Voren nodded at Aeric.

Aeric drew his blade walking his horse close to Voren. With a swift swing the flat of his blade landed on the paladin's side. It was swift enough that Voren's reaction was useless. His arm flailed as he was knocked from his saddle. Aeric dismounted. His hand extended out to the young man. He swatted it away and got to his feet on his own. Aeric returned his blade to its scabbard. He calmly approached the Officer whose lax stance began to harden slightly. Her eyes locked onto the large armored man.
“Return to your camp. Be about your business. So long as I am here, The young man will be no nuisance.”
“We don't like being told what to do. Local.” Her grip tightened.
“Then we shall stand here all day.”

He made good on his boast. Aeric did not move a muscle. His rigid and emotionless metal form continued to stare down the block of infantry. Voren regained his posture vainly rubbing the side of his plate as if it was his skin. The others arrived. Faline stopped them a distance away. She dismounted and approached Aeric with a calm pace. The demon and other two acolytes remained in the back. The Arec woman wasn't too pleased with the sudden arrival of 'aid'.

The elf looked the scarred woman up and down. She grabbed Voren by the arm and pointed towards the others. She shot him a glare, it wasn't of anger. It was exasperated and disappointed. The young man sheathed his weapon and slowly departed. Faline situated her self by Aeric side. The two stood out from the darkened land around them. Their white and gold plate almost shined from the contrast. After minutes more of a futile standoff the officer called off her men. She stayed still as her troops left.
“Why are you here?” She shook her head form side to side.
“To help.” Aeric spoke in his deep monotone. She shook her head again and departed.

As the soldiers left Faline looked over to Aeric with a raised eyebrow. His head swiveled slightly. And they turned to look at Voren. Faline thrust her feet into the ground as she charged at Voren. She took a deep breath through her nose. Curling her lips at the young paladin.
“What. The. Fuck Voren!” She shouted. “Do you have any idea what you just did?”
“They are invaders! They are only here to spread war and ruination. They are evil. Every last one of them is evil.” His jaw shuddered between his words.

Dalia noticed she was slowly looking away from Voren. Her ability to feel emotions had intensified. Or rather returned to how it was before. She began to feel sympathy for Voren, despite his actions. The demon attempted to say something, however Faline interrupted the action before it even started. She stood before Voren with one hand outstretched.
“You know one aspect of being a Paladin.” Faline spoke. “ Time to learn the other. Give me your sword.”

He relented and unbuckled his weapon. He handed it off without looking his companion in the eye. The elf fastened the sword to her belt. With a flick of her wrist she gestured for everyone to mount their horses. She approached Aeric and spoke silently.
“What are we going to do?” She hid her worry well.
“Find any wounded, and aid them. I'm sure the Imperial camp with have many survivors as well.
“That wasn't what I was talking about.”


They swept the field spreading out in an orderly manner. After a length of time, not one soldier was found that wasn't dead. Signs of bodies being collected were seen throughout the span of the battlefield. Aeric told the others that the Empire had a habit of collecting all wounded. Theirs and enemy alike. Voren scoffed quietly thinking of what horrors were inflicted upon the unlucky ones. The two continued to not speak. Voren was indignant at Aeric for stopping what he rationalized was the right thing to do.

Several of the cohorts that marched about and patrolled the area were starting to withdraw over the hill on the far side of the velly. They sun was making its way down from the sky. Their work wasn't finished, but the march of time cared little for what they had deigned. Aeric gathered them as they made their way about. He silently lead them over the hill following the path of the imperial soldiers.

Voren protested, respectfully as he could. Aeric was set in his mind to continue. The encampment was several miles down the road. It wasn't hard tracking is down. The Empire wasn't known for its subtlety. They made sure to keep a healthy distance between them and the blocks that still marched back. Voren sat at the tail of the formation. Dalia slowed her pace to converse with him.
“Paladin. What happened back then?” She spoke. Her expressions hidden behind her helmet.
“Demon, please don't take offense. I don't feel entirely comfortable talking to you about my past. Or anyone for that matter.” He took a breath. “ Just know that the empire is nothing more than villainous, and hedonistic scum. You'd enjoy them... No offense.”
“None taken.” She remarked cheerfully.
“I have tried to model my life being the opposite of what they are. I just could never trust such people.” He turned to her.

“Think about it. What kind of people relish in the thought of constant war? They teach their children from a young age that serving their empire is their greatest honor. That dieing for it is second only to killing for it?” She nodded listening to his rant. “ Not only that but they are a debauchees people too. They live in opulence and are constantly... gratifying themselves, especially with the women they force into service as well.”
“I don't know so much about the debauchery, sounds fun.” She quipped flirtatiously. Voren blushed slightly and looked forward. “ Is it so wrong for women to be soldiers? I mean Paladin Faline is quite a warrior, even I am not too bad myself.”
“Well you aren't a woman... No offense.” She replied as she did before. “Its not that, its the fact they are forced. Just like the men... Acolyte Please don't mind me I am rambling.” He smiled.

Strangely Voren felt better. Never in his life expecting to confide to a demon. Dalia increased her pace and fell back into her spot in the formation. Aeric was stoic about it, but he was following her every movement and word. He was granting her an air of freedom, seeing how she would use it. How she responded with it pleased Aeric. She calmed Voren, albeit for the moment, of her own accord. He would still keep an eye on her, but he found he ready to be 'tested'.

The work Dalia had done for Voren would soon vanish as the wooden palisade of the camp was before them. The wooden gates were closed and torches had been lit in preparation for the coming night. Several sentries eyed the armored outsiders and they approached. All of them wore the standard banded plates, helmets and red shields as the soldiers they saw before. The guards outside the gate held up their hands placing their shields in front of them. The paladins stopped and held their positions.

A man stood to the center above the gate. An older man in his mid to late thirties. He was a muscular man. His face was rugged and well groomed. Despite blemishes from old wounds it was well bronzed from a long career of soldiery. His armor was similar to the officer from before. He called out to the group in a booming voice.

“That's close enough. State your business.”
“We are Paladin's of the Sacred order.” Aeric replied matching his tone.
“You don't say.” He said sarcastically looking over their armor and religious symbols. “We were told a few of your were about. Caused some trouble for Centurion Marivela. What do you want?”
“Entry.”
“Piss off. Why would we bother allowing you into our camp?” He swept his wrists in a shooing motion.
“I would make your mother very happy.” Aeric said.

The group gasped and recoiled at Aeric's uncharacteristic insult. The only one who wasn't as shocked was Faline. The soldiers drew their weapons and a couple archers readied their arrows. The man looked on at Aeric wide jawed. He was at a loss for words. He called the archers off, the sentries below still held their weapons at the ready. The man cocked his head to the side.

“I know very few men that would dare talk to me like that.”
“Was one a man from Illeria?” The gate fell silent.

The officer atop the gate vanished. For a moment nothing happened, then the sound of wood creaking snapped out from the gates. They slowly opened revealing the officer and a small contingent of soldiers behind him. They marched forth and surrounded Areic, who remained calm and unflinching. The officer approached and Aeric turned his gaze to meet him. The officers face was inquisitive. He turned his head from side to side trying to study the hidden face of Aeric.
“As a matter of fact, he was.” The officer spoke quietly with his graveled voice. “ Tell me, Paladin. How much would you sell me your sister for?” His eyebrow raised as he awaited the response.

Aeric said nothing at first. He reached up for his helmet. After loosening a clam the metal sprang slightly, clacking together. His hands diligently spread it apart as he removed it. It lowered to his aside and he held it there. His sweat kissed face felt the relieving breeze of warm air to be cooling instead.
“Sell? Hell I'd give you her for a night with your mom.”

Areic's face was serious, and his tone was unwavering. The soldiers and paladins watched on uncomfortably for a few moments as the men looked as if they were to rip each other to pieces. The officer's expression turned suddenly. There was elation on his face as his eyes lit, and his mouth widened into a smile. He threw his arms out puffing his chest.
“Bromiel? Aeric Bromeil!” He laughed “I can't believe it, you're still alive you bastard!”

----------
[[Aeric Dalia/Vol 3 Chapter 2]]
[[Aeric Dalia]]