The mail service of the Empire was preparing for the New Year’s present rush. New fresh mailmen were recruited for those proximate days, and they were undergoing their training.
One of such recruits was delivering a small parcel to a young Knight lady called Gillian, owner of a small element shop in Blooming glade.
He found the shop easily. The shop was a low one-storey building, but there was a higher one next to it, obviously serving as dwelling for the shop owner. The mailman decided to walk towards the house and hand in the parcel personally instead of simply depositing it into the mailbox on the post near the shop entrance.
Gillian came out running towards him even before he reached the house. “Is it my brother’s parcel already” – she asked anxiously. Her brother was enlisted in the military campaign against the Pandemonium, and she was seemingly worried. She had been awaiting the package for some time now.
The mailman handed the postage over and bowed shortly, retiring back to his duty.
The woman thanked him and impatiently tore the package cover to find a Fire elemental and a steel blade inside, along with the letter.
"To: Gillian Lightsworn
“Gillian’s Elements”
Mountwalk 13, Blooming Glade district, 3102.
“Dear sister,
How is business going? I hope everything is all right and your elements are always in demand.
We over here are battling day after day. There are more and more gates, they keep arriving. I just hope the Twin Gods gift me with enough strength to win this over. I know everyone is turning up to the Court for answers. I just wish the councilmen knew how hard it really is to be down here.
By the way, I caught myself thinking recently: if someone had told me a few weeks ago I would have been in hell, I would have resented, but he would have been a prophet. Ironic, isn’t it, we have to go to hell to save the Empire.
But I can’t deny one thing: I am admiring the surroundings here. Chaos, it appears, can be beautiful. Sometimes we face landscapes of marvelous picturesque charm, and fire and smoke somehow add to it. Marvelous fire crystals are common here, I thought you would be interested so I am sending you one. Enchanters in my military clan already said the elements down here are of very high quality.
That said, I have heard the Empire court has declared rewards for the military clans who prove themselves best. Competition among those who are supposed to save the Empire does not sound like a good idea, but I think this time it was. The news certainly raised our team spirit: my brothers in arms are saying there is now extra reason to fight. Hypocrites…
Oh, by the way, the Demons are really dimwits. They are numerous, but that is probably their only strength. They are weak, very badly disciplined and poorly equipped.
I am sending you a steel blade, please pass him to Gerrard, the smith on the other side of district. I owed him one. Good thing we never said it had be good, so I’m sending him one I looted off the Demons. If you ask me, I think this one wouldn’t even endure five combats… But that’s not my problem as long as my debt is paid.
Looks like we found even more gates ahead. Our leader is calling in for vanguard volunteers, so I need to equip myself.
Take care, dear sister, and don’t forget to look out of your window to enjoy the simple peaceful day the Empire is having. The one you are having. Making such a day for you is enough reason to be here and to fight the demons.
Your loving brother,
Pang" |
