Caw!
Amid an ominous cry, a black bird landed on half a wheel. It turned its neck, its round black eyes warily scanning the surroundings.
Then, it suddenly pecked.
A scrap of flesh hanging from the wheel was snatched up in the black bird's beak and swallowed.
Whoosh!
A stray arrow grazed the wheel and buried itself in the mud. The black bird immediately spread its wings and soared into the sky, its black eyes looking down at the battle below.
Black monsters roared.
Knights swung their longswords.
Soldiers used spears and bows and arrows for cover.
They traded blows.
Fangs and blades clashed, scattering sparks and spraying blood.
When monsters fell, they turned into soil reeking heavily of the sea. When humans fell, they became corpses.
Those corpses wore ferocious expressions.
Their eyes were filled with unwillingness.
And hidden hopes.
But...
The outcome could not be changed.
Dead was dead.
Blood stained the white priests' robes red.
Pale faces still bore their final smiles.
Just like the doctrines of the Forgiveness Temple.
Comforting the world.
Forgetting oneself.
The Harvest Temple's high priest, left with only one arm, raised his remaining left hand and arranged the Forgiveness Temple high priest's features.
He had to do this.
The other man had died saving him.
"They've retreated!"
"Those monsters have been driven back!"
Such cries rang out.
It was not the first time.
The initial joy and delight had long vanished. All that remained was the chance to seize a brief rest. The War Temple's high priest, who commanded the battle, asked in a hoarse, low voice, "Did the messenger break through?"
"He did, my lord."
A War Temple knight bowed as he replied.
"Good!"
"Good!"
"Having hope is better than having none."
The War Temple's high priest turned to look at