Chapter 2:Arrival

And so there they were, three friends, in the midst of a massive Spartan Army.Though they were young and inexperienced, they were high in spirits.Mikel in particular.Raphael,Mikel and Tristan led the massive army,just behind General Axel,who was riding a magnificent white horse.It looked battle-hardened.Its legs were strong and its body was seemingly built of muscles.It had an air of grace and valor around it, as though it was the king of horses.

From the moment they set foot out of the room till they marched out of the city, Sparta celebrated their bravery.They cheered and threw plants at the soldiers feet.Some however, most of them parents, were seen sobbing silently amidst the send off.Even as they were half a mile away from the city walls, they could still hear the distant sounds of carnival-like music.

They were now moving towards the south on a well-trodden path along some hills.The carnage the war had brought upon the land was evident as broken villages,burnt fields and animal carcasses could be seen everywhere.Once or twice Raphael spotted fear and disgust flash in Mikel's eyes.He quickly took his shoulder.

"Relax, friend.We're not going to end up like them."

"It's...not like this in Athens,we....."

"Athenians are peace-lovers who fear the cry of battle."interrupted Axel as the army marched on.

"Commander, please, show respect to my homeland."

"I cannot be dishonest,I despise Athens, but,"he turned to look at Mikel,"I admire the great warriors that come from her.Athena has trained you well."

"But, you've never seen him fight before, have you commander?"asked Tristan.

"How are you sure?I remember that his father posted a reward for his safe return when he ran away.I also remember seeing him fighting against the many people who tried to return him home.He handles a sword very well.Perhaps, not as well as you though."He turned to smile at Raphael and turned back.

The Spartan army were now marching through the forest,barely 5 miles away from the Spartan fort in the south. A gentle, welcoming wind breezed through the trees, rustling the leaves which had turned orange in accordance with Autumn.The atmosphere had started to become tense when they went pass the southern border of Sparta.

Suddenly, Axel broke into a gallop.Thinking their commander had seen an enemy, the soldiers drew their swords and readied themselves for battle.

"AT EASE, SOLDIERS!"

Raphael,Mikel and Tristan rushed to their commander's side.

Axel was tending to an old man,who was resting by a tree.He seemed wounded very badly.The old man died in Axel's arms.His last words,clearly heard by the four.

"Stop the war,lest Sparta becomes more barbaric than Germania."

Axel laid the man to rest and got up.

"I will end this war.I swear it."He turned to look at the three friends."Let us go."

Ever since the old man was found, the Spartan army quickened its pace,led by Axel who seemed more content to end the war than ever.Within minutes, they were passing the gate of Laccnia, the last remaining Greek outpost in the south.

Axel commanded his troops to take a quick rest and to meet up at sunset.As he dismounted, the gates opened again, and this time in came a number of wounded soldiers, carrying a man on a stretcher.

"Di immortalis, by the Gods, General Kratos!"

Axel rushed to the wounded general's side.

"How are you, general?"

"Axel, the G..Gods h..have aban...abandoned us.Ares has....abandoned me!"

"Hush, friend, rest. You there."said Axel, pointing to a soldier carrying Kratos."Tell me, what has happened?"

"Report!Under the command of General Kratos, we led the vanguard of a 5000 strong unit to attack the barbaric outpost of Hispanic.However, along the way, we were ambushed.We broke through the ambush after a short struggle without any casualties as there were only a few of them.We advanced towards Hispanic where we met heavy resistance from the enemy commander, Zroma.Just when it seemed our assault would succeed, Beowoulf himself brought unexpected reinforcements into battle.The reinforcements badly defeated us.Beowoulf himself was a monster, killing countless Spartans and crushing the skulls of more.General Kratos commanded a full retreat and fought Beowoulf himself.Somehow he escaped and rejoined us in the forest where he collapsed."

"Casualty report?"

At this, the soldier hesitated.

"Casualty report, soldier."

"Report!Of the 5000 Spartan soldier sent out, only we are left.Less than 300 soldiers."

At that,Axel's face turned solemn with grim expressions.He looked very troubled. Strangely however, his expression suggests he wasn't worried about the number of troops lost, but something else. As to what it was, Raphael, Mikel and Tristan were left guessing themselves.

A soldier came running into the camp.

"GENERAL KRATOS!GENERAL KRATOS!"

Axel spoke up.

"Can't you see General Kratos is injured.I, Axel am the acting commander of this fort."

"G...General Axel, permission to speak."

"Permission granted."

"General, our scouts have spotted a huge barbarian army approaching this way at an alarming speed!The enemy commander is Zroma."

Axel drew his sword.

"SOLDIERS!INTO FORMATION!"

The soldiers went into their positions earlier, behind Axel.

"I'm afraid I can't allow you to rest as promised."

Axel turned to the army and spoke at large.

"WE ARE IN A DIRE SITUATION!THE ENEMY HAS BOTH STRENGTH AND NUMBERS!BUT DO NOT FRET, AND DO NOT FORGET!WE ARE SPARTANS, THE GREATEST WARRIORS UNDER MOUNT OLYMPUS! OUR BATTLE SLOGAN!"

At this, the soldiers replied.

"WE WILL RETURN WITH OUR SHIELDS, OR UPON THEM!"

"FOR THIS BATTLE,I APPOINT RAPHAEL AS THE ACTING COMMANDER AND MIKEL AS THE SUPPORTING GENERAL!LISTEN TO THEM IF YOU WANT TO LIVE!"

Axel mounted his horse and looked at Tristan.

"Of the three of you, it is you that I know least about.What's your name?"

"Tristan, sir"

"Well, Tristan, grab a few soldiers and follow me."Axel then turned to Raphael."Commander, I leave these men to you. Act as you must, but do not get overconfident. You may be the champion swordsman in your town, but this is a real war. Good luck, and may the Gods be with you."

Axel rode towards the blacksmith's cabin.

"TRISTAN!"

"Well, see you later guys.Don't die out there."Tristan bade farewell to Raphael and Mikel and ordered some soldiers to follow him to the blacksmith cabin.

Raphael marched his troops out of the gate and unto the battlefield where the distant war cries of the barbarians could be clearly heard.

The time of battle was close at hand.