On the plains of Szelevu, two armies faced each other for the last time that day. Today was different from the previous ones only in that one side was aware that regardless of the outcome of the battle, this would be the last battle they would fight for a long time. The team of the living on the side of the ghost army watched curiously from a safe distance as Etele led his troops into battle.
Enthusiastic whispers could be heard from everywhere. The battlefield was filled with life, even if it was especially strange considering that one half of the armies were long dead, and the other half were famous for being like the living dead. You could literally feel the tension as the two armies faced each other.
The undersea-walker ex-minister of foreign affairs, for example, began to tremble from the murderous energies back when the ghost army set out onto the battlefield. Even the Athamanas were much more serious than usual. After all, even though they were no strangers to fighting, they had never seen a real war. The last wars that had reached the region where they lived had been long before the young people were even born.
That was probably why for most of them this was the first time they had seen such a battle. Or rather, they were preparing to see it. After the armies had marched, when Etele was about to give the signal to attack, a figure appeared between the two armies, as if from nowhere. His head was bowed, his arms spread out at his sides, his back to the danovuses, his chest turned to the ghosts. When the spectators realized who was standing there, they all opened their mouths. Citar even looked to his side, he was sure that a moment before the figure had been standing next to him.
"Couldn't we try to discuss the situation?" Came the voice of the Vojk boy, as he slowly raised his head and looked deeply into Etele's eyes. The ghost just blinked at him for a few moments, then folded his arms in front of him, assuming suspicious features.
"What is there to discuss about this?" Etele asked, which made Wandi swallow hard. "If we don't attack, they will!" The ghost king nodded towards the danovus army.
"Maybe I can convince them not to." The young danovus offered.
"They will tear you to pieces."'Etele rolled his eyes and turned his gaze away from the child.
"Not if I'm next to him." Physalis Alkekengi stepped out of the ghosts, at whose appearance the entire danovus army made surprised sounds as one. However, the woman didn't pay attention to her fellow men, she just walked next to Wandi and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Give us a chance, ghost. Retreat and we'll make sure the danovuses don't cause any trouble." The danovus lady announced. "Believe me, I can be quite convincing if I want to." She flashed her sharp teeth.
"By the ancestors! Do it if you want! What do I care?" Etele raised a hand to his head, then simply turned on his heel. "Scatter!" He shouted, which was enough to reduce the entire ghost army to nothing. So only the living humans and Tame were left on the battlefield. "Let's go back to your camp while the two danovuses take care of their business." Etele chuckled as he started towards the group.
"But..." Citar began, looking worriedly towards Wandi and Alkekengi, then further away at the danvous army, as if she feared for their two comrades.
"Come on, Bolacsuk, they can take care of themselves." Etele remarked when he reached the boy.
"I..." Citar tried again, the poor boy looked lost and desperate. Then Wandi appeared right in front of him and took the boy's face between his two hands, then brought their foreheads together.
"I'll be fine." The Vojk heir whispered softly.
"Take care of yourself Wandi! Do you understand?" Citar's eyes flashed, then when his friend smiled he blew a big breath. "Hurry up." He announced.
"You won't even notice that I'm gone." The Vojk boy promised before backing away from his friend to return to Physalis Alkekengi's side. After that, the Athamanas finally left the battlefield under the watchful gaze of the danovuses.
"He is your chosen one, right?" Physalis Alkekengi asked softly, when she was sure that the hegins were so far away that none of them could hear her, as she talked. Wandi didn't answer her with words, just nodded slowly. "How long have you known?" The woman continued to inquire.
"Since I first smelled his scent." Wandi confessed as he closed his eyes, then opened them after a deep breath. "Let's get over our part of things." He said as he looked over his shoulder at the danovus army.
"That will be best." Physalis Alkekengi agreed with him, as she looked back at the danovuses, then grimaced and pulled herself out before turning towards them. "We want to go to the palace, we need to talk to the elders." The lady said in a tone that would not tolerate contradiction.
If this sentence had come from the mouth of an average danovus, someone would have already torn the unfortunate one's head off their neck, but Physalis Alkekengi was the one who spoke. Although there were many danovuses on the battlefield who were much younger than her and had never seen the woman, they still felt the oppressive force that characterized the Firsts.
And yet Alkekengi herself was not among the Firsts, only her grandparents were Firsts, but even so she had a few centuries to her advantage over most of the danovuses who were present. And yet the Firsts were already considered ancestors when Physalis Alkekengi was born. The Firsts are danovuses, who still lived as simple people, they lived secluded from the others in the palace of the danovuses.
No one could disturb them, with small, petty things. It was always a great news when the old ones received someone. And what Physalis Alkekengi demanded then was something that most danovuses present, according to them, had never seen before. Yet the danovus woman stated her demand so simply, as if there was nothing strange in it.
"So either get out of my way or I'll make a way for myself." The danovus woman tilted her head to the side, her left hand held out in front of her, five nails gleaming between her fingers. It was the act that finally spurred those standing in front of them to move. Every danovus knows about nails and all but the Vojks fear them.
"I think that was enough to make a way." Wandi remarked as he glanced at Alkekengi, who just rolled her eyes and then dropped her hand to her side.
"Let's go. I want to get over this whole thing. I don't feel like being among these peacocks at all." She hissed between her teeth, then without even waiting to see if the Vojk boy followed her, she set off towards the danovuses, who parted before her like ears of corn in a field when a man crosses it. Wandi looked back in the direction his companions were going, then took a deep breath and hurried after Physalis Alkekengi. As they say, the time has come.