The night fell as the mighty army of Byzantium rode their horses along the nocturnal trails of the forests--Matching the rhythmic tidal movements of the ocean waves--As their gazes occasionally shifting to the sky-- they continued to make their way into a darker part of the world.
"Inner Mongolia"--A name that should tremble any men--Inner Mongolia, beauty draped with poison--Enough to drown one in their own blood.
Though these men weren't sleek--They were the royal army of Byzantine empire--They were men who were hardened until they turned into rocks-- who would willingly slit their throats for their emperor --They were men who carried rocks in their shackled hearts--Men who had their eyes set on no women but war. Ζήτω ο αυτοκράτορας!Ο Θεός να ευλογεί τη αυτοκρατορία μας!! Long live the emperor! God bless our empire! They chanted out slogans voice rumbling with unity as they marched down the wilderness of the forest.
Leo--The little boy of a fellow soldier Justinian walked--His walked seemed to be joyful--As if he was going on a fun quest--Unknowingly innocent--Not knowing what will be awaiting him.
Slav's pov: We walked tirelessly--My legs ached, my heart pulling me back as if to question me--"Who are we doing this for? my eyes then darted to my fellow naive men, my soldiers around me--Their face didn't have a trace of weariness--Only the eagerness to quench their thirst of attaining martyrdom for the empire. Who are we doing this for...? I murmured to myself--As tears clung to my eyes--As the image of my mother's burned body flashed through me.
(his breath was staggering*) Marcus then held my shoulders--Are you okay? he asked, voice concerned, I nodded. Though my heart whispered: "Liar"
My gaze then darted to Leo--As he tugged at my cloak. Smiling stupidly.
(sighs*) I had told him not to come--Though he insisted and his father lets him Aswell as commander Flaytus--And that's what felt more infuriating.
We continued on--Soon we stopped for a place as commander Flaytus ordered us to spend the night here--We obeyed and soon most of us were in deep sleep.
Author's pov: The moon's faint seeming to kiss the temples of the men goodbye--As they slept--Seren yet armed, the crease on their eyebrows never leaving as some moaned in weary.
Slav's eyes seemed to flutter opened--As he finds himself suddenly awake--His breath came out ragged as he looked to both his sides--All of the men were asleep. He glanced at little Leo--Then his lips curled into an unknowing smile--The as realization hit--His face went unreadable.
His gaze then darted out far--There stood a man--Tall and out of proportion--His dark-raven like her making it harder to spot him--Slav then got up and hesitantly began to walk towards him.
His steps were slow deliberate--Until his boots contacted with a twig (Crack*)
The man turned--His eyes widening as his gaze locked in with a pair of snake-like eyes--It was Slav--he then quickly wiped the tears that clung to his eyes.
Slav's eyes widened slightly though he quickly dropped his gaze--Suddenly finding entertainment within the soil on the ground than looking up at him.
Flaytus's jaw clenched--He had seen him in his most vulnerable time--"What are you doing?" his voice was sharp, cutting through the air.
Slav's mouth parted--"Then, he murmured, I was just getting up for water, master Flaytus"
Flayuts looked at him like he didn't believe him--He then gestured him to go.
Slav bowed and off he went. His eyebrows were furrowed--Was it tears which he caught from the eyes of the mighty commander Flaytus? he shook his head and quickly went back to bed--Glancing at Marcus--Who was fast asleep.
He himself then laid back down--Eyes wandering--then sleep once again caught his eyes--Just as he was about to close his eyes--ᠲᠠᠭᠠᠷᠢᠯᠲᠠ! several voices of men yelling out--As they then jumped out of the bushes and began to attack the Byzantines--Holding machetes and whatnot.
The soldiers then got up--Their eyes fluttered open as they quickly stood in their stances--Some weren't lucky as their heads were sliced before they could even look at the faces of who did it to them. The Mongol nökers (Soldiers) began to yell out as they took out more than a hundred men--And in just about few seconds--The place was bloody. The chants of the Byzantines became war cries--As their voice seemed to turn more hollow--They fought till dawn.
Slav's jaw clenched as he plunged his sword into the hearts of the nokers--He then twisted it as the deafening sound of the nöker rang out as something inside him broke-- He plunged it out--Kicking his abdomen--He fell with a thud.
His chest heaved as he then gazed out--Admits the chaos and thousands of men's desperate yelling--He found a little face--Slav's face went pale--Leo...? he breathed.
Justinian's gaze darted to his son--LEO!! he yelled out--As he strikes a Mongol soldier--desperately.
Infront of him was a Mongol soldier--inching closer to him with a machete--He crouched down in fear--Just as he was about to swing it against his little figure--He stopped then he fell. face flat.
Leo glanced up--Shivering as he did, his eyes widened--J-Julius...? Slav's gaze hollow as he heard his now new name said by little Leo as if that was his lifeline.
He then gestured for him: Go... Leo's eyes widened as he saw another noker coming right behind him--Slav or Julius Then expertly held the noker's wrist as he then swung him against the ground--Though soon the noker took advantage as he then rolled him up and in no time, he was on top of Slav (Julius) Leo's gaze were on them as he shivered in fear.
Slav gazed at the noker--You insolents he murmured, his voice low yet lethal--The noker didn't respond his eyebrows twitched then he pressed a knife to his throat--Daring him to speak--Slav then grabbed his arms as both men struggled on the ground--He then turned to his right to Leo: Run, Leo... he murmured. his eyes slowly fluttering to close.
Leo's body went rigid as he shook his head--Then (Julius) Slav's came out in yelling---RUN!!!
Leo didn't have to ask for it again as he then fled the place soon, he soon then tripped--Tears clung to his eyes, as he sobbed quietly--Soon his eyes began to close as he then fell unconscious.