The Snowfall of Triumph at Elbarphiel Lake
The northern sky was always the color of ash.
A blade-sharp wind blew without rest, grazing the soldiers’ cheeks and cutting them raw. With every exhaled breath a white cloud bloomed in the air, yet today even that frigid cold could not cool the heat burning through the ranks.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Here at the southern edge of Elbarphiel Lake, where the forces of the Fourth Defense Line and thousands more had gathered, the atmosphere of the main camp rose like a fire lit in every chest. Soldiers worn thin by long campaigning now carried not exhaustion in their eyes, but anticipation and a restless, bright excitement.
Crunch. Crunch.
Heavy footprints converged across the freshly fallen snow until every soldier in the square had fallen into formation and faced forward. The murmur of thousands alone set the surrounding air trembling.
Then, in that instant—
“Attention!”
Staff Sergeant Claw’s sharp cry cut through the rough wind and struck every ear. In a single breath the square fell silent, as though even the wind itself had held its breath.
The platform hastily raised for the occasion was crude in the extreme, yet Claw climbed it without hurry and looked out over the ranks.
“The Fourth Defense Line’s ceremony of merits begins now!”
“W-woooooaaaaah!”
“Wooooaaaaah!”
A thunderous roar shook the earth. Snow piled across the plain trembled loose and slid to the ground. Tight-clenched fists, ragged breaths, and glittering eyes all seemed to declare that the awards were about to begin.
Claw unrolled the documents in his hands and raised his voice.
“First—let every soldier of the Fourth Defense Line hear this. Most of you were pushed north from the center, or sent here as punishment.”
A great many of the northern front’s soldiers had arrived under disciplinary orders or after losing political struggles. A considerable number were not even regular troops at all, but convicts of the so-called punishment units. In truth, it would not have been wrong to say that most of them were serving sentences here as criminals. For that reason they had never even received proper wages for the risk of their lives.
But now—
“You are no longer merely the cast-off soldiers who hold a remote frontier.”
Every gaze lifted to the platform. The flag snapping in the wind seemed to proclaim the start of a new history. Meeting those eyes, Claw declared in a ringing voice:
“By the victory of this campaign, the Fourth Defense Line is officially recognized as a regular unit of the Imperial Army. Furthermore, all convict status is hereby erased, and those who were of low birth are restored, as of this day, to the rank of freemen!”
“……!”
“W-what?”
The square erupted in astonished murmurs. No one had expected so sweeping a declaration. Most stared at one another in disbelief; tears began to well in more than one pair of eyes.
And then—
“W-woooooaaaaah!”
Someone’s shout was the spark.
“Wooooaaaaah!”
“Wooooaaaaaaaah!”
A cheer so vast it seemed ready to split the square exploded outward. Claw himself said nothing for a time, simply letting their roaring joy wash over him in silent celebration. The cries of elation rose through the snow, spreading as if to fill the entire north, and only when they slowly subsided did Claw raise a hand. The soldiers lowered their voices and reined in their racing hearts.
He continued.
“In addition, a bounty of five gold is bestowed upon every man of the force.”
“Wooooaaaaah!”
A short, fierce shout shook the square once more. For many of them, it was the first real money they had ever been paid.
Claw looked down the middle of the unrolled scroll; his voice dropped lower and deeper.
“Next—I will name those who led the victory in the forward-hill battle, the decisive key to this war.”
Every eye fixed on the platform. Within those brilliant gazes lay a held breath, hoping to hear a name called.
“Guardian of the Fourth Defense Line—Lieutenant Seran! Step forward!”
Seran pushed through the murmuring ranks. His firm steps across the cold snow echoed through the square. The white frost settled on his shoulders looked less like ice than a medal earned in battle.
From the platform, Claw read aloud:
“Seran has, through countless battles, defended the Fourth Defense Line with valor, and in the fight upon the forward hill displayed an unyielding fighting spirit that has rewritten the future of the north. For this service, Seran is hereby specially promoted two ranks—from Lieutenant to Major—and is awarded a bounty of fifty gold.”
“Ooooh!”
“Two ranks at once……!”
Every soldier offered sincere congratulations. Yet it was not finished.
“Furthermore, Major Seran is charged with command of a newly formed special unit.”
With that grand announcement Claw stepped back one pace. Velkain, who had been seated beside him, rose. The pressure of his presence seemed to master even the northern gale; the soldiers could only swallow dryly.
Velkain spoke.
“The soldiers who fought the forward-hill battle alongside Seran are hereby selected as members of that special unit. This unit shall be accorded the same standing as a lower knight order.”
“A lower knight order?”
“Ooooooooh!”
A brief gasp of wonder rose, then died. Under Velkain’s gaze every man held his breath again and listened.
“And as of this day, that unit shall bear the name Steel Frost.”
“Steel Frost!”
“Magnificent! Steel Frost!”
Once more the square rocked with joy. The men assigned to Steel Frost stared at one another as though doubting their own ears. Then—
“Yesssss!”
“We’re the same rank as a knight order!”
“Uwaaaaah!”
They shouted, overcome. At the center of that roar Seran remained composed, facing Velkain and saluting.
“Steel hearts!”
His right fist struck hard against his left breast.
“I will repay the Corps Commander’s expectations with everything I have!”
Beneath the cold northern sky the soldiers’ hot cries rang without end.
And next—
“Second—Staff Sergeant Arteon. Step forward!”
At Claw’s call Arteon squared his chest and walked toward the platform. Soldiers parted to either side, opening a path. Receiving their congratulatory glances, Arteon mounted the steps.
“Steel hearts!”
He saluted Velkain. The Corps Commander regarded him with mild eyes. Beside him, Claw spoke in a strong, clear voice.
“Staff Sergeant Arteon, in the first engagement, risked death to protect an allied reconnaissance party that had been ambushed. Though isolated by enemy assault, he remained alone and preserved the lives of his unit.”
As Claw continued, the soldiers’ expressions shifted to open astonishment; the feats being recited exceeded anything they had imagined. Yet there was still more.
“In addition, he fought two Kar Tribe warriors of command rank to a standstill and, in the course of that battle, slew one of them. For this skill, this spirit of sacrifice, and this courage, Staff Sergeant Arteon is hereby specially promoted two ranks. He is also awarded a bounty of one hundred gold.”
A stir ran through the ranks. At the sum of one hundred gold, startled breaths spread among the soldiers; it was an almost unthinkable amount. Arteon alone stood unmoved, his expression calm.
Watching him, Velkain said,
“Lieutenant Arteon.”
“Lieutenant Arteon!”
Arteon answered and lifted his gaze to meet Velkain’s.
“My proposal to entrust you with an independent unit remains in force. Will you accept it this time?”
“…….”
Arteon was silent. Behind tightly closed lips his eyes clearly weighed the choice.
Not yet……
He recalled everything that had happened on this battlefield. It was true he had fought men of four feather tattoos as equals and had the credit of killing one. But that was nowhere near a level he could rest upon. To drive the Kar Tribe out completely and crush them, he would need the strength of their great generals at the least.
Minimum five-star…… no—I must reach the realm of six-star or higher.
And—
There will be eyes in the Imperial center already watching me.
If an independent unit were formed while his power was still incomplete, it would only constrain his movements. Worse, his own men might be endangered because of him.
When Arteon continued to hesitate, Velkain simply nodded.
“I see. But remember that my offer stands at any time. The moment you wish it, I will grant permission at once. Speak when the hour comes.”
“I am grateful for the Corps Commander’s consideration.”
“Is there anything you desire? Speak it. Measured against the merit you have earned, even this is far from enough.”
In his heart Velkain would have liked to send the youth to the capital and bestow a title, yet the granting of noble rank lay beyond his authority. And Arteon had already said he did not wish to leave the north……
Arteon answered.
“I wish to go somewhere I can grow stronger still.”
“…….”
Velkain’s eyes quieted. It had already been more than a year since he first came to know this boy. In that time the youth had accomplished the impossible—merit that others might never reach in a lifetime, and skill beyond dispute. In the entire history of the Empire, no one of this age had possessed such ability.
And yet—
He has not changed.
Perhaps he never would. A faint smile touched Velkain’s lips.
“That I will arrange separately and inform you of. As commander of the north, I thank you once more for your service. I look forward to your continued deeds.”
“Steel hearts! I will give my utmost until this body is broken.”
“I shall expect nothing less.”
With that, Arteon descended from the platform. The men of the Third Platoon and the others who had fought with him on the forward hill sent their congratulations with their eyes alone.
Next, Captain Hadel—who had commanded the forward-hill operation—likewise received a two-rank special promotion and a lavish bounty.
“Steel hearts!”
As Hadel saluted and stepped down, Leorn, standing among the ranks, shrugged his shoulders and snorted. As supreme commander of the Fourth Defense Line, he would of course be the greatest contributor to this victory.
At last…… my life as well……
If everyone else had been promoted two ranks, the same was surely in store for him. And if that happened—
Colonel.
If he rose to colonel and transferred to the center, nothing but a flower-strewn road would await him.
At last his name was called.
“And the commander of the Fourth Defense Line—Leorn.”
The difference was that the voice that spoke it was not Claw’s, but Corps Commander Velkain’s.
Leorn looked up with eyes full of expectation.
“……!”
What met him was a gaze cold as ice—utterly unlike the look Velkain had given the others who had earned merit.
Leorn answered,
“Y-yes!”
“I have received every operational report concerning you. Truly…… they were so appalling that words fail me.”
“……Sir?”
The air shifted. A strange unease crawled down Leorn’s spine; his face stiffened.
Velkain continued.
“Major Leorn. Through the outrages you have committed until now, countless soldiers have been killed or maimed.”
At those words a chill tension swept instantly through the square that had been filled with celebration.