201 Year

Flames and gray smoke suffused the once-bright towers and icy scaffolding blanketed in aquamarine sheen. The Kingdom of Crystal was literally being melted, though rather gradual, to the ground, leaving crystal-encrusted road surfaces to be flooded in moisture and water. Its citizens, once delightful and bright people, sheltered and huddled in their houses, miserable in their terror, pain, and weakness. The Crystal Military worked without rest to beat off the brutal heat that surrounded their numerous cities, but the roaring fires had engulfed too many acres for too many hours. It didn't seem to be abating, despite much power of crystallizing efforts by soldiers. More water-manipulation soldiers were needed, but they were spread thin in the Kingdom’s population. The power was overwhelmed by the number of other powers.

“Soldier Caudry, come in! Report your status! You’re needed to form a def barrier at Tower 21! Spreading is happening rapidly, which will bring down the tower in 10 minutes!” General Soldier Mino yelled into his communicator over the deafening sounds of crumbling and burning around him. From where he stood atop the tower, he continued to shoot at the highest flames as they rose in height.

He did not see an end to the fires. Good God, where is Third Prince Caspian when we need him? If the corner towers that guard these three cities are breached, the buildings will be in trouble. We called him in ages ago, but he must still be at Tower 19, if I’m estimating right. Unless he’s being his usual mighty self and taking care of both the cities and towers...

Soldier Caudry rasped, “General Soldier, I am on my way! Tower 20’s two city fires out and five double crystal barriers erected in the weakest locations. Repeat, I am on my way.”

Mino sighed in relief at the update. “Roger.”

He had no idea how they had managed to control Tower 20 that quickly, but that was one less worry. Caudry was one of the best in the military at crystallizing defense barriers, making up for the power of at least three soldiers and he was well up next in line for a promotion to general soldier in the Barrier Unit. The military would be overjoyed at receiving more powerful generals, or commanders even should anyone work hard enough, opening up much-needed soldier slots for more recruits.

Mino, other generals, and the commanders had tried their hardest in their proposal for the royal government to create more military forces to fight in the War against the Island of Volcano’s terrorists, their fire-wielding enemy. However, they were denied each time, given reasons such as having abundant military power and numbers, but the true reasons were likely that Third Prince Caspian did not want to recruit more people into the military, as well as objections from the Island of Volcano itself. Utterly ridiculous, to have their proposal for more combat forces be influenced by their own enemy nation. Will that change one day? Will they be the devil that caused the demolition and doom of the Kingdom of Crystal because the royal family was not harsh enough? Or will the War against the Island’s terrorists finally end with peace between the two nations?

Along with his four present troops, he continued to crystallize ice shapes against the flow of fire and smoke, but he was losing energy and grew more exhausted by the minute. At this rate his consciousness would fail him and he’d be burned alive. My allies, my people, I’m sorry if I fail to defend this tower.

A barely audible whoosh sound came from a few feet in front of him. He knew that sound from anywhere. A crystal barrier! And from the fact that he could see a thick shimmer instead of simple transparency, it was clearly a double crystal barrier.

“Soldier Caudry!” he called down below, but turned as he picked up the sound of footsteps behind him. To be able to form such a barrier from that far a distance, Soldier Caudry was certainly deserving of his Barrier MVP award and title only months ago. Incredible. His power grows with every month that he uses it. I can only envy his talent.

“General Soldier Mino, I’m glad we made it in time. Amazing job holding the fort thus far, sir,” Caudry said, violet eyes hazy, back straight, thin arms raised in salute.

We? he thought, puzzled, until a sound like a clink of an enormous crystal appeared in the sky above the large body of fire and he, again, turned to look. A loud waterfall emerged from the crystal, putting out the flames as if it had not even been raging moments before. He marveled at the changed sight, breath in his throat. Only one man could have crystallized such an enormous crystal and used that same crystal to create a green-tinged rain shower. “Third Prince Caspian.”

The named man stood watching his work before him, gaze straight ahead, regal shoulders set, tall physique as empowering in its form and stillness as his crystallizing power. His hair, normally a shade of turquoise, turned a deep indigo by the evening shadows. It fluttered in the mild wind, and he lifted his face to catch what he was expecting to be a pleasant chill, but received only a warm smokey scent. Unwanted in the midst of a frozen ice kingdom such as his.

Mino watched as Third Prince Caspian, known as Commander Caspian to those in the military, turned and disappeared beneath the bulk of Tower 21, climbing the stairways to collect a report of the situation from him. He breathed in, inhaling tainted smoke as he tried to calm his nerves and relieve the adrenaline still shooting through him. He had not met Commander Caspian in two weeks, and he was surprised at how much he missed having his marvelous presence around to ease the tensions of the military. Not only because of his overwhelming powers reducing the pressure of their work, but his charismatic words would no doubt be able to do just as well in quelling the cries of the suffering. For years in the military, as commander and ally, he had boosted morale, moved their icy hearts, and lifted hopes long crushed by the flames of murder and tragedy. In Mino’s darkest days, it was the third prince who returned his light of rage and injustice to him when he had all but given up. He used to dream vividly of the Volcano’s terrorists’ blood spilling through his fingers, marring his pale skin red.

Without turning, he said, “So Commander Caspian was there to assist you at Tower 20.” That was why Caudry finished in a mere 30 minutes. He somehow underestimated Commander Caspian and Caudry’s teamwork, along with the rest of the Barrier Unit team that went with him to that Tower.

“Yes, sir. He came to my aid 20 minutes ago.” He nodded. “It was good timing because my barrier placements were too scattered.”

“At this rate we’ll finish before evening tide, assuming that the third prince doesn’t run out of steam.”

Commander Caspian’s footsteps, light and agile, echoed on the deep walls of Tower 21. “Oh? Do I detect a tone of doubt, Mino?” A mild note of amusement was detectable in his quiet voice.

“No, sir. You know me, I can’t trust what I haven’t seen,” Mino replied, hiding a grin. He turned to salute his superior. “I haven’t seen you in action in two weeks, commander.”

Everyone else saluted him, to which Caspian returned in greeting. To Mino, he said, “Then I must put on a show, must I not? Oh,” he paused, pointing below, “I did that.”

Caudry and the four troops with them eyed Mino with mock disdain.

“Calm down, guys. I would never miss such a magnificent display.” Face serious, he saluted again. “Thanks for the assistance, sir. We were in deep trouble.”

“So I saw. Move on to the next tower. The other teams may be in trouble.” He cast eyes to the west behind him.

“And you, sir?”

“Right behind you.” As they descended the frozen steps, he said, “We’re a team for tonight. I will assist the other units on the way. But not for much longer; the situation has improved in our favor. Let’s end this so the Crystal Builders can get to work on repairs.”

“Yes, sir!”

Mino led them, pondering, He makes it sound so easily optimistic. Yet this is one of the toughest battles we’ve had in years. Towns, cities, and even towers have fallen. It is likely to be enough to classify as a Level Six battle of its own, but it will still not be enough to entirely exterminate our Kingdom. They sent too few terrorists for our massive fortress of an island. Not that they could send in more before our suspicions arose. What was the purpose then? A test of some sort?

A call for assistance came in Mino’s comm, so he responded and the group went to the requested location, a large house property 20 minutes out in the immediate city. Fire had broken out and consumed much of their gardens. Mino and Caudry were quick to take control of the situation, glad that the owners had implemented fire-resistant walls around the property. Wealthy land owners tended to order them, especially if they had gardens, crystalline structures, or important valuables on their various lands. It made it tougher for fire to cause damage or spread outward.

Coughing into their masks, they made their way around the perimeter to the front patio, where a distressed maid and tall woman stood waiting for them.

The woman, supposedly the landlady by her garb, stepped forward. “My garden’s a goner, isn’t it?”

Mino bowed his head. “Unfortunately. Just you two tonight? Any animals?”

“Yes. No. My husband is working. I hope he’s alright. He hasn’t called.” She stared at her house. “To hell with those Volcanoes! They turned our breathtaking scenery into a battlefield. An atrocious, morbid, appalling bloodbath of red and black. I should have gotten those expensive fire traps and automatic extinguishers I was thinking of...Now it’s too late.”

“Where does he work? What is his name and occupation?”

“Chaselynn Bank in the west branch. He’s the manager. His name is Odesse Lam.”

Mino spoke into his comm, “On behalf of his wife, General Soldier Mino requesting an LS[1] on a bank manager, Odesse Lam, Chaselynn Bank west branch.”

After a few beats of worrisome silence to his request and many other conversations that had nothing to do with them, there was a reply. “Commanding Officer Bale speaking. General Soldier Mino, do you hear?”

“Yes, commanding officer. Status?”

“He’s safe. Bank guests and staff were detained and moved to the local secure bunker by my officers. Emergency procedures effectively issued and executed in the area.”

He and the wife breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you for your work, officer.”

“And thank you for your service, general.”

Taking stock of the deescalating circumstances, Mino asked, “Smoke in your lungs? I would like you to go with Soldier Doneli, ma’am. Both of you.” He gestured to the soldier standing beside them, who saluted. “He will escort you to the nearest safe bunker in the deep forest, where you should lie low until the city is back on its feet.”

She hesitated, rubbing her chin. “Wait, sir, how is your...work...going?” She waved her hand, indicating their surroundings. “When can we come back out?”

A common question. Civilians always wanted to know how soon they could go home, return to civil life. That was how commonplace violence and arson had become on their island. Bunkers weren’t as luxurious or comfortable as peoples’ homes.

Just as he started to answer, she gasped, her eyes going wide.

He already knew why. He turned to find Commander Caspian had joined them, who nodded and spoke, “Evening, madam. Fret not. The situation is under control. I estimate repairs will begin in two days. I am deeply apologetic that this travesty has happened to you. Please know that I do my absolute best to rectify for every bit of suffering that’s been afflicted, for every day that I breathe. A counseling center, after the ordeal, is available for use should you need it.”

The soft but resolute reassurances from his calm voice left no room for doubt.

She smiled, fidgeting with her rose hair clip and folding her hands together. “I see. Right, right. Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, gentlemen, for your esteemed service. Let them get to work now, Lorna,” she said to her maid before they followed Soldier Doneli.

Mino was not at all surprised at her shock and rise in respect in the commander’s presence. Besides his birthright and social standing, he made a fetching sight by appearance alone. After so many public appearances and reputable rumors, the majority of average citizens, even those of esteemed households and upper echelon, were so clearly dazzled to be near him.

“Are you sure you didn’t cast magic on her, so smitten she was with you?” he joked, the barest of a smile tugging his lips.

Without blinking or pausing, Caspian said, “She needn’t be.”

They marched on to their next destination, or much as it even was anyway, given their need to divide attention to sporadic emergencies. A general soldier repeatedly called the comm for assistance at their tower, and Mino answered.

He looked at Caudry. “Coming with us? Your team will have to do without you.”

“Yes, sir. I was already separated from them.”

They followed on the heels of Commander Caspian, who nearly left them in the dust.

“Where is Cedric? I thought he’d have you glued to his side during all this, if you weren’t with your team. He’s always worrying about you.”

“He shouldn’t. My leader leaves me well enough alone most times. It’s usually only if I do something in his sight that there’s need for concern.” Caudry grimaced, no doubt at some painful memory.

“That man is a sore loser. A sore, insecure loser. He wasn’t like that before, you know. You bring out the worst in him. You got to transfer out. I’d say my team, but you already denied it.”

The problem they were speaking of was Caudry’s team leader, General Soldier Reynard. Specifically, his utter jealousy that a low-ranked member of his team was more powerful than him.

Caudry said, “I would prefer not to make waves. I will ride it out.”