Into the Fray

Another short story that takes place within the "Light of Death SAGA". Here we meet the Marital Dominion and their brutal zealotry.

The frontlines of a Martial Dominion battlefield were known for their strategic design. The Lightbringers followed behind the Oathsworn, both units creating a nearly unstoppable line, blending Holy Magic with physical might to overwhelm any who stood in their way.

Titus, the famed Combat Master of the Martial Dominion, wore jagged plate armor that made him look like a creature of war. His helmet mirrored the design, sharp and imposing. His tabard, bearing the symbol of two crossed morning star maces, was a sight that turned brave men into cowards.

As he approached the frontlines, a smirk curled across his face. Lightbringers and Oathsworn lined up behind him, ready for the charge. He thrived in the chaos of combat - there was nothing like the feeling of his maces shattering bone and steel. The sound of cracking skulls and the rush of domination filled him with euphoric purpose.

They descended upon a medium-sized bandit outpost, fifty men strong. It wasn’t even a challenge. Elite Rangers had already eliminated most of the sentries with precise volleys, clearing the path to the gates.

By the time the squad reached the walls, only scattered resistance remained. Blood soaked the earth, and Titus knew, without needing to check, that not a single Dominion soldier had fallen. They never did, not against the filth they called savages.

The Oathsworn placed explosive charges on the gate, pulling back as the blast turned wood to splinters. Titus led the charge inside, grinning as he saw bandits dropping to their knees, begging for mercy.

He towered over the nearest one, inches from his face. "No," he said.

The morning star came down, exploding the man’s skull in a shower of gore.

The rest of the Oathsworn surged forward, executing the remaining survivors. Titus grinned as blood painted the floor. Too easy.

These bandits never posed a threat. The idea of marching on the Arcane Republic’s capital stirred something in him. He craved a real fight. He knew better than to underestimate a Sorcerer.

---

Six years earlier...

The world was different then. The Martial Dominion was at peace. Their strength came not from war, but diplomacy and trade. Tourism flourished, cultures mingled, and the world was, for a time, truly connected. Those six years would be remembered as the last era of peace.

Military Governor Ceizur stood as the symbol of the Dominion’s might. His golden armor gleamed with authority. Though he wasn’t king, he wielded more power than royalty. The Dominion’s armies did not march without his word.

The king resented him, but Ceizur knew the man was spineless. He enjoyed the benefits of Ceizur’s labor, too cowardly to challenge the man who held the sword.

Ceizur had received troubling reports: necromancy was on the rise. As a devout follower of Aeliana, Goddess of Life, Ceizur viewed necromancy as sacrilege. It defiled the souls Aeliana created, a direct affront to her divine light.

Worse, the growth of this dark art was widespread. For such magic to spread, there had to be teachers. Organizations. Cults. Ceizur feared a resurgence of ancient practices that could plunge the world into chaos.

Among the reports, one stood out: a gathering of fifty cultists north of Stoneforge Hold, near the border of Harmony Haven. That would be his first strike. The heretics would learn that playing with death meant meeting it.

---

Combat Master Titus and Weapon Master Xandiv were chosen to lead the operation. The Dominion’s best. Titus, a gladiator-turned-legend. Xandiv, master of arms and instructor to the Governor himself. They marched with a small battalion of Dominion elites - Oathsworn, Lightbringers, and Rangers.

They moved discreetly, appearing as little more than a patrol. But whispers followed them. Every town they passed knew blood would follow. These weren’t men. They were weapons.

The plan was simple: surround and destroy. Rangers would scout and watch for escapes. Titus and Xandiv would break the front.

A scout returned one morning, her breath steady despite the distance she'd run.

"The cultists are here, Masters. They have mercenaries guarding the cave. They want to look like bandits."

Xandiv studied the map she drew. "Any other entrances?"

"None we can see. If there’s another tunnel, it’s deep underground."

"Then we trap them. Form a perimeter."

She nodded and left.

Xandiv turned to Titus. "Frontal assault. We end this quickly."

Titus grinned. "I’m ready to crack some skulls."

They advanced in formation. Oathsworn in front, Lightbringers behind, commanders leading. No flanks needed.

As the cave came into view, mercenaries scrambled into position. Fifteen, maybe. Fighters and archers. Pathetic.

"That’s it?" Titus laughed, unsheathing his morning stars.

"Soldiers, charge!" Xandiv roared.

The Lightbringers cast their blessings, bolstering the squad. Arrows bounced harmlessly off glowing armor. Titus and Xandiv hit like hammers, smashing and cleaving. Ten seconds, and the mercenaries were dead.

They entered the cave. Empty.

Two tunnels split the path. Xandiv examined them.

"They’ve been digging. Support beams. Dwarven craftsmanship."

"Think Stoneforge is involved?" Titus asked.

"We’ll keep that question open. For now, we hunt. We split."

Xandiv ordered the split, assigning Titus to the left tunnel. They kept close communication. The light from the enchanted stones led Titus to a ritual chamber.

A single corpse lay on a central platform. Something had been ripped from inside. The room was too quiet.

"Search for hidden doors," Titus ordered.

Xandiv arrived shortly after. "Dead end for us. What happened?"

"This was here when we arrived. Feels wrong."

As they examined the corpse, it twitched.

Then floated.

Black mist swirled. The temperature dropped.

"Lightbringers," Xandiv barked. "What do you see?"

"Defiled," one muttered. "There is evil here."

The soldiers drew weapons.

The corpse twisted and tore as a phantom claw reached out. A figure emerged - hooded, skeletal hands, wielding a massive scythe glowing with spectral light.

"A Wraith!"

"Banish it!"

The Lightbringers unleashed divine light, but the Wraith didn’t care. It grabbed a priest by the throat, drained his soul, and dropped the husk.

The room erupted into chaos.

"Bless us!" Titus shouted.

Their weapons glowed with holy light. They struck. Titus and Xandiv landed blow after blow. The Wraith shrieked, wounded but not broken.

It cast a spell, the ground erupted with grasping undead hands. Soldiers struggled to move.

Another Oathsworn died. Then another.

Titus broke free and smashed the Wraith across the face. It shrieked again. He followed up with a double blow. The Wraith collapsed, dissipating into smoke.

Only a helmet remained.

Xandiv approached the fallen Lightbringers. One looked ancient, as though dead for years. The other was headless.

"We bring them home," he said quietly.

"That thing... it was of Maelia," Titus muttered.

Xandiv nodded. "Summoning Wraiths is her cult's art."

Titus smashed open a section of wall. A hidden tunnel.

"Let’s finish this."

They followed the tunnel single-file for two miles, reaching a hatch in a field. They emerged under the sun, warmth on their skin.

A Ranger spotted them.

"We found them. They're headed northwest, toward Harmony Haven. We can catch them."

The squad ran. Despite the weight of armor, they were swift.

They reached a cliff, four Rangers had cornered eight cultists.

Titus grinned. "The rats are trapped."

"They’re here!" one cultist cried. "Maelia save us!"

Xandiv drew his weapon. "You have defied Aeliana. Death is your sentence."

One cultist dropped to his knees. "Please! We meant no harm."

"What of the Wraith?" Titus demanded.

"It wasn’t us. It was them! The Zealots, they call themselves the Veiled Society."

Xandiv's expression darkened. "There is no right way to worship death. Meet her."

His axe fell. The execution was swift. Titus charged, ending two more. The rest followed.

Their corpses lay in the sun.

Let the world see. Let the Veiled Society know.

Worship Maelia, and you will meet her.