Canton sighed as he laid down the tattered sheet, his long well toned arms moving up to rub his now creased, tanned forehead. He had found himself in this position often lately. "Ahh. There you are sire," came a soft, jovial voice from the doorway, and matching it entered a young man no older than twenty wearing the typical baggy red top and black trousers of the master servants. "Jevaal?" rumbled Canton in his distinct gruff voice, not unlike crumbling rock, "What is it?" the younger man gave a slight frown looking around the war tent: weapons, armour and maps alike strewn across the floor. "Lord Nonastin said he will spare us another five hundred troops" - he pauses - "However, he also authorises the use of the boom bottles" he fishes in his back pocket for a small metal ring and hands it to Canton. "Sir", he says quietly, "I know these men are our enemy, but they're still people, people with families - some of which reside in there with them". The battered, scarred general regarded the young man with a cold stare then slowly approached and as the man flinched, simply placed a hand upon his shoulder "I had thought the same thing once, surely these are just people too, like you and I." He shook his head "No, they are not like us, the things they do" he traces a long scar across his eye "The things they say" he gestures to the torn sheet refusing surrender, stamped with Ethurstian blood "What they're willing to do for power" he widens his arms gesturing to the whole room, "No these are no men, they are monsters, and with this, we can finally rid Ethurstia of their blight." He shines the ring "Do not be swayed by any thoughts of guilt or sympathy you may have towards these creatures, the Boholians will feed on it, they deserve none".
"I see sir. Master Tannus would like to see you now." he said timidly before sliding back out of the room. Canton let out a small groan. Tannus, he thought - trust that weasel to step in now boom bottles are in the fray, and stepped out into the field. Men shouting orders, carrying weapons and running from one end to the other while giving nods and bows whenever they passed. War. He gazed down at the greying hairs on his arms. Perhaps I'll settle down after this one.
He took a deep breath and plunged himself in, the room was surprisingly neat - much like the man inside, draped in a long black overcoat and still clean trousers. "Yesss, Mr Cantonnn" he said, drawing out the end of his words just a bit too long. "I hear Lord Nonastin has authorised the use of the Boom Bottlessss". "You have heard correct, Tannus". He raised a eyebrow "Wellll, let's see it thennn" Canton hesitated, then grudgingly raised his hand revealing the gleaming metal; Tannus' eyes widened, regarding it with glee. This, however, was not the same look a man would give a gold bar, nor of a child receiving a new toy, no, this was akin to the look of a hunter to it's prey. Canton lowered the ring earning a huff from Tannus. "Canton, you kno-" he was cut off from a call from outside "Master Canton, the boom bottles are in place." "Ahh, we will continue this later Tannus, i'm afraid I must go attend to this now"
"But-"
"Goodbye!" he said while rushing out, offering a small prayer to Laiell for the excuse.
He arrived back at his tent to see Jevaal already waiting, along with his second in command, Kallin. The two nodded curtly as he approached "Our men are in place and ready to push in once the boom bottles are deployed sire" came the clear and disciplined voice of his faithful friend while the servant simply nodded and stared into space absentmindedly. "Jevaal, are you okay?"
"Hmm, oh of course sir."
"Still thinking about this Boholian business?"
"A little," he admitted looking down at his shoes "I think-"
"No, Jevaal, I have told you once and I will tell you again, these men are not like us, they are unredeemable monsters." Canton lectured, a little more harshly than intended. Just as he did, a small mousy figure draped in the gold laced crimson of the King's personal servants ran in, panting "Wha" huff "What are you doing?"
"Aperlo? What are you doing here?" questioned Canton. "I'm here to tell you that should the men we're sending into the city fail, we authorise the use of the boom bottles due to the anti-magic field being placed upon the city!" he paused, "Though you seem to be on that already"
"What? But..." Canton began, but his voice trailed off as his gaze moved to Jevaal, standing tall at the edge of the room meeting his gaze with a quiet fury. "Unredeemable monsters... They are not like us... Yet you're the one willing to wipe families away with a simple tap of a ring".
"What are you saying, boy?" demanded Kallin. "You-You're Boholian," breathed Canton. The general took a step back, passing the gawking Aperlo and standing to the side. Kallin took a step forward, "Your plan has failed then boy, whatever it was, we have the ring and will blow up the city anyway".
"What, No! The men are being teleported inside the city!" shrieked Aperlo. Kallins eyes widened,
"Teleported?" and just as he finished, a loud GOOOONG echoed through the air.
"Correct, they have just arrived" whispered Jevaal,
"Stupid boy! We still have the-" Jevaal raised his own hand, revealing the true ring, locking cold eyes with Canton. Kallin took another step forward and Jevaal averted his gaze- "For my father".
"GET DOWN" yelled Canton barely wrenching Aperlo behind the table, putting his hand out, desperately trying to absorb the oncoming inferno.
The blast rippled throughout the camp, one colossal tower of flame rising from the city and one smaller one ripping through Cantons tent, dashing soldiers and messengers alike through the air, landing motionless on the torched ground and sending a blaze of heat melting through areas of Cantons skin, only spared through his own magic. "T-th-the s-ss-ssa-soldiers..." stuttered Aperlo staggering away from Canton side, burnt but alive. Canton rushed over ignoring his singed, pained body screeching at him to stop and knelt over Kallins charred corpse. "I'm sorry brother" as he stood up, stalking his way over to the Monster, regarded it for a moment, then raised his boot and smashed it's skeleton until there was nothing left but ashes.
