A brigand dressed roughly in patchwork clothes led his horse carrying side packs heavy with loot through the shaded foliage of hill forests. Heading towards a hastily put up hideout. Despite the man’s thuggish getup, the well tended sword at his hips and the measured steps that he took evinced that he may not be what he feigns to be. The horse itself was no lame sumpter either. Bred for strength, speed and endurance few others could hope to match it. The camp he came up to was by no account a shabby hamlet of hovels as one would expect. In its place are orderly lined tents surrounded by palisades, complete with doors and watch towers, manned with archers and lookouts. Inside, the man brought his horse to a certain large tent at the back. The pristine appearance of men inside the compound were at odds with the filthy getup of his. Two people guarding the entrance of it stopped him to take a look at his cargo. Against expectation, there was no gold or riches within to line one’s pockets, instead only an impressive haul of grain and dried foodstuff. Once they had ascertained the contents they started to unload the goods, storing them inside boxes and taking it away into the tent.

These were no brigands but trained individuals pretending to be a band of bandits. For days Erwin tracked their movements. They would raid villages, burning them down and looting the storehouses. Motley guards with poor training that attempted to muster a defense against their attacks were dealt with swiftly. Once defenders with were taken care of they set fire to the buildings and terrorized the villagers. Though they rarely killed the residents, barring few accidents and futile attempts of resistance being quelled, it felt as if they were more interested in letting them go. Unlike a rag tag collection of bandits, their ransacking was coordinated, quick and efficient. They wasted no time plundering hidden valuables or searching for spoils other than their intended target, food and supplies. Still she noticed some of them pocketing what they could behind the backs of the others… After they got hold of as much food they could carry, they set fire to the farm fields and set loose the barn animals and rode away before any help could arrive. Leaving in wake husks of villages burnt down and abandoned. Sometimes they would ride after the fleeing villagers, possibly to instill fear and panic into them further. Few of them often broke off to harry individuals. If the said individual happens to be a woman… they would free themselves of their pent up… frustration through her. She would be beaten and then dumped somewhere along the road if she was lucky…

She at first thought they were deserters or mercenaries. Yet she then discovered that they were far too well organized and numerous for them to be either deserters or mercenaries. This was a forward detachment of a foreign army, preparing for something. A prelude to a coming invasion. Echo came to this conclusion watching them from near and far. Even now she hung from the tree tops, unseen by the soldiers.

• ‘Humans don’t ever look up… do they…’

• ‘Will they see us even if they did…?’

• ‘They believe themselves hidden, safe… they will not. Prey filled with fear has sharper senses…’

• ‘Take them by surprise…’
• ‘Don’t give a chance to flee…’

The Araneae hidden above the encampment exchanged such thoughts.

• ‘Shall we slaughter them…?’
• ‘They would hardly be a match for us…’

Here Erwin had to step in.

• ‘It is our mistress’ will to avoid confrontations with the humans until our work is done.’
• ‘‘‘‘Yes!’’’’

Still, an instruction came from Alpha that so long as the humans remained oblivious to their presence she was granted the freedom of choice. This meant that so long as no one alerted the others… a few missing people would not raise an alarm. Though she has yet to act, she wondered if watching and doing nothing amounted to the same as tacit acceptance. Would her beloved mistress be content with her decisions…? It was the shared goal of all of her kindred to please their mistress and earn her approval. Would she approve of her current inaction? Yet if she were to intervene would that not go against her divine mandate? Asking for assistance for such a trivial issue would put the stain of inadequacy on her. She hadn’t found the right answer for her dilemma. Even the Void remained silent to her…

---

After days of trying out different designs, failing and starting over again Alicia finally put her first working refrigerator prototype to the test. It could only be described as a tall metal closet. The outside was crudely put together from different metals whether they were reclaimed from previous failed prototypes or made specifically for this one. It had two separate sections to it, the larger upper section that opened like a door and smaller one below it, opening like a drawer. On the inside of the upper portion it had wire shelves and dividers for organization. The walls had copper plates covering the layers of endothermic crystals charged with cryo-energies. The lower section had even more of the crystals behind its linings, voluminous enough to reach freezing temperatures.

After letting an apricot sit inside for a while and noting that it was cool to the touch Alicia uneasily checked up on the freezer that contained a bulky cut of meat. Insulating the temperature was the most difficult process of her work. Creating a cooler box or freezer individually was easy enough after she properly insulated it against temperature gain. The problem lies in creating a freezer-refrigerator combo. Not only did she have to insulate against temperature gain but also to create an internal insulation. Far too many times the internal insulation failed, where the refrigerator’s contents froze over or when she underpowered the freezer to the point that it couldn’t reach freezing temperatures. Not to mention runaway heat gain from improper sealing. Although it was for the sake of technological advancement and the food wasted from spoilage was negligible in the larger picture, each of her failures weighed heavily on her. A weight that was taken away when she noticed the cut of meat was cold to the touch and saw that it was beginning to frost over. An audible sigh of relief escaped her.

• “Most impressive milady.”

Surprised by the sudden company, Alicia looked over the clutter of metal, tools and miscellaneous objects, towards the entrance of her room to see Alfred standing by with a tea trolley by her side. Her once nearly bare room had become littered with previous works, incomplete projects before she realized it.

• “Did I not tell you to knock on the door before you enter…?”
• “I did… three times in fact. There was no answer. Milady happened to be engrossed in watching the meat thaw… suppose that is slightly more entertaining than watching grass grow?”
• “I finally got the damn thing working so I win in any case.”

Alicia replied as she closed the refrigerator before biting into the cooled fruit.

• “Congratulations on your victory against… inanimate object…?”
• “Small steps. So… for what do I owe for your presence that couldn’t be messaged over with Telepathy?”

With the usual banter over, Alfred changed to her usual self.

• “Reports came from both Charlie and Echo.”

Alpha continued to give her rundown while she deftly made tea.

“The supposed bandit attacks towards the villages around the appear to be a result of a covert military operation from an unknown party.”

• “Unknown is it?”
• “Though unconfirmed there is a high possibility that The Empire is behind these.”
• “Right… but… they’re already past the border and basically at the doorstep of Kostranald, why would they go for pillaging villages and terrorizing farmers? Any chance we misidentified them?”

Alfred served a freshly brewed tea sourced from beyond the sea that Velauhart recently got a hold of.

• “Unlikely, they have been observed stockpiling food and supplies at regular intervals, not something anyone would do without a plan, unless.”
• “For a marching army…”
• “Most likely. According to intelligence provided by Charlie, their attacks on the villages have created a strain on the local food chain. Additionally Echo noted that they specifically let the villagers go, these now freshly homeless people flee to the towns and cities, creating general deterioration in public order and creating huge demand for food. All of this has resulted in the local nobles mandating the release of reserve food supply to keep the prices down and quell any concerns.”
• “What were those food reserves used for again…?”

Alicia asked as she took a sip of the reddish brown colored drink.

• “Most of the time it is for hosting any passing army if conflict arises at the borders or to mitigate effects of poor harvest, drought and such.”
• “And the other times?”
• “To feed the populace and the garrisoned soldiers when under siege.”

While thinking of how the tea tasted absolutely bland with barely any flavor or scent.

• “I think I have a pretty clear idea of what they’re trying to do. Still there are some questions left… How did they get inside the Kingdom in the first place? Seems like the stunt they’re pulling off is far too large for no one to get a wind of.”
• “Another report from Charlie came earlier. As milady ordained, the human collaborators have been looking into the name Lambrecht. After Charlie took the helm of their operations, she has made a number of breakthroughs in their investigations.
  For sake of brevity, Lambrecht appears to be the name of one of the many minor aristocratic houses with corrupt lords working together with The Empire for their own gains. The Lambrecht house in particular, seems to have helped orchestrate the kidnapping of our resident princess. Though Charlie’s investigations are still in progress, it is likely more corrupt aristocracy might be involved in the recent developments…”
• “Like ones that can let an entire army pass through their lands without any alarms… Well… Looks like we got a one hell of a show on our hands.”
• “Will we be taking a side?”
• “Yes, our own. It is going to be increasingly difficult to remain uninvolved, especially considering our proximity. Best we can do is to prepare for the worst. Despite the circumstances, if we play our cards right, we may be able to profit from this.”

As Alicia finished drinking her tea, and turned to leave, Alfred asked for one more thing.

• “Excuse me, mistress. I do not believe Echo will gain any new intel from just observing humans. Shall I recall her, should I elevate her agency?”
• “I’ll leave that decision to you. But if you’re going to let her do her own thing, get another team that can provide her with help if anything goes awry.”
• “So it shall be…”

---

A child filthy with dirt desperately ran through highland woods so hectically that he would often lose his footing and slow down. The occasional fall would not deter him in the slightest bit from standing back up and sprinting again. His exhaustion was easily apparent with the wobbly steps he took. Thin, shabby clothes and the scruffy appearance delineated his lowborn status. Face dampish with a mix of tears and snot, numerous scrapes covering his arms and legs, and the fresh cuts dribbling blood did him no favors. The most intact piece of clothing he had was the hand-me-down slippers he had on his feet. Though even that looked as if they had seen better days. Soles of his foot had hardened with calluses betokening that until recently he hadn’t had anything better to wear. A recent victim of raiders pillaging the villages in the vicinity.

Before long he collapsed on the ground unable to run no more. The uncontrolled breathing led to hyperventilation sapping the child of his meager stamina. Lying on his back, the only thing in his sight was the sparse canopies patterning the skies with their leaves as the clouds gently sailed on in the serene skyscape. Before he knew it, strands of silvery white hair waved in front of him, a young girl dressed in a loose white dress was standing over him, watching insouciantly. Following the hair he couldn’t look away from pearly white eyes that gazed at him. The parts of her white irises of her seemed to shift in myriads of colors enticingly. 

Ridden with fatigue, she appeared to him as if she had just manifested in front of him. He couldn’t even register the monstrous portion of her body. That wasn’t possible, it must have been his tired mind playing tricks on him he thought. Not knowing that the girl could become invisible to human eyes when she wished to and reappear to them at her whim.

• “You run so dearly… for someone without a destination… why… I wonder…?”

Her silken voice seemed to bring his mind back down to earth from the clouds. Processing the situation for a while he croaked out a plea with his dry mouth.

• “…-un… they-… co-ming…”
• “I will not run. I have a mission to carry out.”

He didn’t understand why this defenceless girl did not flee from the marauders that were close behind him. But her strange confidence influenced him. Perhaps she could help his sister. Her older sister had him run for the trees after making him promise not to look back or stop at anything, while she continued to run through the prairie.  They had agreed to meet up on the other side of the river not far from here. Soon after, the galloping of horses could be heard in the distance and she started to yell “Here!”, “Over here!” repeatedly. She couldn’t have outrun people on horseback. That was the source of his layers and layers of tears caked with dirt and snot on his face.

Grasping something from his chest beneath his shirt he pulled out a grotty feather accessory without any monetary value worth mentioning. Unpleasant scent of sweat had been ingrained in it. A gift from their mother, it was far more valuable to him and his sister than any food or coin. He feebly stretched out his hand holding it out to her. His voice no longer had the strength to make even a whisper. But nonetheless his request seemed to have reached her.

• “You ask for salvation… from a monster… Perhaps there’s hope for you yet…?”

Monsters… though he had heard many tall tales from passing adventurers’ boastful claims of them slaying deadly yet fantastical creatures, monsters in his life were tame and banal as the occasional goblin sneaking into the chicken coop at night or Vargr that the village guards chased away. How bad could they really be… His lips seemed to form the word… ‘Please.’ as no sound escaped his mouth. Just when the strange girl took the charm from his hands he lost consciousness, giving into the exhaustion as tiniest of hope found itself in his heart.

---

Stepping out of the woods and listening in to naught but the gusts of wind whirling through the calm grassy prairies, the inapposite sounds of galloping horses stood out from the otherwise peaceful meadows.

‘Just over a few hills…’ Erwin thought to herself.

Following her instincts, she unhurriedly strolled through the lands. A girl serenely walking through the picturesque landscape. In due course she could hear sounds of conflict not too far from her. Making her way atop a crest of a hill, she saw what was happening in the valley below. Five or so men on horseback had nearly caught up to a young girl. Echo had seen this scenario playout numerous times. The number of offenders and the victims were different, their ages were different, the place and locations were different, the outcome however remained the same.

At least one of them stayed on their horse to keep a lookout, this time there were two, they made sure no one could come up to them without the rest of them knowing as well as to keep the horses of companions from wandering away. While the rest had their fun with their prey taking turns or all at once. Former seemed to be the case, for now at least. The girl screamed and struggled against her assailants with all that she could muster, scratching and spitting. Though she had mounting evidence that these men were part of a professional army, right now they were not too different from the outlaws they purported to be. In that case perhaps they were ‘good actors’.

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The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.
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It seemed that in most armies the soldiers were often paid little to nothing during enlistment, instead any spoils of war were usually stockpiled, inventoried and then given out as payment after the war was over. It meant that only those who survived the war saw any return. The dead have no use for wealth after all. In addition, during sieges and fall of cities the armies of men that looted the cities often attempted to pocket as much as they could during the chaos as that will only be extra payment for their hard work. The people of the defeated often were taken as slaves, women were often used as sexual relief beforehand, however. Months and years away from home, beset on all sides with other men meant pent up frustration. In that sense, women too could be seen as a form of salary to the soldiers. Though such indiscipline and vulgarities were supposed to be rare among those who were in part of the professional army that had consistent pay.

It appeared to her that in this case, the men involved wished to savour the occasion as much as they could. Dragging the village girl by her hair towards a lone tree as she kicked and cried. The girl fought to preserve her dignity against coarse men tearing away at her clothes. More she attempted to fight them off, the more they seemed to be… encouraged. They liked their meat with a bit of spice it seemed. Of course with each article of clothing shredded the more desperate she became, her flailing swats more faster, feeble blows landing harder. While their obscene smiles hadn’t faded, there was still a limit to their patience. Before long a savage backhand landed on her cheeks, followed by a gut punch. Reeling from the strike the girl could only mount a weak resistance. She didn’t know exactly what was about to happen to her, but she was sure it was something… dreadful.

She could feel their gloved hands feeling about her immature breasts. As her vision returned to her, she saw an ethereal… maiden standing behind her aggressors. Whole of her being seemed to be shimmering, refracting light in myriads of directions. Noticing her strange behavior one of the men pinning her down looked over his shoulder to see nothing.

• “What is it?”
• “Don’t know, she was just staring off into… nothing, felt like she was lookin at something.”
• “Phaah! You just hit her too hard, now she’s seeing double. Hurry up! I’m next!”

Tears welled up in her eyes, her parents told them stories of invisible spirits that came to take people away just before their deaths.

• ‘I don’t want to die…’

Such a thought echoed the loudest in her mind.

• ‘Then, do you wish to live? It will not come without a price.’

An answer came to her resonating inside from inside. Fear and confusion along with pain had overtaken her. Echo knew exactly how these scenarios ended. Them killing her off to preserve secrecy was not a matter of if but when. Faster they got bored of playing with their toy, sooner they got rid of it.

• “Yes… Please…”

It was a quiet and quivering answer but it could be heard clearly.

• “Heh, now you’re getting into it!”
• “Looks like this one’s gonna be good.”

As soon as she answered the spirit seemed to disappear from her sights. By now the men finally tore away the last piece of fabric covering her loins, and they were just about ready to disrobe themselves.

Before they could act, they all stopped as if they heard something and frantically started to look around as if looking for someone. Until she and all the men around her saw something magnificent not too far away. Prismatic array of lights shifting from one color to another in mesmerizing patterns, enthralled by the sight the sense of time seemed to slip from them. The sun seemed pathetically dim and dull compared to the kaleidoscopic display of lights. All worries, pain and thoughts fade away from them. Until it changed its like to unearthly blue.

• “Mother…? Mom! Is that you…?! Why did you leave me! I… I…-”
• “It wasn’t my fault, it’s not my fault, why, why, why, why, you shouldn’t be here! You should be dead! WHY?!-”
• “Ludolf… I’m sorry… I should have been there with you… I’m sorry…-”

The men around her all started to sob, speaking nonsense to themselves whilst they all gazed upon the color. For her, she saw the deathbed of her mother moments before she passed away. It seemed as if everyone's past trauma had come back to haunt them once more. The colors shifted once more, this time into maddening red. Rage and bloodlust overtook all of the men around her. They drew their weapons and attacked each other with wild abandon, no regard to any concerns about their own safety. Even with a blade piercing through their bodies, they tried charging again to strike, until consciousness escaped from them as they collapsed.

Coming to her senses she was surrounded by fresh corpses of her former attackers. The two men on horseback came riding along with the rest of the horses. She was about to get up and run again but her feet lagged behind thoughts. But to her surprise the two men seemed to have changed completely in their personality. Dismounting they helped her get up on her feet, taking off their clothes to give her something other than tatters to cover herself with. Bewildered by their change of heart she noticed a third person on horseback. It was the same spirit of a woman she saw before, only this time, more tangible and real, but still distant somehow, her eyes still had the shifting iridescence, reminiscent of colorful light that drove people mad.

• “T-thank you…” That was all she could say, still shaken by what had happened.

The woman held out a feather charm and threw it onto her hand. It was the one that their mother made for her and for younger brother. It was a memento most endeared, her little brother wouldn’t have misplaced it. Since she was mentioning a price earlier, fear and alarm filled her entire body.

What if… she had just traded her brother’s life to save her own? Before she could voice anything.

• “The child sent me to you… He is alive.”

Hearing that she was relieved but still she remembered a price that she had to pay. Surely, it would be something significant she thought as she steeled herself for whatever that may be required of her.

The lady in white turned around and rode away without saying anything, the two remaining men quickly mounted up and started to follow her. Baffled, she asked from the lady;

• “What about the payment…? Where’s my brother?!”

In lieu of answering she only told her to follow…

There was a single horse left behind, presumably for her. Horse riding wasn’t something she was familiar with, but how hard could it be to learn it now…? When she approached the equine, sat down on its rump as if inviting her to get on top. When she got her balance on top of the saddle the horse got up and started to trot up behind the others…

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