The Art of War

A Bloody Strategy
The night sky was crowned with a glistening full moon. An elderly farmer whistled to his canine companion to keep up. It was a very much a love of his, the occasional walk under the midnight sky. It had been like any other night that he left his wife asleep for a short walk to get his mind off daily worries. Then the sound of whimpering caught his ear.

"Niza, what' wrong?" he asked, patting the dog's head. He looked to see sudden movement in the field past the trees. They were all the way out in the boonies. Who would be running around at this time? He walked closer, leaving his frightened pet behind. As the old man weaved past the trees, towards the open meadow, he could feel his heartbeat speed up. The sight coming into view would do that to anyone.

"What the hell is this...."

A few dozen figures were strapping up strange packs to their back. Their hoods hid their faces and thus their genders he could not discern. What was going on, was the military up to something? Or maybe it had been the magic council? He had never met anyone from the council in his life, but it could make some sense. The old man kept himself calm as he continued to survey the area. Some of the hooded individuals had strange glowing crystals in their hands, though he had no idea what they could be. He was but a farmer anyway.

His eyes carried over two a uniquely dressed bunch, they must have been in charge of whatever was happening here. He noticed a dark haired woman with a figure that would put most local beauties to shame at the drop of a hat, with a silver-haired man across from her. Then his heart stopped as he, even from this distance, caught himself in the glare of a pair of cold, blue eyes. "Oh god," he cried to himself, this was no place to be.

"Sir, is something wrong?"

"No, nothing at all. Just a curious local" a young man said with a small smile. "And it's Sanjo-sama to you, fool!"

"Forgive me, " the young woman said, bowing repeatedly, "Sanjo-sama, of the great House of Vistanova."

He smirked, "That's much better. You were brought here because you're amongst the best, don't make me change my mind." The young man gazed to the night sky. So, this was Earth Land, a parallel world where magic flowed freely and infinitely. Here he could truly see how powerful he was still, it had been a while since he did any real fighting. Mystogan was in over his head, the fool.