The Tragedy of the Village of Yonamine
For centuries, the kingdoms of Ouran and Estoubine have been at war—an eternal conflict between these two human realms.
To the east of the fortified city of Regna lies the front line, where battles rage. Yet one squad has been set apart for insubordination.
“Corporal, Lieutenant Oliver requests your presence,” says one of his soldiers.
“Well, maybe we’ll fight after all!” the corporal exclaims.
He exits his tent and walks toward the lieutenant’s.
He enters the tent.
“You sent for me, Lieutenant,” he says.
“Yes, Corporal Eric. Orders. Return to Regna. Colonel Rolan will brief you further. Take your squad with you.”
“At your command, Lieutenant!”
He exits with a smile upon his lips, wondering what mission awaits his squad.
With his squad, Corporal Eric arrives at the fortified city of Regna. The city has been recently conquered by Ouran’s armies. Yet goblin attacks from the Landes forest pose problems. They enter, and the corporal makes his way toward Colonel Rolan’s quarters.
He knocks and waits.
“Enter!” calls a voice from within.
He enters, closes the door, and salutes Colonel Rolan.
“Corporal Eric, at your service, Colonel.”
The colonel regards him and furrows his brow.
“Ah, so it is you. I shall be direct. Your squad will cross the Landes forest and eliminate any threat so that we may strike the enemy army from behind. I trust you will prove useful this time.”
“But—”
“Do you dare refuse?”
“No, Colonel.”
“Good. You depart at once. Dismissed.”
The corporal grinds his teeth. He had not expected a suicide mission. He exits and steels himself to face his squad.
In a tavern, he finds his squad feasting.
“Our corporal returns!”
“So, how shall we slaughter them?”
But seeing their corporal’s grim visage, they dread the worst.
“Our mission is to cross the cursed forest.”
In his words, silence falls in the tavern.
“But—”
“These are our orders! We depart at once! Prepare yourselves! Prepare well! I await you at the south gate!”
And the corporal leaves the tavern.
The corporal waits for his men at the south gate. The gates have been opened for him and his squad. He knows the colonel expects word that they have truly departed.
“Corporal, must we truly go?”
He turns his head toward the soldier and sees the first of his men arriving.
“We have no choice. We go, or the pyre awaits us.”
He gazes once more toward the south, where the Landes forest lies. He sees corpses scattered around, mostly those of goblins.
“Corporal! We are ready!”
“Then forward!”
They leave the city, and the gates close behind them. All are nervous.
Some minutes later, they arrive at a stone bridge that appears ancient. Small fox statues are placed upon it, some worn by time.
“Corporal, are you certain? The bridge may give way beneath our feet…”
“Would you prefer to jump?”
A soldier steps forward and peers into the ravine below. He sees the Nison River, then turns his gaze east to its source, then west to where it flows.
“With that flow, death awaits us for certain. And I see only this bridge to cross to the other side.”
“Draw your weapons. We enter this cursed forest.”
The corporal draws his sword and begins to cross the bridge, unsettled by its solidity and the proximity of the Landes forest. The squad advances slowly and enters the forest.
The squad moves carefully through the Landes forest. A scout raises his hand to alert them.
“A group of goblins approaches us,” he whispers.
“Form ranks, mages and scouts in the center, the rest around them. No fire magic,” the corporal whispers.
They quickly reposition themselves into formation before the goblins are upon them. Those with shields push back the creatures while the mages chant their incantations. Soon the threat is neutralized.
“Report!” commands the corporal.
“No wounded, Corporal!”
“We resume our march!”
Hours pass, and they have encountered more goblins.
“Halt!” the corporal cries.
He looks back at his squad, seeing them breathing heavily. As he suspected, the Landes forest is dangerous.
“I had not intended to spend the night here. Let scouts check the surroundings.”
And they prepare for the night.
Deep within the forest, toward its heart, lies a village of fox people, the village of Yonamine. Night has fallen, and preparations for the harvest festival are complete.
“Another calm night. The moonlight lets us see well enough around us.”
“You speak truth. The goblins grow more active, yet they do not attack us.”
Not far from them, a scout discovers the village, remaining in the shadows of the trees and moving with minimal sound. He circles the village to gather more information before departing.
Some minutes later, he returns to the squad and kneels before the corporal.
“Corporal, I believe we have found a secluded village of fox people.”
“What? Half-humans hide here?”
“I also saw a statue, and it resembles nothing of the goddesses I know.”
“Then these are heretics of the cursed sanctuaries. The king ordered us to strike the enemy kingdom and to eliminate any threat. If we manage to eliminate this threat, I am certain we shall be welcomed as heroes!”
The corporal looks upon each of his soldiers. They all know it—this is their chance to return home alive.
“Now, rest. Tomorrow, we strike this village.”
With these words, each prepares for the night.
The next day, the villagers begin the harvest festival. Music echoes through the forest. Many dance in the square where the statue of the fox goddess stands. The fox people resemble humans, save for fox ears atop their heads and one or more fox tails.
Meanwhile, the squad advances slowly, able to hear the music. The corporal smiles.
“Make no sound. We shall surprise them. All beware of fox people with more than one tail—they are dangerous.”
Nearing the village, they follow the scout, who indicates the entrance. The noise within allows them to approach undetected. They see two guards. Two arrows fly, clearing the way. Several soldiers quickly unfasten the bindings holding the wooden palisade in place so it collapses. When the first section touches the ground, the corporal sounds the assault.
Among the villagers stands Reiko, a young vixen with long golden hair, conversing with her friends.
“Reiko, did you make this yourself?”
“Yes, I asked Mother for help. Is it not lovely?”
“So lovely!” says another vixen.
Reiko shows off a handmade scarf. She smiles. When a flaming arrow pierces the scarf, embedding it in the ground. She and her friends are startled. Reiko’s smile vanishes as she looks around.
Soon flaming arrows rain down upon the wooden houses. The first guards arm themselves and help the villagers take shelter, but more casualties follow.
The corporal climbs onto one of the village guard posts to watch the battle and monitor his soldiers. One reports their progress. He knows they cannot remain long. Other guests might arrive.
“Well? Do they resist?”
“They seem completely disorganized.”
“Perfect! Burn this village!”
“At your command, corporal!”
The soldier departs as an arrow approaches the corporal, which he parries with his sword. He sees where it came from—a fox with a bow.
However, a soldier cuts down the fox who fired the arrow.
“Wretched heretic.”
“No! Father!” cries a young fox child.
The soldier turns toward her as a vixen tries to hold him back.
“Flee, Yui!” she cries.
The child looks around before facing another soldier. Her mother watches, helpless, as her child is pierced by the soldier’s blade.
“Come here!”
The vixen is dragged by her hair.
Separated from her friends, Reiko struggles to find shelter. But an enemy soldier appears before her, ready to strike, when her brother steps between them and parries the blow with his own sword.
“Reiko, take shelter.”
“No… What…” she says in panic.
“Quickly. I cannot hold long.”
“Death to you, heretic,” the soldier snarls.
Seika tries to repel the attack, but he lacks the experience to overcome a trained soldier. His fox ears rise as he sees another soldier approaching them. He looks back—his sister still stands there, frozen with fear. The blow sunders his sword before cutting deep across his chest.
Despite the wound, he refuses to yield. He will not leave her. Yet he sees no way to survive when a horn sounds, and the soldiers stop. His ears rise once more as a second horn sounds. The soldiers withdraw, yet each bears a satisfied smile.
The corporal descends from the guard post and walks toward the village entrance to rejoin his squad.
“Report!” he commands.
“Wounded, but no dead. And we have captured heretics, corporal!”
“Good. We return. Before the guests arrive.”
They march through the forest, leaving the village behind. The corporal approaches the soldier who served as a scout.
“You have done excellent work. It took courage to venture alone near this village. And your valor in battle impressed me. I particularly enjoyed when you shattered that heretic’s sword and then cut him down before his beloved.”
He smiles.
“What is your name?”
“Alexander, Corporal.”
“I shall speak of you to our king! Mark my words!”
The squad continues its march to leave the Landes forest as swiftly as possible. The corporal looks back. He sees the prisoners and cannot help but smile. For them, the return journey will be far easier than the approach.
The harvest festival ends in tears. Reiko looks slowly around, breathless, seeing people lying upon the ground. She struggles to understand what has happened. Everything occurred so quickly. Her ears rise as she fixes her gaze upon two bodies. Her heart races faster as she recognizes the faces of her parents.
Seika ensures the last soldier has passed from his sight. Breathless and on the verge of collapse, he turns his gaze to his sister. He follows her stare and understands. Without hesitation, he kneels and embraces her in his arms.
“Do not worry. I am here…”
“But… they… No…”
“Do not worry, little sister.”
Seika turns his sister’s face so she looks only at him. He waits for it all to end. Yet Reiko’s bright eyes begin to dim, and gradually, the light of life within them fades, leaving only emptiness.
It does not take long for the squad to reach the south gates of the fortified city of Regna.
“Why have you returned so soon?” calls a soldier atop the wall.
“Because we bring heretics with us—prisoners of war!” the corporal exclaims.
His soldiers express their pride as well.
“Open the gates!” orders the soldier.
The gates open, and the squad enters.
Some time later, the corporal enters Colonel Rolan’s office.
“You! Here…” the colonel begins.
“Colonel, we entered the cursed forest and came upon heretics!”
“Heretics?”
“Yes! A village of fox people!”
“I see. You have done well. Rest, and we shall discuss the results of your mission.”
“At your command, Colonel!”
The corporal exits the office swiftly, a smile upon his lips.
Somewhere in the fortified city of Regna, after a slave auction, a slave merchant tallies accounts.
“What is your name?”
“Haruka.”
“Where do you come from?”
“The village of Yonamine.”
“Where is this place?”
“The Landes forest.”
“Ah! You are those captured by these soldiers…”
Haruka’s eyes are hollow. She still carries images of her lover’s death and that of their child.
“Do not worry. I am not like the others. If you work well, you shall be fed, cared for, and sheltered. All I ask is that you perform tasks you would accept doing.”
Yet none of the new slaves believe him.
Years have passed since that tragedy. The village of Yonamine has rebuilt itself. The village square has been remade, and the statue of the fox goddess still stands there. Yet now, a bed of flowers accompanies it to ease the souls of the dead. The flame that nearly died that day still burns, yet it flickers once more, putting the village of Yonamine in peril.
