FYS part 1
John_Oakman
Uncertified truck kun driver
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2016
- Messages
- 17,821
- Likes received
- 502,957
(S.E. 390s)
Part 1: anticipating violence
The first thing that Jefferson Poeman noticed when he stepped onto the train car in Ekabery central station was the dragon sitting in one of the couches, sipping tea from a dainty little cup. It was a jarring sight, mostly because dragons, especially pure dragons, are usually way too rich and upper class to travel in merchant class cars.
"Good morning, fellow traveler." The dragon said cheerfully. "Come and have a seat here."
"What, what is someone like you doing here?" Jeff asked, still haven't shaken out of his surprise even as he sat across from the dragon.
"My my, how impolite, we must exchange introductions first." The dragon was obviously having a bit of fun at the human's expense. "I am Dag'Ensond, heir to the Qoma aluminum works, and who might you be?"
"I, I am Jefferson Poeman, military attaché, on my way to the Lasce Imperial State on behalf of the Axeon Union."
"Oh, that's wonderful. For I am in a similar position, though rather lacking the official-ness of your position as my government haven't seen to care enough about this little war that is coming about."
It was something that while everyone barring some of the more naive pacifists that the newly reorganized Elven state and its immediate human neighbor the Kingdom of the Wolf were on a collision course to war. However, to most it was still almost unbelievable that the actual spark was from a group of rogue human adventurers allegedly unaffiliated with neither countries who crossed the border illegally and attempted to kidnap the elven capital tennis team at the third Elven games. More observing persons would realize that given the… particular personality of the current tyrant in charge of the Imperial State attacking what being one of her key social political pet projects would not end well for all participants.
Regardless of the alleged spark, war was promptly declared, even though no one was actually prepared for such a thing. Despite the bombastic militarization of the new regime, the Elven military was far from ready, with mobilization orders not even sent out until the declaration of war was sent over the border (as there were no embassy between the two countries). Meanwhile over the border, the situation was worse, while the Kingdom of the Wolf had made great strides towards modernization of its industries much of that was extremely selective, mostly in the 'spear' part of the military.
Such was the case that despite the supposed suddenness of the war and the media fueled fear mongering surrounding it, there was preciously little activities in the opening days. Just enough time for everyone else to ship out gaggles of attachés and associated hangerons to gawk on what was shaping up to be the first 'modern' war. Thus it came to be that a human and a dragon were sharing the same table on a train car on its way to the Elven imperial capital.
……
"So you were saying you're here to research on your newest book, may I enquire on the nature of the contents?" It was after dinner, a simple affair of instant noodles of which Dag was oddly enthusiastically about, and night has fallen, making sightseeing (not that anyone on the car was into that much, given the nature of their trip and destination), all but impossible.
"Ah, yes. It will be about the history of warfare, specifically of this century, which by the scale of time was remarkable in how much advancements there were. It was a century started with the last hurrah of the noble arms and it appears to be that it'll end with the herald of the exit of sapient creatures from the combat lines. All the more remarkable was that all this was within the span of a single lifetime." He looked at Jeff, who seemed to be confused for a moment. "Oh my, I'm sorry, sometimes I do forget that not everyone lives as long as us or the elves. Another perk of travelling more normal surroundings."
"If that why you are traveling in merchant class instead of aristocratic class?"
"Yes, a flaw among my race for so long, that we styled ourselves as above the rest. Unfortunately many of us still do, it makes us lose certain perceptions at times."
"Well, that's very humble of you."
"It was also much more relaxing, no need to be stick up the arse about high culture and etiquette." He chuckled, and Jeff followed suit, though with somewhat more cautiously.
"By the way," Dag asked, "I been meaning to ask, but are you one of the isekais?"
"Oh no," Jeff replied, "first generation native, or one and a half depends on how you look at it. Mother is isekai while father is native, given how few male isekais live on this side of the borders."
"Have they ever figured out why almost all the males summoned or sent here tend to be… well, scum?"
"Sort of. They just chalk it up as the local deity or deities in charge of this mess are scumbags also." Jeff shrugged. No one really dwell up on that, and even the most inquisitive theologians have long since stopped actively looking into the matter.
"Well given how much we have all advanced during this past short century, perhaps it will be simply a matter of time before we take our rightful vengeance on those deities."
"Quite a lofty dream don't you think?" Jeff was more than a little skeptic on mere mortals' chances against deities, especially ones that doesn't even seem to inhabit the same plane of existence.
"The past century has already seen more changes than the previous millennium. Who knows what the future will bring?"
"You, off all people, should know better than making forecast on mere trends."
Dag lightly flapped his wings, his race version of a shrug, "It's hard not to be optimistic about such things though, especially after living through those times before the flowering of progress."
------
At the Elven capital of Starlark, the two newly and unlikely acquaintances bid their goodbyes, as Dag heads off to observe the Elven army while Jeff stayed on the train, as his stop was to be the port of Aquaston.
For a city of a country at war, Starlark was oddly tranquile. The streets were filled with the usual throngs of civilians going on their merry ways, and few soldiers or sailors in sight. The shops and cafes were open, for all intents and purposes business as usual. However there was a different feeling in the air, a sense of purpose mixed in with perhaps mild anticipation.
He didn't have much time to dwell on that as the train soon left Starlark proper, and once again seemly endless fields of grain or groves of fruit trees only occasionally broken by the odd village and town greets him as the train chugs along, oblivious to the war at large.
F**k you senpai! The Elven Human War
Part 1: anticipating violence
The first thing that Jefferson Poeman noticed when he stepped onto the train car in Ekabery central station was the dragon sitting in one of the couches, sipping tea from a dainty little cup. It was a jarring sight, mostly because dragons, especially pure dragons, are usually way too rich and upper class to travel in merchant class cars.
"Good morning, fellow traveler." The dragon said cheerfully. "Come and have a seat here."
"What, what is someone like you doing here?" Jeff asked, still haven't shaken out of his surprise even as he sat across from the dragon.
"My my, how impolite, we must exchange introductions first." The dragon was obviously having a bit of fun at the human's expense. "I am Dag'Ensond, heir to the Qoma aluminum works, and who might you be?"
"I, I am Jefferson Poeman, military attaché, on my way to the Lasce Imperial State on behalf of the Axeon Union."
"Oh, that's wonderful. For I am in a similar position, though rather lacking the official-ness of your position as my government haven't seen to care enough about this little war that is coming about."
It was something that while everyone barring some of the more naive pacifists that the newly reorganized Elven state and its immediate human neighbor the Kingdom of the Wolf were on a collision course to war. However, to most it was still almost unbelievable that the actual spark was from a group of rogue human adventurers allegedly unaffiliated with neither countries who crossed the border illegally and attempted to kidnap the elven capital tennis team at the third Elven games. More observing persons would realize that given the… particular personality of the current tyrant in charge of the Imperial State attacking what being one of her key social political pet projects would not end well for all participants.
Regardless of the alleged spark, war was promptly declared, even though no one was actually prepared for such a thing. Despite the bombastic militarization of the new regime, the Elven military was far from ready, with mobilization orders not even sent out until the declaration of war was sent over the border (as there were no embassy between the two countries). Meanwhile over the border, the situation was worse, while the Kingdom of the Wolf had made great strides towards modernization of its industries much of that was extremely selective, mostly in the 'spear' part of the military.
Such was the case that despite the supposed suddenness of the war and the media fueled fear mongering surrounding it, there was preciously little activities in the opening days. Just enough time for everyone else to ship out gaggles of attachés and associated hangerons to gawk on what was shaping up to be the first 'modern' war. Thus it came to be that a human and a dragon were sharing the same table on a train car on its way to the Elven imperial capital.
……
"So you were saying you're here to research on your newest book, may I enquire on the nature of the contents?" It was after dinner, a simple affair of instant noodles of which Dag was oddly enthusiastically about, and night has fallen, making sightseeing (not that anyone on the car was into that much, given the nature of their trip and destination), all but impossible.
"Ah, yes. It will be about the history of warfare, specifically of this century, which by the scale of time was remarkable in how much advancements there were. It was a century started with the last hurrah of the noble arms and it appears to be that it'll end with the herald of the exit of sapient creatures from the combat lines. All the more remarkable was that all this was within the span of a single lifetime." He looked at Jeff, who seemed to be confused for a moment. "Oh my, I'm sorry, sometimes I do forget that not everyone lives as long as us or the elves. Another perk of travelling more normal surroundings."
"If that why you are traveling in merchant class instead of aristocratic class?"
"Yes, a flaw among my race for so long, that we styled ourselves as above the rest. Unfortunately many of us still do, it makes us lose certain perceptions at times."
"Well, that's very humble of you."
"It was also much more relaxing, no need to be stick up the arse about high culture and etiquette." He chuckled, and Jeff followed suit, though with somewhat more cautiously.
"By the way," Dag asked, "I been meaning to ask, but are you one of the isekais?"
"Oh no," Jeff replied, "first generation native, or one and a half depends on how you look at it. Mother is isekai while father is native, given how few male isekais live on this side of the borders."
"Have they ever figured out why almost all the males summoned or sent here tend to be… well, scum?"
"Sort of. They just chalk it up as the local deity or deities in charge of this mess are scumbags also." Jeff shrugged. No one really dwell up on that, and even the most inquisitive theologians have long since stopped actively looking into the matter.
"Well given how much we have all advanced during this past short century, perhaps it will be simply a matter of time before we take our rightful vengeance on those deities."
"Quite a lofty dream don't you think?" Jeff was more than a little skeptic on mere mortals' chances against deities, especially ones that doesn't even seem to inhabit the same plane of existence.
"The past century has already seen more changes than the previous millennium. Who knows what the future will bring?"
"You, off all people, should know better than making forecast on mere trends."
Dag lightly flapped his wings, his race version of a shrug, "It's hard not to be optimistic about such things though, especially after living through those times before the flowering of progress."
------
At the Elven capital of Starlark, the two newly and unlikely acquaintances bid their goodbyes, as Dag heads off to observe the Elven army while Jeff stayed on the train, as his stop was to be the port of Aquaston.
For a city of a country at war, Starlark was oddly tranquile. The streets were filled with the usual throngs of civilians going on their merry ways, and few soldiers or sailors in sight. The shops and cafes were open, for all intents and purposes business as usual. However there was a different feeling in the air, a sense of purpose mixed in with perhaps mild anticipation.
He didn't have much time to dwell on that as the train soon left Starlark proper, and once again seemly endless fields of grain or groves of fruit trees only occasionally broken by the odd village and town greets him as the train chugs along, oblivious to the war at large.