Chapter 8 The Arkians

• For many years, every kingdom has recorded 11 different Arkians that have attacked them but none of the Arkians had ever had 2 wings, four arms, or a tail. Even though the Arkains all come in different shapes, their body structures were always the same which is to say the Arkains come from the same place. The Arkains are very deadly and dangerous creatures and a strike from their claws is enough to kill humans.
• The 11 different Arkians that have always attacked the kingdoms are known to be monsters that have skinny flesh, having the same body size as a gorilla, having 2 arms with 10-inch long claws, and having teeth that are nothing but long fangs.
• The 11 different Arkains are known to have the ability of speed, meaning they are very fast when attacking with their claws, body, and fangs. Their claws and fangs are very long, sharp, and deadly, and they are way stronger than humans. The Arkains have terrifying faces with no noses and they have boggled eyes. The Arkians can climb walls, they are bigger than the size of a human, and they bleed black. It is also known that you can only hurt an Arkian in its body but can never kill an Arkain by stabbing his body. To kill an Arkains faster, you need to go for its neck and head, that way they die easily.
• Before the Arkains get to Barrow road, head General Ben, assistant General Suci, the other generals, and the army are already stationed at Barrow road hidden while they await the Arkians. As planned, General Baci and the archers took the the right and left cliffs while head General Ben, the other generals and 400, 000 soldiers took the road but they all had to hide behind the rock. Assistant General Suci and the remaining 400, 000 soldiers also hid in a place closer to Barrow road so they could attack the Arkains from the back while head General Ben, the other generals, and the army attacked the Arkians from the front to prevent the Arkians from escaping Barrow road.
• While hidden, they all waited until all the Arkains had been on Barrow road and began traveling through it before head General Ben ordered the attack. Immediately head General Ben ordered the attack, General Baci and the archers were the first to make themselves known to the Arkains and began to shoot arrows at the Arkains. While General Baci and the archers continue to shoot the Arkains, head General Ben, the other generals and 400, 000 soldiers watch from where they hide that the Arkians didn’t try to climb the cliffs to go meet the archers to attack them even though they were getting killed but instead, they Arkians tried to avoid the arrows by hiding behind the rock.
• What the Arkains were doing was weird to head General Ben because he was expecting the Arkains to either try to attack the archers on the cliffs or try to run through the way they came through or try to run through Barrow road.
• They have to win the battle so head General Ben stops minding what the Arkains are doing and orders the generals and soldiers to attack as he leads them himself. Immediately the Arkians saw head General Ben, the generals, and the soldiers coming toward them to attack them, the Arkains came out of hiding and wailed out loud as they got ready to fight. Immediately head General Ben, the generals, and the soldiers began to fight the Arkians, assistant General Suci and the soldiers also attacked the Arkains from behind.
• As always, the battles against the Arkians are known to be bloody, ugly, and ruthless. It is also said that while fighting the Arkians one has to forget his belief and the fact that he is human so he can become a monster and fight like a monster against the monsters to survive.
• With the help of the archers on the cliffs, the army was able to have an advantage in the battle since the Arkains were not trying to attack the archers and just kept fighting the soldiers. With General Baci leading the archers, he made sure no arrow went to waste. General Baci instructed and commanded the archer to go for the Arkains' head and neck to kill them easily and faster, and also help the soldiers.
• Even though the rocks on Barrow road were making it inconvenient for the Arkains to freely attack because of their size, the Arkians kept fighting the kingdoms’ army without looking for any way to escape. A look at the battle could not also tell who was going to win the war because even with the help of the archers on the cliffs and rocks, the Arkains were still killing the soldiers.
• The battle continued till nightfall and at this time, many had been killed from both sides. Also, head General Baci, assistant General Suci, the other generals, and the army were covered in the blood of the Arkains just like the Arkains were covered in the blood of the soldiers.
• As head General Ben continued fighting, he remained baffled as to the reason why the Arkains weren’t trying to attack the archers who were shooting them from both cliffs and weren’t trying to escape Barrow road which was inconveniencing the Arkians' attacks but the Arkians just kept on fighting. Head General Ben wondered if the Arkains had become dullards all because they were blinded by their mission to kill them all. Head General Ben later reasoned it to be an advantage to their side so they had to win the battle.
• At midnight, the battle continued and at this time, General Baci's hands and that of the archers were hurting, and they were getting tired but the battle hadn’t ended yet so they had to keep shooting arrows to kill the Arkains and help the soldiers. Also, head General Ben, assistant General Suci, the other generals, and the remaining soldiers were getting tired but they all had to keep fighting if they were ever going to win the battle which resulted in them fighting the Arkains like animals and monsters. Many of the soldiers and generals were also wounded but they all had to keep fighting to win the battle.
• There was no sign of fatigue among the remaining Arkains and they just kept on fighting to kill all the humans. Many Arkains were also wounded but an Arkain don’t stop fighting until it is dead.
• By morning which is the next day, the battle comes to an end with the humans winning against the Arkains but at this time, many soldiers and generals have lost their lives except all the leading generals. The archers are the only ones that didn’t lose a single number because they were never attacked by the Arkains.
• There were many wounded soldiers and some generals after the battle ended, and those who were heavily wounded begged to be killed because they lost part of their bodies while those who were slightly wounded lived. Head General Ben and Assistant General Suci were the ones who ended the lives of the soldiers and generals who were heavily wounded with tears on their faces and apologies.
• Even though the kingdoms won the battle, it was still a great loss to their sides. They lost many soldiers and generals. Out of 800, 000 soldiers, they were left with 250,000 soldiers and some were still wounded.
• After the heavily wounded soldiers were killed, head General Ben ordered the army to retreat to camp since they were all tired and needed to eat and rest. The dead bodies of the soldiers and generals were taken as they all returned to camp.
• Upon getting back to the camp, the dead soldiers and generals were buried properly because they could not be taken back to the kingdoms. Head General Ben also addresses the remaining soldiers and the archers by commending them for their bravery and hard work during the battle. He also talks about how sad he is that they have to lose a lot of soldiers and generals to the Arkains. The great General bows to the soldiers and generals thanking them and they also bow to him back.
• After head General Ben was done addressing the soldiers and generals, he left for his tent to rest. The soldiers and generals slightly wounded were treated, and they were also fed and rested.
• The news of the victory against the Arkians was reported to the kingdoms and that brought joy to the kingdoms. The people were all very happy to hear the news of the victory against the Arkians and it was said that there would be a celebration (feast) in the kingdoms when the army arrived back home.
• King Hartley was so happy about the news because he was glad that he trusted his brother and that had led them to victory against the Arkains during his reign just like every other king and brought happiness to the kingdom. King Hartley was happy that he had not listened to Queen Rebeca and made the right decision.
• Prince Ranork and Prince Ragon were happy that the great general won the battle, and even went to the head Queen to tell her that the great General had done it and that they told her that he was going to win. Queen Rebeca only looked at the two princes as novices knowing what was truly coming for them all which most of them had refused to believe.
• 2 DAY LATER (AFTERNOON)
• The army and generals hadn’t returned home because the great General had told them to rest well and eat well before they all returned to their kingdoms so they spent most of their time in the camp having fun, resting, and eating.
• Assistant General Suci entered the great General tent and met him seated on a chair staring at the map on the table in front of the great General. Assistant General Suci moved closer to the great General calling him but there was no response from him which made assistant General Suci realize the great General was lost in thought. Assistant General Suci sat down on another chair in front of the table and had to tap the great General before he regained consciousness to reality, and then assistant General Suci said to the great General “you need to stop thinking about the number of soldiers and generals we lost to the Arkains. That is a normal thing that always happens in battles against the Arkains. You need to get over it”.
• Hearing assistant General Suci, head General Ben smirked and said “that is not the reason for my thinking, Suci”.
• “Then what is the reason for it” assistant General Suci asked head General Ben.
• “You all may have not noticed but I did” said head General Ben to assistant General Suci.
• “Notice what?” asked assistant General Suci.
• “The Arkians. They did not attack the archers nor did they try to escape the Barrow road knowing how inconvenient it was to them” said head General Ben.
• “I did notice that, but the Arkains must have thought they might not be able to make it to the cliffs anyway knowing the archers were going to stop them. The Arkains did not try to escape the Barrow road also knowing we weren’t going to allow them. No one truly knows how the Arkains truly think” said assistant General Suci.
• “Yeah, they might have thought that. But, if they had pushed to escape Barrow road they might have been able to escape. Yeah, the archers will try to stop them if they try to climb the cliffs, but they will have eventually climbed the cliffs. Don’t you see how many soldiers and generals we lost even though the Arkians were at a disadvantage?” said head General Ben.
• “Yeah, but what are you implying right now?” asked assistant General Suci.
• “The Arkians are smarter creatures and if they could make us lose so many soldiers and generals, they came back much stronger. The Arkians are smart to know that with their speed and strength, they could have escaped Barrow road but they did not. I think the Arkains deliberately did not escape Barrow road” said head General Ben.
• “Then why would they not escape Barrow road with their speed and strength knowing they were at a disadvantage against us?” asked assistant General Suci confused.
• “I don’t know also. I have been trying to find out why. I just haven’t been able to figure it out but I think there is more to this” said head General Ben.
• “So what is going on right now because you sound like the Arkains deliberately lost the battle?” asked assistant General Suci.
• “I think you are beginning to understand me now. I don’t know what to think. But I need you to do something for me” said head General Ben.
• “What is that?” asked assistant General Suci.
• “It has to be between me and you. You have to keep it a secret” said head General Ben.
• ARCADIAN (MIDNIGHT)
• King Hartley and Queen Rebeca were asleep in King Hartley's chamber when the continuous ringing of the emergency bell woke the both of them up and they could hear noises coming from outside the chamber. Upon hearing the bell and noises, King Hartley and Queen Rebeca became worried knowing the sound of the bell meant Arkains, and wondered what was going on if the Arkians had been defeated by Ben and the army.
• King Hartley and Queen Rebeca got dressed and went out of the chamber to find out what was going on that made the bell to be ringing. Upon getting outside the chamber, King Hartley and Queen Rebeca saw the maids and guards running around the place and they could also hear noises coming from outside the palace which made them more worried, just then the head guard and some guards came to King Hartley, and Queen Rebeca.
• The head guard and the guards bow to the head King and head Queen then King Hartley asked the head guard “what is going on that everywhere is in pandemonium?”.
• “They are coming, your royal majesty” said the head guard fearfully to the head King and head Queen.
• “Would you talk? Who is coming or what?” the head Queen asked the head guard saying to him out loud.
• “The Arkians are approaching the great wall, your royal majesties” said the head guard to the head King and head Queen.
• Hearing that, King Hartley and Queen Rebeca became terrified and looked at each other.