Maria, god of misfortune by Leandra A. (little bear else holmelund minarik txt) 📕

He was a former manslayer that was able to climb his way all the way to the top because of his intellectual and guerilla military skills. Both of them were not born from the noble that's why they are always being compared with each other. Although this man was known for being ruthless and overbearing as well. His appearance reflects someone who doesn't care a thing about royalties or being a high ranking official. He doesn't have a shield or an armor protecting his body, just a pair of swords hanging on his back and a white cloak.

"The Kingdom Of Cyrene represents by General Hawk is now here to..." announced by the messenger but was interrupted by General Hawk; "I was sent here by the king to help your crying baby soldiers beat a small country like Hellas" He smirked and the crowd grasp because of his insolent comment. 

" You imbecile!" shouted by the king of Ares who was then pacified by General Rene. 

"Hahaha...lucky for us! and father please don't take this man's words seriously, he is just shy and overwhelmed with the responsibility given to him"  General Rene teased and then gave General Hawk a smile - which made General Hawk pissed with him.

Arias on the other hand have General Rene who was also the only son and crown prince of Arias, he was regarded as a meek and feminine yet his intellectual and negotiation skill are known to be outstanding.

He was often describe as a man that was hard to comprehend his way of thinking. This is the first time that he will be leading a battle himself that's why everybody was expecting to see how he fights. The news about Arias and Cyres collaboration and it's plan to subdue the kingdom of hellas spreads immediately to other neighboring countries, including Hellas as well. 

And this time an army of 100,000 men were ready to enter the battle, things will be different and not easy for the kingdom of Hellas compared before, that's what the kingdom of Arias announce to all.

"How can this be happening!" A loud bang noise can be heard as General Leone smash his hand against his table. His men just lowered their heads and avoid making eye contact with him

He then let out a sharp sigh "I thought that they were after each other's throat but why did the king of Cyrene decided to join its forces with Arias?" he grit his teeth in anger and the glares at his men who announce the bad news to them.

 "Why were you not able to foresee this things immediately, what's the use of those spies we have sent to those two kingdoms!" shouted by General Leone who can't believe the news regarding the plan of Arias and Cyres entering war with them. 

"Sir, we don't have anything to repute your anger but there's nothing we can do now I guess we really need him this time" said by his page who then gave him a desperate look.

Hellas upon hearing the news can't believe what was happening. Without anyone saying they all knew that the upcoming war will surely bring deaths to many people of Hellas and there's only one man they all agree will be able to stop this from happening.

 It was the same  back then -- General Shin was able to made the enemy surrenders and retreat even if their numbers were hundred times more of them or stronger than them with him on the lead. He won't be named as the strongest general for just no reason. The time has come for him to enter the battle again and prevent several deaths of his men. And this time tricks like sending an assassin is not enough to stop the coming war.

General Hawk POV

"General Hawk, are you sure of participating this war between Arias and Hellas?" asked by this page of mine who has been one of my subordinates when I'm still a leader of our bandit group.

I let out a big sigh and raised up one of my eye brow to him "Do you think I'll personally asked the king to let me help our enemy subdue a small but strong nation if I'm not serious Noel? I replied irritably. 

"But Boss, I mean...Sir " He cleared his throat and move closer to me, then he whispered in a very low voice, "You are just doing this because of that assassin that goes by the name of Maria, right?" Noel stubbornly asked and won't let me enter my room without answering him first.

I remained silent --since I find it unnecessary answering such stupid question, "You've been looking for that person ever since the accident that happened 5 years ago, and when you heard about her appearance on the assassination of the general who was leading the campaign for Arias against Hellas you thought that it's your chance to face that assassin personally right? He pressed on.

  "What is it now if that's real case?" I asked sharply.

Noel seemed taken a back  "Sir, no matter how I see it it's as if you have fallen for that woman" 

"Tsk! Are you mocking me?" I frowned at him, "Do I look like someone who will play like a lovesick man for some woman? Is what I said, while grabbing his neck and then let it go as I enter my room.

Honestly speaking I don't understand it as well, what is it I want to happen once I saw her again. Is it because of my thirst to fight a strong man be it a woman or man? No - I know it's more than that--It all started when I first saw her again 5 years ago in one of Cyrene's town.

 At that time I just started to join the military and was just an ordinary soldier assigned on that town where I saw you again after ten years from the first time I saw you, when you was just a child around 9-10 years old. I immediately recognized you even though you have grown into a person that's wholly different from the time when I first saw you.

We were ordered to assist in arresting an assassin that escaped not too long ago after killing a high ranking officer in that town. By the time we arrive in the area I saw one man standing alone surrounded by 15 or more men that are being taken down one by one by that person. 

She was wearing a tattered white robe which is unusual for an assassin - who would prefer to wear black clothing to hide himself. Both of her dress and long red hair were drenched in blood, but she doesn't even flinch as her enemies blood splats on her face each time her blade cuts one. It was because of this that people starts calling her as the bloody "Maria".

 I noticed that aside from her there are others that she let to escape first, those guys were all wearing black clothing that helps them from escaping immediately. I guess she intended to wear something that will let us focused on her thus letting the others escaped smoothly.

 But what made me recognized her as the kid I saw 10 years ago was her eyes that might seems to reflect a cold and murder intent, but there's this hint of strong will to live. It was the same eyes of that kid which I though was a young man if not for today, whom I saw back when I was still a boss of a group of bandits and mercenaries hired for killing.

 A kid aged 9-10 years old together with other children who are younger than her, ages 4-8 years old was digging a grave for a man whom I recognized. It was Kaede, one the people we are working in trading human slaves, specially children that we sold to foreign lands.

Judging from the kid's appearance whose hands and clothes were drenched in blood while the others are not - it seems to me that he was killed by this kid who was digging his grave for him. For a child who killed for her first time, her eyes shows no fear or regret of what she has done. But what really surprised me was her answer to me, when I asked her why she's digging as well a grave for that man who wronged them; aside from the other children that she already buried.

"All men when died were all the same no matter who, it's a way to pay respect for a man who struggle as well for his life--the same life we all hold on to...mister"  Is what the kid said while looking at me unwavering. And her eyes although it looks dead and blank -- there's a hint of strong will to live. I was stunned and it made me silent for a while. 

I tried to asked her to come with me but she refused saying that from now on they will strive to live for their own and not for the others. It was a year or two after that incident that I was personally asked by the king's minister to surrender and join the army, in exchange they will pardon all of our misdeed and will even gave me an opportunity to be a high ranking official if I can prove my worth to them. 

I accepted the offer and thus begun struggling and proving myself all the way to the top. But my thirst is not yet satisfied, there's still this unexplained thirst that won't quenched no matter how many people I killed or high I climb.

 And then I heard you showing up again and even killed a great general hiding behind an army of 40,000 men, I know that this thirst will only be quenched once I see you again.

Bloody White Beast, this is how his enemies would often called this man because of his white hair that's always dyed in red of his enemies blood. No one in this country doesn't know the name Shin-- who has been proclaimed as the strongest swordsman of today.

But honestly looking at him right now, I don't see anything but a laid back and uncouth man without an ounce of awareness for himself being a great general that must always look dignified and respectable.

"Hey, so how things are going on with you and that little princess you brought with you?"  asked by him with his face so close to mine and his arm