The Rise Read online

  This is my gift, one I tried to hide since my arrival but that the Colonel had discovered. I see them perfectly. I know what our enemies look like, and I can only express my sympathy to the poor soldiers who dream of those snake-like atrocities, with their claws, their wings, and their fearsome jaws.

  There were only two of them next to the fort. On the sand closer to the shore, plenty of their cadavers were being pulled towards the sea by some invisible ropes or any other unnatural force. Their bodies never remain here, on the beach. They always go back to the rocks where they come from. Our men meet the same fate.

  Those abominations had stopped attacking the wall and had turned their attention to Colonel Sigalvo, heading towards him. We were both firing at them; yet they had eyes only for the Commander. We managed to dispatch the atrocity from the right, which was closer to the fort, but the second one kept on advancing in the Colonel’s direction.

  He didn’t move. To the last moment, he stood his ground and fired towards the horrendous creature he couldn’t see. He was still shooting when that unearthly being opened its jaw to swallow him.

  I screamed and shifted my gun, aiming for the head, wildly believing that I could save our Commander, but the monster ignored me. It turned towards the ocean and started to glide away, following the disappearing cadavers. I went after it, emptying rounds and rounds of ammunition. I had almost reached the shoreline when I came back to my right mind.

  The one who had taken the Colonel was flying slowly above the sea, proceeding back to the rocks, luring me inside the bay. There, some other monsters were lurking in the water, ready for me. They were simply waiting to see if I would be foolish enough to join them. I was not.

  Above the nasty stone formations, within the fog, the ethereal shadow was monitoring everything.

  I watched it many times, it comes often, even when they do not attack. I guess he’s assessing our position, planning its next invasion. It scares me, because in its hideousness and unearthly shapes, it emanates undeniable malevolent intelligence. While the monsters seem purely moved by animal instinct, their dark master thinks. I have no doubt about it.

  While the creature was carrying the body of our Commander, I noticed the way its unnatural articulations were jiving rhythmically. I saw the twitches of its many heads, and I knew it was celebrating its victory.

  It had come for the Colonel, and its soldiers had compliantly brought him back.

  Respectfully and dutifully yours,

  Colonel Montoya

  Letter 2

  To Empress Theodora,

  Your Majesty might have been aware of the obsessive interest the late Colonel Sigalvo had with the Polobrag elixir given in Worldsend Garrison to help men fight against our invisible enemy. It’s been discovered years ago, centuries even, that it is enhancing our capacities to Know, Feel and See the invaders. However, we don’t understand either how or why it works. This is simply assumed that consuming it once per week was useful, and nobody ever challenged this habit.

  Until Colonel Sigalvo.

  He started his studies when he was still Lieutenant Giorgio, and his observations were already well advanced when he showed them to me. They were astounding, and I immediately shared his enthusiasm. Together we perfected some tests, and we managed to reach an amazing conclusion. This breakthrough could really be a game changer in our never-ending fight against those otherworldly abominations.

  The Commander was a cautious man, and I learned from him. I wouldn’t be sending formal information about such an important discovery if I were not absolutely certain of its veracity.

  During the last weeks, I’ve been involving more officers in the research. Lieutenant Sebastian, Sergeant Igor, Sergeant Camillo and Sergeant James have been part of the study for more than a month. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, they all shared the same enthusiasm and caution. We repeated the tests in an almost scientific manner, to be sure that there was no mistake.

  The conclusions reached by Colonel Sigalvo before his untimely death are now considered as true facts by all the officers in the fort.

  I, Colonel Montoya, Commander of Worldsend Garrison by the will of our mighty Empress, am presently reporting them:

  The Polobrag Elixir is an enhancer of capacities, but can’t reveal them in someone who has no gift. However, no matter how weak the ability is at the beginning, it can be developed to its full potential with the right amount of elixir.

  The Polobrag Elixir does not work in an equal way on every individual, and the century-old habit of giving the same quantity to all combatants has been a mistake. This has been preventing our men to enhance their capabilities to their whole extent. Our preliminary conclusions on this subject are that the size and weight of the person do not have any influence on the amount needed, unlike the age of the soldier. Rather than experience, this could be the reason why most of the men’s abilities seemed to improve the longer they were staying in the fort.

  The Polobrag Elixir’s efficiency is greatly boosted by its combination with a mold growing in the officer’s building. While it remains a mystery how Colonel Sigalvo ever made the tie between this fungus spreading in the dark and humid places of our quarters and the increased strength, the correlation has been confirmed beyond any doubt.

  We discovered that the capacities to Feel and See are closely linked. We can safely affirm that all men with the ability to feel the enemy also have the potential to see them. This might prove problematic in the short term—viewing those abominations for the first time can be psychologically shaking, as Sergeant Igor learned during a patrol—, but will for sure be an invaluable advantage for the future combats.

  The capacity to Know can also be greatly improved by a mix of elixir and fungi, but I personally express my doubts about the opportunity to pursue this experiment. Not being able to foresee myself, I can’t imagine what those men are going through. However, I can tell that their nightmares appear genuinely gruesome. Their night visions are seemingly worse than the experience of actually watching the creatures, and I am afraid that enhancing this capacity could drive some of our soldiers insane.

  ***

  You can imagine the optimism those discoveries raised within the troops, and I am not ashamed to admit that it is shared among the officers, including their Commander.

  Envisioning Worldsend Garrison knowing exactly when and where the attacks will come, and having the possibility to finally fight them with soldiers who can see the enemy is something none of us would have dared to dream of.

  We’ve been able to repel the invasions for centuries, and we’ve gotten better at it. Our casualties are still high, Worldsend Garrison being continuously understaffed despite the constant inflow of new combatants is a dark reminder of this fact. But they’ve been going down steadily, and it’s been years now that we didn’t deplore more than a hundred victims within a 12-month period.

  We learned to read the signs, we do not underestimate the enemy and the soldiers here are among the best in the whole world. Hundreds of years ago, they were totally unprepared, not knowing the dangers they were facing, and thousands of innocents were losing their life. We went a long way since then, and I believe we are now approaching a new era.

  I consider that a deeper study of the elixir could give us the edge needed to—if not defeat the opponent—, at least manage the invasion.

  I dare to dream of a fort where men wouldn’t be afraid to die fighting an invisible enemy.

  I hope that, during my lifetime, our losses at Worldsend Garrison will be so scarce that we’ll be able to honor the memory of our fallen comrades by properly burying them. I wish to offer them the peaceful rest they deserve and the opportunity to be remembered for their heroic sacrifice.

  All this is within our grasp, but we need help from the Empire.

  We are soldiers, not scientists, intellectuals or researchers. Already, the work done went far beyond our competences, and I confess that we most likely undertook some steps that would have made anyone follo
wing a strictly empirical approach gasp. We have reached our limits, and we can’t investigate further without the guidance of someone well versed in chemistry and medicine.

  Your Majesty, I hereby solemnly request the appointment of a scientist to Worldsend Garrison.

  While his loyalty to the Empire should be unshakable, he doesn’t need to be a brave soldier, nor does he have to know how to handle a sword or fire a gun. He would be within the precinct, and would not go out to the beach unescorted and unprotected. He would never have to face a creature, being able to carry out his tasks from the safety of the stronghold.

  The legacy of Colonel Sigalvo could bring peace and tranquility to the Empire.

  I see it as my obligation towards him and the soldiers within Worldsend Garrison to stress out the importance of the discovery made, and its implications for us. I am well aware of your justified reluctance to send unprepared men to the Karabia Peninsula, but I must insist with my request, hoping that you will take the right decision for the fort and the people we are protecting.

  Respectfully and dutifully yours,

  Colonel Montoya

  Letter 3

  To Empress Theodora,

  Your message has been understood.

  I apologize if my poor phrasing and my lack of education seemed to imply that I believe our mighty Empress could ever take a decision that is not in the best interest of the Empire and its people.

  I thank your legendary goodness and am aware that such lack of respect would have sent me directly to the scaffold, would I have been detached anywhere else than Worldsend Garrison. As Your Majesty rightly underlined, the fort is already in dire need of more men and sentencing some of them to death is to be avoided.

  I realize that my promotion to the rank of colonel happened quickly and that, would I not step up immediately to my present position, I could be made a simple soldier again.

  Your Majesty can be assured that the Commander of Worldsend Garrison perfectly understood his function, and will solely send suggestions, being aware that only the Empress knows what is best for the Empire.

  ***

  The news that the Empire managed to gather twenty-three men who will arrive with the next shipment of supplies is a tremendous relief for us. I read with the greatest interest the files sent concerning soldiers Monroe and Sushi, and I would like to confirm that, according to your wishes:

  Monroe is to be granted the rank of Lieutenant, and Sushi will be promoted to Sergeant. Both will have a private room in the officer’s building.

  Upon arrival, Lieutenant Monroe and Sergeant Sushi will be separated from the other recruits and welcomed personally by Lieutenant Sebastian. He will brief them about Worldsend Garrison, explaining in great details everything there is to know, and not retaining any information we have concerning our enemy. He will answer honestly and truthfully any question they might have, with the object of full disclosure, respecting, however, the necessary safety rules as written by your ancestor Emperor Niklas the First in the “Worldsend Rules.”

  Once they are settled in the fort, I will personally share with them all the elements we have about the elixir, including all the work of Giorgio Sigalvo and the results of our research made in the last weeks. They will also have access to the files of all soldiers, both those in the archives and those in my desk. Furthermore, they will be given any document they might request concerning the enemy, the potion, the fungi, the special skills and the perception of the adversary.

  Lieutenant Monroe and Sergeant Sushi will have their own office, where they will be able to conduct any experiment they deem useful, as long as they do not jeopardize the safety of the fort or its occupants.

  I am to send within my letters any information or suggestion Lieutenant Monroe considers interesting for the Empire, without censoring any of his statements.

  Lieutenant Monroe and Sergeant Sushi being fully dedicated to their effort for the Empire, they will be excused from any choir of the garrison, may them be administrative or military. While they will respect the discipline of the fort and answer to the authority of its Commander, they are entirely autonomous in their work and do not have to report to anyone, unless they do it from their own free will.

  Upon reading Lieutenant Monroe’s records, I saw that he used to be a courageous and devoted army nurse, helping the wounded soldiers on the Eastern Front for many years. His passing away due to syphilis some fifteen years ago has been a great loss for the field hospital in Utan.

  I also discovered the handwritten note explaining that since his unfortunate death, Doctor Monroe has been an invaluable asset in the Imperial Palace, where he took care of our beloved Emperor Niklas the Sixth for several years. I understand that during all this time, he was assisted by a lad from the Karpi mountains, who came with him from Utan. This young man was very knowledgeable of the local flora, including the mysterious Polobrag flower, widely celebrated for its many uses in traditional medicine and creation of various elixirs and potions.

  It seems that they both showed and undeterrable loyalty towards your father. Their constant care and devotion allowed him to rule for aplenty more years despite the disease eating him from inside.

  The handwritten note insisted on the importance of this additional respite, as it gave Your Majesty the possibility to have more years to unravel the complicated political issues of the Empire and learn from the unfathomable wisdom of our regretted Emperor Niklas the Sixth.

  I can only imagine the disappointment caused by the unexpected uncovering of the profoundly shocking nature of the relation between Lieutenant Monroe and Sergeant Sushi. This is indeed appalling to think that this might have been going on for many years, and that maybe your father had known for years but had decided to turn a blind eye, allowing them to live their passion the way they desired.

  No doubt their long-lasting connection would have remained hidden and they would have kept on enjoying their time together if nothing of uttermost importance had happened. However, it seems that a guard, tipped by some unidentified person, discovered their secret. Obviously, he had to report the incident immediately.

  If not for Your Majesty’s legendary goodness, their crime would have been punished with impalement, as our law states. Your decision to send them to Worldsend Garrison instead of a slow and painful death on a stake, as a reward for their years of unshakable loyalty towards the Empire, is a blessing for the fort.

  As Commander of Worldsend Garrison, I can guarantee that the great deeds accomplished by Lieutenant Monroe and Sergeant Sushi will be kept in mind and that they will receive the treatment they deserve. I respond personally of their safety and confirm that:

  Under no circumstance will Lieutenant Monroe and Sergeant Sushi leave the security of our walls unescorted.

  Under no circumstance will Lieutenant Monroe and Sergeant Sushi be allowed to wander less than a furlong from the waterfront, even in the company of heavily armed soldiers.

  Under no circumstance will Lieutenant Monroe and Sergeant Sushi be left in a situation where their physical integrity could be at risk.

  Moreover, just like any other person in the fort, Lieutenant Monroe and Sergeant Sushi will under no circumstance be judged because of the actions that led them to be sent to Worldsend Garrison. This piece of information is safely kept in my desk and will not be shared with anyone.

  According to Your Majesty’s will, as long as the rules of the garrison are respected and the life of the men posted here is not put at risk, there is no reason for them to be disturbed in the privacy of their quarters.

  Respectfully and dutifully yours,

  Colonel Montoya

  Letter 4

  To Empress Theodora,

  Please find in those pages a correspondence shipped by Lieutenant Monroe to the Empire. As per your request, there has been no editing nor censoring, the words and phrasing being entirely his.

  However, be informed that I took the initiative not to forward a previous message he wanted to transmit, as it
was written when he was still not realizing the situation in Worldsend Garrison. Such ravings could have been damaging for the safety of the fort, something that can’t be allowed.

  Would you have any interest in consulting the list of material requested by Lieutenant Monroe in his letter, you can find it with the official order sent by Sergeant James.

  Respectfully and dutifully yours,

  Colonel Montoya

  ***

  Your Majesty,

  I, Doctor Monroe, dutifully report on the advances made in the last weeks.

  Firstly, I would like to inform that both I and Sushi finally managed to accommodate to the situation in Worldsend Garrison, and are now working as expected. I sincerely regret the time wasted following our arrival, when we were utterly shocked by our imprisonment and dismissed the knowledge offered to us by Lieutenant Sebastian.

  As you are aware, neither Colonel Montoya nor the other officers have lost their sanity, as I disrespectfully and wrongfully expressed in a previous missive. This invisible enemy exist, the threat is genuine, and I bear the entire responsibility of the weeks squandered. I now appreciate I’ve been honored with the task of protecting the Empire against an invader far more lethal than any warriors from the Easter Kingdoms.

  I also would like to disapprove another statement erroneously made in my first message. None of the man here is under the influence of a psychotic drug, none of them is subject to hallucination, and they are not trying to escape from reality in a dangerously reckless way, as I previously asserted.