Finally meet the ala!

You may have wondered by now, "What is Ala?" as it is part of the chapter 2 subtitle. (On the title page, it says "Falx Chapter 2: Ala")

In Latin, ala means "wing" and during the Principate period of the Roman Empire, the term referred to a cavalry unit (soldiers on horses). And so, finally in page 21, you meet an ala trio! Ta-da!

It took forever to finish this panel, as it was the first time for me to draw these characters on horses, plus wearing those masks! And those masks should look scary enough for our young boy as well. However, that part was not hard, as the cavalry masks unearthed usually look kind of creepy. Some are modeled after supposedly young Alexander the Great and look quite handsome but I think it's the eye holes that give you an impression of emptiness and void.

They do remind me of Japanese Noh masks. And I'd be so scared to sleep in a room with a Noh mask on the wall! I mean, who wouldn't be? ^_^;