"So here we are... A wall I once so proudly defended..." I comment quietly as I try to hold in my disgust at the malformed bodies decorating the walls. A dreadful air covered the city now. Its prestige torn down and defaced while the banners of the enemy flew in the stead of ours.
It was everything that I had feared, everything I had grown anxious about had happened. Yet, despite the unspoken but clear message that had been carved into the city. I kept on walking towards it. Moving towards and through the lacerated walls before I stumbled out into the rubble.
The destruction was fine and precise, much like the craters made by those guns. It was probably that mechanical monstrosity that did this to the city. Even with the shields she had, she was not able to withstand them. And if this city could not, how would Thurn's Forge fare?
But I really needed to focus more on the now rather than something that had yet to happen. I would be there to ensure that this fate did not behold my home. The great city that straddled two continents. On the site of Ancient Thunder's prized workshop.
I would be there to protect it all. The people, my sisters and brothers. The history of the city and the meaning it carried. I would defend it all.
But to some extent, my nervousness made me keen to tempt fate, "Against what, however?"
I found myself questioning for there were no guards or soldiers. No machines or gun emplacements had been set up. From up here, on the Wall District. I saw the remains of those who lived in the city, clinging on only due to the controlled aid coming from the invader.
It was an odd sight that I did not quite understand. Yet, more curiously, the small temple I once frequented still stood somewhat. So I walked over to it even as I began to suspect the worse. And my worries proved themselves to be warranted.
And a hand covered my mouth as I looked into the desecrated temple. For within its scarred, but still holy walls I found the corpse of one of my sisters. Her armour was damaged and worn and her blade had been shattered. With her blood still shaming the walls of the temple.
"Sister... I'm sorry..." I cried as I realised what my failure had meant for her. My duty became hers and, not knowing what she was facing. She and her army fell with the city. And although her talents had saved the temple well enough, her body was not given that honour.
She had been humiliated with slanderous messages and insignia. Her heroic last stand had become a scene of mockery. And I wept for her as her greatest wound lay where it shouldn't have... Something had blasted straight through her womb and her value to Waionr was stolen from her.
Unsure of myself, I held onto her hand and trembled with uncertainty. I couldn't control my magic right now. To see such horrors and humiliation made me angry. It enraged me beyond a shadow of a doubt.
My rage burned greater than even the Fire-Mountain in the land of the Errakurds!
And I grit my teeth as my grip on my sister tightened. The walls of the temple shook and trembled and I heard loose rubble fall and break. If there was a force left behind to garrison the point. Then they knew I was here.
"I am sorry, dear Honourable War, for I must make a mockery of your laws within your own home..." I explain with despair as I let my sister's hand fall back down. And, I slowly rose to my feet before I began to take off my previously looted attire. It was not my armour, but it was the armour of a Valkinvar...
To the bare skin did I strip, and I repeated the process with my sister. Yet, even as I knew an enemy force gathered outside for me. I went about it slowly and respectfully. Each piece was cleaned as quickly as it could be done with the cleanest pieces of cloth I could find.
And, when it was done, I stood before the ruined statue of my patron god and I saluted him. Thumping the steel of my newly found chest plate loudly before I used a blast of magic to clear out the centre. With pieces and chunks of rubble bouncing about harmlessly before I tore open the earth with my hands. Yet, despite the force in which I did it with.
I was crying, this was what I had been reduced to...
"I am sorry, Sister... Forgive me, if you ever can." I tell her as I slowly place her body into the hole I had made. And, alongside my former set of clothes, I buried her with as many honours as I could. Though knowing our shared shame, I could not muster the will to call for Waionr. But, I made a point of leaving a tablet of recitement on top of her grave so that an effort was at least shown.
And as I stood up once more, I called my sword to my side. Letting the metallic thump fill the air as I turned to face the cloudy daylight outside of the temple. An already miserable sight was then made worse by the emerald light of the heretics' machines. I then glared sternly as I slowly put on my sister's looted helm.
With a single, steady breath, with my sword at my side. I walked out of the temple and stood before the gathered army. While my rage fed into my returning confidence as I felt my magic come alive within the armour. It had a master once again, and although I was not its true master, it demanded one for revenge nonetheless.
Their faceless soldiers had gathered at the doorstep of the temple. They had assembled down below in the bombed-out streets and in the air on their machines. Guns that once terrified me aimed down at me with ominous bluish glows. Personal firearms were cocked right within the reach of my arm.
Yet none of them fired, and we both watched the other. So I walked forward with a few great strides until I was at the very edge of the Wall District's raised ground. I cleared my throat and took a final glance around. Subtly, I adjusted the grip on my sword as what appeared to be an officer stepped forward to confront me.
A single face amongst a horde of small, prick-like dots amidst fields of black shadow and polished steel.
"For the crime of humiliating me on the battlefield. The men I commanded and a sister of the Ordoar-Imdvarce... I sentence you all to die. By the right given to me by Waionr, with the backing of Avanvenger. I shall cut... You... Down!"
I told them just as the first finger pushed on the trigger. But with skilled, sudden dashes I sent those up here flying away. And with a refined, controlled burst; I shot straight up towards one of their floating gun platforms. Blasting it apart with the force of my magic and blade before I carried on into the air.
Where, upon which I sliced open the sky with a single, furious slash. Bringing out the light their presence deprived us of. With another sudden dash, I then dodged their fire and destroyed the second platform. A punishing crash of steel on steel which saw them smash straight down into the ruined street below.
Following dozens of further violent bursts, I eliminated the remaining soldiers and crashed down onto the road. A single, terrified but still duty-bound officer was all that faced me at the end of the road. And I marched against them slowly, absorbing each blast that came from their barbur pistol. Pushing them up against the raised earth behind them as I levelled my sword tip against them.
Then, with a single burst of air behind me. I Impaled them. Seemingly detonating the brick and earth behind them along with their armour. And just as quickly I pulled out my blade and swung it down to my side.
Carving a fine line through the road and rubble below as I turned around to gaze upon the reinforcements.
"With all you have, heretics!" I spat as I launched myself into the air.