"NOALLA!" Ainael cried as she put up a barrier as she dragged me away.
"No, let me..." I struggled to get out as I started to realise how severe that strike was. Even though it was just a stump, it had managed to go all the way through even my back plates! My vision was blurring and a burning pain was focused around the vast red gash in my centre. And, for some reason, it seemed to be growing and shrinking.
"You're going to be alright... You're going to be alright!" she repeated again and again as she finished dragging me behind a decorative statue. And I couldn't help but stare at her red robes... They should've been a pure white... There wasn't meant to be a stain on them.
"I've failed..." I let out as began to tug at one of the decorative pieces of her uniform. It made me cry more so than I was already. I promised my friend that I would take care of her. But now she was on her own against that monster.
"No! NO! I can heal you! JUST KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN!" she screamed erratically as she flawlessly switched between strained quiet and unrelenting screams. And I did as I was asked as best as I could. I focused on my friend's teary eyes as they took on an emerald glint.
"You need to run..." I told her as my bloody hand smeared her cheek. But she did not let it come back down and held it there. And while for a moment, I could not hear her, I felt her head shake in denial. She would not listen to me.
"Quit being so dramatic, okay?" she requested of me as I felt the burning feeling subside. Then, a loud tear filled my ears and I watched as she destroyed her own attire to save me. She shouldn't have done that... They'd know how she failed to use her magic like she was supposed to.
"The Valkinvar is still out there?" I asked as distant explosions, screams and roars echoed about us.
"She hasn't struck the barrier since I put it up..." she answered slowly as I began to struggle to my feet. A spell was on hand but Ainael contradicted herself and took the lead.
"She's gone?" I let out at first before she suddenly reappeared from the shadows. Her blade dripped with my blood and although her armour was scorched by magic and sheared by the wind. She still stood proudly before me. One moment away from killing us both.
"Do you surrender?" she asked us as she cautiously kept an attentive ear on the battle around us.
"Noalla..." Ainael whispered to me uncertainly whilst I registered the baffling request. We outnumbered them, we could win this. Yet, she was asking me if we wanted to surrender...?
Valkinvar absurdities I could only presume...
"Do you not understand? You will lose this battle!" I remind the Valkinvar.
"And I am giving you a chance to leave it alive!" she tells me firmly as the edge of her shattered blade glows slightly.
"No one will know, Noalla, it is easy enough to lie about how I needed to treat you. You have the proof of a well-fought battle! Witnesses!" Ainael urges me as she prepares for me likely saying no.
"We..." I started to say as I considered two things, the safety of my friend and the potential punishment from the Chapter-Mistress, "Surrender."
The Valkinvar then lowers her blade and she suddenly staggers as it became clear she was putting up a front, "Then by the mercy of Waionr, the Lord of Honourable War. I spare you, War-Witches Noalla and Ainael of the Seven-Peaks Union of the Jhermonikra. I place my trust in you as honourable soldiers to oblige by this promise. And I mark you out so that all others know you are under the protection of Honourable War."
"I... Never knew a Valkinvar could do this..." I say after stepping back suddenly when the mark of that strange animal suddenly appeared on my armour.
"You now serve under the Seventh Law of Waionr." she explained before she turned away and left us alone.
"Back behind the statue... We'll wait it out there." I tell Ainael as I slumped against her. The need for my strength was no longer here. And as much as I wanted not to, I had to turn to my friend for help. We slowly made our way back behind the statue and I dropped to the ground with a thud.
"Smile a little, you get to carry on being my friend..." she tearfully joked as she went back to applying all the magic she could to my wound.
"I can live happily knowing that." I tell her with a pained laugh as I took the moment to rest. Though, as much as I wanted to, I kept my eyes open so I did not worry her.