"What the...?" I let out in surprise as the castle suddenly began to collapse around me. Not only that, everything was shaking to the point I was nearly being thrown up into the air. Sensing the obvious danger, I put all my leftover magic into dashing out of the building. Only to rocket straight into an arcane 'fireball' that lashed out with violent winds.
I braced myself against the powerful force and broke right through until I was in the clear skies once again. But, not willing to lose myself in the spectacle, I quickly made my way back to the fortress and crashed down against it. Yet, as I clambered back to my feet, I saw how the battle had gone completely silent.
At least up here...
No spells or cannons were fired, all eyes were on the mobile fortress and it stumbled backwards. Then, when the magic disappeared just enough, we all saw how it had lost a large chunk of its face. An eye and half of its skull were just gone! But, it was still alive!?
And we all felt a sense of doom fill us as the sound of dense, falling steel filled the air. A strange whistling accompanied it and I felt a familiar magic presence within it. It was Allyoceer! But what was she doing that close to the mountain cracker!?
"WING-HEAD!" I screamed as I realised that she was either unconscious or heavily injured. So I did my best and ran after her. But I was slow in comparison to the dozens upon dozens of other emerald trails heading towards the falling gun. Yet, the barrel lit up and was suddenly wrenched open.
It was Lavauroas! He was able to save the Wing-Head! But he was now in danger too! I had to keep on going so I could help him.
And after stumbling over the edge of the fortress and rolling along the steep drop, I shot towards him. Knocking the enemies that were in my way out of it and carrying on towards him. Though, he ended up just saving me instead. No words came from him, however.
"Allyoceer..." I let out tiredly as my eyes widened and a cold shiver went through me. Her armour was destroyed, flesh was sliced off or open and she was riddled with damage. How had she suffered like this!?
"Gre... Great... Great shot, Valkinvar-Ammimpaurst Lavauroas." she struggled to get out to him after we crashed against the rocky earth with a tremendous boom. The pride in her voice was clear and abundant, but, it was also obvious... These were likely going to be her last words.
She held out long enough for the mountain cracker to fire...
"I'm sorry, Sister Allyoceer, I failed my oath and I failed you..." Lavauroas tearfully told her as he held her hand tightly.
"We... We... We all must head to Waionr at some point, Brother. Just make sure everyone goes out as ready as... As I was..." she explained to him before she suddenly went limp.
"Come on, there's still a siege to attend to." I tell my fellow soldier as I help him stand. And although I struggled to do it, I passed on his lengthy weapon and let him take hold of it.
"My greatest swing and it still stands..." he growled as he focused on the mobile fortress as it stood up and bashed its chest again and again.
"Let's..." I gasp as I put myself back in the air. But I was left behind quickly and trailing behind the enraged Ammimpaurst as he briefly tore his way through the airship crew before he went on up to the resumed battle. And I worried as I puttered closer and closer. If I was this weak right now, how were the others feeling!?
How many more had we lost...?
"What the..." I let out when a tremendous magic power suddenly filled the sky. Everything turned green and I felt myself suddenly drop as the overwhelming weight was forced upon me.
"You filthy, disgusting, vile Valkinvar dare!?" a voice boomed from within the mist before a blunt feeling lance of some kind struck me across the ground. And when I finally stopped rolling, I realised that I had been sent through my own army. And I was right at the feet of the shadow-faced soldiers...
But they all stood at attention rather than with their weapons levelled at me or the army...
Not that I could focus on it, as more of those ethereal lances began to strike at me, "GAAAAAH!"
Then, all of a sudden, I was suddenly wrenched into the air by a tendril of some kind. I panicked and struggled to no avail. And when the mist finally began to clear up, I found myself presented with what was left of the wing. All ready for the slaughter as a powerful witch stepped out before us.
Her power kept the mobile fortress subdued and it did its best to care and nurture for it. But the magic was clearly focused on us regardless. And this woman's hair... Pure emerald...
So few faces came to mind when I saw hair like that, but I knew what it entailed... We all did and despite some of us having fight left in us. We were all quiet. Not one word was uttered as we grew fearful of the immense power that tightened its grip on us.
"You make a mockery of the Order of the Outreaching Wind, you desecrate Castle Valersrakk with your pig iron cannon and you dare to stand before His Royal Majesty, Prince Jhrartur!?" the woman asked us with bloodthirsty viciousness as her magic began to crush our armour against us.
"Should we care!?" Uala spat at her as she strained against the magic.
"N-N-" I started to tell her before her screams filled the air as flesh was suddenly torn. Whatever happened, she was still alive, but her screams shook me to the core. I could only watch on in terror as the emerald-haired woman rose into the air. Her hands were so bright they were almost white!
The sky shimmered and this had become her domain. Everywhere was filled with her magic. Every bit of it wanted to kill us. Yet, she seemed to not care for the army.
"You Valkinvar should've accepted your deaths and been swept aside! You should've all died or made peace with Jhrarda before we sent you all to be punished for your disgusting ways!"
"Your evil will never sway us..." Uala managed to spit out. Though the blood did not reach the stainless woman. And she slowly turned her gaze on her. Yet, no more limbs were separated and no screams came.
She only laughed, "Foolish Valkinvar, you do not understand, do you? You are all alone... In my aura. No one will come for you, not even your pretend god!"
She then turned to me and came close enough to touch me. And it burned. There was so much magic in just her fingers alone. She could slice right through me with just a gentle press!
"And you, the one who led us here." she said as all the air and warmth left my body.
"I... I... I did no such thing!" I blurted out, terrified and reduced to tears once more as the magic began to envelop me tightly.
But, suddenly, the wind changed and this world of emerald that had been created disappeared. And on the ground, I saw it. Firery ruby blazed up from one of the valleys. Shimmering sapphire waves crashed up the old front... Dazzling, golden sparks surged up from another pass!
And from behind, brilliant emerald winds freed us from our bonds and brought us back. Wounds were healed and strength was recovered in all but an instant. No noise but the wind filled my ears. Until the emerald-haired woman gathered her magic.
"Who dares?" she asked with a land-shaking hiss.
"I do." a voice I never forgot answers.