"That is a bold plan, even for you, Captain," says Sora when he heard Captain Lydia's idea in today's meeting.
After three days of full treatment, Sora finally can attend the officers meeting again. Though, since his injury still has not fully recovered yet, Amamiya has been shadowing him all day. Nevertheless, the young officer is feeling well enough to take back the reign of responsibility as a fit lance.
"Bold or not, that is the only plan that might work in our favor," says Captain Lydia. "The reinforcement is on the way, and the High Constable demanded that all paths leading to this outpost must be secured. Blocking the mountain path by causing a rock slide with an explosion is the only way we can secure the road near the river without sacrificing our defenses in the north."
"High Constable?" Sora asked.
"He's the knight order's representative in the royal court."
"I didn't know the royal court had an interest in this mission?"
"Well, besides guarding the route to vassal state of Dessa..." Sergeant Marcus takes his turn to explain. "This outpost also guards the route to the Black Gate where the demons came to this world. Of course the royal court has interest in our mission."
"I see."
"Anyway…" Captain Lydia takes back the reign of the meeting. "This plan will make us split our forces. So, listen carefully."
Everyone nods.
"Both Captain Glenn and Chief Strongbow will take the hunters and militia brigade to secure the barricade in the south, near the river. After Sergeant Desmon and his Jaeger Brigade return from securing the mountain path from any remaining dryads, Sergeant Marcus will lead the sapper contingent guarded by his hoplomachii and the bladesguards to the ruined fort where we will plant the explosive barrels and bring the mountain down. I will remain here with the reserve force. And as for you Sora…" the knight captain points at her second in command. "If your condition still does not allow you to take action, I won't ask you to participate. Instead, Amamiya will lead your squad in your place. Also, I need her to blast the cliff if the plan goes south. So, any question?"
"I will still go, Captain. That fort is my responsibility after all," Sora said his piece.
"Don't be brash, Sora. This time I won't hesitate to put you in the stock if you disobeyed me."
The other officers chuckles hearing their captain rebuttal.
"It's up to Helena, Amamiya or other healers' judgement for you to take part in this mission. If they said you can't go, you can't go. Understood!"
Sora half heartedly nods.
"If that's the only objection, all of you can dismiss. Prepare yourself for this mission. It is imperative for it to succeed."
The officers saluted and left the barrack.
"You still want to go, don't you?" says Amamiya who has been silent during the meeting.
"Of course. Like I said: that place is my responsibility," Sora repeats what he said before.
The battlemage sighs.
"Come with me." She drags the first lance to the infirmary.
Inside the tent, Sora sits shirtless on a stool. Amamiya sits behind him, channels healing spells to his wounds.
"Your wounds… They generally have been healed, but why do I still sense some disturbance in the flow of your life energy?"
"Yeah, I still feel somewhat stiff," Sora opens and closes his right palm. And everytime he makes a fist, his fingers tremble. "Maybe because of the poison, and… since when you can detect someone's life energy?"
Amamiya snickers. "Come on, Sora. You know I'm a mage. Of course I can detect life energy. Although, I still cannot see it clearly. That aside, you still want to go?"
"I don't think I need to repeat my answer."
"But why? I know that place was your idea, but you do need to go. Not when your condition is still like this."
"Amamiya… I cannot simply shirk my duty."
The battlemage smiles bitterly. "You're both a college student and a ronin. I believe you've shirked many of your duties."
"I know. But, not anymore. Not this time. Not in this world. For once I have a sense of purpose, and I do not want to abandon it."
Amamiya sighs. There is no way for Sora to not participate in the coming mission. She knows that, but she still wants him to stay. She touched the scar on Sora's back. The massive thorns that Dryad threw that night not just pierced through Sora's armor, but also his body. Amamiya reminisces when she got injured. The pain from her broken bones was unbearable. She thought that she would be dead and left her beloved friend alone. However, a few days after they've become a couple, Amamiya had to witness her lover cling to his life. Before, She never imagined the thought that Sora would die and she would linger alone in this world. After that night, the very fleeting thought of that sent a painful chill through her spine.
"Sense of purpose, eh? So, you thrust our captain? Or you did all this fighting because you like being ordered around?"
Sora senses a bitterness on those questions. "Well, Captain Lydia has not yet given me much reasons to doubt her. As for being ordered around, I guess that is what gives me purpose. My shut-in ronin life was nothing short of idleness and chaos. A little bit of order is probably what I need."
"It sounds like you want to stay here. In this world."
"I suppose so."
Amamiya suddenly hugs him.
"We now are a couple, right?" she asked.
"Yes…"
"A couple sometimes lied to each other, right?"
"Maybe… not necessarily a good thing for being a couple, though." The questions start to scare the young officer.
Amamiya closes her eyes. "Then lie to me."
"Huh?"
"Lie to me that you do all this not because someone is ordering you around. Lie to me that you do this because it's the only way for us to return to earth, to Japan."
Sure, Sora had told a lot of lies in the previous life. But, never has he told lies because someone asked him to. The sincere request from Amamiya hangs heavy on his shoulder, also because that battlemage still hugs him. Normally, lying is something easy for him to do. However, this time his tongue is reluctant to move.
"I… I do this because it's the only way we might return to earth."
Amamiya sighs in relief as she hears the sweet lie. "Thank you, my love."
"Of course. And when we've returned, we will be married and have many healthy children."
The battlemage blushes. Her face turned red like a tomato. She pushes giggling Sora away from her embrace. She did request for a lie to be told to her, but she never expected that part of the lie about marriage. Nevertheless, she's happy. Once again she hugs her lover, a bit tightly this time.
"Soo, is the treatment finished for today?" ask Sora, he began feeling uncomfortably awkward for Amamiya to hang on his body a tad too long.
"Yes," Amamiya gives a simple answer.
"So, could you..."
"No." Amamiya smiles. Drift herself into lovely bliss. "Let's stay like this until our captain calls us to muster."
***
"Are you sure with this report?" Ask Captain Lydia.
"Yes, I'm sure of it. How many times do I need to tell you?" Sergeant Desmon starts to run out of patience since the knight captain has been asking him the same question since he arrived.
"It is still hard to believe for Dessa going out of their way to send a runner to warn you, and us, that storm is going this way."
"It may be so, but the runner seems pretty serious about it."
"Dessians might be Elzen's vassal, but they've been largely keeping everything to themself. So, forgive us for doubting you that they send us a message just to warn us about a storm." Sergeant Marcus also sounds his doubt.
"Maybe it is because it's not an ordinary storm. Maybe one of those ice storms that descend from Silverpeak Mountain." Sergeant Desmon tries to counter his fellow sergeant argument.
"That storm has not come in years. What makes you think it will come now!?"
"Enough!" Captain Lydia stops her sergeants to argue any further. "Indeed it is hard to believe for Dessian to give a care to anything beyond their city wall. But, this is a perilous time. If a storm did head this way, that's mean we need to blast the mountain now."
"I'm in agreement with Captain Lydia. We cannot wait until dusk," says Sergeant Desmon. "However, without cover of darkness this mission would become extremely dangerous. The boggards will be upon us in no time."
"But, we cannot wait until the storm passes," says Sergeant Marcus. "The boggarts will likely come to us with the storm. If we wait, I'm afraid there won't be an outpost to reinforce when the reinforcements come."
"It's decided then. Sergeant Marcus, sound the muster call! We march now!" Captain Lydia gives the order to start the mission.
The hoplomachus sergeant saluted and carried the order.
"Captain, I request for the Jaegers to tag along with the sapper team," Sergeant Desmon asks for the knight captain's permission.
"Granted."
The Jaeger sergeant saluted and left the meeting table.
"Desmon," calls the sergeant, stopping him to walk past the barrack's threshold.
"Yes, captain."
"Do please watch over our young hero."
Desmon nods. "I'll see to his safe return."
The horn is blown, signaling for all soldiers to muster. Both Captain Glenn and Chief Strongbow immediately take all the militias and hunters to the barricade in the south. This force also carried two polyboloses with them. The jaegers, bladesguards and hoplomachus brigade along with first lance's unit are still in the courtyard, waiting for all explosive barrels to be loaded into the carts.
"That's a lot of explosives," Sora commented as he observes workers loading barrel after barrel of unstable, highly flammable liquid.
"I just hope those are enough to make a huge rock slide to cover the mountain path," adds Sergeant Marcus as he walks toward the first lance from behind.
"Sergeant Marcus," Sora saluted the sergeant.
"First Lance. Already about returning to action."
"Of course. I have to. That place is-"
"Yeah, yeah. Your responsibility. I heard that before," Sergeant Marcus cutted Sora's sentence. "But still, after getting injured like that, going to another battle this soon is not the wisest choice."
"The same could be said to other soldiers and knights," Sora argues.
"Also, you are wearing newly fitted armor you're not familiar with." The hoplomachus sergeant looks at brigandine Sora's wearing now.
That armor, the brigandine, is a replacement for his armor which was destroyed by the dryads. Since it was fitted rather urgently, it only consisted of the body armor. It has no pauldrons, arm guards or greaves. The only addition is his shield gauntlet which is largely still undamaged.
"Whatever you say, I'm still going," the first lance officer firmly defended his wish to attend this mission.
"If so, the healers already gave you permission, then?" Sergeant Marcus reminds Sora about the condition to which he must obey.
"They're kind of reluctant to let me go…"
"That means you can't go. Remember what Captain Lydia said."
"About that… Amamiya managed to convince Helena who in turn managed to convince our esteemed knight captain let me attend this very important mission." Sora said that with absolute pride.
"Did Captain Lydia really give you permission to go?" the sergeant doubts Sora's confidence.
"Well, to be precise, she just said 'Just go'. Along with a very deep sigh. I don't know why."
"That's because you're supposed to remain in the infirmary, you stubborn little boy!" Sergeant Desmon suddenly appears and immediately barges into the conversation.
"Desmon? You come with us, too?" Sora does not expect the jaeger sergeant along with his brigade will join in the mission.
"The situation is already turning to the most dire. This mission needs every able hand to succeed. It's already dangerous enough to do anything near boggard's territory. It's practically suicidal if what we do is noisy and we do it in broad daylight."
The bellowing sound of horn can be heard again. This time is to signal the sapper team to go.
"It's high time for us to depart," says Sergeant Marcus. "Good luck gentlemen."
With that, the officers return to their respective units. Ready to escort the convoy to its destination.
The convoy marched slowly through the mountain path. All of the soldiers and knights are in high alert and ever-cautious. The memory of what happened three days ago is still very vivid to some of them. This time they cannot be caught off guard again. The mission is too precious to fail, and the stake is too high. In addition, the payload they carry is highly dangerous. One false move, one misplaced ember, will likely send all of their life into an abrupt end. This intense condition is added with the walks inside boggard's patrolling area. And with the fort destroyed, if the boggards find them, there won't be anything standing between them and the hulking assailants.
Tha carts stop moving. The convoy arrived at the ruined fort. Remains of splintered palisade and charred woods still scattered around the site. Once a military stronghold, now reduced to piles of rubble. Much of its former appearance is unrecognizable. For three days and three nights, the boggards channeled their wanton destruction to the place that had been standing in their way.
Sergeant Marcus signals the sappers to unpack the carts without making any noise. One by one they slowly unload the barrels and take pickaxes and shovels to dig the collapsed mine. Inside the carts were also packed with many bows and bundles of arrows. All other units, except for the jagers, take a single bow and a single bundle of arrows. For defensive measure, there won't be a parameter protected by rows of shield walls. Instead, Sergeant Desmon had proposed an absolute stealth strategy. The sappers will work as quietly as possible, while the knights and soldiers will hide out of sight, using the ruins as cover. They only engage any targets from range. This creates an illusion of nothing happening and nothing changes in the very place where they will blow up the mountain.
"I don't like this situation," Sora sighs. He's leaning on a remaining part of the palisade. He was constantly griping to his boys, and he frequently peeked out from his hiding place. "Too many things could go wrong."
"Don't jinx it, Sora," says Maximillian, sitting near his friend on a broken bench.
"I know. Not that I disagree with Sergeant Desmon's strategy, but if we attacked, between the boggards in the front, the explosives in the back and everything in between, we only have short time to form a defensive line, let alone to escape."
"Have faith. Sergeant Desmon is adept with a stealth strategy like this. Besides, we have full support of the entire jaeger brigade, not just their scouting squad. I believe we could kill a patrol before they can alert the rest."
Sora scoffs. "Your positivity is amusing me. I just hope it's come true."
"So do I."
"I also hope you are not charging out like a crazy boar, like you always did, when the enemies come."
Maximilian giggles after being reminded about his bad habit.
"For that I pray to the goddess to give me self restraint, and also among other things."
"Yeah, you do that."
Sora cannot help to grin when he sees his friend kneel in front of his sword. Thought to be joke earlier, but the bladesguard really do praying. But,what he's praying for, Sora knows not.
That sight of praying bladesguard do not distract the first lance for long. Once again he peeks out beyond the broken palisades to the mountain path. And once again he sighs.
"I wonder if the Dessian will send help to us. After all, they are the one who warn us for the oncoming storm."
"I wonder that as well," Maximilian cuts his prayer short and returns sitting on the broken bench. "I am aware that they have already said they will take care of the boggards camp near their territory, but the one we face is also a threat to them. I really wish they were the one who sent us reinforcements, rather than a long way from the capital."
"Wish as much as you like. Dessa will not send any troops or help," Sophia barging in. She carries a chair that appears to be undamage and sits on it in front of her two junior knights.
"Where did you get that chair?" Is the first question both Sora and Maximillian ask. It seems they are more attracted to the pristine look of the furniture that Sophia brought than her sharp comment about the vassal state unwillingness to send help.
"I found it lying around among the rubbles," the veteran bladesguard answer candidly.
"I see. So, what's that about Dessa not sending any help?" Sora finally asks the question related to their dire situation.
"It's about the treaty."
"Treaty?"
"Yes." Sophia nods. "Treaty that stated that Dessa will guard the Black Gate and will receive the full brunt of any incoming demonic invasions in the future. In return, Dessa will not be tied to any affairs beyond their border. And such, our situation here is not their concern."
"I heard about that before, but I never think it would be that harsh," says Maximillian.
"I take Elzen's already asked some exceptions from that treaty but the Dessian rejected them."
"That's true, Ser," Sophia confirms Sora's analysis. "And they have every right to do so."
Maximilian felt very uncomfortable. Prospect of immediate help from closest ally, Elzen's vassal, will never come because it's blocked by binding words written on a piece of paper.
"That's very inconsiderate of them," the bladesgruad frowns. "And how do you know that the Dessian has the right to demand such a treaty."
"Because I was born and raised there."
The revelation shook both younger knights.
"I was there when the Black Gate appeared in front of our city. I was there when hordes of demons nearly raze the city to the ground. And after all of it finished, Dessa was still under the shadow of that cursed gate. And as far as exception on the treaty, I was one of the very few Dessians who 'allowed' to be recruited to the knight order."
While Sora and his companions discuss their grimm situation, his lover, Amamiya along with Helena stand next to the mine entrance. They conjure orbs of light to illuminate the mine while the sappers dig the collapsed tunnel. Helena, like Sergeant Desmon, volunteered herself to the mission. Both Maximillian and Captain Lydia objected to her decision. Maximilian feared that Helena would do something reckless since her reason to participate was always the same; "It is my duty to protect". And Captain Lydia also did not want to lose a skillful healer like her. But, the lady chaplain has been coddled behind the outpost's wall, away from the battlefield, far too long. She no longer has patience for being denied for doing her duty.
Luckily, Helena did not need to do much to get permission. She simply told the knight captain that she will monitor a very stubborn patient who also happens to force his way to this mission. And with that, the lady chaplain and her morning star join the mission under Sora's squad.
As the two ladies stand watch as the sappers work, Amamiya seems anxious. She looks like daydreaming while she keeps rubbing her hand. Then, suddenly she feels a cold sensation on her cheek. Helena is poking her face.
"Are you still with me?" Helena continuously poked the battlemage with gauntlet in-cased finger.
"I'm fine," Amamiya whisk away the lady chaplain's hand.
"You don't look fine. You look like someone who has committed a sin and thinking if they should confess or not."
Amamiya leans back onto the carved stone wall, then slides down to the ground. Her head tucked between her knees.
"It just… It's Sora. His wounds were already healed, but he still messed up." She raises her head and looks at the person she meant cheerfully talking to his fellow knights. "He may look alright, but I don't think he is ready to fight another battle. I feared that he...." The sentence cutted as the battlemage's head tucked back between her knees.
"Yet, you still convince Captain Lydia to let him go." Helena sits next to the sighing battlemage.
"Sora will come with us with or without our captain's permission. It's better to let him come than seeing him sneaking out of the outpost. But now, I think it will be a lot better if I just told Captain Lydia to lock Sora in the stock. He will be angry for a few days, but at least he will be alive."
"You must love him very much," says Helena.
Amamiya nods, with head still tucked between her knees.
For a moment there is silence. As if the two of them were contemplating their conversation. Then Amamiya raises her head again with sight locked Sora. His image looks more vivid in her eyes, while everything around him is blurred and insignificant.
"He… is the only one I truly knew. I love him not because I know him well, nor because I am curious about all of the hidden things around him. I love Sora because he is always there by my side. I am always at peace until now because I know he will be there at the end of the day. But…"
Amamiya takes a deep breath. Her body shivers.
"But since… Since that night, I realize that we are at war and Sora is still like the other soldiers… might not return at all."
Helena smiles.
"Yes, that is the cruel reality for us, men-of-war, must face. I still remember when I arrived in the outpost for the first time. I remember one night, I was sharing a meal and story with some of the knights by campfire. Happier time, but alas it's not last long. A night after battle I sat on that same campfire. Alone. The knights who accompanied me before were no longer there. Nothing's there, except for empty chairs." Her smile is gone, replaced with a grim visage. "That's why I am obsessed with my duty to protect others."
The story shaken Amamiya even more. She thought that Helena would tell her some soothing tale. She couldn't be more wrong. The lady chaplain's story only deepens the truth that she might continue their journey without Sora.
Helena smirks. Either because out of despair for the past or the fear stricken Amamiya looks hilarious.
"What's so funny?" Amamiya's not pleased by the sudden expression of amusement from the lady next to her.
"Nothing. If you really care about First Lance Sora's safety, why do you not protect him? He may still be not yet fit for a battle, but you are." Helena stops Amamiya's try for rebuttal, leaving the battlemage's mouth hanging open. "I know it is a man's thing for them to guard a lady and not vice versa. I believe our First Lance will be happy if you tell him that. Although, I also believe he will decline your offer."
Amamiya pouts. Not because she was upset, but because she was hesitant. She wants to tell Sora that he can rely on her. She already did that before, but now she doesn't know how to do it. And she doesn't want the risk of stuttering mid sentence and Sora laughs at her in front of his squad.
"Come on, go and tell him!" Helena gives her a nudge. "Many are dead in regret because they cannot convey their message to their loved ones."
That nudge managed to get Amamiya moving. With feeling mixed between determined and half hearted, she approaches Sora, who still sits in between Maximillian and Sophia.
Helena sees from afar when the battlemage speaks to the first lance officer. Amamiya is starred by three pairs of eyes as she tells Sora her love filled message. The poor battlemage clearly looked very nervous. Thankfully, her lover is considered enough to hold his laugh. What comes next is quite surprising. Sora pulls Amamiya close to him and kisses her on the cheek. Which in turn, he got slapped by her on the cheek. The first lance officer left confused and laughed by his two bladesguard subordinate.
Amamiya hastily marches back to Helena. Again, she sits next to her with her head tucked between her knees. It's not clear what else Sora's did beside kissing her, but it clearly makes the battlemage very happy. Because she blushes burning red to her ears.
The noon in the ruin passed in silence except for occasional hussed chatter among the less vigilant soldiers and clanging of pickaxe hitting rocks from inside the mine. Then, the clanging sound stops. All turn into high alert. A sapper exits the mine, running toward Sergeant Marcus. He tells the sergeant that they have reached the critical depth of the mine. Sergeant Marcus gives the sapper a nod to unload the explosive barrels and fill the mine with them.
One, two, three of those red painted barrels carried slowly from the carts to the mine. The sappers need to carry all of them. But, the lengthy process did not end there. The fire concoction alone will not trigger the mountain shattering explosion. To achieve that, they also need to use fire powder, which is stashed inside several smaller barrels. After that a long fuse needs to be attached onto the fire powder filled barrels, so they can be detonated from a safe distance.
A long and dangerous process in which many things could go wrong. Sadly, some of the soldiers and knights might already jinxed it in their idle chatters. Just when the sapper midway from finish unloading the explosive, the sound of deep grunt and heavy footsteps approaching them. Everybody immediately duck inside their hiding spot. A boggard patrol is coming.
A jaeger who's stationed in the foremost part of the ruin peeking from his hiding spot. He sees three towering creatures approaching. With his fingers, and without making any noise the jaeger tells his comrade behind him the number of their foes. The message passed along in silence until reaching Sergeant Desmon, who then gave a signal to all of the jaegers to nock their arrow. Slowly, rows of archers, jaegers and others who carry a bow, emerge from hiding with their bow drawn. With a simple flick of the jaeger sergeant' hand, hail of arrows flew through the sky. The boggards caught off guard. They never expected to be pelted with arrows from the place that was supposed to be desolate. Without fair change to counter the attack, the boggards only can growling in agony and die.
As the last of their opponents fall lifeless, Maximilian drops his bow and sighs in relief. "Thanks heaven this over quickly." he said. "Still pity though, I don't get any chance to charge at them."
"Don't jinx it, or you will get your chance," says Sora. His eyes still stare vigilantly to the front. He knows the worst is not yet to pass.
Something pulling him back behind the broken palisade. It was Amamiya. During the attack, she moved quickly to Sora's position.
"I don't like this, Sora," she said.
"Me neither. In my experience, it is impossible there are only three boggards in a single patrol. More will come."
"Not that." Amamiya is somewhat upset for the wrong assessment of her wariness. "I feel something… bad, really bad will come."
"Isn't everyone here feeling that way?"
"No, idiot! It feels different. It's like-..."
A loud growl echoing through the mountain path. Another group of boggards came toward them. Larger and approaching even faster. Without an order the jaegers shoot volley of arrows, trying to stop the newly appeared menace.
"Desmon, your jaegers will not be able to kill all of them before they warn the other boggards!" warns Sergeant Marcus.
"How many explosions had been unloaded?" says Sergeant Desmon calmly, and seemingly ignores his comrade warning.
"Almost all of them are already inside the mine, but I don't think we have time to detonate from a safe distance."
"Fine. Ready your defense, Marcus!"
The hoplomachus sergeant nods. With a firm determination, he grabs his shield and spear.
"Sora!" He calls for the first lance's attention. "Prepare for battle! It's our turn."
***
"STAND FIRM! DO NOT FALTER!" shouts Sergeant Marcus, inspiring all his men to keep fighting even though all odds stacked against them.
Cry havoc from both sides filled the battlefield. The line of shield wall is no more. It was smashed to splinter. Even though Helena has laid out a protective charm around it, the line still breaks as soon as the boggards reach them. What remains is a desperate fight for the defenders. The jaegers give support by raining arrows from the backline, trying to ease the pressure from their comrades. The guards and hoplomachii fight with their backs pressed against each other while surrounded by enemies that are twice their size. Boggards' iron fist, tree club and big rocks clashing with their shield. Slowly, they consolidate their shattered formation. And finally, the Elzen knights and the ordinary guards reach solid cohesion. With their long spear, they create a circle formation that resembles an angry porcupine. Determined not to be broken for the second time, they valiantly stand the ground and give every boggard who attacks them a painful lesson by stabbing it in the gullet.
The bladesguards let loose their bloodlust. Cursing and yelling like mad brawlers, they cleave through the thick of the horde. These crazed warriors who deep in their drunkness, fight without care for the world, except adding more victims to their personal blood fest. Maximillian especially enjoyed the fight thoroughly since his reign was let go by Sora. Like rabid hyena gorging his prey, Maximilian laughs maniacally while slaughtering every boggard that foolish enough enters the reach of his zweihander.
Speaking of Sora, where is that first lance and his companions? When the line broke, Sora did not falter. He, Amamiya, Helena and three hoplomachii who swear to protect him hold their position. Now, with fights breaking all around him, only Amamiya and Helena remain on his side. The first lance officer no longer used a spear, since it broke too easily. In frustration, he draws both of his swords and charges bravely, knowing without a spear in hand, he is much closer to boggards' deathly grip. The boggards are bigger and stronger than Sora, but they no match against his wits and cunning. Swiftly moving between their clumsy attacks, Sora cuts the boggards hamstring or cleaves their kneecaps, leaving them fall kneeling. Unable to move, these boggards become prey to blood-drunk bladesguards or slain by Amamiya who desperately tries to protecting her beloved.
In a way, Amamiya is Sora's spear. Under spell induced frenzy, the battlemage fights with bloody fervor. She turns her staff into a flaming spear, searing through the boggard's flesh for each strike. Castrated from her favorite fire spells, Amamiya again relies on her stone spike spell. Different from the spell she used to stop boggard's advance before by feter them to the ground, the spell she conjures now is intend to murder them all. Many of the boggards die standing with a spike impaled through their body from the bottom to the mouth.
Fighting in tandem with Amamiya's frenzy, Helena also releases her murderous intent. Angry because her protective charm broke so easily, Helena swears bloody vengeance to the boggards for their slight. Bolstered by Amamiya's frenzy spell, Helena crushed the boggards' skull with her morning star. Each swing from her deadly weapon accompanied with shriek of battle cry. The wild spell turns this harmless cry into an additional weapon of the lady chaplain. Sharp in tone and lethal as banshee wail, it pierce through the mind of those who have weak constitution, daze them and even kill them. There is no sign of a gentle chaplain left in Helena, only berserker rage remains.
As the fighting grew more and more desperate, it also grew more chaotic. The boggards pressed the attack as they continuously reinforced from their camp. The defenders, too, refuse to give up, but due to so many magic residu from Amamiya and Helena went awry, all of them now no longer fighting with composure of a human, but with reckless abandon of a madman. Even Sora also starts to fight like a bladesguard with vision red of blood.
A shout of battle cry comes from the backline. Sergeant Marcus leads most of the jaegers charging to the fray. Their arrows are spent, the situation is truly grim now.
Even with the jaegers' help, the defenders cannot maintain their position. Outnumbered by the boggards, eventually they are pushed to the ruin's threshold.
"They cannot pass through this point!" shouts Sergeant Marcus.
"I know!" Sora finishes his duel with a boggard by driving both of his swords through the horned giant's jugular. "We must blast the mountain now, or all will be lost!"
Suddenly, a massive figure appeared. Towering between other boggards, it's as big as the boggard's champion that besieged the Outer Gate outpost. It has deep red skin and wears an elaborate headdress made from skull and bones. On its hand carries a big tree with a boulder still tangled by the roots.
"RUN!!! It's the chief!!" shouts one of the guards as the giant beings approach.
Alas, the warning comes too late. Before anyone can react, the chief slams its massive weapon to the ground. Sending a crushing shock wave that destroyed the remaining defenders. As the boggards rush through the ruins, Sergeant Desmon blows the warhorn, sounding for retreat. The battle is lost.
There is no more cry havoc. It was replaced by the despair wail of the dying knights. The boggards are roaring in satisfaction, as now it's their turn to gorge on their helpless prey.
The sappers already left their position and ran. While the knights and soldiers who still stand, cling to their life and fight a hopeless fight. The boggard chief thrashing through the ruins with its giant club, swatting the remaining defenders like a mere bug.
Sora was spared from such grim fate because he was half buried under the mud. His head hurt and rang like a church bell, his vision is dark and covered by dirt, his body paralized in shock from the inhuman that sent him flying not a moment ago. Suddenly, someone dragged him out from the mud. It was Sophia. The lady knight effortlessly pulled him out and helped him stand up.
As his vision is cleared, Sora sees Amamiya and Helena still fighting alongside the remaining bladesguards.
"AMAMIYA!" He calls for his companion's attention. "BLAST THEM!"
The battlemage cannot believe who shouted at her. Carried by Sophia, Sora, her beloved is still alive, but he looks heavily injured.
"BLAST THEM, AMAMIYA!! OR WE ALL WILL DIE HERE!!!" Sora shouted again.
Without any hesitation, Amamiya followed that request. She focuses all her magical energy through her staff. All the spell residu that hangs on the air is being absorbed by her spell. And with a single breath Amamiya released it.
"VERMILION BLAST!!!!"
Pillars of flame erupting from the ground, incinerating anyone and anything in the ruins. For a moment, the boggards were stunned by the fiery explosion that killed many of their brethren. Even their chief stops its onslaught in confusion.
More explosions erupting from the ruins, but not from Amamiya's spell. Fire has caught the remaining explosive barrels. The deadly concoction inside them exploded and spread more fire on the chaotic battlefield. This fortunately set trails of flame powder inside the mine on fire as well. Unfortunately, what left from the Elzen defender force is right under the blast radius.
The explosion knocked both Sora and Sophia down. He knew the situation is most dire as he feels heat of burning fire all around his limp body. However, tired from all the fighting, he has no power left to move a knight in full plate armor who is now laying on top of him. Nevertheless, he does not need to worry about that. Sophia never falls unconscious. What she did is to protect Sora from the blast. When the explosions stop erupting all around them, the lady knight once again pulls her superior out from the mud. It seems her herculean strength is know no bound.
"Ser, we have to get out from here!" says Sophia as she helps Sora to stand up.
"Leave me!" Sora pushes her away. The first lance officer staggered for a moment, and then fell to the ground again.
"Ser?"
"Safe them… and leave me" Sora points at where Amamiya and Helena fell unconscious.
"But, Ser…?"
"THAT'S AN ORDER! GET THEM OUT FROM HERE!!! And do not return for me!"
Sophia responded in silence. Doubting the nature of the order she just received. Nevertheless, as a knight of Crimson Drake Order and a soldier of Elzen, she had vowed to follow orders without question.
Swiftly, she recovered the unconscious battlemage and chaplain and carried both of them on top of her broad shoulders. Then, Sophia runs toward the direction where other soldiers are retreating. She runs past First Lance Sora, and as her order ordained, she does not look back for him.
Bruised, injured and exhausted, Sora struggles to stand up. The boggards surely will continue their onslaught and the fire will soon reach the explosion charge inside the mine. Nothing Sora can do. He cannot out run the explosion, he cannot escape the fate. He can only stay and make his last stand, how pitiful that might be. In truth, this is what he wished. In the life full of disappointment, this place, this ruined fort was where he acquired his greatest achievement. This where he received the First Lance title and led his army to many victories. This where she embraced him. Erasing his lonely existence and filled it with love.
"Amamiya is safe now," Sora whispered to himself. The first lance officer smiles. He is content and ready. Today he will fall here and the ruined fort will become his tomb. He does not regret that. The only thing he might regret is that after all this, his ghost might not do much to prevent Amamiya's revenge.
As Sora is about to fall again, someone holds his back.
"You!?" He was surprised by the sudden appearance of five hoplomachii.
"Ready to fight, Ser?" ask one of them.
"Go! Leave me be!" Sora gives the knights the same orders he gave to Sophia.
"Hang that order, Ser. We will not leave this place."
Another hoplomachus offers Sora a spear. "Spear wall cannot stand alone, and a hoplomachus will never stand alone, right, First Lance Sora?"
Sora sees the determination in all of them and convinced that they will not leave despite all orders he might give.
He takes the spear. "Fine, your funeral also, then."
"And I cannot ask for a better grave than here."
As all six hoplomachii stand firm in the middle of burning ruins, the boggards charge through the flame and towar them. Their weapons clashed and then, a cataclysmic explosion consumed all of them.
***
It is Elzen tradition to cremate the dead. The body would be put on top of a funeral pyre and burned to ash. The ash is then collected inside an urn and finally buried inside a grave or put inside a mausoleum.
Since the boggards their attack, not a single day in Out Gate Outpost passed without a single funeral pyre being burned. However, tonight, in the gloom of strom, many more pyres are being burned. The living denizens of the outpost witness the cost of bloody battle.
John Strongbow managed to reinforce the barricade on riverside road and secured the path for reinforcement with minimal casualties. Sadly, the same can't be said for the other force who tasked to block the mountain path in the north. That mission is a success. The explosion managed to blast a good chunk of the cliff and the rubbles created an impassable blockade. But, the price of their success is great. Desmon lost half of his jaeger brigade. All hoplomachii were dead save for Sergeant Marcus, who became a leader without no one to lead. Only two bladesguards are still alive, Maximilian and Sophia. And finally, First Lance Sora also perished in battle.
Elzen soldiers are no stranger in losing many of their comrades dead. They after all had fought many many battles, against their Zandrain rival and demonic invasion. However, losing a hero isn't something that any soldiers or knights willing to face with stoic demeanor. Everyone mourned when they heard Sora had fallen in battle. Yet, they knew this is the fate every single one of them will receive eventually. To honor the first lance's sacrifice, many of them refuse to weep for him.
Amamiya is one of few who still shed tears for Sora. Funeral fires burn brightly despite heavy rain from the storms. Wearing a crimson cape that covers her head and body from the rain, the battlemage stands motionless in front of lines of pyres. Her eyes stared at them intently. Her face was still, cold, frozen, expressionless. Yet, tears flowed continuously from her eyes. Reflection of the flame dances in her eyes and tears. None of those pyres are Sora's. His body was never able to be recovered. Like many others who were buried without their body ever presented, a dagger engraved with his name, rank and station in place of his body. In addition, a broken spear was also put in Sora's grave.
That day some may lose a friend, a leader, a hero. But, for Amamiya, that day she lost much more. She lost someone she ever truly loved. She cannot believe he was taken from her so soon and so cruelly from her. As fire continues to burn, a foreign feeling also continues to grow inside Amamiya. She never felt it before, but it was as fierce as those fires, gnawing deeper and deeper in her heart. It was stronger than any anger she ever unleashed, stronger than any hatred she ever casted. It was vengeance. And with that all-consuming flame shining brightly in her eyes, Amamiya swore to kill all boggart kinds, even if she had to set the entire world on fire.