The terrified and enraged denizens of the Citadel, cursed and booed at the Keep. Chanting their frustrations. The newly knighted and terrified mages joined the crowd, with the old guard attempting to keep the peace. The council room was filled with a quiet dread. Cin slumped over the table, with Aerith massaging his head. Entering one's Draken state gave tremendous power, and several advantages depending on your hierarchy. However with each transformation, you would pay with your sanity. Eventually succumbing to primal instincts. Gwyneth wore a silk dress, rather than her armour, clutching her stomach. Her injuries weren't fully healed, and the transformation had taken its toll. Soel and the Grand Knights shared several jugs of mead and wine.
The discovery of Urkse's betray was not what concerned them the most. Nor was Encara's withered and black haired body, nodding off in his chair. Axilas broke the silence, as Vexgar crushed a handful of walnuts in his hand. "What is our next plan?" He asked. The room was silent. Encara slumped forward, taking a large swig from his cup. He let out a frustrated and enraged sigh. "We kill anything and everything that attacks our Kingdom." He said with a low growl, falling back into his seat. "HA!" Vexgar bellowed. "For once, I like his idea." Yssac let out a sigh crossing his arms. "I believe, Axilas is trying to ask, how we intend to win this war. When they have that 'Weapon'." They focused their attention onto Encara, nursing his cup. "You want the truth as a fellow soldier? Or a leader's lie?"
"What's the lie?" Vexgar asked. Encara lurched forward, forcing a reassuring smile across his tired face. "We're going to be fine, and we're going to win this war." A dark and depression atmosphere fell upon them. Lyn slammed her fist onto the table, making Cin jolt up, to Aerith's annoyance. "That's your fucking lie!?" She shouted. "They have a weapon that can transform their dead into Drakens. We got lucky, that none of them, transformed higher than an Amphithere!" Yssac followed Lyn's statement. "Which means that Elf told us a lie. We aren't fighting one million soldiers. If everyone of them we kill, will transform-" Encara tossed his cup in a fit of rage, silencing Yssac. "And the truth?" Gwyneth asked, adjusting herself.
"We're all going to die. The women who survive, will be fucked mercilessly day and night, birthing more children for Kal'Nar's army. The men will either be sold as slaves, or forced into combat for sport, or just tortured to death. Children won't be exempt either. And as for us." He sighed with a smile. "You never intended to win this war to begin with." Cin growled. He scowled, at all of them his eyes amber and elliptical. Aerith jumped back, the scolding fumes lit the table ablaze. "That's why, were you so adamant about sending the best of us away." He snapped marching towards Encara. Cin hoisted Encara by his collar, holding him into the air. "So, now why don't you tell us? How you knew this war was coming? How do we know, that you and Urkse didn't plan this!?" He snapped tossing Encara against the wall.
Encara smashed against the wall, and dusted himself off, of the minor inconvenience. "Cin, he didn't plan it with him. If he did, there would have been no point in saving me." Encara glanced up at Gwyneth puzzled. He did not expect her of all people to defend him. "You don't want to die fighting, or lose yourself to the transformation. Go and seek refuge on Yamata. Plenty of water to quell your 'episodes' and live out your lives. Yamada told me they still revere you over there." Gywneth remarked, grunting and holding her sore sides. The doors swung open with Urkse strutting in. "YOU!" Fervias shouted, lunging at him. He threw a wild haymaker, his fist went through Urkse's face turning into a pool of ink. Fervias stumbled on the follow through, with Urkse staring at him with contempt.
"Did you seriously think, I would just walk back in here. Especially after what I did?" His image returned to normal. Fervias growled quickly standing up. His face red with embarrassment and anger. "Calm down, Fervias. The only person to hurt me so far, is Cin with that comment. You really think Encara could plan anything? Let alone this?" He said clutching his heart, stumbling backwards, and swooning. They all growled and snarled him, except Encara who bowed his head, feeling his heart being wrung. "Why are you here?" Gwyneth growled. Urkse scanned her up and down, her face pale and tired. "Seems like Encara's running a little dry." He said with a sly grin. Cin opened a gate, and the copy of Urkse took a step back holding his hands into the air. "Easy, making a clone this far isn't easy." "Then speak fast." Cin growled. Urkse sighed. "Take all the fun out of things Cin."
The ink clone took his seat and kicked his feet up onto the table. "Firstly, as a courtesy. I offer you all the option to surrender. Let Kal'Nar take the Citadel, and-" He was cut off by a jug being thrown through his face. The clone reformed and rolled his eyes. "It was just a suggestion." "A stupid one." Soel growled, snatching Lyn's jug. "The second wave of Kal'Nar's army isn't too far out, maybe a week before they siege again. Sooooo here's the truth..." He said standing up to stretch. "We never won the war. All we did was royally piss Kal'Nar off. Now, if you all want to die fighting a losing war, because Encara fell in love with a whore." Encara snarled at Urkse. "Stay here and die. If you don't. Surrender and serve the King and Queen. You can all save thousands of lives and unnecessary deaths." Urkse was met with a cold silent room.
Aerith stepped up first shocking Cin. She approached the clone, wearing a warm smile. "I knew you would be the voice of reason." He said. She smiled at him, before summoning her gate. Her warm smile turned into an instant scowl. Urkse's face turned to horror. "You're going to fucking die. You and all of your new companions." She growled. In an instant, a violent rush of air, enveloped the clone, evaporating it into nothing instantly. Aerith spun around slowly, glaring at all of them. They gazed upon an expression that few got to witness, and even fewer survived to tell of it. Aerith stood with a stiff back, cracking her neck, and folded her arms behind her back.
"We're at war now. Soel, get the citizens in order." She ordered. "They're too panicked to-" Soel stopped, seeing Aerith's scowl deepen, and shrunk. "I said, get them in line. Not care about their feelings." Soel quickly and silently slunk away. She glared at the Grand Knights. "Go get your knights ready. The ones that are joining the, fucking pussies in the crowd. Punish them into shape." Vexgar slammed his fist into the table and stood up. Aerith raised her hand, slowly making a fist. "Who are you to give us ord-" He begun to gasp for air. All the knights except for Gwyneth, fell to their knees, gasping for air and clutching their throat. "I've tolerated your stupidity long enough Vexgar." She growled, marching towards them. Their eyes went red, clawing at their throats for their next breath.
"If you don't want to follow my orders, or the others. Take your last breath right now. Because I'm sick of you all." "Aerith, they get the point." Gwyneth said. She broke the gate, and the five of them took a deep desperate gasp for air. "Thank Gwyneth, for saving your lives, and get the fuck out of my face." The five of them nodded at Gwyneth, and marched out. "It's been a while, since I've seen General-" Aerith snapped her gaze to Gwyneth, making her shrink. "Go to your room, and have Encara heal you." "But he's about to pass out and-" Gwyneth stopped, as Aerith got into her face. "Then he'll be sleeping with you. Now won't he?" Gwyneth nodded and slunk away. Encara followed after her.
As the doors closed behind them. She turned her attention to Cin, who wore a proud smile. "Now there's the terrifying woman that I-" "Take it off." She commanded. He blushed and shook his head, unsure if he heard her right. "I'm sorry?" She begun to disrobe. "I said take it off. They're almost here again, and I'm not gonna die with an empty stomach." Cin stumbled back stammering, his face bright red. "But, but, but-" She forced her lips onto his, pressing her naked body onto him. They fell onto the table. Soel and the Grand Knights stood in front of the enraged crowd, as they were booed and cursed at. "How do you intend to get them in line?" Axilas asked. Soel cracked her neck to the side and let out a sigh. "Like this." She said taking off her robe.
Axilas and the others all leapt away. Soel's shirt exploded with a bulge of her back muscles. The crowd went silent all scurrying back. Soel's skin exploded with a primal roar, the ground quaked violently. She transformed into a giant emerald Drake. A dragon without its wings. She lowered herself, snarling at the terrified citizens. They held their breaths, their hairs standing on edge , staring back at her. She slammed her claws into the ground and the entire Third ring collapsed into the ground. "Those who want to leave, do it now." She roared. The crowd was frozen. She slammed her claws again, and the Third Ring shot back up from the ground. "Otherwise, return fucking home and do your jobs!" The crowd instantly dispersed, and Soel transformed back, covering up with her robe.
The rebellious knights and mages stood there frozen. "Your turn. Don't transform, the same trick won't work twice." She said quickly walking away. Axilas smirked at her and then quickly changed his expression. "You can either sleep outside the wall, or run ten laps of it with your gear on." The knights quickly ran towards the wall. The mages stood there dumbfounded. "That applies to you fuckers as well." Vexgar snarled, making them scramble away like scared cats. Encara sat beside Gwyneth, a golden brand on her wounds. "You should be resting." She said. Encara's hair was completely black, and his skin pruned. "Be quiet and let me fix you." He said, clenching his fists.
She could hear the anger and heart ache in his voice. The others had the luxury to focus on the assault. Encara had exhausted himself, it would take days for him to recover his strength. And in all that time, he could only think of how his brother betrayed him. Gwyneth held Encara's hand. "Thank you." She said warmly. It surprised him, to see her being so compassionate. "For what?" He asked, focusing on the larger stab wound. His breathing ragged and sweat on his brow. "For bringing Yamada into my life." Encara took a breath, and reeled back in his chair. "I just made it easier for him. He would have swam here, if it meant getting stronger." The two of them of shared a laugh.
Ul'lanna sat in front of the camp fire, knees to her chest, lost in her own thoughts. Yamada and Jacara greedily ate the first day of rations, still revelling in their complete victory. They're too powerful, for their own good. Recklessly rushing in, to engage an entire army. I doubt they even knew, they could cause that rock slide. Jacara's magic is powerful and versatile, but he can't managed prolonged battles. Yamada's powers are incredible, and thanks to his affinity, we won't have to forage or stop for water. But they're both too green.
"You two can't keep doing that." Ul'lanna snapped, cutting off their enjoyment. Her frown made them both shrink. "But we-" "You got lucky!" She shouted rising to her feet, the flame casting a shadow upwards. The two of them shrunk around the fire. "Did you even know that your magic would cause a rock slide like that?" She asked frowning at Jacara, hands resting on her hips. He shied away, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "And you." She said scowling at Yamada. He looked at her lost, and furrowed his brow. "What did I do? I was fine." "Where you?" She snapped. "You leapt into the middle of the entire army! How were we meant to help you? Did you even think about what kind of magic they could have?" Yamada bowed his head, absorbing in her lecture.
The two of them sulked. Their happy smiles gone and the mood dreary. She sighed, and bowed her head in shame. "I'm sorry." She said taking seat in between them. Tucking her knees into her chest, she pushed her loose locks of hair behind her ear. "That was rude of me." She sulked. Yamada placed his calloused hand onto her shoulder. "I won't do it again. I promise." He said warmly smiling at her. By the gods, how could such a terrifying man, have such a warm smile and gentle heart at the same time? Jacara placed his slender, girlish hand onto her shoulder, making her shudder. "Why did you shudder?" He asked. "Cold draft in my spot." She lied, readjusting herself closer to Yamada. He stood up and grabbed Harbinger, slinging it over his shoulder. "I'll take first watch." He said, to her disappointment.
Jacara faked a yawn stretching his arms up into the air, resting it down over Ul'lanna's shoulder. She panned over to him slowly, he met her scowl, with a 'smouldering' smile. "It's pretty cold tonight, we should-Yah!" Jacara yelped pulling his arm away. Ul'lanna had flared out her arcane energy, letting her fire affinity burn him. "I feel fine. Goodnight." She said coldly snuffing the camp fire, and resting her head onto Yamada's backpack. Jacara sulked away, finding Yamada pacing a small perimeter, and casually tossing Harbinger to each hand. Damn freak of nature. Jacara thought, before approaching him. "Psst." He hissed, gesturing for him to come hither. Yamada cocked an eyebrow at him. He hesitantly approached him. "Hey, what did you do, to make her like you so much?" He whispered.
"Why are we whispering?" Yamada asked following along. "Her ears are sensitive. Now tell me what you did." "She likes me?" Jacara stared at him with contempt, pursing his lips. How is this Islander attracting so many beautiful women, and being so ignorant to his blessing? "Because, I want to know. Now tell me." Yamada shrugged. "I didn't do anything." He scratched his head. "But I guess, you could read her some poetry." Ul'lanna's ears perked up. She focused her mind to eavesdrop on their conversation over thirty metres away. Jacara lurched forward, confused if he heard Yamada right. "You know poetry?" He asked his whisper filled with scepticism. Ul'lanna had to know, did Yamada actually know poetry? "Somewhat." Yamada blushed. "Does it work?" Jacara asked. "It worked on Gwyneth. She was really...energetic, after I read her one."
Jacara tried to pull Yamada in closer by his collar, finding him immovable like always. He succeeded in shaking himself more than Yamada. "Tell me everything you know. Right now." "You should get some sleep. You're next to keep watch." Yamada said, breaking free Jacara's weak grip. "ohohoho, you just want to sleep next to her don't you?" Jacara asked leering at him. Say yes. Say yes. Ul'lanna pleaded in her mind. "Of course." "YES!" Ul'lanna yelped aloud, before quickly covering her mouth. The two of them glanced over. "Huh, Elves must sneeze weird." They both said. She let out a sigh of relief, over their ignorance.
Jacara did a double take, and grabbed Yamada by the collar again. "Wait did you say yes? You want to sleep next to her?" Yamada sighed. "Yes, I want to sleep next to her. She's warm. She reminds me of Yamata." Ul'lanna's heart melted hearing him. "That's all you want from her?" Jacara asked. Say no. Say no. She begged. "No-" "YES!" She quickly covered her mouth. Will you shut up Ul'lanna? Don't ruin this! She thought to herself. The two of them looked over to her askance. "That's a really weird sneeze. She must be cold." Yamada said. "I'll go keep her warm-" "NO!" Ul'lanna grimaced making a fist. "Even their coughs are weird." Yamada said, with Jacara nodding. Bless their ignorant stupid minds.
"You said, you wanted more from her. What did you want from her?" Jacara prodded. Make her, his Sarang. Children. Nights of passion. His tongue on her body. Her mind raced with every possibility of the two of them together. "She's from Kal'Nar. She can help me understand our enemy better." Her heart sank. He saw her only as a tool to sharpen his edge against the enemy. "So, nothing else?" Jacara asked. "Hmmmm." Her ears perked up. He was thinking, there was hope. "What other things are there?" He asked innocently. Ul'lanna slapped her forehead, the sound masked by Jacara's own slap. Jacara let out a sigh. "The things you did with Gwyneth. Would you do them with her?" He asked letting out an exasperated sigh. Yamada blushed. "Oh. I mean, I wouldn't do anything with someone, I'm not in love with. And I'm not in love with her." Ul'lanna's heart shattered. "But." Parts of it quickly reformed.
"I did do things with Gwyneth regardless. So I guess, if she was okay with it? And if I felt like it?" He said, hesitant to hear Jacara's response. To Yamada's surprise, Jacara's only response was a sigh. "Alright that's fair. Tell me the damn poem, and I'll go to sleep. "Are you going to use it on her?" He asked. "If it's any good I will." He scoffed. How romantic could a poem from and Islander be anyway? "The skies may stop turning blue, but I will never stop loving you. The stars may stop shining tomorrow, but I will never stop shielding you from sorrow. The sun may stop shining one fine day, but I will always keep your troubles at bay. For I will always love you." Yamada recited. Ul'lanna tried her best to keep a squeal inside. Jacara was silent, before walking away. 'How does anyone beat that?'