Axilas and Vexgar stood at the base of the Fourth Ring. Remnants of Skora's Deiridium still littered the ground. Above them was Lyn. Standing proudly, with her arms behind her back. Her cape now tied at her waist, fluttering in the wind. Axilas stared up and smiled. Vexgar 'playfully' nudge him. To anyone who wasn't a Grand Knight, they would have had to visit a Blessed, after being 'nudged' by Vexgar. "Go talk to her." He whispered. "About what? We're on cleanup duty." Axilas said, pushing Vexgar back. "You think, I can't handle this? This is perfect timing. You and her alone for once. No Yssac, that dead little runt Rai. And no Fervias. You know he and her were always a little too close." He whispered. "Go and take your chance." He urged on, pushing Axilas. "No, there's nothing to talk about. I'll wait till there's a good reason to talk to her." He hushed Vexgar, with a stern expression. "The last time you said that, she had enough time to grow her hair out." Vexgar muttered. "What was that?" Axilas snapped. "Nothing."
Axilas looked up to Lyn once more. Watching with a warm smile, at her hair and cape fluttering in the wind. Her rose hair was always beautiful, short or long. He just wish he could tell her. He suddenly felt Vexgar grab his shoulder, and another around between his buttocks. "You'll thank me later." Vexgar whispered. His eyes bulged with fear, before he could resist. Axilas was thrown high into air, aimed parallel to Lyn. He turned to Vexgar, wearing his sly grin beneath him. He pointed to Lyn nodding at Axilas. He responded by shaking his vigorously, slowly floating down.' Axilas turned to Lyn, who still hadn't noticed him. He turned to Vexgar furious, which quickly turned to horror. As he watched Vexgar suck in air. "LYN!" He shouted, his booming voice thundered out.
He cringed. Lyn spun around to see Axilas, floating in the air beside her. She cocked an eyebrow at him. "Misjudge your leap?" She asked. "No, I was actually thrown up here. Vex just playing one of his little jokes." He said trying to remain stoic. "Need a hand?" "Yes please." Lyn offered out her hand and pulled him onto the ledge. Axilas leaned over the edge, seeing Vexgar holding two thumbs up at him. 'I'm going to stuff an ant nest into your crack.' He watched Lyn reassume her post. With a glum smile, he felt no reason to be here, and begun to leave. "Can you keep me company?" She asked. He froze. His heart thrashed against his chest. "Of course." He said, his voice unwavering. The two of them stood side by side, without saying a word. The wind gently blowing on their faces. He looked to the destroyed forest, the once vast and lush tree line gone. Then up to appreciate the clear blue sky. And finally he tried to steal a look at Lyn. He jumped seeing her already staring at him.
"Are you okay? You seem on edge. Well at least more than usual." She asked scanning his face. He felt his ears become hot red. She was never this close to him before, and she was. He had Vexgar or the others to be a buffer. "We are at war." He blushed. "Mmm...no that's not it. What are you hiding from me?" "Nothing. I promise." She pouted at him, giving him a smug expression. "Hmpf. Fine, don't tell me. I'll eventually find out anyway. You always were terrible at keeping secrets." He hid a quick smirk. 'I've been good at keeping one secret.' He thought. "Why did you want me to be here with you?" He asked, looking around at the empty space. Her knights standing vigilantly beneath them. "You, have somewhere else to be, that's better?" "No!" He blurted, quickly composing himself. "I mean, no. I simply meant is there another purpose?" She shook her head. "Nope. I simply wanted to spend more time with you."
He felt his heart skip a beat. "Our times of drinking together, and bad mouthing are over." She sighed. "We...we can still get a drink together." He stammered. "Water isn't a very fun beverage to share." She scoffed. Axilas leaned over the edge. She looked at him askance, as he mimicked sculling a drink down to Vexgar. She cocked an eyebrow at him. His silhouette must have been tinier than an ant. What message could he possibly hope to send? "HEADS UP!" Vexgar roared. A large wooden barrel barrelled towards them. Axilas leapt off the edge, grabbing the keg, and slowed it descent, floating back down next to her. She watched him pop the cork, smiling at him. "What?" He asked. "He just happened to have a barrel of ale to toss?" "Well, you know Vexgar. He likes to drink." Axilas said, stepping away nervously scratching the back of his head. She sniffed the ale, a hint of strawberries. "And he happened to pick the Ale, I enjoyed the most?"
"And don't say it's his favourite. I know you both like the bitter ones." She said with a smirk, before hoisting the barrel up, slugging back a large gulp. "Uh....well...." She wiped her mouth, tittering at the sight of a flustered Axilas. "Axilas, when this war is over. What will you do?" He chuckled at the question. "I don't think, I'll live to see the end of it." He joked. Lyn gripped his arm tightly. "Don't say that." She said sternly, her voice wavering. "You and Vex, are going to live. So is Yssac and Fervias. The mages. And even Gwyneth. We're all going to survive this." She said tenderly. Releasing his arm. He felt her concern, for the first time, in a long time. The last time he had seen her concerned, was for his brother Hendrik. The one she would always love. "I would retire, and maybe take on a proper ward. One that won't go and get himself killed." He said sucking on his teeth. She snickered at his response. "A proper ward? Do you perhaps mean your child?" He shook his head flustered. "No! I am far too young for children!"
"We're fifty Axilas. I think we lost that excuse a while ago." She smiled at him. "Well, if my last ward was proof of anything. It's that I shouldn't have kids." Or he would, if he found the right person. "What if you found the right person?" His heart fluttered, hearing her words. "Well I mean..." He trailed off scratching his nape. "If my future Sarang wanted a child. I wouldn't mind..." She smiled at him. "She'll be a lucky woman." He smiled back at her warmly. Lyn sighed, and took a seat on the ledge swinging her legs. He followed and took a seat next to her. "Is everything alright?" He asked. "Axilas...could you ever forgive Gwyneth?" "Never!" He snapped. "Did you forget she killed Hendrik!?" She kept her head down, feeling her heart breaking. "He was too far gone..." "NO HE WASN'T!" He yelled. She held back a startled jolt through her body. "If that little fucking shit of hers, could bring himself back from the brink. It would have only been a matter of time before he did the same. But she went and killed him!"
He looked at Lyn bowing her head in shame, forcing back the tears. "Are you seriously going to forgive her? After everything she took from us?" She was silent, wiping her nose. He snarled, making a fist, before letting out a frustrated grunt. "I know you were in love with Hendrik. And if you think I'm going to forgive that Butcher, after what she did to you. I would rather-" "I would rather you shut the fuck up." Miranda called out from below. She leapt up to their level, hair tied in a messy bun, sword at her hip. "I promised, Gwyneth I wouldn't say anything, but! If I hear you, whine anymore about how she took Hendrik from you. And that you can never forgive her. I would rather get raped by a thousand Drakens." She groaned. "That can be arranged." He snarled, reaching for his cape. She threw her hands up in the air, stepping back to surrender. "Easy, small dick. I'm only here to do my duty and report to Lyn, like Gwyneth asked. You remember Gwyneth right? She saved you and your brother's life the other day."
"Miranda, stop antagonizing him." Lyn said, rising to her feet. She shrugged at them. "Tell him to lay off the woman, who saved his life." "I gladly accepted my death, and did not ask her to save me." He hissed. "And yet she did it anyway. It's almost like she was madly in love with your older brother, and cares deeply for you two." She pursed her lips and frowned, shrugging at him. "Miranda, that's enough. What news do you have?" Miranda saluted Lyn, fist over her heart and stood at attention. "People with small dicks, ironically don't like to be jabbed, even verbally." Axilas lunged forward, being stopped by Lyn. Miranda gave him a smug smile, without flinching. Lyn sighed. "Miranda..." "We're in the clear. The Enk mages Urkse left us are still of use. Kal'Nar's forces have retreated past the Fork." "Anything else? That isn't related to Axilas." She added. Miranda chuckled. "Only weird thing, they said was that the Fork was... 'Calm' by their description." Lyn and Axilas gave her a perplexed look. She shrugged at them.
"I'm just passing on the information, I was given. Who knows how poorly Urkse trained these idiots, for the last two decades." "Thank you Miranda. You are relieved. Let Yssac know it's time for his shift." Miranda nodded, and approached the ledge. She stopped and spun around. "Oh right before I leave. I do have one last thing to say." Axilas pre-emptively reached for his hammer. "You don't hate Gwyneth, for killing Hendrik. You hate her, because she hurt the one you love." He froze in place. Lyn snapped her gaze to Axilas. Miranda lurched forward covering her mouth with one hand. "This is the part, where you tell her. That you've been in love with her for the last two decades." Axilas shook out of his daze and lunged at Miranda. She weaved out of his grasp and leapt off the wall, back towards the ground. "You're welcome!" "I am going to kill you!" He bellowed. Axilas spun back to see Lyn, blushing and her eyes wide. He followed in suit, feeling his face grow red. His outburst was nothing but proof.
"She...she doesn't know what she's talking about. I mean you know how weird she is. She's friends with-" Lyn cut him off, by kissing his cheek. "We'll talk later. Over something better to drink." She said softly pulling away. "For now, you have somewhere to be." Axilas followed her finger, pointing to Vexgar waving at him. "I'm sure it's not important." He said blushing and flustered. "AXILAS!" "We can talk later." She said patting his cheek. He pursed his lips to a line, nodding her goodbye and leapt down to Vexgar. He stomped over to him, angrily muttering to himself. "What is it!? This better be damn good!" He hissed. Vexgar wore a giddy smile. "Your Sarang suit is ready. Did you really ask Lyn to be your Sarang?" "WHAT!?" His voice became high pitched. "No! I! ARGH! That stupid woman!" He yelled, frazzling his hair. "So...You didn't ask her?" "No I did not." He said through his teeth. "Now if you excuse me, I have a woman to murder." He said stomping his feet.
Axilas kicked opened Miranda's shop door. "Most people knock with their hands." She said derisively. "I am going to kill you." "Because I helped you? Hate to see, what you do to people, who hurt you." She feigned a shudder. "You are going to tell Lyn, that what you said was nonsense, and fix this right now." Miranda took a seat, unfurling a nearly empty roll of rose coloured silk. "You know all the merchants gossip and whisper right?" "What does that have to do with anything?" He scoffed "The other tailor in the Citadel. Well he would always ask me for this specific colour of silk." Axilas took a gulp. "Said he had a regular customer, always coming in to sample a new Sarang suit." She stood up and approached Axilas. "I do wonder, who in this kingdom, would suit such a colour. So vibrant, so beautiful, so...grand, if you will." She said with a sly smile. "That...th..that could be anyone." He stammered. She begun encircling the flustered Axilas, enjoying her new prey.
"How many alterations, did you get for your suit? For a woman, you've never confessed to?" He gulped, spinning with her. "I-" "Maybe all those roses, you ordered for her. Was meant to be a sign?" "How do you know about that?" "Or was it the extra orders of sweet ale, you have ordered to the tavern every month?" His eyes widened with shock. She stopped behind him, leaning into whisper to his ear. "I told you. Merchants love to gossip and whisper." She reached behind the counter, grabbing a small velvet box. She forced it into his chest. "Here take this, and leave." He opened the box, seeing a rose coloured quartz. "How did you get this? Where did you get this?" He shook his head in confusion. "Why would you give me this?" "Because, unlike Gwyneth. I am sick to death of people, being afraid of their feelings. Then wallowing in guilt over not doing something about it. She has a tolerance unlike any other. Not me though. So take that stupid rock, to Lyn. Ask her to be your Sarang. And keep your mouth shut, about Gwyneth."
She stuck her finger into his chest. "I may not be the warrior, I once was. But I can promise you one thing, 'Prince Xenarith.' If I catch you, insulting Gwyneth ever again. I will gut Lyn and Vexgar in front of you, and have Encara turn you into an immortal." She stared him down. "Do, I make myself clear?" He nodded slowly. "Good, now get the fuck out of my store." She growled. He gave a solemn bow, before leaving. She sighed, rubbing her head, before taking a seat. She unclasped the sword at her hip. Her joints ached, and muscles howled. "By Vasha, I'm getting too old for this shit." "You know, you would have more friends, if you didn't always pick fights." Abaddon said coming out from the other room. She sucked on her teeth. "I don't need more friends. I need this war to be over. I need people to stop being so emotionally stupid. And I definitely need a drink." "I'd rather you not be drunk, for this." She took a deep breath composing herself. "Just go lay down."
Abaddon entered into back room, with Cecil strapped down onto the bed. His head restrained in an iron vice, and a Cursed collar around his neck. Miranda strapped Abaddon down onto the bed as well, attaching the Cursed collar around his neck. "If anything happens, please wake me." "Shut up and dream. I'll wake you to your nightmares, when I feel like it." She snapped. "If he's willing to stay awake, would you mind putting me to bed first then?" Cecil asked. Miranda took a large dagger from underneath the bed. "Good night Cecil." She said tenderly, before plunging the dagger through his skull. The Cursed collar stretched out, wrapping its hands around Cecil's wound, clawing it open, as it tried to shut. She approached Abaddon, pulling out another dagger. "He'll find a cure." He said, staring at her with his black soulless eyes. "Kings have always been just been people, with an inflated ego. Now go and dream." She said plunging the dagger through his eye. She slumped beside his bed side, pinching between her brow, letting out a long exhausted sigh. "Find a cure." She scoffed. "He's had two decades to find one. I don't know where you and everyone else finds this optimism, but I would love to have some."
Yssac entered into the garrison. He found a large gathering of knights. "Get on your knees!" One shouted. A woman screamed out, from the sinister cackling of the group. "What's going on here!?" His voice boomed through the garrison. The crowd quickly spun around making a solid wall. He heard the whimpers of multiple women. "What is the meaning of this!?" They remained silent. "Move aside!" One of the knights stood forward. A burly sweaty knight, belonging to Vexgar. "No. You should leave Yssac." He growled. Yssac cocked his head to the side, stunned and angry at the audacity. "What did you just say to me, boy?" He growled.
"You heard me. Grand Knight Vexgar, has killed more and done more for this kingdom, than you ever will. So I will not take orders from a weakling like yourself!" He shouted defiantly. "Those who agree with him. Raise your hands." Yssac scanned the group as the entire group raised their hands. "Good. That makes it easier to do this." With an instant draw, Yssac severed their hands with a swift spinning flourish of his spear. Their hands flew into the air. Their blood sprayed into the air a second after, in a cacophony of blood splatter. Their faces contorted with horror, and then agony as they started to comprehend, what had transpired in seconds. Yssac sheathed his spear, watching them fall to the ground writhing and screaming. In the centre, was Sarah, Rachel, Marion and Helena. Their clothing torn, flesh exposed, tears streaming down their face. Cut lips and hand imprints bruising their skin. Yssac snarled at the sight. He quickly helped the women to their feet.
Cin rushed in hearing the commotion. "What is happening...." He trailed off seeing Yssac walking the crying women outside. He stopped beside Cin. "Cauterize their wounds, or even remotely attempt to help those rapists. And I will disembowel you in front of Aerith. Are we clear?" He said calmly, ushering them outside. "We are at war Yssac." Yssac gave him a furious glare. "Rapists and criminals, make for good fodder." Yssac smiled with Cin, as he entered into the garrison. He opened a Fire gate, cauterizing all of their stumps. Burnt flesh permeated the room, with their screams. Cin massaged his temple. "Why must you lot exist? Why must you do things you do?" The burly knight, spat at Cin's feet. "Fuck...you! She...she thought she was better than us!" He said rising to his knees. "Going out to fight them. Then she came running back crying, with her tail tucked between her cunt!"
"And because of that. You tried to rape her, and the others?" Cin said pursing his lips to a line. "We stand out there, facing the fangs of an army of Drakens. And those whores, see an Elf, and come running right back here. They don't cook, they don't clean, they don't even fight! So they could at least fuck, and be useful." Cin branded the knight with a Fire gate. He felt no heat emanating from the gate. "Fighting a Draken, side by side, with your fellow comrades. The worst thing that can happen, is that you die. But fighting a person. Well. That's a different story. Unlike a Draken or any wild beast. I can choose when, how, and the speed of your death." Cin growled. "She and those other women saw that fear. So allow me show you the difference." He announced, snapping his fingers. The Fire brand stretched across the Burly knight. He quickly started to thrash violently, letting out a blood curdling scream. His flesh blistered and boiled, steam erupted from every orifice. In a matter of seconds the knight fell silent. "I just boiled his fluids. If I can do that to my own soldiers. What do you think, the enemy can do?" They whimpered in the corner. "Go and report to Grand Knight Lyn at the Fourth ring, at once. If I catch any of you visiting a Blessed. You will be joining your 'leader' here."
Fervias paced back and forth in front of the Enk 'mages'. Chubby Islanders or lanky men and women. He let out a low growl. 'Vasha take me. What the fuck did you leave us with Urkse?' Fervias scanned a toned Islander. "You." The Islander pointed to himself confused. His hair tied into a pony tail. "Yes you. Can you do what Yamada does?" The Islander cocked his head to the side, confused at the question. "You know. The running for extreme lengths, strength of a giant, crazed mind to become a Forsaken Knight." The Islander shook his head, looking at him concerned. "Soooo...there's no other Islander like him?" The Islander nodded. "Fuck!" Fervias shouted.
"Well, why is he so strong compared to you guys? Clearly we need everyone to copy what he did." An Islander raised his hand. "Grand Knight Fervias. There are others on Yamata, that are powerful. They could help us as well." "Men with clubs wearing leaf skirts, do not make good soldiers." Fervias scoffed. He sighed pinching between his brow. "Are any of you able to create arrows strong enough to pierce scales?" They all shied away. He rolled his eyes. "Alright fuck it. You're all off weapon duty. Go and learn how to make messages." They all shared a glance, before cocking their eyebrow at him. "How...?" "I don't fucking know! Go and just experiment. Go to the library. Read a fucking book. Just go and be fucking useful somehow." He barked. A lone Islander approached Fervias, keeping his head down. "What do you want?" He growled.
"Well I wanted to let know that, I got message from Yamata, a few days ago." "And...?" Fervias trailed off, waiting for an answer. "Yamada sent a letter back home, saying he became a Forsaken Knight. And now the guardians and even the Chieftain, said they are coming to visit. They can help us with the war." Fervias slapped his face, pulling it down with a groan. "By Vasha's bloody cunt. That's going to be helpful. Grown men in skirts, waving clubs around." He said sarcastically. "They're all better trained in Enk magic. They can make the arrows required." Fervias perked up, grabbing the Islander by his shoulders. "Next time lead with that! How long till they get here?" He said shaking him excitedly. "Soon, a few days maybe. They should be coming in from the east." Fervias quickly embraced him, before running off. He sprinted off, leaving the Islander stunned.
Fervias sprinted into meeting room. He entered into the room with a grin stretched across his face. He froze in place frowning at the sight. Gwyneth and Aerith, banging their heads rhythmically against the table, in perfect sync. He attempted to quietly retreat, before the door creaked. The two of them shot up, their cold and tired gazes, pierced through his body. Their foreheads red. "What is it Fervias?" Gwyneth asked. "You two look busy, I'll come back later." "Tell us now, or your balls are going to explode." Aerith snapped. "Alright, there's no need to do anything that crazy. One of our Islander Enk mages. Has stated that the Chieftain and their guardians will be coming to help." Aerith's eyes lit up with pure joy, and she rose to her feet. "They aren't like Yamada." Fervias said. Aerith groaned, slumping back in her seat. "Well, what good are they then?" She said, banging her head on the table. "They weren't trained wrong in Enk magic. They should be able to create the arrows necessary to kill the flying fuckers."
Gwyneth reeled back sighing. "What? That's good news isn't it?" Fervias asked. "No. No it isn't." She said, pinching her brow. "That's more mouths to feed. Cin just reported, thirteen knights, attempting to rape our previous 'scouts'. They've at least been sent out to die. But, more people isn't good Fervias." "How long before we start to starve?" He asked, scared of the answer. "We have about two months. After that, we're going to have to consider, the possibility of eating the Drakens they send us." Gwyneth said solemnly. "We don't have any new sources of food?" "Nothing sustainable. Any fishes caught in the caverns, have been broiled to death. And as hysterical it would be, to watch Encara Bless a cow, chicken and pig for us to eat. We need his strength at the ready." Aerith said.
"So, you're saying we're completely fucked." Aerith and Gwyneth threw their hands up, rocking back in their seats. "Unless, we get some constant stream of new food. Or fresh soldiers and weapons. We are locked in here, and they're going to starve us out. Our soldiers and citizens will revolt. Chaos will...oh you get the point." Aerith said, slumping further in her seat. "I know this is a long shot, but I'm guessing Urkse didn't leave us with anything, did he?" Fervias asked. Gwyneth took a parchment paper. It displayed a graphic depiction of shit raining down on an incredibly, poorly sketched Citadel. With the words 'Fuck you' written in bold above it. Fervias dropped his head. "What do we do then?" "Something, I'm not happy about. But it will be the best move we can do." Gwyneth sighed. "What are you planning?" Fervias asked concerned. Aerith rocked forward slapping the table, with a sinister grin. "A counter attack." "Why is that bad?" Fervias asked, confused.
"If it doesn't go well. We all die." Aerith said, casually. "What kind of counter attack, are you two planning?" He asked concerned. "We're going to make Cin's display of power, seem like a child throwing a fit." Gwyneth sighed, rubbing her temple. "Encara, Cin, Soel, Miranda, and Skora, are going to attack Artaraxus and Kal'Nar." Aerith said. "You, Yssac, Lyn, Axilas, Vexgar, and I are going to go attack the Tuskdran army." Gwyneth said. "Finally a proper counterattack. I'll go get the knights-" "Fervias. There's a chance we won't survive this. We will be entering in blindly. If you want to stay here. I understand." He said nothing, before shooting her a gleeful smile. "When do we leave General?" She gave him a weak smile. "We'll be in two days. The mages will go first."