Night fell on the Citadel. The Grand Knights wore all black drab shirts and pants, holding pick axes and shovels. Behind them were tired and scared farmers, with farm instruments. "Alright, listen up!" Vexgar announced. "We're going to secure our water back, and our lands. Once Cin transforms, we will connect the western Fork to the front." "Why wouldn't we just magic?" A farmer asked. "We will be digging only the initial path. Any Arcane energy that touches the Fork reacts violently. So we'll be doing this all natural way." Lyn said, flexing her arm. More muscular than most of the men. "Now get ready to move out!" She said slinging the pick axe over her shoulder. "Do you trust your brother to complete his side of the plan?" Lyn asked. "Don't worry. Those two can argue over about anything. They'll make enough noise to keep the Elves thoroughly annoyed."
Miranda and Gwayn stood on the eastern front. Between them was a little bowl, filled with notes. "This plan is stupid." Gwayn grumbled. "Starting off strong, already dumbass." Gwayn let out a low growl, glaring at her. "Alright first topic." Miranda rifled through the bowl, taking out a piece of paper. "Discuss thoughts about best colour apple. Really? They expect us to fight over this? Obviously sweet and crunchy." "You mean sour and crunchy." "OH COME ON! You're just starting shit on purpose. Who likes sour apples!?" "Because it has a nice tang to it." "NO! You're just being asshole." "Fine, read the next one." She rifled through the bowl once more. "Favourite type of eggs to with sausages. Sunnyside up." "Boiled." "I hate you so fucking much!" Two Elven scouts hiding in the trenches looked at each other confused.. "What the fuck are they babbling about?" They shrugged at each other.
Soel stood with Aerith on the crumbling Fourth ring. "How are you holding up?" Aerith asked. "About what?" Soel said. "About everything." "You mean how my partner turned into a prune? How we're constantly on the brink of death? How weird it is that, a once thought dead Forsaken Knight acknowledged Gwyneth? Or that a remnant of Kumo came crashing through the air?" "Uhhhh, well..." "Aerith, I have no idea anymore. Everything is falling to shit, and somehow our only hope has become, three idiots trying to destroy Artaraxus." She sighed. Aerith placed a hand on Soel's shoulder. "I don't even know anymore. I doubt we'll make it another month." "We're gonna get through this." "Yeah..." She trailed off. "I should get going." Aerith glumly watched Soel float down.
Karina and Kahu sat uncomfortably in Gwyneth's dining room. "So...you and Yamada...." "We don't have to talk about it." Karina said. She chuckled. "Sorry, it's just that before I met Gwyneth. I honestly thought he was into men." Karina snorted. "Really?" She smiled. "Yep, all that boy ever did was train, train, train, and then maybe sleep and eat. There was this very sweet girl back home, who always wanted his attention, but all he scared her away." "What did he do?" "Asked her to beat him with a cane, till he could break it with his body." Karina giggled. "Oh no...that poor girl, must have been terrified." Kahu gave a glum nod. "He scared everyone back home." She chuckled. "The idea of him, having an interest in women and courting. It's so strange." "Gwyneth left quite an impression on him." "I mean, have you seen her? It's unfair to even be compared to her." "They would have very beautiful children." "Oh...you wouldn't want to...?" Karina shook her head. "No, no. One was enough." "But you and Yamada..." "You could say he more quenched my thirst?" "Filled an empty river. Gotcha." Karina snorted at the expression. "I think if she could. Gwyneth would have told Yamada to be faithful." "From what I've been hearing. His cock has saved this place quite a bit." "It is quite magical." Karina nodded with a smirk.
Cin stood atop the Keep, his arm freshly healed by the Blesseds from Kumo. He closed his eyes feeling the wind rush around him. There was no voice but the rushing wind. He let out a sigh of relief, feeling a complete sense of peace. "You're finally gone...I can sleep. I can already feel my strength returning. I will soon return to my former glory as the Second su-" "Are you doing a monologue?" Skora asked. Cin let out a girlish yelp, covering his mouth. "No." He whimpered. She weakly climbed out to his level. "You should be resting." "And miss out on seeing the Second Sun, return to his former glory, and-" "I was talking aloud!" He snapped blushing. She snickered. "I'm just playing." "What are you doing here?" "Like I said, came to take in the sights...and give you some advice."
She locked eyes with him. "Without Vasha influencing you. Your powers will not be the same. Be careful." "You didn't tell us that earlier why?" "Because I didn't want to worry your Sarang." "What is going to happen to me?" "I don't know. Just be careful." "I'll keep it in mind, but it's time for me to shine." He said taking off his robe, and leaping into the air. The scouts from the three kingdoms, watched as the Citadel was engulfed in a brilliant flame, followed by a roar. Cin transformed fully, encircling the clouds amongst the Citadel. He felt something off about his flames. They were almost soft and gentle. Giving a bright warmth to the air. Nothing like the flames he produced on Yamata. The ones that scorched all its path. Skora held her hand out. 'It's warm. So this is what fire is meant to feel like.'
The Grand Knights and farmers quickly went to work, carving the trenches deeper and leading them to the Artaraxus and Kal'Nar. Breaking into a furious sweat within a few minutes, most of them digging with all their might. Some of them stopped to stare at Cin's beautiful radiance. "Focus on digging!" Vexgar hissed. Cin swirled and danced in the air, basking in his flames. Aerith smiled tearing up. She had almost forgotten, what it was like to see him at peace. To enjoy using his fire. He begun to hum in the air, a soothing song. "He's singing?" Skora asked. "How long has it been?" He growled. "How long has it been since I felt this calm..." "How long has it been, since I've had such control?" "Is he talking to himself?" Skora asked. He stopped circling the Citadel looking out into the darkness. He reeled back taking a deep breath. "CONSIDER THIS YOUR LAST WARNING! RETREAT AND LIVE! OR FIGHT AND DIE!" His voice boomed.
"What is that idiot doing!?" Miranda hissed. "Goading them into a challenge. Which isn't going to end well." Gwayn said. "Cin!" Aerith shouted. A ballista bolt fired from the east, melting before it hit his skin. He reeled back releasing a gentle breath into the sky. A ball of fire grew larger with each second. With gentle fire that encircled each other. "Magnum Opus. Soaring Sun." "I've never seen fire like that before..." Skora said in awe. Coiling around the sphere of fire, Cin launched it east ward. Skora watched as the orb exploded into the forest, scattering across the tree line in the distance. Screams rung out from Elves retreating. "That was nothing but a waste of energy." Gwayn sucked on his teeth. Cin reeled back creating another one. "He can make more?" Skora said startled. He tail whipped the next ball southwards, watching it explode, the fire lingering and burning away. He blew another sphere of fire. Gwayn watched with his jaw hanging. Cin coiled around the sphere letting out a booming thundering roar.
"Well that should keep them distracted." Miranda said. After a gruelling hour of intense labour, the farmers were ushered back inside. Soel transformed slamming her paws into the ground, digging the trenches even deeper. With a roar, she signalled Cin. He lobbed the last sphere into the Fork. All of them rushed inside. The Fork became engulfed in fire, surging and rising above the river bank. Spilling over it flowed through the trenches, filling them instantly. Cin reverted back landing down beside Skora, drenched in a heavy sweat. He covered himself in his robe, and smiled at her. "That felt good." He grinned. "Could you always do that?" "During the height of the war. My record was ten of those." "TEN!?" "I'm a little rusty." He said falling face first. "Is the plan working?"
"I've lived for a few life times. I never thought, I would see the day a kingdom reroute a Fork to defend themselves." "We have a habit of doing crazy things." Aerith said floating above them. "Sorry my love. I got a little carried away and-" Aerith disrobed mounting Cin. "Oh!" Skora said startled. "This is going to happen, whether you're watching or not." Aerith said. "Leaving." Skora said awkwardly climbing inside. Cheers radiated out, seeing the trenches fill and spill out. Miranda and Gwayn made their way inside, joining the sweating Grand Knights. "How much time you think that's gonna buy us?" Miranda asked. "We'll be safe enough for now. By tomorrow the grounds will be too unstable to send troops, or set up those machines, without wasting mages." Gwyneth said. "So we wait to die now?" Gwayn scoffed. "No." Lyn said. "Once Abaddon is finished with our equipment. We take the first proper offensive strike." Miranda said.
Vexgar smashed his knuckles together pumped and excited. "We're going to destroy the Tuskdran kingdom." "Reclaim the west." Axilas said. "And send your dumbass home." Miranda jabbed. "You need me here." He boasted. The six of them gave him the side eye in sync. "Alright, no need to be mean." He whimpered. "For now...Let's just enjoy this moment of peace." Gwyneth said. The eight of them revelled in the fiery horizon, glistening and reflecting on the raging trenches under them. From the east Furien emerged from the flames, standing on his hind legs as a Drake. "YOU DARE FIGHT ME AGAIN GUINEVERE!?" he roared thrashing in the flames. The seven of them looked to Gwyneth. "What!? I don't know who the fuck that is." She exclaimed. "Is that what you get Yamada to call you in bed or something?" Miranda asked. "No!" She yelled blushing. "I mean no judgement. Right guys?" They all nodded. "He doesn't call me anything else other than the letter!" She snapped bright red. "Didn't you call his cock the key to your lock-HAH!" Miranda screamed as Gwyneth yanked on her ear. "I told you that in confidence!" Gwayn stifled a gag, lurching forward. "I'm gonna be sick." "You all heard nothing." She growled. "Right?" They all nodded terrified.