The sunlight beamed down from above, a moment to feel all the bruises and cuts. Horses neighed, tied down to carriages and posts.
"Jotou! Jotou! Are you okay!?"
"…Peachy."
"Running on fumes are we?" Kor crouched down, his hair in a mess.
"Just, just gimme a minute…"
"Yay! Kor's here! Are Hotaru and Fumeko inside?"
Kor shook his head, "I assume Fumeko informed you all. The ones inside are guards, staff from different departments, citizens; in other words, the non-spies who were caught unaware of today's plans…"
"They're also trying to cover it up," Jotou gulped. "I saw Wellers killing a velatos with a gun. If what you and Meko found is right, they're trying to tie up loose ends."
"That makes sense then. Still, why isn't your party together?"
"We split up!"
"They had no clue this would happen today. And neither did Kria," Jotou stood up, stretching her arm and sheathed her blade.
"It's lucky I heard Asobi's voice. I'm sorry to put you in this position, but I hope you have a plan? I can't keep up this wall forever and I doubt they won't come knocking."
"Your, wife and kid?" Jotou winced as she traced a finger across the cut on her cheek.
Kor sighed in a smile, "They're inside, along with the citizens in the area. I married a smart woman."
"We need something big! Spectacular! Take them all down!"
"It's not that simple…" Jotou glanced out to see the assassins repositioning themselves. "They know we can't defend forever. They've planned for most things we can throw at them.
They even had assassins at the ready. We can't leave and I doubt they won't try to snuff us out before this 'attack' is over."
The doors to the Ordinate were sealed shut, all windows covered by wind-like shutters. "We know the truth of the matter… They want us to be casualties in their plan.
Jotou's right, an all-out assault will be the end of us. We need a counter they will not expect. Something they wouldn't think to prepare a contingency for."
"What if we just trick them! Make us look like we escaped, then we actually escape!"
Jotou gazed as far as her vision could go to the clouds—hitting noon it would seem. 'Ow… Maybe I can get a better plan if I was just a little healed- Hotaru… Fumeko… If they're not here… Crap.'
"There's too many people to do that with," Kor replied.
"There's less light today, I can make more illusions!"
"Nice wall by the way. I'm surprised they haven't planned to breach this by now," Jotou rubbed the back of her head.
"I've never had to use my spells to this extent before. Safe to say, I don't think they would expect it."
'Don't… Don't… think the worst yet.' "They said some word to me, 'vas'? They kept whispering it; bunch of other words too, but that word's stuck in my head."
"Hm, vas, vas; on the tip of my tongue… I'm not too polished on my Regimian."
"Definitely isn't English."
"English?" both Kor and Asobi faced her.
"The language… were talking right now…?"
"You mean… Krian? The language the entire world has opted to use for centuries?" Kor questioned.
"Seriously?" Jotou's eyes bubbled, "With how similar literally almost every word is to- You know what, sure, I'm speaking Krian, whatever."
'Did I seriously only know figure that out? Either Krian is just this world's English, which makes sense for the alphabet or, I know Krian? Probably the former, there's too many things that're the same. Well, didn't know that.'
"I believe, vas would translate to, vessel?"
"Like a boat?" Asobi guessed.
"It could be used for that, but the term would be best described as, an object that contains something."
"You mean, possession?" Jotou narrowed her eyes.
"Perhaps… Fumeko and I found countless codenames for targets; you not being from this world in, this body, could also use such a term," Kor folded his arms.
"You do say you're from another world a lot!"
"Maybe…" she answered, but her mind pondered and pondered… The words 'don't know', kept coming back. "Kor? Do the people inside know about the real culprits behind all of this?"
"Hm, I've not informed them. With the rush of panic, I was more concerned with making sure everyone was safe."
The blonde stared to the ground, "They're trying to cover it up, then pin it on the Regimes."
"Specifically, the Trailon Regime. If this is all a plan to cover up the conspiracy, Trailon will be exposed for the Velatos Case," Kor added.
"But they're willing to take the hit and what do they gain? If anything, control over Kria, the place where negotiations would happen.
Taking it over by force would just make another country the place of negotiations obviously so, they have to control Kria from hiding and get any useful information from incoming nations that think Kria's safe.
Control over media, exports, imports, while the people remain unaware of a shadow government. The people would trust the Krialin more and probably Moren who has the guild.
We can't leave, they've planned for our attacks… But if we go down… then we'll take them down with us."
"That… sounds like a plan?" Asobi beamed, tilting her head.
"What exactly do you mean Jotou?"
"We take away what they have to gain, which is control over Kria. They can't have it if they're exposed, including the Krialin, Moren and Lexi.
If the entire public knew the truth, information is bound to leak into the other countries and they wouldn't have any control from the shadows.
Either they retreat or take Kria by force, but either way, they don't get what they wanted. The only thing between us and that goal is for everyone to hear it," her eyes alit.
Kor furrowed his brows, looking into the snow… then back to Jotou, "I can't think of something they could use to counter that, but still, how are you so sure they wouldn't?"
"Because it's a play that's not a guaranteed victory for us. They expect us to try to leave, or fight, but they're ready to cover it up. They kill and stop anyone who knows too much.
If the whole of Kria knew, they couldn't kill every single person. Maybe they would, but they gain nothing; it would just be petty.
Other options are, they cease control or they abandon their mission. They don't expect me to pull the plug like that. My plan's nothing more than to piss them off or scare them.
It's a gamble, but it's better than whatever this outcome would be. I bet that they can't stop Asobi's tricks. How far can you project your voice Sobi?"
"Hm, very, very, very far! I think. This wand does make my spells go more far and I always only made it as loud as big circus tent."
"It sounds like you have a plan. Even if this doesn't save Kria, it puts a dent in Trailon's plans and gives a warning to the other countries. It's vindictive to say the least."
"Worst-case scenario, we have to escape by winning a battle of attrition. Which, we have to anyway right now," Jotou glanced up to the sky.
A little smirk grew on the blonde, "The perfect stage is set, the biggest spell you will ever cast atop the peak of Kria—a convincing truth, a great spectacular for all men, women and children to hear."
The elf's legs shook, her wand almost snapping in her grip; her eyes were about to burst with stars.
"If my thunder can go across Kria then your voice should be no issue. Kor, could you give us a boo- oooost!?"
"LET'S GO!" Asobi dragged Jotou with a hook of her arm.
_
"I don't suppose you could remove the snow, could you?" Jotou stood with Asobi to the side of the tower.
"This is the extent of my wind-fortress spell. It's blocking the spell that's causing this snow, but to get you two up there I'm going to disassemble some of the wall."
A few slabs from the surrounding wind-wall disappeared and formed a square platform on the grass, "Constantly disassembling and reassembling the spell will get you up and deplete a great deal of my mana. So, stick to the middle please."
They did as such and with movements of his hands he lifted the cube of blue wind up; Jotou widened her legs while Asobi looked over the edge, "Bye Kor!"
"Asobi, he said middle," Jotou dragged her arm back. With the outside of the building to their backs, they rose above the rooftops piling with snow as more sprinkled down—velatos, assassins and Krialin far below.
It was quite the view… "You're gonna have to reach all the people in their homes and fight against the sound of the thundersnow. I hope you're ready."
"But Jotou, what do you want me to say? I think I can make yourself louder than me; wait, no, other way around."
The blonde gazed at the magician… "I, well, that Moren, Lexi and the Krialin are trying to cover it up and they're working with the Trailon Regime. I'll… come up with something better."
Their hair drifted, the natural autumn breeze from above. The Sun through the snow, walls made of wind—truly a spectacle in the darkest of times, all this magic.
'Hmph. Two months plus here. I'm going up a wind platform to let an elf pull the plug on a plot by an enemy nation in a war. If they could see me now…' She smiled. 'Hey. I'm someone.'
Blood smudged against her skin as bruises stung under her clothes. "Jotou?" The blonde turned. "Do you think Hotaru and Fumeko are okay…?"
Asobi gazed down, fingers playing with her wand. Jotou sighed, "I was honestly trying to focus here… I don't know, I can only hope.
It's not like we can run out from here. If it turns out that Trailon decides this as mission fail and retreat; we'll go look for them."
Asobi twisted her foot on the platform… Jotou placed a hand on her shoulder, "Don't get gloomy yet. We're here now and we have an entire city to give an announcement to.
We'll be saving them too. And I'll be right by your side. We can do this and we'll be with the other two again in no time," she smiled.
Asobi faced her, the smile that could brighten up any room returning on the elf, "Silly me! Of course we will- Woah!" the platform shook.
Jotou and Asobi held onto each other and looked under them as assassins leapt through the gap in the wall. "Kor!" He pushed them off and out, but they kept pushing through.
They were little specks from below, hard to squint at, "It's fine Sobi, he can handle himself. We have a job to do," Jotou and Asobi watched as the peak arrived, a circular platform barely enough for two feet.
"Howlll…" Jotou caught Asobi's hat—wind drifting past her bangs. Asobi's ears were red as her hair whisked behind. The clouds, they could run their fingers through them if they stood on the tips of their toes.
Asobi jumped atop the secondary circle and held onto the tip of the spire, much to Jotou's distraught. "Now's the time Jotou! Give me your speech!"
The blonde fluttered her lashes, "Uhm…"
"Come on Jotou! You always know what to say!" her smile withstood the wind as she hung onto the spire like a rope.
'Don't look down, don't look down.' She gawked at the raven black hair, drifting in the wind, blonde bangs swishing past her own eyes; so cold under the rays of sunlight.
Jotou took a deep breath… "People of Kria…"
"People of Kria…" Asobi repeated, mimicking Jotou's voice. The sound echoed from even where they stood, wand to her mouth like a microphone.
"…This is the Thundering Blade and I have an important message so please listen. The chaos around you is all fake, the velatos, the Krialin saving you.
Moren Mataya, leader of Kria's Adventurers Guild has been working with the Trailon Regime for months, making the 'Velatos Case'; undead creatures is all they are.
They're just controlled by people. Spies have been found in the Maleficos Ordinate, the real creators of the velatos. The Krialin next to you is in on it; all of them, including Commissioner Wellers.
Me and my friends are being hunted by these people as I speak, but let this message be loud and clear. By the authority of the Thundering Blade, I will fight till the end.
I will protect Kria till this false attack is over. Protect those around you and stay together. Kria will stand, with me as well; this is my verbal contract.
Stand with me, fight those who call themselves your saviours and make them flee. I swear by my name and my blade. We can set Kria free from the shadows."
"Let's save this beautiful city!" Asobi's spoke with her own voice as Jotou stopped, "The beautiful sea, the shops and sales to see! The delicious food around every corner and the kids that go wee~!
If you're scared, if you're worried, don't be! We have friends all around us! To laugh, to play and to fight together! It all starts here; in the City of New Beginnings!"