"Agh...Astora..."
As Rizette tries to stand she realized her right is broken, she was groaning and biting her lips as her adrenaline wore off. Astora's vision was blurry, he'd take off his helmet and feel blood dripping to his face, there he realized he's has concussion.
"Augh...Ahrg."
Astora vomits on the ground, he could barely speak in his current situation and he could barely but still saw Rizette in a desperate situation.
"Rizette.....Riz.... Hildegard..."
He'd stand up and slowly walks towards her. Rizette also stood up and slowly walks towards to Astora. But then an arrow strucked Astora in his shoulder.
"ASTORA!"
"GAGH!"
Rizette immediately grab Astora use herself as a cover for him, an arrow struck her and another one struck her again. And again more arrow strucked her in the back.
"Ngh... Hilde.. please don't..."
"It's okay...just don't....NYGH!"
"RIZETTE PLEASE STOP!"
Rizette struggles to kept Astora cover and as he was able to finally make her let go, there he sees a man holding katana raise above his head. He casted a spell and an wind started to form on his hands.
"TĀMINARUSHOKKUU~ĒBU!"
The man was knocked back but he stab the katana on the ground to keep a balance.
"Nishizumian magic...not bad mage."
"Hideoyoshi are you being an idiot again?"
"Oh shut up Fleur, you didn't told me one of them was an mage."
An elf jump down a tree and stood beside the samurai.
"*Sigh* and he's injured enough to be unable to fight, and besides it's mage, It's biggest advantage is distance you brute."
The elf takes an arrow from her quiver.
"Tch, prideful whore--"
"HAAT!"
Hideoyoshi got ambushed by the man Rizette and Astora helped, he thrusts his dagger to the Samurai's hip.
"GAGH!"
"HA!?"
Fleur was surprised causing her arrow to land on Astora's neck rather than his head that was exposed. He stumble and fall on the ground as Rizette grabs her sword to retaliate. The elf takes out an dagger to attack the man.
"YOU SON OF A BITCH!"
"WAIT NO!"
"FLEUR!"
"NOT ON MY WATCH YOU BASTARD!"
Hideoyoshi raised his katana but he was too close to deflect it way from Fleur causing Rizette to cut off his right hand. The man slashed Fleur's eyes and Hideoyoshi slammed him to the ground.
"GACK!"
"YUUUGHH!!!"
"I'M NOT D-DONE YET!"
Hideoyoshi grabbed Rizette by her neck and choke her on the ground. Rizette tries to impale her fingers to the man's eyes but he bit her.
"ERGH, YOU SON OF A--!"
Hideoyoshi bit off her pinky and ring fingers and blood squirts on his left eye. He let go due to him blinded by the blood, as he tries to wipe it off he saw from a distance a cavalry.
"Dammit!, Fleur!"
He wasted no time to ran away, he'd pick up Fleur over his shoulder as she was screaming in pain.
There left alone Astora drowning in his own blood, Rizette crawling towards him as she leaves a blood trail and the man struggling to get and losing to many blood.
"A-Astora....please no....."
She put pressure on Astora's neck, thinking it would stop bleeding and allow him to breathe.
"Oh god please no.... Please no no...Jude..."
The cavalry arrived and there they saw the dame crying...
"GET AN SAGE ON THAT MAN NOW!'
"AYE SIR!"
"SIR THE.."
The world start to darken around Rizette, she could barely hear anything, her vision slowly was surrounded by darkness and all he could see was Astora choking in his own blood. And finally she passed out...
She opened her eyes and there Astora was sleeping near her, he was sitting on a chair, wrapped with bandages including his neck and food were in a nightstand. She could feel his hands holding her and there she knew he was waiting for her. She leaned up and place her hand on his back.
"Ast...."
Rizette looked out the window and was quite shocked when she saw the Knights of Holy Moraine in the village.
"By the Watchers..."
The door opened and the man Astora and Rizette helped entered the room
"Hey..."
"Hi, how are you doing?"
"Fine, just got stitched up."
"That's good.."
"You've been unconscious for 2 days. He waited and didn't leave the room till you'll wake up.
"....."
"He even stayed up late, didn't sleep till he saw you woke up, I guess he missed the grand awakening knight, Rizette or 'Alisa'."
"..."
The man was about to leave but before he could do so, he gave an gratitude to the couple.
"Hey, the name's Arlin. I used to work for a circus and have enough money to live a comfy life till those bastards rob me....Thanks for saving me...."
"Me too..thanks for saving Astora."
"I didn't, and I couldn't save his voice."
"But you manage to save him from heaven's gate."
Arlin smile and gave salute before leaving.
"Erleuchte den Weg für die Verlorenen, Dame Rizette."
"Erleuchte den Weg für die Verlorenen, Sir Arlin."
Arlin finally leaves. After he left, Astora finally woke up and there he could feel Rizette's warm hands holding his hand. He'd look up and there he sees Rizette with a sad and concerned expression. He tries to speak but he realize he lost his voice.
"Astora....."
She hugged him tightly. After a while she sighed and let go. Astora grabbed a paper and pencil and started writing.
|Here I lost my voice but there's no need to cry once again.|
"...."
Rizette sob a little and she tries to hide it away but tears drip down a little.
"You're right no more."
She'd get out the bed but grunted. He'd help her wrap her arm over his shoulder.
"Orgh... Let's see what the hell my colleagues want now."
He'd nod to Rizette's choice and opened the door. There they walk through the hallway and knew this was the chief's house. They reached the door. Astora grabbed the door handle but Rizette grabbed his hand. He knew Rizette was afraid, he knew what the Knights of Holy Moraine will think of Rizette, however.... He knew that he won't let them do any harm to Rizette.
"....."
Astora let go of the handle and sighed.
"Are you mad at me?"
A shook from Astora
"Are you mad at them at what they think of me?"
A nod from Astora.
"Are you also mad what they might do to me?"
Astora was didn't reply but it was clear that was something he was afraid and angry of. Rizette grabbed the door handle and twist it.
"Here goes nothing...."
She opened the door and both of them stepped outside, many soldiers and knights stare at them.
"C-CAPTAIN RIZETTE FINALLY WOKE UP!"
"Captain?"
Rizette noticed how they still address her in rank. Many soldiers and knights gather at the chief's house and even villagers started gathering.
"Captain."
A knight kneeled. As one kneeled the others followed and gave formality. Astora was shocked and he stares at Rizette. There he saw her crying again.
"*Sob* w-why..."
"Because those Tremont bastards are nothing but power crazed bastards that wanted your curse."
Alicia replied as the others walked towards Rizette and bowed. She stared at Alicia, Julian, Loren, Grant and Tulura standing infront of her, not in hate or hostile intent but rather a warm welcome and relief. She saw glimpse of a familiar figure behind them. They make way for her and as she steps forward, Astora was shocked and knew who she was.
"Captain Rizette Hildegard Lowell..."
".... Commander Valerie."
"Is that what I thought you to call me?"
"C-Commander Valerie Isolde Landsknecht.."
"Hm, Jude."
Astora just looked down as he knew what Valerie meant.
"You mean 'rude' Commander?"
"No Loren, I'm speaking of Jude, my cousin."
"Huh?"
She points at Astora, he tries to hide the fact that he is a relative of Valerie. It was something he never told to Rizette as she knew him as a commoner back then.
"Hildegard, you've have not done serious crimes except the fact you deserted."
"Wait. Deser--"
She'd does a gesture to Tulura, hence forth she couldn't speak.
"Hildegard, you are known to be an Forsakened now..therefore I demote you to...."
Rizette would just look down and was going to accept the punishment.
"I demote you to be the Captain of 6th Iron Enforcement Legion Brigade, and I daresay your Officer will be Astora Jude Tremblay."
"Wait what about the 2nd Ice Hounds Brigade!?"
"I hereby confirming that Officer Melania Rose will be promoted to be captain and Sergeant Jericho Evan Wainwright as the new Officer. So fear not about your previous brigade."
A scream of shock nearby was heard, two knights ran towards Valerie.
"WAIT COMMANDER! ME!? THE NEW 2ND ICE HOUNDS CAPTAIN!?"
"AND ME AN OFFICER!?"
"SILENCE!"
Valerie shout was loud enough that it can be heard through the forest.
"Your services to Captain Hildegard was sufficient enough for you to gain experience. Rather serving as like an acting one, be a real one now."
"Bu-"
"Not buts. Jude? Come with a second."
Astora would gesture his head towards Rizette.
"Don't worry, here allow me."
Tulura helped Rizette to wrap her left arm on her shoulder. Astora would let go and follow Valerie. They were still near the crowd. She'd pull out a pack of cigarettes. He'd be rather irritated about it, implying he hates smokes.
"Right, you hate those."
She'd put it away.
"You know the Knights of Tremont are after you too..."
Astora smiles and knew he finally has to opportunity. He tries to do a gesture but realize he hasn't learned how to do the hand language. Valerie pulls out a cardbook and pen. Astora took it and started writing.
|Can I join the Moraine?|
"Well shit seems like we were on the same page."
"..."
"Heh, do I have to introduce myself again Ast?"
|Considering the fact you're my wife's boss, she's afraid of you and I'm not. No Isolde. And she has to address you by your rank and full name!?|
"It's an Teacher's humor, She used to be my officer when I was still Captain you know. But what about you 'The Untrue Mage'?"
|Ugh shut up with that.|
"You'll only be an Officer. But not a council unless you're gonna do something that might catch my interest."
|So, what about Fairfield?|
"Galian decided to get himself involved too. Even some of the students want to get involved but you know. Child soldiers will get me killed."
|And a nice council you have there. A Captain, A posterboy, Poster number 2, Professor, Negotiator, and Dr Frankenstein you have.|
"Heh. Says you, practiced magic, and here you are voice lost and unable to chant a spell."
Astora smirks and chuckles of Valerie's insult to him.
|Chants just help you focus with a spell, if your focus is mainly on the spell, you can still manage to do it without chanting.|
"What do you mean?"
Astora would held up his hand and form a fireball. It slowly turned an stone, grass formed around it and he closed his hand water dripped out of it and once he opened it again it became an icicle.
"Bullshit... Please tell me there are records of at least mages or what the hell kinds of magicians have actually done a spell without a chant."
Astora would gave off a smug.
"You wanna join the Council? Well teach some students at Fairfield to manage that."
Astora's expression quickly change to being irritated.
"Well, be ready for 6 hours, we're returning to Fairfield after this."
"Then any spare spaces for a guest?"
The two turn
ed and there they saw Arlin carrying a bag.
"Arlin Lexington Rhodes, Astora and Rizette saved me at the forest they burned down few days ago."
He'd held his hand out for an handshake.
"I'm also interested in military jobs, do you have an interest on an old circus performer Officer Astora?"
He'd smile