"You think just because I cannot see your face, you are fearless? You are a coward regardless of it!" I spit out at the heretic whose throat I had tightly clenched in my hand. But as their arms stretched out for me, I focused on the peculiar way their face was hidden. Darkness which had no cause to exist.

But I neither had a reason to keep this up, so I twitched my hand to the right.

And I dropped him to the floor as the crack was drowned out by the fires all about me. I then scoffed at my handiwork before I jumped into the sky once again to fly off. As I found peace in the sky, though. I started to consider some details.

Since I left the ruins of Giant's Victory after cutting my way out. I had begun to notice an increasingly large concentration of soldiers. Their foolish witches, however, were nowhere to be seen. So I could only figure that meant my sisters and brothers had been pushed back.

Exploitable as it was for me right now, I could see the logic behind it. Yet if I kept this up and gave them a window from which they could gaze into the misty lands beyond. They would undoubtedly come for me. I would be a leak which they would patch up quickly.

So it was imperative that I found a friendly army or force to join up with. I knew the way back to Thurn's Forge, but I'd rather join up with them at the frontlines. I would be of greater use there and could even turn the tide of battle! One more Valkinvar was worth so much more than a formation of one-hundred men.

Courageous as they might be.

This war would not be won with bravery alone, we needed power and I had that. I would bring it to them and I would do my part to save my home. Yet it was also this desire to save my home that lead me to attack as if I were a rabid animal. I had so many lost years of combat to catch up on!

"Now if one of you would be kind enough to..." I muttered as I flicked my sword dry. A frown appeared on my face as I noticed the lack of maps and written orders. These forces I was encountering should've had them. But all they had were these strange wisps of magic.

They must've been using this magic to send out their orders. A concept that seemed simple, yet it was shocking it had been implemented. To teach their entire army to know this spell... Unless the darkness they had over their faces solved that?

A terrifying enemy the Seven-Peaks Union had become since my last defence of Giant's Victory...

"Wait... Guns... That's the sound of guns!" I soon found myself exclaiming as I froze up to make sure I was not mishearing. Yes, it was the thunder of artillery. Gunpowder igniting and forcing steel and stone out... That was echoing about the valley I was currently hovering in!

So I wasted no time, I crouched down briefly and shot skyward. Yet, despite the haste I should've moved with, I had to keep my pace slower. The way I flew would mix in with the sound of the guns... I would miss them and be too late!

Yet like this it might be the case as well...

"Thank you, Waionr, for guiding me." I breathe out in thanks before I dive down from the sky. Along the side of a mountain before I straighten out near the mass of bodies ahead of me. Then, I swung and decimated all before me. Lashing out with a wave of magic that knocked the force towards the opposite side of the valley.

"A-Another Valkinvar!?"

"VALKINVAR!?"

"WE GOT HELP!"

The ironcoats desperately cheered as I noticed that I had wiped out the attacking force just like that. But, rather amusingly, the gun crews took longer to realise and I ended up being caught in a shower of dirt and bloody mud. Yet, I did not let this mistake lead to despair. And, rather unlike how I normally acted, I forced out a laugh so they could relax.

And as I made the brief journey to them, I was met with cheers and thankful prayers. They were genuinely glad that I had arrived. But why were they out here? Was this an isolated force or a rearguard?

"Who's in command here?" I asked the ironcoats once the noise died down.

"She's up there, or, was by the looks of it." one of them answer before a body suddenly falls to the ground. Yet, with a quick flick of my blade, I cast aside the fallen witch before I turned up to the descending Valkinvar. A fellow Valkinvar... A living one...

It had been so long.

It felt strange being in their presence, "Who are you?"

And I stepped back as her blade tip was suddenly put near my visor, "Valkinvar Vapooliar of the Ordoar Imdvarce, same as you." I answered, though my voice turned meek towards the end.

"Very well, I suppose your timely arrival has given us the time to talk. So, come, make my acquaintance." she encouraged as she lowered her sword to her side.

"O-Of course!" I stuttered out as I went to her side. Making way for any ironcoats that came rushing by. Yet, I still tried to make sure she had my full attention. Although, she was quiet until we found ourselves in a hastily made map room. But it was really just a roofed table by a fallen tree.

"So, Sister Vapooliar, I am Wing-Head Allyoceer. Now, I would like you to answer why you are here." she explains with a stern voice as she looks down the length of my looted armour. Right before her gaze stopped on the destroyed crotch piece of my gear.

And I flinched slightly under the scrutiny, knowing full well what it meant, "I..."

She then sighed and tapped her armoured knuckle on the table, "I suppose it doesn't matter. What matters is that you are here and we can make it out of this."

"You are trapped?"

"Sacrificial rearguard." she groans as she stabs her sword gently into the rock below. Splitting it open in the process.

"Your orders are to fight to the last man?"

"No, but they were in effect so."

"So we have a chance to rejoin with the main army?" I ask, yet, she turned to face me with a confused expression.

"There is no main army anymore. We've been shattered and broken. Picked off into hundreds of smaller forces."

"Then we rally with who we can!" I urge her as I step forward slightly.

"Look, I won't propose that I understand what you have been through up until now, Sister Vapoolair. But there is no rallying, there is no meet-up point. We fight and die."

"Nonsense!" I spit as I slam my hand down onto the table.

"A stationary fort will be our undoing." she tuts as she shakes her head.

"It's better than hiding in ditches in some bombed-out valley!" I argue as I gesture around to the despair-filled soldiers. Their armour no longer shined. It instead had begun to rust and the links were clogged with all manners of filth. They looked like brigands.

The once-proud Self-Standing Army of Honourable War...

"Then what?"

"We call out for reinforcements! Rally all we can to this fort!"

"Long Battery cannot sustain a large garrison. It's designed to delay and corner off the plains it opens up to."

"We extend the fortifications, then. We clog up the exit and we make our stand there!"

She then strokes her chin, "You are very out of place for being this involved with the grander strategy, Sister Vapooliar."

And I step backwards slightly, the reality of hierarchy coming back to me, "Huh?"

Yet, she reaffirmed me with a firm hand on my shoulder.

"I will take you up on that suggestion, though." my superior tells me with a slight nod as their exhausted eyes looked downward.

"How bad has it really gotten?" I asked for some reason. Despite the fall of the Seventh Line drawing me back into the fight.

"Our borders were ground down, and they split us open like a baker does an egg. Those machines of theirs... We have nothing that can stand against them. And the Four-Winds cannot be everywhere."

"Has there been any news of one being destroyed, taken out or crippled!?"

"Some, yes, but like most things, getting rid of one just isn't enough."

"They can be broken... Then..." I mutter to myself, somewhat overjoyed at the fact that we had the strength to beat them. These machines I have lived in constant fear of since my fall from grace... My fall from the arms of my supposed beloved beyond death.

"Valkinvar! The informals say more are coming!" an ironcoat officer suddenly urged as he came rushing up to us.

"Already!?" Wing-Head Allyoceer exclaimed as she made sure her equipment was in order. A single swift motion brought her blade out to her side and she stared out at the mess I made before.

"Wing-Head Allyoceer, if I may... Now might be the time to pull your men out of here. Begin the journey to the Long Battery Fort." I tell her as I show my eagerness to fight. Hoping silently that she understood the implications I was making with my eagerness.

And she silently stared back at me as the officer tried to keep their cool, "Yes... Thoucomm, pull the men back. Orderly withdrawal in the direction of the Long Battery Fort."

"Yes, Valkinvar." he breathed in relief as the maps were suddenly shoved into his hand. From which, without direct orders; the attached marching band sounded the retreat. And although they went about it orderly, it still reminded me of a panicked withdrawal. The men were too eager to just abandon everything.

"DO NOT ABANDON THE GUNS OR OUR SUPPLIES!" Wing-Head Allyoceer snapped angrily before she launched into the sky ahead of me. Which I copied after I gave a quick gesture of regards to the thoucomm.

"The direction that they're coming, can you sense it?" I ask as I keep my sword at my side while hers points at a sharp angle downwards.

"Mobile guns..." she answers as she seemingly focuses her magic into her hearing. And as she did so, I spent a little time looking at the differences her armour had. It was nice to see the engravings of wings upon this impressive steel. It filled me with confidence to know someone as devoted, skilled and reliable as she was by my side at the moment.

"The flying boxes?" I ask as I recall the strange machines that I have dealt with since finding this armour. I never saw their full capabilities but I had suspicions that they were no different to the airships in their destructive potential.

"No, these are tracked vehicles. I will intercept them, I want you to assist the informals as the order to withdrawal travels back to their end." she orders before I am caught in the blast of her departure.

"Yes, Sister." I answer a little late as I watch her form reduce in size until it became a simple spec in the distance. Yet, as I did not know where the informal troops were, I dropped back down to the ground.

"Why're you still here?" the ironcoat officer demanded to know as he let his blood cool off. His aggressive choice of leadership having just ensured some more of our guns had been saved.

"I am to assist the informals, which way are they?"

"Along that pass, keep on going until you find an old mining shaft. It will lead you straight to them!" he explains before he gets back to urging on the men.

"Right!" I reply before shooting up into the sky once again. Though I kept close to the valley floor so I could follow it and find the old mine. Yet, for the initial part of my journey, I only found death. So many former positions that had been abandoned. Corpses and spiked guns decorating each spot.

But, finally, I came across what seemed to be the old mine. A large wooden lift existed by its entrance and it might've even been it. So after briefly looking in the direction of tremendous magical power. I slowly ascended the mountain it had been built against and landed on the clearing it opened up to.

There was a small village of sorts up here, likely a place for the miners to be. And I was most likely not far off in assuming it had been abandoned for some time. But it had been refilled since then, and I got my first taste of it in the form of weapons fire in the distance. The distinct of uni-roller mortars filled the air before small fireballs enveloped the deeper forest beyond the village.

So I dashed forward before I skidded to a halt upon seeing the first soldier. To my hearts gladness, it was an informal toplock user who had just dove behind a boulder. And he was quite surprised to see me. But as equally confused as I stepped towards a tree and kept my back to it.

"A Valkinvar...? What happened to Wing-Head Allyoceer!?"

"She's fine, she's holding off the armoured coloum you warned us about. I am here to shepard you back to the rest of the men so we can shelter at the Long Battery Fort!"

"Yes, Valkinvar! Our men go out as far one-hundred halfmans, beyond that are Unies!" he explained before he popped up to fire a quick shot.

"Tell the men to hold up in the village so we can take the lift down as one!" I order him as I step out into the open to begin my attack. Bashing aside one of the mysterious magic rounds that came for me before I began. With quick dashes and sudden movements I moved. But I focused more so on protecting the men I was tasked to aid.

I would not fail them. And I gave it my all to keep as many alive as I could. Either bashing aside the offensive magic myself with my blade or aura or even using the trees and loose rocks to intercept them. And then, once I was sure that I was ahead of all the living informals, I charged my blade.

Letting magic flow through it as I unlocked its moving parts before I began to scream. And once again, with a single slash I decimated what lay before me. A moving slice of wind magic surged ahead of me and anyone too slow to react met the same fate as the trees. And it all came falling down.

But the fire did not stop and instead seemed to intensify as my way ahead opened up. By declaring myself to these troops, I had become their main target. Which suited me just fine and I focused on letting them seemingly overwhelm me. I kept my dodging to a minimum and burned magic to evaporate most of the rifle fire.

Yet, as the barrage intensified and more gathered up ahead of me in the hope of scoring that lucky blow. I saw their numbers get put to use through the flashes of broken bolts and swirling magic. Troops were amassing towards the edges of the centre. They wanted to outflank me to go straight for the informals.

And with the clank and hiss of suddenly moved steel, they flashed their sabres bare. With the might of magic serrating their edges and shield ahead of them. They sprinted to the side of the jaws of death I had become. A noble and bold move had it been from anyone else.

But their failure was to leave me unsundered, I was not shattered. They might have stormed at me with all they could heave and hoist. But it was not enough. And I snapped my blade around my left side as my feet slid into the dirt.

"FORM UP ON MY LEFT!" I shouted back to the men I was in charge of protecting. And although I wanted to make sure my order was fully taken into account. I had to put my faith in them that they could handle it. They needed to hold the left for only a moment, that was all I needed!

So, with not even a flash of lightning wasted, I shot towards the enemy. Seemingly appearing before them in but an instant with a sword burning with strength. And like a rolling on hurricane; they broke apart and went flying with the sudden gale. Same as before then after, I appeared right behind the advance on my former right.

And I charged through them with not a bit of resistance to my speed. A swing to the right or left was the same again and again. Steel was rent open and the flesh was cut finely. Blood splattered far beyond the corpses with the help of my winds. Yet, unlike before, it did not end with a grand swing.

I instead simply slapped aside the remaining men into the houses or mountainside. Splattering them on dense rock or crushing them under worked timber and brick walls. And with a single great leap, I went over the abandoned village and crashed straight down ahead of my men. My sword at the ready to defend them.

Their line had held and I would take it from here.

What I clearly saw as not being targeted by toplocks I went for instead. I cut them down swiftly and precisely and weaved and seemingly danced my way around to the next. Again and again, until the heretics had all fallen! And while their screams were few and far between, the area became quiet.

"THATA GIRL!" one man shouted discourteously as the men broke out into restrained excitement. And, with a smile, I revealed my face to them before I looked on towards the damage I had created.

"So what now?" one man asked as he stepped forward with his toplock barrel scraping the tops of crushed grass blades.

"We go back the way we came." I tell them as I gesture towards the great lift I had gone by on my way here.

"And what about the armoured column? If we head down there we'll be ripe for the taking."

"My superior, Wing-Head Allyoceer is handling them."

"Then we should help her!" one of the mortar crews argued as he and a partner lifted their light gun for emphasis.

"She has things under control." I tell them as I hold my hands out before they all shake their heads in determination.

"No, if the Valkinvar will come for us, then we will come for them! Ain't that right!?" one of them called out with a hoist of his gun.

"IN WAIONR'S NAME!" they roared in defiance to my orders. And I sighed at that. What was I going to tell Wing-Head Allyoceer when I met her?

'Oh, sorry, Wing-Head Allyoceer, the informals were just too eager!'

It was nonsense!

"No! Do as you are..." I began to bark before the sounds of heavy cannon fire filled the air. It was quite a lot down there... And all I could was watch as they broke ranks to scrounge up all the small guns they could.

"We'll leave them in smouldering craters!" one soldier told me as he knocked his fist firmly against my chest plate.

"Very well..." I reluctantly let out as I start to float off of the ground.

"There's an open just ahead we can use for spotting! An old lookout post!" one of the artillery crews informed me as I began to drift over the edge of the mountain. For a brief moment, I was left alone. And I admired my superiors skills in that time. That sense of 'home' somehow coming back to me once again.

To see another Valkinvar and to fight with one... It had been so long.

"A long time indeed..." I nearly weeped before I shot forward to aid her in her battle. And although I could tell she was shocked and baffled by my appearance. She did not break down to bicker with me. And instead, we began to work in tandem to destroy the many vehicles the heretics had brought forth.

Many shots I moved around or I was out of the way before they even fired. Yet, with one of them, I stood defiantly before them. My blade at the ready in an upwards position. Only to be brought down upon them the moment their strange crossbow-like device flung an engraved round shot at me.

My blade sliced and shattered its way through the smooth ball of stone and steel plate the same. And once it made contact with the ground, the magic power built up exploded outwards. Tearing apart the armour plating more so while greatly splitting the machine further. And a mutilated hunk of steel flew back into another.

Wing-Head Allyoceer, on the other hand, took what she could into her grasp and flung it overhead. A disturbed, heavy swoosh filled the air before it then crescendos into a loud, nuanced bang. Steel bolts had popped out alongside other parts and their munitions spilt out onto the valley floor. But then, a new sound came to be.

Sudden, sharp whistling that got disturbingly close before the relief exploded out to me. The mortars were in position and they were targeting the backlines! Their potential retreat had been cut off and the Wing-Head and I tore into the trapped force. At least, until she suddenly knocked me to the side and crashed down next to me.

"Wing-Head Allyoceer!?" I let out in confusion as she brought her helmet-covered face up against mine.

"Get those men out of there!" she reminded me before she briefly sprinted out into the open. An explosion of magic power marking where she had just been. Alongside a brief rain of dirt.

"Yes... Yes, Sister." I answer quietly as I shoot back into the sky and crash down by the informals.

"We got them on the run!" one eagerly tells me before I use a single hand to slap him in the direction of the lift.

"Wing-Head Allyoceer want you out of here, so let's move!" I assert with renewed confidence in my authority. Or rather, renewed fear of the punishment awaiting me if I failed these men.

"BUT-"

"NOW!" I roar with the help of my magic. A short, sudden twist of the head then emphasised my point. And I stayed behind to make sure they all made their way towards the lift. Reluctant as many of them were.

"A second wave?" I muttered as I sensed a disturbance in the way the wind blew in the direction of the last assault.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

"MOVE! DOUBLE TIME!" an informal shouted as I took my blade up and held it at the ready. And then I saw them soon after. Men in polished steel and brilliant emerald cloth. Epaulettes of white and an honourable cloth that flew down their backs from them.

Greatswords.

A potential decisive handful had been dispatched up here. Likely because of the defeat I had inflicted on the prior force. Their loss having sent a cause for concern to their superiors? Either way, I had an opponent I had to be careful with.

Their armour could briefly withstand my blade and the men within them were well-conditioned. Their internal-magic makes their skin like a second sheet of steel plate. And their swords, much like my own in size and scale, though a lot less wieldy. I have dueled some in my time as the protector of Giant's Victory.

But the stories of them gave me the greatest cause for concern. Defensive lines of ironcoats had been broken by these heavily-armed duelists. The same kind that stood up to the legendary ryphurgok heavy cavalry. The technicalities of it aside, they were strong in comparison to what I had been facing just before and a little further back.

"KEEP MOVING, DO NOT STOP TO ASSIST ME!" I scream back to the informals before I bring my blade up to intercept the downward slash of a greatswordsman. Heaving the mighty blade and its wielder off of me with a single push that turned into an airborne spin. And as they reoriented themself in the sky, I thrust forward.

Delivering the most powerful blow I could as a Valkinvar of the Ordoar Imdvarce. Yet even with that clean pierce that pinned him to the mountain. He clenched his bloodied jaw and roared as he tried to behead me with one final swing. And I was only just a little too slow to avoid the swing.

My head tilted suddenly to the left as a sharp tink filled the air. But I made the world forget it as I brought my blade through his insides, armour and the mountain I pinned him against. A wave of blood travelled with me and splattered ahead of me in a fine arc. And as before, I found myself met with a force focused on me and another heading out.

"FORM LI-!" I tried to call out to them before the greatswords began to force me to turn around and back away. For a brief moment, I was on the back foot and desperately deflecting their timed swings. When one pulled back, another slashed ahead to keep me on my toes. All the while the gap between me and the informals grew.

I was watching the greatswords charge unimpeded upon them... The toplocks of the informals pinging harmlessly off of even their exposed clothes! Like a hot knife through butter, meanwhile was it like for them. The informals had no chance and were exposed to slaughter!

And I grew furious. Memories of my failure coming back to haunt me as my heart pounded.

"I WON'T LOSE ANOTHER FORCE!" I screamed as I suddenly let my magic burn about me recklessly. And as the tides turned. I let loose savage blow after savage blow. Sending them aside either dazed or as a corpse

But I did not stay to check and just leapt into the air with a roar from my lungs and a tip directed at them. The first one I came into contact with was practically gouged open and the next had his blade shattered. The strength of his subsequent fist proved inadequate against my own before I hopped back towards the lift. They had reformed without a second thought given to the dead and they stood firm.

Even as I recognised the fear in their trembling eyes.

But there was no point in continuing to duel them. I had men to save and I went about it swiftly and with but two strokes! And although they cursed my name as I spun over them before I dived under. They were certainly glad as I braced the suddenly dropping lift against my hands and shoulders.

Shooting out just in time for it to make the final halfman on its own with a splinter-making crash. And we all panted as we silently stared at one another. But then they began to move out without a word spoken. Any complaints they had were silenced as I reminded them what was back up there.

Thankfully, the drop was too large for them to make and the greatswords stayed up there. Yet I was sure that mortars had been abandoned up there. And I turned to urge the men to run with all the strength they had whilst also sliding what I could about to protect them from stray round shot. When I was sure that their backs were secure, I then headed a short distance up to cover their above.

Cautiously, I eyed the sky and listened out for the quiet bangs and the whistling. But it never came and I was left watching the informals as they tired themselves out crossing the distance. I could trust them to carry on for just a moment? A moment longer which would let me ensure Wing-Head Allyoceer pulled out?

"Don't die on me, now." I mutter before I rocket towards the last spot I saw my superior. Seemingly, as well, I arrived just in time to gash open and set aside one of the machines behind her before it fired.

"WHY ARE YOU BACK HERE!?" she demanded to know as she tossed her sword into the air before she guided it down at an unseen target. The blade just as quickly returned to her when she called it. The pommel made a mighty large dent into one of the better-condition wrecks as it did so.

"I have brought them down from the mine, I am here to pull you out as well." I explain as I avoid another fired-off piece of round shot. Ducking behind a wreck in order to ensure for the moment that I would not have to do that again.

She seemed to want to argue the point, but she shook her head after peaking over her own piece of cover. But she remained silent, obviously considering her options before she started to nod at me. And by silent command, she had me dig my fingers into the wreck I was by. Side-by-side, we then threw our cover at the enemy and clogged up the valley further.

The pair of us then suddenly shot in the direction of her former lines. Slowing down only once we came across the informals as they made their way through the rough terrain. And as we shepherded them through the proof of their previous defeats and shallow victories. I looked on quietly at my superior.

"You are sure the path to the Long Battery Fort is safe?" I ask her as I turn my head towards where we had just been. The numbers they had back there were far too much for that to have just been some splinter. It had to have been the tip of the oncoming advance!

A whole army, not just some thoucomms detachment!

It raised the urgency with which we had to move with. We might not even get the time we needed to establish ourselves safely at the fort. Maybe it was a necessity to contradict ourselves? Send one back to delay them further?

"When the last report came in before you appeared, actually, I got confirmation that it was. Our journey will be safe so long as no machines outflank us."

"They won't..." I lie with the hopes it was a soon-to-be-realised fact.

"It may become a requirement of one of us or both to engage in further rearguard actions. Can I rely on you if that is to become our reality?"

"Of course, Wing-Head Allyoceer." I answer with a nod.

But then, she suddenly stopped me with an arm over my chest, "Or maybe we can rely on our country to look after us."

"Are you sure?" I question as I look up at a stack that was sticking out of a mountain. It must've been an old marker or landmark of some kind.

"Not certain you can knock something over?" she surprisingly teases as she taps my chest plate again.

"N-No, I am sure I can, but, for it to survive the fall..."

"Then you can catch it!"

"Very well." I nod after a brief pause. Glancing down at the men once again before I looked up once more.

"They should be past it soon, unless you think it'll be best dropped off over here?"

"No, I think we are better set to place it down there, the valley narrows up over there." I explain as I gesture to where the other force was getting congested up. Their guns take up quite a bit of space. Forcing the men not helping out to squeeze on by or to wait.

"We'll get those guns by first, then I want you with me by that stack so we can set it down!" she orders as she drops down by the congestion. And I follow suit, heading to the opposite side to get them moving.

Either by forcing the guns out of the churned-up mud with pulls or pushes. But, sometimes, I flew overhead and just picked them up, depositing them once I reached an open space. And I quickly encouraged the men to take hold of them once I was done. Returning back again and again until I had handled all the guns which they or my superior had not moved.

"The informals will make it past as we get our hands on the stack." she tells me as we begin to ascend the mountain with haste. Our swords still at our sides as we arrive at the rock formation. Its size was deceptively grand now that we were here. And because of that, I could also see the signs of tool use.

Little engravings and a few abandoned pieces of equipment. Long since rusted and reduced to a state of uselessness. The purpose of the stack still eluded me. But what we intended to do with it invalidated such concerns.

"When you're ready." Wing-Head Allyoceer told me after she came back into the air after inspecting its base.

"It will hold?" I question as she practices some swings.

"A lot better if you ensure that you are synchronised with me." she explains as she gestures me down to the other side of the rock. Her blade tip soon raised against me while her head gestured to my own.

"A quiet ting." I comment as I move my blade to meet hers. The sound suggesting that we might've been a bit too close.

"I'll stay close to where our blades exit, so I want you to head up and catch the stack, am I clear?"

"Yes, Wing-Head Allyoceer." I confirm with a nod.

"On my mark." she says as she positions her sword so as to allow her to put everything into a single grand swing. And, I copied her as best as I could to ensure our success. Although, I was cautiously watching her with a great deal of nervousness. It had been so long since I had to do something as complex as this!

Though, when she moved ahead, I followed her. Matching her speed and the motions of her swings. And as she swung towards the rock; I did the same. Driving my steel into the stone as fast as I could so it would not catch on anything.

Yet, my prior nervousness proved itself to be an insidious issue. And I felt my blade tremble and the the stone cracked out loud for all to here. But I did not let myself be enthralled by the terror of my mistake. Shooting up to my prediscussed position and digging my grip into the stone as shrapnel flew out.

The stack had its bottom blown out by my incompetence and it slipped. Though, as I was at the top, I was able to force it down onto the rock to prevent it from flying off. And I nodded to my superior as she looked up at me. With what kind of emotions, I could not gather, but I had to not think on it.

Instead, I just gave her a nod and eased up on the pushing. Giving her the space she needed to grab the other end before she picked it up. And with a quick signal from her magic, we began the descent. Carefully manoeuvring over the men as they pulled back before we held our position.

"Thoucomm, is the ground under clear!"

"Move it along, Informal!" the Thoucomm answered loudly before he practically shoved the skirmisher towards the rest.

"Now, Sister Vapooliar." my superior told me as she started to descend ahead of me. Though I quickly caught up to her. And without a second to spare, we dumped the large stone into the gap.

"Hold on, I'll cut the sides down." I tell her as I notice how the stone got lodged. If we left that gap, enemy infantry would still be able to pass by. And if their vehicles caught up, they could just blast it out and roll it aside. So, with one hand up top, I started to saw away at the stone ahead of me.

Chipping away at it with hacking slashes and chipping thrusts before I moved out from under it. Letting it drop with a loud bang before I flew back into the air to be by the Wing-Head's side. Joining the direction she was looking at as I felt her magic pulse out in that direction. So I moved away slightly as to not interfere.

"This obstacle won't last long, but it will delay them."

"Should we race about to find a way to reinforce the barrier, then?"

"No, we'll keep shepherding the men until we reach the Long Battery Fort."

"I hope we can make it in time to set the guns up..." I sigh out, my worries becoming all the clearer for it.

"Our guns won't get up in time to repel an assault. But, we can use the guns within the fort just fine."

"We'll be working under a lot of stress." I comment.

"We're soldiers fighting for their home, we'll manage." she tells me as she pats my shoulder before she flies off to join the men.

"Yeah..." I nearly whisper as I stared out towards the smoke we had left behind. It had to have been a main advance that way. The density of the magic... It was the only way to explain it.

"Sister Vapooliar!"

"Coming!"

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.

.

"This is quite the mess." I comment as I walked alongside Ainael. Raising a brow as she fiddled with her blonde hair in an almost nonchalant manner.

"Huh? Oh, yes."

"A very relaxed attitude to take given the scale of the slaughter." I bluntly put it as she shrugs.

"It doesn't concern us."

"We're soldiers just as they are."

"No, we're war-witches of the Order of the Outreaching Wind." she seemingly corrects as she kicks at a piece of rubble.

"At least try to show some care about what has happened?"

"Why? It's their mess. I don't see why we should be handling it when we have far greater issues at hand." she tells me with a wave of her hand as her head moves slightly forward.

And as she did that, I stopped to look at a defaced bit of street decoration, "This is a joint national effort."

"Spare me the grandiose commentary." she tells me as her face lights up as I make a further point of destroying the statue.

"You serve in a grand, stories order in a grander war. It fits." I tell her with a slight smirk as I pull down my hood and take off my face mask.

"So remind me, why are we down here... Patrolling?"

"Inspecting, technically." I clarify as she was essentially right. We were filling in for the patrols who were slaughtered by my warned-about Valkinvar. In a way as well, I was glad it was here that it happened. The war moved past this city a while ago.

So we were not tasked with clogging up any gaps that the Misguided had decided to exploit. Though we had come across some rageful refugees still clamouring about the city. Their insistence on staying here proved quite troublesome. This wasn't a city we could just leave standing.

From the moment it was made, it was to honour those who did not stand by us. An extensive piece of propaganda was all it was. And at some point, it would be paved over to make way for something else. The stone that was still intact was likely to be used for another city or it would just be ground up for roads.

"It must be something, though, to have the power to wipe out a garrison like this."

"We can do that."

"Yeah, as a group, maybe not you specifically, but, Valkinvar really are something else." she comments almost respectfully.

Which, made me scoff, "They're about to be wiped out, cast aside for the history tablets."

"The Valkinvar ruled and continue to cling onto one of the greatest empires our continent has ever seen. They won't become a footnote."

"In time they will."

"In time we all do."

"Longevity isn't a goal of mine."

"Really now, Noalla? You try harder than most others."

"I try because I must." I tell her as we stopped by a small airship as it departed. Its freshly deposited soldiers spread out as it flew off.

"Well, at least we are relieved." Ainael comments as we start to go into the air to fly over them.

"Not until we are told so officially."

"Speaking of officials, it looks like the Chapter-Mistress wants a word." she teases as she begins to put some distance between us.

"Just because she is staring in our direction doesn't me-"

"Sister Noalla, Chapter-Mistress Chiara wants to speak with you." someone calls out from a nearby building.

"Of course." I answer without the slightest groan or sign of complaint. Though, right after, I did groan at Ainael as she giggled at me.

"Guess I win again." she smugly remarks as she takes her leave to do whatever. And after I finish rolling my eyes at her, I head on over to our superior. Dropping onto the ground and kneeling as appropriate. Though, I was not granted the right to stand before her this time.

"I hope you have a suggestion for how to deal with your failure."

"My failure, Chapter-Mistress Chiara?" I question as a sense of annoyance sprouts in the recesses of my mind.

"Your inability to stop that Valkinvar has cost us quite a few men. And I have heard from the advance that they joined up with a formerly isolated one. One we nearly had..." she scolds as her foot suddenly plants down on me. Forcing my skull against the near-solid, stone floor. The surprise of it, in turn, made it quite a humiliating affair as my body was suddenly spread out.

"It was by your word that we let this happen!" I remind her.

"Yes, and it turned out to be the very thing you should have never let escape." she tells me as her sandaled foot takes its leave and returns to the floor where it belonged. And slowly, I got up, taking it as a rather demeaning acknowledgement of my equality.

"Then I will go after her."

"No, the Order of the Outreaching Wind shall be making a move against them to ensure they do not escape again." she tells me as she walks to my side. Clearing sneering at me from beyond the edges of my vision.

"You would allow them to fortify..."

"I will allow them to choose their graves as they all have done. Their backs will be against stone either way!" she dismisses as she starts to walk away.

"This isn't what you brought me here for, though, was it?"

"No, I wanted to tell you that you'll be leading the assault so you can make up for your mistake."

"Yes, Chapter-Mistress Chiara..." I answer as she walks off. A sneer of my own formed once I was sure I was on my own. Yet, as she gave me her blessing to lead the assault, I flew into the sky until I was under the clouds. And I looked in the direction of our mobile fortress.

If the Valkinvar was to hold herself up in some fort, then we would bring ours to them to match it. Blow for blow we will match them for. But, taking influence from Ainael I wanted to show some restraint in our efforts. We needed to probe the Valkinvar's position.

And to do that, we would need the Grand Army of the Seven Peaks to move ahead of us. Perhaps even His Royal Majesty's air-navy as they have proven themselves quite effective. Yes... A combined airship-ground assault.

I would not be able to direct it, but it would let us observe what we were dealing with. To commit the mobile fortress to such a field of battle was one that called for caution. No mistakes could be allowed. Even if we had someone like at Chapter-Mistress Chiara at the head.

So I flew down to our mobile fortress and stared it straight in the eye. Triggering its instincts to dominate with my unyielding gaze. And, in an attempt to scare me off. It reared onto its hind legs and brought its thick, muscular arms up.

And it parted the sky with its roar as it began to slam its armoured chest with explosive force. Yet with all this power, I held my ground and stared it down. Not even diverting my gaze as its rib-like appendages began to reveal themselves and snip at the air around me. Then, as it fell back on its mighty arms built to hold a mountain.

I laughed, only for it to be drowned out by an in-my-face roar.

.

.

.

"There it is..." I breathed quietly as I felt a huge burden leave my body. Our force found itself renewed and full of life once more. Yet as they ran towards the impressive line of high-perched fortifications. I just dropped to the ground and planted my blade into the ground.

Content to enjoy a brief moment of rest before my superior dropped down to my side. Unlike me, though, she kept her blade at the ready and exposed nothing. I had a feeling she wanted to speak to me about something. But for the moment, both of us seemed to be content with staring at our new home for the upcoming days, maybe even weeks.

As its name suggested, it was a long line of guns that stretched for several thoumans. It wasn't a single line either, it was a multi-storied fortress bristling with guns. I couldn't tell what kind, granted. But one emplacement did stand out.

A grand single-barreled weapon that stretched out high into the sky from its dome-like housing. An appropriately named weapon; mountain cracker. And, I was glad to have such a weapon here. Because if my own strength proved insufficient, this mighty weapon would cleanse all life before it.

One tremendous, earthquake causing shake at a time...

"I cannot see us getting our guns into position. So, I want you to help the men into the fort. Wounded first."

"Of course." I answered after a brief delay as I registered what had been spoken.

"And make sure you get rest what you can, Sister Vapooliar. We will have our hands full aiding the fort and spreading out looking for others."

"Is that a good idea? You know what is following us."

"All the more reason to ensure we get as many bodies as possible. We are stronger as one line, Sister."

"Yes." I nodded in agreement before I glanced back the way we came.

"Get to it, then, I will look around for beacons to light." she ordered just before she departed for the nearby mountain peaks at the rim of the vast plain. Then, as she had requested, I moved forward to commence with getting everyone to the fort. But, at first, I was slightly unsure of how to go about it.

My priorities were obvious, the guns and the wounded. We couldn't leave such a potent aid behind in the grass for the enemy. I had to get them at least to the bottom of the fort. But, of course, the men were my priority.

So I hovered about the vast force of stragglers before I came to a conclusion on how to go about this. It might seem strange, but perhaps emptying some of the wagons and carts would help? I understood the men were tired but the quicker we got the wounded in the better. Besides, it was clear many were wounded light enough to at least mount a gun and cover us once they were in.

"Start unloading the wagons and carts as much as you can. Make room for the wounded and I will take them up to the fort!" I order the men as I got started doing just that. Handing smaller items to those who could walk on their own and sending them off. Guiding up those who were in most need of rest.

"Secure as we can be..." one soldier answers wearily as he rattles the worn-down tail gate.

"Hold on, then. And you lot, make sure another wagon or cart is ready to go when I get back!" I say just as I begin the process of flying into the sky. Carefully, I balanced the wooden wagon and I slowly made my way through the air. And with a sigh of relief, I dropped it down onto the roof of the fort before I shot down to the others.

Repeating the process again and again until I was finished with the final one. Yet, as I let the last one down, I turned around and caught sight of a congestion. The men were just gathering at the main gate for some reason. So I went down to investigate.

"What's the problem?" I asked as I looked over to the tightly sealed fortifications.

"When they abandoned the fort, they locked it up tight." one man bitterly remarked before he smashed his weapon against the heavy metal door.

"Easily solvable." I remark as I fly over the defences and go into the gatehouse. Frowning initially before I figured it out and heard the satisfying clank and thud of moving metal. And, as if I had opened it myself, the hearts of the men let out their delight. Cheers and even tears could be heard as the rush of boots and armour filled the path up.

Thankfully, I did not have to open any further gates as the field doctors made a point of opening up the fort from the inside. Yet even with all the men that just came rushing in. Many were still out there in the open pulling the guns. Many were even starting to collapse from exhaustion.

So I dashed down to them and eased them away from the guns, "No, you lot head on to the fort, I'll handle this."

"We both will." Wing-Head Allyoceer added in the nick of time as she came back from having done her task. With the edges of the valley not lit up with grand pyres. Along with a system of bells that filled the land and sky equally.

"Well, at least the heretics know which way to go..." I joked awkwardly as I watched her join me in the labour.

"They know only how to march forward. But our allies know the sound of those bells. They will rally to us on their own or with our help." she explains as she casually picks up two smaller guns by their barrels. Meanwhile, I insisted on dragging the column which a work animal had been detached from.

"Is there a chance more of our sister Valkinvar will come?" I asked her as I made deceptively easy work of moving the guns forward.

"There is, if we can reach them or if they can reach us in time, however... Is a different story."

"You can count on me to guide them!"

"Yes, I intend to make a habit of that, Sister Vapooliar. Your insistence on getting all out will net us many a soldier."

"Just doing my part..." I mutter, slightly bashful at the perceived compliment.

"And we all will need to do more than that if we hope to last out here." she tells me before she goes over to drop her guns within the fort. I, however, left mine at the base of the mountain, within the confines of the lower defences.

"Odd, they made it through these walls..." I remark as I went to the gate of the much lesser fortifications at the mountain's base. But I soon discovered that they must've been left open by the last set of occupants. Were they offering shelter to some extent when they did so?

I suppose it didn't matter, but it was strange.

"We still have a lot of work to do, so come on!" my superior insisted before I chased after her until we made it to the guns again. And as we finished with our back and forth runs, I made a habit of picking up the one odd soldier who seemed have been left behind.

"What were you doing out there?" I asked them in a chastising manner.

"Forgive this old soldier... My body ain't like what it once was." he replied as he slowly moved ahead.

"You should've joined one of the wagons holding the wounded, then." I tell him as he stops and shows off his bearded face.

"Either way, it's good to have you back, Valkinvar."

"Tha-" I started to say before I grew suspicious of the man. Calling my sword to my grip and giving him only mere moments once I caught it in my grip.

"Battcomm Rohlant, Valkinvar. We were..." he tried to explain before he grasped the importance of silence on the subject.

"Oh, so you and the other two did make it back?" I recall as I suddenly remember leaving behind three ironcoats before I left for Suhurlodst. Or, rather, they expressed regret about their initial decision. And they wanted to join the war again.

"We did, though, I don't know what has become of either since then." he answers as he looks towards the inner entrances to the fort.

"You best get inside. I am sure the men will need your expertise, Battcomm." I tell him with a slight gesture. Yet, he stayed there, standing before me with a slight smile.

"We will not have a single night of good rest once I get myself within those walls!" he proudly declared before he almost seemed to fall in love with the mountain cracker.

"Ensure it is more so the heretics getting that." I joke back to him as I rejoin my superior. Landing next to her as she stared out across the vast expanse. It helped put into perspective how vast the area was. And made it a little surprising that we were done within the day.

But, I suppose that was Valkinvar for you.

"It will take us time to fill out our defences." she commented as she looked down towards the lower battlements. A drop that would surely splatter a normal man if he were to attempt a quick way down.

"Is it worth leaving the lower battlements insecure?" I ask her.

"We don't have much choice at the moment. The plan for such fortifications was to be fully in use in the event of an enemy breakthrough. But its garrison had been pulled out once the machines made it apparent it was little more than a tomb."

"If we stall the oncoming army, we may experience such a tomb."

"Then they'll dig it for us."

"I'd rather hope we can gather enough Valkinvar to fill out our ranks."

"An agreeable stance. I have lost my former wing, but I see no issue in remaking it with those of similar circumstances."

"You'd have to hold out hope for some wing-tips then, no?"

"Yes, but, for the moment, unofficial as it may be, I want you to fill in such a position." she tells me before I moved back at her words. It was quite a shocking thing to hear given my history.

"I don't deserve such an honour..." I try to tell her as she snapped off a piece of her helm. The small piece of artistic metal soon arrived into my grasp at her insistence. With one of her hands taking a firm hold of my shoulder.

"Sister Vapooliar, regardless of the circumstances that have led you here. You have more than proven yourself as a fighter and your mind is in the right place. Though we are soldiers of a greater army. The fact you made a point of ensuring I made it here is more than enough to convince me that you deserve the honour."

"But... I'm just a..."

"No, you are my First Wing-Tip. My second-in-command." she corrected as she smacked my shoulder and put some distance between us.

"Then... Then I will make sure we have a full wing!" I tell her with a firm nod.

"Yes, but not for the rest of this day. I want you to go inside and get some rest. And see if there's anything we can do to set up ourselves a residence."

"The officer's tower should be adequate, no?"

"Then go make sure it is." she tells me as she stops me from bringing my sword with me. And with a quick nod of her head, she reaffirmed what she had just said. And I went into the fort's interior. Making sure to memorise what I could as I stepped aside for men and other things on the move.

Though, the rabid searching some were displaying did make me think twice about our situation. When this place was abandoned, had supplies been left? Or was it all taken? Did we have to make a point of raiding the enemy from here on out just to make use of our own fortifications?

I suppose our recent efforts proved it was a viable tactic. The men could be safely secured behind these walls while we shipped in fresh supplies. Perhaps our various animals could even be reworked into a means to hunt? It wasn't the best of ideas to slaughter them for meat if we had to leave later on.

But, I suppose, if we were to fight our way out of this fort, we'd have bigger problems than no work animals. Something would've gone very wrong if we had to pull out of here. Though that was my job now more than ever at the moment. As the freshly made Wing-Tip Vapooliar.

I was uneasy about the appointment, to be honest. But I did not make a point of vocally ruminating on it. I kept it to myself and left it there. Even if my mind was torn two ways at the moment.

One part of me was happy to have finally received the recognition I craved so long ago. But the other half knew I did not deserve it at all. I failed my army before and had abandoned my country for several years... Every moment of time I wasted costed my homeland lives beyond measure.

Even now, with this chance to make up for it, I would still not match the debt I had accrued. Every life lost had to be paid back tenfold in two ways. By heretics slaughtered or brave, true believers saved. There was a lot that had to be done.

But, as Wing-Head Allyoceer had just told me, that was not my concern right now. So, Instead, I took the moment to enjoy the quiet that filled the officer's tower. And I dropped into a fine sofa covered in soft cushions and leaned back into it. Sighing before I quickly got up to light the gaunt fireplace at the centre base of the tower.

Yet, upon seeing the steps that lead up to the higher floors. I made a point of ascending up them until I could hear even the howling wind clearly. But, as I made it to the top and walked out onto the observation platform. I saw the enemy marching on us from the other side of the plains, just into the valley we had left.

"Let the siege begin." I remarked as I watched the invading army march closer.