While Claywood chokes on the blood permeating his lungs, the flow he anchored to his armor grows weaker which is a sign he is trying to fight this. I try to attack his link to the energy but he's recalled most of it and hasn't made a construct so it's near impossible for me to succeed.
As I consider punching the blind disabled Lord in his broken nose or breaking his legs, he starts coughing dark red blood. At first I think he's succeeded but then a tiny chunk of flesh escapes his lips and I realize what happened.
The man attempted to use unstructured energy to force the liquid out and, as a result, tore his own lungs apart from the inside. Being in as much pain as he is in, it's no surprise his intent was muddled and thus acted too rashly from panic.
A fitting final act for this foolishly confident Noble. I start stealing his energy as he suffocates. Cheers erupt to accompany the hated general as he chokes on his own blood for a minute and finally dies.
I manage to recover ten portions in total, putting my reserve at twenty. I take stock of the battle to find it won, likely from the moment I began dismantling their revered general.
Mirus' soldiers are on the run, scattering to the northern and eastern winds while the rebels pursue them. As I recover my broadsword, I glimpse to the south and west to find several small units engaged in skirmishes.
My minions turned to engage twenty pursuers are on the verge of routing them, which has forced Mirus' southern force to slow down to ensure they aren't attacked from behind. To the east, the rebels who have been rushing to rejoin us have been caught by the soldiers pursuing them.
Yells are being exchanged from across the battlefield, over disemboweled bodies from the fighting and skulls crushed underfoot by fleeing soldiers. So much noise, so much red.
I walk to the back-line to find the two officers sending out messengers to the various dispersed squads to regroup them, their expressions still bearing traces of disbelief at our victory.
“It'll take a few minutes but we'll be able to gather the army back together.” The woman tells me with a respectful salute.
“Make sure, to dedicate a unit to, secure their supplies.” I tell them, out of breath.
“Of course, should we recall every unit to take a short rest?” The man asks with a respectful tone.
“No, tell them to break off combat, but keep them dispersed.” I deny. “It's important, that Mirus doesn't regroup. Tell our western troops, to help our detachment, isolate their southern reinforcements ”
“Right away.” The man nods and heads off to the west, likely to personally take command.
I should probably have asked their names, but then again I don't trust them. I try to block out the noise, raging calls from those hunting the fleeing soldiers and relieved cheers from the injured, but it only serves to bring my attention to this dissonant cacophony.
The absurdity should end now that Claywood is dead and I've destroyed the greater half of their army. I cruise towards the southern force while dragging my broadsword behind myself. It doesn't take long for a few dozen rebels to join by my side.
I slowly stomp towards Siegfried and his Templar escort who I can see at the forefront of their troops. Their helmets make it impossible to read their expressions but, to me, it is evident they are tense.
I keep going, determined to end this over their dead bodies if necessary because I took responsibility and too many gave their lives for my misgivings to come into play at this stage. I shape a sundering construct, it may not be enough but I'm very aware I won't survive an extended exchange.
I can already feel my heart palpitating behind my ribs, struggling when I am merely walking to catch up with my continuous expense of energy. As I trek downhill, the skirmish uphill between my minions and the soldier detachment ends in their victory.
A troop of Nobles on horseback suddenly comes out of the ruins in between our reinforcements and Mirus' southern force made up of about two hundred soldiers. These were the officers that accompanied Claywood.
They could be trouble for the unit of about a hundred I'm leading, likely more but too far or dispersed to truly count, because of their combined access. Yet, there no other choice for me but to fight this out until the rebels emerge victorious.
We need to fight now, it may be arrogant but they cannot win without me and I won't be in a state to fight for at least a week once I stop, not to mention it is doubtful the rebels will be in a state to either with today's horrendous losses.
The entire battlefield is converging towards me, every reinforcing force as well as detachment from either side is headed here to witness a confrontation between Jessica Freepath and Exemplar Siegfried.
There is dark humor in the fact that neither of us belongs to the forces we have respectively taken the lead of, or were even involved at the beginning of this conflict yet are those who will decide the fate of all present.
In truth he's already lost by being inactive after choosing his side, he no longer has the forces to etch out a victory and, at best, can now only force a draw. I shake my head and try to focus, to keep my mind in the game despite the constant noise.
Siegfried removes his helmet and sticks it under his arm, he steps out to meet me a dozen meters away from their lines. I decide to stop rather than order my troops to hold and go on my own to wait for my minions as well as give enough time for our archers to catch up since it's one advantage we have they no longer hold.
“Jessica Freepath, shan't you at least meet me before choosing to spill more blood?” Siegfried calls out, his voice carries across the valley and echoes back.
I scowl at how he's ascribing intentions to me when I haven't yet decided whether it is necessary to launch a final assault to claim final victory. I cannot even deny because there is every chance his construct is affecting both of us and I do not want to ramp down the tension yet.
As Siegfried and I stand face to face, my minions rush over with worried expressions and way too many injuries. Uhla is applying pressure on Flo's stomach which is covered by a bandage and soaked with blood. I glimpse to the Exemplar who makes a short nod.
“Send her back, she'll fall at the first clash of swords.” I berate my minions.
“Will there be one?” Nahl questions with tightening eyebrows. “We've won.”
“Not yet, we haven't.” I deny shortly because the surrounding noise is giving me a headache.
“The rebels are at the end of their stamina after the uphill charge and battle.” Rowland notes, still bleeding from several slashes on his left flank and one to his right elbow.
“You need to find yourself a shield you can strap to your forearm.” I tell him so that I don't forget later.
“Jess, maybe we can call a truce?” Idali asks with tired and harrowing traits.
I close my eyes to hold back my temper but it gets me dizzy so I quickly reverse that terrible call and turn to Siegfried, putting an end to the conversation since they've lost their dedication to help these people.
“Are you sure you aren't acting out of arrogance?” Uhla throws at my back. “The battle has gone as well as it could, let this end and take care of the injured.”
I flick my broadsword up and let it fall down on my right shoulder as an answer as I cruise towards Siegfried, halfway to escape the pointless exchange that borders on insulting in the last's case.
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“Exemplar Siegfried.” I salute, noting that the ranking Noble officers are slowly making up their lines to us.
“Jessica Freepath.” He returns. “I pay you my respects, caring for these people that their leaders let down at the risk of yours isn't a task many would undertake.”
“Is that a threat?” I ask as I narrow my eyes, causing a slight red glow to appear at the edges of my field of vision on top of the noise. How do they handle this maddening dissonance of sounds.
“No.” He replies, shaking his head. His wrinkles grow more numerous as he lays his eyes back on me. “None on Mirus' side wishes for this fight to continue.”
“You mean your side? You've chosen to stand with them, Exemplar.” I counter with a flat tone. “And you've yet to hear from the opinions of these cowards who fled as I tore their general apart.”
“Another reason they will fall in line, Miss Freepath.” He responds, using politeness as a way to needle me.
“Have them release the prisoners, Thomas, Elisa, and any other previously captured.” I tell him. “And I'll consider it.”
“These people you wish to have released are murderers, they have killed innocents. Our great Emperor would not have declared them enemies of our Empire otherwise.” Siegfried explains.
A fight it is, good, with my victory and your opposition the people here will lose confidence enough in the Order to defy it and join Edusa eventual revolt once in Hetlan.
I bring back my left leg and slide my right foot forward to fall into a low charging stance. The sick feeling in my stomach convinces me to end this as fast as possible to reduce casualties.
“I'm aware they've killed, Exemplar. If justice is to be served then so may it be equal in breadth or not delivered at all.” I coldly tell him.
“I hear your argument.” Siegfried replies with tightening eyebrows.
“I've given you my conditions, Exemplar. I've no ambition to lead these people and there is a risk the loss of their leaders will weaken their rebellion to the point of making it irrelevant, turning this battle into a defeat.” I vastly exaggerate the issue.
“So you are resolved to continue this battle.” Siegfried says with a disappointed tone.
“Jess.” Idali seethes with a tense voice. No doubt the other minions are glaring at me for using an argument I've disproved in their company.
“Enough of your complaints. Do none of you know me?” I bark as I flip to them. “You're responsible for your own choices, if you can't decide on your own whether or not you agree with me then you can fuck right off or raise your weapons and fight me for what you believe!”
“We're behind you.” Nahl replies. “But, please, put an end to this.”
I shake my head to get rid of the damn ringing, clamoring, clinking, wet cracks and slices, but it doesn't work. I turn back to the Exemplar whose gaze is fixated on me with an air of understanding that further aggravates me.
I notice that the ranking Nobles of this army are approaching and almost throw myself at them to end this all, to have peace, but Liz' lazy snoring undermines my impulse because I can't help but feel a burst of tenderness for my dear sister.
“Jessica Freepath, this battle has reached an impasse.” The previously aggressive lieutenant speaks up with a straight back that pushes forth her large breasts. I make a soundless cackle.
“Only for one of us, girl.” I return.
I can almost feel the reluctance and disagreement of my minions at my aggressive approach. Surprisingly, the Exemplar's nascent scowl isn't directed at me as he turns to the Nobles and holds his palm out to take over.
“Mirus has lost right to Arbitration when it decided in the person of the late General Claywood to abandon reasonable negotiation.” He berates them. “You will either let me deal with Jessica Freepath and abide by the decisions I make in the name of the Templar Order or you will deal with her yourself without my help.” He utters with a serious and threatening tone I've never heard him use.
Of the dozen Nobles present, half swallow their saliva while the other half clasp their knees on their mount's flanks. Their body language makes it clear how terrified they are at the idea of fighting me without the Exemplar to hide behind.
I barely notice that I've begun to raise my broadsword off my shoulder and further lowered my stance as a prelude to throwing myself into slaughter, killing a few should help deal with the damn discord resounding in my head.
“You wanted this fight. You shall end it.” I proclaim.
Siegfried shifts back to me, he pauses at the sight and swiftly turns to the Nobles while moving his raised palm to the Templar who I only now notice has drawn his weapon at some point during our conversation.
“Back off, all of you, return to our lines.” The old Exemplar orders with a harsh authoritative voice, another new tone.
“Let them stay, may they bend the knee, and acknowledge defeat, or fight for victory!” I bellow with a mad laugh that disrupts Liz' slumber.
“Go, now! Full retreat!” Siegfried erupts with a thundering voice that echoes across the battlefield to fill the valley.
“This noise.” Liz and I utter with a painful wince.
“What noise?” The old temple guard carefully questions but I see through the ruse, the Nobles and army are leaving so this as his previous call are meant to confuse me to buy time. “Jessica Freepath.” The old temple guard calls to me but, at the same time, he is carefully raising his helmet up to his head with one hand while the other grasps at his sword.
I launch at him and slash out with my sundering construct. He takes a half-step back and parries with a quick slap of his weapon on the flat of my blade that stings my pride far more than my hand.
I take a step and thrust up to catch the underside of his chin, aiming to directly impale him through the brain if possible. Siegfried leaps back and slaps his helmet on in a fluid movement that even causes his visor to slap down.
I keep the pressure on with a lion's leap and take advantage of my raised arm to launch a powerful overhead lion's slash at his shoulder. The tip of my broadsword catches the edge of a plate that flashes golden. My blade drags on the steel while my sundering construct fights his defensive one.
Unfortunately, the contact is so brief that his construct doesn't break and I merely leave a small gash in the pauldron. Siegfried seemingly takes me more seriously from then, not that he didn't before, and uses a series of zigzagging lion's steps to retreat.
“There will be no consequences were I to fall to you or you to fall to I, Jessica Freepath, this duel is an extension of the Lake's will towards this conflict.” The Exemplar sends out this rapid string of words as he continuously evades me. I don't try too hard to catch up because, while I may be extremely weak right now, he has not the stamina to run me down like this. “Let the sin be born by us alone for failing our Emperor in maintaining humanity's unity in this day.”
“Disgusting.” I spit out as a reaction from his declaration reminding me of Vikiana. Ironic, hilariously so, considering I disliked the woman. “Even the Order treats justice as a service they provide, no different from a dishwasher, rather than a duty you're bound by necessity to grant all living beings.”
“It is necessity that has driven us to this state, Jessica Freepath.” Siegfried says with a raspy voice. “Are you not demanding the return of murderers? Is partial justice not preferable to none at all?”
“I may have avenged injustices, and prevented them, but never have I held, the aloft ambition, of being its representative.” I counter.
As he shifts for another lion's step in another direction, I decide to stomp down and turn to the fleeing soldiers to entangle them in the fight so as to force a battle the rebels can seize.
“There are always consequences, Siegfried.” I tell him as I lean down I charge.
I watch the Exemplar swiftly rush over to stop me despite knowing he won't make it in time, causing me to notice my minions are gone. This, and the absence of a multitude of sounds that should've layered over the noise filling my brain, convinces me to throw a quick look behind myself.
They're currently stopping a disorganized mob of rebels who began charging. I barely distinguish the word 'duel' from their speech but it makes me realize that the Exemplar's words were directed as much to me as they were to my treacherous minions and the Templar who is urging the Nobles to leave.
I straighten back up which causes Siegfried to pause before taking the last lion's step that would allow him to strike at me. I snort because I was ready to smash my broadsword in his breastplate if he tried.
“You've tricked me twice today, shame on me as goes the expression.” I spit out.
“You've calmed down.” He replies with a note of surprise.
“I've let my emotions ruin my plan, giving you a strategical opening. I shan't let it happen again or will fail in crushing you, Exemplar.” I darkly respond.
The old man makes a short nod that appears sad and raises his sword in a defensive stance with his open left palm protected by a gauntlet held forth as if signaling me to keep my distance.
“How great of a sword-master are you? I've wondered.” I question.
“I used to be among the very best in my youth.” The old man answers simply without a hint of pride.
“Since you've denied me victory on the field, your defeat will have to suffice.” I somberly comment as I quietly catch my breath to prepare for the coming duel.