2.6

When the canary sings

It all happened so fast, Hiro didn’t even have time to compose himself. The masked people arrived out of nowhere, so they made their escape. During the attempt, Malcolm tipped his hat at him and disappeared off somewhere.

“Herald, are you alright?”

“Uh, I’m fine” Not really, he forgot the shield that the knight gave him at the tavern. But still, it was not like he would be useful with that anyway “That was pretty impressive, Willow, that fire power of yours”

“Thanks” Said Willow, who didn’t look as giddy as he had thought “That was just nothing more than an illusion”

“So there wasn’t any fire?”

“No, what I mean is that it was just an illusion of power. The sparks, the flame I created were powerful but short-lived. After leaving my body, the fire would just wither away”

“Then what about when you set your sword on fire”

During their first meeting, when she attacked Suiren.

“My sword is created to be an extension of my body, literally. Within this steel blade is my flesh, my veins, my blood running through” She held up the cold and gleaming sword, caressing it slightly with a sombre tone “But even then, that flame isn’t particularly strong either. I guess the arcane isn’t my strong suit”

While the girl seemed sad with a hint of frustration, Hiro couldn’t easily get over the ‘sword made of flesh’ thing. But still, they had more important thing to worry about.

“I wonder how long will it take for them to find us here”

“I don’t know. But no matter what, I will protect you, Herald!”

And Hiro knew that she would, which is worrying. Willow was definitely more proficient than the young man when it came to the art of combat. But it didn’t feel right to have girl, who seemed to be his junior, to protect him like that.

Hiro: {If I can’t use brawl, I will just use my brain!}

Momo-chan: [Well, maybe your experiences can think of something. I can’t see a way for us to be useful]

Hiro: {Now that’s sound rather defeating, you gave up easier than I thought}

Momo-chan: [I haven’t given up yet! But still, I can’t even think of a lead much less a plan]

Momo-chan also didn’t like to sit around like this but nothing came to his mind. Hiro, meanwhile, scanned the room and something caught his eyes. It was a heater, the young man didn’t even know what’s important about it but he had a hunch.

Hiro walked over to open the thing up.

“Hera… Hiro, what are you doing?”

“Just looking around. Hmmm, so this thing use coal?”

“Yes, in bigger area we normally use arcane heaters but in smaller settlements like this, coal is used instead. This area would even use fish oil sometimes”

Just hearing about that triggered Hiro’s memory of the dreadful smelling lamp. Back to the topic, he looked at the trace of coal left behind. A plan started to form in his mind.

“Maybe there is something we could try”

“What is it, Hiro?”

“I will tell you but I need all the coal in this house”

Everyone spread out nearly instantly and looked around. Soon enough, Hiro found a big basket full of the thing, but they may not be enough. And in this situation, he didn’t like to settle with a ‘may’.

“We will, need more”

“Then I will go to the neighbouring houses to find some”

Willow hopped to the window without any hesitation, Hiro only had enough time to tell her to stop for a bit.

“What is it, Herald?”

“Just… be careful out there”

The girl smiled at him “Don’t worry, I will be find”

And with just that, Willow was gone. Looking at her like that made him feels so uneasy. The young man ordered Suiren to go with her, getting three or four baskets would be enough. The woman of course went straight away.

Now, there was still some preparation to be done here. Hiro looked around and luckily, he was able to found the wooden windows covering similar to Owain’s place. There were even hooks on top of the windows to attach them to. The young man took all the coverings and do just that. Hm, for his plan to work, maybe a string would do well.

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Hiro went around doing his works as quickly as possible. But still, his mind was occupied by Willow. That girl, she didn’t even question why they need all the coal for. Maybe she already knew that but he highly doubted it.

It was true, he was a Herald but something was different. Willow didn’t express the same level of zeal when talking about the knight. Or when confronting that Malcolm for that matter, she was downright annoyed by his sarcastic tone.

Her seemingly unconditional dedication bothered him.

He would ask her later if they get through this. For now, Hiro continued with his preparation in quiet. If there was no reason, he would work for one, he would earn it with his own effort with the sweat on his brows.

Just as he finished with on his side, Willow and Suiren returned.

“We’re back, got five boxes in total”

“That’s quick” Hiro inspected the goods, all is in order. In retrospect, four was too much and five was rather overkill. That was fine though. Hiro turned to Willow “You have done well”

“Thank you, Herald”

Willow was happy with the compliment, on that front, she was like a child. For some reason, she reminded Hiro of his sister, when she was younger of course. That girl would always seek any sort of appreciation from their mother. The simplest of praise would make her happy for a whole day.

Well, a praise from mother, never from her own brother. They never talked much back then and now even less. Seeing Willow now like this, Hiro could feel some sort of satisfaction.

Anyway, there was also someone here whom he didn’t want to ignore either.

“You too, Suiren, good job”

The compliment wasn’t met by any sort of response. Hiro was a bit down about that but now was not the time. He relayed the rest of the plan to them and the final stage of preparation.

That didn’t take very long at all. Now all they had to do is a bait.

___

The Legionnaire and his aides walked down the empty street, searching for their targets. It wasn’t an easy task though, they could be anywhere. Splitting up was also useless since the aides couldn’t communicate. Even orders ‘like knocking on your shield if you spot someone’ didn’t work.

All these aides could do is fight. Their brainwashing was too thorough.

He could have chosen a better time to confront them. Maybe even get the drop on his targets but the man decided not to.

The Archon would soon arrive.

The Legionnaire was ordered to wait for that. Normally he would comply. But ever since the malfunction he felt like burning. He wanted to hunt them down personally.

Why though? He didn’t remember himself to be someone that aggressive. Yes, he was a calm, composed centurion, a great fighter but also a brilliant tactician. But now, ever since more faucets of his emotions returned, the man wanted to face them.

And that became true sooner than he had expected.

Exiting the alley in front of the Legionnaire was Hiro himself, who immediately retreated into a nearby building.

That was… easy. Too easy.

A seasoned warrior, the Legionnaire could easily smell a trap. He had always been a careful man, his mind filled with speculations and counter plans. The strategist in him was finally put to work after so long being dulled by the brainwashing.

Well, only for a short while then being completely ignored.

The Legionnaire found himself continued to walk forward. His blood boiling.

What were they planning? What was their master’s plan? What could they even do? It didn’t matter what they throw at him.

The Legionnaire welcomed their futile attempt.

He walked into the building alongside #2, all the windows were boarded up from the inside. At least he still managed to retain enough sense to have one of his aide waited outside.

The door instantly closed, Suiren was waiting outside on the roof for that. She was faced with #1 but this wouldn’t take long. The opposite windows immediately opened and black dust was thrown inside, filling the air. All of that happened in just a blink of an eye. The windows were closed instantly but not before Willow let out a spark from her finger.

The place was engulfed in flame and the ensuring explosion shook the quiet town.

___

The concept was simple, coal dust is extremely volatile and prone to explosion. Although how Hiro knew of this he didn’t even remember. That didn’t really matter though.

The young man peered out the window of the building he dodged in to see a right and proper ruin. Pieces of wood were still falling from the sky ominously. And among the wreckage, he could see movement.

The pile of rubble busted open as an intimidating figure emerged. It’s the Legionnaire, seemingly unscathed. From the wreckage, he pulled out his shield to reveal the other Suiren, also uninjured.

“How!”

Willow expressed her surprise, understandable, she didn’t really see what truly transpired.

Hiro could catch glimpse of it as he poured the coal dust within. The moment the Legionnaire spotted the black substance he immediately dropped to the floor, his shield putted on his subordinate. Since the explosion headed upward, they could avoid most of the impact. All of that took less than a few seconds.

What a frightening reflex, Hiro couldn’t help but be impressed.

But the situation had taken a turn for the worse, that was his master plan and it failed miserably. Hiro could see the man in red outside the building, asides from the trauma of the explosion, he was also unharmed.

Suiren joins his side soon and Hiro’s heart sank as he looks at her. As she was blocking the door, the tremor hit her hard.

Now, the woman was in tatter, there were blood dripping out her ears and a piece of wood was digging into her left arm. To make matter worse, he didn’t think about that at all. In the heat of the moment, Hiro spent no time fine tuning his haphazard plan at all.

“Hiro, please stay behind me” Said Willow.

At this point, confrontation seemed inevitable. The girl drew the longsword which was instantly engulfed in flame. As a servant of the Divines, she would slay these heretics, these Fallens.

Even Suiren, in her condition, readied her naginata for what was to come all by herself. Without order, she would undoubtedly fight till the very bitter end.

The Legionnaire looked at his target, he felt somewhat amused. That trap, while sloppy was an interesting idea. He didn’t even know what that dust was, but his instinct told him to avoid it anyway. The man felt more pleased about it than he had expected.

Tch, since when was he so easily pleased with himself. He couldn’t understand.

Nevertheless, the plan failed and it seemed like his targets were readying for combat. Oh it would be a slaughter alright. But what was the fun in that. The Legionnaire had a vision of home? He saw a coliseum, an arena where people would fight as entertainment.

Such a frivolous activity but the maybe the timing of this vision held some sort of meaning. Maybe he would humour it then.

Hiro saw the Legionnaire stood up straight and… slammed his shield into the floor, enough to hold it into the ground. Such strength! Afterward, the man sheathed his gladius and looked on.

His aides looked at their captain then turned to their targets and charged.

Willow let out a war cry and along with Suiren, clashed with their attackers.

Hiro and the Legionnaire still stood there but the implication was different. For the captain, he was simply watching a show, how this would unfold. He was simply giving them a fighting chance.

For the young man, however, it was a sign of shame. He could do nothing asides from hiding behind a girl his junior and a brainwashed woman.