I was cold, my butt was sore from sitting for too long and most importantly, I was bored.

I heard movement coming from within the cabin and it sounded like Yna had teleported back and forth from the heart.

Maybe she had bathed-

“Switch places. Serylea is probably finished cooking.” Yna said as she stood up.

I nodded before allowing myself to sink and for Katsíki to surface.

.

..

Like emerging from an endless sea of darkness.

That’s how it felt.

It was like suddenly waking up from a strange, hazy dream and emerging onto the plane of painfully clear consciousness.

I walked into cabin and got dressed before accompanying Yna to Shiru’s cabin and for some reason, the orbs of light on the roof seemed a little dimmer.

I had ordered that Serylea and Farin be brought back, but only Serylea was present.

She quietly ate while sitting next to Han and the others.

We joined them in silent feast as the minutes crawled by.

I then offered Yna my hand before offering Shiru the other.

Everyone then linked hands as we sat in silence.

I knew everyone was busy or stressed and I knew that this was far from over but I was beyond thankful that all of them were here to experience it all with me.

“Thank you.” I said with trembling lips.

I then looked into everyone’s eyes. Yna, Shiru, Erna, Serylea, Han, Dama, Fìora, Deag and Volta.

“Thank you so much for being here.” I said with a big smile on my face.

I had been making a serious face for so long that I had forgotten just how nice it was to smile while being around the ones I cared for.

Yna let go of my hand before gently hugging me.

Shiru then stood up and joined in the hug and it wasn’t long before we were all in one big hug.

Everyone eventually broke free from the hug before helping Shiru clean up.

“Whew! That was… something, huh?” Dama asked while trying his best not to cry.

“Hehe. It sure was, big guy. You know it’s alright to cry, right?” Volta asked while violently slapping his back.

“Shut up!” Dama yelped before running out of the house with teary eyes.

“Ha! Crybaby.” Deag said while puffing his chest.

“Oh yeah? I’m assuming your big strong self felt nothing at all during that?” Volta asked while walking towards her next target.

“Stay back!” Deag cried before joining Dama outside where he wept.

Everyone eventually stood just in front of Shiru’s house and I looked up into the starry sky while everyone else bantered.

“How’s work in Cohval, by the way?” Volta asked while holding Deag in a chokehold.

“It’s fine. Although I feel nothing but dread whenever a fully trained squad leaves because I know that they’re going to a warzone from which they may not return.” Fìora said with a pained face.

Volta unhanded Deag and offered Fìora her hands.

The two then touched foreheads.

“Hang in there, sis. OK?” Volta asked.

“Mmm.” Fìora sounded in agreement.

“What about you guys? Managing this place must be nightmarish.” Deag asked while rubbing his neck.

“Mmm? It’s not as bad as you think. The Kommáti are a really big help and so we should all send our thanks to lady Yna. Thanks to them, any trouble makers have to think twice before doing something because of the fear that they might be snatched up and taken to a dark place.” Han said with a grin.

“Wow…”

Yna’s students went on as such as we all enjoyed the cool of the night.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

Shiru walked up to Serylea and offered her a box that was wrapped beautifully.

“Some snacks for your trip.”

“Wow, thanks. You shouldn’t have.” Serylea said, but Shiru shook her head.

“I wanted you to have something sweet to snack on while you work.”

The two thanked each other and I eventually waved them all goodbye because I really needed a nap.

“Bye!”

They all said as Yna and I made our way back to the cabin where we promptly got undressed.

I then plopped onto her lap and we both quickly fell asleep.

.

..

I awoke with a gasp.

The joy I’d felt the night before made me forget just how anxious I was.

“Were you peeping in on the front lines again?” Yna asked without opening her eyes.

“Nope.” I said as I slid out of her embrace.

I promptly got dressed before glancing at Yna’s sword.

I wanted to be able to wield it, just like she did mine, but Kenos sucked at swordsmanship and I was weak as hell, so I sent out a bunch of darkness towards the blade while she awoke and I forced the blade into the dark realm, where it would always follow me.

Speaking of gear…

“I’m going to lower Coh.”

“Oh? The front has been awfully quite, so I guess I’ll join you before heading back.” Yna said before joining me as I made my way to lower Coh where I entered the research facility.

It was still pretty early and so not too many people were inside the building.

We made our way towards a certain bay where a certain set of armor stood in a rack.

It was a large, but elegantly designed suit of armor that looked very similar to the MSDA although there were a few key differences.

One of which was a large cape which had the crest of Coh proudly sitting on its back in grey.

It also didn’t have any leggings because we could never find a way to properly cover my legs.

Speaking of which, I looked down and saw that my once white fluffy fur, had turned black even though I’d found a way to safely expel darkness.

I sighed before walking up to the armor.

Kenos said he wanted us to wear it when the Helma appeared and so, for practical reasons, I sent it to the Dark realm as well.

I then led Yna out of building before leading her to upper Coh’s southern wall.

I looked out into Coh and smiled as I thought back to the time when it was all just… sand.

Dark, tarnished sand.

Yna ruffled my hair as we looked out into our home.

However, just as ease crept over my mind, an army of soldiers suddenly appeared to the south of Coh, but before I could even react to that, Ower appeared next to me.

“Sir, two Hawks have appeared over Eimval with an army of ten and two others are standing in front forest Niki with an army of fifty thousand!” He yelled.

I instantly released Yna’s sword and she instantly took us to the war room where Thneia, Umbris and Han awaited us.

“I’m assuming Nel, Anhai and Llana are already heading for Eimval?” I asked with a racing heart.

“Yes. They will directly engage with the Hawks while the Kommáti and Custodians defend the city.” Han said.

“Good. As for the Hawks here, Yna, Thneia and the Kommáti will take care of them. My guess is that they want a duel, so we’ll have to give them one. Oh- what of the Oasis?” I asked.

“No enemies have been sighted in the area.”

I nodded before facing Yna, who’s eyes burnt brightly.

“Are you ready?” I asked and Yna suddenly hugged me.

“As ready as ever. Please watch me as I fight.” She pleaded and I nodded.

She then disappeared alongside Thneia, leaving me with Han.

“Go! Make sure communication between everyone is clear and frequent. I want to be updated on everything.”

Han nodded and after taking a deep breath, I sunk into the world of darkness before following rushing towards Yna, who had quickly gotten changed into her dark armor.

She then teleported into the forest and while she made her way towards its northern edge.

I looked further ahead and saw that the thirty thousand men Ower spoke of had been teleported right behind our men in the frontlines and just in front of forest Niki.

If our men in the front turned around to deal with the enemy, they’d risk being attacked from behind by the remaining force to the north.

That left those in the south with very little to do other than force the enemy into having to deal with them.

I looked down and saw two Stormhawks standing in front of the Army of ten thousand and they patiently awaited Yna’s arrival.

I looked back into the forest and saw Yna standing next to Thneia.

I moved towards them as they silently exited the forest which was littered with about two hundred and fifty Rendaro.

This number seems miniscule, especially when compared to the staggering amounts our enemy had, but most of them were poor trained soldiers who wore nothing but thin clothes and wielded dull blades.

My men, the defenders of Coh were all highly trained and heavily armored soldiers who would not be trampled easily by the human invaders.

Yna and Thneia stopped about twenty meters from the Hawks as the sun soared high.

One of them removed his helmet revealing that it was Gess and he had a big smile on his face.

“Did I not say this would happen? Mmm? Did I not say that you and I would meet on the battlefield?” He asked.

“You did.” Yna said. Her face hidden behind her helmet, although everyone could see her glowing white eyes.

“Haha! My goodness, I’m quaking at the thought of facing you and the time has come. We will battle and you will die.” Gess said before wearing his helmet once more.

Yna simply raised her sword alongside Thneia, who was now clad in a dark version of her Draconic armor. She also wielded a large, dark sword.

A moment passed as the four godly warriors stood in the clearing and the tension was so high, that the army of thirty thousand men moved back out of fear.

Gess then raised his Lance above his head and the lance began glowing intensely as incredible amounts of light gathered around it.

The light swirled around the blade before forming a massive pillar that was about the length of a skyscraper.

He then swung his Lance down with both hands and the air displaced by the pillar of light as it fell travelled downwards, travelled with so much force it sent out waves that parted the clouds.

Yna teleported towards the pillar before distorting space so that the pillar turned upwards, but just as she did this, Gess jumped towards her while raising his spear.

She teleported back to the ground, but Gess simply fell after her all while gathering more light around his spear.

Yna did the same for her sword and just as Gess reached her, she struck his Lance with her sword and this interaction sent out a wave of force that tore apart the very ground atop which Yna stood.

Gess landed on a nearby chunk of ground that hadn’t crumbled before charging up his spear once more.

All this happened while the pillar of light fell in the direction of Coh, but Umbris and the Kommáti deflected the death beam towards the sky.

They were met with Golden and silver knights after the beam disappeared and they engaged in furious combat all while Thneia and the other Hawk fought in the distance in melee that tore apart the western part of the Kommátia planes.

Yna charged up her sword before teleporting behind Gess, but at a speed that tore apart the ground even further, he turned around and caught Yna by her neck.

“Goodbye, Yna. Twas well fought, albeit brief.”