“Rrrrrgh…” Yeva growled as she stood primed to attack, her tail standing on end as she stared down a group of Helstern soldiers. At her side was Halgor, grinning confidently as he brandished his axe.
In a quick move, one of the soldiers thrust his spear forwards, attempting to strike at the small girl, only for the attack to be blocked as Halgor’s axe suddenly slammed in its path. The large warrior wrenched his weapon from the ground, throwing a huge wave of dirt and dust towards the soldiers before him, disorienting them.
With a powerful pounce, Yeva threw herself through the dust, tackling a soldier before picking him up with her transformed arms and swinging him into two of his allies, the three left writhing on the ground. Halgor followed up, slamming his axe into the rest of the soldiers, sweeping them away like so many bugs.
Slinging his axe over his shoulder, he sighed. “Good grief, I let Zakh’tha go off to get Ventro, but maybe I should’ve gone instead. This isn’t fun at all! These Helsterners really don’t know how to have a real fight.”
Effortlessly, Azgaar produced a pillar of flames from the earth, directing it like a cannon of fire towards a group of soldiers, blasting them away with the force of the rushing flames. “Our goal is not to have fun here, we are to simply push them back.”
“Yeah, yeah…” Halgor muttered out, blocking an attack from a soldier cloaked in dark clothes, who had attempted to assail him with an attack from his daggers. Halgor effortlessly threw the smaller man off of him, sending him barreling into a crowd of soldiers. “Even their sneaky bunch can’t do much, can they?”
“I do have to wonder if the prince believed this to be enough to siege Faegarde.” Azgaar mused. “What could be pushing him to make such a desperate move towards Camelot?”
“Maybe something really important to him is there? Like, something he can’t go without?” Yeva chimed in curiously.
“Ah, could be, but I doubt we’ll ever know.”
“Suppose the only way to know is if Zakh’tha and the others beat it out of him.” Azgaar mused, conjuring a large array of icicles in the air around him.
“Hah! Let’s just hope that Minoru kid or his girl have some bite to them, then!” Halgor joked as the three returned to the battle.
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Winding through the scores of soldiers, Minoru, Ashe, and Zakh’tha rushed across the battlefield. Forces on both sides were beginning to thin out as some fell, and many others retreated to tend to their or others’ wounds. Even still, there were many groups still fighting, although it was clear that the battling was taking a lot out of everyone.
The group stopped to help tend to a few of their wounded, Ashe spreading a healing spell across a whole group of Morganian soldiers while Minoru and Zakh'tha staved off any attempts to strike at them while they were vulnerable.
From the distance, however, were the distinctive, heavy footsteps of horses approaching them. The two tried to look for the source, but a tingling sensation in the air drew their attention instead, as if the very atmosphere around them was crackling, sending shivers down Minoru’s spine.
Zakh’tha’s antennae seemed to move on their own, wriggling with alertness as he looked around, until he let out a quick breath, looking up, seeing a small mote of light in the sky.
“GET AWAY–!” He called out as he pushed Minoru away, Ashe quickly following his directions and producing a blast of force, pushing the wounded soldiers away en masse as she and Zakh’tha jumped away.
In the following instant, what appeared only as a lance of light pierced the ground. It felt as though time stood still for a moment, before a blast of blindingly bright energy burst forth from the point in which it struck. The sensation burned on Minoru’s skin from just being near the blast as he was pushed even further away from it by the force behind it. In just a moment, the light filled his vision and brightened up the whole clearing, and in the next the dark of the night had returned, and in the lance’s place was nothing more than a crater.
The footsteps of horses only grew louder as Minoru stood up. He could feel the ground rumbling with their weight, and as he stood he readied his shield.
In an instant, his head whipped to the side, seeing the blade of a black sword as it was swung right at him. Holding up his shield, he blocked the strike, recoiling back as he looked up at his attacker, a knight in black armor riding a similarly dark horse, the steed enshrouded in dark cloth.
Pushing the attack away, he attempted to retaliate, swinging his blade only for his sword to become engulfed in a cloud of black mist as it seemed to go right through the rider and their horse, before their figure disappeared entirely in a puff of smoke.
Looking around, Minoru tried to find where they had gone, looking behind him just in time to see the rider approaching rapidly, swiping at him with their sword once more. He held up his shield quickly, but was thrown back by the force of the strike as they ran past him.
“Give up, boy.” Their voice, that of a woman– Caetra– echoed out towards him.
Gritting his teeth, he whipped around attempting to produce a blast of magic towards the knight, firing the spell only to find that she had disappeared again.
“Keep your wits about you, Minoru.” Ashe stated firmly as she rushed to his side, watching his back, getting a grunt of affirmation from him.
Zakh’tha stood composed, his twinblade and chamkrah at the ready as his head turned, watching his surroundings intently. After a quiet moment, his antennae twitched, and his arm swung forcefully, throwing the bladed projectile. It curved, cutting through the air just as the black knight reappeared once more. Seemingly caught off guard, she attempted to weave her horse out of the projectile’s path, but was struck in the chest by the razor sharp blades, leaving a deep gash across her chest piece as it then returned to Zakh’tha, who was quickly following up on the attack.
Leaping into the air, he swung his twinblade downwards upon Caetra, who raised her blade against the attack, narrowly blocking the strike. Using their clash as leverage, Zakh’tha twisted his body in the air, flipping frontwards off of her sword, vaulting over Caetra and her dark steed. He twisted around in the air, slashing with his twinblade as he caught his chamkrah once more. Caetra twisted and blocked his strike with her sword as Zakh’tha channeled mana into the mistletoe once more, the grass below her steed writhing as he did so.
Realizing this, she enshrouded herself in smoke once more, disappearing from the scene, Zakh’tha dispelling his mana as she vanished.
As he stood up straight and turned his head, however, he was assailed by a line of light tracing its way through the air. He barely ducked away from its path as it cut through the air.
Looking towards the source, he brandished his twinblade, spinning it as another blast of light rocketed towards him. Deflecting it, he spun his weapon, weaving in and out between the following storm of shots of light, dodging and deflecting with unrivaled skill and dexterity.
Kicking off of the ground, Zakh’tha rushed forwards towards the source of the shots, which appeared to be approaching all the same. Zakh’tha’s nimble movements sent him almost sailing across the field, all while he slashed and deflected the shots of light with ease.
Channeling mana into his mistletoe, he conjured up a massive vine from the earth, one which he hopped upon as it began moving rapidly through the ground, the earth below splitting in its wake as it rapidly charged forth at his command. He spun his twinblade such that it nearly perfectly covered his whole figure behind itself, blocking every oncoming shot as it hurtled towards him.
Within moments, he was coming upon the source of the blasts of light, the vine he mounted undulating before it bucked in time with him kicking off of its thorny surface, sending him flying high into the sky.
His target– an individual on a white horse– in sight, Zakh’tha deflected the shots as they attempted to track his movements through the sky. Even as they assailed him much more rapidly as he approached, his defense was ineffable. Soon enough, he was upon them, and the individual swung at him in retaliation to his approach.
Manifesting in a cloud of smoke between Minoru and Ashe, the two were suddenly pushed forwards by the sudden materialization of Caetra between them. They both quickly turned, Minoru swinging his blade towards her as Ashe attempted to jab with both of her daggers.
Caetra quickly swung her blade, deflecting Minoru’s strike and pushing him back, before swinging her arm, covered in a gauntlet, towards Ashe, striking her daggers and deflecting her own attacks. Twisting her arm, she produced a concentrated blast of smoke in her hand, pointing it behind her and blasting Minoru away with it before swinging her blade towards Ashe once more.
Stepping back, Ashe dodged swiftly, aiming her arm to fire a loaded bolt towards the knight, who quickly moved her hand– grasping the bolt as it nearly struck her before tossing it aside. She rushed forwards, Ashe channeling her mana across her whole body in response.
In a cloud of dense mana, Ashe was obscured for a moment, before four exact copies of her rushed out, running with blinding speed in different directions.
Caetra attempted a slash at one of the Ashes as it closed in on her, only for her to weave around the attack, retaliating with a strike with the pommel of one of her daggers. The attack landed against Caetra’s helmet, causing her to recoil back as Ashe then twisted and wrapped her legs around her foe’s neck, leaning backwards to flip her over and slam her into the ground, the weight of her armor smashing into the earth below with great force.
Just as Ashe attempted another strike, however, she was suddenly impaled upon a blade as it was jabbed forth from a cloud of smoke. The Ashe seemed to fizzle before bursting into a puff of magic sparks, revealing herself to be a simple copy.
Caetra rose from the ground, just as another Ashe appeared and struck from behind, swinging her leg into the side of the knight’s head, causing her to recoil slightly. She, however, did not fold, and retaliated with another slash of her blade, cutting through Ashe, who then disappeared once more into sparks.
Just as that one disappeared, the last two suddenly appeared in a flash on either side of the knight, each attempting strikes of their own, one with her daggers and the other with her foot.
With a sudden roar, Caetra wrenched her sword through the air, ducking under the kicking Ashe as her blade tore through the other, which disappeared in sparks yet again. In an instant she reached back, grabbing onto Ashe’s arm and swinging her downwards into the ground with force.
Although the impact was great, Ashe barely managed to recover, kicking off of the earth below to right herself again. She stumbled slightly, and in that moment Caetra appeared before her once more in a cloud of smoke, preparing to cleave through her.
She was thrown back, however, by a sudden blast of crackling mana, loosed through the air and striking her in the side, which sent her to the ground. Before she could even look to the side to confirm that the attacker was Minoru, she was suddenly knocked back by Ashe rising from the ground with her knee, striking Caetra in the face with it. Her helmet was loosed from her head, clattering against the ground below as she recoiled, revealing her blonde hair.
Vaulting over her, Ashe landed behind the woman, attempting to stab with a dagger down towards her neck. In response, Caetra leaned back even further as her gray eyes burned with fury up towards Ashe. She swung her foot in response, kicking Ashe in the chest and knocking her back before standing up. She glared towards Minoru before she was enveloped and disappeared in a puff of smoke again.
Minoru blocked in anticipation as a cloud of smoke appeared before him, his shield clanging against Caetra’s blade. He pushed forwards, pushing her back with the force behind his barrier, before he attempted a retaliation with another blast of magic, aimed squarely at her chest. Hitting directly, Caetra was flung backwards with overwhelming force from the blast, sending her hurtling through the air.
She twisted in the air as she was sent flying, smoke trailing in the air behind her before she landed, sent skidding across the ground.
The purple, crackling mana abounding around him, Minoru swung his casting hand downwards as he called forth.
“Witch Bolt–!!”
In an instant, crackling, winding arcs of purple electricity sprung forth from Minoru’s hand, rushing through the air just as Caetra stood up. Two lines of the bright, glowing mana weaved right into her as she looked up, striking her squarely in the chest, causing her to recoil as she was surrounded in a bright light– shocked by the extreme magic electricity now linked to her.
The arcs of lightning remained connecting Minoru’s hand to Caetra. She attempted to warp, only for Minoru to lash his hand, causing her to be stunned by another burst of electricity coursing through her, causing the knight to roar in agony as her body spasmed uncontrollably.
Ashe attempted a followup, rushing towards the vulnerable Caetra, who heard her footsteps. Just as Ashe flung herself towards the knight, however, Caetra jumped backwards, Ashe now throwing herself into the path of Minoru’s lightning.
“Shit–!!” He cursed, dispelling his mana, the lightning dispersing almost immediately, and in the following instant Caetra was upon him again, warping right in front of him and grabbing him by the neck.
She lifted him up with a glare before slamming him face first into the ground, surrounding herself in smoke before rushing forwards, dragging him against the ground before wrenching her arm forwards, throwing him carelessly through the air as she enshrouded herself in smoke again.
As Ashe landed, she was met with a sudden blow from the warping Caetra, the knight’s gauntlet swung directly into her face, knocking her over from the strike.
Quickly rolling onto her front, Ashe looked up just in time as Caetra’s metal boot was about to be swung into her face. Ashe leaned back, dodging the kick as she leapt from the ground in a backflip, righting herself as they squared off once more.
Zakh’tha’s twinblade and Ventro’s sword clashed against one another as Zakh’tha brought his weight down upon the prince, who was standing upon his steed firmly. Zakh’tha pushed his weapon forwards, forcing the prince from his place atop the ivory horse.
The two tumbled through the air before landing upon the ground, Zakh’tha immediately throwing his chamkrah towards Ventro as the prince attempted to right himself after landing, approaching him rapidly.
Ventro jabbed his blade forwards, almost perfectly driving it through the large circular hole in the middle of the bladed projectile, catching it on his sword. With an eerily bright light, his sword shone as he spun the chamkrah around it, before whipping his blade forwards, sending the projectile hurtling right back towards Zakh’tha at an unprecedented speed.
Dodging to the side, Zakh’tha was just barely unable to catch the projectile as it sliced through the air past him, his head briefly twisting towards it as it flew past him. As he turned back to face Ventro, the prince was almost immediately upon him, swinging his blade down upon the warrior with force, the bright light pushing down on Zakh’tha as he blocked with his twinblade.
With a wave of the mistletoe, the ground writhed around the two as they clashed. Sensing this, Ventro produced a sudden burst of light from his blade, one which sent Zakh’tha skidding across the earth, a distance away from him.
Turning his sword upside down, Ventro drove it into the ground, enormous cracks glowing with light emerging from the earth all around himself and Zakh’tha. With a sudden burst of blinding energy, Zakh’tha was thrown into the air.
He righted himself just in time to see Ventro brandish his blade, kicking off the ground with extreme force towards him. Zakh’tha spun from the ensuing strike, even as he blocked it.
Upwards from the still-glowing ground, a pillar of earth quickly rose up into the air, from which Ventro landed and kicked off from, leaping back towards Zakh’tha to deliver a fierce axe kick directly into the warrior, sending him hurtling back down to the ground.
Zakh’tha slammed into the ground with immense force, the chitin of his carapace cracking once more from the impact. He attempted to cast another spell, conjuring vines to carry him away, only for blasts of light to rain down upon the vines from above incinerating them just as they rose.
Ventro fell with incredible speed, brandishing his blade as he aimed it straight for Zakh’tha, who desperately kicked from the ground, flipping backwards just as the earth was struck with Ventro’s blade, causing an eruption of light to burst forth as the earth split beneath him, an enormous cloud of dust obscuring his landing.
Just as Zakh’tha looked up towards Ventro’s landing point, however, an enormous flash of light shone from behind the cloud, and Zakh’tha’s antennae stood on end for just a moment. The cloud of dust split, revealing Ventro as he catapulted himself towards the warrior, wielding an enormous lance of light in his free hand, hurtling towards the warrior with incredible speeds.
Minoru, having landed from being thrown aside by Caetra, looked up just in time, seeing the prince rushing Zakh’tha down, bearing witness to the moment, just as–
KSHUNK!
Zakh’tha’s carapace was pierced, the lance stabbing right through his chest with shocking ease from the wear and tear upon the natural armor.
Zakh’tha coughed and hacked from the sudden attack, before he was thrown back, falling upon the ground as the lance disappeared from Ventro’s hand. He writhed upon the ground in pain, unable to move much at all.
“ZAKH’THA–!!” Minoru cried out. His head burned as he saw the scene before him. Memories flooded back, his mind aflush with visions of a burning, destroyed city, and a hulking beast standing among the fallen.
His shock quickly shifted into something more primal as he grit his teeth, something more uncontrollable.
Fury.
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Elsewhere, the field was mostly clear of fighting now, as Halgor, Yeva, and Azgaar stood on guard before relaxing somewhat.
Just as they did, however, an enormous flash of light caught their attention from elsewhere, all of them seeing the field light up like the day for a brief moment, an instant so fast it was in question if they even saw anything at all.
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“I have a bad feeling about that.” Halgor mused, before breaking into a run towards the light’s source, his armor clanking heavily as he stepped forwards.
“Halgor, wait!” Yeva called, rushing along with him, with Azgaar following close behind.
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Minoru burned with rage, so much adrenaline rushing through his body that he was almost immediately capable of picking himself up from the ground once more. An eerie red glow shone from his back as he stood up.
Brandishing his blade, Minoru held it with both of his hands, foregoing his shield as he planted his feet firmly in the ground. The ground around him seemed to crackle with electricity, as his glowing mana streams shone all across his body for a moment, glowing even brighter than they had before.
Minoru rushed the prince, their blades clashing as Minoru’s mana crackled around them with a fierce intensity. He glared Ventro down, his teeth grit.
“And what do you hope to achieve, boy?” Ventro asked.
“I won’t let you hurt anymore people, prince.” Minoru spat out.
“Bold of you to say, boy, when you and your friends have taken the lives of our people so willingly.”
“Are you an idiot? You started this fight, you’re the one who’s causing this in the first place!”
"And that takes away our right to be angry when our people die? You are the only ones who can mourn? Don't make me laugh."
"They're just doing what they're commanded to! They know the risks! You're the one pushing them to fight this pointless war! You're pushing them to destroy the peace they've been protected by!"
"'Peace?' 'Peace!?' You call being lorded over and starved by Camelot 'peace!?'" Ventro snapped, pushing Minoru back. "Our people haven't known peace since we lost the war against Camelot! It might be peaceful for all of you, but what of the people of Helster who've been starving, living in abject poverty because our money lines Camelot's coffers!?”
Minoru’s confused expression seemed to only infuriate Ventro further, as the prince pushed against his opponent’s blade with force, breaking their clash as Minoru was pushed back, stumbling slightly as he looked back up at Ventro.
“You don’t even know what I’m talking about, do you?” He asked, glaring at Minoru. “Damnable, pathetic fool that you are, trying to talk down to those of Helster.” He approached with a swing of his blade, which Minoru attempted to deflect, only resulting in his own sword’s blade being chipped as the strike landed, just barely blocked. “And you try to talk of peace!” He shouted, swinging his blade towards Minoru once more, pushing him back as his sword struck Minoru’s, another piece chipping off. “We of Helster will burn this so-called ‘peace’ to ashes if we must. Camelot will watch its peace burn, and fools like you will be the tinder.”
Minoru looked up just in time to see Ventro brandish his blade, holding it vertically. Turning it, the blade perpendicular with his chest, a flash of blinding light exploded forth from the sword, lighting up the whole area.
“MINORU–!!” Ashe cried out, turning away from Caetra, dashing forwards to try and intercept the oncoming attack, only for Caetra to warp in front of her, rushing forwards and grabbing her by the throat.
“Sit.” Caetra commanded, before slamming Ashe into the ground below– her body slightly rebounding from the ground– before Caetra pushed the foot of her boot into Ashe’s back, keeping her on the ground. In an instant, cuffs of solid black smoke appeared around Ashe’s wrists and ankles, locking her against the ground. The wind knocked out of her, Ashe could only watch as Minoru desperately held up his shield, imbuing it with his mana, as Ventro pulled his sword back. In a single moment, the prince thrust his blade forwards, the blinding white sword stabbing into his opponent’s barrier. The light shone even more brilliantly as it contacted the shield, sparks blasting outwards as Minoru grit his teeth, fiercely and desperately trying to push back against the prince’s attack.
His eyes widening, Ventro let out a forceful grunt, streams and tendrils of light blasting outwards and waving through the air as he pushed forwards. The sword was driven upwards, dragging the shield along with it, pushing Minoru back.
Attempting to regain some ground, Minoru threw himself forwards, swinging at Ventro with his chipped and worn blade, only for the prince to retaliate with an intercepting swing. The prince’s blade– swung with such force– cleaved through Minoru’s own, shattering the worn sword, chunks and scattered bits of metal sent flying as Minoru staggered, losing leverage over his own weapon.
Ventro swung his blade once more, yet Minoru just barely propped up his shield in response. The sheer strength behind the prince’s attacks pushed Minoru back and rocked his body with every blocked strike. Channeling mana into his free hand, Minoru raised his palm forwards, intent on retaliating with a blast. The electricity surrounding his hand crackled as the spell was loosed forth, only for Ventro to swipe at the spell, his blade intercepting it as it rocketed towards him. Instead of the mana dispersing, however, the blinding white of the light surrounding his sword instead took on the spell’s deep, crackling purple.
Attacking with the imbued blade, Ventro’s sword plunged forwards against Minoru’s raised shield, yet in the following instant the purple light seemed to expand and burst forth, a flash of purple light filling the area as a fierce wind blew through Minoru’s body, blasting him backwards with great force.
As he skidded and rolled across the ground, barely clawing into the ground to stop his momentum, his body seized and spasmed as arcs of electricity dancing and sparking painfully across his body.
“Gghhh–! This again–!?” He grunted out. “Dammit, not now!” He looked towards Ventro once more, who stepped towards him slowly, each step deliberate and heavy against the soil. Staggering to his feet, Minoru channeled mana into his free hand as best he could despite the pain shooting through his body, planting his feet as firmly upon the ground as he could. Raising his palm, the crackling energy surrounded his hand once more as he stood firm, preparing to fire.
Ventro’s eyes narrowed upon him before he moved with surprisingly agility, running towards Minoru with his blade brandished. Minoru loosed shot after shot of his mana towards him, with Ventro weaving in and out between them, every blast missing its mark even as he got closer, almost leaping across the field towards him.
Ventro was upon his opponent in moments, swinging his blade down upon Minoru, who just barely dodged the strike, moving to the side. Retaliating, Minoru swung his shield forwards, striking the side of Ventro’s face with it, causing the prince to recoil as he was struck. Clenching his free hand into a fist, Minoru swung it forwards as Ventro turned towards him again, the punch landing squarely onto Ventro’s face, causing him to stumble back.
Minoru’s teeth grit as he saw Ventro recover from the strike, glaring at him. The two stared each other down for a moment before Ventro stood up straight, letting go of an eerie chuckle as he wiped the blood from his split lip. Minoru remained braced for Ventro’s approach as the prince stepped forwards once more.
Approaching, Ventro slashed once more, Minoru blocking as the blade slashed at him, as well as when it was jabbed forwards with great force. Swinging his free hand forwards, Ventro attempted a strike at Minoru, landing it on his shoulder, causing him to recoil slightly.
Clenching his fist, Minoru channeled his crackling mana into it before swinging it upwards, striking Ventro in his chin. With a burst of force and arcing electricity, Ventro’s head was thrown back by the strike. In an instant, however, he seemed to catch himself, planting his foot firmly onto the ground, slashing his blade forwards such that it sliced across Minoru’s extended arm.
“S-Shit–!” Minoru cursed as blood poured from his limb, his brief distraction as he surveyed his wound allowing Ventro to continue his attack, swinging his fist directly into Minoru’s own face. Turning his blade over in his hand such that it was held in a reverse grip, he drove the pommel directly into Minoru’s stomach, making him hunch over as the wind was struck from him.
Minoru slowly crumpled to his knees. Even despite the pain, he looked up, glowering at Ventro. Sucking in a deep breath, Minoru swung desperately with his shield, striking Ventro in his side, causing the prince to recoil as well. With a rough grunt, Minoru channeled mana into his hand once more, kicking off the ground towards Ventro. Aiming his palm right for the prince’s face, he let loose a crackling projectile of magic.
In the instant it was loose, however, Ventro swung back, his blade slicing upwards and cutting into Minoru’s abdomen, spilling blood from the deep gash across his chest and arm, throwing the blast just barely off course, the magic flying into the air.
As Minoru’s leap continued sending him through the air, Ventro grabbed onto his ankle, channeling that eerie light into his arm before whipping Minoru around through the air like a ragdoll, only to slam him into the ground, blood bursting from his wounds and out of his mouth as he landed with so much force it formed a slight imprint in the ground.
Minoru laid there, writhing from the pain wracking his body, looking up as his vision blurred. Ventro stepped forth, looming over him with a calm, collected expression as he turned his blade over in his hand once more.
“Despite your words, I will take no pleasure in killing you. It is the same for you as it was for my soldiers, even my knight Aclys. You are simply doing as you are told, as you are commanded, and as your beliefs drive you to do.” He spoke in a cold tone, yet one betrayed by his melancholic expression as he looked down at Minoru. “At least your resting place will be within the country you fought for.” He stated solemnly, raising up his sword, preparing to sever Minoru’s head from his neck.
Just as he was about to strike, however, a storm of magical missiles shot through the air towards him. Ventro slashed towards them, deflecting them with multiple, rapid strikes. However, a larger lance of magic shot towards him, requiring him to block with his blade, pushing him back.
From the surrounding brush Yeva burst forth, running towards Ventro with a fire in her eyes. In almost an instant, she was upon him, slashing at him with her claws. He attempted to dodge, but she quickly gained ground on him with her ferocious attacks, one of her massive claws striking him as it raked through his arm and collided with his blade, sending the weapon flying.
Caetra, intent on protecting her prince, enshrouded herself in smoke once more, only for her to be interrupted as an enormous, axe was swung her way, forcing her to block with her own blade, the force of the attack from Halgor sending her flying even as she defended against it. Halgor followed his attack up with a powerful leap into the air, bringing his axe down upon Caetra as he reached. With another block, she was once again launched with extreme force, hurtling through the air into the ground in a cloudy trail of black smoke.
Standing up, Ashe rushed to Minoru’s side as Yeva pressed her assault on Ventro. A tether of light sprouted from his hand, his blade flying back through to air into his grasp, but not quickly enough in time to deflect Yeva’s following attack as she slashed into him once more, blood spurting from his wounds.
Even sustaining attacks from her, he stood firm, slashing at her with his blade, only for another small missile of magic from a revealed Azgaar to fly through the air and strike his side, knocking him off balance as Yeva swung her arm towards him, her shifted limb slamming into his abdomen and sending him flying backwards from the strike.
Yeva let go of a heavy breath, before she turned back. “Minoru!!” She called to him, running over to his side.
“Dammit–!” Ashe cursed, channeling bright green mana into her hands, which she quickly placed on the gash along Minoru’s abdomen. “Healing Word: Restoration!” She commanded, the mana immediately weaving into his wound like strings. Minoru grunted, shouting from the pain as the magic began stitching up his wound, interlacing with his skin and pulling the wound closed.
“A-Ashe, you’re hurting him–!” Yeva protested in response to his
“I’m healing him, Yeva, I need to repair this cut fast.”
“Gghhh–!” Minoru grunted. “D-Don’t worry, Yeva, t-this is just how it– F-Fuck–! H-How it works…!”
“Quiet.” Ashe stated simply, continuing to interweave her magic with his wound.
“Minoru…” Yeva lamented his state as she looked down at him, before standing up and turning around, an angry expression in her eyes as she looked towards Ventro, who was shakily standing up. “You–! You hurt him!” She called out to the prince, who looked between her and Azgaar, the mage channeling mana once again in preparation for the prince’s next move.
“Morgania’s forces are truly formidable… even a child like her got the drop on me… We’re not strong enough… not yet…” Ventro mused under his breath.
Yeva grit her teeth angrily, her eyes almost burning. “You… I’m gonna–!”
“Y-Yeva… stop…” Minoru called to her. “P-Please… we just needed to drive him away… don’t test your luck against him…”
“I told you to stay quiet!” Ashe scolded him quickly.
“B-But Minoru!” Yeva turned to him in protest.
As she was turned away from him, however, Caetra suddenly appeared in a puff of smoke right next to Ventro, wrapping her arm around him to support him. “My liege, we need to get you to safety.”
Ventro considered her words briefly. “Very well… We will need to rethink our approach…”
Nodding, Caetra raised her sword, the blade becoming enshrouded in smoke. In response, Azgaar’s mana rapidly channeled into a massive, searing ball of flames that he quickly launched in their direction. Caetra swiped her blade in front of him, producing a large cloud of smoke in front of herself and Ventro. The fireball impacted it and burst into searing flames, yet the cloud of smoke did not give an inch. Ventro looked through the group before him as the smoke clouded, denser and denser, around him and Caetra. His eyes narrowed as he looked upon Minoru and Ashe before he and Caetra were whisked away entirely, disappearing from view as the smoke dispersed.
While everyone was left on guard, after a few moments they relaxed slightly, their retreat clear as day to all of them.
Halgor quickly turned, rushing to Zakh’tha’s side, who was still, yet breathing despite the hole in his chest. “Dammit… Ashe! How far along is Minoru? Zakh’tha needs help, now!”
“I’m almost done here– try and stabilize him, quick!” Ashe called back, to which Azgaar teleported quickly, appearing right beside Zakh’tha and Halgor. Reaching down, he channeled his mana into his hand, the energy quickly forming into a large, blue tome. The distinct sound of slowing, droning ticking surrounded Zakh’tha as he was enveloped in the magic.
“I’ve put him in a temporal stasis. I can maintain this for approximately ten minutes. Please finish by then, Ashe.”
“Got it!” She called back, focusing all of her magical energy to weave and stitch together Minoru’s wound as Yeva rushed over to his side once again, the girl fretting over him.
Minoru groaned, his vision blurring, the figures of Ashe and Yeva on either side of him turning into undefined, blurry shapes. His eyelids felt heavy, his vision fluttering briefly. The pain was still fresh in his abdomen, yet Ashe’s magic began providing some form of a soothing sensation, a warmth that clouded his mind briefly. His eyes demanded rest, and his tired mind was hazy as his eyelids slowly slid downwards, giving way to unconsciousness.
----------------------------------------
Minoru woke with a start, rapidly sitting up in the bed he had found himself in, only for his body to seize up from a rapid jolt of aching pain.
“Minoru!” Ashe’s voice called from the side as she rushed over to him, placing a hand onto his shoulder and another onto his chest. “You are still recovering, calm yourself and lie down.” She instructed, beginning to slowly guide him to lying back down on the bed.
“What… What happened…?” He strained his voice to speak, his chest aching as he did so.
“You passed out just as I was finishing up stitching your wound. You’ve been asleep since then. We’re back in Morgan’s castle now.”
“W-Where’s… What happened to Zakh’tha…?”
“He has been taken care of. He is currently being watched over by the castle’s doctors.” She explained. “Enough about him, though. You are safe, worry about resting for now.”
“But… I-Is he really fine…?”
“I just told you so.” She replied, somewhat sternly. “Trust me, Minoru, he is fine.”
Minoru seemed to contemplate her words for a moment before muttering out. “Yeah, you’re right… Sorry…”
She simply shook her head in response. “Do not apologize to me. I believe Yeva is more in need of it.” She said plainly, glancing to the side, turning his attention towards Yeva, who had been right beside her. She was on her knees at the edge of the bed, her arms resting on the mattress as she looked at Minoru with wet eyes. “She’s been worried sick ever since you passed out.”
“O-Oh…” Minoru choked out, looking towards the girl. “I’m sorry, Yeva… I didn’t mean to worry you…”
Yeva was quiet for a moment, before letting go of a huff, her eyes glancing away. “A-Are you okay…?”
Minoru looked down, finding his bare abdomen wrapped up in bandages. There was a numb, aching pain across his whole torso. He looked to Ashe, who gave him a small nod, prompting a long sigh from him as he looked to Yeva with a reassuring expression.
“Yeah, I’m okay.”
“Then it’s okay…” She concluded with a small nod. “I just… was sad when you got hurt. I wanna make that Ventro guy pay for hurting you and Zakh’tha!” She raised her fists above her head defiantly.
Minoru looked at her with a lamentable expression and a soft huff. “Don’t worry, we’ll be able to do just that, just you wait.”
She smiled slightly as she looked at him, before resting her head in her arms again, leaning into the side of the bed. “I hope so… I wanna make him apologize for hurting you two…”
Minoru’s expression was conflicted. Ventro’s words during their clash, of the supposed state of Helster and its people, rang in his head over and over, words that had put a delay in each of his strikes. He knew he was foolish for doing so, that his fate would have easily turned much more grisly had he hesitated anymore than he already did. And yet…
“You want to go to Helster, do you not?” Ashe asked, now standing in a more relaxed position, looking over him with her arms crossed.
“Not right away, but… once our business is taken care of in Camelot, I do want to see what exactly is going on there. You heard what Ventro said, right?”
“Of the state of Helster and its people. Yes, I remember.”
“Then if that’s the truth… I don’t know if I can quite fully support Camelot in this conflict. I mean… sure, they’ve upheld the peace, but…” He trailed off, unsure of what to say. “I don’t know… sorry, what he’s said was eating away at me…”
“I understand what you mean. You do not believe Helster people should suffer just to uphold peace, right?”
“I don’t.”
“But then I must also ask you, Minoru, what path do you see to a better future for this region?”
“I…” He was silent for a moment, staring off to a corner of the room in contemplation. “I suppose the most direct answer would be to do something about Camelot itself…”
“That is the line of thinking that has led Ventro to doing what he did tonight, I would believe.” She mused aloud. “Of course, we do not know the full story. Even I do not have the clearest picture of the state of affairs in the region. However, Minoru, I must advise you… you might have a vision of an ideal state for this world… but you would do well to remember your true goals. Antagonizing Camelot by trying to disrupt their peace in any way may very well do nothing but hinder us. What are we to do if we are considered enemies by Camelot, and cannot access the root in the north, or even any other roots that could possibly be in the country as well?”
Minoru sighed, bringing a hand to his forehead. “I know that, Ashe… I know I shouldn’t lose sight of what we’re doing, I just… it’s bugging me, you know…?” He took a deep, shaky breath as a particular thought crossed his mind. He was about to open his mouth before simply closing his eyes, covering his face with his hand and muttering out “No…”
“Hm?” Ashe muttered. “Is there something bothering you, Minoru?”
He took another breath, letting it go in a haggard sigh. “My friends… the ones who died in Ludmilia… They told me all about how Lemuria’s royal family did little to help them… their village was destroyed, they were driven from their homes, and yet… they didn’t do anything to truly help them when they were left on the streets of their capital…” He breathed out, his voice shaky and unsure as he recalled their words. Every last syllable that came out of his throat was a fight that left it coarse and sore. “Is that how this world is…? People suffering, not just because of the monsters and Ouroboros, but also because of each other…? Because nobody cares to extend a hand to them? Because self-interest is all that drives anyone?”
Ashe closed her eyes for a moment, before opening them slightly, looking contemplatively at her palm, her eyes tracing every line and wrinkle.
“That is how it is everywhere, Minoru. You may not see it as such, but your consideration for others, enough that you would be led astray from your mission with a desire to help those you do not even know…” She hesitated for a moment. “It is foolish, but it is also a virtue many lack when it comes down to it. It is special, yet pointlessly self-destructive all the same.”
“Even in another world, one that’s so different, it’s like this, huh…” Minoru mused under his breath, an audible tinge of frustration dripped from every word.
Ashe could not provide much in response. Instead, she looked at him. “Minoru.” He looked at her. “You are correct to be frustrated at the state of things in Villesia. Gaia knows I am frustrated about it myself. There are limits to what we can do… but even then, you and I are extraordinarily lucky to be given the opportunity to help Villesia and Gaia as a whole. You have been accepted by Gaia herself to heal her and provide this world with a lifeline. You might lament what you cannot do… but perhaps you can take strength from what you have been given an opportunity to do.”
Minoru contemplated her words, looking up at the ceiling in a solemn silence, before letting go of a small breath and allowing a slight smirk to appear on his lips. “I guess you’re right…”
“For what it’s worth…” She said, pulling herself off of the wall and standing up straight. “I will do my part to help this world. I will be with you every step of the way, until you can return to where you belong.”
“Yeah! Me too!” Yeva suddenly spoke up with renewed vigor and excitement. “I wanna help people, too!” Her sudden outburst of enthusiasm stunned Minoru and Ashe for a moment, before the two of them couldn’t help but chuckle in unison at her excitement. “Huh…? D-Did I say something funny…?”
Minoru chuckled lightly before speaking. “No, not at all… we just appreciate you being here, Yeva. Thank you.”
“Ah… ehe… Okay then! I’ll keep it up!” She answered back, a little confused, but more than happy to help.
Minoru glanced towards Ashe. “Sorry about that… I’m sure I’ll get used to all of this… don’t worry, either, I haven’t forgotten about what I need to do. I”ll keep at it. Not much else I can really do, really.” He shrugged with a noticeably relaxed tone to his words.
She smiled with a huff. “I am confident you will, Minoru.” She stepped forwards, taking a seat on her own bed on the other side of the room. “Now then… I believe it would be best for you to get rest. My magic has done a lot to help your wounds, but it still needs time to settle and fully repair. Try and relax for now.”
“I’ll help you relax, too!” Yeva announced. “...By being right by your side!”
Minoru chuckled. “Thank you, Yeva.” He looked up at the ceiling as the small girl once more rested her head in her arms, leaning up against the mattress. He suddenly was hit by a wave of exhaustion, despite having just woken up… his eyelids were heavy and he could do little else than let them fall shut, quickly falling asleep once more.