Chapter 29 – Overshadowed City

A little girl ran to the streets with her straw doll. She looked happy as her shoes step on heaved cobblestones of the city. She looked at her surroundings. She saw that people walking by her had gloomy faces. She was just a little girl who didn’t know things. So she ignored them and went to this park with a big tree on it. She waited for her friends but they didn’t come up.

It took a while but she saw her mother running around. She had tears in her eyes as she took her child’s hand. “Why did you get out? It’s dangerous!” said the mother. The little had tears in the corner of her eyes. She wanted to cry but then she saw a soldier coming at them. “Madam, you should go the shelters now. Have you packed your things?” said the soldier, looking at them.

“Yes Sir!” she answered. She looked at her daughter again, “Come now, just follow mother back to the shelter okay? Your friends will be there,” saying that rather sweetly. The little girl had this gentle smile on her face. The soldier who came to them looked at the pair of two. Another soldier patted his shoulder.

“That’s what are we fighting for,” said the soldier.

“Yes. My little kid is in the shelters now. We may not live but no way am I going out without a fight. This is our city. This is our home. We don’t bow to strangers and invaders.”

The soldier clenched his fist. “I am afraid really.” The soldier looked at the morning sky. “I am afraid of what will happen. But you know that little girl’s straw doll reminded me what I needed to do.”

“That’s to fight,” The soldier cuts in. “I’d fight for this City. And I know that with the Warlord with us. She’d die for us. And even the Lord Enforcer won’t abandon us. All we have now is our hearts and guns. I just hope that I’d get to see my little kid again. You know, I was supposed to have another kid.”

“Then we really need to fight hard don’t we?” said the soldier with a weak smile.

“Yeah, and after all of this is over, we should drink with the lads. I heard that the aunty will brew us juniper mead for free. Have a feast for us.”

“Hah,” the soldier smiled. “I’ll be looking forward to that brew then.”

“Me too, man.”

The soldier had this tired look as he replied. The two looked at the street. It was empty and deserted. The cobblestone streets were dusty and not a single soul could be seen. This street would always be filled with hubbub and noise. But now it was silent. Most of the citizens have either fled or hide in shelters that lead them to safety. The two soldiers have been searching for any citizens that try to take advantage of the situation. Exploiters and looters aren’t new. So they had to make sure that the buildings are safe.

...

Leiko climbed this tower. It was situated in one of the middle outposts located at the heart of the city. She was eyeing anyone that could be still wandering around. Leiko was fast. She could travel back to the stronghold with ease. She had companions with her. They are fellow demi-humans that lived in the City. They were guarding the tower and they have been assigned as messengers.

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“Okay, looks like its all clear here. Return to your posts now.” She ordered. The demi-humans nodded their head and went down the tower. She was left behind with only the sound of their steps ringing out. She gave a sigh to the silence. She looked around once again and saw two soldiers going to their posts. At the street north of her, she was able to spot a mother and a little girl being lead by three soldiers.

“That’s that then,” she heaved another sigh. She tucked her rifle and slowly climbed down the tower. Her coat would sometimes caress the iron ladder. She wore a military coat and light leather armor. She knew that it was ineffective against lead balls. But it was better than nothing. Once she stepped down she adjusted the crossbow on her back. She struts down this house-line street. She turned to the left and head right to the main road leading to the stronghold.

She was welcomed with a salute the moment she arrived on the stronghold. Inside, she smelled the oil and the petrol. She looked at the giant slingshot that was prepared by the soldiers who would be firing them at the airships. The concoction that smelled was the poor man’s grenade that Joshua gave to Shig. It was a simple projective that uses petrol and wax to set aflame soldiers. It was highly effective especially with the soldiers carrying paper cartridges that could easily explode.

“Joshua,” she mumbled under her breath. Lately, despite her complains and hatred. She started to worry about the human that treats her as a family. He was a kind person, which she could see. But lately, he has been hiding inside his room. He had this crazy look as he goes out. He always smelled of metal and grease and gunpowder that she wondered what he was doing. She entered his room and saw that it was filled with the poor man’s grenade and modified bombs. There was even this mustard-like smell that reeked too much even for Leiko to handle.

She climbed the stronghold. She walked down the corridors while avoiding the soldiers from talking to her. She went to the room where she and others have been staying. She peeked and saw that it was empty. Kioko has already been transferred to a safe place. The only one inside was Joshua who was armed to the teeth. His grey hair stained with different kinds of chemicals. His face was dirty and he was holding on to his rifle. He looked paranoid. She wanted to say something to him but she stepped out.

She hesitated but before she can think of going in instead. She heard the sirens of the city go off. Hearing it, Leiko sprinted down the corridor and went slid through a window to climb up this terrace where she could see things clearly. It was then that she saw the sky get covered with hundreds of flying ships. The sun that was shining brightly once was now covered by giant warships. The city was overshadowed by the ships. And then she heard the sounds of falling with her cat-ears.

A tower that stood tall on the corner of her eye got smashed.

What followed was a round of explosion that deafened her.