Nova opened her eyes, rousing from her sleepy stupor. The first sight that greeted her was Raid, positioned squarely before her, his legs crossed, shoulders hunched, his gaze fixed vacantly ahead. Engaged in the seemingly pointless task of plucking shreds of glass, and carelessly discarding them onto an ever growing pile before him.

"You seem pretty bored. How long have I been out?" she asked, gazing up towards the moonlit sky through an interplay of branches and leaves.

"It's been three or four hours since dark," he replied absently. "The reinforcements from the left flank arrived about an hour ago, they are still setting up but I think that's it. I think everyone's here. So, did you sleep well? Must have, snoring like a pig."

"I was not," she hissed, suppressing a shout, cautiously looking around in case anyone heard. The place was filled with quiet chatter, thick with vegetation and tree cover overhead, preventing much moonlight from gazing upon them. The night felt a little colder than usual, yet no bonfires or torches had been lit. She could see some sleeping, others chatting and laughing in small groups, their weapons held close, while others stood guard.

"Please tell me you're lying," she voiced, covering her face, visibly flustered, if only slightly.

"I was... You know, I don't think I know anyone else who sleeps as quietly as you do," he said, before throwing a small leather pouch at her.

She caught it easily, staring at the pouch the size of her hand with suspicion. "I am taking that as a compliment."

"It is, I'm just saying it's odd. Normally, at the very least, you would hear someone breathe. And stop gawking at it, it's food, eat up. You're not going to say no to dried beef and blueberries are you? Unless you're actually trying to starve yourself."

"Blueberries? How did you get your hands on these?"

"Got them when we were passing by Vailiran. I know a merchant there that buys dried blueberries in bulk from smugglers. His prices are quite reasonable."

"Reasonable? How much we talking? Imported foods can't be cheap."

"4 cassa per 100 grams. Not bad, am I right? I was told that blueberries are dirt cheap in the Empire. So cheap in fact, that even if you include the cost for smugglers, you'd still make a profit here."

"I'm assuming that strategy only works in bulk. Interesting. The Empire has always been called a breadbasket. Must be nice having all that fertile land."

"Does sound nice, doesn't it? We may not have a food issue right now, but we're not exactly drowning in it either."

"Ah, I forgot to ask you earlier, but do you have any idea what those new weapons are? The metal poles on wood that makes that loud thunderclap sound?" she inquired, tucking her knees to her chest and resting her chin on them.

"You mean the muskets? Yes, I've known about them for a while. There were already rumors circulating around a few months ago. Apparently, it is capable of downing a knight, and from what I've seen, it just might."

"You can't be serious?"

"Apparently anyways, we'll have to wait and see if that's true or not. It's deadly for sure though. It functions by using some kind of propellant to send a metal ball flying at high speed, you've noticed the smell surely."

"So that's what that was, the smell of propellant?"

"I think it's best we personally keep our distance away from them for now. We know too little. But supposedly all the men using them are ordinary, no magic, no aura."

"Wait, you're joking, right? So it's just a regular weapon? I find it hard to believe it's so capable."

"Well I don't know if the weapon itself has anything fancy on it like enchantments, but for now it's siding on the regular. A product of modern science is the current propaganda. We're still learning about it. It was all hearsay until now. This is the first time we've seen it up close, and you've witnessed its capabilities, at least from a distance. It penetrates armor, at least to some degree, infantry gets decimated before contact, and knights have their auras chipped away. They also always have heavy infantry protecting them, it's just too risky to engage them."

"Then how do you think we're going to deal with them? We're already outnumbered in terms of knights, and now we have infantry that can possibly kill us? Or should I call them archers?"

"On the bright side, their range seems limited, about 75 to 100 meters at most. It seems their effectiveness increases the closer you get. So, if we maintain our distance, it should be manageable. Plus, it would take multiple shots to actually harm a knight, which is why they move in large groups."

"If their range is that short, can't we take advantage of that? We can cover that distance in less than a second and wreak havoc in their lines."

"True, if they didn't move in such large numbers. It doesn't matter if we kill a few hundred of them; they'll chip away at us. While losing some infantry might be acceptable, knights are irreplaceable. And remember, heavy infantry always provides protection, we'd have to deal with them too. I'd rather not get shot at while I am dealing with their guardians."

"But if they move in small units, I could take them on, right?"

"I wouldn't risk it; it's better if we wait until we know more. But it seems their firing rate is sluggish, or slow. So if you narrowly focus on the bright side, it's not all bad," he said, his gaze turning towards her. "How are you holding up?"

"Much better now," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of relief. "Though I think I'll need another ten or so hours before my reserves can completely recover."

"Alright, but until then, I'll lead. Fight passively behind me until you can take equal share."

She didn't reply or make any gestures, but the unspoken understanding was as clear as day. Just the fact that she did and said nothing meant to him that she agreed.

A rough voice broke the silence, pulling their attention. "You two enjoying yourselves?" The speaker, Marcus, stood behind them. His eyes, a warm shade of amber, casted a gentle gaze upon them. His once-dark brown hair now bore traces of silver, coupled with a short beard that's seen better days, gave him an almost well-rounded look. Despite the graying hair, he looked to be in his late thirties, but Raid knew he was at least a decade older. It was well-known that aura had the ability to preserve its users' youthful appearance. It could even extend or stop the aging process completely, but that depended on the individual's talent and how much aura they could store in their bodies.

"Marcus," Raid said, grinning. "You look tense."

"I'd rather not be so laxed. Just came by to see how you two are doing."

"As you can see, we're doing fine Marcus," Raid assured, a hint of boredom binding his words. "Isn't that right, Nova?"

She nodded slightly in agreement. "Come sit with us. Some extra company doesn't hurt."

"No, I am quite alright. Maybe later. I need to keep an eye on Nolen and Carter. I've got Liam watching them for now, but I'd rather have them in my sights. They're too fresh, and Liam isn't exactly experienced either. Best not have a case of sheep leading sheep if you know what I mean."

"Who else is still alive?" Nova asked.

"Apart from the three I just mentioned, Mae is still kicking. Injured, but alive. She insists on fighting still, and given how few of us there are, I find it hard to refuse her."

"I'd rather have her sit out, but I won't decline if she still insists despite her injuries," replied Raid.

"Do you think they're going to attack us tonight or wait until morning?" Marcus asked, deftly catching some dry blueberries tossed his way from Nova.

"Honestly, I don't know. I thought they would have done so hours ago. I don't understand why they didn't, they had the advantage, why didn't they use it to push," answered Raid, stretching out his hand to ask for some as well. In response to this gesture, Nova handed a single, misshapen blueberry. Raid frowned.

"At least it gives us time to prepare. We'll be ready for anything they throw at us now. We might have had a much harder time if they had attacked us earlier," said Marcus, his eyes landing on Nova's neck. "When did you get that wound?"

"Oh, this?" she smiled weakly. "When I was rounding up the fire groups. As you can see, it's just a scratch."

"Just a scratch…" repeated Marcus grimly.

"Leave it Marcus. It's the nature of war, just be glad she's still alive."

Marcus groaned in response, swallowing before he spoke. "Just… be more careful out there will ya Nova?"

"If it was avoidable to begin with, I would have. But on a separate note. there was something I wanted to ask you earlier today, something you told me ages ago. A passing thought that just refuses to leave you can say," she said, stretching out her right hand as if examining it. "I recall you telling me that my mother didn't want me to become a knight. Why?"

"You've been wondering about a lot of random things lately Nova," Raid gently interjected.

"I can't help it, my mind likes to wander."

Thinking deeply, Marcus furrowed his eyebrows. "I never told you the reason because she never told me why," Marcus stated. "And to clarify, she wasn't against you becoming a knight. She just didn't want you to learn the Water Spider."

"And the reason being?" she asked.

"Don't know, she refused to explain. Said it was a secret. All she told me was that it would be too cruel of a fate for you to learn it."

"Yet you gave me the manual for it Uncle."

"I didn't force you to learn it, did I? It was your choice. I just wanted you to inherit your mother's legacy, your father would've wanted the same. The acquisition of the Water Spider was what propelled our family into prominence, a legacy we've maintained for generations. I just thought it would've been a shame if I didn't at least give you a chance to learn it, a choice. And you did. A fact that makes me very proud, more than you know."

"So what exactly did she mean by it being too cruel?" asked Raid.

"Can't say for sure. The Water Spider has always been notorious for being difficult to learn, so much so that it was mandatory to have a fellow spider user act as a mentor. Maybe that's what she meant by cruel."

"I can attest to it being difficult for sure," Nova affirmed. "I mean, I am still tweaking and fixing a few things even now. But I don't see how it's cruel."

"A shame we can't ask your mother," said Marcus.

"Regardless of her opinion it wouldn't have mattered anyways," Raid remarked. "Marcus, didn't you mention in one of your many rants that parents had no control over an Ashern child's future?"

"Aye. I did. And now I can say for certain you were barely listening to what I was saying. Parents can still send a letter of request before their child enters the Adis Kilmer."

"What's a letter of request?" asked Raid.

"Well, it's a little complicated, but I'll simplify it as much as possible. You don't mind?"

"Go ahead, I am listening."

"How about you two take your little learning session somewhere else," interjected Nova. "Unlike you Raid, I am quite sick of being constantly leatured too."

"Nova," said Marcus. "I don't lecture you, I am teaching you."

"I am sorry Uncle, but I am having a difficult time finding the difference between the two."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"It is important Nova, a person who does not know their past will never truly know themselves."

"If you're going to start giving me sayings I have more than plenty to exchange."

"Nova," Raid called. "Just let the poor man talk. Besides, we're not really doing anything. Let's just pass some time, unless you'd like to pick grass with me?"

"Fine. But once you get your curiosity peaked, we find something we can do. Otherwise I'll get bored to death."

"Deal, Marcus, your call. Talk or nah?"

"I kind of lost the mood but alright. I need to leave shortly after this though, feel like I've been away for too long. Where were we? Letter of request right? So, when an Ashern child is born, they are considered protected assets of the clan. The parents' status would change to guardians, sometimes even caretaker. In short, they lose legal custody of their child. The state would then determine what the child would become, and the only way parents are allowed to protest said decision is through what are called Letters of Request. So in Nova's case, her mother would send a letter stating that she didn't want Nova to learn the Water Spider. Then it would be up to the ministry to respect her decision or not."

"Sounds a bit harsh don't you think? Having no control over your own children," Raid said.

"In hindsight, I can see it now. But back then, nobody saw anything strange about it, not even the Ashern themselves. The Ashern were considered one of the clan's most important assets, so there was very strict control."

"A shame said assets didn't prevent our clan's fall."

Anguish flickered across Marcus's face, his fists clenching involuntarily. "If not for those scheming Cala, we would have easily defended our clan. Backstabbers, all of them, Pelgid included."

"Calm down old man, you might just pop a vein," Raid advised. "Quit wasting your energy, there isn't even anyone here to direct that anger towards."

"Hey, I don't know if you two noticed," voiced Nova, "but it's a bit too quiet, don't you think?" Now, lifting her finger and pointing towards the field. "They should be right in front of us, and they're not far off either. Sure, it's dark, but even when I enhance my eyes, I can't see any trace of them."

"Perhaps they've withdrawn to the forest to rest for the day. They know we've got a rear set up. It's possible they'll push us tomorrow," replied Raid.

"The later the better, good for us all the same," added Marcus. "The longer we hold this position the higher our chances. We don't know how long they expect us to stay, for all we know could be a few days."

"But the Lemfords won, why would they hide in the forest?" Nova reasoned. "They could camp out in the middle of the field for all they care. It's not like there's anything we can do about it. Where are the fires? It's too dark. We should at least see some kind of lighting from the treeline. And why would they wait? Even if they are exhausted, we know they have reserves. Our army is fleeing. Why would they let such an opportunity go? Don't the Lemfords favor aggression?"

"A cautious general perhaps?" proposed Marcus.

The three of them grew quiet, suspiciously watching for any signs of movement. The field lay empty, a potential battlefield devoid of action. They recognized that any assault launched now would be detected long before it reached them. The absence of immediate danger was apparent, yet an inexplicable unease persisted.

"Hey," Nova's voice broke through the quiet, her tone firm. "I think we should assume formation. This doesn't sit well with me, something feels off. It's better to be prepared than be caught off guard."

"Agreed, but only temporarily. Can't have the men stand still the whole night if nothing happens. Marcus head back to your position. Nova keep watch, I'll be back in a minute, need to discuss this with the others."

A solitary arrow cleaved through the air, finding its mark in the chest of a soldier who had been dozing off against a tree. With a muted thud, the soldier's form crumpled, his head striking the ground. Raid didn't even need to utter a word as he watched the surrounding soldiers ignite a chorus of urgent shouts, setting off a chain reaction down the line.

"Raid!" Marcus yelled.

"Yeah I get it, run to your position!"

With a nod, Marcus gave a reassuring pat on Nova's shoulder before dashing off.

"Who in hell could make a shot like that in this darkness?" Raid scowled.

"Well, on the bright side, at least we felt something was coming before it happened," she replied.

"A bit late, don't you think?" Raid enhanced his eyes, swiftly pinpointing the source of the shot. His features soured upon spotting an extensive formation of heavily armed infantry, impeccably aligned and rapidly advancing towards them.

His gaze swept from side to side, exposing the transformation of the previously desolate field, once occupied solely with swaying grass, now abruptly overrun by a mass appearance of soldiers, as if conjured out of thin air.

"Oh, lovely. They really are just appearing out of nowhere, must fancy themselves fairies. Do you have any idea how they're doing that?" Nova voiced, almost impressed, more curious than alarmed.

"I don't know, why don't you go ask them?" sneered Raid, more arrows whizzing by. "It must be the work of their mages. How else do we explain this?"

"Hiding in plain sight, right in front of us the whole time. How curious, should I reward the culprits by skinning them alive?" she said, drawing her sword.

"That's a reward? I think we need to discuss your merit system later. It's...unique, enough to cause problems."

"Firstly, how else do I thank someone for giving us a hard time? Second, there is nothing to discuss. My merit system as you call it, is perfectly fine. I haven't committed any war crimes yet."

"Yet," he emphasized. "Let's keep it that way. Ahh, fuck, they're getting close. This mistake is going to bite me hard in the ass. Alright, you ready Nova? Let's go."

"Shield of the line?" she asked.

"Shield of the line," he confirmed, his gaze sweeping behind him, searching through the sea of soldiers until it anchored upon a particular officer. The Officer was hurling orders at a small group of soldiers while pushing another into formation. "Condor! We're going out as shields. I am leaving the rest to you."

Condor nodded grimly, his intention to reply thwarted as Raid and Nova swiftly departed. With a resigned sigh, Condor muttered, "Bless your hunt."

Shouts and screams echoed across as soldiers collided in a frenzied battle, their weapons slicing through the air with raw determination. Blood and sweat mixed as the first bodies began to fall. Battle cries and the clash of arms eclipsed all other sounds as both factions fought with relentless fervor. One side for victory while the other for a time. Within the chaos, individual combatants engaged in their own private duels, faces contorted with wrath and resolve. Some plummeted, never to rise again, while others persisted, fighting with the last of their strength.

This event would later be recorded as the first official skirmish of the defensive rearguard, marking the start of the end of this entire battle. A moment sealed on the night of 1/2/457IC, and would not end till the early hours of 2/2/457IC.

Cheers rang out over the cries of the fallen. It was a sudden and brutal start to a long and bloody fight. Raid and Nova navigated through the enemy infantry with grace, sidestepping combat to conserve their energy. It wasn't difficult, their passage was mostly unobstructed, the enemy made way for them to pass. It was standard practice for infantry to learn and recognise the uniform of enemy knights, so the Imperial infantry recognized who they were almost immediately. Anyone who was too slow to avoid them was killed immediately. As a rule, infantry didn't engage knights if they themselves weren't targets. It was suicide. As a result, so long as they made it look like they had somewhere to go, the Imperial infantry would ignore them.

Shield of the Line is a common tactic employed by armies from various nations by this era at the onset of battle. The outcome of this strategy often determines the course of the entire engagement. Knights would initiate duels or fight in small-scale group combat within designated areas they had carved out for themselves on the battlefield. While the infantry engaged their respective counterparts. This separation was necessary to prevent interference, as the disparity between knights and infantry was so substantial that they frequently impeded each other when fighting jointly.

If they wanted to work together in close proximity. The infantry had to abandon their formation, creating space for the knights, thus weakening cohesion amongst the infantry. Alternatively, the knights had to exercise restraint to avoid fratricide. Certainly not optimal if a commander intended to fully leverage both respective forces' potentials. As a result, the adoption of the Shield of the Line and its variants became a standard practice. It's important to note that this pertains to full-scale battles, not mere skirmishes, at least not normally.

Surprisingly, the enemy made way for them regardless, perhaps out of habit or established procedure. Raid and Nova halted their advance upon reaching the heart of the enemy formation. The Imperial heavies exchanged bewildered looks as they realized their error. Standing back to back, Raid and Nova both readied their swords, and began linking, the faint glow of their blades intensifying in preparation for the initial strike. The Imperial soldiers descended into panic, and an officer among them, driven by frenzy, bellowed orders to attack, aiming to stop the duo.

The area surrounding them quickly ignited as their swords emitted a brightness that made it seem as though two fallen stars had descended. Nova's sword radiated a vibrant light blue, while Raid's blade gleamed with a pure, ethereal white. They both attacked. Raid's blade released a stream of light, carving a deep chasm into the Imperial formation. In its wake, a line of men crumbled, bodies were blown to bits while others were cleaved in half, the lucky ones merely lost a limb or two. Simultaneously, Nova conjured a powerful, cold gust of wind, causing rows of soldiers to stumble backward. However, mass confusion soon swept through the Imperial soldiers as they quickly realized that her attack had no effect.

Turning around, Nova sported a beaming smile. Raid frowned, giving her a disapproving look, well aware of what she had just done. He then leaped into the enemy formation, tearing through men and sowing chaos wherever he went.

Meanwhile, Nova remained stationary, showing no intention of moving even an inch. She stood amidst a sea of nervous and terrified gazes. Their cautiousness was justified, because even though her attack vastly paled in comparison to Raid's, she was still a knight, a monster by definition. The soldiers kept a considerable distance from her, forming a gap that resembled an invisible barrier they dared not cross. Emerging from the enemy ranks, an officer adorned in resplendent plate armor took charge. His round shield bore the Empire's emblem in shades of blue with a regal dragon at its center. Feathers adorned his helmet, giving him an aura of command. With a thrust of his sword, aimed at Nova. He rallied the apprehensive troops, attempting to restore confidence and set an example of unwavering courage by leading a headlong charge.

A glint of amusement danced in Nova's eyes, threatening to break into an outright laugh, although she couldn't quite pinpoint the source of her amusement. She raised a hand to conceal a grin, an action that was met with a surge of shouts from the Imperial ranks. A torrent of anger-fueled resolve propelled more soldiers to charge toward her, their expressions twisted with newfound rage. Had her nonchalant demeanor triggered this response? Did she hurt their sense of pride? Well, it didn't matter. She lacked the interest to pursue the answer.

Nova snapped her fingers, causing the charge to slow to a crawl and then stop completely. Some stumbled, others fell to their knees, the rest looked on in confusion as to what was happening to their comrades around them. The officer gazed back in shock as rows of men struggled for air, unable to make a sound, their faces contorted in pain. Their lungs froze, resulting in suffocation, the lucky ones whispered cries of pain before collapsing, a sign that the effects were less severe. The cold air they had inhaled from the gust of wind earlier, after a trigger set by Nova, caused the moisture in their lungs to freeze into small ice particles, inflicting a slow, agonizing death as they fought for breath. Those unaffected froze in sheer terror.

They were prepared to die as soldiers but there was a fine line. Another officer, distinguishable by his feathered helmet, accidentally locked eyes with her. He spiraled into a nervous wreck, scrambling to find ways to avoid her. Caught between a rock and a hard place, ordering a retreat would lead to execution for cowardice, and fighting her seemed to guarantee an unwelcome death. Nova's icy, unbroken stare compelled the man to retreat a few steps, spreading his contagious fear to those around him. He then spotted Raid in the distance, cleaving two soldiers in half in a single stroke, and concluded that, in his scale of preferred and honorable ways to die. A scale he had just made on the spot, death by blade was remarkably more enticing.

"Men! Strike down that Knight!" he commanded, rallying his forces with feigned bravado, charging toward Raid as if blind to Nova's very existence, hoping she wouldn't react. A chorus of soldiers echoed his charge, mirroring his apparent valor.

"Is this your version of a gift!? I would have preferred something else!" Raid shouted.

"Stop whining!" Nova replied. She heard a torrent of swears directed at her, but couldn't exactly make out what he said, his words muffled by the loud shouts and cries of surrounding soldiers. She was sure that if she enhanced her hearing now, all the noise might just turn her deaf.

She stood there, loosely gripping her sword, as she noticed the formation was falling apart. She gave herself an imaginary pat on the back, seeing that their bet had paid off. They were able to at least help lessen the burden on their allies before being preoccupied with the Imperial knights for the rest of this skirmish.

The Empire seldom deployed their knights right from the start. Instead, they reacted to the movements of the opposing side. Turning this bad habit into an opportunity, Raid and Nova had ventured out to strike the Imperial infantry while they still had the chance. However, she was aware that this decision wasn't wise. Wasting aura on enemy infantry was generally avoided, as they would have fewer reserves to spare when facing opposing knights. Moreover, infantry wasn't entirely harmless to knights. Most formations crumbled the moment a knight attacked, mostly out of fear. But what if they didn't break? What if they kept attacking? Regardless of a knight's ability to slay a thousand foes, they would eventually exhaust their aura, the end-result was obvious.

As she scanned her surroundings, she estimated there were at least a few hundred Imperials around her. This was merely what she could see, with her current reserves, she was certain her aura would deplete long before she could eliminate them all. If these soldiers weren't terrified out of their mind, this situation would have proven to be considerably more challenging.

The formation broke; Raid had incited enough chaos that the Imperial soldiers were now fleeing in disarray. Some retreated hastily, while others sought refuge in neighboring formations. A few, driven either by a misplaced sense of pride or had something to prove, clung to the remnants of their courage, choosing to engage Raid despite their comrades' flight. However the motivations that drove them to fight him still would soon become inconsequential. After all, a corpse no longer required a reason to exist, they just did.

Imperial officers struggled to maintain order, frantically relocating men from one place to another in an attempt to reorganize their units, whilst forcefully grabbing whoever was within reach. A deprived space of living formed around the two of them as Raid slowly approached Nova after dispatching the remaining Imperials.

"You look awful tired, did something happen? Nothing terrible I hope?" Nova inquired, feigning concern.

"Wouldn't have killed you to help Nova."

"Actually, it would, and I did. Didn't you see?"

"You scared the living shit out of them and they came after me instead? Yeah I did."

"See, I was helpful. Besides, I'd dare say they ignored me because they liked you. All those large men running towards you like a damsel must've warmed your heart. You loved it, I know you did." she said, practically beaming.

"Fuck you."

"You did say I can fight passively, I am only a little over a quarter strength."

"Yeah yeah, stabbed myself in the foot yada yada yada."

"Now we wait? Their knights should have noticed us a while ago, probably running towards us right now."

"Ready up, we're about to be fucked sideways," he sighed.

"Not my preference, but the luxury of choice isn't on the table is it? We'll make it work."

"You want to make a sideways shag work?"

"It'll work because I am not the one getting shagged as you would put it," she replied, tilting her head thoughtfully. "Where did you learn that? Is shag something the grunts like to use? You've been spending a lot of time with them lately."

"Wait, hold on. What the fuck did you mean by that?"

Nova gave him a gentle, affectionate, and playfully teasing smile before abruptly taking off in a sprint.

"Hey, fuck! Don't dodge the question, get back here!" Raid exclaimed as he promptly set off in pursuit of her.