It was dark within the warehouse. The building had no windows, and so their one source of light was a shaded lamp that cast a dull yellowed glow across the wooden floor. From this illuminated surface, Aria could see the shadows of those that were taking shelter within the structure. There were her and Serana, the cubs, Bessie, a handful of children even younger than Aria was, a couple of women with swells to their bellies, and finally the soldiers that were assigned to protect those within the structure.
“This doesn’t feel right,” a man said. Aria could not see his face, but she knew that tone to be Calvus’.
“Pius assigned us here for a reason,” another man said, his deep voice indicating that it was Otho who was speaking. “Rather than question those orders, we just need to perform them to the best of our abilities.”
“I know, but…”
“Don’t get me wrong, I would rather be out there with our brothers and sisters, but dwelling on that will not make us any better at our duty.” Otho chuckled. “Besides, you have your dear Marcia at your side, do you not?”
“That he does,” a woman’s voice said, the one that was just mentioned.
“Oh shut it, Alba is here too, you know,” Calvus said. Aria saw his shadow blend with Marcia’s as he brought her closer to him.
“I am, and don’t worry, I’ll be sure to box his ears plenty when this is all over,” another woman’s voice said.
“You try that and I’ll grant you the burden of carrying another child for nine months,” Otho said in a blunt tone.
“What if that’s the point?”
“...We’ll have to discuss that later, then.”
Chuckles rippled through the warehouse, a slight reprieve from the tension that was built up around them. It lasted for the briefest of moments, and soon they were swallowed by anticipation’s thick shroud once again. Aria glanced around her, catching sight of Serena walking towards Otho and the others.
“Do not leave her side.”
Taking Helbram’s words to heart, Aria followed after her friend. Serena had been quiet ever since they went into the warehouse, but had taken a detour into her house before letting Otho guide them to the building. In her hands as the spear that she trained with, but from the way that she held it, it appeared to be there more for comfort rather than to be wielded. She understood her friend completely. Aria fingered the handle of her rapier, which was strapped to her side, and grabbed the handle to center herself.
“I… I want to help,” Serena said.
The soldiers paused at the girl’s declaration, the shadows unable to hide the uncertainty on their faces. Otho eventually stepped up and knelt down, meeting the girl eye to eye.
“I understand, and the best help that you can do is doing your best to remain safe.”
Serana tried to respond, but she stopped when the larger man placed a hand on her head.
“It’s hard, I know, but trust in your father, trust in those that he believes in.” He ruffled her hair. “In the meantime, how about you keep an eye on Portia and Cato for me? Those two rascals have only begun to walk and I think they need a wiser hand to guide their steps.”
Serena nodded and turned around. Aria moved to follow after her, but she met eyes with the soldiers before then. They gave her a grateful smile and moved towards the door. Aria went to assist her friend, who took care of the boy and girl standing near Bessie. Like anyone that had gotten to know the auroc, they were enamored with her furry pelt and running their hands through it while giggling. Cato, the boy, must have only been around two years old while his sister, Potia, was three, but both were of the same mind as they played with Bessie’s fur. Other children joined them or kept trying to get the attention of Snow and Shadow, who lay on top of the bovine-like beast with sleepy expressions. The auroc was stoic under their ministrations, though she did huff in irritation when they started to pull at her fur.
“Now now,” Serena said, “She doesn’t like that.” She pulled Cato away and wagged her finger at him. The tremble in her voice was gone, steadied by the purpose she now held.
Aria helped and pulled Portia away, who didn’t need admonishment and calmed down under her touch. For the rest of the children, the expectant mothers with them guided away. Bessie huffed again, but from the slack that traveled down her shoulders, Aria could tell she was finally relaxed.
The scream came next.
It was distant within the confines of the warehouse, a faint sound no louder than a whisper, but scratching like a nail ran across a piece of metal. That was enough, for the second that it slipped into her ears an overbearing dread sank into her chest. It spread throughout her, a creepy helplessness that made her legs shiver. Serena felt very much the same, and the younger children all started to cry from the unknown feeling forced upon them.
The soldiers near the door tensed up and readied themselves. The mothers-to-be calmed them down to the best of their ability, but a steady sniffle still remained. Aria grabbed her rapier’s handle to steady herself, and her friend did the same for her spear. They did not approach the soldiers, who were all preparing themselves.
“Calvus, you and I will hold the shields,” Otho said, “Alba, Marcia, you stay behind us.”
“Shouldn’t we maintain formation?” his wife asked.
“No, it’s too cramped in here and…” The larger man looked back at Aria and the others. “Given what we know, they will be trying to go through us rather than at us.”
“Right, so we’ll hold them here if they manage to break through,” Calvus said.
“That’s the idea.”
Beyond that discussion, little else was said in the minutes that passed afterwards. Bessie grew restless under the growing tension, stamping her feet with a restless energy that wobbled both Snow and Shadow on her back. The cubs, woken from the scream, hopped down from the auroc and stooped low, lips flared into a soundless snarl towards the door. A brave face, for Aria could see their legs tremble as well. She knelt down and pet the both of them, an action that served to comfort both her and the cubs. That too, was not meant to last.
“Incoming!”
Kiki’s shout from outside triggered a rush of nervous energy within Aria, one that made her shake in place. The distant sound of screams, warbled and inhuman, followed. The children all huddled around the women out of fear of the sounds, their trembles reflected within the expectant mothers themselves through shaking fingers that tried to hold the young close. Aria and Serena aided in trying to calm the children, but there was little that they could do when the sounds of battle started to grow louder.
The tapping of Otho’s foot grew more rapid once gunshots started to ring out. He looked round and his eyes fell to Bessie, and then to a cart that was stored at the back of the wagon.
“Calvus, come with me,” he eventually said, “Alba, Marcia, can you look around and see if we have a harness in this building?”
Confusion flashed across the face of the other soldiers, but realization dawned just as quickly. Calvus and Otho moved towards the cart and, with the aid of their Awoken strength, shifted it into place behind Bessie, who was facing the door. Alba and Marcia were quick about finding a simple harness, one that thankfully had straps adjustable enough to fit the large beast. Bessie, seemingly aware of what was intended, was motionless as the harness was placed on her and attached to the wagon.
“What’s going on?” Serena asked.
“Just preparing,” Calvus said. “For the worst” was left out, but still hung in the silence.
Otho gave Bessie a pat when the straps on her were fully secure. He turned to the women and children afterwards and motioned them to the cart. The mothers-to-be caught on to the intent immediately and gently herded the-
A crash ripped through the warehouse.
All eyes snapped to the door, widening in horror as the magics that reinforced it flared. Despite the beam that bolstered it, a following thud bulged the door inwards and cracked the beam.
The soldiers abandoned their soothing guidance and instead opted for haste. Otho lifted his children from the ground and shoved them onto the wagon before assisting the others into the cart. The young whimpered as the crashing against the door grew more frequent, accompanied by the sound of eldritch screechs and the cracking of bones. Aria and Serena were the last of the children to get into the vehicle, followed by the expectant mothers.
“Alba, Marcia, both of you as well,” Otho said.
His wife stepped back, “Otho, you can’t-”
“I can and I will,” he said. He brought Alba into a hug and kissed her gently. “Our children need to be protected.”
“So come with us…” she whispered.
Crashes slammed into the sides of the warehouse, cracking with stone foundations. Deeper, more ferocious sounds pounding into the building, bringing cries from the children in the cart and a shiver up Aria’s spine. She saw Marica and Calvus embrace before the woman let him go and hopped into the cart, spear at the ready.
“Go,” Otho said softly.
Alba kissed him one more time and embraced her husband a final time before stepping back. She stepped into the wagon and took position at the end opposite from Marcia. The cracks around them grew louder and the very building itself shook with every single impact. Cries had faded into whimpers as the children huddled around the women clinging to them in desperation. Aria fingered the rapier at her side and went to grab it, but the tremble in her hand stopped her from gripping it firmly. Serena was going through something similar, using her spear as a support to stay standing instead of its intended purpose. Through it all, Aria could feel a gentle chill start to wash over her. The Cold was there, building but not overpowering, and for the first time Aria found comfort in its presence.
The beam at the doors cracked further from another impact and was now held together by threads of wood. Otho and Calvus stood near the entrance, shield raised and spears at the ready. A final crack sounded, and the beam shattered. The doors slammed and revealed two hulking creatures that had their mouths splayed open, a vicious roar spilling from their reviling lips. Aria froze at the sight of them, but Otho and Calvus took action.
Each of the two men crashed into the Brutes, alight with steel gray power in their efforts to push them back. Efforts that bore fruit as they shoved the aberrations aside. Right as they did, the walls of the warehouse crumbled, surrendering to a tide of Crawlers and Brutes that broke into the building. A single shout rang out through the chaos of such destruction.
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“Run!”
Jahora started into Roy’s eyes. Streaks of dried tears marked his face and guilt gnawed its way to her heart. She could only guess at what the cause of those tears were, or if he was even alive to cry as such now.
“It’s your fault,” the boy said, his voice trembling and weak.
Jahora closed her eyes and let the words stab into her soul. The following pain seeped through her, and she did not do anything to push it away. She let it burn within her, and grabbed Roy by the shoulder.
“I know… and I will never forgive myself for it,” she said. Her eyes filled with resolution. “But I will not let such a thing come to pass again.”
She clapped her hands together, her three Circles flaring to life around her head. Aether burst out from her, shaking the illusion of the Shriekers and wiping away the false image of Roy in front of her. She could see the sickly green power that saturated the air, bringing the men and women around her to their knees as the horde of Gaunths trampled over them to get to the warehouse. Elly was struggling to stand against the illusion that plagued her, mumbling to herself in words that Jahora could not hear.
The Mage threw her hands out, sinking one of her Circles and summoning a ward of Free Script at her feet. She pulled the corrupted Aether around her into the wave-like runes and swirled the gathered energies through the Circle. Another of the rings around her head sank into the ground, summoning a ring of Orthodox runes that Transposed the sickly power into raw energy through its rigid lines. She clutched her hands and the final Circle sank into the dirt, this time engraving the runes of Standard around her feet. Through the square-like symbols the power was forged into a white energy that coalesced as wisps surging through her fingers. She did not have the precision that Merida, nor Elly, possessed with such energy, but for this spell, that was not needed.
She slammed her palms into the ground, releasing the gathered energies in a tide of white Aether that crashed against the corrupted powers that crippled them. Her ward, still active, pulled in the sickly power and Transposed into the purifying energies surging around her, fueling her spell’s flight. Its effects were immediate.
Pius stood back up. “On your feet!” He yelled. His command galvanized the staggered soldiers and they pushed themselves off of the ground, intercepting the reckless charge of the Gaunths with a fervor of their own. How this would turn the tide, Jahora was unable to tell, for the bellow of an auroc boomed out from the warehouse.
The Mage whipped around and saw Bessie charging out of the building, a cart full of women and children strapped to her harness. Once the beast was past the threshold, the tide of Brutes and Crawlers that chased after her were blocked by Otho and Calvus, who stood in front of the broken doors with shields raised. Gunshots followed, peppering the Shriekers around them and silencing their screams. Without hesitation, the soldiers moved to clear a path for Bessie and shoved the Gaunths to the side, fueled by strength that went beyond the Ether suffusing through their bodies.
Elly skipped to the side of Jahora. “I’ll aid them here,” she said, her hand alight with green power, “You go with the children.”
The Mage nodded and braced herself. Elly pushed her back and released the spell in her fingers, sending Jahora soaring through the air and towards the cart. She adjusted herself with a quick burst of air and landed in the vehicle right next to Aria. She re-established her ward on the bed of the cart and wrapped it and Bessie in a dome of translucent blue light. Crawlers crashed against the barrier right after, bouncing off of the magical energies as the auroc barrelled into the main street. The soldiers cleared the way as best they could, but the number of Brutes were overwhelming. One of the hulking creatures stood in the way of Bessie, and Jahora prepared to drop the barrier to ready a large burst of power in her hands. A blur next to the aberration gave her pause.
The following explosion gave her hope.
Felix appeared next to the Brute, his sword-staff impaled into the creature’s side. He pressed the button near the tip of his weapon, splitting the blade and revealing the barrel that was hidden within. A burst of red following, blasting off half of the Brute’s torso in a spray of brackish blood. The force from the energy knocked the corpse to the side, clearing the way for Bessie to continue forward. Three more Brutes tried to close in, but Felix was already moving. The Huntsman was a streak of silver marked by a line of red, cleaving and splitting the beasts in two with an intensity that dwarfed the frenzy that drove the Gaunths. Another Brute tried to claw at the cart from behind, but was cleaved head to toe by Felix before it could even get within reach of the vehicle.
The Huntsman swiped his blade across the ground, carving a clear line at the threshold of the street and the warehouse’s main area. “Shieldbearers! Form up!” He shouted.
His command burst through the air with an authority that straightened the soldiers backs and spurred their movements. The ones with shields crashed through the horde and planted themselves across the line. The Gaunth horde had poured most of their numbers into the warehouse’s open area, but they still pursued the children. A pursuit that would prove fruitless, as they were met by an indomitable barrier of soldiers. Elly danced behind them, her body ablaze with shifting magics that smote the Crawlers and Brutes alike.
“Spearmen! Cull the numbers that slip through!” Felix shouted after he cleaved through another Brute.
The rest of the soldiers slipped through or leapt over the shield wall and did as they commanded with mechanical precision, stemming the tide that pursued them. On the roofs of buildings, Jahora could see the sickly green lights of Shriekers start to form.
Gunshots rang out, their cadence rapid but aim true as each bullet smothered the lights of the creatures before their screams could be made. The direction they came from was distant, drawing Jahora’s eyes away from the warehouse and above, to the tower that jutted out from Felix’s house.
Camilla stood on top of it, a box of ammunition at her side and line of clips in front of her on the balcony. Her rifle was readied, muzzle flash ablaze with each instance of a new Shrieker making themselves known. Eight shots, followed by a ring from the ejected clip was her rhythm, and it was with this beat that screams were silenced around the cart.
“Marksmen!” Felix yelled, “Follow Camilla’s lead!”
Arrows and bullets followed wherever Camilla fired, culling those of the horde that were not contained within the warehouse square. Some still slipped through the rain of projectiles, but bounced off of Jahora’s barrier as Bessie barrelled through the streets. Alba hopped onto the beast and turned her down another street to avoid running into the forest. The village may have been swarmed, but to flee into the trees would only leave them more vulnerable. Camilla continued to cover them with gunfire, but since they were out of the main road most of the other troops were unable to provide further support. Regardless, confidence had been instilled within Jahora. Their numbers were thinner and her barrier was holding. They could do this, they cou-
Bessie rounded another corner, and her hopes fell silent.
Aria trembled at the sight of the horde that waited for them. It wasn’t the size of the force that assaulted the warehouse, but even then she could see that their numbers were overwhelming. Crawlers lined the buildings of this street, writhing masses of paper yellowed flesh bolstered by the Brutes that stomped down the street. Shriekers glowed to life on the buildings, but Camilla’s gunfire prevented their screams.
For a time.
Alba ushered Bessie towards the far end of the street, but even there another mass of creatures waited for them. The numbers of the Shriekers were too much for even Camilla’s aim to suppress, and once again their wails tore through the night. A wave of corrupted Aether crashed against Jahora’s barrier, cracking its surface as the energies collided. The Mage shifted her stance and turned the magical shield into a wave of white light that pressed back the corrupted energy, but Aria could tell that she was straining herself.
Snow and Shadow stood next to Jahora, the cubs’ fur bristling from sparks of power that were now flowing through their small bodies. Growls slipped through their maws as they trembled in place, pushing more Aether into the runes at Jahora’s feet. The Mage was able to push back the tide of power further with their help, but the rest of the Gaunths were closing in. Alba and Maricia hopped from the cart and faced both sides, their expressions determined, but grim. The children huddled around the expectant mothers, too terrified to even weep, and Aria herself was paralyzed with fear. That was reflected in Serena, who looked up at her mother, too scared to even express joy at the sight of her. The energies of the Shrieker’s screams remained at bay, but their sound clawed into Aria’s ears, flaring that fear inside of her even more.
A howl cut through it all.
Geroth leapt over the cart and crashed into the oncoming horde, ablaze with emerald green light. Gales of wind surged around the white wolf and ripped the Crawlers from their feet before they slammed against each other in a vacuum formed out of Geroth’s magics. The Enlightened Beast crashed into the gathered massive, wreathed in power that sliced through the creatures in sprays of blood. A sharp bark thundered through the street afterwards, carrying a shockwave of concussive force that blasted even the Brutes back.
From the opposite end, Gaunths still approached, but the sudden arrival of Geroth made them hesitate. A couple of Crawlers, too frenzied to think otherwise, still lunged at the cart, but a spear from an alleyway pierced one in the side before it could get close. Helbram emerged onto the road afterwards, intercepting the remaining aberration with his shield. His sword snapped into existence in a flash of blue light and he wrapped his fingers around it before driving it into the Crawler’s chest. It was limp by the time that it hit the ground.
“Marcia, Alba!” He called out, readying his weapons at the approaching horde.
More gunshots rang out from the tower, peppering the Gaunths that were not engaged by Geroth. The sight of Helbram filled Aria with hope, but a tumultuous one.
“Aria, Serena, listen to me,” the warrior said. He did not face them, but there was an intensity to his voice that commanded their attention. “Think of nothing else but awakening your abilities. Right here, right now.”
Serena looked at him in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Just like your training, focus and summon the strength that you have within you.” His hands clenched around his sword as the Gaunths drew closer. “You both have all that you need to do this. Trust me and focus.”
Aria put her hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Let’s do it.” Firm words, but a shaky resolve.
Serena looked back up at her mother, took in a deep breath, and nodded.
Both sat down in the bed of the cart and closed their eyes. With Jahora close, slipping into meditation came easier to Aria, and soon the sounds of battle faded off into the distance as she gathered Aether within her. It was not so much that it would weaken Jahora’s spell, but enough to feel it circulating through her body. The Cold felt closer this time, not interfering with Aria’s thoughts and instead watching over the gathered energies that flowed around her head. The power swelled further, condensing into a rough shape, but despite her drive and focus she was unable forge it into its completed form. She thought of how everyone was fighting so hard around her, how she wanted… needed to help them. The grip over the power tightened and she could feel the power around her head grow more tangible, but still that power would not fully manifest.
The Cold then decided to step in.
It was not overpowering, it did not flash images in her head this time. No, instead she felt a gentle presence wrap around the Aether swirling around her temples. It locked the power in place, forming a constant current that built upon itself with each particle of energy that found itself locked into its circuit. Perhaps in different times Aria may have rejected such help, wanting to have taken this first step on her own terms, but even in her young age she knew that such pride would only spell failure. She accepted The Cold’s help, and felt a chill wash over her body and finally, around her head.
Her eyes snapped open, ablaze with a frosty blue light. Light dimmed around her and swelled at her temples, bringing to life a Circle of Aether in a flash of power. The same light that glowed from her eyes surged through the Ring, and Aria allowed the Cold a final moment. Her hand snapped to her rapier and she stood up. She drew the sword and thrust it out in front of her, the cold power built within her releasing as a burst of fractales taking the shape of spikes. The frozen projectiles flew past Helbram and impaled the Crawlers that he was locked in combat against. At the same time, steel gray light burst forth from Serena, sending a wave of power that pulsed past Alba and Marcia, causing their foes to pause at the sudden surge of energy. The two women capitalized on this and finished off the creatures. Aria moved to join them, the power within her instilling within her a confidence that they could take on the tide, that she could hel-
Helbram shoved her back. It wasn’t a violent motion, but a gentle one. One that was paired with a look at Jahora, then Alba and Marcia. Grim looks washed over them, but they hopped into the wagon.
Except Helbram.
Everything happened so fast that Aria couldn’t even react to it all. The words were forming at her throat, the desire to shout out at what was happening, what was dawning on her in that moment, but the retreat of Geroth from his assault smothered her voice. Helbram looked at the white wolf, then smacked Bessie on her side.
“Go!”
The beast charged into the alley closest to them, and Aria saw that the Gaunths did not pursue. Too much power swelled around the wagon, now bolstered by the newly awakened amongst their ranks. Their light was too bright to pursue now, too dangerous to the instincts of the creatures. No, there was a new target, one who’d never known the light of power, who remained in the shadows of the night, who grew distant from her cries.
Who stood firm as the horde descended upon him.
Author's Note: PHEW! This one was a mental challenge, let me tell you, had a lot of stuff that I wanted to happen and sequencing it all while giving everyone an appropriate moment was a nightmare. I hope it came out well!
Till next update everyone, have a wonderful time!
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