Almost immediately, those who could fight gathered in a small huddle. There were things that they needed to discuss and plan out before they could bust out of the prison. Such as a plan, for instance.
It was Edward who was the first one to raise the question. He said quickly, "So, what's our strategy?"
Nolan replied quickly, "Edward and Leonardo, defend Aimee and Kurth from any reinforcements. Sothe and I will form the defensive front line. Micaiah and Ilyana, cast spells from behind to weaken or kill any enemies. Laura heals anyone who is injured."
Leonardo said thoughtfully, "There's one small problem with your strategy."
"Which is?" Sothe asked curiously.
Leonardo replied quietly, "Well, Nolan and yourself are experienced fighters, whereas Edward and I are not. The soldiers in here must be experienced fighters. So, if Edward and I were to get attacked... I don't know if we could fight them off. We could very easily die. I don't want... And then Kurth and Aimee would be in danger."
Nolan nodded at Leonardo's suggestion, "That sounds reasonable. So, Sothe and Leonardo will protect Aimee and Kurth just in case reinforcements do arrive. Edward and I can form the defensive front line. And then the other roles can all stay the same... Does anyone have a problem with this?"
Nobody replied. Everyone thought that the strategy seemed like a good one. Soon afterwards, everyone immediately began to get into formation, ready to fight their way out of the prison. Sothe headed towards Aimee and Kurth, ready to protect them just in case they were attacked. Laura grabbed her healing staff, ready to heal anyone who was injured. Ilyana and Micaiah held their tomes tightly, as they stood behind Edward.
The only people not in formation were Nolan and Leonardo.
As Nolan headed off to form the front line with Edward, Leonardo quickly called out, "Nolan."
"Yes?" Nolan asked, as he walked towards Leonardo.
Leonardo looked down at the ground, as he said quietly, "Please, promise me that you'll protect Edward."
"I promise." Nolan said with a smile, "I will protect the two of you until I draw my last breath. You two are like sons to me, and I couldn't bear to lose you."
Leonardo looked at Nolan, a rare smile beginning to appear on his face. He said, sounding grateful, "Thank you."
With that, Nolan joined Edward on the front lines, whilst Leonardo joined Sothe, Aimee and Kurth at the back. Immediately afterwards, Nolan charged towards a Begnion Fighter, his Axe raised high in the air. The enemy Fighter readied his own axe, before he swung it straight towards Nolan's chest. Nolan quickly dived out of the way, as he landed on the ground.
Ilyana then shut her right hand, forming a fist, as she quickly muttered a spell. A few seconds later, the enemy fighter could hear the air around him begin to crackle. He looked up, and saw several bolts of lightning flying straight towards him. He tried to dodge out of the way, but as he did so, a small bolt of lightning hit him on his arm. The fighter swore, as he dropped his axe on the ground, before he rummaged through his pockets for a Vulnerary.
By then, Edward had jammed his sword straight into the fighter's throat. The fighter slowly fell onto the cold ground, and stopped moving. A small pool of blood began to form around the fighter's corpse and the blood on Edward's sword slowly dripped onto Edward's boots.
As Nolan got off the ground, he could see Micaiah quickly cast a Light Magic spell aimed at the nearest Myrmidon. The burst of Light Magic tore the Myrmidon's right arm off, and the Myrmidon screamed in pain. She desperately tried to stop the blood loss by covering her shoulder with her left hand. Nolan knew that it wouldn't work. They needed Vulnerary, or a Cleric like Laura on her side, to close the wound up and prevent her from losing too much blood.
But Nolan didn't have a Vulnerary. And there wasn't a Cleric nearby. She was doomed.
Nolan walked towards the injured Myrmidon. She seemed young, barely into adulthood. She had probably signed up, expecting glory and excitement, without realising how... Dangerous it would be. She looked so scared, probably at the prospect of dying. Nolan decided to gently pick her up, and move her to someplace where she could die in peace.
"What... What are you doing, vermin?" The Myrmidon asked weakly.
"Moving you out of the way." Nolan replied kindly.
Nolan dragged the Myrmidon into a quiet alleyway, and placed her gently on the ground below. The Myrmidon weakly smiled, and muttered thank you, as her breathing began to slow down and grow quieter. A few seconds later, she was dead.
Edward meanwhile, was engaged in battle with a nearby soldier. The sound of steel hitting iron could be heard across the battlefield. Edward grit his teeth, trying to ignore the blood dripping out of a cut in his arm. He thrust his sword upwards, knocking the steel lance out of the soldier's right hand. Before the soldier got a chance to react, Edward lunged his sword straight into the soldier's chest.
The soldier collapsed onto the floor, and stopped moving.
Edward hurried back to Laura, before holding his arm out to her. Laura smiled gently, as she held her healing staff close to Edward's injury. A few seconds later, Edward could see his injury begin to close up and the bleeding begin to stop.
"Thanks." Edward smiled, before he headed back to the front lines.
Whilst this was going on, Ilyana was muttering another incantation. She then pointed her right hand in the direction of an Armour Knight who was clutching a sword. A bolt of lightning then rained down from the sky, and landed straight on the Armoured Knight's head. The Knight began to scream, as he was slowly electrocuted within his own Armour.
Another Amour Knight, who was holding an axe, ran straight towards his ally, and tried to rip his ally's armour off. Another set of screams could be heard, before the corpses of both armoured knights hit the floor.
Meanwhile, Leonardo and Sothe were a fair distance from the front lines, making sure that any reinforcements didn't attack Aimee and Kurth. Kurth remained silent, listening to the sounds of battle echoing in the distance. Aimee, on the other hand, was enjoying flirting with both Sothe and Leonardo.
"Why, being protected by two gorgeous hunks is every girls dream." Aimee said playfully, as she looked at both Sothe and Leonardo, "Today is my lucky day!"
Leonardo said, sounding frustrated, "Now, if you keep on distracting us, we might not notice the reinforcements."
"Of course, my knight in shining armour..." Aimee said whistfully.
Leonardo replied, "I'm an archer, not a Knight. And I'm not interested in any offers that you make."
"Why's that? Are you...?" Aimee tried to ask, before Sothe interrupted.
"Shhh... Reinforcements up ahead." Sothe said quietly.
Aimee, Kurth and Leonardo looked in the direction that Sothe was pointing. Sure enough, they could see several soldiers running straight onto the battlefield. The three soldiers weren't close to them, luckily, though they were perilously close to Laura and Micaiah.
And one of those soldiers looked oddly familiar...
Laura was healing a small wound on Micaiah's shoulder when they both heard the sound of footsteps. They looked up, and saw three soldiers walking out of an alley way. Laura said thoughtfully, "Hm... That soldier... Could that be..."
"You recognise him?" Micaiah said, sounding curious.
Laura nodded slightly, mumbling, "I think that's my childhood friend... But why?"
She ran. Laura needed to double check that it was him. She knew that she was putting herself in danger by doing so, but what if it was him and her allies killed her childhood friend? She would never forgive herself if her inaction caused her friend's death.
As she got closer, she could see that the soldier had lime green coloured hair, and a face that Laura could remember from her childhood. It was him, it was Aran. She had found him at last. She shouted happily, "Aran? I can't believe it! It IS you!"
"Laura!" Aran said, his voice sounding both happy and shocked. He knew that Laura was in the prison... He just wasn't expecting her to be fighting her way out of the Prison.
Laura continued, saying, "I knew it! But, Aran, why? Why would any true Daein join sides with Begnion?"
"A true Daein? I'm not sure I still am one... Not since a family of merchants from Begnion took me in... But I could never do anything to hurt you. You've always been like a little sister to me. Get out of here, Laura... while you still have a chance! I'll turn a blind eye." Aran said quietly, hoping that Laura would take up his offer and just run. He knew that he'd be punished, but...
Laura said, sounding slightly angry, "But what about Micaiah and Sothe? And Edward, Nolan and Leonardo? They've risked their lives fighting for the abbot—and for me. I couldn't possibly abandon them now, not even if it meant saving myself."
"Oh, bother..." Aran said quietly, knowing that once Laura set her heart on something, he wouldn't be able to change her mind.
Laura asked seriously, "What's wrong?
"I... I can't keep lying to myself any longer. I know what Begnion is doing in Daein is despicable, and I can't support it." Aran said, trying to hide the pain in his voice. He didn't want to let Laura know what he'd been through. He couldn't. She would never forgive him if he told her the truth.
Laura said hopefully, "Then..."
"Then... from now on, I'm fighting for what's right... just like the abbot taught us. Come on. Let's get you—and everyone else—out of here!" Aran said, seriously.
Laura smiled, before happily saying, "Wonderful! Thank you, Aran. I knew it. You haven't changed a bit. You're as considerate as ever. Your family would have been so proud!"
Aran said, "Now, get yourself out of danger."
As Laura ran away from Aran and the other two soldiers, Aran faced the two soldiers in the face. One of the other soldiers was Tobias. The two of them needed to...settle some things...
"Tobias." Aran said, sounding disgusted.
Tobias glared at Aran, before he spat on him, "Hello, Aran. Or should I say Daein scum, you traitor? My torture chamber is empty at the moment. I look forward to having your company in there."
Aran lunged at Tobias, and shoved him against a wall. He was just. So. Angry. Angry that men like Tobias had power, and that they abused their power so easily. Aran grabbed his lance, and shoved it straight into Tobias' throat. Aran dislodged the lance from Tobias's throat, and allowed the monster to lie dead on the floor.
Just then a scream could be heard. Aran turned around, and saw a woman with silver grey hair strike the other soldier with a burst of light magic. As the other soldier fell to the ground dead, Aran paused for a moment. Was that the Silver haired Maiden? It couldn't be, right?
Nolan pulled his axe out of an Archer's chest, as he saw Edward dispatch with the Archer that he was also fighting. That was another two enemies down, and there would be a few more to take down before they could escape from this infernal place. He looked around, and he suddenly spotted a Begnion soldier fighting a Begnion Myrmidon in the distance. Nolan raised his eyebrows. Did a Begnion soldier defect from the army? If so, he neded help!
Nolan yelled at Edward, ordering him to pull back, before he ran towards the Begnion soldier. He recognised the soldier instantly. It was the one that helped hem get into the prison into the first place. The one who wanted to rescue Laura. Nolan charged at the Myrmidon, before swinging his axe straight into the Myrmidon's sword. The sword broke in two, and fell to the floor.
The Myrmidon's eyes widened, as Aran stuck his lance straight into the Myrmidon's chest. Blood trickled out of his mouth, as he slumped onto the lance. Dead.
Aran dislodged his lance, and turned towards the man who rescued him. He muttered quickly, "Thank you for helping me."
"You were the one that helped us rescue our friend." Nolan said, with a smile, "I am Nolan, and you are...?"
Aran smiled back at Nolan, before saying, "Yeah, I saw Laura fighting with you. Thank you for looking after her. I'm Aran, and it's nice to meet you Nolan."
Edward, meanwhile, had engaged in a skirmish with a Begnion fighter who was easily double his height. Edward held onto his sword as tightly as he could, as he blocked an axe that was aimed directly at his chest. Edward pushed his sword forward, causing the fighter to lose his sense of balance.
With that, Edward charged, pointing his iron sword straight at the Fighter's throat.
"You! Crawl quietly back to your cell, and I'll spare you. More than that, however, I cannot promise." A sword knight, who was presumably the commander of these forces, shouted at Micaiah as he galloped towards her on his horse. He swung his sword in the air, with the intent of striking Micaiah and the rest of the Dawn Brigade down.
Micaiah replied back confidently, "Don't be so sure. This isn't our first fight, and it won't be our last."
"A brave, yet foolish, sentiment. Before the might of the empire, you lowlifes are just cracked dirt beneath my boots!" The commander replied, as he drew closer to Micaiah. He barely dodged out of the way as Micaiah launched a bold of light at him. He then swung his sword deep into her chest.
Micaiah collapsed.
"Micaiah!" Sothe shouted, as he ran towards her. Yes, he knew that he should be defending Aimee and Kurth, but he couldn't allow Micaiah to die.
Leonardo called out, "Sothe! What about...?"
"You'll be able to deal with any reinforcements!" Sothe shouted, "It's just that Micaiah needs help."
Leonardo nodded, allowing Sothe to leave, when he saw them. Two soldiers, a Myrmidon and an archer had come out of the prison's entrance. The four of them pointed towards Leonardo, and shouted, before they charged straight towards him. Leonardo immediately told the others to retreat, as he readied an arrow in his bow. He took a deep breath and fired.
The first soldier collapsed onto the ground. He didn't move again.
By this point, Leonardo had readied his second arrow, and fired again at the group. The Archer dodged out of the way, before he fired an arrow straight at Leonardo. Leonardo dodged out of the way too late. He could feel the arrow land straight into his right shoulder.
Damn.
Leonardo knew that the injury he sustained meant that he wouldn't be able to fire accurately. But that didn't mean he was defenceless. He pulled another arrow out of his quiver, intending to use it as a melee weapon.
And that was when a bolt of lightning struck the Myrmidon in the chest. The Myrmidon collapsed on the floor, and began to wither in pain. Another bolt of lightning later, and the Myrmidon stopped moving.
Leonardo turned around, and saw Ilyana standing behind him, ready to strike. Leonardo smiled at his rescuer, and asked, "What about Aimee and Kurth?"
"They're fine." Ilyana said, with a small smile, as she fired another bolt of lightning at the reinforcements. The soldier dropped his lance, his right arm heavily charred by the lightning bolt's strike. Ilyana again, aimed a second bolt of lightning at the soldier.
By this point, the archer had drawn closer, and was aiming a bow at Ilyana, ready to avenge the deaths of his three allies. Leonardo ran straight towards the archer, holding an arrow in hand. As the archer prepared to fire an arrow, Leonardo's arrow sunk straight into the archer's neck.
As Leonardo pulled the arrow out, he could feel the archer's warm blood flowing out of the wound. The archer fell to the ground, and died soon after.
Leonardo wiped the blood off his hands, as Ilyana passed him a Vulnerary. Leonardo smiled, and smeared the vulnerary's contents against his shoulder injury. Leonardo shut his eyes, and winced, as he felt his skin slowly began to heal and the wound began to close up. He reached for his bow, and grabbed an arrow from his quiver.
He just needed to find the others, and protect Aimee and Kurth just in case any more reinforcements arrived.
Sothe, meanwhile, was defending Micaiah from the commander's blade. Laura was kneeling down by Micaiah's side, using her heal staff to try and heal the wound's that Micaiah had sustained. From the corner of Sothe's eye, he could see Edward taking down the last fighter, and Micaiah slowly began to sit up.
Sothe breathed a sigh of relief. She was safe.
In that moment of weakness, Sothe gave the commander an opportunity to strike. The commander swung his sword deep into Sothe's shoulder, causing Sothe to drop his knives in pain. The commander aimed his sword straight at Sothe's neck. This was it. Sothe couldn't fight back, couldn't defend himself against the commander's sword.
Sothe would die soon, and...
Thwack.
Sothe looked up, and saw that an arrow had landed straight into the commander's neck. As the commander fell off his horse, Sothe turned around, and saw Leonardo, covered in blood, aiming a second arrow straight at the commander's chest.
However, the second arrow would never find its target. Micaiah, still woozy from her injuries, had cast a burst of light magic, which settled itself straight into the commander's chest. Sothe could see the commander quietly mutter sometching, and the commander's chest rise and fall one more time.
He was dead.
Sothe could feel Laura's healing staff heal up the wound he had sustained due to his carelessness, as Nolan approached him.
"We've done it. Edward and I killed the archer and the soldier guarding the exit. The coast is clear, and we can escape." Nolan said, sounding relieved.
And with that, everyone ran towards the exit. Leonardo and Sothe were the first to escape, followed by Nolan, Aimee and Ilyana. After them, Laura, Aran and Kurth ran straight out of the prison compound, with Edward and Micaiah bringing up the rear.
They had escaped.
They were free.
Author's Note: As to why Nolan moved the dying body of his opponent away- In the spur of the moment, I realised that I wasn't treating the opposing army humanely (though I have been trying to do that over the course of this story) and so Nolan moved the enemy's body out of the way.