Woo-hoo, new Favorite and new Followers, the power of something! Thank you all.

Thank you Varupikusu and Presea for your reviews.

I've finally started writing again after being stopped way back in March. Thank you enormous backlog! But man, almost two months of no forward progress. That's eight Chapters posted with only the most minor words put towards progress. Well, I'm recovering, finally. My words written target is growing shorter every day. Even if its not the fastest, its steady. Chapter 37, first started back in March is done, and so is Chapter 38. Both of which are huge 10,000+ word Chapters. Chapter 39's making steady progress of its own too, might even get it done before I post this hahaha. My two target goals are completely eliminating my word deficit and getting back to having double the currently posted chapter as my backlog. Chapter 50 here I come!

Anyway, early update since I've gone to bed early each day this week and frankly this is the latest I've actually been awake since the last update. No chance of just waking up when the clock ticks over so zoom zoom increased Saturday stats or something.

But enough babbling about words, have some other words.

Tales of Xillia and the Tales of Series are the copyright of Namco Bandai and whoever else owns the rights. I own nothing except for OCs that have unfortunately appeared.

Chapter 25: To War

Ivar had ran ahead of them into the Arklund Quag to retrieve his wyvern as quickly as possible and the circumstances being what they were mostly everyone hurried off after him. Alvin hastily wrote a note for Jude detailing instructions for retrieving whatever was missing from Teepo, but after that everyone took off. A shame they couldn't get to see Talim in its glory, but Jude understood. So he and Leia carrying the still unconscious Nadia were all that entered into his school.

It was well into true night now by his own internal memory, but even still the inside of the school was distressingly deserted. Though, considering their appearance perhaps that was for the best? But even still they recieved odd looks from the patients and staff still remaing. He could already predict some of the questions rummaging in their heads "why haven't they brught that girl over" and "is something wrong with Jude's arm". He was grateful for the concern he was assuming they'd have but... he needed to find Prinn. She was the only one who could be trusted with Nadia.

Should he check out the woman's dorms? It'd be rude(and weird) but Prinn would probably be okay with it...

"Jude?" Prinn's voice came from nearby as he was awash in thoughts. He looked up, spotted her coming from one of the side hallways.

"Prinn what are you doing here?" he asked. "Your shift ended earlier didn't it?" Wait, that didn't matter, this was an incredible stroke of good fortune.

"It did, but the army conscripted so many doctors and nurses on its march north," she explained to him. "So most of us just got dragged into a extra shifts to cover."

"That's horrible," Jude grimaced at the news. But, it was convenient in an ugly way for them. "I have someone for you to take care of." Jude stepped aside(he'd been blocking Prinn from seeing Leia and Nadia).

"Oh, Lady Nadia!" Prinn exclaimed and ran over, and took her off Leia's back. "Doctor Jude what happened?" she was a bit desperate as she spoke, she hadn't checked Nadia's vitals.

"There was... fighting, lots of fighting. I've managed to treat her injuries but she's caught a fever from all the..." ugh, what to call it? "Stuff we went through." That was hopelessly vague.

"I see," she touched her forehead to Nadia's, and confirmed Jude's diagnosis with a nod. "You're right, I have some medication in the exam room, follow me." She quickly took the lead, even carrying the younger girl she moved faster than them, or maybe because she was carrying her? Either way, they reached the exam room, the same one where Jude and first met Nadia... where everything changed.

Prinn quickly laid the sick girl down on the bed. She went to a nearby cabinet and retrieved several medical vials and bottles while Jude more-or-less plopped into a chair. He'd probably been awake for a full day at this point, and all the adrenaline coursing through him was fading... and so was his will to keep awake. Prinn finished her collection and stepped over to Nadia, taking some vital readings before slowly applying medication.

"Wow, no hesitation at all," Leia awed in wonder. "I think I could learn a thing or too from you."

"Hm?" Prinn looked up, almost finally realizing Leia was here. "You're... Leia aren't you? Jude's childhood friend."

"Yep, that's me!" she agreed with a nod.

"It's good to finally meet you," she looked back at Nadia, who was still red as her dress with fever. "I just wish it were under better circumstances."

"Yeah," Leia nodded again and looked back at Jude. "We need to get you checked out next mister."

"Right," he replied. Prinn looked at him, curious. Guess she was too concerned with Nadia to notice at first. Jude stood back up, barely—Leia even had to brace him. He slowly pulled off his coat, wincing each time the bad arm hit him with pain. When he finally pulled it off he could clearly see the damage was internal. No bones broke the skin and no blood poured out, but the arm was bruised from shoulder to elbow and even his wrist was turning black-blue. Everyone gasped at the extent of his injuries, even him.

And Nadia had taken hits harder than him twice. Was he weak, or was she that strong? No, that was irrelevant.

"I'll get another doctor in here right away," Prinn announced and quickly ran out of the room before anyone could stop her. That left the mostly fine Leia, half-conscious Jude and fully unconscious Nadia.

It turned into a rather awkward silence, only broken by everyone's breathing. He must have really screwed up if Leia wasn't trying to say anything huh? But she was eventually the one to speak. "Hey, Jude, I think, I think I'm gonna stay here, with you." She told him.

"Huh, really?" he looked at her, she was swaying nervously a bit at her decision. "I-i'd like that," he answered, and huddled himself forward. "But, you really need to go and help the others. I'll be fine, but they need all the help they can get." He gave as much of a smile he could muster considering the circumstances.

She smiled back at him, and giggled. "You're right, I just, needed to hear you say it." her smile dropped a bit, still there, just sad. "But make sure you come as soon as you get better, okay!"

"Heh, yeah, I have to pay you back for Felgana and here," he wanted to thank her even more. He gave a pitiful laugh back. He couldn't do much else, all the exhaustion he'd been pushing back was quickly finding its ways into every part of his body. All he could do was lean back in the chair and closed his eyes. Just a want to rest my eyes for a minute, he thought before he fell asleep instantly.

"Say, Jude," Leia pipped up at him. "Jude?" she said again, "hey, don't ignore me." She pouted a bit as he still didn't answer back. Could, could he be? She rushed over and checked him out. "Jude?" she said again. Good, good, he was alive. He just... must have fallen asleep. She took a deep breath that calmed her beating heart down. With everything that was going on she might have jumped to a conclusion a little bit too fast. It would be embarrassing if she wasn't the only one in the room awake.

Leia looked over at the other occupant of the room. That nasty Agria girl. Or Nadia? Whichever. Jude had thrown himself on the line for her and she was being all rude about it! What an ungrateful little brat she was. Well, it's not like Alvin killing her would have solved everything, but if she acted nice things probably wouldn't have gotten so far, right? Well, what was done was done. Even if Agria was a jerk, and Alvin too kinda. Killing someone defenseless like that was just, terrible!

She looked back over to Jude. Standing up to Alvin like that, that was the Jude she knew, knew her whole life. He wasn't one to let things like that happen, seeing him all back to normal like that, it just, warmed her heart. Helping Milla was first, yeah, but Milla was helpful and friendly. Agria decidedly wasn't! But, that wouldn't stop Jude. Even if he bumbled and tumbled he'd stick by what he'd always done. It was, mesmerizing, in its ways.

She caught herself smiling, but really couldn't help it. Even with his left arm a mess, awkward posture and hair ran dirty and ragged from all the activity, Jude was Jude. Her childhood friend, training partner and... crush.

She liked Jude, in more than just a friend way. She'd realized it years ago, but she'd blown it off as just that, a crush from when she was too young to know any better. But there time apart just made her... remember him more and more fondly. Every little thing he did, every mistake, every success. The look on his face when he was accepted into Talim. They all became cherished memories.

He never wrote for years, so all those memories remained as that. She engrossed herself in her own nurse training thinking maybe, just maybe one day they could see each other again that way. But then out of the blue she received his letter.

And then he returned. So quickly, so abruptly. She couldn't even put her own feelings in order, she was too surprised. But he'd come back, and in the end he was still the same Jude. The same one she'd fallen for. He'd ran off to help so quickly it was amazing. It was so... Jude. And she wanted to follow him. She could now! She wasn't the weak little girl she was growing up together with him. She saved them in the mines, she could do it again! But then, ah, she got on the wrong boat. THAT was embarrassing. But, she persisted, and they found each other again. She was strong now... she could stand by his side, as a nurse, as a fighter and maybe as... ahhhhhh she didn't finish that thought, feeling a blush creep into her face.

But... those were her feelings. They'd been so close to death she, she had to admit them to herself. Maybe—no definitely! She'd admit them to Jude. Just, not today. Not with the world still in danger.

She whirled around, that Nurse, Prinn wasn't back yet. She guessed the doctor shortage was more severe than either of them realized. Prinn herself seemed nice, she'd quickly taken Agria off her back and got everything up and ready in no time. That kind of swift confidence was a bit inspiring. Talim really was where the best and brightest went. She really should have studied harder, she realized and chuckled at her own failing. But she and Jude had both grown up fine apart. Still, she couldn't help but feeling envious of Prinn as well. She was around Jude an awful lot now and she was real pretty. M-maybe that was why Jude was so resolved to help Agria, to get into Prinn's good graces?

No, that wasn't how Jude was. That was a really weird tangent to go off on. No, Jude was just a good guy like that. He wasn't one to have strange ulterior motives like that. Which, probably meant trouble in the future if she ever confessed, but uh... that could be saved for then. If they lived that long. She had no, thoughts that they hadn't stumbled into something exceedingly dangerous. A civil war and a war with another country? She wasn't trained for this. But, it was the right thing to do, and she would do all she could!

The door opened up, and Prinn finally returned, breaking Leia's self-reflection with a relieved breath of air. She was escorting an elderly doctor with her, the old man hustling over to check out Jude immediately. "Doctor Wilson is one of our leading experts, Doc-Jude's recovery should be fine."

"Thank you!" Leia earnestly answered her.

"Anything for Jude," Prinn replied to her thanks. "Do you have someplace to stay? I could arrange something here if you don't," she offered.

She was really nice, wasn't she? But Leia shook her head. "No, thanks, I have to go catch up to everyone else. Take good care of Jude for me, okay?"

"I will," she gently smiled back. "Don't do anything dangerous, Jude wouldn't want you in any danger."

Leia chuckled back. "Don't worry, I promise. Make sure to tell him that too." She bowed in gratitude to her, the both of them, before leaving the room herself. She wished she could stay, both for Jude, and to see the school, but, duty? Justice? Goodness? one of those called and she walked just a bit faster to head outside. The cool air of Fennmont snapped her unto focusing on her main task, and she broke into a sprint as she followed after the trail to the Arklund Quag.

The wetlands north of Fennmont were miserably wet and raining while also crawling with monsters. But it's where they'd hitched the wyverns, It would be impossible to land them in the Braunur Highroad with the army nearby, Rowen had said. But with the army marching north, weren't they in just as much danger? Maybe, maybe not but they needed to head north anyway.

Her feet splashing into puddles was the only partner she had on her run back north. The others—or the wyverns—must have cleared out the monsters on their way, as she encountered nothing dangerous on her run. Only the ugly scenery, her own footfalls and the constant rain drenching her remained.

She passed by the narrow rock passageway they'd taken, just behind the next corner they would be waiting for her—without the wyverns, she first noticed when she saw them. "What happened?" she blabbed out first.

"Wyverns took off," Alvin continued to look at the spot they'd rested in scorn. "Ivar said something about his wyvern saying the Auj Oule wyverns said they were returning after dropping us off. Weird as that sounds." The man gave a halfhearted shrug at the idea. "Looks like Gaius outplayed us a bit."

Milla shook her head at Alvin's relaying. "The wyverns were a convenience, nothing more. We can still make it on foot."

'I'd rather not cross through this wet corner of hell then march across another wet corner of a hell of a battlefield," the man sighed. "Dammit."

"Come on, we can't let something like this get us down, right!" Leia tried to cheer up the general misery. "We just, have to hold our heads high and chests out and keep trying!" She did just as she instructed, and even put her hands on her hips. "We just beat a king, a little water in our shoes won't stop us."

"My, aren't you peppy?" Alvin gave a lukewarm answer. "Nobody's saying we won't do this, but we'll probably have to fight our way to the Lance. And frankly, a slog through this place first will just serve to exhaust us before we even get there. It's hard going after that fight with Nachtigal, we might not make this." He grimly reported.

"No!" Leia roughly shook her head and stomped her foot, the icky ground water splashing to her knee. "Jude went and fought the king nearly by himself. If he, if he could do that, then we have to keep going too!"

Rowen chuckled at her declaration, and offered a smile in return. "Your enthusiasm is admirable Miss Leia. But facts are still what they are. I have no intention of giving up, but what we encounter may greatly exceed even challenging Nachtigal to combat."

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think we could do this!" she resolutely clenched her fists. "Jude's doing his best back at Fennmont, so we have to do our best out here."

"My," Milla grinned a bit. "And I thought I was dedicated to my mission. Well, let's say we get moving then."

"Alright!" Leia threw her arms up in victory. "And uh, sorry if I pushed you all too hard eh he, especially you Elize."

"It's fine," the young girl answered, but Teepo said something different. "Well not entirely fine."

"I'll, keep that in mind?" she sort of said back. The Elize and Teepo thing was pretty confusing. "But anyway, Jude's gonna be just fine." Leia finally got around to telling them. It was kind of.. mean they hadn't asked though. "And that Agria girl too I guess."

"Good news on the first," Alvin put himself back in the conversation. "Bad news on the second. But, whatever. Ivar flew off too. So, if we don't have anything else to do, let's get a move on."

"Right!"

Ivar soared the skies again, his friend roaring with approval to be out again so quickly. But to Ivar, it was the exact opposite. he was being sent away from Lady Milla once again! Her trust in that old man's strategies was starting to grow wearisome. He had already failed with their first attack, and it wasn't by any planning that the second was successful, because it had failed in its own way. Now, he got to continue traveling with Lady Milla while Ivar had to go report to that Cline fellow. Not that he had anything against that guy, but playing errand boy for anyone other than Lady Milla wasn't his job!

But she had commended he listen, and he would. That was his duty. He had to take a roundabout path over the sea though, he didn't want to upset those Petroblancs again. It'd been somewhat frightening leading them around like that, not that he let Lady Milla know that! He was the picture of confidence once he'd relayed the news to her back then. But now wasn't the time to be thinking of past success when future ones were right on the horizon.

It was also time for some sleep. He could trust his friend to guide him safety to Sharilton while Ivar got in some nap time. He'd been training to sleep on transport beasts just for such an occasion after all! Ivar gripped the saddle and slowly let sleep take him...

His wyvern roared, waking him for their final dive unto Sharilton's central plaza. They swooped in, the dive whipping back Ivar's silver hair before he forcefully stopped, and gently landed down. The soldiers and townsfolk had grown, accustomed to wyverns and weren't panicking as they did before. Which was good, but it also lost some of the luster of landing in a crowd of people and everyone being amazed. Still, for now it would let him meet with Cline easier.

"Hello Ivar." Really, easy it seemed as the young man greeted him from nearby. "I presume you have a message for me?" he accurately deduced Ivar's presence.

So of course he crossed his arms and acted annoyed. "Yes I do, that manservant of yours has quite the nerve bossing me around like that. I'm Lady Milla's servant, not yours."

"My apologies then," the Lord of Sharilton bowed before the bearer of news. "These times can be trying on all manners, but please, the message." He insisted in a weird pleasant sort of ordering way.

Ivar grunted, but relented his angry posturing. "Very well, Rowen's instructions are to inform you that the Auj Oule army is on the march and crossing the Fezebel Marsh as we speak. Or is it relay." Which was it? Oh, whatever. "He's gone ahead with to repel the invasion and stop the Lance of Kresnik, which we weren't able to destroy in Fennmont."

"Foul omens," Cline grimaced at the deliver news. He held together far better than his subordinates, who all began whispering amongst themselves. "Is there more?" he asked, desperate for something good.

So Ivar gave it to him. "Yes, King Nachtigal has fallen in battle, and Rowen has sent word that Fort Gandala should be opened to allow your armies through."

"He-he managed that?" he responded in surprise. To Nachtigal's death or Rowen already taking the military back, Ivar couldn't ell. Maybe both. "Rowen's talents continue to inspire me even now. Very well," Cline rose his voice to the limits, a powerful voice, one fit for a king. "All soldiers, prepare to march! King Nachtigal has been slain, our civil war is over! But for all the blood that has been spilled to bring us this far, we must fight yet again. We will not surrender our country so easily to Auj Oule!" Rounds of cheering erupted around the Lord of Sharil, and his soldiers began preparations immediately. "Ivar," Cline spoke, clear through the throngs of cheering. "Send my thanks to Rowen, we'll be there as soon as we are able."

"Yeah, sure," Ivar hopped back on his wyvern and took off. He'd be praised by Lady Milla now, he was sure of it!"

The group traversing Arklund Quag eventually made their way to the southern entrance to Fezebel. Wet, cold, tired, hungry, every infliction they could suffer was upon them. But they had made it. The narrow passageway forward was guarded by just a handful of soldiers in black armor. But the trials of the trail had taken its tole on them, if this erupted into violence, it would be difficult to accomplish anything.

Rowen took the lead, the soldiers on watch crossing their spears to bare his passage. "I am Chief of Staff Rowen J. Ilbert!" he announced over the never-ending rain. "I return to aid the Rashugal army once more. If you would turn me and my experience away do so now! Else let us pass so I may lead us to victory," he gave his ultimatum. The sentries looked among one another, and relented, clearing the path. "You will not regret this."

Rowen led them forward, past the rearguard troops and into a small tent. A soldier in white armor waited for them at a large table situated in the tent, a map of Fezebel on it. Chess pieces representing the armed forces of Rashugal and Auj Oule moved and charged about on the map. Already dozens of the white pieces of Rashugal were laid over and broken, while only a few of Auj Oule's blacks were as such. "This table represents a tactical overview of the battle, reading our soldier's lilum orbs to designate deployment." Rowen informed the others as several black pieces surrounded and knocked a white piece down. Far to the north of the Rashugal base camp.

"Hey, that piece looks different!" Leia pointed out a monolith being flanked by over a dozen white pieces on the eastern edges of the map.

"That division is taking part in a special operation led by the Deputy Chief of Staff himself." The general in white told them. "They've currently encountered no meaningful resistance from the Auj Oule forces."

"Gilland's operation," Milla glared at the piece with all her hatred.

"Yes. He should arrive on site a little after 1300 hours." He continued to inform them. "We've been given no details, although we hear this operation will turn the tide of battle in one fail swoop." Several more white pieces fell over as the black ones advanced. "We've been ordered to concentrate as many troops as possible around that site when the operation commences, but currently our troops are having difficulties just maintaining their position. It may be impossible for us to rally."

Rowen rubbed his beard and studied the board. The Rashugal army was being beaten back severely, without support from the Cline forces the battle might be lost even before the Lance got in position. And that position was... he looked over Gilland's current path... there, Rowen highlighted a small enclosed bluff. "Gilland's destination must be here, correct?"

"Yes sir. Precisely, I should have expected nothing less than the Conductor himself." The soldier uselessly complimented him.

"I do not like where this is heading," Rowen grimaced at the table. Wingul would no doubt have figured this plan of action out as well. It was a likely chance they'd cross paths with the Chimeriad or even King Gaius himself.

Milla glared at the slowly advancing piece. "He no doubt has plans to use the Lance of Kresnik." But, she shifted and touched her chin. "Yet, why would he leave his own army in the dark?" She was right, it didn't make any sense.

Leia asked her own question. "Do you think we could catch up to him before he activates the Lance of Kresnik?"

Rowen studied the positioning on the board a few seconds more and concluded. "No, he'll almost certainly have the Lance in position before we arrive." If it arrives at all. "We might be able to stop it from activating though." The black king representing Gaius slowly made its way forward now. If he reached the front there would be no stopping him.

"Gilland doesn't have the key," Milla mentioned.

"But Gaius does," Alvin added. "I think the real problem is getting to the Lance before he does."

"You," the soldier spoke up. "you mean this plan might fail?"

"No, while I'm here we may still emerge victorious in this battle," Rowen confidently said. "But for now securing the Lance of Kresnik is our greatest priority." Rowen activated the mechanism which let him communicate to the soldiers in the field. "All units receiving this communication retreat to the nearest defensible location." The right-wing soldiers, those furthest from the Lance took those orders. His next set were for those closer. "All units receiving this message, fight to the following points and act as a vanguard for Deputy Chief of Staff Gilland's mission. King Gaius' forces are on the march, do not engage unless absolutely necessary." Rowen dropped the communications and looked back at the commander. It was time for another important question. "How is the Auj Oule army crossing the marsh?" he stroked his beard at the pieces aligning themselves. "I don't believe Ragnome ever arrived."

The general explained. "Are you familiar with the Boosters that Auj Oule has developed?" Rowen stopped himself from looking at Elize. "The enemy is using them to amplify their mana output and alter the spirit clime in the immediate area."

"In other words, they use the boosters to summon vast amounts of earth spirits and force the spirit clime into Ragnome." Rowen's mouth was agape at the sheer unprecedented power at display here. "They've actually changed the seasons. A brilliant stratagem. One only Wingul could envision." Rowen studied the map as the decay of the white pieces slowly settled down. "I would wager we have enacted the same strategy?"

"Yes, as you've surmised. We've assigned them to every soldier, and one member in each squad has the job of altering the spirit clime."

"I see," Rowen watched the Rashugal army slowly begin holding its ground. Gilland's tactical skills still needed work, but to counter a plan of Wingul's level was no easy feet. Perhaps he had underestimated the man. For now the Rashugal army would be fighting equal, but once Gaius reached the field there was little to stop him. It was a matter of halting the king for as long as he could. "I've already sent word to the Sharil forces, they'll be here as soon as possible," Rowen informed the general. "Until then, keep the troops fighting in defensive formations. No advancing."

"Sir!"

"And retrieve a booster for our use immediately," Rowen commanded the soldier, who nodded and left to retrieve one.

"Huh?" Teepo pouted. "Why aren't you gonna use me?"

"I've conserved my strength more efficiently, and am rather more proficient in earth artes," he informed Teepo... and Elize. "You will still have the important job of keeping us alive Miss Elize, make no mistake about it."

"Alright," the girl accepted his explanation.

The soldier returned, booster in hand, giving it over to Rowen. Before they could depart, he whispered something to him. "Chief Ilbert, before you leave there's one more thing I have to say."

"And that is?"

The general stepped closer, lowering his voice. "We've been hearing multiple rumors of adverse side-effects to booster use. They say prolonged use saps your strength."

This time, Rowen did look at Miss Elize in concern. "You mean to say it leeches away your very life?" his voice was but a whisper

The soldier nodded. "The severity of this affliction seems to vary wildly between victims. But just to be safe, I recommend not using the booster for long periods of time."

"I see, thank you for your concern," Rowen nodded to the soldier before rejoining the others outside in the rain. He spared another glance at Elize. She was young, so suffering any effects would be heavily skewed towards either direction from this booster deriving. Everyone else stood by in the rain, ready to go. Rowen nodded and led them forward a bit.

He looked out over the cliff. Fezebel Marsh was just as ugly as he remembered. The endless rain, the overgrown flora, the murky brown waters ready to drag those unfortunate enough to enter to a watery grave. Scores of soldiers stood-by, ready nearby to deploy at a moments notice. He never wished to return to this accursed place, but maybe this time he could accomplish something worthwhile.

But... there was something he needed to do first. "Alvin," he faced the two-faced mercenary. "A word in private if you will?"

No one was more surprised than the mercenary himself, but he eventually gave up any resistance with a shrug and followed Rowen's lead nearby. "So," Alvin asked. "Gonna ask me about whatever devilish ploy I have up my sleeve now?" He looked ready to open said sleeves as well.

"It is not my place to do so," Rowen answered the question first. "Milla is more than capable of dealing any punishment for whatever you have planned.

Alvin chuckled lightly at the response. "So, what exactly do you need a shady fellow like me for?'

"Percisely because of your... shady nature," Rowen admitted. "This is a war. People will die."

"Grass is green; your point?"

"It is far too early for Miss Elize and Miss Leia to hold the weight of a life in their hands..." he trailed off, hoping the other man would get the idea.

He did. "Ah, I see. Yeah. Ain't no need for them to turn out like me. Don't worry, I'll play the real bad guy for this." He smirked...

"Thank you," Rowen bowed. "But do not think I have forgiven you either."

"Wouldn't dream of it." With that the two men rejoined the ladies.

There was a small makeshift ladder nearby, and they descended it to the ground level of the marsh. "Is everyone ready?" Rowen asked as he prepared the booster. The device was just a small cylinder with a glowing blue center, yet it could change the seasons themselves, or allow Elize to cast artes on pear with him. Truly a fearsome device.

The others nodded, resolute in there course of action. They were tired, from fighting, walking, and sleep. But they had no choice. Rowen focused his mana, activating the device, the surge of power almost overtaking him, but he conducted his music, brought it under control, and felt the spirit climes shift.

"We don't have time to do anything but charge on in," Alvin announced.

"Whaaaa!" Teepo panicked. "That sounds like suicide!"

"I've shifted the troop positions to give us an advantage," Rowen told them. "But it will still be a difficult journey."

"But a worthy one," Milla said. "The fate of humankind and spiritkind hangs in the balance. We will not fail."

"Do you think we should wait for Ivar?" Leia asked.

"Any time spent waiting for him is time we could use moving forward," Milla rejected the proposal. "He can find us well enough." She looked ahead, staring in the direction of her goal, her eyes resolved to finally end her mission. "Let's destroy the Lance of Kresnik!" she shouted and charged on in. Everyone followed her, the cry of battle pushing aside their weariness for hopefully one last time.

AN: And the war is delayed! And it won't start next week either in favor of Jude adventures in Fennmont instead. "UGH" right? Hahaha, sorry to anyone eager about that(like myself). Jude's stuff is actually important now in many ways so I can't just brush it off like the party landing in Fennmont and making it to Nachtigal. But, that means the war will be getting two chapters packed with tons of delicious combat to compensate. Along with some more backpedaled excusing of myself, but we'll get there in... three weeks. Ouch.