As her Captain, I'm impressed with her progress. With the prisoners she had going to the fortress, she made sure to have a guard with her while it was going on. It's been nearly ten years since she decided to take up the sword, when she found the Royal Advisor's studies boring. I'd like to think that the both of us, and the Old Man learned a lot from training her, and also changing how we train the others here.

"You're smiling, Captain."

Gunter interrupted that thought. "You taught me how to, Old Man. I'm only thinking of the Princess. She's grown well."

"She has," Gunter agreed. "It's sad that we have to let her go."

I nodded. I was surprised at the news, but it was expected, given her status. "I hope what we've done is enough."

"She reminds me of you, in a way."

"Huh."

"When you first came here, you were bounded with the other prisoners, and this Northern Fortress was a crueler image than the one that Weiss is used to. It was King Garon who spared you from the Crown Prince's blade, the idea that you could be reformed."

I smirked. "She and the advisor are what helped, but you started it."

"C-Captain! Look!"

One of the soldiers. Our eyes were turned to the forest. A strange darkness started engulfing the ground. Monsters starting rising from that dark, strangely masked, and they didn't look Hoshidan at all.

Maybe Weiss was right. "My army." I prepared my battle axe.

"Your army." Gunter steeled himself.

We had the high ground on three levels. It was the advantage for what we had as a force here. I raised my hand. "Soldiers! Stand firm! Archers! Ready arrows!"

"Ready arrows!" "Ready arrows!" "Ready arrows!"

Archers on our level were readying arrows.

The monsters moved slowly. From where were standing, no doubt did they stand taller than all of us, even with Gunter on horseback.

"Hold!"

Some were beginning to pick up speed. There were at least a dozen, and a dozen more coming towards the castle. Once they hit the second level of high ground-"Fire All!"

"Fire!" "Fire!" "Fire!"

A barrage of arrows at the monsters. The sheer force only took a handful of them down.

"Pikemen! Shields up! Become a wall of steel!"

"Shield and Spears!" "Shields and Spears Ready!" "Shields! Spears!"

A line of spears and shields came in front of us. We were few, but our strength was many.

The arrows continued firing. With a lack of basic artillery, I made sure that we were stocked for the seasons to come. And it was working. The monsters were dying off.

I raised my right hand up. "Hold fire!"

The arrow storm stopped.

All the monsters were badly damaged by the sheer force of the arrows. Victory-

*rumble* *rumble* *rumble* *rumble*

Earthquake! "Hold fast! Take a knee!"

Everyone took a knee to stay upright. Some would stab their shields into the ground for support. Gunter seized his horse from bucking him off.

More enemies were coming from the ground.

*crack* *crack* *crack* *crack* *crack* *crack*

Roots burst from the ground and starting grabbing the enemy reinforcements from rising up.

"Look!"

A pair of riders-horseback and wyvernback-were charging in. The archers stopped firing. I know those two-

"Prince Xander! And Princess Camilla!" one of the soldiers shouted.

The soldiers started cheering. It wasn't just them-a banner was here to assist us. We would defend the town as they attacked the monsters. It was an assured victory for all of us-

*kon* *kongbong* *bongbingkon* *konbingong* *gonbong* *bikon*

If two of the bells are ringing, then it's to recall the troops. Why are four going off-?

"Captain Hans! Captain Hans!"

One of the loggers was running and stumbling his way towards us. He was coming from inside the town?

"Monsters everywhere! The town is under attack!"

Not good-I have to-!

Gunter placed a hand on my shoulder. "It's no good! We can't fight on two fronts, even with the royalty assisting! We must protect the outer walls!"

"Hope to the Gods that Weiss and Iago can manage."

"Captain Hans!" It was Prince Xander and Prince Leo. They speedily rode to me.

"Prince Xander! Your timing couldn't be more impeccable. We are under siege!"

"Where's Weiss?"

"Interrogating prisoners, but she's likely evacuating the civilians into the fortress, after hearing those bells."

"Good head on her. Leo!"

"Yes, Brother?"

"Your magic is strengthened through the trees and roots here. Take command over area and assist the soldiers here! I'll take Gunter and Hans to assist at the other walls!"

"Yes, Brother!"

Relinquishing command to royalty was a strong worry, but I trust Prince Xander's command, and him and his brother and sisters' abilities to see a battle through.