On the road leading west and southwards to Windmire, and then to Castle Krakenburg. We would arrive well into the night, but it seems that didn't matter since King Garon was keen on meeting me.
We were bundled up well, but the wind had me hugging myself to keep warm. To pass the time, Leo decided to ask me questions to determine whether I was "competent with royal etiquette in front of royalty." After the fifth or so question, I just told him his collar was inside-out, and got him complaining to Xander that no one ever told him about it ever since he left to retrieve me. That shut him up for the most of the trip.
Just as the skies gradually darkened, Iago decided to break the quiet and tell me what was going on at Castle Krakenburg. It turns out, Father was preparing to mobilize the army to retake a land of ours from Hoshido. Leo chimed in on this. "The base they took from us was our best place to grow food. Why would the Hoshidans capture that, knowing the situations of our lands?"
"Hoshido claim it was those monsters," Iago answered, "the same ones that attacked the fort, but a report from one of ours mentioned seeing Hoshidan ninja assassinating officials, leaving weapons of their own in the process. There are too many events that leave Hoshido as the perpetrators."
"What other events?"
Iago looked at me concerned, but then realized. "Too many to count, but this might help summarize it; do you recall the story of the Dawn and Dusk Dragons, and how the lands are affected by their grace?"
I nodded. "Hoshido's lands are blessed with abundance, yet lack the capabilities of weapons like ours. Meanwhile Nohr's lands rely strongly on dealing with the harsh weather and geography, making crops and farming difficult. We do, however, boast in our means of the sword and shield."
Iago smiled. "I think it was a good idea that King Garon placed you in the Northern Fortress throughout those times. It helps to have a clear mind about these things, which also helps to add a new perspective on how to deal with problems."
Still, the monsters were actually a thing before the battle. "Sounds confusing."
Iago nodded. "Indeed, milady. That's the truth of what you'll be experiencing as a commander of part of the army you'll be leading to go there."
This was an interesting pair of shoes to fill. Me-a commander of the army, going to-?
Xander raised his arm. We stopped. "Hold here."
"What's wrong, Xander?" Elise asked.
Xander shook his head. I looked at Elise and did the same while placing a finger to my lips. She was scared and started to look around.
It was dead silent.
Suddenly we heard galloping, a light coming towards us. It was Gunter's…horse?
"It's Captain Gunter's horse."
"But the rider isn't there-let's go, Leo."
"Hold, Weiss." Xander stopped me. "Let's stay level-headed about this. Advisor Iago."
"Prince Xander?" Iago asked softly.
"Advisor, is there anything you can cast in order to detect movement?"
"I know of a spell, but I can't hold it for too long."
"Alright. We'll try not to rely on it too much."
Iago prepared his magics by drawing symbols in the air. A strange aura started surrounding his head as he looked around. Finished, the aura dissipated. Iago shook his head. "Nothing to report, milord."
"Alright. Let's pick up the pace and get to Gunter."
The horses would be at trotting speed. It was time to put my skills to the test as well. Leo would steer, while I would be looking and listening for anything out of the ordinary. It would be silent for the rest of the-
Stop!
""STOP!"" Leo and Iago shouted.
Leo suddenly pulled the reins on his horse. Xander stopped-
*zip* *zip zip*
Arrows! They just missed us by a bit!
Xander looked back at us. "Move quickly! Hah!"
Xander spurred his horse to a galloping pace. the rest of us would follow. It would be harder to hit a moving target.
Our escape attempt was short-lived. A huge amount of dirt and trees was blocking the path. Gunter was nowhere to be found.
"Let's dismount. Leo, Iago, see what you can do to clear a path."
"Got it." "Yes, Prince Xander."
Leo and Iago dismounted and started to clear the debris with their magics. Xander and I dismounted and brought my katana out and moved Elise behind our backs.
"What's going on, Big Brother? What's out there?"
I placed a finger to my lips. "Shh! Quiet!"
We stayed silent. Xander and I would need to protect Leo while the debris was being cleared. Those archers would be getting closer.
*zip* *zip zip zip zip zip*
Throwing knives! They were in the mix of the archers. Hoshidans?
"Do you see anything, Weiss?" Xander asked.
My eyes were darting around, looking for any form of movement. I couldn't see anything, even with amount of clouds overhead that allowed me to do so. "Nothing." I held my sword to guard.
*zip*
Whoa! *clang*
One throwing knife. I block it, and that strange feeling of weakness is onset. It feels even stronger, and it's harder to hold the blade. But there they were, three of them, and they definitely were Hoshidan.
Ninja, Samurai and a lancer. The latter two advance, while the former stays back for an opening for one of his knives.
"Stay with Elise!" Xander shouts. He moves forwards to take care of the two. Not minding the reach of the lancer, he moves closer to him. The lancer stabs, misses barely. Xander grabs the stock and pulls it and the lancer towards him.
"Hah!" *stab*
A clean hit, but the samurai sees an opening and prepare to slash-!
"Yah!" *slash*
In time, Xander pulls his blade out and pushes back the samurai with a swing!
"You can do it, Xander!" Elise shouted!
He can do it. Taking care not to get hit by the ninja, Xander made sure to stay in front of the samurai as they both fought.
"Advance!"
Suddenly, Xander charges the samurai, stabs his body, and uses his body to push towards the ninja. His sword was long enough to go through two bodies, and after getting the ninja together, he pulls his blade out and swings overhead!
*slash*
Both down, making all of them down. I was slowly recovering from blocking that knife.
"Weiss! The bodies! They're disappearing?"
What? I looked at the lancer that just died. He was slowly vanishing, just like the monsters back at the fortress!
"What happened? That lancer just vanished into smoke!"
Nevermind that-Xander was coming back to check on us. "Leo! How are you and the advisor doing?"
"We've made a dent, Xander, but it's too much!"
"There's more of them coming!" Elise shouted.
There were more of those things that looked like Hoshido.
"Move! Get to Weiss! Get out of the way!"
Footsteps from behind, it was Leo and Iago.
*Zoom* *BOOOM*
I couldn't see what Xander was doing as he pulled back. Leo and everyone else were definitely looking back, but everyone else needed my eyes to protect them!
*Zoom* *BOOOM*
"Prince Xander!" "Brother! What are you doing!?"
I quickly turned back-
*zip*
Whoa-! *stab* "AH!"
It scratched me, but that weakness is coming back, and it was getting worse!
"Bloom!" Leo shouted.
Leo brought up a wall of roots to prevent any more attacking, Iago was supporting him with his magic. Xander would continue blasting away at the debris.
"Weiss!" Elise shouted. "Get back! Let me heal you!"
*Zoom* *BOOOM*
Iago looked back. "Prince Xander! Be careful! It might affect-"
*grumble* *grumble* *grumble* *grumble* *grumble*
Whatever Xander did, it was affecting the ground beneath us. The horses were getting scared!
"AAAAH!"
"Elise!"
*WHINNY*
She was losing control of her horse! Darn it…the ground's shifting! I tried to hold her horse by the reins.
"Elise! Get off! I can't hold down your horse!"
It was getting hard to control!
*slip*
It was me first, then Elise's horse, and then Elise.
