Disclaimers # 1: Star Ocean names, characters, and all of its related articles are not mine. They are the rightful properties of Square-Enix's. The properties I can claim ownership here are my OCs.
Disclaimers # 2: This fanfiction is based on another fanfiction titled Two Soldiers: Fire and Ice authored by Artemis' Bow, so don't be confused if you find that the plots of my and Artemis' story cross at some points. If you are new to this story, I highly recommend you to read Artemis' Two Soldiers as well if you want to get a better grasp to this story. A very special thanks to Artemis' Bow, for her approval and support have made this fic possible. If you like this story, part of the credit shall goes to her.
Author's Note: For those who care… I want to apologize for the (very) lengthy update. I was kind of ill that I couldn't write for a while. However then, I'm back now, and I can (finally) upload this chapter. Still, readers, I do hope if you'll be kind enough to leave reviews. Please review, for I need to know your opinion about this story. I welcome critics, though nonsensical flame will be more than likely to be laughed at.
And lastly… please read, and enjoy. Happy reading.
The Third Soldier: Another Heart
Chapter 6
Skirmish
Yvikka climbed up the manor's stairs at a rapid pace. Following behind her was the crimson-haired Nel Zelpher, who had just recently returned to the town. Upon her return, the first thing the redhead had asked about was the well-being of her friend, Clair Lasbard. And now the dark haired commander was guiding Nel to the room where Clair was being treated.
The high priestess, the one who'd attended Clair, greeted them at the door with a dark look on her face. Her expression turned even darker as she looked at Nel. The redhead seemed to be oblivious to it, but the other commander knew what that meant. She knew that there must be something wrong.
The doctor stood in front of the door in silence, unable to speak in the face of the two commanders. She then moved away from the door, revealing the sight behind her…
Dead silence covered the world.
Clair was still on the bed, but her face was covered with a white cloth.
The mark of a person who had just passed away.
Yvikka looked at the body on the bed with utter disbelief. She swore that she had seen the silver haired woman alive just a few hours ago, but now…
For a moment, her heart and mind blanked. She didn't know what to feel or even think.
Nel came to her friend's side, taking the white cloth away from her face, calling Clair's name. At first, it was only a weak, soft call that was barely a whisper. However, it soon grew more and more desperate and miserable. So great was the pain in Nel's voice as she called for her friend that it pained its audience as well.
"I'm sorry, Lady Yvikka…" The high priestess said to the dark haired commander, her voice cracking, "We can't save her…"
"You…" Nel's voice cut through the other woman's in a sharp growl. The voice, which had been desperate and sad, was now heavy with anger and anguish.
"Why… why can't you help her?" Nel growled again, a look of hatred directed at the high priestess.
"I'm sorry… Lady Nel," the doctor answered, "We have done our best, but still—"
"'I'm sorry'! Is that all you can say after all this!" Nel snapped harshly.
The redhead then stepped closer at the doctor. A dangerous light was in her eyes. The other commander saw Nel's hand moving to the hilt of one of her daggers. Quickly, Yvikka stepped forward, shielding the priestess from whatever was to come.
"Lady Nel, please calm down," the dark haired woman said, "If you want to blame someone, then blame me instead."
Nel didn't answer. Instead, she grabbed the hilt of her dagger conspicuously, without even caring about being noticed. Something inside her dared the dark haired soldier to move first, grabbing the redhead by her wrist, preventing the hand attached to it from drawing the blade.
"Let go!" Nel cried angrily.
"Please, Lady Nel! Snap out of it!"
Nel's other hand then moved to the other dagger, but the other soldier grabbed it as well. The two commanders struggled; one trying to draw her weapons for anything but a good cause, while the other strove to prevent it. Eventually, the dark haired soldier lost her one of her holds as Nel kneed her hard in her chest. Having freed one of her hands, Nel grabbed the hand still holding her other wrist, and, with practiced ease, floored the soldier before her. The image of the drawn daggers flashed before jet-black eyes. In an instant, Yvikka's soldier's reflexes took over; her hand dashed for her own sword, drawing it…
Blood flew.
---
"NOO!"
The formerly asleep commander jerked from her uneasy slumber with a cry. For a moment, Yvikka was just frozen there, gasping for breath, sweating heavily. As her awareness came flooding back, she realized that she was not in her bed, and was not even wearing a nightshirt. Instead, she'd fallen asleep on her chair with her head on the table while reading the day's reports, all the while still wearing her uniform and armor.
Gods… not again…
With that thought, the woman clutched her head, running her hands through her shiny black hair. Nightmares and all the other unpleasant forms of dreams took were an almost inevitable part of being a soldier, especially after seeing how people killed and were killed themselves, be it by other people or monsters. The commander was very much accustomed to having horrible dreams, but still, she wasn't immune to all of them, especially when particular people were involved in them.
Ever since the day Nel and Clair had 'gone', nightmares had hounded her like a plague. Almost every time she tried to sleep, she'd dream about either one or the other of the people she cherished most being found dead. Her dreams, however, were getting worse with every passing day. In one, she'd be in the Kirlsa Training Facility again, finding Shelby laughing over Nel's dead body while she herself was unable to do anything. In another, she would be with Nel in Clair's room, only to find that the silver haired runologist was dead and the redhead would kill her out of anger. In all honesty, Yvikka wouldn't mind taking the blame for Clair's death and dying by Nel's hand because of it. However, in other dreams, she saw the Crimson Blade killed herself, or even worse, she'd find herself killing Nel out of reflex instead—just like the one she had just now.
How could I dream such a thing?
How could I draw my sword against her?
How could I kill her?
The woman got up from her chair and walked toward the window of her room. From the look of the stars and the moon, she could tell that it was nearing daybreak, and the sun would rise in just a few more hours. She shifted, looking around the room, finding her sword leaning in one corner along with her other gear. The sight of her sword forced her to remember her most recent dream. She closed her eyes and sighed.
Get a hold of yourself, Yvikka… never…
That would never happen…
Nevertheless, the image of Clair's death sent shivers of fear and pain down her spine, and it made her feel uneasy.
I've got to go see her…
A little later, Yvikka was already in front of the door to Clair's room. The high priestess, who happened to be attending Clair at the moment, answered to the dark haired woman's knocks and call.
"Lady Yvikka?" The priestess asked gently, "What brings you here at this hour?"
"Forgive me for my impertinence, Your Eminence, but… but I want to see Lady Clair."
The devoted priestess smiled at the commander's timid response, and answered warmly, "You need not apologize, Lady Yvikka. Surely you have all the right to see her at any time. In fact, I also have the need to talk to you about Lady Clair, and I had wanted to discuss certain things with you personally."
The commander tensed at the doctor's words. The priestess gestured for her to come in to the room, and she complied. The two then took seats near the bed where Clair was. Silence followed almost immediately as the two women settled. As the dark haired woman glanced at the doctor, she found an expression of slight confusion was apparent on the priestess' face, warning her that whatever the doctor wanted to talk about might be far from good. Eventually, the priestess spoke up.
"I don't know where to begin with, Lady Yvikka, for I myself don't like it…" The priestess paused, trying to find a considerate way of telling the news, and then continued, "To tell the truth, milady… we have run out of options, given Lady Clair's current condition."
Yvikka clenched her jaws shut in the face of the priestess' words. The tone behind the sentence alarmed her. It was like hearing that all her worst fears and worries would truly be realized. All of a sudden, she felt something come down on her. It was anything but good. It was so great and immeasurable.
It was painful.
"W-what do you mean… Y-your Eminence?"
The priestess sighed deeply upon seeing the haunted look in the dark eyes, and answered, "We have tried everything… every method and form of medication that we know of, but none of them have yielded good results, not even a response," she paused, looking at Clair's limp form on the bed, and continued, "Furthermore, Lady Clair's physical condition is weakening with every passing day, which limits our options in treating her catatonic state."
The devoted doctor then leaned her body forward, looking deeply into the jet-black depths before her. Her voice came again.
"This is a hard decision, but… I have to discontinue all efforts in dealing with her catatonia. Right now, Lady Clair's physical condition is my main concern. I am afraid that Lady Clair will not hold on another week if we don't do something about it."
The dark haired woman froze. She could feel herself breaking apart at the mention of the clear probability of Clair's death. Even without the mention of that, the commander knew that the silver haired woman's condition had gotten worse, and death was well on its way to taking her. It was obvious just from the look of her. Clair had become so thin and pale. Her lips were dry, her breathing was weak and uneven. Her eyes were blank…
There were few, if any, signs of life about her, in both the physical and mental sense.
"W-what is her 'real' condition, actually?" Yvikka managed. Her voice trembled with constrained emotion.
"Her body suffers from malnutrition and dehydration right now, because she hasn't been able to eat or drink for quite a time. I know this sounds cruel, but we will have to start attempting to… force water down her throat, as well as some liquid food. We will also resort to using restoration runes to keep her body functioning for the time being."
Forcing water and food into her body… using restoration runes…
Apris…
Is that how close she is to death?
Though the doctor voiced the answer calmly and softly, Yvikka knew that she was desperate. The practices she'd mentioned were last resorts to keep someone alive.
"Is there… still any hope… of her recovery?"
The high priestess sighed, and answered.
"To be totally honest, Lady Yvikka… At this point, we can only hope for a miracle."
---
Only moments later, the commander had returned to her room. Her conversation with the high priestess had left nothing but shadows of uncertainty and pain. The images of the silver haired woman claimed every corner of her mind. It pained her, knowing the very person she was thinking of was in there dying on her bed, and she could do nothing to help. But then, something else was behind it, and it burst out of her control. In fact, she felt that everything had gone out of her control. As she got into her room, she closed the door and leaned her back against it.
Struggling.
Get a grip, Yvikka…
But on what?
Or to whom…? Lady Clair is…
The questions of her own mind startled her. Before she could even answer it, another question came, followed rapidly by a realization, and with it, denial. Everything just spilled out by itself.
Lady Clair…? What is Lady Clair to me, actually? It's like…Why…?
Is this…
No! It cannot be! Never!
Liar!
I'm not!
Oh yes you are!
QUIET!
…
The cry of the third party between the warring factions of her heart stopped the thought. As she tried to get her thought into some manageable form, she found herself wandering into the past, back to her training days.
Into a day of turmoil, a day when she had lost a loved one.
(Flashback)
"Noo! No, please, no… d-don't kill me, please…"
The Glyphian knight shrieked as he fell to sitting position on the ground, weaponless. Before him was the teenage Yvikka. Her dark eyes cast an ice-cold look at him.
Cold as death.
Just a moment ago she was still with her friends, patrolling a region said to be relatively safe near the front. One of her companions was someone whom the dark haired girl dared admit was her beloved. They had been talking about the possibility of their parting, for they might be assigned to different legions once they finished their training.
However, a Glyphian ambush had parted them for good, even before their positions were assigned.
The party of trainees fought in defense of their lives. Though the Aquarians had the advantage of numbers, the element of surprise as well as their lack of experience took a heavy toll on them. In the end, the desperate battle left only Yvikka, and the last of the Glyphian knights. Both were wounded with no hope of immediate support.
And now, she was standing over the knight, who was begging for mercy.
"Look… I-I'm sorry… I'm sorry for your friends, okay? Just… don't kill me!" The Glyphian cried rather openly by now.
"I don't want to die… mercy, please, I beg of you."
Yvikka didn't answer. She stepped closer at the cowed knight, slowly raising her sword.
You're sorry, huh?
Tell that to my friends… to him… from hell!
"NOO!"
The Glyphian's cry ended abruptly as Yvikka thrust her sword deep into his throat. The last of the Glyphians had perished, and she lived. It might mean another victory for Aquaria, but not for her. She felt incredibly empty all of a sudden. She knew that her beloved had been avenged, but that fact left her with nothing else to do.
She had lost the one whom she'd be willing to devote her life to, and with that, her anchor.
She had lost her purpose in living.
As if in a trance, she turned and searched among the bodies of her fellow soldiers. Her wounded body failed her before she could find the thing she was looking for, but she didn't stop. Crawling on her belly, she continued her search. After some time, she came to one body. As she wiped the blood streaked face, she knew she'd found him—her beloved. With an effort, she mustered every ounce of strength left within her weak body and cradled the other body close to her. Her consciousness faded not long after.
…
She didn't know how long she had been in the darkness. As she became aware of her surroundings, she saw men and women clad in Aquarian attire around her, and then shouting came close to her ears.
"She's alive! Captain Lasbard! We have survivor here!"
She couldn't hear the next sentence clearly, but the next moment, she saw a silver-haired female soldier approach her. As the woman paced closer, her gentle pale brown eyes were fixed on the jet black ones. Her gentle voice came.
"Soldier, can you hear me?"
When Yvikka didn't answer the question, the silver haired soldier—apparently the one whom they called 'Captain Lasbard'— scanned her battered body, finding a deep wound in her midsection. Pale brown eyes tracked back to the black ones.
"You're wounded," the voice came again, this time with a touch of worry, "Easy, soldier, don't move. I'll try to heal it."
While the silver haired woman was healing the wound, her eyes shifted, getting a look at the body next to the wounded soldier, the body the dark haired soldier had been clinging to in an almost desperate embrace. The captain sighed, shifting her gaze back to the soldier before her, and asked.
"Your friend?"
The dark haired soldier could not decide whether to nod in approval, or just shake her head in denial. Eventually, she shook her head. Her voice came in a pain-laden whisper.
"… More… than friend…"
The brown eyes before her became sad in response. The captain's voice came again in a sincere, caring tone.
"… I'm sorry…"
The captain then continued her efforts to heal the wound. Over time, Yvikka saw the captain stealing glances over her, as if wanting to ensure that she was all right. Somehow, the caring eyes of the captain soothed some of her pain. She didn't know why, but she had the feeling that she could trust this woman. As the dark haired soldier was thinking, she was suddenly pulled upright and wrapped in a warm embrace. The silver haired captain hugged her with such care and warmth, and with it, comfort.
"Be strong, soldier…" The captain whispered gently, "I know that losing dear ones is hard, but…"
The captain released the embrace. Her pale brown eyes pierced the jet black ones.
"… You can't stay like this. You can't stop living, because if you do, it would be the same as if you had died, and…" the captain paused, looked at the body beside the other soldier, and continued, "I don't know what he is to you, but I am sure that… he wants you to live, I'm sure of it. No one in this world would want their dear ones to die, right?"
"…!" Yvikka could only grunt in the face of the captain's words. She knew it was true... very true.
"Live, soldier! You have to live. Even if you stop being a soldier after this, don't stop living. Live, for the sake of those dear to you."
"… Live…" The young dark haired soldier muttered with cracking voice. The captain's words gave her a whole new purpose to keep living. The lingering pain of losing her beloved, as well as the grateful joy of finding her life back caused her to burst out in tears, cries, and sobs. She cried. Without her even realizing it, she released the hand of the dead body beside her, and cradled the silver haired woman before her. The captain's soft whisper came again.
"That's it soldier… live… Let it all go… Let the past be the past…"
(End of flashback)
Though the event had taken a heavy toll on her, she had managed to finish her training period. A few months after that, her assignment to the Shield Legion came. She'd served there as a squad captain for a year and then became Clair's aide. Though Clair seemed to not recognize her, Yvikka did recognize her silver haired savior.
Lady Clair… You have become my anchor ever since. I am forever indebted to you…
No, I might have even…
… fallen in love with you…?
Yvikka smiled at the memory and the admission. All of a sudden, her admission made everything seem to make sense to her. It calmed her somehow, which made her think that denying it was no longer an option. She inhaled one long, deep breath, diving into the peace the thought had given.
I vowed to not get too deeply involved in such emotional bonds with fellow soldiers ever since that day, but I failed to realize… that I'm already in one… with you…
That's right… I'm a fool, and a liar to myself. Now I know what it is that hurts so much…
I want… I want to repay the debt… I want to make you happy… I want to be able to protect you, and all those who are dear to you… I want to help you, just like you helped me, but…
But I don't know how! I'm not Lady Nel!
…
As she was thinking about her feelings and that particular red-haired woman, another realization came to her.
Could it be… that you're in love as well, Lady Clair?
You're in love with Lady Nel… could it be true? Is that what has driven you to the condition you're in?
No matter how hard the commander tried to think otherwise, it just seemed indisputable. It was made even more so as she recalled the days when Nel and Clair had been together, and she had been there to see it.
They were so happy in the company of each other. They talked, laughed, and smiled more, and even Lady Nel…
… was not as 'cold' as others describe her…
They don't seem like they're just 'best friends'…
The commander then gave up any thoughts of trying to find the right 'label' for the two commanders. She realized it was futile, because she had had a taste of how 'best friends' could become so much more than that. She closed her eyes, trying to put herself in the 'now', where she was needed. As she was thinking about it, she felt a surge of pity for Clair.
Ironic…
It was an irony, for Clair had managed to get her out of a nearly-similar situation, but the very same Clair was now lost deep within her grief for her beloved, not at all unlike the dark haired woman would have been had Clair not been there for her.
If there would be any miracle, then that would be Lady Nel's return.
With the conclusion of the thought, the commander straightened. She took her sword and readied herself for the day.
I have to look for her!
You'd better be alive when I find you, Nel Zelpher, or I'll never forgive you!
The devoted commander did not have the chance to do just that, for some particular reports reached her that early morning.
---
"At ease, soldiers," the commander said, beginning the briefing with her soldiers, "I have just received news from the Secret Legion operatives in Airyglyph, as well as some additional information from Count Woltar."
The captains in her room stirred as she mentioned the news. Their eyes locked onto the commander, wondering. The commander then resumed her speech.
"This information from our operatives says that the majority of the anti-alliance movement within Airyglyph has subsided. King Airyglyph has successfully managed to repress the movement of the warmongers, and they are certain that it's just a matter of time before the warmongers lose their power completely."
Cheering followed as the commander finished her sentence. Yvikka could understand why the soldiers were happy, for she knew that the news was indeed the first good news they'd heard throughout these tense days. However, that was not the entirety of the news.
"However," the commander spoke again, her voice breaking through the cheering, effectively bringing everyone to silence, "Airyglyph hasn't been successful in capturing their military deserters, as well as the paramilitary parties. The last we heard about these Glyphian rogues, they have already been organized at the border. It is quite possible that they have entered our territory by now, so as to avoid the Glyphian patrols. As their leaders in Airyglyph have been contained, we can say that they are very much cut off from support. Still, there's no telling what they will do or are capable of doing when they're cornered. They are still… a threat."
"Do you want us to conduct a search and destroy operation, commander?" A captain asked, rather enthusiastically.
"Don't be hasty," another captain rebutted, "We don't have a figure of their strength. Moreover, if I'm not mistaken, there are Dragon Brigade members among the deserters. I suggest we carry out a recon operation, locate the whereabouts of the rogues, estimate their strength, and only then can we figure out the best way to wipe them out."
"We do have the raw figure of their strength," said the commander. The words silenced the room once again. All pairs of eyes were directed at the dark haired commander.
"Count Woltar is kindly willing to share it with us. He has done a census of the soldiers in the Glyphian military, which lead to some estimation of the number of the deserting soldiers and knights."
"Uh… that information is from Airyglyph, right, Lady Yvikka?" Asked a soldier.
"Well, double the number if you're doubtful," the commander answered the doubtful soldier, and went on, "Anyway, Count Woltar's estimation is that there are around 100-150 deserting soldiers. Most of them are from Black Brigade, others are just common soldiers, and few more are from the Storm Brigade. As for the Dragon Brigade… it's a bit hard to determine, for there are just too many of their dragons that were left riderless since the battle with the celestial ship. There are at least four to five of them that deserted their posts, along with their dragons. If that number is combined with the paramilitary parties' strength, we can expect a force of around 300 to 400 armed men."
"Four hundred men? It's a joke. We can simply outnumber them and crush them in the open," a captain commented.
"But those air dragons can make a difference. One of them could be worth ten of us, maybe more if we are not careful."
"Exactly. That's why a simple search and destroy mission won't do any good, especially in the open field where the dragons can easily spot us and sweep down on us from the air," the commander commented, "That is why if we're to do battle with them, we must first incapacitate the dragons, or fight them from closed spaces where the dragons don't have the room to maneuver."
A captain sighed, leaning his body forward, and spoke. "Have you any plan to deal with them? We don't have the Thunder Arrow with us anymore, which means battling the dragons will be difficult."
"Yes, here," Yvikka answered calmly while laying a large map on the table, "With such a small force, a surprise attack will be the best option for them. Their best scenario will be having their dragons occupy our forces inside the wall, while their infantry will attempt to break our gates and enter the town. My plan is that we hide some of our soldiers, a company of 200, here." The commander then pointed at one point in the map.
"That's the secret passage to the Granah Hills… are you really sure that 200 men would fit there unnoticed from the air?"
"I think so," Chloe, a soldier who'd come with Yvikka to the secret passage spoke up, "As long as we are not bunched up together, we will be unnoticed, even from the air."
"Alright, let me continue… This small force will be poised to strike at the Glyphian rogues' rear line should they manage to reach the Southwestern gate. This should buy some time for the force inside the wall to reorganize before the gate is truly breached. They will be signaled, either by smoke or flares from Arias. The idea is that we avoid fighting in the open as much as possible, as their air dragons have a clear advantage over us there. Even if we do have to fight them in the open, we have to move quickly, and mingle ourselves with their own forces to minimize casualties by the air dragons."
"A pincer… clever. This way, we also have the element of surprise with us."
"Assuming that they attack us from the Aire Hills, this plan is fine, but what if they come at us from the mountain path?"
"Not a chance," said Ersa, "The mountain path to the Northwest is even rougher and more dangerous, as the fiends there are more vicious. Not to mention that they have to pass the Bequerel Mine, where we have many Secret Legion operatives watching. They'll be spotted long before they could reach here."
"Your plan sits well with me, Lady Yvikka," a captain voiced his confidence to the plan with a smile, "I cannot wait for the order. Just say the word."
"The Shield Legion runological corps is at your service, milady," a runologist lifted up her voice with utter confidence. Other captains followed suit, voicing their agreement.
Yvikka smiled sadly at the sight before her. In all honesty, she was happy that the soldiers seemed to be so high-spirited. On the other hand, she was also sad, for she knew that the plan of looking for Nel would have to wait.
For how long, she didn't know…
---
The commander had expected that if the rogues really did have the intention of attacking Arias, they would make use of the 'time tactic'—holding back from attacking for a time, waiting for their adversary to be worn down by the tension. It turned out, however, that the rogues just didn't have that much time. Just a few days later, early in one cloudy morning, one of her patrols returned shortly after they were deployed, running. Their yell broke the tranquility of the morning.
"Open the gate! Open the gate!"
The soldiers on guard at the gate saw that the ones yelling for the open gate were some of their fellows, so they complied. As soon as the running party got inside the wall, the gate was closed again. Yvikka met them almost immediately.
"What happened?"
"T-the rogues…" The lead soldier of the group answered between pants, "… they're coming here. They… could be here… at any moment."
The commander went tense at the news, and then looked at her aide beside her. Apparently, the aide had understood whatever her commander was about to say, even before it was worded. The brunette went and blew the horn, alerting the other soldiers.
"Situation?" The dark haired commander asked again, for the soldiers before her had managed to get their breath back.
"A small force of around 300. Around half of them are mounted… we also saw archers and makeshift battering rams with them."
"How about air dragons?"
"We didn't see a—"
"Air dragons!" Cried a soldier from the watchtower, as if answering the commander's last question, "Air dragons are coming! Get to cover everyone!"
In that brief moment, Arias was kicked into life all of a sudden. Soldiers and runologists raced into the streets to get to their positions, while the noncombatants were directed to shelters. Only seconds after the warning, six Glyphian air dragons swarmed the skies of Arias. One of them dove at one of the watchtowers, breathing fire at it, burning the soldiers inside. Yvikka drew a gasp as she saw burned bodies jumping off the blazing watchtower. She had seen air dragons in action before, but not very often.
And not so close.
Just as she had predicted, the air dragons could only do little damage in a shelter-laden complex such as a town. As the Aquarian soldiers got themselves into their shelters, the dragons could do them no harm. Being in a shelter, however, made it so the Aquarians couldn't counterattack, either. One of the dragons dove down to the streets, apparently trying to maneuver itself in the small space among the structures, but was greeted by a hail of arrows almost immediately. The dragons then flew away after burning a few houses and several watchtowers, but the commander knew that they would be coming back. As the dragons left, soldiers came out of their shelters, continuing the effort to reorganize themselves led by their captains.
"Infantry to the Aire Hills!" Cried a watchman from the ladder of his burning watchtower.
"Prepare the red flares… NO!" The commander exclaimed between her orders as she saw several of her Chain Legion soldiers going up the rampart in preparation to greet the oncoming land forces. They might just be doing what that they'd been taught in their training, but their lack of experience made them fail to realize that people standing on the rampart were easy targets for an air raid. Yvikka realized that, and she braced herself to run out of the shelter and warn her soldiers.
"Get down from there! Not one standing in the rampart! Get down! Get—"
She was too late. Two air dragons, partly hidden by the low-hanging clouds, swooped down on the soldiers on the rampart. Yvikka watched helplessly as she saw her men take the raw beatings of the Glyphian's most feared brigade. Several more young lives fell, and the sight of that was a warning enough for the others, and they quickly went down the rampart. One of the Chain Legion captains who'd been on the rampart went up to the commander.
"Commander, they're already near to the wall. If we can't get men up that rampart, they will be in here once they can deploy their ladders!"
Yvikka looked up at the walls in response. Her captain was right. She could clearly see that ladders were being deployed by the rogues on the other side. As her eyes went on the sturdy wooden rampart, she remembered something she'd read in one of Clair's logbooks. She then turned back, finding one of the Shield Legion captains beside her.
"Captain Adrian!" The commander called the captain.
"Ma'am!"
"I heard that this wooden rampart is collapsible, can we bring it down now?"
The captain went silent as if trying to recall something. He then looked at the rampart, which was already filled by dozens of the Glyphian rogues, and then at the dark haired woman again, a broad grin on his face.
"Got it, ma'am! I'll bring it down right away!" With the words, the captain went away, taking several soldiers with him.
It felt like eternity to wait for something to happen. The rogues went down the rampart with little trouble, as there was no one defending it. Yvikka and the other soldiers had already been engaged by the oncoming rogues when they heard a loud creaking sound coming from the wall. It turned out that the rampart's supports had started to collapse on their own. As the rampart lost its supports, the wooden pathway around the wall, which was usually used as footing for archers and soldiers defending the rampart, went down by itself, along with the dozens of rogues on it. The heavy rampart fell down on the fighting men. The Aquarian veterans, who were familiar with the tactic, had already pulled their fellow soldiers back to a safe zone; effectively leaving the fallen rampart to fall only on the rogues.
Lady Clair… you're a genius. Now I see why it was so hard for the Glyphians to take this town.
The dark haired commander watched the scene unfolding before her with awe, especially with the knowledge that Clair was the one behind the idea of making that kind of rampart.
Having lost the rampart, the attacker's options of breaching the town were now limited to smashing the gate and raining down arrows on the defenders. Yvikka could hear the gate being smashed from the other side, and she knew that it was time.
"Deploy the red flares!"
At the command, a volley of bright red flares lit up the sky. They were so bright that Yvikka thought that the flares could be seen from Peterny. Her dark eyes watched the flares as they went up to the peak. As the flares came down again, the dark eyes shifted to a particular scene, stunned.
Smoke.
Smoke came from the direction of the manor where Clair was. Several air dragons could be seen circling around the area as well. Yvikka's worries for her dear superior kicked in, and she moved her feet, running as fast as she could to the manor.
It turned out that the manor was still standing, barely scathed thanks to the protection runes inscribed on it, as well as the ring of brave runologists guarding it. It was the house next to the manor that was burning. Yvikka was truly relieved to see that, but her relief didn't last long. As she was halfway back to the front where she was needed, she saw one of the dragons dive at an unmistakable figure, striking it down with a blow from the rider's lance. A name tore out of the commander's lips.
"SISERA!"
The brunette soldier was lying helplessly on the open ground, but there was obviously still life in her. The dragon knight who'd struck her before had turned back to her, ready to deliver the killing blow. Once again, the dragon dove…
"Wind! Come forth!"
A runological symbol flashed from the commander's hand, and the air around Sisera shifted. A strong gale went under the diving dragon's wings, causing the dragon to tumble from its intended course, away from the wounded soldier. The slight but abrupt alteration to the dragon's flight path was enough to send the dragon and the knight crashing into one of the abandoned houses. So great was the impact that the house was completely destroyed, leaving the dragon and the knight buried under the heavy mass of bricks and rubble, never to rise again.
Sisera looked at the figure of her commander running toward her. All too suddenly, her amber eyes caught another figure behind the commander. With an effort, she suppressed the pain of her wounds and forced a yell out.
"B… BEHIND YOU…!"
The dark haired soldier stopped herself and turned around at the aide's warning. There she saw another air dragon, already in its attack posture, with its rider's lance on her. Dark eyes went to the oncoming dragon, then to Sisera, and then to the dragon again. Not having the time to cast another spell, the commander knew that she had to choose between her aide and herself, as she was the only thing that stood between the lance and her aide. The decision was made in the next second.
The lance came in an arc, and Yvikka took it.
Pain ripped through the left side of the commander's ribcage and her left shoulder at the contact. The lance struck her squarely in her armpit, making a nasty sound of broken bones. Though she managed to avoid being struck by the lance's sharp point, it does not guarantee that the wound would be less lethal. The strength with which the lance was swung, combined with the dragon's speed as it dove at its target was force enough to inflict a mortal wound, if not death. It was so powerful that the commander, the lance stuck in her armpit, was carried away with the lance as the dragon climbed up again.
The commander felt her vision blur and her hands lose their strength. Her grip on the lance eventually weakened, and then was lost completely. However, in that brief moment of holding the lance, she had managed to cast one simple spell she hoped would bring the dragon knight down.
Lightning blast.
Just before the dark haired woman fell, a jolt of electricity made its way up the steel lance, on to the hand of the one who was holding it.
Sisera watched in an utter disbelief as she saw her commander deliberately take the lance for her. Her commander's decision had shocked her so greatly that she couldn't speak, could not even cry. Horrible events unfolded before the amber eyes. Just before she saw her commander fall from the lance, the dragon rider's body flashed, and then was thrown off his saddle all of a sudden, smashing back to the earth. She then pushed herself upright. Ignoring her wounds, she ran in the direction of where she believed her commander had landed. The commander's name came out from her lips in a torn voice.
Yvikka felt as if her body was in pieces. She'd fallen first onto the roof of a house before she'd landed back on earth. She tried to move, but even a slight jerk was all too painful. She could feel something moving inside her as she tried to move. It appalled her as images of whatever it was came to her slowly fading mind. As she started to lose her awareness of her surroundings, she felt strong arms wrap around her. A blur of a figure came into her line of sight. She could see a flesh-colored blur and dark gray one, which she quickly recognized as the color of a soldier's uniform. She came to fully recognize the person above her as the soldier spoke.
"Hang in there, commander…"
Sisera…
The wounded commander tried to speak, but something obstructed her voice. She coughed from the attempt at speaking, only to taste blood gushing out of her throat. Blood came trickling down her lips.
"Save your strength, commander. Don't try to talk or move."
"… You… okay?" Yvikka asked her aide as she managed to clear her throat, not heeding the other's words.
"I'm fine, but you're not. Stay here, and don't move. I'll try to find help."
The aide then laid the wounded commander gently back on the ground. Just as she was about to leave, the commander tugged her arm weakly. The brunette turned at the weak pull, the dark eyes she looked into clearly saying that the other soldier had more to say.
"Take… over… command…" Yvikka paused, coughing, vomiting blood flooding from her throat. The pain she felt slowly faded, consumed by the cold wave of numbness. She could no longer feel most of her limbs. With an effort, she continued her words.
"… Clair… Arias… take… care…"
Sisera nodded painfully at her commander's words. For a moment, she forgot about looking for a doctor. She wrapped her arms around the other woman's slowly cooling body, running a hand across the commander's blood-streaked face, finding a deep gash from the temple down to the cheek. Yvikka's questions the other day echoing in her mind.
"Say, Sisera… were I gone at a time like this, what would you do?"
"That is one way to do things if I were away, but what if I were dead or missing?"
On that day, she hadn't been able to answer them, but now, the answers were needed.
"I will… I will do it, commander, just don't leave now… Promise me that you'll take the lead again…"
Yvikka smiled faintly at her aide's response. She wished that she could say otherwise, or just lie, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She knew her body well; so well that she realized that her chances were slim.
"That… can't… promise…"
"Don't say that, Yrsenlaf!" The aide burst out into tears rather openly now, gingerly cradling her commander close to her, "You're going to live, Yvikka, you're going to survive… just… hang… on…"
The dark haired woman could not speak anymore. Darkness had come closer to her. All she could do now was look. She could not feel anything in the physical sense, much less move. Another wave of pain flooded her chest. A wave of regret and anger at herself filled her.
Damn… nothing again…
I… I can't move… can't do anything anymore… I can't if I die!
I'll regret it if I die now, but…
I can't… fight it…
It's… getting dark…
Before the last vestige of her awareness fell, she glanced over at her aide one more time. Her last thoughts were a prayer, and an apology.
Be strong, Sisera… May Apris be with you…
Lady Clair… Lady Nel… everyone… forgive me…
---
Cheering could be heard as Arias defenders celebrated their victory. The pincer squad, dispatched by the flares from Arias, had managed to make a sneak attack on the Glyphian rogues. The force inside the wall followed up quickly by storming out of the gate, effectively surrounding the attacker. The remaining air dragons, seeing that there was no hope of victory, fled the region shortly after.
Not everyone celebrated, though.
The Chain Legion aide, Sisera, did not join the celebration, nor did her commander, Yvikka.
