With the Rebel Army preoccupied during the heavy storm, the Queen's Army isn't doing much better themselves as soldiers are trapped in their posts, knowing that the storm can easily swept them away with the strong winds as well as lightning strikes as it occurs frequently at random areas. Elina is currently taking shelter at a high-class inn in a town the Queen's Army preoccupied. The storm only bothered her very little as she continues to lay in bed and stare at the stuffed cat she got back from Nathan.
"Why have we gotten further apart? Onee-chan and Nathan are still alive. If both of them are in the Rebel Army, will I be able to bring myself to fight them?"
She then remembers the time she spend with Leina, which mostly depicts Elina's love for her often putting her older sister in embarrassing situations. Soon enough, she begins fantasizing about Leina as a force of habit. This causes her to get momentarily distracted as she started drooling.
"Hehe onee-chan."
When she realized that she was drooling all over her cat, she immediately tries to wipe it off and sniffs it after it was clean.
"Good, it still has his smell." This made Elina blushed when she realized what she just said.
"Why am I thinking about Nathan all of a sudden? All my life, onee-chan was the only person I loved and yet it changes ever since he came." Elina thought to herself.
"But this feeling is not bad." Elina falls asleep as she hugs the stuffed cat.
Back in the Rebel Army fortress, progress has been made building the new weapon, but the new design causes trouble for the blacksmiths as they are inexperienced with making weapons larger than swords and axes. Nonetheless, knowing that the fate of the Continent rests at their hands, barely any of them complained and continued to work despite the difficulties.
As Nathan talks to Risty about the war, Rana approaches him. "Onii-chan, the shells and the gun have been finished. We believe that it will shoot successfully, but we am not completely sure."
"I will come take a look. Bring the guns to the front of the entrance and open the door so we can tested, but no one steps outside as the storm is still very strong."
"Understood." Rana then retreats back to his post.
"You really think this gun might help?" Risty asked with concern.
"The Queen's Army knows the area better than the most of us so we may need to destroy the castle walls if they happen to use that to their advantage during the battle."
"We still have no idea whether the guns will work or not."
"Only one way to find out." Nathan leaves and head towards the front entrance to move the finished gun.
After the entrance was opened, the artillery gun was placed right in front of the entrance aiming at the outside. After the first shell was loaded in, Nathan asked the other blacksmiths to stand back as he is unsure whether the weapon works.
"FIRE!" Nathan yelled as he fired the gun.
To the surprise from everyone who witnessed it, the test was successful as the shell exploded upon impact, showing more power than the howitzer used in the first war of the Continent. Realizing the weapon's potential, many blacksmiths asked Rana and his family how the gun was built, which they replied by telling them to imagine how the howitzer was built rather than just looking at the model and looking at the different pieces.
"It seems like we have new hope just by building weapons." Nathan commented.
"That's because they finally felt like they could win this war." Airi said while standing next to Nathan.
"You were next to me all along Airi?"
"You were often busy preparing for the war. It's kind of sad that we are not as close here as we are back in London."
"You have no idea how much I still miss spending time with you in London. I still remember when you first came and how my father approved of us so fast."
Airi laughs remembering that. "How can I forget my first step into your world? I felt more peace there than at the swamp and to be able to finally taste food that you people eat, I actually didn't think it would be as good as absorbing life energy until I tried."
"There are a lot of things I still want you to try and places to see, especially outside of London."
"I am sure that we can make it work once we have some time off."
Nathan and Airi then turn to each other and kissed. Rana had his eyes covered while Cattleya and Owen watched happily at the couple.
"It has been a while since we have done this."
"We haven't done this since we got back to the Continent. That is what I also missed." Nathan kisses Airi again before turning his attention to the blacksmiths while Airi summons more of her spirits as guards.
Alleyne, who witnessed the kiss, couldn't help, but smile at the two for how far they have progressed in their relationship.
"I wonder if this is what love is. To see the two this happy being together, it would be nice if I can experience what love is like." Alleyne said to herself.
"Instructor?" Nowa called out surprising Alleyne.
"Nowa? You surprised me. What is it?"
"You were speaking to yourself earlier. Are you okay?"
Alleyne blushed when she realized what she did. "It's nothing important. You should get back to training the soldiers."
"It's break time. You are acting a lot different than usual Instructor. Did something happen?"
Before Alleyne can respond, Nowa took a look at where Alleyne is looking and saw Nathan and Airi, showing a sinister smile upon figuring out.
"It seems like that the feeling of love has recently struck your heart watching those two, didn't it?"
"What? That's not it?" Alleyne begins defending herself.
"It doesn't look like you are in love with Nathan though. It seems more like you just want to experience love yourself, right?"
"I think I taught you too well. 100 points for being sharp."
"Don't change the subject. I think it's wonderful to feel such emotions."
"You really think so Nowa?"
"Of course. Did you know that some of the soldiers refer to you as uptight, strict, and a battle maniac?"
A vein mark appears on Alleyne's head. "What else did they say about me?"
"Their view of you has gotten better ever since Nathan and Legolas came here. They thought that maybe you are kind to those you care about or that you do care, but you can't just express it. What do you think about that, Instructor?"
"To know who I am just because of these two angers me a little, but I can see that they mean no harm. Maybe it is time for me to try something new as well."
"Maybe you can work on your relationship with Legolas." Nowa grinned.
Airi blushed again. "What does Legolas have anything to do with it?"
"He was the only elf I know who came by your side despite everything that has happened. I figured that after everything he is doing for you, you would at least care for him the same way as me."
"That much I can say, but I never thought of him any further than that. What do you think about this exactly?"
"I think you need to start somewhere and there is no better time than now. People only see you by what you show, not what is inside of you, Many of them seem to think that you are incapable of doing anything else other than fighting and teaching."
Alleyne becomes shocked and somewhat disappointed upon hearing what people thought of her as.
"Is this what I am really seen as in the public?"
"They aren't completely wrong though. I feel that you have been sticking to your way for too long. Maybe it's time for you to change, especially since our friends are actually putting an effort for you to become more like them. It would help if you also take effort to do so."
"You can't change who someone is if it is a part of you."
"We all know that, but that doesn't mean that everything has to remain the same. I know that you are starting to understand that as well. I will give you some time to think about."
After Nowa left, Alleyne is left confused over her own feelings, not knowing what she thinks about others.
"Alleyne? Is something wrong?" Legolas approaches her.
"Nowa told me that I need to be more open with my feelings as everyone only sees me by what I show on the outside, but I don't really know how. I have been stuck to the same way for so long, I guess I never made room for me to be like others."
"Try not to worry about that too much. Things like that take time to understand."
Alleyne turns to Legolas. "How do you know when you feel that you have changed?"
"One example is when you told me about how you came to care for Nowa when she came to you. Take a look at Airi. Back then; she would follow the Swamp Witch's order to no end before meeting Nathan. Her interaction with him slowly changes her into becoming your ally. This is a much greater example of how someone could change. That is why I told you to give yourself some time so you could understand it yourself."
"How do you know of Airi's back story?"
"Nathan told me about the previous war when we were taking a break after dealing with the orcs in the last town. Anything can happen and that is something you will have to embrace at times."
Alleyne smiles after understanding Legolas' advice. "Your advice sounds simple, but it's all right. I feel much better thanks to you."
"Just don't push yourself too hard. It will come eventually. I will be looking forward to fighting with you."
"If we do fight together, please promise me you will stay alive." Alleyne blushes slightly.
"Only if you can promise the same." Legolas then leaves Alleyne alone.
After another successful series of test using the BL 5.5 inch Medium Gun, only about 5 have been made after a month, a bit behind schedule.
"It's a bit too little don't you think?" Annelotte asked Nathan.
"It can't be helped. The size of the machine along with the shells accumulates so much time making before getting the gun to work. I don't think we need too many though as we are mainly using them to destroy the castle walls, but we do need more than what we got now."
"How long do you think the storm will continue to last?"
Nathan takes a look outside. "The storm is still as strong as ever so I would probably say another month and a half, but weather can change so my prediction may not be accurate."
"Then we have no time to waste. Have all the blacksmiths work on more of those guns."
"Very well, but all I can do is having them work at their own pace. Many of them are still resting, but they promise to work the next day."
"That will be good enough, As long as we can make enough machines by the time the battle begins, we will at least have a chance to defeat the Queen's Army."
"Remember that we still have to deal with the orcs as well so we have to put our focus on the soldiers as well."
"I understand. Nowa is currently training some of our soldiers so I will help. What about you?"
"I am still working on battle strategies with Risty, Alleyne, and Airi. Soon enough, you have to come and take part since you are the leader of the Rebel Army."
"I will come after I help Nowa. Let's all do our best."
"We already are." Nathan responded as Annelotte leaves.
"I better get some training done as well." Nathan said to himself.
"If you are going to train, you might as well go outside." Nanael said.
"Outside in this storm?"
"Where else? Consider this as a new challenge to overcome. Training the same way won't make you better."
"You make a point. Very well, I will start off by dodging those lightning strikes to enhance my reflexes." Nathan went outside as Nanael watched smiling, but later becomes concerned.
"Something is definitely wrong here. A storm like this doesn't come this early even if the conditions meet. It is as if something is affecting the normal climate of this area." Nanael thought to herself as she watches Nathan easily dodging the lightning strikes.
"I am pretty sure that Nathan will figure it out soon enough." Nanael thought to herself smiling.
Nathan also shares Nanael's concern about the storm as he begins collecting his thoughts. "This definitely doesn't seem natural. Lightning doesn't strike the same area twice in the same storm, yet it appears to be coordinated on the strikes compared to a normal storm. Claudia isn't powerful enough to generate such a storm, which means someone else is behind it."
Nathan dodges another lightning strike targeting him. "Who could it be?"
Airi helps Owen lift the other end of the shell after placing the artillery gun away from the entrance.
"These things weigh like 100 pounds. How many more are we suppose to make?" Owen complained.
"As many as we can. We are not expected to make that much since the guns are important too, but we need enough to destroy the castle walls." Airi explained.
"We already made enough for twelve rounds as well as others making them as well. How much is considered enough?" Cattleya asked.
"We just don't want the plan to backfire. You all still remember why we are fighting right? That is the same reason why we are making these weapons."
"I suppose, but what about swords and shields? Aren't they just as important as guns?"
"Nathan knows they are important. Nobody is stopping you from making them, but we also need these guns as well."
"Swords are practically useless unless you are close enough to the enemy and Claudette actually has a weapon's storage in her castle that contains a moderate amount of guns used during the last war, We have to take them out first before we resort to close quarter fighting."
"Seems like my friend became a lot smarter since she started to live with Nathan." Nanael approaches Airi.
"You haven't been doing anything since you came to the fortress. At least help make these shells lighter when we carry them." Airi begins complaining herself.
Nanael sighs. "I only join the Rebel Army so I can teach Laila a lesson for disobeying me when I told her only to get rid of the chaos of the human world."
"I am guessing she took it the wrong way." Airi sighs out of disappointment.
"You have no idea and now she believes that the Rebel Army is the cause of the chaos. When I saw Nathan joining the Rebel Army, I knew she was on the wrong side since the Chief Angel chose him to save the Continent in the last war."
"Are you going to keep finding excuses or are you going to help lifting those heavy shells?" Airi asked.
"I won't lift them myself, but let me make them lighter for you." Nanael uses telekinesis to lighten the weight of the shell and soon, Airi, Rana and his family begins moving the shells at a faster pace. As soon as all of the shells were moved, Nanael was left exhausted due to the weight of the shell.
"Jeez, why do these weapons need such heavy ammo? I could barely lift them up myself using telekinesis." Nanael complains.
Nathan heads back inside to alert new updates to Annelotte. "The storm is beginning to subside. Once it reaches save levels, the Queen's Army will continue to patrol the castle, making an ambush attempt impossible without them seeing the new guns."
"How much time do we have left?"
"The storm is fading away slowly. It will probably take about several days to a week before the skies become clear."
"Then it is now or never. I will make an announcement that the attack will commence in a few days."
With the battle nearing, Nathan immediately heads to Risty to inform her of the storm.
Meanwhile, in the forest where the elven genocide took place, Aragorn and his army, including Gimli and hundreds of elves, arrives to see many of the bodies of Orcs and elves in the same place. The army shows disgust as some of the bodies were shown to be woman and children.
"A battle didn't just take place here. There was a massacre here before that." Aragorn said out of disgust.
"When I see those orcs, I am going to make sure they wish they are dead after seeing this." Gimli also shows the same disgust as he looks at the dead bodies.
"This isn't going to be as easy as you might think Gimli. When the storm hit, I noticed that the clouds are slightly darker than normal storm clouds, something that hasn't been seen since the creation of the rings and the war that followed along."
Gimli turns to Aragorn confused. "What are you saying Aragorn?"
"I am saying that a new ring has been made and the orcs may have already found a suitable host. Legolas and his allies might be in trouble. We got to move fast and find them or the ring."
Knowing the danger, Aragorn and his army decide to follow the trail of bodies hoping to find and destroy the new ring.
I am sorry this took a long time as school kept me busy. It will take me a while before I release another chapter in my fanfic account, but I don't want anybody to get the idea that I am retiring from fanfiction, because I am not.