CHAPTER 7:
ITALICA
A few days later, having been told about the value of the wyvern scales and body parts already gathered by the JSDF, Tuka, Lelei and Rory decided to head to Italica, with the 3rd Recon Team heading with them. Hodor was left to be checked over by the medical team. They were hoping to try and establish friendly trading relations, and indeed friendly relations in general. However, not far out from the city, Lelei, who had made rather large strides in learning Japanese (and whom Kuwahara seemed to have taken a shine to, teaching her how to use a compass), said quietly, as she looked through binoculars, "I see smoke. I believe it is coming from Italica's direction."
"Of course it wouldn't be so simple," Harry snarked.
"It's artificial, I believe," the petite mage said, either not noticing Harry's sarcasm or disregarding it.
"Hmm…methinks I smell the stench of bloodshed on the air," Rory remarked, licking her lips.
"…Well that's ominous," Harry remarked.
It was only a short while after that the 3rd Recon Team came to Italica, a magnificent walled city that, nonetheless, had seen battle only recently. The smoke rising from the town and the bodies littered nearby told the tale. "Who do you think could've done this?" Itami asked.
"Bandits, most likely," Rory said. "Remember how I said a bunch of them were considering joining up with deserters from the armies you guys defeated? I'd bet money that they're to blame. Look at the bodies. Some of them have armour from the Imperial Army. A few have armour from some of the vassal states. And Italica is a trading city, not to mention being close to farmland."
"So these bastards are trying to give the Emperor one big fuck you?" Harry asked.
"Pretty much, though these idiots would probably think that they're sacrificing their victims to Emroy," Rory said with a scoff.
"Well, we're here," Itami said, before looking back at Harry. "Hey, Harry, why don't you take Lelei, Rory and Tuka out?"
"Why?" Mari asked.
"Lelei, Tuka and Rory are natives of this world, and Harry doesn't necessarily look like a soldier, ballistic vest and helmet aside. We need to be as unthreatening as possible," Itami said. "Hey, Harry, you can use a spell to protect yourself from an arrow or something, can't you?"
"Yeah."
"As can I," Lelei said, before quickly casting a spell.
Soon, the four of them had dismounted. After a moment, Harry used a Sonorous on himself, and then called out, "CITIZENS OF ITALICA! WE KNOW THIS MAY NOT BE THE BEST TIME, BUT WE'VE COME TO TRADE! WE COME IN PEACE!"
Eventually, the massive gate they were facing opened, to reveal a young woman about Harry's age in armour, rather expensive-looking armour at that. She had blood red hair framing regally beautiful features, and similarly-coloured eyes, and a simple tiara around her forehead. She looked understandably apprehensive, albeit in a restrained way. "Ohh, this is a surprise," Rory remarked. "No less august a personage than Princess Pina Co Lada herself."
"Oh, joy. Why do I feel a diplomatic incident coming on?" Harry asked, more to himself than anything. He approached gingerly, Rory, Tuka and Lelei in tow. Calming himself, he said, "Lady Mercury says that you are Princess Pina Co Lada, yes?"
"Indeed I am," Pina said. "Forgive my curtness, but what business do you have in Italica? You say you come here to trade…and yet, your conveyances and clothes are unfamiliar."
"We have wyvern scales and other parts for trade. Princess, what has happened? Who has been attacking Italica?"
"A rather massive army of bandits and marauders have been attacking. We've repelled them before, but they will be back," Pina said. She then frowned, looking past Harry at the vehicles. "And who are you?"
Harry sighed, knowing that he might scupper this if he wasn't careful. "I am Harry Potter. I'm a mage working with these soldiers. We're not here to attack Italica, I promise you. In fact, if you wish, and our superiors give us the okay, we can help you defend it."
Pina, however, was clearly not stupid. She was looking between Harry, the Falmart natives, and the jeeps. After a moment, she said, "Very well. I would like to speak to your superior officer."
Harry nodded, before calling back, "Itami! She wants to talk!"
Itami got out, rifle lowered. To Pina, Harry said, "This is 1st Lieutenant Youji Itami of the JSDF."
"The Men in Green who killed the Flame Dragon…" Pina murmured to herself, before her eyes widened in realisation, and she returned her gaze to Harry. "Wait…we met a former resident of Coda Village who claimed that a great mage called Harry Potter used a magic staff to slay the Flame Dragon with a mighty explosion…"
"I didn't use a magic staff, and they helped distract it, but still…yes, I made the final blow," Harry admitted, a little reluctantly. Not out of any diffidence or false modesty, but because he didn't like being reminded of the people who died that day.
"Don't be modest, Harry," Rory said with a teasing tone. "Harry Potter, the Dragonslayer has a great ring to it, don't you think?"
Pina seemed to come to a decision before she said, "Please, come with me, and bring Lieutenant Itami with you…"
The city streets were filled with exhausted people, many bearing the wounds of battle. They were led to a luxurious estate in the middle, Pina calling for a pair of other soldiers to accompany her, a girl in her mid-teens called Hamilton Uno Law and a grizzled older man called Grey Co Aldo. Rory told Harry and Itami that the latter was a commoner who rose to the rank of a knight.
Harry translated for Itami, with Rory making an occasional interjection, as well as Lelei. Apparently, Pina had come here to investigate what happened at Alnus Hill with her Rose Knights. However, riding ahead to Italica with a scouting force, she found herself forced to take command to save the city from the bandit hordes, as Countess Myui Formal, being only eleven, had little knowledge of leading an army.
Harry let Itami make the main decisions here. He was the actual military commander, and Harry was really a civilian. However, he got the feeling that Pina knew who they were, or at least suspected, an impression only heightened when she assigned the JSDF soldiers to the north and south gates. Itami's response to that suggested that they were being considered decoys, but he seemed content to go along with it, for now.
Harry, however, wasn't. "And what if you're wrong, Princess? What if they attack the east or west gates? Those bandits are partly comprised of former soldiers, they might have just a notion of strategy."
Hamilton seemed affronted, and seemed about to object, before Harry shot her a glare that shut her up. Pina said, "Then it is what it is."
"Hey, Itami?" Harry asked. "Do you have any spare walkie-talkies or something?"
"Sure. I'd have to get them from the jeep. You want the Princess to be able to call for help if necessary, right?"
"Yeah."
"Right. While I'm there, I'll radio the situation in. HQ might be able to get air support, they've towed helicopters through the Gate…"
Later, Pina was peering at the walkie-talkie she had been given curiously. "What is this?" she asked.
"It's a device called a radio," Lelei said. "I believe it uses an invisible form of light to transmit sounds, thus allowing for instant communication, or near enough. You press that button, and speak into it. Either myself, Harry, or Lady Mercury will ensure we can hear what you say, and thus translate for the JSDF."
"Exactly," Harry said. "If they attack the east or west gates, at the very least, I can Apparate myself and Lady Mercury over, assuming there aren't any bandits attacking from that direction. In fact, if there aren't any there, I may Apparate others."
On Pina's confused look, Lelei explained, "He uses a kind of magic that allows him to teleport called Apparition. It allows him to teleport to locations he can visualise."
"Are you a sage at your age?" Hamilton yelped, the brown-haired teen's eyes wide.
"Merlin, no!" Harry said. "Now, listen. If Itami is lucky, we'll get air support."
"Air support? Do you mean dragonriders?" Grey asked.
"Not exactly," Rory smirked…
As they waited at the south gate's battlement, the sun setting, Harry peered at the horse riders in the distance. "Huh…maybe we were wrong?"
"No," Kuwahara said. "There's not enough enemy troops. Plus, see those limestone cliffs? They'd stand out against them in the darkness. Unless they're idiots, they probably won't take the bait. Remember, many of these guys are deserters from the armies that attacked Alnus Hill."
"Right, thanks, Kuwahara. I'm pants at strategy, or at least military strategy. Do you reckon they'll attack the east gate?"
"Maybe. So, Lieutenant, are we getting that air support?"
Itami nodded. "We will, but we have to notify them when the attack has finally arrived. Plus, Major Higaki chewed me out something fierce. Apparently the Diet wants us back ASAP to answer questions about the Flame Dragon attack. Well, me in particular, the Ministry of Magic has managed to veto Harry being questioned. Lucky sod. Still, I'm not looking forward to this. Apparently Mizuki Kohara is going to be doing the questioning, and she's one of those types who tilts at windmills to further her career."
As he began fixing his night-vision goggles onto his helmet, with mixed success, Rory strutted over to Itami. "Here, let me. You know, I find it curious that the JSDF would help one of the heirs to the throne of the very empire you fight."
Itami squatted down, allowing Rory to attach it. "Well, it's to protect the innocents of this town, really. Anyway, she wasn't the one who sent all those people to their deaths. Didn't you tell Harry she was a decent person, anyway?"
"Uh-huh. And that's interesting. You actually meant what you said. Emroy may be a god of war and calamity, of crime and insanity, but motive is important. If you aren't truly righteous, instead doing things merely to slake your own desires, then the lies you tell yourself taint your soul. Believe me, I know. Sometimes, I even lie to myself. In battle, I do fall prey to a bloodlust, though I target the souls of those tainted by their own self-delusions. I wonder, are all the armies of your world the same?"
"I'd like to think so. But the reality may be different," Itami said sadly. "Hell, it may not even be the same for the rest of the JSDF. I really only joined as a reservist to support my hobbies."
"Hmm…and yet, here you are, fighting for a righteous cause."
"Yeah. I'm hoping to show the princess that there's another way, that we don't have to fight, that peace is possible."
Rory chuckled. "Oh, I like that. Are you going to scare her with the prowess of the JSDF? I like that thought…"
"Rory," Harry said quietly. "Scaring the princess is going to be a byproduct. We're not doing it for the sake of scaring her into submission. We're doing this to help Italica."
Rory pouted, until she noticed the unimpressed look on Harry's face. A more solemn smile came over her features. "…You actually have some empathy for her, despite that she's technically your enemy."
"It's her father who's to blame for the invasion. Anyway, you said she was a decent person."
"I did, didn't I? And you trusted my word?"
Harry looked at the petite demigoddess, before saying, "I thought it was trustworthy. Even before we met, we heard from the prisoners that you were notoriously fickle and neutral to the empire. Anyway, you remind me a little of a friend of mine, Luna, who was eccentric, but a good sort. Not as much a warrior as you, but sometimes, I think she just says and does things to get a reaction from people. Actually, she'd probably love to interview you for her newspaper. I get the feeling you wouldn't lie. At worst, you'd just be selective with the truth…or use words to get a rise out of people."
"Hmm…that's not inaccurate. Still, I hope we do get some battle here…"
"WHY ARE THEY ATTACKING OVER THERE?!"
Harry would have laughed at the childish petulance of Rory's wail if the situation wasn't so serious. It was now about 3 in the morning, and the bandits were attacking the east gate. Harry turned to rebuke Rory, only to see her sliding down to the ground, sitting down, writhing and moaning in a very disturbing matter. "Unnnghh…no…too much…it's coming inside me…ahhh…nooo…it's maddening! I can't hold it back! UHHH!"
As Tuka squeaked in embarrassment at Rory's disturbingly sexual display, and the others looked on with disturbed looks, Harry turned to Lelei. "What the actual hell is wrong with her?"
Lelei said, "As an Apostle of Emroy, Rory is a psychopomp for the souls of those who fall in battle. Her body acts as a conduit, and in close proximity to a battle, the effect of the souls passing through her has an effect not unlike an aphrodisiac."
"Sounds like something out of a bad H-Game to me," Itami said. "Can we help her?"
"It's not sexual lust but bloodlust being aroused," Lelei explained in her usual dispassionate tones. "Going into battle is the only thing that can slake it."
"The princess hasn't called us yet," Itami said. "I think she's…"
Whatever he was going to say was cut off by a crackle from the radio. "This is Grey Co Aldo!" barked the voice of the grizzled Rose Knight. "If you can hear me, the east gate is being attacked! If you can spare anyone, then bring them here now! Please, we beseech you!"
"Right. Harry, take Rory and get over there. We'll follow soon…"
"Oi! With all due respect, Sir, I want in on this too!" Shino barked.
"…Okay. Sergeant-Major Kuribayashi, go along too if you want. We'll follow in the jeeps. Don't get yourself killed, you three."
Harry sat down next to Rory. "Did you hear that, Rory? Hold on, and we'll get you there."
Rory all but clung to him, and Shino grabbed his hand. They soon Apparated…
…And then, they were stumbling out of the air next to Pina, Grey and Hamilton. The sharp crack of the Apparition seemed to startle Pina out of her dazed state. Harry looked around. At the moment, the bandits were still trying to climb the walls, but the men on the walls were fighting off bandits scaling them, including a Rose Knight, a young man with blonde hair called Norma Co Igloo. "What's happening?"
"Norma called out that there's a magic caster protecting the bandits from arrows," Grey said. "That's how they were able to get to the walls so quickly. Will three of you be enough?"
Rory just gave him a flat look, before leaping away from Harry and dashing towards the walls. "I think she'd be more than enough," Shino said, "but I've been itching for some action too."
"Then go!" Pina cried out in desperation. "Please, help them!"
Harry and Shino nodded, before dashing towards the battlements, Shino fixing a bayonet onto her rifle. "Finally, some real action," she said with a vicious grin.
They got to the battlements in time to see Rory save Norma from being skewered, before the bloodthirsty Apostle leapt down towards the bandit army. Harry went to the wall, and peered down, as Shino began opening fire on the bandits below. "Oi!" he yelled at Norma. "You said to the others there was a magic caster. Where are they?"
Norma, a little shaken after his brush with death, pointed into the distance, where a petite figure was surrounded by a blue-green glow. He decided to take a gamble, pointing his wand at the figure, and yelling, "ACCIO!"
A distant shriek heralded the figure being pulled into the air, and zooming towards Harry, crashing into him. He quickly rolled on top of the figure, and was startled to find that it was a petite girl, a few years his junior, with green feathers for hair, feathers covering her forearms, and bird-like legs. He pointed his wand at her face. "Surrender," he said in their language.
She nodded hurriedly. "I surrender, I surrender! I was kidnapped by those bastards anyway!"
Harry nodded, though he Stunned her and tied her up with conjured ropes for good measure, dragging her aside, before peering over the wall gingerly. "Shino, how are we doing?"
"It's like ducks in a shooting gallery, but my ammo won't last forever! I hope the air support's on its way!" Shino yelled back. "Can you use some of your spells?!"
Harry nodded, before he looked over at the bandits. Taking care to avoid hitting Rory, he began firing Blasting Hexes. Bandits were flung into the air by the explosions. He mixed it up by using the Magnum pistol he had been issued with, but he only had a few clips.
Just as daybreak began to arrive, though, as Shino's ammo began to run out, and Harry's magical reserves with them, the young wizard could hear music in the distance. Familiar music. "…Is that Ride of the Valkyries?" he asked incredulously.
"Woohoo! The cavalry's here!" Shino cheered. "About time!"
"That is such a cliché, using that music," Harry growled, before he called out to Rory, "RORY! GET BACK HERE! THE REINFORCEMENTS HAVE ARRIVED!"
Rory emitted a disappointed groan, but soon, she was leaping up back onto the battlements, covered in blood. "Well, this ought to be interesting, to witness the JSDF's war machines in action," she remarked, as if discussing the weather.
Interesting was one way of putting it. Sickening was another. While Harry thought that these men deserved to die, considering they wanted to rape and pillage Italica and its citizens, to witness the ensuing slaughter by the attack helicopters was something he couldn't bear to watch. As much as some people claimed he was a child soldier, he wasn't a trained soldier. He had seen death, witnessed it…but this mass killing, while justified, made him turn away.
However, as he did so, he could see Pina, Grey and Hamilton approaching, and witnessing the horror for themselves. And he knew that they were experiencing major culture shock, witnessing a weapon that disregarded all notions of swordfighting and the like. And, feeling pity for Pina, he said quietly, with sympathy in his voice, "That's who your father tried to attack. Can you see why that was a very bad idea now?"
Pina's mute nod, her crimson eyes wide and her face pale, was all he needed to see. He really did feel sorry for her. All her notions about warfare had been shattered, first by the actions of the bandits, and then by the JSDF. Maybe she could be the ally they needed within the Empire proper…
CHAPTER 7 ANNOTATIONS:
So, the battle of Italica has been done. The next chapter will deal with the aftermath, as well as Harry's developing relationships with Shino and Tuka.
I've decided to post this chapter and the next one over the next little while. I have written up to Chapter 10, but I want to finish the next chapter at least.
Incidentally, before I go onto the reviews, I have a couple of confessions to make: I'm having second thoughts about including Yao, or indeed anyone else, in the harem, other than Shino and Tuka. The reason why is the way the characters are developing: Shino's willing to share Harry with Tuka because, well, Tuka is Tuka, a sweet, nice girl who it's virtually impossible to hate. Yao, on the other hand, is another matter entirely. Shino would be most likely to see Yao as a potential threat to her relationship with Harry otherwise. I'm finding it harder and harder to justify putting in Yao into the relationship given what I've written so far. I might eventually pair her with Itami (gotta throw the dorky otaku a bone that isn't underaged or looks that way), but I'm finding it increasingly difficult to justify putting Yao in. So, if Yao doesn't end up in the harem, please don't be disappointed. It may be that I just bring the whole thing to a Harry/Shino/Tuka threeway pairing.
Secondly, I've been considering publishing Worlds Apart, but I've realised that I have written myself into a corner a little with that, given that this is a Harry still weighed down by the baggage of his past. So I might go back and do another story with the same pairing (Harry/Lelei/Myuute), or a similar pairing. I've been thinking up some interesting challenges too, and if you're interested, check out the forums of DZ2 and whitetigerwolf.
Review-answering time! Lord Mortenson: Only Hermione is planned for now.
Kaiya Azure: Yes, they do. The author named a lot of his characters in the Rose Knights and the Empire after alcoholic drinks.
YuukiAsuna-Chan: Screaming makes attacks more powerful. If there's one thing I have learned from anime, it's that. :P
diagonalpumpkin: Actually, Shino's not actually bisexual per se. It's more like Tuka is so sweet and nice that she can't help but give her a pass. Tuka's easy to make friends with, and Shino's basically making her like a best friend, on a par with Mari.
Leicontis: That it is…and that is scarily apposite…though I think Rory and the JSDF's Queen song would be We Will Rock You.
Agurra of the Darkness: I have no plans for Dudley to appear for now, but who knows?
jgkitarel: I'm a civilian, so please forgive the mistakes in military nomenclature. I'm trying to be consistent here as much as possible, even if it's technically wrong. If so, MST3K Mantra, please.
OBSERVER01: I guessed that the Tower Tag listed on the Wikipedia article MIGHT be a laser tag game, but I couldn't be sure, so I avoided making an assumption.
IlluminatedChaos: It's a good series, but just be warned about the very strong Japanese nationalism in it, the 'Japan, fuck yeah!' attitude. Plus, there's a rape scene in Episode 13, seen in silhouette instead of truly explicitly (thank goodness), but it's worth pointing out to those who don't like those scenes, or could be triggered.
No numbered annotations this time.
