Chapter 3 ~Exodus~

The battle had started to turn in the favor of the Garlean Empire. The airships that had long since kept out of the ground battle had started to take position above. The close-in-weapons of the airships normally designed to fight other airships were turned on the city. This in conjunction with the enemy commander joining the fray caused the Argent Shield to fracture. With each senior officer that fell in battle the troops were easily overwhelmed of taken captive. Only a handful of officers were still standing, and after hours of fighting the Argent Shield was pushed past the gateway and into the streets.

Alongside the streets the fighting was growing intense with the Garlean forces being funneled into several ambushes in the winding roadways. The Garleans despite raining down what support they could from above was holding back their mechanical monstrosities outside the Northern Gateway. The infantry poured in and despite fire burning around the defenders of Ala Mhigo were not giving in despite the dire situation.

The sound of a battle cry filled the streets where both Kaius, and Axton leave a trail of Garlean Infantry in their wake. The two moved like clockwork working at a team defeating who approached them with ease. The two despite practicing different disciplines showcased their trust, and experience in combat. Kaius despite having his armor rent from the battle outside had acquisitioned a fallen Garlean swordsman's shield and had once again started to deliver swift death to the overwhelming enemy.

"That makes how many now?" Axton pulled his spear out from a fallen enemy, and takes cover in an ally way while bullets impact the siding. He adjusted his helmet, and glanced over at Kaius who had also taken the chance to catch his breath.

"I already lost count...we need to hold them back for a little longer my friend." Kaius looked at the tarnished sword in his hand, and looked up at the sky above at the airship fleet.

Axton examined the bladed tip of his lance, and scoffed. "Better said than done... I just hope that Mirara gets those that wish to leave to safety in Gridania."

The sound of heavy breathing filled a temporary hospital where less skilled conjurers were tending to minor injuries while skilled White Mages were busy tending to those critically wounded. At this point, R'kiva had been too preoccupied with helping out the others that any thought of her rushing off to the North District to find Kaius was unlikely. There were people here that needed her skills most of them innocents caught in the heavy fighting.

R'kiva looked up from a wounded soldier covered head to toe with burns and looked with shock at soldiers evacuating citizens towards the southern district. "What is going on?"

The soldiers ignored R'kiva while she talked against the storm of retreating soldiers and citizens. She paused for a moment, and noticed a familiar face in the crowd still mounted atop her Chocobo. Due to her size, Mirara would have almost been trampled if not for the large mount she was seated atop of. The Lalafell turned over to notice R'kiva, and quickly reared the large bird over to the temporary hospital. "R'kiva...thank the twelve that you're alright." She lowered her head in disgust, and glanced over her shoulder at the sound of fighting growing closer. "We're losing control of the city...we've been asked to flee the city and take refuge in Gridania. Only with their help can we have any hope of pushing the empire out of our territory."

R'kiva could feel the truth in Mirara's words, but she knew that it wasn't the Lalafell that came up with such an order. She turned to the sound of the heavy fighting, and clasped her hands around her staff to pray knowing full well on who ordered the retreat. "I see...Mirara can you do a favor for me?"

Mirara let out a faint nod, and almost knew what was to follow from her close friend. "Yes..."

R'kiva moved her hand to her chest, and exhaled softly. "Please take Selvaria, and make sure she reaches Ul'dah."

Mirara's eyes went wide, "You should take her yourself...You don't need to stay."

R'kiva shook her head, and looked at the wounded all around her. "I can't leave these people behind Mirara please go get my daughter, and bring her to safety. I can rest easy knowing that she is far away from this bloodshed."

Mirara closed her eyes and tried to fight the tears from falling at the sheer thought of what was to become to those that surrendered to the empire. "Yes...I'll make sure she reaches Ul'dah. This won't be the last time we see each other R'kiva I will see you again."

R'kiva smiled at Mirara while she started off towards the southern district where Selvaria was still taking refuge inside their family home. 'I doubt that we'll see each other again...Selvaria please forgive us for leaving you to such a cruel world. Surely someday you'll understand the reasons why both your father and I stayed behind...'

Moments later, Selvaria despite being bundled up in a blanket got up from her hiding place and walked out into the main room after hearing the door open. The small girl looked around, and her eyes met the face of Mirara one of her mother's friends. Selvaria was always confused by Lalafell in general due to their childlike appearance, but this time however the young girl knew something was amiss. "Mira...where is mama and papa?"

Mirara looked at the bundled girl, and looked around at the various items owned by their family. "Your mother and father told me to take you to Ul'dah."

Selvaria's heart fell deeper into her tiny chest, and quietly stared down at the hard wood floor. "That means that..." She wiped the tears from her eyes, and looked at the backpack that her mother packed for her resting against the nearby wall.

Mirara glanced down at the small backpack, and looked around at the various items still resting on the shelves. "Is there anything else you wish to take? My Chocobo can carry more if you wish." She kneeled down to pick up the light backpack and helped put it on Selvaria.

Selvaria grabbed hold of the straps of the backpack, and took a moment to look around the home. Her eyes quickly widen, and she rushes over to her parent's room.

Mirara makes her way after Selvaria, and see the small girl reaching to a large bookshelf lined with several volumes of books. "We can't take them all Selvaria..."

Selvaria shook her head, and reached for a different book on the shelf. Her small fingers manager to get the book loose from the others, and it falls to the ground. A small amount of loose paperwork hidden in the large book spills onto the floor. "I want this one...it's mama and papa's journal from before I was..." She paused for a moment thinking of the right word to say. "delivered to mama and papa by the twelve."

Mirara chuckled at Selvaria's words, she was far too young to know the real reason of her birth, but the Lalafell played along. "Well, this important thing is something to be treasured." She looked at the pendent hanging off her neck, and smiled. "Let's hurry, and put that in your pack. The Empire is slowly approaching. When we get outside, I want you to close your eyes as tight as possible. You don't need to see what is out there."

Selvaria glanced out the window, and let out a small nod.

The battle grew closer towards the center of town with more and more soldiers surrendering to the overwhelming Imperial presence. The entire northern district was already in the hands of the Imperials, and now in the center of the town those that were hiding in their homes watch in horror as the Ala Mhigo flags are burned down only to be replaced by Imperial banners.

The battle continued to the heart of the plaza where the once glorious fountain where Kaius had met his family earlier this day was fractured. Kaius quickly leaps back with boots grinding against the stone flood at his feet. He looked up at the armored infantry leader of the invasion force. The heavy axe of Argent cracked through the stone street digging up the dirt underneath. Argent slowly gave the axe a tug, and looked over at Kaius meters away from him.

"You are skilled, but even if you defeat me you can't stop what already has transpired." Argent lifted the axe up, and rested it against his shoulder. He held his hand out to Kaius, and pointed at him. "This city is ours...and nothing will prevent us from moving through this land like a unquenchable flame. We won't stop until all of Eorzea is in our palm."

Kaius spat out blood onto the ground below, and resumed a combat stance. He tapped the hilt of his sword to the shield. "You imperials are too ambitious, we may not have been able to stop you here, but in time you will face failure."

Argent shrugged his shoulders, and without even wasting a motion leaned backwards in reaction to the lance nearly missing his full body from above. Axton looked in utter shock at the attack he had planned from the rooftops earlier. He slowly turned to see the Garlean commander looking at him with axe still perched against his shoulder.

"Did you think that you're talking would have distracted me?"

Axton tugged at his lance, and quickly Argent grabbed hold of him by the neck. "Ugh..."

Argent tightened his grip, and lifted Axton up. The dragoon tried to tighten his grip on the lance, but his fingertips slip past the shaft. "How does it feel to have your surprise attack crushed so easily?"

Axton moved his hands to his neck in an effort to pry Argent's hands off. He gasped for air and slowly the hand grew tighter.

Argent chuckled, "I can't hear you..." He turned over to Kaius, and motioned to his 'ally' being choked a mere few feet away. "Are you going to stand there and watch me crush him? Is this why the Adamant Shield fell so easily to us?"

"You need to close your mouth Imperial!" Kaius shook his head, and pushed off falling for Argent's shameless taunt. The bulky commander threw Axton to the side, and pulled the axe forward. The axe smashed against the sword redirecting it into the shield. The weapons sparked against one another with both holding their ground.

Argent's laugh grew louder as he removed one hand from the axe, but kept applying the same amount of pressure. "Is this all you have? One of my arms is more than enough to deal with you." He looked out the corner of his eye, and removed a flintlock from a holster on his belt.

Axton slowly opened his eyes, and slowly returned to his feet. "I won't let you..." He kicked off the ground and charged at Argent.

A loud gunshot filled the central plaza where R'kiva had been running for the past few minutes. Her robes were ripped and dirtied from combat on her journey to find Kaius. Her ears twitch at the very sound of the gunshot, it was different from the sound of the gun blades, and that alone made her heart sink. 'I hope I am not too late...'

R'kiva rushed across the plaza towards the location of the shot. She leaped over overturned barrels of fine wine, and produce from the festival. She tripped over a doll left behind by a child, and caught herself on-top of a table. She looked up at the slashes of silver in the distance. Her eyes focused at the melee up ahead, and the emptiness that eat at her heart earlier started to subside. 'Thank the twelve you are alive...'

Kaius, and Argent were fiercely fighting one another with no hint of hesitation. The heavy axe cut apart everything it touched when it narrowly missed the quicker Kaius. The Imperial despite his size was maneuverable, but speed was something that he lacked. Kaius was holding a defensive posture deflecting the axe away with his shield and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

The brutal melee grew as they smashed through the festival grounds. Argent was swinging his axe around violently with his strength growing at each passing second. Kaius's defense was fracturing and the shield he had taken from the enemy was on the verge of breaking. He could feel the handle jerking with each sequential attack, and soon he would have to end this fight.

"This is the end for you!" Argent slashed once more, and yet again Kaius's shield shattered from the blow. The iron shield split apart allowing the axe to continue through to the armored shoulder plating. The pressure from the strike alone dislocated Kaius's shoulder, but the blade was nowhere close to cutting off the entire limb. A pained yell escaped from Kaius, as he leaped backwards looking at his left arm lie limp at his side.

R'kiva's eyes narrowed at the man battling her husband, and started an incantation. Her body was far exhausted from healing the others, and that would prove to be a problem if she couldn't end this battle now. She held out the winged staff in the direction of Argent, and opened her mouth to speak. "Bright light, shine down upon this evil in front of me! Holy!"

The skies despite being blanketed in the darkness of night quickly began to illuminated as sparklets of white magical energy dances with the clouds above. The clouds kept still for a moment only to be pierced through by a beam of pure energy.

Kaius looked up at the sky, and slowly looked out the corner of his eye to spot R'kiva casting. 'No...no...'

Argent turned over to spot the White Mage across the plaza, and smirked. "Who is..." He looked up to notice the light above, and without a second to react the magical attack blasted against his body, and promptly created an explosion kicking up an obscuring cloud into the air.

R'kiva could feel her body grow weak, and her vision started to blur. Her strength was waning, and slowly she caught herself on the nearby table to remain standing. Beads of sweat poured down her face while she tried to catch her breath. She looked over to notice Kaius rushing over to her. "My...love..." She took a step forward, and fell into Kaius's chest.

Kaius looked down at R'kiva whose eyes were closed, but her arms wrapped around his waist. "R'kiva what are you doing here? You should be with Selvaria!"

R'kiva opened her eyes slowly, and shook her head. "Selvaria is in good hands...she is already on her way out of the city...I couldn't let you stay here and sacrifice yourself alone."

Kaius looked over his shoulder at the smoldering cloud of smoke slowly clear from the plaza. Argent's body was nowhere to be found. "What is..."

R'kiva looked up to see Kaius looking down at her, but blood ran down his lips. She shook her head while looking up at the towering face of Argent. His face was covered with a great deal of scars, but the fresh wound from 'holy' had burned away the right side of his face along with one of his two piercing yellow eyes. "No...Kaius!"

Argent grinned while pain echoed through his body. "You should have made sure I was dead! Now I can kill the both of you!" He gripped the hilt of the dagger plunged into Kaius's back, and gave it a twist before pulling it out.

Kaius coughed out blood onto R'kiva, and slowly his body fell to his knees. R'kiva held on to Kaius's body, and looked up at Argent with eyes shuddering. "You monster...you..."

Argent moved his hand to the burned portion of his face, and gave it a small rub. "I'm the monster? You used a spell like that and call me a monster!" He gripped the dagger in hand and jabbed it forward.

R'kiva closed her eyes, and waited for the steel weapon to pierce into her body. She opened her eyes slowly to see Kaius's sword pieced through the imperial's chest.

The color was washed away in Kaius's face while even the luster of his eyes were no longer there. His body reacted in one last effort to protect his wife from harm. He coughed, and hacked for a second while looking at the blurry face of R'kiva staring at him. "R'kiva...I don't...have much time...please...go to Selvaria...she needs a mother more...than ever...tell her that I'll always be there for her...please don't let...her...forget where she...comes..."

R'kiva shook her head, and grabbed hold of Kaius. "No please don't leave me..." She started to chant, but her body was far too weak to cast the most simple cure spell. She watched at Kaius drew his last breath, and fell to the cold ground. R'kiva looked at her shaking hands, and slowly turned to the sword plunged deep into Argent's body. She got up to her feet and wobbled for a moment forcing her body to walk over to the deceased imperial commander. Her hands gripped the hilt of her husband's sword, and pulled it from Argent's body. She glanced over her shoulder, and started to make her wayt to the southern district

'My beloved I will not allow Selvaria to forget that she is a child of two worlds. She will be a beacon of light for others to follow. I will have her remember that her father was a hero, and that she should be proud of you."

In the next few hours, the Imperial Army overwhelmed what was left of the Argent Shield, and the banner of Ala Mhigo was no longer standing at either gateway out of the massive city state. The Garlean Empire was victorious over their equal in every aspect of war. Their decisive victory at the border ushered in an era of fear in the hearts of those still remaining in the city's walls.

This battle was written in the history of Eorzea not by the ink on a historian's quill, but in the blood of the soldiers that fought in that gruesome battle. The heroic efforts of those that stayed behind to allow those unable to fight to flee were regarded as heroes. The tale of these actions made it to the leadership of Ul'dah, Limsa Lominsa, and Gridania. Within weeks of hearing the tale of Ala Mhigo's fall to the Garlean Empire, the remaining city-states prepared for an invasion to come. Sadly this invasion would take fifteen years to come to fruition.