Laura was an early riser, it was natural for someone like her and considering the nature of their operation staying in bed leisurely wasn't on the cards even if she couldn't fall asleep, but still, being up and about at 4 in the morning was a tad excessive considering she had not been assigned for any shifts at that hour. In her boredom, Laura wandered through the corridors of the Courageous, appreciating how quiet it could get at that hour, with only the occasional crew member passing by with a "can't sleep either, huh?" to their conversation.
She thought back on Rean and Jusis' duel and pondered about the discussion they had later. She had a pretty good notion of what it might have been about and wondered if Rean had managed to get through Jusis. Well, that was a silly thought, of course Rean had, he was smart and sensitive and always knew the right things to say to help someone. Now if only he would listen to what others said to help him… Thoughts of Rean led to curiosity towards Valimar which led her to the hangar where the Ashen Knight was stationed, maybe contemplating the giant would help her somewhat, and as luck would have it, Laura wasn't the only early riser.
"Good morning, Rean," she greeted her partner, who sat on the floor in front of Valimar, staring at the Knight attentively with his arms crossed over his knees.
"Morning," he replied after trying and failing to hold a yawn.
"May I join you?"
Rean simply nodded and she sat next to him and stared at the Divine Knight just as he did. She took in the visage of the Ashen Knight, her eyes running over the smallest details, wondering if there were deeper meanings to the flourishes in the plating or just fancies from his creators, and what powers still lay dormant there for Rean to discover.
"What's on your mind?" She asked after a moment of peaceful silence.
"I'm just going over some things about myself and Valimar and our connection."
"You've told me some of it yesterday in-between your conversations with… Emma," Laura winced at her own hesitation of saying her friend's name and quickly advanced the subject, hoping Rean hadn't caught it. "So Valimar is more than we originally thought?"
"Yeah, he is his own individual, even if a little different from us. I've been treating him like a thing all this time and…" Rean shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Anyway, how about I properly introduce you two?"
Rean lifted his head and looked up to the Divine Knight while his right hand motioned to Laura. "Valimar, I'd like you to meet Laura S. Arseid, my partner in swordsmanship and my girlfriend." There was a glint in his eyes when he said it and a tinge of excitement in his voice. He wasn't just introducing Laura as her girlfriend, he was doing so proudly.
"Greetings," Valimar said in return but the short response earned a comically exaggerated frown from Rean as he gestured more at Laura. "I mean, it is an honor to make your acquaintance, Lady Laura."
She quickly realized they were playing it up and the silly performance made Laura chuckle, the hilarity boosted by Valimar's monotone, artificial voice. "Well, it is an honor to know you as well, Valimar," she said with a nod of her head. "It's nice to see you two getting along."
"You know how it is," he shrugged in a show of nonchalance. "I'm not great at first impressions but then I work my charm and get them hooked."
Rean wasn't completely wrong but that was a terribly cocky way of putting it and Laura was ready to take him down a peg when Valimar spoke up, his voice sounding almost wistful.
"Arseid…"
"Valimar?"
"I recall that name."
Laura looked up to the Knight, her face sparkling with curiosity. "Do you remember Shion Arseid, Valimar? What about Saint Lianne Sandlot?" She almost burst into many more questions but held those in, lest she came off as too excited.
Valimar remained silent and Rean frowned and closed his eyes. Laura could see his brow twitching and his eyes moving under his eyelids. Was he remembering along with Valimar? Or trying to access his memories? The moment was brief and Rean shook his head, clearing the clutter of his mind.
"I recall Shion Arseid," said Valimar. "An ally of my previous Awakener, Dreichels Reise Arnor. Lianne Sandlot, the Argent Awakener, was there as well. A friend. My memory banks still require more time to fully recover, I cannot recall much else. "
"A friend, I see…" Laura mumbled thoughtfully. "Did you know, Rean, that to this day rumors float around that Emperor Dreichels and Saint Sandlot had a romantic affair?"
"I… Didn't. Haha, wow, really? I didn't know you were into historical gossip," he lightly elbowed at her and Laura was sufficiently caught in her own thoughts that she didn't notice his awkwardness.
"Well, it's closer to family history in a way as there are also rumors of the Lance Maiden and Shion Arseid being a couple and even a love triangle between the three. One tale even posits that Dreichels and Shion dueled to the death for her hand and as both warriors were about to deal a finishing strike that would've killed both, Saint Sandlot threw herself between them, sacrificing herself so that both men could live."
"Huh, that's-"
"Trashy, if I may say so myself," Laura said with a bite in her voice. "It's a gross case of historical revisionism that discards the idea that Saint Lianne died heroically in battle and tarnishes both the image of Shion Arseid and Emperor Dreichels, all for the sake of being a tragic romantic story."
Laura spoke passionately and Rean couldn't help but find it cute. "Looks like I'm not the only history fan around here."
"Indeed, it just happens that my love for history is more-"
"Attuned to hero worship?"
"I'd rather call it specialized."
Both laughed lightly and a comforting silence settled between them as both swordsmen stared at Valimar again. Laura thought of the Argent Knight, a being similar to Valimar and Ordine but with resplendent alabaster armor, and of what it must've looked like to see it and Valimar fighting together; two warriors, two heroes together braving the worst that the War of the Lions could bring. If only she could…
"So, what's on your mind?" He asked her.
Laura smiled. Of course he'd see through her just like she had done with him. She had thought many ways how to properly express herself, initiating the conversation always being the most difficult part. Maybe chronologically was the best way to go about it.
"My mother died during childbirth," Laura said with no fanfare but contrary to the content of her words she didn't look upset. In fact, there was a serene, peaceful expression to her face.
Rean turned to her, shocked at the revelation, almost not believing what he had heard. She felt him getting ready to console her, to say "I'm so sorry to hear," an instinctive response that many people would have when hearing something of that nature.
"It's okay. I'm not telling you this for the reasons you might think I am," she said with an even, calm voice. Rean closed his mouth, remaining quiet as Laura proceeded with her thoughts. "Avelina Arseid was a woman with a fragile heart and complications with the procedure led her to passing away. I learned of this when I was around 12 years old, when my father judged me mature enough."
"Did you feel guilty about it?"
Of course that would be where his mind goes, she thought. "Yes, for a moment, but father had prepared me beforehand and I managed to work through it. Nowadays that is something I rarely think about. I am saddened that I will never be able to know her, of course, but it is not something that defines me. I reveal this to you, Rean, because it taught me a lesson, or at least, I thought it had.
"Before that day, my father was the strongest person in the world to me. He could destroy mountains and move rivers with his sword. Monsters and bandits were mere ants on his path and men across the country trembled before his name. Any challengers were met with swift defeat. Victor Arseid was the strongest, fastest, smartest, most powerful person in the world and he could do anything. But not even the Radiant Blademaster can stave off death and a sword can't cure the sick.
"As my father told me of her passing and I saw the sadness in his eyes, I learned that no person is all-powerful, that no matter how strong someone is, there will always be a thing out of reach of their abilities, something they simply can not do. I've learned this lesson a second time during the guild bombings, first hand experiencing that powerlessness for myself. The third time was at Garrelia Fortress when you consoled me and I told myself that this time, this time I would let go of the childish notion of feeling I could do everything but then…"
Laura looked up to Valimar, in that simple gesture saying everything else that she wanted to say.
"You're hung up about not being able to fight with me or help in some other way while I'm on Valimar," he said and Laura nodded back, her chin resting against her knees as her gaze remained fixated on the Divine Knight.
Laura had said her piece, exposing what plagued her thoughts and it felt like a weight had been removed from her shoulders. It was freeing, even if Rean couldn't say anything to help her, this act by itself had already been beneficial to her. Maybe it was an issue without a solution, something that she would always carry with her due to her upbringing and personality, but it was better to share it than having it festering within her.
But this was Rean and he always had something to say.
"You know how to meditate, right?" He said casually and Laura quirked an eyebrow. "Come on, sit in front of me, I wanna show you something."
She did so, seeing no reason to argue, she positioned herself in front of Rean with her legs crossed as he too assumed the position and Rean's calm and soothing voice went through the motions, telling her to close her eyes and how to breathe. Laura knew how to meditate, although it wasn't a big part of the Arseid School training repertoire as it was for the Eight Leaves and as such she didn't have much practice with it, so it was nice to have Rean guide her, it made the process more relaxing.
"Okay, now, pay attention to your own heartbeat," he whispered.
It took a moment but Laura eventually entered a meditative state, her body relaxed and the action of drawing deep breaths in and out in a slow and steady rhythm became automatic. Were it not for Rean's instructions she would be focusing on him, but instead she let his presence be on the background of her mind and fixated on her own heartbeat.
Ba-bump… Ba-bump… Ba-bump… Ba-bump…
What did Rean want to show her exactly? Was he about to impart some piece of Eastern philosophy he had learned from Master Yun Ka-fai? Or maybe would he try something between the two of them? They were alone after all and it had been a while since the last time they got intimate. Or was this going to be a prank? Aidios help him if he-
She felt his fingertips on her knee with a featherlight touch and Laura held on still waiting for what would come next. It was a simple, gentle tapping of his index finger on a not particularly sensitive part of her body.
Tap-tap… Tap-tap… Tap-tap… Tap-tap…
Was that it? Seconds passed without Rean saying anything, only continuously tapping his finger. What was the purpose of it? She identified a steady rhythm but couldn't make heads or tails of its meaning.
Tap-tap… Tap-tap… Tap-tap… Tap-tap…
"Keep listening to your heart," he said.
Her concentration had slipped from the initial instruction so clearly he had noticed it, so Laura went back to it, still perplexed at what he was expecting of her. A few moments passed and the swordswoman refocused herself.
Ba-bump… Ba-bump… Ba-bump… Ba-bump…
Meanwhile his finger tapped away at her knee.
Tap-tap… Tap-tap… Tap-tap… Tap-tap…
Ba-bump… Ba-bump… Ba-bump… Ba-bump…
Tap-tap… Tap-tap…
Ba-bump… Ba-bump…
Tap-tap…
Ba-bump…
Oh.
Ba...
Tap...
Laura opened her eyes, coming face to face to Rean sporting a bashful smile. A most rare sight.
"Everyone's got a particular rhythm to their heartbeat, it's subtle but it's there, and I memorized that of my parents and Elise's. It started with me using the Unseen Eye during the night when I couldn't sleep, it helped at times, grounded me after bad nights and reminded me that everything was okay. I got so attuned to them that eventually if everything is quiet I can still hear their heartbeats without needing to focus that much, like on quiet winter days when we'd sit around the fireplace, silently enjoying the heat and each other's presence, I'd hear them in the background, calm, peaceful, happy. And…"
He rubbed the back of his neck, dodging her gaze with shyness but still holding that sweet, sweet smile, almost innocent, and it felt so real, more real than any emotion Rean had ever expressed in front of her. "Since that night at the hotsprings I can follow yours like that too. I guess I have our ARCUS to thank for that, being connected with you so much kinda made a shortcut to it. So now, even in combat, even when I'm inside Valimar, if we are linked together I don't even have to concentrate at all to hear it. You are always there with me."
Words failed Laura and her cheeks dusted crimson at the meaning of his words, how heartwarming and sincere they were, and at her own foolishness from the previous day.
"If you were Valimar's Awakener and all I could do was to stand aside and watch you fight, I'd be feeling the same way. Hell, I'd probably feel worse than you do because you know how I am. There is nothing I'd rather have than you fighting with me on another Knight, I think that together nothing would stand in our way."
Laura smiled, remembering her father's words to her back in Legram. Together we would be unstoppable.
"So I know that it sucks to feel like you're not doing enough, that being relegated to stand and watch and give moral support can be a pathetic consolation prize, and that what I'm saying doesn't completely fix the issue for you but when I'm inside there and I can feel this-" he tapped at her knee again, not missing a beat of Laura's heart and even picking up on how it had accelerated. "Through our ARCUS connection, it helps me remember that I'm not just fighting for the sake of fighting but because there is someone out there that means a lot to me."
Now much more aware of her own heartbeat, Laura felt hers picking up fiercely, thundering in her ears. What could she even say to that? To such sweet words delivered with such care declaring so much meaning to her mere presence? Rean was right, it wasn't enough to stave off her anguish but his words were still beyond comforting. She would have to swallow her pride as a warrior now more than ever, for her own sake and Rean's as well.
"So whenever you are seething mad because I spent too much time with another girl…"
There it was, the unexpected blow that nonetheless she deserved to receive, Rean's sincere smile turned into a sly grin that went from ear to ear and she was not in a position to protest, she just groaned and huffed and sighed. "I can't believe Fie had already told you everything. I thought I could confide in her."
"Well, not everything else, just about Emma. She was worried about you, and me to a certain extent I guess."
"Hmph, figures. Nevertheless, for the record, I was not seething mad, I was-"
Rean leaned forward and captured her lips with a kiss. "Remember there is only one person whose heart is on my mind."
And just like that he had stolen her breath away. Rean said those things with such earnest honesty that words failed her, what could she even say in return that could compare? Well, Laura always preferred actions to express herself over words anyway.
The swordswoman surged forward, holding Rean's face between her hands and kissed him hungrily, passionately, returning the feelings he had expressed and not stopping even when he tumbled back and they fell on the ground. Thank goodness the hangar was empty at that hour. Rean got in the mood in no time, embracing Laura and running his fingers on the back of her head, scratching her scalp and drawing a soft moan from her.
Feeling incredibly hot all over her body, Laura pulled back for air but still remained close enough to feel Rean's own labored breaths tickling her lips. When was the last time they had kissed like this? Back in his room, before that fateful conversation with his parents, so only a couple of days but it felt like an eternity since they had gotten to enjoy each other. The way his chest heaved against hers. The softness of his hair between her fingers. The shimmering look of his gentle fuschia eyes that stared at her with desire. She adored everything about the boy… No, about the young man that was laying under her.
A whole new sensation was rising inside her chest, like bubbles that made her feel lighter and threatened to make her float away. It felt amazing, it made her smile without restraint, without even understanding why she was smiling.
"Rean, I…"
"HEY-OOOOO! ARE YOU TWO DOING THINGIES TO EACH OTHER!?"
Millium's voice came barreling in like a bulldozer set on destroying everything on its path, yelling from the top of her lungs as she hovered on top of Airgetlam. Laura immediately rolled to the side and disengaged from Rean, both hastily wiping their lips on their sleeves and straightening their clothes and hair while swearing under their breaths in frustration.
The little intelligence agent found the two lying next to each other breathing heavily and felt pretty good about her assumption. "Aha! I was looking for you! I knew you two were getting nasty!"
"Oh please, like you know what that even means," said Rean, glaring at her through narrowed eyes.
"Yeah I do, I'm a secret agent I have to know all kinds of stuff."
"Uh huh, so what do you think we were doing then?"
Millium shifted on her seat on top of Airgetlam's head, her eyes drifting off to the sides. "Um, you know, like, adult stuff… Kissing and um… holding hands?" Both swordsmen started to laugh much to the frustration of Millium, who pouted adorably. "It's not my fault I'm too young to stay for the sex-ed class!"
"Putting that side," said Laura, clearing her throat. "It's still early in the day, is there any reason why you were looking for us, Millium?"
"Oh yeah, there's an emergency meeting. Elliot's sister has been kidnapped."
"We just received an urgent communiqué from Major Neithardt," Viscount Arseid's voice resounded in the conference room as the others silently paid attention to his words. "It appears that Fiona Craig, General Olaf Craig's daughter, has been taken prisoner by Kreuzen's Provincial Army."
"What are they planning to do with her?" Asked Sara, dreading the answer.
"They plan on exchanging her for General Craig at the Twin Dragons Bridge," responded Prince Olivert, the usual mirth in his voice gone.
And thus cripple the Imperial Army's offensive and defensive capabilities, eliminating the threat of the 4th Armored Division. Class VII exchanged looks of apprehension among themselves before directing their attention to Elliot, whose face was stricken with fear and concern.
"Dad won't accept it," the musician said. "Whatever they threaten to do with sis, he won't accept their deal. He loves us but I know him, his sense of duty is too great and too much is at stake. Fiona understands this too, I bet. That means that when dad refuses their offer… Sis… They're going to…"
His voice cracked and Elliot choked a sob as Emma and Gaius offered words of comfort to him.
"We'll save her," said Rean, not as a promise but as a statement. "Captain Arseid, Prince Olivert, what's the plan?"
The Crimson Wings had little time to prepare and efficiency was crucial. By the time they had been informed of Fiona Craig's kidnapping, she had already been transported to the Twin Dragons Bridge with the exchange being scheduled for a short time later, leaving them and General Craig little time to prepare, and with the 4th Division still having their communications jammed they couldn't coordinate on a plan. They had to count on Craig the Red's cunning to understand what they were attempting to do but if things went right, not only would they rescue Fiona but also assist the Imperial Army in their battle.
The meeting between Kreuzen's Provincial Army and the 4th Division was taking place on the eastern end of the bridge, away from the fortified base, the closest thing to a middle ground between the factions. Both armies were facing each other, with the 4th's five tanks lined up and General Craig standing on top of one of them with his barrel sized arms crossed over his broad chest, a severe look stamped on his face that none of his men had ever seen before.
Facing him was one Colonel Godfrey Zimmermann, a tall, thin man with a ridiculously fancy mustache that somehow managed to maintain his composure even as his enemy seemed to be attempting to set him on fire with his eyes. Despite the month-long deadlock between their forces, the provincial colonel seemed completely confident in his army's superiority as four panzer soldats accompanied his armored car.
"I suppose I should thank you, colonel," Olaf Craig started, his voice loud and booming. "It pained me to leave Fiona by herself in besieged Heimdallr where I can't care for her, you really did me a favor bringing her here. So now, please, send for her at once, and I'll pretend that words such as "prisoner" and "exchange" were mere mistakes from your communications officer."
Colonel Zimmermann scoffed. "Do you think this is a joke, Craig? We have your daughter!"
"Yes, you made that very clear, and now you will deliver my daughter to me. Unharmed. Where is she anyway, you've talked and talked but I have yet to see proof that you even have Fiona with you besides that locket you sent us."
"Your daughter is perfectly fine and safe with us where she will stay until you surrender yourself, starting by telling your men to return to your base."
"Pah!" Craig spat. "Do you honestly believe such a cheap tactic can work on me? I am ready to accept the consequences of my position as a General of the Imperial Army. Fiona understands this as well, she is a strong woman. What about you, Colonel Zimmermann, are you ready to face the consequences of your actions?"
"Insolent commoner," Zimmermann muttered under his breath, frustration mixed with only a tinge of trepidation. "Fine! Send the call to bring the girl over here, maybe her pleas for help will change-"
"S-sir."
"What is it?" The colonel turned to the driver of his armored car, who seemed to have gone pale as he took off a pair of headphones connected to the vehicle's radio.
"V-Viscount Victor S. Arseid has just arrived at the base and he is coming here along with Lord Jusis Albarea and a Bracer."
"W-what? What is the Radiant Blademaster doing here?"
"While the viscount, Jusis and Toval work as distraction, our team will divide in two and infiltrate the Twin Dragons base," Sara explained to the rest of Class VII. "Our primary objective is rescuing Fiona Craig, meaning the less noise we make before we have her secured the better. While that's going on, Neithardt's message said he'll have something planned for around 6:50 that will get the provincial army's attention, so that's the time we have to secure Fiona. Once that starts, Rean will summon Valimar and raise hell on the outside, destroying their vehicles and soldats before they know what hit them, while we take over from inside."
"That assumes the provincial army won't bring Fiona to the exchange right away, correct, Instructor Sara?" Said Laura.
"Yes. If they do take Fiona to the bridge we will signal the viscount once we're in position so his team can take action to protect her alongside the 4th division's forces, after which the plan remains unchanged. We can expect Elliot's father to catch up to our plan quickly. Is everyone clear?"
A resounding "yes" came from the students as the Courageous prepared to drop them at their designated spot to meet with Neithardt. Sara looked over her students, feeling a sense of pride as they all demonstrated unrelenting determination. "Alright, everyone, let's move out!"
The kind of infiltration operation Class VII was carrying out was better suited under the cover of night and not the crack of dawn, but the urgent nature of their mission didn't leave time to wait. Despite that setback, however, the infiltration of the Twin Dragon's base went without a hitch, the presence of Victor Arseid being enough of a distraction that it allowed then to sneak in without being noticed, and if some soldiers ended up incapacitated, everyone's eyes were on the Radiant Blademaster strutting along the bridge alongside the son of Duke Albarea, so by the time the provincial soldier noticed something was amiss it would be too late.
Class VII was divided in two groups, with Group A being composed of Rean, Fie, Machias, Elliot and Millium, entering the north side of the building, while the rest on Group B went to the south side. Emma and Celine's teleportation spells making their job of reaching their destinations much easier.
While their team arrangements were sound based on their abilities, Rean saw an unspoken reason their instructor grouped them that way, that if push came to shove and the situation required a more drastic solution, each group had at least one person with experience in killing.
In Group A was Fie, the former jaeger who had already killed an ILF member back in Heimdallr without a second thought, while in Group B there was their own instructor. Although Sara's past as a Bracer and even before that were a mystery to them still, it was a fair assumption for him to make, especially after the conversation with the Zephyr jaegers.
Rean was almost certain that if it was for the sake of protecting the others he would be able to do it again as well. It was a war after all, it was expected, he told himself, and if he wanted everyone to be okay after it was all over he couldn't hesitate.
This assumption proved itself to be true when Fie pinned a lone patrolling guard against a wall with her daggers. The man had just turned on an intersection and gotten face to face with them when the small girl silenced him before he could make any noise to alert his comrades.
"We have to hide him," Rean said, holding the soldier's body before it hit the floor while Fie took a peek around the bend to check if anybody had heard anything.
Machias tried to say something, his mouth closing and opening several times in a fraction of a second. "Did you really have to- I mean, couldn't we just-"
"No," Fie responded sharply. No, there was no other option. No, we don't have time for this. No, are you stupid?
"Millium, there was a broom closet back there. Take him there, it should buy us enough time, nobody is going to be sweeping the floors any time soon. Machias, cover her," said Rean as Millium summoned Airgetlam and carried the man's corpse without a care in the world.
Rean then turned to Elliot, who was gripping his orbal staff tightly in a bad attempt of hiding the shaking of his limbs. "How are you holding up, right hand man?"
Elliot released a shaky breath, realizing how nervous he seemed. "I'm worried about Fiona."
"I know this is messed up but don't worry, we won't let any of these people harm your sister, okay? Trust me, I know how you feel."
Rean put a firm hand on Elliot's shoulder and squeezed, reassuring his friend, and his words and actions seemed to have reached the musician enough to help him relax. "Thanks, Rean."
Millium and Machias returned moments later and Fie signaled to them that it was okay to continue to move, and so they continued to venture inside the military facility.
"L-Lord Arseid, Lord Jusis. What do we owe the pleasure of your presence?" Colonel Zimmermann bowed to both while paying no mind to Toval.
"Hey, I'm here too, you know?" The blond Bracer said.
"I've come here to mediate the negotiations between Kreuzen's provincial army and the 4th Armored Division," the viscount stated matter-of-factly, as if it was an obvious thing. "As the youngest son of Duke Albarea, Jusis is here to represent his house, and as a Bracer, Toval has experience in negotiations."
The provincial colonel looked up, first at the hilt of the viscount's sword poking out from behind his back. That thing is ridiculous, it's big enough for a soldat to use . Then he directed his gaze at the viscount himself and promptly turned it away upon seeing the challenging look in the man's eyes. A hundred questions swirled inside his head. "Forgive me for saying it, viscount, but last I heard you were aligned with Prince Olivert and-"
"Yes, Prince Olivert, the same prince whose family is under protective custody of the Noble Alliance, correct? Unless you mean to say that the status of the Imperial Family has changed to something else?"
"Of course, not! His Highness the Emperor and his family are completely safe and-"
"I suppose you are going to question why I am here next?" Jusis cut off the man, putting his commanding voice on the forefront. "Let me guess, you've heard some rumor about how I deserted the Albarea name?"
"I- I-" The man stuttered, feeling completely lost. Yes, he had heard about the youngest son of the duke turning his back on his father, although not from official channels, it wasn't like Duke Albarea could openly admit that he couldn't control his own son. But what if that been a case of miscommunication? Why would Lord Jusis be there otherwise? Meanwhile, Arseid was no fool, surely he knew the actual status of the Imperial Family, was he actually challenging the colonel to openly say the Emperor was a prisoner of the Noble Alliance? That could shake the faith of his subordinates in their cause. Feeling overwhelmed, Colonel Zimmermann ended up playing along and into their hands. "No, absolutely not, your lordship. I wouldn't dare! But how did this news reach you, your lordship, I don't remember-"
"For Aidios' sake, man!" Victor's voice boomed loudly with frustration. It was all fake but it did the job of intimidating those around them. "Are you going to continue to interrogate us on trivial matters while we stand around here all day long?"
Zimmermann could barely keep his knees from shaking as the two continued to talk over the colonel, barely giving him time to actually think things through. Toval had to hold himself to not laugh, it was a good bullshit act and it had only begun.
"Now let's begin the procedures," the viscount finally said, tapping the provincial colonel on the shoulder and walking past him. "General Craig! We require your presence for negotiations to start at once! We have absolutely no time to waste!"
Olaf, who so far watched events unfold from afar and was almost as lost as the provincial army, recognized the tone in the viscount's voice immediately. "Very interesting. Heh, time to stall then."
The flat side of Laura's sword met with a provincial soldier's face, the sound of bone crushing filling the air as metal met flesh, and the man went down with no further sound. Despite her attempt at a less lethal approach she wondered if the man would survive the physical trauma, she never had hit someone that hard before. If he didn't Laura would have to live with it, just like Rean and Fie did, there could be no space for doubt in her mind, especially in matters of life and death where her companions were counting on her sword.
"The room is clear, instructor," the swordswoman called out to Sara, who was holding a provincial officer at gunpoint, an older woman who stared down the barrel of the former Bracer's gun with a scowl.
"Now, lady, would you kindly tell us where Fiona Craig is?" Said Sara with insincere politeness.
The woman looked unimpressed by the threatening weapon pointed at her face. She made a show of looking around the room, the command center of the Twin Dragons Bridge, situated at the hightest tower of the base facing east, her eyes running over the people who had burst inside the room, beating and incapacitating her companions in the blink of an eye.
"As if I'm telling you commoner rabble anything."
"Ma'am, please be reasonable," Gaius started, putting his spear down and approaching the woman calmly. "Fiona is a civilian who has no place being involved in this war. Regardless of what you might have against her father and the Imperial Army, she has no relation to-"
"Go back to your tribe, Nord, this matter concerns Erebonians only," she bitterly replied and Gaius was thrown back by her aggression.
"What did you just say!?" Alisa shouted out, stomping on her way, ready to smack some sense on the woman, when Sara stepped in and stopped her.
"Settle down, Alisa, don't let her get to you. She's trying to stall, just like we are. Emma, do you have some kind of spell that can help with this?"
The witch had just finished putting up an illusionary barrier at the door, which showed an image of the communications room undisturbed for whoever looked at it from the outside. "Nothing I can think of at the moment, instructor."
Great, Sara sighed. The old bint clearly was the person in charge of communications at the Twin Dragons base but unfortunately had a good enough head on her shoulders to not give in to being intimidated. When they had stumbled on the brig they thought they had struck gold but it turned out to be a bust, there were only a few Imperial Army soldiers being held there. The soldiers were released but they stayed on the brig to not interfere with Class VII's ongoing mission. That forced them to keep on their search, which landed them in their current location and predicament.
Sara picked up her ARCUS and called up Group A, hoping they were having better luck. "Fie, what's your status?"
"We're one floor down from you guys, west side, an administrative section by the looks of it. We've checked everywhere worth looking at and still no sign of Fiona. We tried to interrogate some soldiers and honestly it sounds like she's not here at all."
From afar, Sara heard Rean's voice saying that maybe Fiona being kidnapped was a lie. "Not likely. If it's a trap it's a bad one, even if the surprise visit from the viscount and Jusis threw a wrench on their plans they should have done something by now."
"Instructor, it's almost time," said Laura, referring to the time Neithardt had given them for his part of the rescue operation to start.
"Can you guys see what's happening at the bridge from… Wait, someone is coming," said Fie.
Sara waited for a brief moment as the distant, indistinguishable sounds reached the speakers of Fie's ARCU and reached her ear. It sounded like a minor scrap going on, likely someone had gotten in there and was apprehended.
"Huh," Fie said when it was over.
"What is it?"
"Apparently a crazed panzer soldat is coming this way and tearing everything on its path," alarms then interrupted whatever else the former jaeger had to say. "Looks like Neithardt is here."
"Awesome," Sara said sarcastically. "Try finding out anything you can about Fiona while we-"
With everything going on, Sara's concentration slipped for a fraction of a second but that was enough for the communications officer to make use of the distraction as she leaped away from her seat. She grabbed a radio as yelled from the top of her lungs. "We're under attack, move the prisoner!"
"And that, gentlemen, is the full extent of the section of the Arterian Chart of International Negotiations that deals with civilian prisoners of war. A treaty which the Erebonian Empire is a part of."
Jusis had spent the last 15 minutes listing articles of international law. Some he had memorized, some he had to adlib. It was mere child's play for him, although standing in the sun and talking non-stop did make his throat quite parched he still kept on his usual composure.
"Fascinating," General Craig nodded thoughtfully.
"Yes, indeed, thank you Lord Jusis for the lengthy explanation," meanwhile, Colonel Zimmermann could barely contain his exasperation. "Although I fail to see how the Chart of International Negotiations applies to the current matter."
In return to those words, Jusis looked at the man like he was the stupidest person in the world. If he was playing it up to intimidate the provincial officer or actually insulted was difficult to tell. "Have you ever heard of an analogy, Colonel Zimmermann? In terms of law, it means that when the existing laws fail to account for a given situation we look for other legal sources and similar cases. Do you think I am standing here citing international law to waste my time or that of Viscount Arseid?"
Zimmermann almost recoiled at the reprimand and bit down any attempts to say anything in his defense. This was grueling, why was this happening to him? He thought he had Craig by the balls when suddenly…
Suddenly a loud explosion came from the other side of the Twin Dragons base, the sound turning the heads of everyone back to the imposing building. From inside his armored car the radio was blasting off the order to move the prisoner.
"Eh, I mean, we were here just to waste time," Toval said casually, pulling out his combat orbment.
The provincial colonel was floored. Proper words failed him as he stuttered and backed away, rushing back to his car and behind the panzer soldats. "Traitors!" He finally screamed in outrage.
"Finally," Viscount calmly said, unsheathing the sword from his back. "Toval, please, accompany Jusis and General Craig back to the 4th's tanks. I shall provide cover."
"I always knew you were an eccentric, Arseid!" The provincial colonel shouted out from his armored car, which had already backed up behind the rest of his forces. "Radiant Blademaster or not, not even you can withstand a fight against four panzer soldats. I suggest you surrender!"
The imposing soldats stepped up in front of the viscount, giant swords and guns pointed at the man, who witnessed it all without flinching. Disconcertingly, he was actually smiling.
"I took down three panzer soldats during the liberation of the Courageous, what are four more?"
"W-what is going on?" Elliot whimpered in a panic. "If Fiona isn't here or with Instructor Sara's group, where is she!?"
Rean was racking his brain trying to figure out that same question. If Fiona wasn't anywhere in the military outpost and neither with Viscount Arseid, where was she? If the communications officer had given a sign for moving her then that meant she was there somewhere, but where were they moving her to? And from what location?
Meanwhile, Major Neithardt was blowing everything outside to hell. Who knew how he got his hands on a panzer soldat and how he had learned to pilot one. Not that it mattered, Rean should be alongside him with Valimar by this point but his group hadn't fulfilled their mission yet and he hesitated doing something that would decrease their chances of saving Elliot's sister.
"We're missing something here," he said aloud, although mostly Rean was talking to himself. "If Fiona isn't being held anywhere in the Twin Dragons Bridge then where…" Rean looked out the window to the smaller building at the east side of the bridge. She couldn't be there, from what they knew it was a checkpoint where, while access was restricted, civilians with special passes could enter, making it a terrible place to keep a prisoner.
But as he stared at the building, he noticed that there was a detail missing in that picture. He was sure there was a train on the tracks next to it at some point… Rean slapped his forehead, clearly reaching a conclusion that seemed obvious in retrospect. "She's on a train!"
The others looked at him with surprise before reaching the same conclusion as he had. Placing Fiona on a train would allow the provincial army to immediately move her in case of a rescue attempt, like what was happening at that very moment.
Rean took a few steps away from the window and used his tachi to shatter it in a million pieces, then without another word he jumped through it and the others barely had any time to properly process what he had just done and question if their friend had gone insane and committed suicide before Valimar appeared, hovering in front of the broken window.
"Are you okay, Rean?" Elliot still reluctantly asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," his voice sounded from the Divine Knight's speakers. If they were privy to the interior of Valimar's cockpit, however, they would see a slightly different scenario.
"Valimar?"
[Yes, Awakener?]
"Why am I upside down?'
Rean's face was under the dashboard, his face pressed against one of the pedals while his legs dangled against the headrest of the pilot's seat.
[An untrained maneuver such as the one you just performed can lead to unpredictable results. I advise caution.]
"Ugh, noted."
Quickly Rean rearranged himself, while mentaly telling Valimar to never speak of this ever again. For the rest of his group, while nothing was amiss for those outside they did think it strange how Rean went suddenly quiet.
"Anyway… Everyone else, head back to Instructor Sara's group. Elliot, hop on, we're getting your sister back."
Valimar flew up and his visor followed the tracks of the International Railroad, spotting a moving dot in the distance that was getting farther by the second. Rean engaged the Ashen Knight's thrusters and they flew downwards in direction to intercept their target.
The sensation of flying at high speed was thrilling, Rean found, and he had to fight to not make his enjoyment apparent to Elliot since his sister's life was in danger. Not that his friend would've noticed considering how worried he was.
They intercepted their target a couple of minutes later, a single train car chugging along the railway. They were going back to Celdic, Rean quickly realized, which was still under control of the provincial army. With the young woman hidden there, a densely populated town filled with civilians, using Valimar would be much riskier, Rean couldn't discard the idea of the provincial army using the populace as shields, and her captors could just threaten Fiona's life to force him to back off. Getting her back before reaching the trading hub was their best chance.
Valimar closed in to the train car, flying next to it for a moment as Rean tried to spy inside the vehicle, before the Ashen Knight flew through a tree, momentaneously sending him off course. "Shit!" Rean cursed as he rubbed his now sore right shoulder.
They were going too fast. Well, of course they were, they were keeping up with a train. But that also meant he couldn't suddenly stop the train car without risking killing everyone inside.
From what he had managed to see, there were at least three men with Fiona in the passenger car, one of them holding her, and he could assume there was one more in the conductor's cabin. They would all be armed, of course, and the slight mistake could be disastrous.
"Elliot, cast Adamantine Shield on yourself then on Fiona. I'll take care of everything else."
"Understood," Elliot replied without hesitation and Rean could feel through their combat-link the utmost thrust his friend was putting on him. "Rean's plan will work, I have nothing to fear," the musician was thinking. No pressure.
Valimar flew above the train car and Rean adjusted the thruster's output to maintain as close as he could to the train's velocity while positioning the Divine Knight on the front end of the train. Once in position, Rean placed the tip of Valimar's sword against the roof of the train then pressed the weapon down until he felt the vehicle give in and the blade penetrated it. With the sword in place, Valimar's thrusters desacceletrated and Rean used the train's own speed to let the sword tear along the roof, creating an opening.
It was a slow and methodical process, Rean had to time it right, one wrong move could derail the train car, but thanks to his newfound understanding of Valimar his movements weren't just precise but delicate. He could only imagine what it all looked like from inside the train, hoping that Elliot's sister wasn't too terrified.
After the opening was made Valimar picked up speed once again and Rean ejected Elliot and the musician's body manifested itself as mana, passing through the train car's roof and materializing in the back. Elliot quickly cast a protective Art on his sister on the other side of the car, and not a moment too soon as the soldiers inside quickly opened fire on him, shattering his own protection.
Elliot fell back and hid behind a set of seats and quickly reapplied Adamantine Shield on himself before popping out and lobbing a hail of orbal stones that flew past the heads of the soldiers.
"Stop right there, pilot of the Ashen Knight!" One of the men barked, making a wrongful assumption about his enemy's identity. He had no reason to believe another person could board the Divine Knight after all. "If you value this woman's life you will surrender your weapon!"
Elliot completely ignored the threat. "Fiona, don't worry, we're gonna save you!"
"Ellio-AH!"
The provincial soldier holding Fiona twisted her arm and kicked her behind the knee, making her kneel down as he pressed an orbal pistol against her head, while the other two kept their guns pointed at Elliot's position.
"This is not a game, young man!" One of the soldiers started, shouting out how it was Elliot's last chance to surrender but whatever else he had to say died on his throat as Rean materialized behind him and stabbed him through his right shoulder.
The soldier gasped in shock and surprise before the pain even registered in his brain and he dropped his weapon. Rean then pulled out the blade swiftly and spun around with a side step, twisting his body to deliver a heavy strike of the pommel of his sword in the back of the man holding Fiona, knocking him out.
The entire action happened in the blink of an eye and by the time the remaining soldier turned to point his gun at the new threat, his weapon had been cut in half and he received a kick in the gut that left him gasping for air, then was finished by a knee strike to the nose that knocked him out.
"Fiona!"
Elliot rushed to his sister and she lifted herself up to do the same, both meeting halfway through the train car with a tender hug. Thanks to She Who Dwells Above were uttered as both siblings rejoiced in each other's safety, although Elliot did point out he was the only one with an actual reason to worry, she was the hostage after all.
"And I haven't had news from you since the war started, how do you think I felt?"
Elliot chuckled. "I guess that's true, sis."
It was a very heartwarming scene and it made Rean hope that he and his own sister could have a similar reunion, their last conversation hadn't been the most amicable one. She was okay, she had to be, and if the Noble Alliance used the same tactic… That line of thought turned out to be just enough distraction for Rean to completely forget about who was conducting the train.
Over the cacophony of the moving train, Rean did not hear the door to the conductor's cabin open up behind him, however, he did hear the loud firing of a heavy orbal shotgun that made his ears ring.
The gunshot neutralized the barrier of orbal Earth that protected Elliot and Fiona, startling both, and the shotgun wielder stepped through the threshold with his weapon trained at both targets.
Standing to the side where he had taken out the third provincial soldier, Rean was on the blind spot of the conductor, who was too focused on the Craig siblings right in front of him, and Rean's world slowed down to a crawl as he watched the soldier's hand tighten as he prepared to pull the trigger once again. Elliot wouldn't have enough time to cast another protective Art on himself and his sister.
How could Rean have been so careless? He should have immediately gone to the train's cabin and neutralized the conductor, but instead he lost himself in his own problems and now Elliot and Fiona were in danger. It was his haphazardly put together plan that put them there.
Elliot and Fiona were going to die and it would be all his fault.
Rean barely realized what he had done, it was like he had blinked and his body had moved by itself and a moment later he was staring at the end of the gun's barrel, but it never fired. The soldier's arms trembled and he dropped his weapon and Rean's eyes shifted focus to the man himself, a look of shock stamped on his face. Rean's gaze drifted down to the man's body, a growing red stain was spreading over his uniform, emanating from the blade of the tachi embedded on his chest. Uselessly, the soldier was trying to reach for the blade to pull it out of his body.
If I want everyone to be okay after this, I can't fail, I can't hesitate. Only I can do this.
Rean's hands trembled but he gripped the hilt of his sword tighter to steel himself, and finished running his sword through the soldier before kicking him off the blade. As the man's body hit the floor, Rean took a deep breath to calm himself before turning to Elliot and Fiona, both redheads staring at him with surprise.
"R-Rean?" Asked a wide eyed Elliot.
"I'm fine, Elliot. What about you two?"
"We're unharmed," Fiona replied.
"Good. Then let's get out of here and…" Rean looked around and saw the rest of the soldiers. The one he knocked out was beginning to wake up while the others attempted to get up, hands clutching their injuries. Could they stop the train if he left them there? What would happen if he did?
"Can any of you stop the train?"
"What is it to you, brat?" The soldier with wounded shoulder spat with fire in his eyes. He tried to reach for his gun but Rean was faster and stepped on the man's hand with enough force to hurt but not break his limb.
"Answer the damn question before I leave you all here."
"Yeah… Yeah we can," the soldier Rean hit in the head said. Still feeling dizzy, the man used the seats for support to lift himself up.
To that Rean let out a relieved sigh. One less thing to worry about at least.