Hello Scrolls and Nazarins, another hot chapter of my fanfic The One Who Came Back.
Néia needs to make a big decision.
With you
The One Who Came Back
Chapter 78: Escape
"I was an idiot, naive..."
"Captain."
"...impulsive, unprepared..."
"Captain!"
"...childish..."
"CAPTAIN!"
"YES! Yes, I'm sorry."
"What was that?"
"A bait, a trap, and I fell right into it. Whoever did this knew I would come after Gustav and kept me away from the capital all this time so they could attack. The army we saw heading to Kalinsha is probably just part of the whole. Most must have gone straight to the capital."
"But we didn't see any other trace. Such a large army would leave tracks even in the snow."
"They must have gone along the coast. The path is more difficult and time-consuming. Whoever planned this is very smart."
"Remédios Custódio."
"NEVER! That woman is a fool. Her only thought is to attack directly with force. Someone is helping her with strategies."
"But she died! Didn't she? You even destroyed the body."
"Yes. No... I don't know. I don't know how, but it's her. I recognize the handwriting, I recognize the tone."
Néia said nothing more after this conversation. She tried using a message scroll twice, once to try to contact Caspond and the other to reach Rali'ah. Both times, the message failed. Something was blocking her communication. This meant the city was already besieged.
A whole day had passed since this frantic race began. Night was quickly falling when they spotted Kalinsha. The city was also surrounded.
"What will we do, Captain Néia?"
"Everyone seems focused on attacking the city."
The Nazarin smiled.
"That means no one will be looking behind."
The group set off using the last of their horses' strength. The lack of light and the little snow falling covered their approach. They sped through the camp, and when someone noticed, the group was already at the front line.
"Clear the way, knock down anyone in front of us," Néia's voice was calm and low but was heard by the Nazarins as if she were speaking directly in their ears.
The group was being pursued as they reached the city gates. If no one opened for them, they would all be killed at the foot of the wall. But the city's soldiers would not open under these circumstances. It could be a ruse.
Néia took a deep breath.
"OPEN THE GATES!" she commanded with all her strength.
Immediately the gates opened, a platoon came out and gave cover to the group, while a rain of arrows drove away the attackers. The Nazarins advanced to the first square, where they were surrounded by the city's soldiers.
"I want to see the commander!" Néia said in a tone that no one would deny.
This was the second time in a row she used this ability. As an evangelist, she could influence the masses, but as a leader, she had the Voice of Command. Anyone already under her orders would act accordingly. In other words, any Nazarin would know who she was and obey. Today, these soldiers are spread throughout almost the entire kingdom.
"Miss Baraja, I am Commander Rhudi, I am in charge of the city's defense. Where did you come from? Are these reinforcements? Will more come?"
"Commander, no one else will come. It seems the south has begun a massive invasion. At this moment, I believe the capital is also surrounded."
"We expected some messenger to have reached the capital. It seems we will have to count on you."
Now was a moment of important decision. Néia was not the best strategist, an epic ranger yes, but not an experienced commander.
"I need to assess the situation."
"Come then, eat, rest, and I'll brief you on everything."
After a simple meal and some rest, Néia went to the command room to find out what was happening.
"So, it seems we are in a complicated situation. To summarize, it has been five days since the southerners arrived. The city has been constantly harassed, and there have been several arson attempts. Under normal circumstances, we could withstand a siege for months, but we are overcrowded with refugees, and our supplies are very low. It won't last more than a few weeks. The help of the Black of the Nine Colors would be welcome."
"Commander Rhudi, I appreciate the confidence, but I think it's exactly what they want me to do."
"What do you mean?"
"In the last few weeks, I've been led on a chase across half the kingdom. I was deceived and urged to get as far away from the capital as possible. Now, I receive an 'invitation' to return to Horbuns, but I am here, and you need my help. Knowing the invitation is a trap will keep me away from the capital for good, but I think they want to deceive me again. They want me to stay here, thus making me decide exactly the opposite of what I should."
"This city is as large as the capital and is in a strategic location," Commander Rhudi reminded.
"I know, that's why it would be important for me to stay. The capital could withstand a long siege under normal circumstances, but something is not right. An urgency presses my soul. If the capital falls, it will do no good to save this city. I need to return to the capital. The southerners do not just want to take the cities. If they win, they will kill anyone who opposed them. They are killing Shurshanians and Nazarins. They will leave no one alive."
"Then we just have to resist. But if you intend to go to the capital, how will you do it? Can you fly?"
There was no tone of mockery in these words; the man genuinely hoped that someone with a Nine Colors title would be exceptional.
"No, I do not fly. If my friend were here, it would be another story. But now, I need to see the walls."
Her group accompanied the inspection, and wherever they looked, there were battalions on alert. When they reached the western gate, facing Horbuns, they noticed a movement: a group was approaching.
"WHO GOES THERE!" shouted Commander Rhudi.
"I am the Commander of the Southern Holy Kingdom Forces, Phinneas Ourox. I want to speak with Néia Baraja."
The man's voice was not loud, but it could be heard. Despite not naming titles like a noble would, like Néia, he had commanding abilities.
"I am Néia Baraja. Speak your piece."
"Good evening, madam. I wish for you to surrender, that's all."
"And then you will leave?"
"Well, no. Unfortunately, I have a job to do."
"And this job includes crucifying Nazarins?"
"Oh, no! No, no, no, that was just for fun. But if you don't come, I will crucify every one of yours in this city. The road to Horbuns will be decorated with their corpses. But I will give an option. I make this proposal to the city's commander: kill Néia Baraja, and I will spare the women and children."
Commander Rhudi was a big and rough man, as his name suggested. He looked at Néia, who was less than half his size and seemed to have no fear.
"I'm sorry for this, Miss Néia... COMMANDER PHINNEAS! WHY DON'T YOU COME HERE AND SUCK MY LEFT BALL!"
Néia blushed, and the men burst into laughter.
"YOU WILL PAY FOR THOSE WORDS!" shouted Phinneas, spurring his horse and leaving.
"GO SUCK A DEAD DOG'S NOSE!" shouted Néia.
"Ooooh! The little girl knows how to curse," Rhudi joked, and everyone laughed more.
"My father taught me that."
"Then let's drink and prepare for tomorrow. We have to get you out of here."
"I have some ideas, Commander."
Shortly before dawn, Néia was ready. Her horse was rested, and she was making the final adjustments.
"I have food and extra cloaks."
"Here, take this. You will need it," said a Nazarin, handing her a common healing potion.
Then another came and another, and more.
"I-I can't accept. You will be left with nothing, and if you need it..."
"Forget it. It's not just for you, you know. You have a long way to go, and so does he," the man said, petting the horse.
"Thank you, we appreciate it. Stay safe. You are archers, stay in the rear."
"Are you joking, we are Nazarins, we will be by your side, always! May Justice accompany you."
"Right, thank you. May Justice accompany you. I think it's time, goodbye Rhudi."
"Goodbye, Néia Baraja. May Justice accompany you. Ah, if you can, do me a favor and stick an arrow in that bastard's eye."
Néia smiled.
"It will have your name. Let's go."
The west gates opened. In front of her, there was an army blocking the passage. A light mist was falling over everyone, and because of the slope, it was possible to see the end of the lines. There, standing out, was Commander Phinneas in his golden armor almost a thousand meters away.
Néia drew her bow, tested the wind, and aimed slightly to the right. Her comrades did the same. They all fired as one, and fired again and again. The archers on the walls did the same.
The first rows of the enemy army raised their shields to avoid the falling arrows, but not all of them reached there. The Nazarins' arrows exploded in the air, releasing thin green and black clouds that spread over the troops.
The soldiers moved, startled, but the captains quickly restored order.
"What is that?" asked Phinneas.
"Commander!" said a messenger arriving seconds later. "It seems the enemy has launched some kind of acid. The men are complaining of burning eyes or headaches, but there doesn't seem to be anything serious. The mists have mixed with the fog."
"There must be poison in it too. They are desperate, trying to make us feel sick. HAHAHAHAHA!"
In the meantime, Néia had been concentrating. She needed to make an impossible shot, took off her visor because she needed to see the target, gathered all her strength, and tensed the Ultimate Shooting Star Super. As she released her arrow, it flew for almost a thousand meters until it hit the target.
Phinneas, despite being at the end of the combat line, beyond any risk of being hit, was still fully convinced that his enchanted armor could repel any projectile and withstand even a third-level spell, like Fireball.
But not a fourth-level one.
The arrow exploded his head, setting his body on fire. The crazed horse dashed through the troops until it reached the front line, where the soldiers were soaked by the dark green mist.
They didn't know, but Néia had taken classes with CZ for some time. In one of them, she learned that certain acids mixed with certain poisons became flammable. Her friend wouldn't have mentioned this or given her the same type of arrows if the topic wasn't relevant.
As the horse carrying its incendiary load reached the front lines, the fire spread quickly. Maybe, if a soldier had kept calm, it would have been enough to roll in the snow to put out the flames, but Néia wouldn't give them that chance. Fear and chaos were her weapons.
"ATTACK!" she shouted to the Nazarins and the troop leaving through the gate led by Commander Rhudi.
Néia had distributed most of her special arrows. They needed every advantage to take this chance to break through the enemy lines, opening a path among the burning soldiers.
Shooting as fast as possible and taking down whoever she could, Néia pushed through the chaos. Now, she had to trust her comrades to keep anyone away from her. Her goal was to get out as quickly as possible before they could recover from the panic.
Many tried to stop her, only to fall shortly after. A captain tried to block her path but was taken down after being hit by several special arrows.
"ECONOMIZE THOSE ARROWS! ONE PER ENEMY!" she shouted.
Despite her escape, she still worried if she had left enough special arrows.
A wall of spears appeared in front of her horse. She couldn't swerve or jump. With confidence, she just advanced on the enemy. Then, small explosions broke the formation, and when Néia passed through the smoke, there was no one left in front of her. The path was clear. She had succeeded.
Making her way through the snow, the archer was tempted to look back. But if she did, she might not be able to continue her run without wanting to return to her comrades who were now fighting a life-or-death battle.
But she noticed something was catching up to her and then passed her. Only one thing could be faster than her at this moment: a crazed horse carrying the burning body of Commander Phinneas.
In the decades that followed, mothers, to prevent their children from going to dangerous places, started telling scary stories. One of the favorites became the one about a cursed spirit roaming the old battlefields in search of its lost head: the legend of the Headless Flaming Knigh
...
Author's Note
About Commander Phinneas, yes, he was the one who attacked the monastery, killed the priests and skinned Gustav.
He would be an intelligent, capable, and much meaner version of that nobleman who sank Re-Estize.
You could tell I don't like leaving these guys alive for too long.