Chapter 22: Shadow Attacks
The forest stretched endlessly before them, its towering trees casting long shadows in the fading light. Cid and Alpha moved silently, their cloaks blending into the foliage as they followed a dirt path winding through the woods. They had heard whispers of a terrifying weapon, a siege engine unlike anything the world had ever seen, and both knew that if it was real, it could spell doom for the Kagenou Barony.
Alpha glanced at Cid; her blue eyes filled with quiet determination. "Are you certain about this, Cid? If this weapon is as powerful as the rumors say, getting close to it could be dangerous."
Cid smirked faintly, his dark eyes gleaming with confidence. "Dangerous? Sure. But we need to know what we're up against. If this thing is what's tipping the scales in Ryser's favor, we can't afford to ignore it."
Inside his mind, Minoru's voice chimed in, smooth and calculating.
"Keep your wits about you. If this weapon is powered by mana, it's likely to have vulnerabilities. But first, we need to see it up close."
Alpha nodded, trusting in Cid's judgment.
"Then let's move quickly. The longer we stay in one place, the greater the risk of being spotted."
As night fell, the pair approached the edges of a large encampment. From their vantage point on a ridge, they could see rows of tents and supply wagons surrounding a massive siege weapon. The contraption was unlike anything Cid had ever seen, a towering structure with a central mana core that pulsed faintly, its glow casting eerie shadows across the camp.
Alpha crouched beside him, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's enormous. No wonder they've been tearing through defenses so easily."
Cid's gaze narrowed as he studied the weapon. "It's not just big, it's advanced. Look at those crystals. They're amplifying mana and channeling it into a concentrated beam." He paused, his tone thoughtful. "But something that powerful has to have limitations. We just need to figure out what they are."
As they circled the camp, staying hidden in the shadows, Alpha's keen eyes caught a faint glow near the near rapid riverbank. She nudged Cid, pointing toward a cluster of rocks partially submerged in the water. "Over there. Do you see that?"
Cid followed her gaze, his brows furrowing. "Yeah. Looks like some kind of box. Maybe it's that thing that one assassin was looking for?"
They moved carefully, avoiding the patrolling guards as they approached the riverbank. The box was embedded in the rocks, its surface etched with glowing runes that pulsed faintly. Cid crouched beside it, his fingers tracing the markings.
Alpha tossed a stone to hit some of the guardsmen's supplies, knocking them over and distracting the now irritated guardsmen.
"A mana-sealed container," he muttered. "Whatever's inside, someone didn't want it falling into the wrong hands."
Inside his mind, Minoru's voice was calm and confident. "This seal is basic. I can guide you through breaking it, but we'll need to do it quickly. Get it out of the water first."
With Minoru's help, Cid was able to deftly open the container and retrieve its contents: A leather book with oil stains on the cover. It looked like a journal of some sort.
Alpha glanced over her shoulder, her voice urgent. "We need to move. Those guards won't stay distracted forever."
Cid nodded, pocketing the journal carefully. "Let's head back to camp. We'll figure this out there."
Back at their secluded camp, the fire crackled softly as Cid worked to make sense of the book. They couldn't take the box with them as the guards were nearing their position and, in their haste, left the scene.
The box was nowhere to be found, and probably washed down the river further away from the stronghold.
Alpha leaned closer; her blue eyes filled with curiosity. "What do you think it is?"
Cid opened the book carefully, his dark eyes scanning the pages. Inside were detailed diagrams of the siege weapon, notes on its construction, and annotations about its capabilities and limitations. His expression grew more serious with each page he read.
"This is a manual," he said finally. "It explains everything about that weapon, how it works, how it's powered, and even its weaknesses."
Alpha's brows furrowed as she studied the diagrams. "Weaknesses? Like what?"
Cid pointed to a section detailing the mana core. "The crystals that stabilize the core are the key. If you disrupt their alignment, the entire system destabilizes. But it's not easy, they've got fail-safes to prevent exactly that."
Alpha nodded, getting what he was planning, a sabotage.
Cid grinned, closing the book and tucking it into his pack. "It's a start. But we can't stop here. If this thing is out there, we need to make sure it never fires again."
As the fire burned low, the pair sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their discovery settling over them. Alpha finally broke the silence, her voice quiet but firm. "If we're going to stop this, we'll need to be smart about it. They won't let us get close to that thing again if we fail."
Cid nodded, his expression thoughtful. "We'll figure it out. For now, let's rest. Tomorrow, we move closer to the Barony. We've got a lot of ground to cover."
Inside his mind, Minoru's voice was steady. "You've got the knowledge now, Cid. Use it wisely. This isn't just about stopping a weapon; it's about changing the game."
Cid nodded, if the manual was any indication, this was not something that should be pointed at his home.
For now, they had a siege weapon to chase after.
The steady clatter of iron-rimmed wheels against uneven stone filled the dense forest air, mingling with the rhythmic snorts of the horses hauling the massive flatbed. The siege train crept forward along the narrow road, a slow-moving juggernaut of war, escorted by grim-faced soldiers clad in polished armor. The flickering torchlight gleamed off their halberds and rifles, casting elongated shadows that danced across the underbrush.
Crouched low beneath the thick cover of foliage, Cid and Alpha observed the column in silence. The elf girl's long, golden hair was hidden beneath a dark hood, her blue eyes locked onto the procession with razor-sharp focus. Beside her, Cid's dark hair blended into the night, his black eyes scanning every detail with practiced precision.
The flatbed at the convoy's heart carried the dismantled siege weapon, massive iron-reinforced beams and intricate mana-driven mechanisms, securely fastened beneath thick chains. Behind it, wagons laden with mana crystals and provisions trailed like lifeblood feeding the war machine. Soldiers flanked the entire formation, shields raised, eyes sharp. Even two men pushed from the rear, straining against the weight of the siege engine.
Alpha exhaled softly, barely a whisper. "There's no way we can take that head-on. Too many guards, and they're sticking close to the weapon."
Cid's gaze never wavered. "You're right. They're protecting it like their lives depend on it, because they do. We'll wait and see where they're headed. If we strike now, it'll just end in disaster."
Inside his mind, a voice stirred.
Minoru, calm and calculating.
"Smart move. Let them lead you to the staging area. They'll have to set up somewhere secure before reassembling the weapon. That's where you strike."
Cid's smirk was almost imperceptible. Patience.
The convoy pressed on as the evening deepened into night, torches flickering like fireflies in the gloom. Cid and Alpha followed from a distance, slipping soundlessly between tree trunks and dense undergrowth. The terrain grew harsher, the path narrowing as they approached a rise overlooking a clearing.
Below them, nestled between jagged hills, loomed a fortified stronghold. Stone walls bristled with watchtowers, the silhouettes of archers and mana riflemen stark against the torchlight. The siege train rumbled through the open gates, the heavy wooden doors swinging shut behind it with a thunderous thud.
Alpha crouched beside Cid, her gaze sharp. "They're taking no chances. Look at the watchtowers: archers and mana rifles. And those patrols... they're doubling up the closer they get to the weapon."
Cid studied the stronghold with narrowed eyes, but something else caught his attention, the riflemen.
At first glance, they seemed imposing, mana rifles slung over their shoulders, stationed at key points like any seasoned marksman would be. But a closer look told a different story. Their grip on the weapons was uncertain, their stances too rigid or too lax. A few of them adjusted the rifles awkwardly, as if the weight and balance were foreign to them. Some didn't even have their weapons at the ready, holding them more like burdens than deadly tools.
Alpha noticed it too. "They don't move like trained sharpshooters," she murmured. "Some of them look like they barely know which end to aim."
Cid frowned. "They weren't trained for those weapons. Someone gave them rifles, but not the skill to use them."
Inside his mind, Minoru's voice stirred again, this time with a tinge of suspicion.
"Out of place technology in the hands of untrained soldiers... That doesn't add up. It reeks of something familiar. Could this be the Cult of Diabolos' doing?"
Cid didn't respond aloud, but the thought gnawed at him. The Cult of Diabolos had a habit of handing out so-called 'lost artifacts' to their pawns, spinning grand lies about how they were relics of an ancient, powerful age. In reality, these weapons were not relics at all, but something much worse: out-of-place tools, possibly stolen or replicated, placed in the hands of those who didn't understand their full potential.
Alpha's voice pulled him back. "If they don't know how to use those rifles properly, it could be a weakness."
Cid nodded, his smirk returning. "It also means someone's feeding them weapons beyond their understanding. The question is, why?"
Minoru's voice hummed in his mind.
"Because it's convenient. Give them something powerful and convince them it's divine providence, an artifact of their so-called destiny. The cult thrives on that kind of deception."
Cid exhaled slowly. That meant whoever supplied these rifles wasn't concerned about efficiency, only control.
And that could be exploited.
Darkness settled over the stronghold, torches and mana-powered lights casting an eerie glow. From their vantage point, Cid and Alpha watched as the siege weapon's components were carefully unloaded. Soldiers worked methodically, crates of mana crystals disappearing into a central storage building. Engineers, guarded on all sides, inspected the dismantled pieces, speaking in hushed tones.
Alpha's voice was a breath against the night. "They're prioritizing the weapon. Supplies are being moved last. And those engineers! Look at them. They barely step outside their guarded zones."
Cid's gaze flicked toward the supply wagons. Unlike the weapon itself, they weren't under constant scrutiny. His lips curled into a knowing smirk. "The closer you get to the weapon, the heavier the security. They're practically suffocating those engineers with guards." He tilted his head slightly. "But they're not watching the supply wagons as carefully once they're unloaded."
Minoru's voice murmured in his mind.
"That's your opening. Supplies are critical for reassembly. Sabotage them, and you delay the weapon without needing a full assault."
Cid's smirk deepened. Now we're talking.
They watched as the stronghold settled into its rhythm: patrols following predictable patterns, torches placed for optimal coverage yet leaving crucial blind spots.
Alpha shifted slightly, pointing toward the eastern wall. "There. That spot near the storage building. It's in a dead zone where the torches don't reach, and the patrols don't overlap for at least two minutes."
Cid nodded. "We slip in through there. Once we're inside, we focus on the supplies: mana crystals, tools, anything they need to finish the weapon. We sabotage what we can and get out before they know what hit them."
Alpha's blue eyes met his, unwavering. "It's risky, but it's our best shot. I trust you, Cid."
Cid met her gaze, his smile faint but sure. "Then let's make it count."
The night stretched on, the stronghold breathing in a steady rhythm of patrols, watchmen, and flickering torches.
Alpha adjusted the straps on her pack, fingers deft and sure. "We move when the next patrol passes. Stick to the shadows. Stay low."
Cid's dark eyes gleamed with resolve. "We've got one shot at this. They won't know what will hit them."
The moment loomed. The silence before the strike.
And then they moved.
Cid pressed his back against the cold stone, keeping to the shadows as Alpha moved beside him, her steps silent as falling leaves. She glanced toward the nearest torch-lit section of the stronghold's perimeter and whispered, "Patrol just passed. We have two minutes."
Without hesitation, Cid pulled a thin rope with a clawed hook from his pack. With a practiced throw, the grappling hook latched onto the top of the wall, securing itself between the rough stones. He gave it a firm tug, then nodded to Alpha.
Alpha scaled the wall first, her movements fluid and effortless. The elf girl barely made a sound as she reached the top, slipping over the edge with the grace of a shadow. Cid followed, his dark eyes scanning the courtyard below before he vaulted over, landing silently beside her.
The stronghold's interior was busier than expected, with supply crates stacked against one side and engineers still working under heavy guard, assembling the siege weapon's massive gears and support beams.
But Cid's attention wasn't on the weapon: it was on the storage buildings near the far wall, where barrels of gunpowder, mana crystals, and other munitions were haphazardly stored.
Alpha nudged him lightly. "That's our target," she whispered.
Cid smirked. "Let's make them regret stocking up."
Moving like wraiths, they weaved between stacks of crates and barrels, careful to avoid the shifting torchlight of passing patrols.
Alpha motioned toward a row of supply wagons that had been unloaded earlier. "These are full of mana crystals and tools for assembling the siege weapon. If we destroy them, they'll be missing key components."
Cid nodded, but his gaze lingered on the powder barrels near the central storage building.
"Gunpowder and flammable oils," he muttered. "We don't just cut their supplies. We turn them into weapons."
Alpha arched a brow. "You're thinking of rigging an explosion?"
A slow grin spread across Cid's face. "If we do this right, we don't just delay them; we cripple them."
She smiled.
Explosions are always fun.
They worked quickly, planting traps and sabotage points where they would cause the most damage.
Gunpowder Barrels: Cid used a thin trail of black powder, weaving it through the stacked barrels and crates, ensuring that when lit, it would set off a cascading chain of explosions.
Mana Crystal Disruptions: Alpha carefully overloaded a few mana crystals with unstable energy, turning them into unstable bombs that would detonate the moment someone attempted to use them.
Tampered Siege Components: They loosened key bolts, corroded critical fastenings with alchemical acid, and ensured that once assembled, the siege weapon would fail catastrophically.
Oil and Fire Traps: Near the central storage, they sabotaged oil reserves, positioning torch-bearing patrol routes nearby, ensuring that when the flames spread, the entire depot would become a firestorm.
Cid wiped his hands clean and muttered, "Now all we need is a spark."
Alpha spoke up. "We can always overload a mana crystal with magic and have it erupt in sparks."
Cid nodded, that would also allow them to prime themselves to burst on a countdown too.
"We got our match."
As they finished the last of the sabotage, the stronghold's nightly routine began to shift. Some guards were switching shifts, while others gathered around a fire near the barracks, momentarily leaving the supply depot more vulnerable.
Alpha gestured toward a watchtower near the southern wall. "We escape through there. If we time it right, we'll be long gone before they even know what hit them."
Cid held up a ruptured mana crystal, primed with mana and ready to break. "One crack, and the whole place lights up like a festival bonfire."
They waited until the wind shifted, ensuring the smoke would billow toward the interior of the stronghold rather than alerting the outside patrols.
With a final glance at their handiwork, Cid knelt near the first trail of gunpowder. He threw the igniter against the nearest torch post with a black powder trail.
A crack and a single spark ignited the black powder.
The flame slithered forward like a living serpent, racing toward the stacks of barrels. Within seconds…
BOOM!
The first explosion shattered the silence, shaking the stronghold as fire and smoke erupted into the night sky.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The gunpowder barrels detonated in rapid succession, sending shockwaves of fire through the supply depot. Flaming debris rained down, igniting storage crates and sending panicked soldiers scattering in every direction.
Then came the mana crystal detonations; blinding blue-white bursts of energy tore through the siege weapon's staging area, destroying key components and obliterating entire workstations.
The stronghold descended into chaos.
Cid and Alpha moved with precision, slipping through the smoke-filled alleys as guards scrambled to control the inferno. Flames licked at the night sky, and the sound of panicked shouting filled the air.
Alpha sprinted ahead, scaling the watchtower's outer beams with effortless grace. Cid followed, vaulting over the ledge just as more explosions rocked the ground beneath them.
They reached the top, crouching behind the stone wall, watching their handiwork unfold.
Alpha exhaled, a glimmer of admiration in her gaze. "I think we just made history."
Cid smirked. "We made sure they won't be sieging anything anytime soon."
Inside his mind, Minoru's voice hummed with approval.
"Efficient. Brutal. Precise. The Cult of Diabolos won't be happy about losing their little 'artifacts.'"
Cid's smirk deepened. "Good."
An opportunity presented itself.
The explosions tore through the night, shaking the stronghold to its core. Flames spread rapidly, consuming supply depots and siege components in a brilliant inferno. Soldiers ran in all directions, barking orders, desperately trying to contain the destruction.
Cid and Alpha crouched atop the watchtower, watching the chaos unfold below. But they weren't done yet.
"This is the best chance we'll get," Alpha said, scanning the stronghold's layout. "We should eliminate their officers and engineers while they're still disoriented. Without leadership or expertise, they'll have no way to recover."
Cid nodded. "We split up. You take the engineers' tent, I'll handle the command post. We regroup here before the fire gets too out of control."
Alpha smirked. "I'll make it quick."
With a final glance, they vanished into the smoke, parting ways as the stronghold burned.
Moving like a phantom, Alpha weaved through the chaos, her elven grace allowing her to slip past distracted guards unnoticed. The engineer's tent was on the far side of the stronghold, near the now-collapsing supply depot.
She could already hear panicked voices inside.
"Get the assembly teams back together!" one of them shouted. "We can still salvage the weapon!"
Alpha slipped through the tent flap. Five engineers. Some were fumbling with blueprints; others were rummaging through salvaged mana crystals. They hadn't even noticed her.
"Too bad," she murmured.
In a blink, her backup dagger flashed through the air, slitting the throat of the nearest engineer before he could even cry out. She twisted, driving her sword into another's chest, catching him momentarily before he collapsed.
The remaining three finally noticed. "Intrud-!"
Alpha silenced them before the word could leave their lips. One. Two. Three. A precise flick of her wrist sent another of her daggers into an exposed throat, while a swift strike from her sword wrecked another's windpipe. The last man barely had time to raise a hand before she plunged her blade into his heart as an act of mercy.
She wiped the blood off her dagger, eyes scanning the blueprints scattered on the table. With a flick of her wrist, she set them ablaze with a small vial of alchemical fire.
"No recovery for you," she whispered before slipping back into the night.
The command post was a sturdier structure, reinforced with wooden beams and thick canvas. Inside, Ryser's officers were still in disarray, barking orders, trying to salvage the situation.
Cid crouched by the entrance, listening.
"We need to regroup the eastern patrols!" one of them growled. "Where the hell is the siege weapon's progress report?!"
Another voice. "Lord Ryser will have our heads if we don't-"
They never finished the sentence.
Cid struck fast.
He slipped in through the tent flap, his blade cutting through flesh before the officers could even reach for their weapons. Silent. Precise. Efficient.
One turned toward him, drawing a sword. Cid sidestepped the strike, his dagger burying itself into the officer's side. Another lunged for him and Cid caught his wrist, twisting the blade back into the man's throat.
Within moments, the command post was silent, filled only with the sound of flickering fire outside and bodies slumping to the ground.
Cid exhaled and stepped over the corpses, moving toward the war table. Maps. Letters. Tactical reports.
Perfect.
He quickly gathered every document he could find, stuffing them into a pack. This information was too valuable to leave behind.
But as he turned…
He wasn't alone.
His hand instinctively drifted to his longsword, loosening it in its sheath as he turned toward the entrance.
A cloaked figure stood just beyond the threshold, shrouded in flickering darkness. The man's posture was tense; wary, but not immediately hostile.
Cid said nothing. He let the silence stretch, waiting. Watching.
The cloaked man took a step forward, his boots crunching over fallen maps and the corpses of slain officers. His hand hovered near his waist: Cid caught the glint of a sheathed blade beneath the cloak's folds.
Then, the man spoke.
"…It really is you."
Cid's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on his sword hilt.
"That depends," he said coolly. "Who exactly do you think I am?"
The man exhaled sharply; his voice laced with disbelief. Then, in one fluid motion, he dropped to one knee.
"Lord Cid… the lost heir of the Kagenou Barony."
Cid froze.
The words struck harder than any blade ever could.
For a moment, all he could hear was the roar of the flames outside, the distant shouts of panicked soldiers, and the smoldering remnants of a stronghold he had personally sabotaged.
Slowly, he stepped forward, his longsword gleaming in the firelight.
"Who are you?" His voice was edged with steel, more command than question.
The kneeling man lifted his head, his sharp eyes glinting beneath his hood. "My name is Darius. I serve your father: Lord Gaius Kagenou as one of his spies. I was sent here to uncover Ryser's true benefactor and his connection to the Church of Beatrix." His voice wavered slightly. "But now, standing before you… this is beyond anything I expected. I did not expect to find my lord's son after nearly a year here!"
Cid kept his blade steady, though his mind raced.
Nearly a year.
He had known time had passed, but hearing it confirmed: practically a full year stolen from him; made his grip on his sword tighten.
That would make him… what? Twelve now?
The Cult had taken him.
They had ripped him from his family. Had experimented on him, twisted him, tried to break him and remake him into Subject 013: an obedient soldier molded by the will of Petos, the Tenth Seat of the Cult of Diabolos, the man who masqueraded as the Head Inquisitor of the Church of Beatrix.
They failed.
But that didn't change the damage done. Not just to him, but to his family, to Claire.
Cid took a step forward. "What happened after I disappeared?"
Darius clenched his fists, his face grim. "The Lord Baron is holding the Barony together… but barely. Lady Claire: she commands the troops after our initial officers were killed, and though she has a keen mind for strategy, every battle takes its toll." He exhaled. "The longer this war drags on, the worse things become."
His older sister, the rightful heiress, had been forced into a command position at thirteen, barely holding the Barony together as Ryser's forces pushed them toward collapse.
She had been fighting alone this entire time. All the while he was almost turned against them.
Cid's heartbeat slammed against his ribs.
Claire had been forced into a war because he wasn't there.
"And my parents?" His voice was low, dangerous.
Darius exhaled heavily. "Lord Gaius fights on the frontlines when he can, but he's being stretched thin. Lady Elaina is trying to reach King Klaus Midgar, pleading for intervention, but… the King remains silent."
Cid felt something inside him twist.
His mother. She who had always been gentle, kind, and diplomatic, was being ignored by their ruler?
The Cult had stolen a year of his life. They had stolen his name, his identity, his family.
But they hadn't broken him.
They had failed.
And now, he was coming back.
Cid lowered his blade, but only slightly. His mind was still whirling, processing everything at a breakneck pace.
"So… you're telling me the Barony is in danger, my sister is leading troops, and Ryser is working with the Church of Beatrix?" His voice was even, but his black eyes burned with intensity.
Darius nodded. "The Church has declared your family blasphemers. They say the Kagenou Barony and its' people have turned away from divine teachings. Ryser has taken their claims as justification for his war." He hesitated. "I came here to confirm whether these weapons and siege platform were truly supplied by the Church… but now, seeing you, I suspect something far worse."
Cid exhaled sharply.
He already knew the truth.
The Church of Beatrix was just a front; a puppet. The real benefactors were the Cult of Diabolos, weaving lies and deception from the shadows. Ryser wasn't serving the Church. He was serving the Cult.
Not that the fool knew, at least he assumed he didn't know. He didn't know the man.
And that meant every assumption Darius had was wrong.
Cid let out a slow breath. He couldn't reveal the truth. Not yet.
Darius wouldn't believe him. The Cult of Diabolos was a name buried in history; a legend whispered in paranoia. If he suddenly claimed that Ryser was taking orders from a secret cabal of cultists who fed on the suffering of others, Darius might start questioning his sanity.
Instead, Cid smirked. "You just told me what I already knew. Ryser and his allies are working together. The only thing I didn't know was how bad things had gotten at home." He sheathed his sword, his resolve hardening into something unbreakable.
"I've spent the past year fighting to get back to my family." His voice was quiet but laced with raw determination. "And now I know exactly where I need to go."
Darius nodded firmly. "Then let's get you home, my Lord."
Cid hated the formality, but this wasn't the time to argue. He motioned toward the exit. "We'll finish this conversation outside. We have a stronghold to escape from."
The flames raged around them, casting long shadows as they vanished into the chaos outside.
The roar of explosions still echoed through the night as flames consumed everything inside the stronghold. Cid and Darius moved swiftly through the smoke and rubble, dodging frantic soldiers who were too preoccupied with putting out fires to notice the intruders in their midst.
Not far ahead, Alpha awaited them, crouched in the shadows near a supply tent. She held her blade against Darius as they approached, her blue eyes glinting in the firelight.
Cid made a small gesture to signify that he wasn't an enemy before she lowered her blade, trusting Cid's judgment.
"Good timing," she murmured. "We still have a few minutes before the camp collapses entirely. I took care of the engineers." She flicked a bloodied dagger clean before tucking it back into her belt. "We have a chance to do even more damage before we leave."
Cid smirked. "Exactly what I was thinking."
His gaze drifted to the remnants of the Cult's technology, scattered among the wreckage. The siege weapon components, the mana rifles wielded by untrained soldiers, and the strange arcane devices tucked away in what was left of the engineering tents.
This wasn't just an opportunity for destruction: this was a chance to steal something useful.
Darius followed Cid's gaze and furrowed his brow. "These artifacts…" He reached down, lifting a damaged mana rifle from the ground. "This must be what the Church of Beatrix has been providing Ryser."
Cid kept his expression neutral.
Darius believed the Church was behind this. Of course he did. To most people, the Cult of Diabolos didn't exist; it was a legend, a folktale, whispered in cautionary bedtime stories. No sane man would believe that an ancient, shadowy cabal was supplying weapons and mana-based technology to warlords.
And Cid wasn't about to waste time trying to convince him.
"Yeah," he said casually, kneeling beside a shattered mana crystal container. "Looks like the Church is more advanced than they let on."
Alpha shot him a knowing glance but said nothing. Only she and Cid knew the truth.
Darius sighed, running a hand through his hair. "If King Klaus Midgar knew they were arming rebels like this, he'd have to intervene. The Church claims to be holy, but giving a warlord this kind of firepower? It makes no sense."
Cid said nothing, instead shifting his attention to the siege weapon's remnants.
Instead, he looked toward the massive construct before them.
The siege weapon's unassembled remains lay scattered across the yard. Half-burned blueprints still fluttered near Alpha's feet; the ones she had personally torched.
"With these destroyed, they'll have to rebuild it from memory," she whispered.
"That's exactly what we want," Cid replied.
He knelt near the siege components, scanning the mana core, the reinforced firing mechanism, and the internal energy transfer system. The technology was far beyond anything the Church should have been capable of producing, further proof that this wasn't their doing.
This was indeed the Cult's work.
Cid reached into his pack and pulled out a small vial of alchemical acid. One of the last bits of Petos' lab he took while escaping.
Thanks, Petos.
"Let's give them a surprise." Cid popped open the vial and drizzled its contents over the siege weapon's inner mechanism.
The liquid hissed as it sank into the enchanted metal, its components subtly warping under the destabilization effect. Anyone not knowing their chemistry would look at the damage and assume the fire warped it instead.
Alpha, catching on, moved to the mana regulators, using her dagger to scratch deep, imperceptible gouges into the runic circuits.
From an outside perspective, the damage was minor; hardly worth noticing.
But when the siege weapon was reassembled, the overloaded mana core would fail catastrophically the first time it fired.
The next time Ryser's forces tried to use this weapon…
It would explode.
And it would take everyone near it with it.
Alpha wiped her hands clean, admiring their handiwork. "This'll be a nasty surprise for them."
Cid smirked. "They'll never see it coming."
Darius stood by, impressed at their sabotage and skullduggery.
…
Maybe he should petition his lord to take his son under his wing and train him in espionage?
…
Nah, Lady Elaina and possibly Lady Claire would refuse and probably beat him to an inch within his life.
Before they left, Cid swiped two intact mana rifles from a fallen soldier, tucking them into his pack. They would need to study this technology later.
He also grabbed a strange, palm-sized device: a black crystalline orb with shifting runes engraved into its surface. He had seen similar when he was Subject 013; cult-crafted tools used for communication, surveillance, and worse.
Besides, it was free technology just waiting for reverse engineering and for his use!
Darius shot him a questioning look. "What are you taking?"
Cid shrugged. "Just a few artifacts for study. Could be useful to understand what we're up against."
Darius nodded, satisfied. "That makes sense. If we can use their own weapons against them, all the better."
Cid exchanged a glance with Alpha.
He wasn't lying. Just… omitting the important details.
You know, as an aspiring Eminence in Shadow would.
With the sabotage complete and stolen technology in tow, Cid, Alpha, and Darius slipped into the thick of the chaos.
The stronghold was a war zone, filled with collapsing structures, screaming soldiers, and panicked junior and scattered senior officers desperately trying to regain control.
No one paid them any mind.
By the time they reached the watchtower leading to the outer wall, Cid paused, taking one last look at the burning stronghold.
He had crippled Ryser's siege plans, stolen the Cult's technology, and left them with a self-destructing weapon.
A perfect mission.
Turning to Alpha and Darius, he gave a sharp nod.
"Let's go."
With that, they vanished into the night's embrace, leaving destruction and death in their wake.
Their next stop?
The Barony of Kagenou.
And this time, Cid was coming home.
The night stretched wide and dark as Cid, Alpha, and Darius fled the burning stronghold, weaving through dense forest and jagged terrain. Behind them, the faint echoes of chaos still lingered; shouts, alarms, and the collapsing remains of what had once been Ryser's siege camp.
They had succeeded.
The siege weapon was crippled beyond repair. Ryser's engineers, now leaderless, would unknowingly rebuild a ticking bomb, primed to destroy anyone near it the moment it fired.
But the mission's success wasn't the only thing lingering in Cid's mind.
There was still the war itself: the slow, grinding conflict that had only worsened since his disappearance.
And it was time to catch up.
Darius exhaled sharply, rubbing the tension from his forehead as they slowed their pace near a quiet clearing. The flames of the stronghold were a distant glow behind them now, and the night was finally settling.
Cid glanced at him. "Ryser's forces… how much progress have they made?"
Darius' expression darkened. "More than we ever anticipated."
He crouched, pulling a roughly drawn map from his belt pouch. "About eight months ago, when you disappeared, the war was still… manageable. Ryser's forces were gathering, but they were scattered, probing our defenses. Your father held them back at Blackwall Fortress, the Barony's strongest bulwark."
Cid's black eyes narrowed. "Held?"
Darius nodded grimly. "Ryser unleashed the siege weapon on it. One shot. That was all it took. The walls collapsed in a single blast, and thousands of our best troops were wiped out in moments."
Cid's stomach tightened.
He knew how devastating those weapons could be: he had seen their design firsthand from that journal. The mana amplification systems, the overcharged core designed to obliterate defenses in a single strike… and now, it had been used on his home.
Darius continued. "After that, Ryser faced little resistance. The fortress was supposed to be our strongest line of defense, but when it fell, his forces swept through our territory like a flood. Towns surrendered without a fight. Trading posts were seized for resupply. Even our own citizens were forced into conscription."
Cid exhaled slowly. So this is what they've done in my absence…
"And my father?" he asked.
Darius' jaw clenched. "Lord Gaius has been pushed back to the last strongholds in the Barony's heartland. He's outnumbered and stretched thin." His gaze flickered toward Cid. "And your sister… she's been holding the command lines. Claire has been leading the remnants of our forces, making strategic retreats where she can, striking when possible, but…"
"But the more this war drags on, the worse it gets," Cid finished.
Darius nodded. "Exactly. Every day, our resources dwindle. Every battle, we lose men we can't afford to replace. Claire is brilliant for her age, but she's barely thirteen, almost fourteen, and she's leading men twice or more her age into battle. She shouldn't have to, but most of our tacticians and field commanders were lost in the fortress battle, and we had to improvise."
Cid's hands clenched into fists.
He had always known Claire was strong, but leading troops, taking losses and losing battles will take a toll on anyone.
Alpha, who had remained silent, finally spoke. "You said you work for Lord Gaius' spy network."
Darius nodded. "Yes. We've been trying to undermine Ryser's operations: sabotage supply lines, delay troop movements, assassinate key officers. But…"
He hesitated.
Cid's eyes narrowed. "But?"
Darius exhaled. "We started losing people. Spies, saboteurs, informants. They went missing. One by one. At first, we thought they had been captured." His voice darkened. "But none of them were ever seen again."
Alpha frowned. "Dead, then."
Darius hesitated. "Most likely. But it's how they disappeared that unsettles me. No signs of struggle. No bodies recovered. It's as if they were… silenced before they could react."
Cid's mind whirred, piecing things together.
Before he could say anything, Minoru's voice stirred in his mind.
"It's the Cult."
Cid's eyes darkened. You're sure?
"Who else could it be? Ryser's army is just a blunt instrument. If his forces were the ones hunting spies, they'd be clumsy, they'd leave trails. No, this was efficient, methodical. Ryser couldn't possibly have a counter-spy network this clean suppressing your father's efforts before they could gather intelligence."
Cid's blood chilled.
"This is the Cult's way of controlling the war from the shadows."
This also had to be why there was no reaction from the King, he probably didn't know what was happening.
It made chilling sense.
Cid's grip on his sword tightened. He had no doubt now.
The Cult of Diabolos was behind everything.
They had given Ryser mana-based siege weapons. They had armed his untrained soldiers with mana rifles they barely understood. And now, they were erasing anyone who might expose them.
They weren't just supporting the war.
They were directing it.
And Cid was going to stop them.
Cid inhaled sharply, calming his thoughts. He glanced at Alpha, who gave him a knowing look.
They were the only two people here who truly understood the Cult's threat.
But for now, they had to play it smart.
"Darius," Cid said, turning back to him. "If spies are being silenced, we can assume Ryser's network is more dangerous than we thought. You're better off sticking with us."
Darius blinked in surprise. "You want to work together?"
Cid smirked. "You saw what we did back there. Sabotage, intelligence gathering, assassination and we just crippled Ryser's siege efforts in a single night. And now we have their blueprints ruined, their weapons stolen for our use, and information they don't know we stole."
Darius hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Agreed. We're stronger together."
Cid extended a hand.
Darius clasped it firmly.
"Then we head for the Barony," Cid said, his black eyes gleaming with steely determination.
News spread fast, within days, the lord heard what went down.
It took less than two days to reach the ruined site.
The stench of burnt wood, scorched metal, and blood hung thick in the air as Lord Edvahn Ryser rode through the wreckage of his strongest siege base. His warhorse snorted, its hooves crunching over the remains of what had once been his finest encampment! Now a smoldering graveyard of broken siege components, collapsed structures, and charred corpses.
Fires still flickered in some places, though his remaining soldiers were desperately trying to put them out. The once-grand staging area, which had been the heart of his war effort, was now nothing more than a crippled husk of ash and failure.
Ryser's jaw clenched so tightly it ached. His broad frame trembled with barely contained fury as he took in the extent of the damage.
"What… in the hell… happened here?" His voice was low, seething… the calm before the storm.
The few remaining officers flinched at his tone, exchanging nervous glances before a battle-worn commander stepped forward, saluting with a trembling hand.
"L-Lord Ryser… we were… we were attacked, my Lord. The saboteurs-"
Ryser snapped his gaze toward the man.
"Attacked?" His voice was poisoned steel. "By whom, exactly?"
The commander swallowed thickly, sweat beading at his brow. "We uh… we don't know, my Lord. They came in the night. They struck fast, without warning. They… they destroyed the supply depot, set fire to the ammunition stores, and…" He hesitated.
Ryser's eyes darkened. "And what?"
The commander took a shaky breath. "They… sabotaged our weapons, my Lord. The mana rifles. The siege weapon components. Even our own supplies."
Ryser stared at him. Disbelief and rage warred inside him.
Sabotaged?
His strongest base, his most well-equipped and most numerous of guards stationed encampment, had been wrecked by its own supplies?
He couldn't believe it. He refused to believe it.
His best-trained soldiers, his elite guards, the men he had handpicked to oversee the camp: they had allowed a handful of intruders to reduce it to ruins. Allowed themselves to be complacent and they paid for it with their lives, the buffoons!
Ryser's nostrils flared, his face twisting in fury.
"You're telling me… that my men allowed a group of saboteurs to turn my own weapons against me?" His voice dropped to a dangerous growl.
The commander hesitated. "W-We believe they set off chain explosions using our powder stores. The fires spread before we could stop them, and - "
CRACK!
The sound of shattering bone echoed through the ruined camp as Ryser slammed his gauntleted fist into the man's face, sending him crashing to the ground.
"Useless."
The commander gasped, clutching his shattered nose, blood spilling between his fingers. The surrounding officers froze, barely daring to breathe as Ryser turned his burning gaze toward the wreckage.
His mind was a maelstrom of fury and humiliation.
His greatest camp, crippled by cowards in the dark.
His supply lines, obliterated.
His ammunition and provisions, gone.
And worst of all; his war effort was now on the verge of collapse.
But then…
Then his eyes landed on one thing… one singular thing; that hadn't been completely ruined.
The massive frame of his prized siege weapon, though partially dismantled, still stood.
A squad of terrified engineers and laborers were inspecting it, running checks, desperately trying to ensure it was still intact.
Ryser's fury eased slightly as he spurred his horse toward them.
"Report." His voice was still sharp, but there was a tinge of something else: expectation.
A senior engineer, still coated in soot, saluted hastily. "M-My Lord! The siege weapon was not destroyed in the attack!"
Ryser's eyes gleamed darkly. "Explain."
The engineer swallowed. "The blueprints were… lost, but the main components are still salvageable. We-we-we can still finish it." He licked his lips nervously. "It…it'll take time, but we can fire it as soon as it's operational."
Ryser exhaled slowly.
At least there was one shred of competence in this miserable failure.
He turned back to the cowering officers. "The only thing keeping you alive right now is that weapon." His voice boomed across the broken camp. "If it had been lost, I would have had all of you executed where you stand."
The officers remained silent, too afraid to speak.
Ryser gritted his teeth, his hands twitching at his sides. "I don't care how many men it takes! Finish building the siege weapon. If my supplies are gone, then I'll burn Gaius' defenses to the ground and take what I need from their corpses."
The engineer nodded frantically. "Y-Yes, my Lord! We- we'll have it ready as soon as possible!"
Ryser's gaze hardened.
This weapon was now his last chance.
He had suffered a humiliation tonight; one he would not forget.
But this war is not over. Not yet.
Ryser breathed deep, his mind unfurling from hot rage to simmering anger.
His thoughts turned to his backup plan.
If the worst happened… if this siege weapon was lost or delayed… then there was one more hope.
Velgrade Fortress.
Deep within the mountains to the north, his head engineer was reverse engineering a second siege weapon. A copy of the original, constructed in secret.
He clenched his fists.
'If his last missive was correct, the reverse engineering should have been completed by now…'
If this siege weapon failed, the second one would crush Gaius instead.
This wasn't over.
Not by a long shot.
The fires of his ruined siege camp still smoldered behind him, but Lord Ryser had already set his next move in motion.
Seated atop his warhorse, he waved over one of his remaining scouts: A lean, rugged man clad in dark leathers, his face obscured by a half-mask.
"You," Ryser growled. "Ride to Velgrade. I want a full report on the progress of the second siege weapon."
The scout hesitated. "My Lord, I -"
Ryser's glare cut through him like a blade. "Did I stutter?"
The scout bowed hurriedly. "N-No, my Lord. I will return with news as soon as possible."
"Good," Ryser muttered. His gut twisted slightly; an odd feeling of unease, but he ignored it. Velgrade Fortress was far away in the mountains, secluded, hidden from enemy forces. His head engineer was competent, if nothing else.
He wouldn't fail me.
With a final bow, the scout mounted his horse and vanished into the distance, riding toward Velgrade Fortress.
Ryser, however, turned his attention back to his depleted supplies.
The sabotage had left them crippled, but that didn't mean they were finished. He still controlled multiple occupied towns and trading posts; places meant to serve his war machine.
He snapped his fingers, summoning his remaining officers.
"We're out of supplies," he stated, his voice filled with cold authority. "And we can't wait for shipments. Gather our troops and take what we need from the captured settlements."
One of his lieutenants paled. "But my Lord! Those towns are already strained. Their people barely have enough to survive—"
Ryser's gauntleted hand struck the man across the face, sending him stumbling to the ground.
"Do I look like I care?" Ryser snarled. "This war doesn't wait for farmers and merchants to feel comfortable. If they can't feed themselves, they can die with the rest of Gaius' loyalists."
His other officers remained silent.
He didn't care about their approval. He cared about results.
"Take what we need," he commanded. "And if they resist? burn their homes and leave them to starve."
His men bowed stiffly, their discomfort evident. Ryser waited for another protest, but none dared oppose him.
With that, Ryser spurred his horse forward, riding toward his main command camp's remaining strongholds.
He had no idea that Velgrade Fortress was already gone.
Or that his greatest weapon had been stolen.
Somewhere Downstream…
The river rushed violently, carving through the mountain pass in a swirling chaos of rapids and foam. Broken debris: splintered wood, discarded travel packs, and the remains of shattered wagons flowed helplessly downstream, caught in the river's merciless grasp.
Among the debris, a lockbox spun wildly in the current, its iron plating dented and cracked, its once-secured lock broken open and revealing nothing inside.
Its precious contents were missing.
Standing on the riverbank, a lone figure loomed, staring at the empty box in silent horror.
A woman clad in blackened combat robes, her body lean and athletic, her blond hair cut short except for a single long bang of hair covering her right eye. A cloth mask covered the lower half of her face, but her piercing green eyes burned with pure, unfiltered rage.
She was the Cult's First Child, codenamed Shooting Star.
And she had just been robbed.
Shooting Star's breathing was slow, controlled, but she could feel the rage boiling beneath her skin.
How?
How had this happened?
She had done everything right. She had received orders directly from the Cult's inner circle:
Velgrade Fortress was to be erased.
And she had done just that.
She had eliminated the garrison, silenced the engineers, and retrieved the reverse engineered notes and blueprints for the second siege weapon. This was the Cult's property, something that Ryser was never supposed to fully control.
She had been on her way to deliver the plans back to the Cult's nearest stronghold when…
They came.
Ryser's spies. His best ones. Shadows in the night, trained killers, intercepting her on the cliffs above the river.
She had fought them.
Fought them and won.
But in the chaos of the battle, in the tangle of blood and steel, the lockbox carrying the journal/blueprints had slipped away tumbling down the cliffs, landing in the river, and being carried gods knew where.
And now? it was open.
Which meant someone had it.
And they had read what was inside.
Shooting Star's amber eyes blazed, her fists clenching so tightly her knuckles turned white.
No one should have seen those plans. No one.
Except…
Shooting Star's eye widened.
Those two… in the cloaks!
Were they that spy's reinforcements?!
Shooting Star focused, she needed to act quickly.
Whoever stole them, whoever opened that box, whether it be Ryser, those two strangers, or someone else…
Would not live to tell anyone about it.
She turned swiftly, her mind already forming a deadly plan.
First: She needed to know who had the documents.
She had killed most of Ryser's spies, but not all. Some had fled. If any of them had seen the lockbox fall, if any of them had taken the plans themselves… she would find them.
And if they weren't responsible?
Then someone else had the plans.
Probably those two.
She would track them down, one by one, and cut them apart until she found her stolen prize.
Shooting Star pulled her dagger from its sheath, its curved edge gleaming wickedly.
The First Child of the Cult of Diabolos was now on the hunt.
And she wouldn't stop until she erased every single thief in her way.
Cid, Alpha, and Darius moved swiftly through the dense forests and battered roads, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the burning wreckage of Ryser's siege camp.
They traveled under the cover of night, avoiding main roads where Ryser's forces might patrol. The further they went, the more they saw evidence of the war's devastation.
Villages stood silent and empty, their fields overgrown or trampled beyond recognition. Homes, once filled with life, now lay abandoned: their inhabitants either taken or fled.
At one such village, Darius reined in his horse, scanning the ruins of a once-thriving farming settlement.
"Ryser's work," he muttered.
Cid and Alpha halted beside him, their gazes sweeping across the desolate landscape.
"Explain," Cid ordered.
Darius exhaled, gripping the reins tightly. "Ryser's been draining every settlement under his control. Any able-bodied man is forced into his army, whether they want to fight or not. The villages? Left to rot. The elderly, the sick, the children… they have nothing. No protection, no food, no means to recover."
Alpha's blue eyes darkened. "He's bleeding them dry."
Darius nodded. "And when the conscripted soldiers die on the battlefield, their families are left with nothing. No men to work the fields. No hands to rebuild. The ones that don't starve to death get swept away when Ryser's forces move on."
Cid remained silent, his black eyes scanning the remnants of the village.
He saw abandoned homes, broken tools, and discarded belongings: traces of lives that had been uprooted and destroyed.
His hands clenched into fists.
But not out of guilt.
Out of rage.
He knew who was responsible for this.
Not Ryser. Not really. The warlord was nothing more than a pawn, a brute made to believe that he held power when in truth, he was only following the script the Cult had written for him.
This wasn't his doing.
This was the Cult of Diabolos.
This was the fault of that bastard Petos.
Inside his mind, Minoru's voice stirred, his tone thick with disgust.
"The Cult of Diabolos… an organization that has existed in the shadows for centuries. A group with the power to manipulate the course of history, shape nations, and decide the fate of kingdoms. And yet…"
Cid narrowed his eyes. "And yet they choose this?"
"Destruction. Tyranny. Petty power plays. They hoard knowledge not to advance their people, but to shackle them."
Minoru's voice was filled with contempt.
"They could have created something great. Instead, they let their obsession with control turn them into parasites. Feeding off the suffering they cause, ensuring history repeats itself to their benefit."
Cid's lip curled. "So, they're stagnant."
"Worse." Minoru's tone was sharp. "They are comfortable in their stagnation. They are happy to sit in the shadows, ruling through deception and fear, ensuring nothing changes, ensuring no one rises above them."
Cid exhaled slowly.
This wasn't just a war anymore.
This wasn't about his father, his sister, or even the Barony.
This was about tearing down the rotting, corrupted empire that lurked beneath the surface of history itself.
And it started with Petos.
Cid turned to Darius. "Return to my father."
Darius frowned. "Alone?"
Cid nodded. "Tell him what we did to Ryser's siege camp. Tell him Ryser is running out of time and resources. When my father hears that, he'll know Ryser will act rashly. He'll use that to his advantage."
Darius hesitated, then nodded firmly. "Understood."
Cid placed a hand on his shoulder. "Be careful. If spies are being eliminated, you'll be a target the moment you leave until you reach Kagenou territory."
He didn't mention that even then, he wasn't completely safe until he was with his father.
Darius gave a confident smirk. "I've survived this long. I'll make it back."
With that, he turned his horse toward the heart of the Barony, galloping into the night.
Cid had another idea.
He would have to postpone his reunion with everyone for just a bit longer…
Darius pushed his horse harder, ignoring its labored breathing and the burning ache in his legs. The gates of the Kagenou stronghold were just ahead, looming like a beacon of defiance against the darkness. He had spent days riding without rest, dodging Ryser's patrols, taking hidden paths through enemy-occupied lands, and keeping his ears open for any whisper of the Church's spies or assassins from Ryser.
His body screamed for rest. His mind refused it.
Because he carried something more important than any intelligence report.
He carried hope.
A horn blasted from the watchtowers the moment the sentries spotted him. The massive gates swung open, soldiers rushing to meet him as he rode through, his horse nearly collapsing beneath him. He swung off the saddle, staggering as a commanding officer approached.
"Lord Kagenou is waiting for you," the soldier said without hesitation. "He's ordered you to report to him immediately."
Darius barely managed a breath before nodding. "Take me to him."
He wasn't about to waste a single second.
The war room was alive with movement, officers bent over maps, runners delivering messages from the battlefield, and the tension so thick it could have been cut with a blade.
At the center of it all stood Lord Gaius Kagenou: a man of towering presence, his broad shoulders stiff, his eyes sharp as a drawn blade. Grief had aged him, even more silver now streaking his dark hair, and yet he stood as an unyielding pillar of war, holding his family's legacy together with sheer willpower.
Those who knew him best know he was one bad day away from losing it.
Beside him, Lady Elaina Kagenou clutched a scroll, her knuckles white. Though always composed, there was a weariness in her face, a quiet, desperate determination hidden beneath her regal demeanor.
The moment Darius entered, the air in the room shifted.
Gaius turned his eyes toward him, studying the scout like a general measuring the worth of his blade. His voice, when he spoke, was steady, expectant, but heavy with the weight of loss.
"You have news."
Darius forced himself to stand tall, ignoring the exhaustion clawing at his limbs. "Yes, my Lord. I bring word of Ryser's siege effort… and of your son."
The war room fell into dead silence.
Elaina gasped softly, her fingers trembling against the parchment she held. One of the officers dropped a quill, but no one moved to retrieve it.
Gaius did not flinch. His expression did not waver. But the way his hands tightened against the table, the way his breath left his chest just slightly deeper than before, spoke volumes.
Darius' throat felt tight, but he pushed through. He had to.
"I saw him, my Lord," Darius continued, his voice steady despite the weight of his words. "Cid Kagenou is alive."
Elaina covered her mouth with both hands, a strangled breath escaping her lips. Her composure, so well maintained over the past year, cracked in an instant. She took a step forward, as if reaching for something just beyond her grasp.
"Are you certain?" Her voice was thick, caught between hope and fear, as if daring to believe would somehow shatter it all into dust.
Darius turned to her, his voice unwavering. "He knew things only your son could know. He spoke of his family, of his sister. He fought like a warrior far beyond his years. And more than that-" Darius exhaled, his own chest tightening, "- he never gave up on returning to you."
Elaina's shoulders trembled, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She had waited for this. Prayed for this. Refused to accept that he was gone, even when the failures at finding him suggested otherwise.
And now, here it was.
The proof she had been waiting for.
Gaius remained stone-faced, but the silence between his breaths spoke of a father who had fought for so long without his son at his side. He closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them again, and when he did, the fire behind them blazed anew.
His officers saw a light reignited.
"Where is he?" he demanded.
Darius straightened. "He and his companion; a warrior named Alpha have gone to gather intelligence. They believe Ryser is on the brink of acting recklessly now that his siege efforts have been sabotaged. He sent me ahead to deliver the news and give you time to prepare."
An excited murmur sounded among them, their hopes rising once more.
Maybe now they can win this damned war.
Gaius exhaled through his nose, his fingers curling against the map on the table. "Then that means Ryser will push for an attack before he's ready. That's the kind of fool he is." His voice was measured, but there was a renewed energy in it, a kind of strength that had dulled over the past year but was now returning, sharper than ever.
Elaina wiped the tears from her eyes, her composure returning. But the relief did not leave her.
"He's coming back to us," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else. Then, stronger, "We have a chance now."
Gaius nodded. "And we will not let it slip away."
He turned to his officers, his voice thunderous, commanding.
"Send word to Claire out in the field. I want our forces prepared to intercept whatever reckless move Ryser makes. Ready the troops. We will crush him before he realizes how vulnerable he's become."
His men saluted, moving swiftly to carry out his orders.
But Darius remained.
"My Lord," he said, stepping forward. "With your permission… I would like to find Cid again. He and Alpha are operating alone, and if Ryser or his spies catch wind of them…"
Gaius was silent for a moment, considering. Then, finally, he nodded.
"Go," he ordered. "Find my son. Ensure he makes it back home."
Darius saluted, his exhaustion forgotten, and turned on his heel. He would not fail.
Elaina, watching him go, exhaled shakily. The emotions still clung to her, though she held them in as best she could.
When she turned to Gaius, there was fire in her gaze.
"This war has cost us so much," she murmured. "But I will not let it take our son. Not when we finally have him back."
Gaius met her gaze, and for the first time in a long time, his lips curled into the faintest of smirks.
"No," he said. "We will not let it take him."
The war was far from over.
But now, for the first time in nearly a year, it felt as though the tide was shifting.
And Cid Kagenou stood at the heart of it all.
Extra Chapter: A Reunion… well almost
~A Few Days Later, High Noon~
Smoke curled into the darkened sky, mingling with the clash of steel and the cries of battle. The valley was a mess of broken weapons, scattered bodies, and warriors fighting desperately for control of the high ground.
Cid stood at the edge of the battlefield, his eyes scanning the chaos. One side bore the tattered banners of Ryser's forces, their foot soldiers locked in fierce combat against a smaller but disciplined detachment of Kagenou warriors.
Alpha crouched beside him, her blue-eyed gaze sharp and observant. "This isn't just some border skirmish," she murmured. "Look at their formation. Someone's leading them."
Cid's smirk grew. "I see her."
At the heart of the Kagenou formation, directing the battle with unwavering precision, stood a young girl clad in ornate armor, her long dark hair whipping through the wind as she cut down an enemy with practiced efficiency.
Claire Kagenou.
His sister.
Even from this distance, Cid could see the sheer presence she commanded: the way she moved like a force of nature, her sword carving through enemy ranks with brutal grace.
"She's holding up well," Alpha noted, tilting her head. "But the enemy has numbers. If we don't intervene, she'll be forced to retreat."
Cid adjusted his grip on his longsword, the sunlight gleaming along its perfectly polished blade.
"Then let's make this look good."
Alpha sighed, already recognizing that tone. "You're going to be dramatic about this, aren't you?"
Cid grinned. "Obviously."
And then, with the precision of a shadow, they moved.
One of Ryser's men raised his halberd, preparing to strike down one of Claire's warriors.
He never got the chance.
A black blur cut through the battlefield, and in the next instant, the enemy soldier collapsed, a single precise slash splitting through his armor.
The Kagenou warriors hesitated, momentarily startled by the unexpected reinforcement.
Then, one by one, Ryser's soldiers began falling, taken down by flashes of silver and streaks of shadow.
Alpha weaved through the enemy ranks, her dagger finding its mark in throats and weak points, moving too fast for them to counter.
Cid, however, moved with deliberate flair.
Every strike was measured, every movement effortless, his longsword gleaming like an extension of himself. He deflected, dodged, and disarmed his foes, making it look as though he were merely toying with them.
The moment his blade carved through the last enemy commander, the remaining soldiers broke ranks, retreating in panic.
The battlefield fell silent.
Only the Kagenou detachment remained standing, their weapons raised but hesitant, unsure if their mysterious new fighter was friend or foe.
At the center of them stood Claire, her sword still dripping with enemy blood.
She exhaled sharply, adjusting her stance as she turned toward the one who had turned the tide of battle.
Her golden eyes locked onto Cid.
And narrowed dangerously.
"You," Claire breathed, her tone dripping with suspicion. "You fight well."
Cid, still holding his longsword casually over his shoulder, gave a lazy grin. "Why, thank you."
Claire's gaze hardened. "Who sent you? One of Ryser's mercenaries? Another group of kidnappers?"
Cid's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second.
Wait. Kidnappers?
Before he could piece it together, Claire charged.
She moved faster than expected, her blade cutting through the air with deadly intent.
Cid sidestepped at the last second, feeling the sharp wind of her blade barely miss his cheek.
"Wait, hold on—"
Claire didn't stop. She attacked relentlessly, each strike perfectly calculated, her footwork precise and refined.
Cid, however, was not about to fight his sister seriously.
He dodged with ease, parrying only when necessary, each of her swings meeting his blade with a casual flick that barely exerted effort.
Damn, whatever the Cult did to him, made him really strong!
It was infuriating.
Well, at least for Claire it was.
Claire gritted her teeth. "Why won't you fight back?!"
Cid sighed dramatically, twisting his blade just enough to disarm her mid-swing, her sword spinning out of her grasp before embedding itself in the dirt.
The soldiers gaped; They hadn't seen her disarmed ever!
Who was this man?!
She staggered back, staring at him in stunned disbelief.
And that's when Alpha—who had been watching the exchange with a face of complete exasperation, finally stepped in.
She pinched the bridge of her nose and muttered, "You should've identified yourself first."
Cid blinked.
Ah.
Yeah.
Maybe he should have.
Claire's hands trembled as she stared at the stranger before her.
The graceful swordplay, the arrogant smirk, the effortless way he had handled himself in combat… it had all been familiar. Too familiar.
She knew that fighting style.
She had seen it before.
Her heart pounded in her chest as the thought crept into her mind; so impossible that she refused to believe it.
No… it couldn't be!
He had been taken. He had been gone for nearly a year.
She thought he would never come back!
And yet - !
Cid tilted his head. "Hey, sis. That's not a way to treat your long-lost brother."
Normally, this should've been a heartwarming reunion where long lost family hugged and cried in joy at their meeting again.
But…
The battlefield felt utterly silent.
Claire's breath hitched. Her entire body went rigid.
And then…
She screamed.
And punched him square in the face.
Alpha looked as he dropped to the ground, stunned and unconscious.
His sister had a mean right hook…
Author's Note: Part 2 of 2! Hope everyone enjoys!
Also, I miss the ~!~... made formatting scene shifts easier for me... oh well, I'll manage!