Chapter 10 First Lance

The Battleguards roar as they charge toward the newly build bastion. Determine to destroy it. With the first step is to turn the wooden palisade to splinter with giant clubs and brute force.

On the defender side, archers run in hurry to their position.

"Man the polybolos!" Sora yells the order.

Along the palisade had been installed a series of balista-shaped artilleries. Only the difference is that it can shoot multiple giant balista bolts in quick succession. One by one, each polybolos was manned by two soldiers. One as the shooter and another who load the bolts. When the polybolos is fully loaded, the loader pats the shooter's shoulder to signal him that the weapon is ready to shoot. Sora himself takes position as a shooter of one polybolos that stand next to the gate.

As the tide of destruction approching, the hoplomachus give signal to shoot. Rain of arrows and giant bolts welcome the assailing battleguards. Relentless to commit with the attack, the battleguards keep on charging. However, this time their murderous charge met with equal might. The giant bolts hurled from the polybolos is strong enough to pierce the battleguards' thick skin and muscle. In a single moment, a battleguard can be pinned then finished by another shot. Or simply struck down with a single bolt to the chest.

Yielding is something this type of attacker not often does, even when facing the force that could wipe them out. In their defiance, the horde keeps on charging while the defenders keep striking them down from the safety of the wall. But, defiance also presents in the defender force. It seems the allure of glorious battle is too tempting to ignore for a single bladesguard. Disregarding order to stay inside the bastion, he sally forth, alone. Dashing towards the battleguards with his zweihander at hand.

Sora was stunned by that action. Moreover, he knows the lone/looney bladeguard.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!? COME BACK INSIDE! MAXIMILLIAAAN!!!!"

Pity, Sora's curses and yells enveloped by the sound of battle. Unable to hear by Maximillian or he simply ignored it. Regardless, the bladesguard slays every horned assailant that unfortunate enough to meet his greatsword.

As the battle continues, the battleguard's charge begins to falter and finally, it breaks. The battle is over. No survivor from the attacker.

A contingent of defenders come outside from the bastion and walk toward the battlefield.

"Make sure everything is dead, and stays dead," says Sora to the other.

With that order, the soldiers start checking every battleguard corpses and stab it on the neck with a spear if they are not sure if it's already dead.

As Sora also inspecting one of the corpses, a severed head of the same being dropped in front of his feet. And, the one who dropped it was the only defender that charged out.

Still covered in blood, Maximillian smiles cheerfully to his comrade-in-arm, as if he had achieved something great. But Sora is not impressed. Not even the slightest.

"Must you charge out like that? He asks.

"Well, it's not something that I must do, it just something I want do," the bladesguard answer like nothing serious happen.

Sora still is not pleased. Especially not with that kind of answer.

"Even if you want to do it, doesn't mean you have to do it!"

"Yes but-

"Truly! Can you follow a single order!?"

"You not have moral high ground to tell that, Ser," a female bladesguard casually snarks at Sora as she passes.

"Oh, shut it!" the hoplomachus snarks back.

Sora takes a deep breath to quell his frustration. He must keep level-headed. Through his experience, nothing good comes when angry. He then simply ordered Maximillian to follow him back to bastion. Inside, he splashes a bucket of water to his face to wash the sweat and calm his nerves. After that, he sits on a bench, stares at the water inside a cup he holds. Then, finish the water in a single gulp. His eyes wandering around the bastion, and reminiscing. A little more than 2 weeks ago, this place was just a simple cave. A cave that Sora chose to build a fortified position.

Headed by Desmon, sergeant of the Jaeger Brigaded, the building party consisting of one-third of the Jaegers, half of the conscript force, all remaining Bladesguard and, of course, Sora. He is the only hoplomachus that presented. The building process was long tiring and somewhat bloody. They had initial luck that most of the trees that were thrown inside the outpost were in good condition and suitable for building. Also, a small forest in the northwest provided enough wood for the construction project. With no necessity to forage any additional woods from the riverbank in the south, the construction can be sped up.

First, they reinforce the cave, so it would not easily collapse in the event of attack. As the building starts, so too the attack. The battleguards patrol showed up almost every day, and always immediately charged to attack. A single attacking group consists of around ten battleguards. However, it is still hard to repel by the defenders that half of them are also tasked as construction workers. The attack not only happens in the day, but also in the night. The mountain passes crawling with hordes of cannibal rabbits whenever the sun sets. Normally, they stay away because the site is filled by the torches light. Time to time however, the mange creatures manage to gather enough courage to attack. This attack always consisted of a large mass of rabbits. Of course, there are casualties. These attacks also make everybody's nerve tense. But, this does not make them lose morals. On the contrary, the attacks make the workers finish the bastion faster. Less than a week, the wooden palisade and watchtowers are already finished. Now, the bastion covered most part of the mountain pass in width, except for a small path that only two lines of soldiers could pass through.

The next part is to build the defense system. As Sora also suggested, polybolos were build integral with the palisade battlement. A small artillery that believed invented by Dionysus of Alexandria has been the object of Sora's fascination ever since he studied history. It had been proved for its effectiveness, the young knight asked the engineers to design it and make it. To everybody, including Sora himself, surprise, the weapon works. A single polybolos has a same shooting power of an ordinary ballista, but its sophisticated mechanism enable it to shoot multiple bolts without need to reload. The construction of more polybolos were approve. Although, this project significantly decreases men power for the defense, especially from the conscript. The miners need to reopen the iron mine to produce metal parts and craftsmen were also needed to make the wooden parts. The assembly process also slows. Polybolos mechanism is quiet complicated. No ordinary workers could do such a task. Only the siege engineers and several craftsmen have the skill to assembly the weapon, and there aren't many of them left in the outpost. Regardless, it finish. Polybolos were installed along the palisade, several even installed on top the outpost walls.

When the construction finished, Sora called back to the outpost by Lydia. What happened next was surprising to everyone. The knight captain gave Sora a promotional rank. A rank with a position of great import. A title of….

"First Lance Sora," Maximillian greets with a salute.

"Ugh, I never get used to being called that," Sora grumbles.

"Why?" the bladesguard take a sit next to his friend.

"For my entire life I've been a nobody. Now, I'm the most important person next to the knight captain."

Staring at the clear blue sky, the officer sighs.

"I don't know what to make of it. I don't know what to do with it. I…. I do not want this promotion."

"Come on. Don't say that," Maximillian embraced Sora's shoulder as he sat next to his friend, trying to erase the gloominess. "Don't look at this as a bad thing. I know, I know, a lot of people saw you do not fit as an officer. However, there are people who see your potential as a good officer, including me. And you prove that in these past few days."

Sora pushed himself out of the warm embrace.

"But, why? Why First Lance, not other rank? Captain Lydia practically chose me as her second in command. It's… it's…"

"It means she trusted you."

"Yeah, right. I think she just wants to keep me in short leash."

"Oh, enough. Pondering too much won't do you any good."

Maximillian stands up, then pulls Sora's to make the disgruntled new officer to stand as well.

"True."

The two knights walk to the cave part of the bastion. In this part, soldiers take rest and stow the provisions.

"So, what will we do next?" ask Maximillian.

"Wait for the scouts to return, I suppose to bring the report back to the outpost," Sora replies.

The reply gives cheerfulness to Maximillian's face.

"You still need to come with me."

And with that, the cheerfulness is gone, and turns into a frown.

Sora meets his squad. As a First Lance, he given command of fifteen guards, but seven hoplomachii and four bladesguards volunteered to serve under him as well. Surprisingly, Captain Lydia granted this request. Although, she also put Maximillian under Sora's care, much of both knights' dismay. At the meeting, Sora told his squad next task. He only asks the guards and Maximillian return with him to the outpost. All other volunteers still willing to follow him, except for one bladesguard.

"You're not coming, Sophia?" ask Sora.

"No, Ser. My fight is here," the female bladesguard answer.

She was the bladesguard that "criticized" Sora when he scolded Maximillian for dashing out. Without armor and only wearing chest wrap, she casually cleans her sword. Even in that state, with a short haircut and body covered with scars, Sophia looks formidable. She clearly a hardened veteran and she herself knows that. Probably because of this, she is the only two persons in the squad that are very open and frank toward Sora, the other is Maximillian. Sophia is also very critical toward the newly appointed First Lance, though her attitude has been mellow in the past days.

"Very well," Sora agrees.

Although, this decision angered Maximillian.

"Why she can stay!?" ask the bladesguard.

"Well, because she chose to stay."

"And why can't I choose to stay?"

"Because you've been given orders to stay with me and I have been placed as your caretaker."

Maximillian will protest even further if not Sora's threat.

"Unless you want to lose your sword, again, I will not hold any responsibility for any of your action."

Cornered, Maximillian is silent.

"'Don't know what to do with it' you said. Clearly you know how to use its power perfectly," he grumbles in his head.

After no more objection, Sora dismiss his squad to let them preparing for the journey. Although, this only an excuse. A chance for him to stop hiding it. He staggers and hit one of the support beam. The sound of the armor and the wooden beam colliding draws attention of both Maximillian and Sophia who not yet walk far. Seeing their leader in the verge of collapsing the two bladesguards immediately rush to his side.

"I'm…. fine….," Sora pants.

"No, you're not!" Maximillian holds the hoplomachus limping body.

He and Sophia carry Sora to the nearest bedroll. There, he gently lied down. Sophia uses her lap as a pillow.

"The burden of leadership finally catching up to you," says her.

Weak, Sora breathes ever slowly.

"And the past few days haven't made it any easier," he says.

"Trial never meant to be easy, Ser."

"Rest. You've earned it," says Maximillian.

Sora nods.

"You, too. Rest."

"But, I still-."

"Rest!"

Like a child who is being grounded, Maximillian sits angrily on one of the bedrolls.

Not long, Sora's eyes shut tight and he fell into slumber.

It feels just a short moment ago that First Lance Sora was sleeping. Now, his eyes are wide open and awake again.

"How long have I been asleep?" he asks.

"Twenty minutes, Ser," says Sophia. She has been serving as a lap pillow the entire time Sora was sleeping. "The scouts just returned a moment ago.

The first lance officer immediately stands up. He has regained some of the strength, but still a bit wobbly.

"Sophia. Thank you," Sora bows in gratitude.

The female warrior smiles gently and nods.

In a hurry, Sora exits the cave. Near the gate, Maximillian and the rest of the squad already meet the scouting party, led by Sergeant Desmon.

"Any news?" asks Sora while saluting the sergeant.

"Not much. We manage to determine most of their patrolling path, but no definite signs of the camp have been found," Desmon giving the report.

"For large beasts, battleguards sure know how to hide their camp."

"Well, if our assumption were right, their camp will be next to the forest. Large beast or not, it will be hard to spot if a camp was built there. Nevertheless, we will try again tonight. Less rabbits come out lately, so it will be relatively safe venture out."

"Anything else?���

"This," Desmon gives a piece of paper to Sora. "Give it to Knight Captain. You can only read it in her present."

Sora puts the paper in his satchel. He then gives the signal to march back to the outpost.

Journey from the bastion to the outpost takes less than an hour. The squad marched in double column formation with Sora and Maximillian in the front of the line. The journey was pretty　much uneventful. It pushes Maximillian to ask his commanding officer and "caretaker" about what happened lately.

"You know….," the bladesguard tries to start a conversation. "You could a little less strict toward me."

"Eh?" Sora looked at his friend with a curious face.

"I know you got the order from the knight captain but, don't need to be so strict. And you've been giving me less and less action in the past days."

"Is that bothering you that much?" Sora asks.

"Yes! I'm a bladesguard, if you are not yet realizing it. I've been trained to fight. Any fight. Bringing maihame to the battlefield is what I do best and I like to do it."

"Well, I reckon other bladesguards also train to be such fighter but, I don't see any of them charge with reckless abandon."

"They have their way, I have their way," Maximillian shrugging.

"Yeah, but their way did not include disobeying orders. You've been disobeying a lot of orders that I give you."

"Well, because your order mostly told me to stay put!"

"And I expect you to follow that order!"

The bladesguard pout. "Like you ever follow any orders."

Sora grumbles. Since he overstepped Lydia authority in the siege, much of the outpost inhabitant have been spreading rumor that he was a disobedient knight who likes to break rules. And Sora himself somewhat confirms this rumor by "improvising" some of the orders he got when building the bastion.

"To be honest, I started realizing why Captain Lydia assigned you to my unit," says the first lance with a sigh. "I don't think other officers have the patience to deal with our antiques. And that charging move of yours, I also think there is no wall that could stand against it."

"Does it mean that you will be more lenient to me and give me more action time?" Maximillian now stares at his caretaker with eyes filled with hope.

Sora thinks for a second.

"If this make you more obedient and not run into suicide path recklessly, I would say yes."

The bladesguard yells in such happiness and satisfaction.

"Just don't overdo it."

Sora never understands why someone is so jubilant just because he was let to fight more in the war. Most soldiers on earth will feel dread if given such "present". However, this is not earth. The people here react differently, making Sora's adaptation process practically endless. Now he holds second highest rank in the outpost.

"Since I granted your wish, I want to ask you for a return," said Sora, trying to act sly.

"Anything my friend. Anything," Maximillian pretty much still jubilant.

"Who's Gilian? You and other bladesguard scream that name every time you charging."

Sora's question brings grimness to the Maximillian happy face.

"He…," words seem hard to flow from the bladesguard mouth.

Sora was a bit surprised. The question that he thinks is an innocent one, seems to strike a nerve.

���It's alright if you do not wish to answer it."

"No, no. it's nothing serious."

Maximillian takes a deep breath.

"Suffice to say Gillain is what we call 'Father of Battle'. And that is the only answer that I am willing to give."

"Fair enough."

The banter between the two knights seems to shorten the journey. When it finishes, the outpost gate is already in front of the eyes. The sentry blows a horn to signal for the gate to be open.

Sora and his unit marching in. Two militia guards welcome them with a salute.

"Where's the knight captain? Asks Sora to the guards.

"In the barracks with the other officers. She is expecting your report, Ser," said one of them.

"Fine. Let's go," the hoplomachus gives signal for the unit to follow him.

In the barracks, Captain Lydia discusses the next step with the officers. And when Sora's enter, the sound of the door opening, cut the discussion and directed the attention to the first lance and his unit.

"Ah, First Lance Sora. We���ve been waiting for you," the knight captain greets.

Sora salute, followed with the rest of his men.

"Come," Lydia beckons to her second in command.

Before entering the meeting, Sora gives a nod to his unit. Signaling them to dismiss. And immediately, they disperse. Either into the barrack passing the meeting table or go outside.

On the table, Sora gives the situation report of bastion. About the fight and about the scout's findings.

"Anything else?" Lydia asks.

"Sergeant Desmon wants you to have this," Sora takes the piece of paper and gives it the knight captain. "He said it can only be read in your present.

Intrigue, Lydia takes the paper. She unfolds it and reads the content. The other officers gather around her to also read it. Whatever written in that paper is, it's clearly good news. Lydia even manages to form a smile.

Curious, Sora also approaches the knight captain and tries to find out. Alas, Lydia pushes him away, and the only thing he found out is how cold the knight captain gauntlet is.

"Well, with that report, our next move has pretty much been decided," says the knight captain while shredding the paper.

"What is that exactly?" asks Sora with a very upset tone.

"I will send an incursion party to the patrolled path near the mountain foot," Lydia pointed to the path on the map. "You and your unit will lead the party. The detail will be given in the bastion, where the incursion will be launched."

She takes a piece of paper and scribbles on it.

"Give this to the runners and send them to the bastion immediately."

The quartermaster takes the message and walks out from the barrack.

"Any question?"

"Yes. What is the situation on the road near the river? How's the barricade holding?" Sora asks.

"Fine, actually," replied the hoplomachus sergeant. "The barricade still standing, and according to the hunter's chief there are only a few attacks beside the occasional tree being lobbed by the battleguards."

"That's reassuring news,��� said Sora.

"There is more. The chief said he managed to contact other hunter groups and convince them to join our defense, albeit some of them only doing so for a brief moment."

"Is there any other question?" ask Lydia once more. "If not, dismiss and wait for the next order."

All the officers exit the barracks to do their daily routine, except for Sora. He is still standing there, staring at Captain Lydia.

"Is something a matter?" ask the knight captain.

"Are you trusting me?" Sora asks back.

"Of course I trust you," said Lydia.

"Why do I doubt that?"

"You shouldn't. I give you a rank as my second in command, don't i?"

"I don't think that has nothing to do with trust."

Lydia sighs. From all knights in her command, Sora has to be the most defiant and the hardest to please.

"What do you want?"

"Your trust," said Sora plainly.

"You already have my trust."

"Then why do you refuse to show me what report in that paper?"

Lydia shakes her head in disbelief.

"You don't need to know everything, you know."

"On the contrary, I do need to know what I want to know."

"Well if that is the case, the only thing I am willing to tell you is that Sergeant Desmon managed to find something that turned the table to our favor. And that's that. Now, be gone!"

Even though Sora is still dissatisfied, he does not wish to antagonize the knight captain any further. He saluted and left.

As soon as Sora outside the barrack, he immediately noticed Maximillian standing next to the door.

"So, how's the meeting going?" the bladesguard asks.

"As per usual," said Sora, as he walked away without paying any attention to his comrade/subordinate.

"Have you visited her?" Maximillian shoots another question.

And that question stops Sora's feet from moving.

"She clearly doesn't want me to come and visit," answered Sora. He turns around and faces the bladesguard.

"Just go visit her. She is your partner after all."

"Fine. I'll try to pay her a visit."

"That's all I ask." Maximillian pats Sora on the shoulder and walks past him.

Sora reluctantly heads to the infirmary tent. Since getting injured in the siege, Amamiya has been lying on the bed. Helena personally takes care of the battlemage injuries, since she still feels guilty for what happened that day. Visiting lady companions is not something Sora wants to do right now. Not because he is apathetic, but because Amamiya herself doesn't want him to come and visit.

On Sora's first try to visit her, he was barred from entering the tent by Helena, who said she got direct order from the battlemage to forbid Sora to visit. She even brandished her morning star at him. For a few days. Sora tried, but to no avail. He once sneaked in, only to be welcome by a fireball. With addition being chased by the angry lady chaplain around the outpost. Due to this, he is not so eager to petition another visit.

As he approaches the infirmary, he can see Helena stand guard, vigilantly, in front of the tent where Amamiya is being treated.

"Can I come?" he asks the lady chaplain.

"No."

And expected answers. Normally, Sora will turn back and leave but, his worriedness told him to push forward.

"Maximillian told me to come and visit," he explains. "If you think really should not come, I'll leave."

"I too, think you should come," she said.

"But?"

"But, Amamiya gave me a strict order not to let you see her. No matter what. And I already vowed to her that I will do whatever she asked until she fully healed."

Sora sigh. "At least, tell me her condition."

"She pretty much healed. She just needs time to recover her strength."

"Good to know. Thank you."

Sora turns around and leaves.

"Wait!" said Helena.

The first lance of the knights stops. "Yes, what is it?"

Helena does not immediately give a response. She's pausing. And she finally spoke. Starting with a swear.

"Damn the order. She fully healed and I already fulfilled my vow. You can come."

"Once again thank you, Helena," Sora smiled in gratitude.

He then entered the tent. No fireball being thrown this time. It seems Amamiya overheard the conversation. Nevertheless, she is not happy seeing the person who she doesn't want to see stand in front of her bed.

The distance from the threshold and the bed is a couple steps away. Yet, Sora has no courage to close in. He had faced many battles in the past weeks but, a fight against a frowning woman is something he is never willing to do. The first lance officer is clearly tense and does not know what to say.

"Hey, you perfectly healed," he awkwardly tries to start a conversation. "It's good. The last I saw you, you pretty much a mess."

Amamiya keeps frowning and not amused.

The silent sets in. The tension between the two knights is so thick it could be sliced by a knife.

Sora pretends to cough. A move of deception. A prelude of his tries to approach the disgruntled lady. Pity, his step quickly stops by the battlemage flaming glare.

Frozen in place, Sora can feel the cold grip of death on his spine. With that he gives up. He already sees that Amamiya is recovered, and that's enough for him. Although, the reason why his lady companion refused to see him is still a mystery. But, a mystery that is not worth being incinerated or worse, losing a dear friend.

"Fine, I'll leave," Sora turns around. Just before he exits the tent, he throws a joke. "You know, you should really learn healing arts from Helena. The recovery process is faster and less screaming in pain."

As a counter for that annoying joke, Amamiya throws a pillow at Sora. Her favorite move to deal with her partner's impudence.

"Alright, alright. I'm out."

Just as Sora steps outside, something pulls him back in. Amamiya embraces him tightly. Tears flowing from her eyes.

At this moment, Sora seems to understand the reason why Amamiya avoided him.

"I'm sorry," he apologizes. "I'm sorry, sent you away that night. I'm sorry."

Amamiya wipes her tears and looks at Sora in confution.

"Why are you apologizing?" she asks. "I'm the one who should say 'sorry'".

Amamiya gently leads Sora to the bed and sits down on the edge, side by side.

"I… I know you want to see me all this time. But, I can't allow that," Amamiya talks in a shaken voice. "Because I cannot bear to face you."

"Why?" asks Sora.

"When… when…," words could not come out from Amamiya's mouth. And she starts to cry again.

Gently, Sora holds the battlemage hand. He smiles.

"It's alright. You mustn't."

Amamiya shakes her head. "No. I must. I feel so ashamed and afraid to see you. When I'm injured, I'm scared that I will die and leave you alone. Breaking my promise, our promise, to always stand together. I'm scared that you'll forget me. I'm scared that… that… you'll hate me."

Sora hugs his lady friend and kisses her forehead.

"Oh my dear Amamiya, why would I hate you? If someone needs to be hated, it would be me. My hubris caused you to get injured."

"But, still. What if I died that day?"

"Then, I'll always remember you. A magnificent battlemage who bravely repels a tide of darkness with her firestorm."

Sora wipes Amamiyas tears. The battlemage now clearly and blushing a little.

"If anything, I should be proud of you. You see the mess I make on the other wall? Thanks to that, Captain Lydia gave me a slap with a steel gauntlet."

Amamiya giggles hearing that. The battlemage finally back to her cheery self.

"Yeah, I also wonder about that. You overstepped our captain authority and do not get punished. Instead, I hear you got a promotion."

"You know about that?" ask Sora. He never expected Amamiya would know much about him while in treatment.

"Of course I know. It's the talk of the town. 'Insolent knights got promoted' they said."

Sora can only sigh hearing unflattering descriptions of him and his situation.

"So, what does your new rank mean? What does The First Lance do?��� the battlemage inquires.

"I'm the second in command of our esteemed knight captain," answered Sora.

"Oh, that's nice."

"Not so much."

Since Amamiya pretty much healed and the misunderstanding between them is resolved, Sora bid his lady friend farewell.

"Will you be here tonight?" Amamiya asks.

"If I manage to finish Captain Lydia's task quickly, I'll be by your side tonight."

It's still sometime before the designated time for the mission. Sora pulled a book from his satchel and walked to his favorite spot to spend the time reading it. As he walked there, he noticed a group of workers handling a pile of battleguard corpses. From the giant bolts that still stick on some of the corpses, Sora knows they will fight near the bastion. However, what came next surprised that first lance officer. The workers start skinning the corpses.

"What are you doing, men!?" asks Sora in disbelief.

"Skinning them, Ser," answered one of the workers.

"I know! But, whatever for you guys do that!?"

"For their hide of course."

The answers only confuse Sora even further.

"Aren't we supposed to just burn them?"

"Well, that's true, Ser. But, we only do that if the corpse is too mangled. A pristine corpse like these…," the worker pokes the corpse with his skinning knife. "We skin them for their hide."

First Lance Sora utterly flabbergasted by the worker's explanation.

"You should not be surprised, Ser. Your armor made from these bastards hide."

Sora immediately looked at his leather cuirass.

"This! They said it was made from the finest wolf leather."

"Finest wolf leather or black wolf pelt is what we called the produce," said the other worker.

The rest of the workers chuckle as if they hear a very funny joke.

One of the senior looking workers sees the knight captain's second in command still confused in disbelief. He puts his skinning knife and wipes the blood from his greyish beard.

"Ser, you do realize how tough the boggarts skin, right?��� he begins his explanation. "So, sometime back then, the boys from the leatherworks guild said 'hey, why we not skin them for their hides'. At first, it sounded like a bad idea. However, it turns out to be a marvelous idea. The hide is very strong and durable. Suitable to make superior armor. Of course we never call the produce by its actual name to hide from some of the customers."

The explanation did not make Sora feel any better but, it is what it is.

"Make sure you hide this fact from a certain battlemage. I don't think she could stomach it when she knows," he said.

"We'll do, Ser," the workers give a casual salute.

From that place of revelation, Sora continues to walk. Then, he climbs onto the northern wall and sits on the battlement on top of the gate. Somehow, this place became the first lance favorite place to spend time. Probably, it has a roof and the parapet is slightly taller. Making him somewhat hidden.

Sora opens the book and starts to read. He reads and reads and reads. Before long, he falls asleep. Oddly, nobody, not even the guards stationed on that wall realize that there is an officer sleeping on top of the battlement. It seems the shadow from the canopy and the parapet make Sora completely invisible from others.

Sora only wakes up because the sound of someone climbing the stairs startle him. He looks at the sky, and the sun starts to set. He knows the mission time is near. And because he is now standing up and no longer hidden among the shadow, a guard spots him.

"First Lance Sora! Thank Frea, I finally found you," the guard ran toward the officer and saluted.

"Something to report?" asks Sora. He realizes the guard is from his unit.

"Knight Captain Lydia called for you," the guard replied.

"I thought so. Gather the others. I'll meet the knight captain."

"Right away, Ser."

The guard saluted again before leaving.

Hastily, Sora goes to the barrack. When entering, he sees another extraordinary scene. His lady friend, Amamiya, argues with Captain Lydia.

"What do you mean you can't!?" Amamiya shouts to the knight captain.

"It's exactly what it means! I can't!" the knight captain shouts back at Amamiya.

"I thought it's still within your power to grant promotion! Why could you give one to Sora, but couldn't to me!?"

"Because the thing that you ask is unreasonable! It's not something that can be granted easily!"

"Then, why would you give Sora such a thing if it is not something easy!?"

"Because the circumstances demand it. It was complicated."

"I disagree."

The two lady knights keep shouting to each other. Even fail to notice the actual first lance enters the barrack. Only after Sora knocks the door with his sword pommel, they stop their small shouting contest.

"Finish, yet?" the new officer asks sarcastically. "What is this all about?

"Sora, Captain Lydia is-."

"I heard you. Both of you," Sora cuts Amamiya's argument short.

"Then, you can tell… her to get out from here!" Captain Lydia now yells to her second in command too.

"B-before that, can you, any of you tell what all this bickering and yell about?" Once again Sora asks the question.

"Don't try me, Sora!" Captain Lydia walks toward the you officer and stands menacingly in front of him. "I have a thousand other things to do, and I don't have any more time to spend dealing with this nonsense!"

"I understand, but first please calm down and explain what happened here?"

Albeit reluctantly, Captain Lydia takes the advice. She draws a deep breath to settle her nerves.

"Your companion here, ask me to make her a First Lance," she said.

"Err, why?" ask Sora perplexed.

"We are supposed to be the 'heroes' of this world and we came here together. It is natural if we are equal in any position. Besides, I promised you," Amamiya explained.

"Well, that doesn't explain why you want… this rank?"

Captain Lydia lifts one of her eyebrows. It is not mistaken for her that she detects certain displeasure from Sora's tone when talking about his current position.

"Because we need to be together. I said before we came here together. We in this struggle together, and we must face it side by side."

Sora confused with Amamiya persistent for the togetherness between them. However, he does not think about it much further, and dismisses it as mere trauma due to her injury. After all, her partner just recovered.

"But, that doesn't mean you need to be a First Lance as well."

"That is true, and that's the end of it. Now, please leave! We have something important to discuss," said the knight captain to end the argument. She also starred as Amamiya.

Upset, the battlemage ready to fire another argument to the commanding officer. Alas, Sora interjects.

"Captain, it is still within my authority to appoint Amamiya as my assistant, isn't it?" say him, giving a solution to prevent the argument from continuing.

"What are you trying to pull now?" Captain Lydia turns to stare dagger Sora.

"I want to add Amamiya to my unit. And also like she said we make a promise, so I want her to be close to my side."

Sora pauses. Looking at the two lady knights who now glare at him.

"I hope this stops both of us from yelling at each other any further."

Both Amamiya and Captain Lydia seem to agree with the solution, yet still they grumble.

The knight captain sighs. "Fine. Have it your way. Amamiya can become your Rear Officer."

Amamiya's frown turns to smile.

"I'm not finished," the still irritated knight captain adds. "I also increased First Lance Sora's responsibility. Sergeant Desmon won't lead this mission anymore, you will."

"Oh, joy," Sora commented.

"And you will lead all subsequent missions I give to you. As for now, First Lance Sora, you are not just my second in command. You are my blade. Executor of my will."

The added burden feels heavy already on Sora's shoulders. He knows there will be consequences if he crosses the knight captain too much but he never expected that.

Amamiya grabs Sora's hand, and holds it tight.

"Don't worry, Sora. I'll stand by you as promised. I'm at your service, my first lance."

"Well, That's reassuring. Really. Thank you, Amamiya."

As much as Sora is glad for Amamiya's effort to rise him up. He cannot hide his cynicism very well.

"Since we finish with this less important business, could we talk about the mission? Time is wasting," said Captain Lydia.

The three walk to the meeting table.

"So, what is the detail?" ask Sora.

"This," Captain Lydia shows a piece of paper. On it was written, 'We found the barrels'.

Both Sora and Amamiya look at it with confusion. Sora knows it was a message that he carried from Sergeant Desmon, but he never knew the message only contained one line of very vague sentences.

"It does not exactly explain much detail," he commented.

"And what's this 'barrels'? What does it mean?" ask Amamiya.

"The barrels this letter mention, filled with a certain fluid that used by battleguards for… let say entertainment," Captain Lydia explained. "I want you retrieve it."

The two young knights cannot believe the order given by their superior.

"Before you two protest, the said liquid is highly flammable. Plus, if added with certain ingredients, it could become explosive."

After further explanation from the knight captain, her order sounds less unbelievable.

"You want to use it against them," said Amamiya.

"Exactly."

"Wait a second. Why do we need it?" Sora interrupts. "Regarding explosives and explosions, aren't we already having pyromaniacs for the task. And I believe some barrels in the storage with black X mark are filled with explosive agents."

"We have A pyromaniac. Barely enough to repel another large scale assault," Captain Lydia counters her second in command's argument. "You right on one thing. We do have flamepowder stored. However, only two barrels were left. If we manage to get those barrels of liquid, and turn them into potent explosives, like I said before to you, Sora, we could turn the battle to our favor. Beside, our fledgling pyromaniac can use some boost to her fire magic."

Amamiya pouts because she is constantly called a pyromaniac.

"It is true that I specialize in fire magic. But, it doesn't mean I like to set everything in fire," she grumbles in silence.

"So, is everything clear?" ask Captain Lydia before closing the briefing.

"One thing," said Sora. "Why is the message so obscure? I know it was important, but it's not like the opponent has spies here."

"Ignore it. It's just the way Desmon writes all his messages. And speaking of message…," Lydia writes a letter, and gives it to Sora. "Give this to Desmon."

Sora's eyes widen when he sees the content of said letter.

"Now, go. Do your duty!" order the knight captain.

The two knights salute, and leave the barrack.

When they are outside, Sora's unit is already assembled and ready to depart. They saluted the First Lance as soon as they saw him. The guard who met Sora at the parapet before gave him a spear. Even though Amamiya is pretty well known in the outpost, Sora reintroduces her and explains her position in the ranks. The men saluted the battlemage as well after that explanation.

After the short introduction, Sora gives his men direction of their current mission. The situation, the objective and the importance of this mission do not escape from the young officer's explanation, except for the part that he was mandated to lead by Captain Lydia. Details that he thinks not important enough to mention.

The troops wholeheartedly listen to Sora. Which has become a little bit of surprise for Amamiya. She never thought Sora was respected by all his men. She knew her partner was a clever and capable person, but he was still young. And his looks make him appear even younger than his actual age. Some of the soldiers that present are certainly older and the bladesguards also have more experience than Sora. It's inconceivable for these men to follow him willingly. At least that's what the battlemage thought. Yet here she is witnessing a group of warriors who look like they will follow their commanding officer to any battlefield.

"Is there any question?" ask the first lance.

There is no question from the troops, only silent.

"Good. Let's get going, then."

He waves his spear, a signal to march.

Not even a step being taken by Sora, Amamiya pulls her partner right.

"Hey, I'm coming with you," she said.

"No way! You Just recovered," Sora immediately denies the battlemage request.

"Yes, and I'm healthy enough to fight. So, I'm coming with you," Amamiya persisted.

"Out of question! You stay here!" Sora tries to shake off the battlemage's grip from his armor, but it still stays.

"Come on, aren't you supposed to test me prowess, as the new member of this unit?"

"I already know your ability and capability, so I don't need to test you anymore. What you need to do now is to stay put. That's an ord-."

The first lance's words cut when he realizes that Amamiya has been staring with a smile at him. The battlemage visage is both alluring and menacing. As if she tries to remind her current superior in that military unit everything about her.

"Fine. You can come," said Sora halfheartedly, giving in to Amamiya's eerie way of persuasion.

Amamiya's menacing smile turned into a satisfied smile.

"Then, as your first order, keep an eye at Maximillian," pointing at the grinning bladesguard.

As that little problem is solved, First Lance Sora's unit restarts their march. As usual they march in double column formation, with the first lance leading in the front of the line. However, this time Sora distanced himself a bit far from the main line. Both Amamiya and Maximillian are tailing slightly behind him.

"What's wrong with him?" ask the battlemage.

"Aaah, he's just brooding," Maximillian answered.

"For what?"

"The mission. He, after all, is our commanding officer."

"I know that. But, he looks like something troubles him. Is there anything wrong here?"

"Yes. You."

Amamiya took aback with that answer.

"Me!"

Maximillian nods.

"I don't blame you for not knowing this. Sora, as our… First lance takes his responsibility very seriously. So seriously, to the point he practically carries all the burden of the entire squad alone. When in guard duty, he is always present, no matter if it's his turn or not. In the fight, he was always in the very front, leading the charge. When the horn signaling to pull back was sounded, he stayed and fought to make sure everyone reached safety first."

"Hmmm, as intriguing as that sound. I still don't understand why I'm here to make him… frown like that?" Amamiya pressed for further explanation.

"You do know that Sora is a very meticulous person, right?"

"Vaguely know that. I did notice during our training days that Sora can be very calculative to anything that happened around him."

"Well, when he planned something everything must be in place. Everything. Including the unpredictable elements. Not just to insure success but also, to make sure all us stay alive. Remember when I said he carried the burden of the entire squad. That also includes our life. You coming with us heavily increases that burden since he deeply cares for you. I don't think he will allow anything bad to happen to you more than what already happened during the siege."

Amamiya finally understands, and realizes why Sora told her to stay in the outpost before. Even though she feels guilty for her stubbornness, her resolve to stay by her partner's side is strong.

"Now I am here, he doesn't need to carry all of that alone," she said. "As I promised to stand by his side no matter what, I too, will share the same burden."

Maximillian laughed.

"I don't know if that will make him happy or not. Then again, Sora really needs to take it easy from his duty."

"It's already taking a toll of him, isn't it?" Amamiya draw conclusion from the bladesguard's concern tone.

"It is. Though, his attitude so far is what makes him get the respect of the troops.

"Really? Huh?"

"You were rightly assumed if not everyone in the unit was willing to follow someone as young as Sora. Some of my fellow bladesguard even join not out of admiration of his boldness but, to scrutinize him and replace him if the see him not fit to be a leader."

"Is that why you are here and why Sora wants me to keep an eye on you?"

"No, no. I'm here because of Captain Lydia's order."

"Aaand why?"

Maximillian feels a bit restless with Amamiya's continuous inquiry.

"Let's just say during the siege a worthy opponent showed up and I… lost my sword," he reluctantly answers that question. Because for bladesguard it's actually an embarrassing violation of their code to losing one sword.

"Still, why do I need to keep an eye on you?"

"Because he tends to charge out without order," this time Sora asked. "Why do you think he lost his sword in the first place?"

"Oh hush! It's not like you never disobey an order," the bladesguard hits back at Sora mean comment.

"Finished praising my good side and back poking at my past exploit, eh?" Sora looks toward his lady companion. "Amamiya, since you my assistant, we shared duty to take care this bladesguard. So, if he ever tries to charge out without order, especially MY order, use any means necessary to stop him. Bind him, electrocute him, burn him, I don't care. Do whatever you like."

Amamiya menacingly grins to the person who mentioned in the first lance order. In turns, Maximillian frowns. Feeling both upset and worried.

Not long, Sora's unit finally arrived at the bastion. There, Sergeant Desmon welcomes them.

"Ready to fight, boy?" he said in a fiery voice.

"Stop calling me that," Sora gives Lydia's letter to the Jaeger Sergeant. "And not really."

When the sergeant read the content of that letter, his eyes widened in disbelief.

"Is this a joke!?" he snapped.

"No, it isn't. it's Captain Lydia's order," says Sora, shrugging.

Desmon is clearly furious. His hand crushes the letter, which content the order for First Lance Sora to take over the leadership of this mission, Desmon's mission.

"Look, Sergeant. As much as you dislike it. I dislike it even more."

The furious Jaeger sergeant throws the letter to the ground and steps on it. He sighs.

"What have you done this time?" he asked, staring dagger to the first lance officer.

Sora looks at Amamiya who still stands with the rest of his men.

"A… favor to a friend."

Sergeant Desmon sighs again. Stomp the ground repeatedly to channel his anger.

"L-let just do this mission, finish it quickly so we can go our separate way," Sora tries to reason with the irritated sergeant.

"Fine! I don't see any other way around it, so why not," Desmon agreed, yet still in displeasure.

"So… since I'm in charge now, could you explain the situation and what we must do while we march to the designated spot?"

"I can explain that now."

"Oh?" Sora was intrigued with that statement. "There is change in the situation?"

"According to the scouts, there is a battleguard patrol still lingering on the path," explains Desmon. "I suggested waiting until it clears. Or you prefer to fight the way through all the way there."

"No. I trust your judgement in this matter. You've been in this longer than I am and have a lot more experience."

"That is true."

"Well, let us discuss the mission now?"

"Sure. This way, First Lance Sora," the Jaeger sergeant shows the way, albeit in a rather sarcastic manner.

As Sora leaves with Sergeant Desmon, his unit still stands there, in the middle of bastion.

"I think you are in charge now," says Maximillian candidly to Amamiya.

The battlemage tense up. She never expected it would be this soon for her to take command of the unit.

She awkwardly turns around, facing the soldiers. Then, she just stares at the rugged looking group of men in front of her.

"Tell them to dismiss and wait for next orders," Maximillian whispers to anxious battlemage.

"Di-dismiss and wait for further instruction," Amamiya yells the order in a somewhat wobbly voice.

The soldiers calmly leave the premise. After all of them are gone, Amamiya squats and releases a relieved sigh. Her heart beating so fast, her body shaking.

"Ah, it's not that bad," Maximillian commented.

"I don't expect that," Amamiya tucks her head between her knees. "How in the world Sora did this."

"I wonder as well. Come on, stand up," the bladesguard pulls Amamiya's hand to help her stand.

That little even put a shock on Amamiya. Somehow this makes her realize why Sora is not particularly like being a first lance officer.

"What do you mean by you do not expect this?" asks Maximillian. "You are the other ranking officer in the unit. You expected to take charge whenever our first lance is away."

"W-well, I expect more time to get prepared," says Amamiya, still a bit shaken from the experience.

Maximillian chuckles. "Most soldiers said that when they battle upon them."

"But, still…" the battlemage sigh. "Will someone else take charge when Sora is not around?"

"Nope," answer the bladesguard straightforwardly. "However, you could always ask for help from the others. Sora did that."

The conversation between the two of them attracts a certain knight who just happens to be walking past them.

"Hi, Maximillian," Sophia greeted.

"Sophia," Maximillian greets back at the lady knight.

The two bladesguard shake hands.

"Ready for the fight? Ah, what am I saying, of course you do," the female bladesguard take a jab to her fellow knight.

"That I am," Maximillian agrees with confidence. "By the way, you already know Amamiya, the battlemage over here, right?"

Amamiya's back is nudged by Maximillian. Forcing her to take a step forward toward bladesguard Sophia.

"N-nice to meet you," she awkwardly greets.

She feels out of place near the female bladesguard. Sophia stature towering over Amamiya. Her burly and full of scars body which was only covered by chest wrap and a pair of jerkins reminded Amamiya of the description of Amazoness, tribe of female warriors, that once she read in the past.

"Aa, yes. The battlemage who scorched the battlefield during that siege. It's nice to meet in person with you, too," Sopiha shakes Amamiya's hand. Making the poor battlemage flinch by squeezing her hand with such a strong grip.

"I know you arrived together with Captain Lydia and First Lance Sora, but I never saw you much after the siege."

"I got injured," Amamiya quickly pulled her hand away before it got crushed.

"Tree fell on top of you?" ask Sophia.

"Yes."

"It's fine. It happened to everyone these days. It happened to me before as well."

Sophia's joke somewhat infuriated Amamiya, but Maximillian cut into the conversation before she snapped.

"Speaking of injury, Sora just put in charge for today's mission."

"Seriously?" Sophia cannot believe what she just heard.

"Captain Lydia gave Sora more responsibility now," says Amamiya. "She said now Sora is her blade or something like that."

Sophia laughed. "It seems our knight captain finally had enough with that little hoplomachus attitude and wanted to put him in line. What has he done this time?"

Amamiya's mouth shut tight, unable to tell the real reason for that.

While his unit preparing for battle and his lady friend stuck in a weird predicament, Sora discussed the objective of today's mission with Sergeant Desmon in the command center. The command center is the only fancy name for a table placed under a wooden canopy near one of the watchtowers.

"Your unit will take point at the front. Me and the Jaegers will march in the back, protecting the carts for hauling those barrels," Desmon points at the map where their destination is located. "This cave is where the barrels are stored. We will set a defensive position around it while the workers load the barrels and take them back to the outpost."

"How many barrels will we take?" Sora asked.

"Everything," says the Jaeger sergeant frankly.

"And How many are there?" Sora asks again.

"Ten, twenty barrels maybe. I'm not sure the exact number."

"You're not sure!? How come you are not sure?"

"Spare me the judgmental attitude. Those barrels are inside the cave. I can't bring a torch in, since the thing inside them is flammable."

"So, the workers also go blind as well when they take the barrels out of the cave?"

"Pretty much. But, they just need to deal with it."

"Alright. So, when we depart?"

"Just before the sun fully sets, when its last light still can be seen on the horizon."

"Ugh. The loading process will be a lot more difficult without proper lighting then."

"I can help with that," Amamiya suddenly barged into the conversation.

"What are you doing here?" Sora a bit started when his rear officer suddenly showed up next to him. "Didn't I tell you to keep eyes on Maximillian."

"I did. He's here," Amamiya points at the bladesguard who she tasked to guard leans on one of the wooden canopy supporting beams.

"I can ask the same for what you are doing here, young lady. You are not supposed to be here," says Desmon, who shoos Amamiya away.

"I have as much right as Sora since I'm a rear officer," says the battlemage, persisting to stay.

The Jaeger Sergeant stares at Sora with one eyebrow raised up when hearing that statement. And Sora nonchalantly stares back at him.

"Doesn't matter. So, what did you say about your help?"

"I can help you with the lighting problem. I could use a flash orb spell to light the path," Amamiya gives her solution.

"Hm, that's a good idea," Sora agreed.

"Even so, I'm afraid that will give away our position to the boggards."

"Then, I also could use black smoke spell to use as a smokescreen," Amamiya gives another solution. "That should be enough cover, right?"

Both Sora and Desmon nod in agreement. The plan is sound.

"Very well. Let's do that. Now dismiss. I'll see you in a couple minutes."

With that end of discussion, the Jaeger sergeant left the command center

"Come, let's find food. I haven't eaten anything since this morning," says Sora, walking to the pantry.

"Yeesh, Sora! You should eat properly!" Amamiya protested while tagging along with her companion.

***

The sky is darkened. Not fully set, the sun is still peaking from the horizon. Under dusk dimmed light First Lance Sora's unit marched toward its destination. Behind them is a fleet of carts drawn by the workers escorted by Sergeant Desmon and his company of Jaegers. They try to march in as silent as possible. The path they travers on is full of danger. Not just battleguard patrols that worry the soldiers and the workers, but other malicious creatures that might be attracted by the noise and decided to attack. If that happens, the mission most likely will go south, many casualties will fall and the outpost might also fall before the reinforcements even send.

The caravan of carts moves swiftly, and finally reach the designated area when the darkness already covered the sky. Amamiya taps her staff to the ground and its cross-shaped spearhead glows. Become the only source of illumination.

"Is this the cave?" asked Sora, inspecting a hole on the side of the cliff.

"It is," said Desmon. He signals the workers to enter the cave.

The cave's entrance is only a little bit taller than a normal adult and as wide as two persons stand side by side.

As the first worker enters the cave, Amamiya, like picking an apple from its tree, extracts a ball of light from her glowing staff and throws it at the worker. It floats and follows him from behind as he goes deeper into the cave. Finally, the worker reaches a large chamber. Inside it, barrels that leak black goo stack on top one another.

"It's here! I found it!" he yelled.

His voice echoing throughout the chamber and traveling to the cave entrance, startle everybody on the outside. Promptly, a mass shushing is conducted. An unsettling silent hangs in the air for a moment. Sora and Desmon lock eyes at that moment, then they nod, confirming that everything is alright and ready to proceed to the next step.

"Take up the position! Begin the retrieving procedure," the Jaeger sergeant commanded.

"To position!" Sora also commands his unit into battle station.

The workers make two line from the carts into the cave. The Jaegers surround the lines and the carts, with arrow nocked to their bow. Ready to draw and shoot at moment notice. And finally, Sora puts the guards in his unit into two layers of shield wall with him, Amamiya, Maximillian and Sophia in one side and the rest of the bladesguards on the other.

Amamiya points her staff at the front and recites an incantation. A cloud of black smoke streams out of her staff and covers the entire path in front of Sora's line.

"How long will it stay there?" Sora asks while staring at the smoke cluster.

"A few minutes I think. I can conjure more if it starts to dissipate," Amamiya replied.

At that point, the retrieving and loading process is started. And it's continue as the night drags on. Even as the full moon appears in the blackened sky, a stream of barrels keeps rolling out of the cave and then loads to the carts. That night is very quiet. Quiet in peaceful way rather than in eerie. Although all the soldiers keep their vigilant and stay cautious, the peacefulness of the night makes them slightly dropping their guard. Even Amamiya slacking a little bit, only conjuring the smokescreen once in few minutes. In between those time, the battlemage wonders her eyes on the surrounding area. She fixated quiet a long time at Sophia who now dons full plate armor. The female battleguard's face partialy covered with sallet she wearing.

"Err, what?" ask Sophia when she notices Amamiya's fixated stares.

"N-no. it's nothing. Nothing," the battlemage immediately averts her eyes.

While the other soldiers relax a little, the guards in the shield wall still lock at their formation. Their shield still rose up and their spear pointed forward. This is because Sora has been walking back and forth behind them. The sound of spear butt cap tapping the rocky ground as the first lance walks behind them, gives the guards frightening motivation to stay in formation. They think their unit commander is inspecting them and will reprimand anyone who shows any sign of slacking. In truth, Sora is doing such things only to keep his anxiety at bay.

Most of the carts is filled at that point of the night. Sergeant Desmon ask the workers how many barrels that still inside the cave. One of them said there are a few more left. Everyone start to think that the mission will finish without any incident. A rare occurrence that the soldiers happily welcome.

As the last of the barrels loaded to the carts, the workers and the soldiers start noticing slight trembling on the ground. And when everyone is still confused about what is happening, a huge wooden stake flies out of the smokescreen and hits one of Sora's guards. Piercing through his shield and his body, pinning him to the ground. The gruesome death they just witness puts the other soldiers in high alert. They panickily back into formation. Jaegers draw their bow, bladesguards brandish their zweihander and the guards ready to receive the charge. A deafening roar breaks the silence of the night. What comes next is a lone battleguard charging out of the smokescreen with a tree club rising high on its hand.

"LOOSE!" Desmon yells the command to shoot.

And hail of arrows flies to the lone assailant.

Arrows pierce the battleguard neck and chest. Its furious charge soon falters and falls to its knee exactly in front of the tip of the guard's spears. Without delay, the shield wall moves forward. With rage in their heart the guards stab the wounded assailant, avenging the death of their fallen comrade. They keep stabbing even though their enemy is already dead.

"ENOUGH!" Sora yanks one of the guards and throws him to the back line. "BACK TO THE FORMATION!"

Sobering up, the guards reform to shield wall formation.

More sound of roar and grunting can be heard from beyond the smokescreen. Then, another battleguard charging in. This time it carries a torch. A score of battleguards assailant also charging out of the plume of smoke. Each carried a blazing torch made of burning trees.

This time the jaegers having a hard time to slow down the charge with their arrow shots. Amamiya readied to conjure fire spell, but Sora stops her. Reminding her that they are still surrounded by flammable barrels. Distraught but not out of ideas yet, the battlemage shot torrent of black smoke with her staff. The immense pressure from the smoke manage to hold enemy charge. Choking from thick heavy smoke, the battleguards are coughing and wheezing. They desperately try to grasp and whisk away the untouchable obstacle. Some even dropped their torch in confusion.

"That won't hold them for long," says Amamiya.

Sergeant Desmon looked at the workers. They had been standing still, stunned by the appearance of the enemies.

"WHAT ARE YOU FOOLS DOING!?" he yelled. "BACK TO WORK! THE FASTER YOU LOAD THOSE BARRELS, THE FASTER WE CAN LEAVE THIS DAMNED PLACE!"

The workers snapped back and continued their task, now at a faster pace.

The sergeant pulls one of his men closer to him.

"As soon as they finish, take the back line and escort the carts back to bastion."

"Yes, Ser!" says the jaeger.

As Amamiya predicted, her black smoke spell does not stop the battleguards for long. They proceed their charge, albeit at a slower speed.

"You have another idea?" ask Sora. "The one that does not involve throwing a fireball."

"I might know a spell, but you need to cover your eyes as soon as I disperse the smoke," Amamiya replied.

"What are you intending to do?"

"Trust me on this."

Amamiya's confident look convinces Sora to go with the idea and gives her a nod.

The battlemage taps her staff to the ground. A gust of strong wind suddenly appears. Immediately blows away the smokescreen, revealing the true harrowing numbers of the enemy.

"Cover your eyes!"

"Shining Light!"

As soon as that spell was invoked, a blinding flash burst out from the crystal on top of Amamiya's staff.

Dazed, disoriented and, of course, blinded, the battleguards stop charging. They punch the ground, flailing their arms and club erratically, for not knowing what happened. They scream in pain as their eyes are burned by the sudden explosion of light in the pitch blackness of night.

"CHARGE!"

The first lance's unit launches a counter attack, taking advantage from the weakened state of the immobilized enemies. Although, not everyone follows the charge. Some of the soldiers were still in daze because they failed to cover their eyes when the flash of light appeared.

Even though they outnumber, and outsize, Sora's unit manage to kill most of the attackers. Some of the battleguards try to fight back in their daze. But, all are still in faint. They all soon fall to the strong thrust of the spears, the heavy swing of the zweihanders and the deadly shot from the jaegers. Yet, it also all is in faint for the soldiers. When the head of the last of the battleguards rolls to the ground, another wave of attack approaches.

Amamiya again conjures shining light spells. And as before the battleguards are blinded and dazed, halting their charge.

Sora looks at the back line, the loading process is not finished yet.

"Amamiya, do you think you have a better spell than that light flashing?" says the first lance officer with a concerned tone.

"I have one, but watch your feet when I invoke it."

"What do yo- "

"Stone Spike!"

As the spell suggested, lines of spike made of stones and rocks burst from the ground. The horde of battleguards filled with painful screams as their feet are impaled by the stony spike and fettered in place. Like the battlemage warning some of the spikes also appear near Sora's unit. In fact, the first lance nearly had his foot impaled if he didn't urgently move it.

The soldiers reassume their attack. They fight hard. Even if they were fettered to the ground, the horned giants were still formidable opponents. Especially, this group of attackers is larger than the previous one they just fought. The men were also tired and the Jaegers nearly out of arrows. The situation is getting desperate.

Then, the sound of a horn came out. It was a signal to fall back. Sora and Amamiya look at the back line at the same time. The carts are loaded and already moved toward bastion. The knights look at each other then, nod.

"Pull back! Pull back!" Sora ordered.

The men back into shield wall formation. All of them were covered in blood and sweat.

As they move back, Amamiya again conjures the black smoke as cover for their movement.

The jaegers shoot the last of their arrows and then hastily leave the battlefield.

"Come on Sora, leave. Full retreat," says Desmon tries to pull the first lance out from the formation.

"If we don't hold a position here, the carts will be overrun," Sora persisted.

"Full. Retreat," the sergeant repeats his order.

"Hrrgh! Fine! Retreat! Retreat!"

With that order, first lance's unit broke formation and ran toward the bastion. The battleguards tailing close behind them.

"Is it me or are those boggards a lot angrier than before," Sora asked the jaeger sergeant who ran next to him.

"Can you blame them? We just stole their booze," the sergeant reveals the true nature of their mission.

"WHAT!?"

The knights and their caravan of carts keep running. Hastily trying to reach safety. However, they were all tired. Some fall behind and become prey to the marauding battleguards, torn to pieces. Others simply fall victim to the tree clubs that are being hurled at them, despite Amamiya's best effort to intercept any falling logs with her fire bolt spell.

A battleguard stops and falls on his knee. He has reached the breaking point. He can continue anymore and already surrender to his fate. When a battleguard nearly grabs him, Maximillian lunges toward the assailant, piercing its chest and killing the horned giant instantly. Both Sora and Sophia grab the crestfallen bladesguard and pass him to the other soldiers who carry him away.

"Sora, leave this to me," says Maximillian as he brandishes his greatsword toward the upcoming battleguards.

"Are you mad!? You can't handle all of them!"

Sora tries to pull Maximillian away only to be pushed away by the stubborn bladesguard.

"I've got this. Leave it to me," he states again.

"No, you are not! I forbid you to do this! That's an o- "

"Leave him be, Ser," Sophia interjects. "Let him buy us sometime."

Sora grunts angrily. Nothing can be done to change Maximillian's mind, or Sophia's.

"Just… come back when you finish," says him disgruntledly, then proceed to run.

After run through the night that feels like last forever, the bastion finally within vision. Sergeant Desmon with very little breath he has, blows the horn to signal their arrival. The sentries on the wall move hastily. Not just to welcome the incoming soldiers, but also the horde of bladesguards which still chasing the caravan. They man the polybolos and start shooting, giving the sorely needed protection for the running soldiers. As both groups draw arrows flying along with the polybolos massive bolts. The gate is open and ready to welcome, giving hope to the desperates the escaping group. They immediately rushing in, not carrying who is first. They only wish to finally away from the deadly grasp of their enemies. Of course Sora, Desmon, Amamiya along several bladesguard stay at of the gate to insure everyone are inside.

Finally, the last guard enters. However, at this point the situation is secured. All battlesguards are already been killed by the hail of arrows and bolts.

"Close the gate!" Sora gives the order.

As Sora turns around and about to enter, he hears someone yelling. He turns back around and in the distance he sees something he cannot believe. Maximillian runs toward him with five battleguards on his tail.

"HOLD THE GATE!" the bladesguard screams.

"By the- "

Sora runs to save his comrade.

Both Amamiya and Sophia frantically follow the first lance officer. Sergeant Desmon sees the full view of what happens from the parapet and order for polybolos operators to shoot. But, after three rounds, the polybolos stop shooting.

"Out of ammo, Ser!" one of the operators yelled.

The jaeger sergeant grunts, and then orders him to give a covering arrow shot. He himself grabs a bow and starts shooting. Even though well aware that the targets are out of range.

Maximillian cannot be happier when Sora's frowning face is within reach of his eyesight. Suddenly, his sight is replaced with a face full of dirt. He has been tripped and fallen. When he turns his back around, a clear view of a battleguard raising his giant club is shown before him.

As the battleguard about to pulverize the poor bladesguard, a spear pierces its belly. That spear, thrown by Sora, gives enough distraction for him and Sophia to help Maximillian to stands up. Amamiya shoots several fireballs in quick succestion, killing one of the battleguards. After that, they run back to the bastion. When the knights finally inside, the sentries start to close the gate. However, the battleguards crashing to the gate and try to pray It open. Sora, Amamiya, Maximillian and the rest of the bastion defender immediately falling in to push the gate. After a lot of effort, the gate is closed and the remaining chasers are dead.

"Mission accompilished," says Maximillian as he barred the gate.

Sora condescendingly stares at his comrade.

"You've got this, huh?" he asks.

"Err, it might be a little too much."

***

Amamiya's painting. She bowed down, grabbing to her knee guard. After all that happens, she is tired, but still tense. Her heart is still beating fast as adrenaline keep rushing in the bloodstream. When Sora tries to calm her down, she panickedly whisk her companion away.

"Wow, relax," Sora startled with such a reaction. "We've made it."

"We've… made it," Amamiya repeats Sora's last sentence.

And she keeps repeating it with a whisper-like sound. As the notion of that sentence begins to be conceived by her brain, a smile formed and then…

"WE'VE MADE IT!!" The battlemage screams in joy. Her face now is as bright as the moon.

"Yes, we did," says Sora, still confused about what is happening to her lady friend.

Yet, it becomes a lot more confusing when Amamiya embrace him and give him a kiss.