41 - Final Preparations

I managed to extract myself from Celine, and pulled her blanket over her. Katie and I left for our room, where we discussed her scouting trip.

"It looks like monsters are continuing to amass. Like they're all running from something. Nothing visible is staking territory in the land they're running from." she reported.

I mentally reached out to the Ancient to get his thoughts on it, then realized his consciousness was still blocked off. Instead, I reflected on what she said for myself. I didn't realize how dependent I had grown on the Ancient's knowledge and the ability to converse with him.

"So, it sounds like fending off the monsters won't be the end of it. We will likely have to deal with whatever is chasing them." I concluded.

"Do you think... it's the Adversary? The thing that terrified Celine?"

"That makes sense. If it's coming this way as Celine claims, then I don't know what else could drive monsters like that. Especially after centuries of established territories and hunting grounds."

*The Adversary... he has the ability to manipulate monsters' emotions. That is his non-possession skill, like how I can create barriers, and you can create barriers without requiring I possess you.* The Ancient finally said, releasing the barrier between our consciousness. I repeated it aloud for Katie.

"So, we'll have to fight another Soulblade. We can just use the same ritual as on the Boss, right?"

*That's the only countermeasure I have been able to create, all these years after our separation. If it doesn't work, I do not know what will.* The Ancient answered, and I repeated. I let him possess me, since he was the one with more answers. His cloak burst into existence, flowing in an imaginary wind.

"He also has the power to possess other Soulblades," the Ancient continued, "as the Innocent explained. Before I was able to seal his mortal form and throw him in the volcano to the south, he established a bond with the majority of the Blades here."

"The Angel says she's one of them."

"The few he didn't bond with are all currently in the sanctum of the Temple, except the Lost - the one bonded with Thomas - and myself. He will have control over any other blades, quite possibly with their abilities to possess and domineer their users. As the Innocent said, for those like her and the majority of the Soulblade wielders, the only thing they can do is run. If he gets too close, he won't be foolish enough to let them escape again."

"I'm glad we have the well, then," I added, my mouth continuing, "so we can organize an exodus of the Soulblade wielders, without having to worry about water for the rest."

"Hunting will be rough, too." Katie noted, "but it's too late to do anything about it tonight. We can explain it to the others in the morning. Is there anything else we need to know?"

"I have prepared to defend the Temple against him, should he ever have gained the power to come here, but he has had the same amount of time to stew in his rage, and anticipate my defenses. We must be cautious." 

With that, the Ancient dispossessed me, and we went to bed, continuing to talk about evacuation and defense plans late into the night.

I let Katie and Celine sleep in the next morning, as I crept out of the house to meet the remainder of our group. I consulted with Thomas, Jack, and Juliana about what the Ancient had revealed the night before. They agreed that they should prepare to evacuate, most likely heading North, with Tim, Cameron, Chiyo, and Katie, but were hesitant to leave the Temple before the wave of monsters crashed against our fortification. We would need all the manpower we could get defending the walls, particularly against some of the larger monsters Tim and Katie had observed.

The Soulblades were our most powerful weapons against the monsters, being both the sharpest and granting magical powers. I was hesitant to send most of them off before the monsters arrived, but the Ancient seemed convinced that them staying until the end of the fight would risk them entering the Adversary's range. And leaving with the stampede of monsters risked all the regular dangers of being near them. 

Ultimately, we decided that defending our home took priority over the potential vulnerability of the Soulblades being turned against us. With that decision made, we got to work on finishing our preparations. 

Jack focused on the wall, aiming to finish surrounding the temple. Katie and Tim ran short scouting missions, coming back with repeated updates on the monster wave. Silence - Chiyo - led everyone else who wasn't building the wall in combat drills. 

Hours passed like minutes. Minutes we took breaks and ate meals felt like hours. Greg called everyone together for dinner as the sun touched the treetops. The tension was palpable. Dinner usually accompanied by laughter and conversation was instead awkward silence. I observed it from the back of the line, slowly moving forward.

Katie landed gently next to me, having just returned from her last scouting mission of the day. Her golden crown and white feathered wings faded away from existence. "They're scared." She noted.

"Aren't you? This is the first large-scale battle any of you have participated in."

"Of course I am. But as their chiefess, I can't show it. So maybe as their chief, and as someone with otherworldly experience, you should do something about it."

I sighed, but agreed. The line shortened, and I reflected on what I could say to my party - my village - to calm their nerves. I couldn't promise them safety, or even their lives. We were entering battle with cornered animals. And soon after, a greater threat. I found myself at the front of the line, and distractedly took a bowl of stew from Greg. 

I followed Celine, and Katie followed me, finding the set of three open seats that the others had left for us. I kicked the table leg as I sat down, and it shook. But it stayed upright. That detail I had taken for granted came to mind. So I stood up, moved to the end of the pavilion opposite the cookware, knowing what I needed to say.

"Everyone, I would like your attention." I began. The sound of spoon on bowls stopped with my announcement. "I don't deserve your respect, and I shouldn't be your leader. But for some reason, you chose me to be your leader anyway. 

"I know that you are all staring down potential death tomorrow. I will be too, front and center. This is our home. It was not easy to build it up, and it will not be easy to protect. But when has anything been easy? Even in our last world? We will shake, our home might even be destroyed. But we will still stand. We will rebuild what we have."

Fifty people stared at me in silence. It wasn't the same silence it was before, although silence. I bowed my head and returned to my meal. Everyone watched me. I stared into my stew. 

Someone clapped. The silence broke, and conversation gradually rose up. Katie gave me a huge grin.