Pursuit

-----Yui's POV

This is not what I expected. Sure I did have an idea that we would have some difficulties, but to see Alice kill those guards back there... I've never seen her do something like that. It was cool for sure, but also quite scary just how merciless she was. But thanks to Alice, we're now back on the road, and now that we're out of the city, we can actually move a bit faster than we were in the city.

Yui: "You think we'll be getting chased?"

Alice: "I believe so."

Iris: "The king ordered those men to stop us. With Alice killing them, we've now severed our ties with Inasdale. We're basically criminals in the eyes of the king."

Mom's choice of words, "Severed, " makes me think back when Alice sliced that man's arm clean off. I know Kaede has seen her fight properly back when they fought that dragon together, but this was the first time for me. I'm still a bit shocked.

Alice: "We'll need to make our stops quick if we plan on making it out."

Yui: "What about the soldiers in the towns?"

Alice: "They'll likely try and stop us like the guards earlier."

Iris: "We'll have to fight our way through while stopping to pick up people along the way."

This is more intense than I originally thought. Maemont is quite a big place, so the amount of soldiers there would be easily in the hundreds. Thankfully though, the towns further away will have less and less soldiers, making our stop at Maemont the deciding factor whether our escape is a success or not.

Kaede: "They're here."

Iris: "What?"

Suddenly, Kaede cuts into the conversation, and her words were disturbing to say that least.

Kaede: "I'm in contact with Mai. She said that soldiers on horses are gaining on us."

Alice: "How many?"

Kaede: "...Roughly 30 or so."

Not a massive force, but it sure is enough to hinder our movement. Their plan must be to stop us just enough for a larger force to catch up, in other words; a strike force.

Iris: "Keep me updated, Kaede."

Kaede: "Mhmm."

Iris: "Alice. When we stop in Maemont, stick with me."

Alice: "Got it."

Iris: "And Kaede, please stay with Ellen."

Kaede: "Will do."

It didn't take too long before Maemont was in our sights. We could see many soldiers were organized at the front gate, with some even on the walls. The gate thankfully is still open, most likely because the information of our move has not reached Maemont yet.

The guards at the gate however immediately mobilized after spotting us approaching. With enemies in front of us, and enemies catching up from behind, this feels quite exhilarating.

Kaede: "Allow me."

Before mom could give out any orders, Kaede moved on her own, jumping out of the caravan while it's still moving before we could even reply. In a blink of an eye, she disappeared, but as we move our gazes back to the gate that we're approaching, I could see Kaede had already engaged them; if that's what you'd call it. From the looks of it, they all just seemed to drop to the ground one after another in only a matter of seconds.

Natalie: "Unbelievable."

Alice: "Felt like if I blinked, I would've missed it."

Iris: "Your Kaede sure is something, hehe."

Yui: "Yeah~"

Before long, we passed through the gate, as Kaede jumped back in, looking to have yet another ball of blood with her. I watch her sit down and begin drinking. I still can't believe how much she's actually drinking. Was I really not giving her enough all this time? Maybe she's just so used to starving herself that it became normal for her? But seeing her drink away like this is quite soothing in and of itself, as she can finally be open and not feeling like she has to hide anything. And looking around, Mom, Alice and Natalie all share the same feeling, watching Kaede with a little smile on their faces.

Iris: "I'm curious to know more about you, Kaede. But we need to move fast."

Kaede: "Mhmm."

Finishing drinking the blood, the caravans stop after we're now deep into Maemont. I could see many soldiers approaching the caravans as we all exit along with all of our soldiers in the other caravans.

Iris: "Everyone who seeks a better life! Join me!"

We're at the city center as many people were gathered, wondering what the commotion was. Looking back, I could see mom's soldiers fighting as groups of people began to jump into the caravans. Of course not everyone accepted and remained where they were, but I'd like to think we managed to get quite a fair amount.

Alice meanwhile also began to fight soldiers who were getting near mom, easily cutting them down almost like they were toddlers to her. Suddenly, I could hear a bang in the distance, and looking back, it seems that a fireball had struck one of the caravans as screams could be heard in the distance. I'm quite far away, but I could see the mage who was firing that magic. I'm not confident at this range if I can control it or not, but just as he was about to fire off another spell, I explode it in his hands.

Iris: "We leave, now!"

Kaede: "Wait, the soldiers on horses have arrived."

Iris: "Damn..."

If we leave now, we risk abandoning some of the caravans. We're in a bit of a bind now...

Kaede: "Wait, someone has intercepted them."

Iris: "What? Who?"

Before Kaede could answer, more screams could be heard from behind. Looking back, I could see soldiers flying off in the distance. They weren't mom's soldiers, so I can only imagine that those were the soldiers that were chasing us. So... This mysterious person is, on our side?

Kaede: "Let's leave. Mai said it's all clear."

Iris: "R-right. Everyone! Move!"

With mom's call, the caravans begin to move once more after we hop back in. I was worried about the caravan that got hit by that massive fireball, but it appears to still be moving.

Screams could still be heard as we move, leading me to think of who our savior is.

Iris: "Do you know who that is?"

Kaede: "Mai said it's someone familiar, but she forgot his name."

I can imagine Mai forgetting something like names. Someone who has lived for god knows how long, surely they've come to not care about names that much.

Alice: "Mages."

At Alice's call, I turn to face where she's looking. And on top of the wall above the exit gate, I could see 3 mages with more soldiers guarding the closed gate. I could feel the mage on the far left beginning to channel water magic with the 2 central mages channeling wind magic. I concentrate on the water mage, waiting for the right time as he build up more of his mana, and right when he casted it, I took control of his water magic, as it was still in his palm. I quickly form the magic into a large water blade, slicing it through his body, cutting him cleanly in half as the water strike continues to cut the other 2 mages in half in it's path.

Iris: "Ellen?"

Yui: "My turn, haha."

I wasn't just going to let Kaede and Alice shine. I have to show what I'm capable of as well. However we still need to deal with the closed gate as once again, we come to a halt before Kaede and Alice quickly exit the caravan.

They very quickly dispose of the guards before Kaede immediately forced the gate open with what looked to be just pure strength as the gate flung open with incredible force, seeming to have broken it in the process.

Iris: "Move!"

And with that, we continued to move as both Kaede and Alice made their way back inside. Kaede just like before, brought back with her a massive ball of blood. However, instead of drinking it, she pulled a couple old wine bottles from her bag before pouring the blood from the ball inside them, filling both the bottles quickly before sealing them. With the blood left over, she quickly gulps it down, not spilling a single drop of blood.

Yui: "You sure are hungry."

Kaede: "You have no idea."

Iris: "About that... Do you gain power from drinking blood?"

Kaede: "Yes."

Natalie: "That's why you were moving so fast~ I couldn't even keep track of your movements back there."

Kaede: "Sorry."

Natalie: "No no, It's amazing!"

Kaede: "Hah~"

Despite the praise Kaede got from Natalie, she heaves a sigh as if disappointed. I can more or less understand what she's thinking. "How is it amazing when I drink blood? I'm a monster!" But she probably doesn't want to start anything right now as she begins to put the wine bottles filled with blood into her bag.

Alice: "We'll most likely be having to deal with more of the king's army in the coming days."

Iris: "Mhmm. Be sure to get some rest now, Alice. I'll need you."

Alice: "Y-yes."

Iris: "We'll try and limit how long we break, but for the most part, we need to stay on the move."

I didn't think about that. It's true that the horses need rest of their own, not just the soldiers. But that'll just give the kingdom more time to catch up to us.

Kaede: "I'll stay awake until we leave Azalea."

Iris: "But that's still a long way to go."

Kaede: "It's okay. I'm not tired."

Natalie: "Do vampires not need sleep?"

Kaede: "Yes, but I generally only sleep maybe once a week. But I wouldn't be surprised that I could stay up for a whole month right now."

Natalie: "Is that because of, the blood?"

Kaede: "...Yeah."

Before, when Kaede first brought a blood ball back, everyone looked to be anxious, but now everyone seems more open about it. Kind of funny how quickly that happened, haha. I wouldn't be surprised if Natalie ends up cooking something with-

Yui: "Ah!"

Kaede: "Hmm?"

Yui: "I wonder if it's possible to implement blood into food?"

Iris: "Pfft. What made you think that?"

Yui: "Well... Kaede finds no enjoyment in eating food. We recently discovered that alcohol, particularly wine, is quite delicious for Kaede. And of course, blood as well."

Natalie: "Uhm... I'm not too sure on the blood part, but I think I can incorporate wine in some food?"

Kaede: "Really?!"

Her eyes light up at Natalie's words. I honestly didn't think about wine being used, but if Natalie says she can do it, then hopefully Kaede could maybe find some enjoyment in eating some food as well.