Battle of Azalea

-----Kaede's POV

Holding Fleur like this in my arms is too much for my heart as I battle against my tears as we finally make it past all the dead bodies, heading out of the guild. There I saw everyone in our caravan stepping out as they all lock eyes on us.

Iris: "No!"

It was Iris who first ran up to us, coming straight to me as her eyes lock onto Fleur who's still showing no sign of life.

Kaede: "I tried..."

Faye: "My lady. Could we please take her? I don't want to leave her here in this place."

Iris: "...Yes, certainly. You guys can join us in this caravan."

Yui: "Kaede..."

I walk over back to the caravan with Faye. She helps me move Faye to the back of the caravan, laying her down on her back. My tears have stopped for now, but after seeing Fleur's face laying there like that, a few tears manage to fall onto her. I could feel Faye gently wrapping her arms around me from behind as I continue to look down at Fleur.

Faye: "It's not your fault."

No, it totally is. I could've easily ran ahead sooner, potentially making it before Fleur ended up like, this. I want to say that, but my words fail to come out as Faye continues to hold me.

Alice: "What's a monster doing here?"

Sicily: "Ah! He's friendly, don't worry!"

The commotion I can hear from outside does distract me for a moment as Faye also lets go of me before we both exit the caravan.

Kaede: "He won't hurt anyone unless I say so."

Alice: "What?"

Iris: "Okay. He'll come with us then. Alice?"

Alice: "Y-yes! Follow me."

I turn to Sicily, Lillian and Mell, bending down to Mell's height.

Kaede: "You guys stay back. I'll be back."

Mell: "What?"

Kaede: "There's bad guys chasing us. But I won't let them pass me, okay?"

Mell: "..."

Kaede: "I won't be far. And I'll only be gone for a little."

Mell: "Promise?"

Kaede: "I promise."

I hold her dearly in my arms for a few moments before breaking the hug and standing back up.

Kaede: "Make sure she's safe."

Sicily/Lillian: "Mhmm."

And with that, I turn around, heading back with Yui, Alice and Marcus. My heart is still throbbing at everything that has happened just now, but right now as we walk down along the caravans, my body is growing hotter and hotter by the second.

Yui: "I'm sorry."

Kaede: "Yes. I'll make them feel sorry for what they did."

Alice: "Your aura is pretty intense right now. Could you maybe save it until we get there?"

Kaede: "S-sorry."

I try and contain myself a little, but in doing so I feel like I'm about to burst even more. Before, I would've liked if the army never came and we could leave peacefully, but now... I want them to come.

We eventually met up with all the soldiers at the east gate of Azalea, just a little ways away from the furthest caravan.

Yui: "Luna?!"

Luna: "Ellen? Aren't you meant to be with your mom?"

But surprisingly, both Luna and her brother, Nick has also joined in, with both of them wearing armor.

Yui: "I could say the same for you."

Nick: "I told sis to stay back, but she insisted."

Alice: "You spoil her too much."

Nick: "Hehe, maybe."

Luna: "I have as much right to fight as my brother. So I'm staying."

Alice: "Hah~ You two giving me even more work. Okay, but when I say the word, we leave. Got it?"

Luna/Nick: "Understood!"

She looks to be having her hands full now. She's like an aunt trying to take control of all the kids. I for one though, will try and make her job easier as I start to head towards the front.

Yui: "Kaede?"

Kaede: "Stay back with Alice. I need to cool off."

Yui: "O-okay."

Sorry Yui, but I don't want to accidentally hurt you if the army does show up. Even now, my nails have already began to grow in anticipation, and soon enough, I make it to the front.

The soldiers didn't bat an eye as they all made room for me, probably due to my aura leaking all over the place. I fix my sights out to the dirt path we came on, waiting for the army to show, hoping they'll show.

Mai: "They're closing in fast."

Kaede: "Good."

Mai: "What?"

Kaede: "How far away?"

Mai: "Roughly 30 minutes? Maybe faster, they're moving a lot faster than usual."

I really hope that they get here in time. My heart is pounding at the thought of letting out my anger on them.

Kaede: "Come back and make sure Yui stays safe."

Mai: "Okay."

Time felt incredibly slow as I feel like I've been waiting hours for them to arrive, but after a painstakingly long wait, I could finally sense them. With this long of a wait, I would've thought Iris would call it here and we'd be on the move again, so maybe the horses need some time to rest? Whatever it is, thank you.

Soon I could begin to see the faint glow of torches in the distance, lighting up the armor of soldier's as they quickly make their way towards us. But my eyes naturally get drawn to the person at the back. Even though I can't quite see him, I can still feel his presence which confirms our hunch as the man before us, was non other than our headmaster; Lucien.

I desperately want to just charge straight there, but if I get too far away, I'd risk Yui's plan of hindering them. I need to make sure Yui is nearby in hopes to stop any magic from happening. And after another painful wait, the enemy was finally upon us as we take a more defensive stance, making sure not a single soldier gets past the gate.

I trust in everyone here to hold the soldiers back as I leap into the air, shrouding myself in the darkness before falling straight into the middle of army, sinking my nails straight through a soldier's armor as he collapses on the ground. In the next moment, I take my hand out of his chest before slashing up another soldier's chest, cutting through their armor like butter as I feel the blood pour down my arm. I'm not sure why everyone looks like they're frozen in place, but that doesn't stop me as I slash across another soldier's neck with my other arm before immediately doing the same to another with my other hand.

It was then that I finally realized that the blood that's squirting out of the soldier's necks are floating in the air, moving ever so slowly down to the ground, almost like the world is stuck in slow-motion. I concentrate on the blood in the air for a moment as it quickly forms into a long sword before immediately using it to slash across all the soldier's who're in front of me, cutting them cleanly in half. Seeing all the blood float up into the air fills me with satisfaction as I let a smile creep up on my face before immediately absorbing all that blood into my blood sword, changing it into a massive scythe.

It was then that the screams of everyone I had slaughtered just now can finally be heard, but that doesn't stop me. I could see a sword swing down on me, but just like the blood, it moved incredibly slow as I quickly slice off his arm before cutting him down like the rest as his screams slowly joined in with the rest. I can only imagine what these people put Fleur through, what screams she let out, showing her no mercy. I won't be fully satisfied until everyone is dead!

With my off-hand, I take control of the blood, forming countless blood spikes before impaling them into the soldiers. With fresh holes now in their bodies, I force their blood out of them, exploding their bodies in the process as blood rains down upon me. The blood sure does take it's time to come down, but as it finally come closer, I open my mouth as I let the blood splash on my tongue, letting the blood pool up in my mouth before swallowing. In the corner of my eye, I can see the look of all the soldiers, all terrified by me. Their delicious smell of fear only makes me smile more as I lock my eyes back on them.

Kaede: "Die."

-----Yui's POV

We've engaged the enemy, but I can't help but focus on what's happening further out there. It was faint, but I think I saw Kaede jump over there. I was worried at first, but after hearing the overwhelming amount of screams, my worries only grow.

Luna: "Ellen!"

I snap out of my daze as I realize that Luna had just blocked an attack right in front of me. I watch as she deflects the attack before making a counter attack of her own. However her attack was hindered by the armor, but it did manage to push him back at least.

Luna: "Come on! Get it together!"

Yui: "Y-yes!"

I focus my attention to any sign of magic being used by our enemy. But it seems like our plan is working as the enemy is strictly only using weapons to fight. I guess for now I should focus and get into the fight as well. With my mind now cleared up, I draw my rapier and join into the fight, side by side with Luna.