War of Flags X

Rachel hummed softly, her breath coming out in slow, measured exhales as she felt the subtle tremors running through her body. The illusion of calm, the shimmering veil she cast over their surroundings, was straining her already. Even though she had passed the first stage of the integration process, maintaining this level of magic for an extended time was draining.

Still, she kept it up, lips curling into a small smile. There was no choice in the matter—she was the only one here capable of using light magic on this scale. Arthur could wield it when he activated his first Gift, but for now, this task fell to her alone. It was crucial for their victory, and she accepted that responsibility with grace.

But there was something more to it this time, something that made her heart race with every flicker of magic she maintained. Arthur had asked her to do it.

'How strange,' she thought, a bemused smile playing on her lips. She had always been diligent, always willing to shoulder the burden for her team. But this—this was different. It wasn't just obligation, nor was it simple camaraderie. There was a deeper pull, something she hadn't fully grasped yet.

Even after accepting her feelings, after letting herself acknowledge the warmth that bloomed in her chest whenever she was around Arthur, there were still moments when she couldn't fully understand them. 

That was to be expected, she supposed.

When had everything changed? It wasn't immediate—not during their first year or even after their early battles. Perhaps the turning point had come during the first mid-terms, when they had faced the threat of demons together. Back then, she hadn't thought much of Arthur. He had been talented, yes, but not someone she had placed much importance on.

And yet, there had been that moment.

The reason she had given him her family's plaque, a symbol of the Creighton family's trust and power.

Even when Lucifer had been struck down, when the situation had seemed hopeless, Arthur had not wavered. He had stood firm, the only one willing to strike back against the demon, his determination unwavering as he faced down a creature that should have reduced them all to fear.

That courage had left a mark on her.

Rachel exhaled slowly, her fingers twitching slightly as she reinforced the illusion. It flickered for a moment before stabilizing again, and she gave a silent sigh of relief.

'How far we've come since then,' she mused.

But this was no time for reflection. There were still battles to fight, challenges ahead that required all of her focus. Her thoughts drifted back to Arthur, standing at the center of all this chaos, guiding them toward victory with the same steady resolve she had come to admire.

Rachel's smile widened as she felt the familiar pulse of Arthur's mana. It was unmistakable, like a soothing current that washed over her, steady and reassuring. She hadn't even realized how much she had been waiting for that presence until it was there again, grounding her.

"It's all right, you can let go now," came Arthur's calm voice as he appeared before her, seemingly out of nowhere.

She blinked, startled by how quietly and swiftly he had approached. He was so much stronger now. A little over a year ago, Rachel had been far above him in terms of power. Back then, she could have never imagined how much he would grow, how quickly he would surpass her.

But not once had she felt jealous.

Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. "Welcome back, Arthur!" she said warmly, the weight of the illusion finally slipping from her as she relaxed in his presence.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Cecilia and Seraphina exchanging surprised glances. It wasn't often that Rachel, usually so composed, would be so openly affectionate. That alone seemed to catch them off guard.

With a playful grin, Rachel stuck her tongue out at them, teasing, while her arms remained firmly wrapped around Arthur's neck.

Arthur, for his part, stood there slightly stiff but didn't push her away. His gaze flicked briefly toward the others, then softened as he gently patted Rachel's back. "I see you've been busy," he murmured, his tone warm.

"I was," Rachel replied, pulling back slightly to look up at him, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "But now that you're here, I can take a break, right?"

He chuckled, the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit. "Yeah, you've earned it."

Cecilia and Seraphina watched the interaction with varying degrees of amusement and perhaps a hint of something else—though neither of them spoke. Instead, Seraphina raised an eyebrow, her lips quirking into a faint smirk. "I didn't realize we were hugging Arthur now," she teased, crossing her arms.

Cecilia, ever the diplomat, gave a small laugh but said nothing, her red eyes lingering on Arthur for a moment longer than necessary.

Rachel finally let go, stepping back but still smiling. "You know, Seraphina," she began, still in a teasing tone, "there's plenty of Arthur to go around."

Seraphina's smirk deepened. "I'll keep that in mind."

Arthur sighed, running a hand through his hair, but there was a lightness to his expression. "We'll celebrate later," he said, bringing the focus back to the task at hand. "Right now, we have work to do."

Rachel's playful demeanor shifted, the seriousness of the situation coming back to the forefront of her mind. She nodded, but her smile didn't fade. "Of course. Let's finish this."

The brief moment of levity passed, but the warmth lingered as the group prepared to continue with their plan. They were stronger together, bound by more than just duty now. And though the path ahead was filled with danger, Rachel knew they would face it with the same resolve that had carried them through every battle so far.

For Arthur, for each other—they would keep moving forward.

Suddenly, Arthur stiffened, his head snapping to the side, eyes narrowing as he stared at something distant, something unseen.

"What happened?" Seraphina asked, her tone sharp, her instincts kicking in despite being unable to sense anything herself.

Even Rachel, who was usually keen to such shifts, furrowed her brow in confusion. She felt nothing, no mana fluctuations, no looming threat. But Arthur's gaze was far too focused to dismiss.

"Lucifer!" Arthur called out, his voice firm and urgent. "Take Ian and his unit with you—head south immediately! Serpentstone is attacking us!"

Lucifer, who had been standing at the edge of the group, nodded without hesitation. There was no need for explanation; Arthur's instincts had always proven reliable. With a quick glance at Ian, who moved with equal speed, Lucifer was already in motion, his verdant eyes gleaming with a mix of excitement and calculation. "Let's move," he said briskly.

Ian and his unit quickly gathered, following Lucifer as he led them south, their movements swift and precise.

Arthur turned back to Rachel, who looked up at him with a trace of concern in her eyes. "I have to go now," he said softly, his hand brushing against her arm as if to reassure her. "Rach, you need to rest. You've done more than enough."

Rachel opened her mouth to protest, but the look in Arthur's eyes stopped her. She knew when he was serious, and she trusted him implicitly. With a sigh, she nodded, stepping back to allow him the space to act.

"Cecilia, Sera, with me," Arthur commanded, his voice taking on that edge of authority that left no room for hesitation.

Cecilia was already by his side, her violet eyes cool but ready for action. Seraphina, though still processing the sudden shift, quickly fell into step, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.

"Let's go," Seraphina said, her eyes glinting with the fierce determination she was known for. "We've got work to do."

Arthur's gaze swept over them, his mind already racing ahead. "We need to intercept them before they reach the main base. If we engage them early, we can minimize damage and prevent them from realizing our numbers are split."

"Got it," Cecilia replied, her voice calm and measured. "We'll follow your lead."

Arthur glanced back one last time at Rachel, who stood at the edge of the clearing, watching them go with a tired but determined expression. He gave her a small nod, and she returned it, her lips curling into a faint smile despite her exhaustion.

As the three of them moved swiftly through the dense foliage, the weight of the situation settled over them. Serpentstone's attack had come earlier than anticipated, but they were ready. The advantage of knowing your enemy's moves was a gift, and Arthur wasn't going to let it go to waste.

The wind whipped through their hair as they moved in silence, the urgency palpable. The dense forest around them seemed to close in, the trees looming like silent watchers, but Arthur's focus remained razor-sharp. He could already sense the mana signatures of Serpentstone's advancing units—subtle but distinct.

"They're fast," Seraphina muttered under her breath, picking up on the faint traces of mana now that they were closing in. "But not fast enough."

Arthur nodded, his thoughts whirling. "We hit them hard and fast. Break their formation before they can even think about reaching our flag."

Cecilia's fingers tightened around her staff as she prepared herself for what was coming. "No room for mistakes."

And so, with every step, they prepared for battle, the tension building in the air like the calm before a storm.

They were ready.