S1:CH8

'It is only during a storm that a tree knows how strong it is.'

---

"Make ready men!"

"Tighten those ropes!"

"Get to your stations!"

"Valkyries, on the walls, Straznicy on the castle, Town Watch in flanking position, Rangers on the west entrance!"

The shouts and screams of the 5 generals echoed throughout the bustling sounds of the castle grounds. Ballistas were set on the towers, the walls were reinforced, the sound of feet marching was the constant ambient sound of the area. Torches from the hands of soldiers lit the place, as more and more rich to middle class people evacuated to the castle. Some of the common folk were let in by the Red Regiment. But this would anger the other loyalist regiments.

"Close the gates!"

"Good luck General Pekka!"

The loud clanging of the Dwarven-made gate closed as the Black Regiment soon worked together to fortify the gate. The sounds of different soldiers came in as General Pekka, leading the Town Watch, moved along with his men, to scout the city and see where they will come from, as well as find a hiding spot where they could flank. As their horses would be set, and the gates about to close, the Blue-wearing regiment would set off on this dangerous journey in the dawn of night.

The horses were the last thing they heard until their ears could only hear silence. The faint gallows and breeze of the wind were ever present as they waited for the regiment's safe passage. However, there was only silence. The quiet eerie feeling that they were not expecting. Duke Adrien, general of the Black Valkyrie Regiment, armed his bow to break the silence. The sounds of his arrow sliding away from his quiver was so noticeable, that the other archers began to ready their arrows again. But even after this, all they heard, was silence.

Suddenly, faint cries of horses were heard from the distance. Then the clashing of swords followed. Then soon, a distant booming of a loud explosion. Then a war cry was heard, followed by a war chant.

"General Pekka is back!" A soldier from the Black Valkyrie said.

Trails of blood with injured soldiers came running down through the gates. Some horses were carrying 2 soldiers of which both were injured and had fresh wounds over their uniforms. Some could not be distinguished to be a Watcher as their clothes were covered in blood. It was in this instance where they knew what this force is capable of. But they are ready.

"Wait! There are others as well!"

General Pekka said as suddenly, more people appeared from the shadows of the marketplace. Civilians, some heavily injured, tried desperately to keep up with the soldiers. And as they got to the gate, they could not enter back in.

"Open the gates please!"

One soldier desperately tried to get in, but the plan had already been set. Their job was to scout the city, have a flanking spot, wait for the Clan to come in, then scoop them off. But they didn't anticipate what the Clan was capable of, and they did not anticipate where they were...

Because they were everywhere...

Ropes were put down from the walls to get the Town Watch to get in. Ailyn, through her prowess in running amidst obstacles, quickly jumped down to grab the soldiers and peasants to safety. However, time was running out, as the banging of drums started, signaling that they were moving closer again. Anno looked in horror as he saw the remaining hundreds of peasants were sitting ducks in front of the gates of the castle, waiting to be pounced upon by the Clan.

"We need to open the gates. If we don't, they'll kill every last one of them just to be sure that no Royal Family is hiding amongst the population." Kindred said to Alvin.

"So what's the plan sir?" Alvin asked as he held his saber, ready for anything. But instead of answering the question, Kindred thought deeply as he saw the citizens, then the arrows, then the walls...

Then the gate...

"Goner, remember your training with Emilia where you used your axe to cut the Stonewood Tree?" The Red General asked.

"Yes. What Goner do?" The orc responded.

"Can you do it with a fortified Iron gate?"

Goner looked at the gate and looked at the Dwarven steel lock of the gate. Dwarven steel was the hardest material known in the world. And it was sitting there, right in the gates of the Ravenian Royal Fortress.

Meanwhile, in the East Entrance, the elite rangers in green stood alert as they waited for the attack, but the chaos and screams from the front gate caught their attention. Although they did not even flinch or move their eyes away or break their guard even a single bit, they still detected it. General Andrew, locally known as Colonel Andrew was called by one of his soldiers, Lieutenant Harling.

"Col-"

"Let me check it out."

He quickly interrupted, then jumped down from the wall, to the trees, then to the ground.  And as he arrived on the front gates, he saw Goner, handling his axe, and positioning it to strike the lock, he saw this and said...

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Helping the peasants." Kindred quickly answered.

"This wasn't part of the plan."

His voice was stern and direct, which sent a clear signal to Kindred that doing this was treason and would harm the Royal Family and the civilians inside the castle.

"We have no choice. If we don't act now, they will die."

"So what? They are burdens and we risk killing the verified citizens evacuated in the castle if we open the gate. Think and finish the mission for Goddess' sake."

"What is happening?" Asked General Adrien as he jumped down from the gate using a rope. The Red General looked at him. Then looked at Goner. Adrien kept his guard up. He then put his hand on the handle. This was a sign that something was going on. Kindred looked and knew that there was no other choice. Suddenly, a cry was heard from the gate. It was a cry from a mother and her baby. The mother cried and said...

"Please! Just take the baby! It's fine if you leave me here but please save my daughter! I beg you!"

The 3 generals looked at each other. Kindred heard the mother, while the 2 saw General Pekka injured on top of the wall. They both want something. They all do not want more deaths. As the mother kept crying, and as more arrows flew, General Kindred spoke.

"Comrades, shield formation."

As quick as a javelin, the red soldiers turned around to face the 2 generals. "Goner." Kindred then said. And this made Goner use all his strength to prepare his swing. The Black Regiment then jumped towards them, and General Andrew then joined the Black soldiers in fighting the men who disobeyed their orders. The Town Watch was very hesitant on the matter, as they both want to rescue the civilians, but also wanted the castle to be safe. However, all they could do was watch as the battle ensued and Goner started to smash the lock with his axe.

The Black Regiment was very skilled. However, they were outnumbered.

As Goner made his final swing, the locks were now fully destroyed. yet his hands became sore. He collapsed to the ground as the doors finally opened. The children came running first, and soon came the men, the women, and the remaining elderly. The Town Watch scooped the others up, as arrows continued to rain down on them. 

"Damn it! The gates are broken! Abandon the walls! Protect the Royal Family!"

One by one, the Black Regiment went down from the walls to head to the castle. As more arrows came, the Town Watch was forced to climb the walls and take the roles of archers. While the Red Blood Regiment was busy letting the citizens inside the royal fortress.

Soon, the enemies arrived. Armed with clubs, swords, axes, bows, and all weapons alike. They were a force to be reckoned with.

And feared...

The gates were now about to be closed, but as they looked up, they saw a glowing ball of light in the middle of the dark night. Soon, it was heading towards them. Kindred held on to a link near a wall, then braced for impact. As some of his men trembled by the impact of the large stone,.

The gates violently opened, sending some of the red soldiers to fly away unconciously. They then made a shield wall to prevent the enemies from getting in, while the enemies waited at the front gate. From the crowd of shapeshifters, came a lady who was wearing a complete battle outfit. Beside her was an 8 foot fully armored warrior. His face was fully covered by a large steel helm, and he had a large battle axe that towered over 9 feet.

Alvin then magically formed his saber into a bow and walked back from the line. He knew that this battle was not going to be easy. General Kindred then went to the front lines and walked forward to talk to Crescentia about the situation. The general spoke...

"Greetings my love. What brings you to my-"

"You're wasting your time. We have you surrounded. Surrender now and let us have the Royal Family." The Raven Warrior interrupted.

"Oh. Why the brash attitude. Certainly we had history, why not..."

"Kindred..."

He looked at her eyes. It was genuine. He then looked back and saw Morticia walking backwards to help the other peasants escape to the castle. He sighed, and then said...

"Crescentia. I can't let you do that. I won't risk the lives of our people just for your vengeance. Your people suffered, but my people will suffer now through you."

He walked forwards to Crescentia, who was standing at the end of the bridge. "You don't have to do this. I can help you." He said.

Crescentia looked at him, then her comrades. As he saw the peasants fall back, then the Town Regiment, and as Morticia followed him, she saw the insignia as a necklace. As she saw the white haired girl, she then saw some of the royal officers from the Town Watch hold their arrows on her people. She then remembered the rain of arrows during her childhood, the assaults of the Royal Army on her people, the slaughter of her village.

The Genocide of the Clan of Aeryth...

"Tell that to the thousands of families those nobles killed."

She then turned around, then ordered her army to attck. Her lieutenant then walked towards Kindred and swinged his axe, Kindred dodged it just slightly. The power from this creature was immense as he struggled to keep his feet on the ground. But as he was about to keep his balance, the brute then kicked him with so much power, that he flew into the air, and into his comrades. He was almost unconscious, but he was very weak now. As he tried to get up, he just could not. 

"Kindred! Are you ok?"

Morticia quickly went to him. And as he tried to get up, a horn was heard, signalling the attack on the Royal Fort.

The battle was tense. The Town Watch rained their arrows on the enemies. Thousands of enemy soldiers then turned to different creatures. Some were harmless such as dogs, and cats, while others transformed into bigger problems such as elephants, lions, and tigers. As more of the enemies swarmed, their main focus was the opened gate. The Regiment made their stand, to form a shield wall at the end of the bridge

As they took control of the bridge, the same cannot be said on the town watch. Crescentia flew towards the walls and to the towers, where she used her squad of eagles and ravens to take assault on the walls and kill the archers standing positions on them. One by one, The Town Watch members got killed by the arrows of the Raven Warrior. And as the battle ensued, less arrows got to hold off the enemies from closing the moat, which meant that there would now be a possible new entrance to attack the regiments.

"We're losing control." Alvin told Kindred. "What now sir?"

Kindred held the line, but was thinking very carefully, he knew that if they were to fall back, the other regiments would follow, the people would die, and the Rangers would be surrounded. Suddenly, Kindred started to think.

Where were the Rangers?

Meanwhile, at the Western Entrance, Andrew and his rangers guarded it with full alert. From the trees, they stalked the walls as the gate protected them. They soon saw the thousands of enemies marching in front of them, waiting for them, or waiting for something else to happen. His men suddenly sensed a presence of a hostile operator, and his rangers fired their arrows to hit 2 flying enemies. But little did they know, that it was just a diversion.

A loud thumb was heard behind them. It was Crescentia. The rangers took out their weapons and pointed it at her.

"Pretty stupid to land here bird lady eh?" Harling told her with a sneer. But she was calm, and knew what she was doing. She looked at Andrew who was looking at something else.

The Black Regiment retreating...

"Beautiful isn't it?" Crescentia said, shrugging at the Black soldiers abandoning the people.

Andrew thought deeply. Is this the country he was fighting for? A country fighting for an elite rule that abandons their people in a time of crisis? If this was his way of life, and his way of duty, then it's not a way worth dying for. Crescentia continued speaking...

"For a millenia, that Royal Family has never stood for it's people, never will. Blood is nothing but a link to a family. But they never seem to understand the true protector of their seats. The people."

"What's your game raven?" Andrew sternly said. His men, having their bows ready amidst the trees, while some on the towers. She then replied...

"Oh! It's not a game actually. I'm suggesting a better way of helping the people. That family has poisoned this land for generations. They killed mine, years ago. It's only a matter of time before they kill yours."

Andrew looked at the mother and her baby finally running up towards the castle, but the guards were not letting anybody in anymore. It was the last straw for the ranger. He had seen enough. A Monarchy that never stood for its people, never went outside to face them, never even tried to protect them.

A Monarchy against the people...

As he gripped his hands, and saw the mother falling down on the ground with her baby, as arrows then flew close to her, she went to a curl to protect her baby. As the green general closed his eyes, he said...

"Men, plans have changed."

"GENERAL! THE WESTERN ENTRANCE HAS FALLEN!"

A shout from Sir Niko was heard as swarms of enemies entered the Western Gate. As Kindred turned around, he saw the Royal Ranger Corp let the enemies in. "Fall Back! Fall Back!" He then said the rest of the regiments slowly backed out of the fight. Goner began to close the gates, but was overwhelmed with the amount of enemies pushing against it. Suddenly, Jonathan ran towards the enemies and sliced their heads of the enemies at the bridge. He stood his ground in the middle of it and fought everyone who dared to cross his path. This shifted the army's focus to Jonathan. But Goner hesitated to close the gate.

"Jonathan no!" Kindred screamed. But Jonathan told them to leave him and finish the mission. Goner looked at Kindred. Alvin did the same. Pretty soon, the rest looked at him. KIndred was cornered, there was nothing he could do. The armies had already swarmed the western gate, if they were to stay, they would just die, and would only be encircled, creating more deaths.

Kindred sighed. He looked at Goner, then to Jonathan. As the armies moved along, the bearded soldier said...

"So long comrade."

As they ran off with the gates closed, they got to their feet and fought the swarm of soldiers heading towards the castle, Kindred pulled the scared mother up to escort her to the gates. The guards were blocking the entrance. They made way, but pretty soon sneered at the general as the Black Valkyrie Regiment called Kindred a traitor for opening the gates. From the crowd, Emilia was there trying to heal the sick and wounded. And as the Black Regiment would come, General Adrien would then call him.

"Traitor! You would bargain a single soul for a thousand generations!"

The leader of the Black Regiment said. But Kindred has seen enough deaths for tonight. He will not see another. "Can you not hear me lowlife immigrant?"

As Goner fell down to the floor due to fatigue, Kindred stopped, then looked at him. He has not heard that insult in a long time, and it reminded him of his first time as a royal guard. Which reminded him of something - that in the eyes of the monarchy, he will, and will always will be a peasant. The guards were then alerted by more enemies coming from the east entrance. The main entrance was still sealed however, as the armies piled into a single shield wall to defend the last line. However, they heard something. It was the baby that the mother was holding. This made Emilia stop her healing and head off to fetch it. She push the other guards away to get to it, and quickly snatch the baby to bring it back. But then...

"Emilia!"

She heard a voice, then came a weakness on her chest. It was as if she couldn't speak, or couldn't breathe, then came a sharp pain. As she looked down, she saw an arrow sink deep beneath her chest. Her eyes then widened, searching for the arrow to see if it hit the baby. But it didn't. And as she smiled, she became weaker and weaker. The guards could not move anymore, but the reds pulled Emilia back behind the lines. And as she collapsed to the floor, her tears came falling down from her cheek as Tiffany tried to heal her. But it was all too late as the arrow had hit her heart.

"Emilia. No no no. Stay with us Emilia. Just stay with us." Kindred said. But Emilia was smiling a bit as her tears continued to fall.

"D-did.... I pass teacher?...." She said, as blood began to flow out of her mouth. "I did it....right? I-I....I served....the people..... with m-my life..." She finished.

Tiffany soon cried as she did her best to stop the bleeding and heal her heart. But all it did was slow down the time for Emilia. there was no turning back. As she let go, the baby fell within Kindred's arms. And as Goner woke up, she smiled saying.

"Thank... y-you G-Goner. T-thank you.... comrades..."

And as her eyes began to close, with her breath began to stop, Goner's eyes were filled with sadness and grief. Loss, as he looked at her eyes. He stood up a bit and saw her white hair and elven features. As he looked downwards, he then saw the arrow on her chess. And as he looked at it, slowly but surely, his face of loss and grief....

Turned into rage...

"Milady! Our forces are stuck in the main entrance!"

A soldier quickly shouted as the gate was still intact. But as she was about to make a move, The ground rumbled. As they looked at the castle entrance, a large orc jumped above the line of defense and slammed his axe into an unlucky insurgent. As he swung his axe ferociously, several enemies came flying away. The kingdom was pushing back, and the clan was losing men. His roars echoed thoughout the Castle grounds, as some of the Straznicy Guards even started to become scared.

"YOU KILL EMILIA! GONER KILL YOU!" The orc said.

In order to win this, she needed to open the main gate. As she shifted to her raven form, she saw what was on the other side of the entrance - it was Jonathan, still fending off the enemies while standing in a mountain of Aryth corpses. Suddenly, the army stopped. With a surprised, and wounded Jonathan covered in blood, he breathed heavily as the Raven landed in front of him. As he tried his desperate swing, she easily dodged it to move towards the her lieutenant. And with this, she said...

"Finish him."

Jonathan looked at the lumbering man, and as the brute tried to swing for a final blow, Jonathan then gripped his axe strongly and said "I will die protecting the people of this kingdom." 

The finishing blow, then was interrupted by Jonathan's block. It was so strong that it surprised the brute and made him fall back a bit. Although it would not speak, it then moved again to swing his axe on Jonathan. But Jonathan would parry the axe and moved forward to strike his legs. The brute would stumble a bit but it would then try to swing his axe ferociously again, which would hit Jonathan's cheek. He would stumble back as he would get kicked by the brute. But as he would stand up, the brute was too quick and sunk his axe on Jonathan's back. The pain was immeasurable, as Jonathan used his final strength, the brute prepared his final blow.

But as he swung, Jonathan swung back.

The red lieutenant swung his axe upward and sliced the head of the brute's axe, completely destroying its weapon. With his last breaths, he would then glare at the brute, who was stunned, then would grip its arms. Then let out a deep and loud roar.

He picked up what was left of his axe - a wooden stick with a sharp edge, and plunged it right into jonathan's chest. He then lifted him up using the stick like a barbecue, while Jonathan groaned while holding the stick. He then said to his mind.

"My kids, my family.... Ragnar. I love you." Then as he looked at the brute, he then said with a growl...

"I'll see you in hell, bastard."

With a loud roar, he grabbed his dagger, and plunged it deep into the brute's chest, which made it scream and throw Jonathan into the moat. And as that problem would be dealt with, the gates were now open.

However, this gave time for the regiments to evacuate the civilians to a secret tunnel beside the castle. And as the last families would move away from the castle, into the lake, to safety, there were still a couple who were still waiting. Goner was still fighting, but the new army from the main gate then approached.

This forced Goner to retreat and Alvin to run to pull him out of the battle. But as Alvin saw Crescentia arriving, he saw her loading her bow, aiming it at Goner's head, and letting it go. But as it was about to hit Goner, something blocked the orc's vision. As it fell down, he realized that Alvin was hit in the chest by Crescentia's arrow. As Alvin would yell in pain, he would then see the darkness in his skin. He then realized what was happening. He then said...

"Goner, we're now retreating. General's orders."

"Goner never retreat!" the orc replied

"Listen!"

The half demon said with his voice changing to a demonic tone midway. And as he started to close his eyes and focus, Goner ran back. It was time for him to do it. The problem he has been dealing with, the curse he has been avoiding...

His black state...

---

"Incoming!"

The Clan of Aeryth moved away as a large wave of flames engulfed the enemies. With their shields ready, they did all they can to defend themselves. But they could not do anything. He was a one man army against different beasts of all sizes. Every unit that passed Jonathan's bridge were burned to the ground, but as he released all his anger, and his wound healed, his energy ran out. But as he looked at his surroundings, he saw mountains of burned bodies in the kingdom grounds. He was becoming weak, so he ran towards Kindred and the rest, as another wave was approaching.

As Queen Dah'di heard the next horn, it signalled her move to run away. And as the last line of defense was becoming thinner and thinner, it signalled her time to move. She followed the Red Blood Regiment as instead of the peasant way, they quickly went to the back.

"My queen, we have to jump."

Kindred said. While looking down, she saw large splashes of waves. And as dawn arrived, they knew they had no time. So this was when Kindred stopped talking and just jumped to prove his point.