Maiden Battle (part 4)

The enemy juggernauts caused the first major test for squadron W. Despite the armour they possessed, one critical hit from the enemy could shatter bones and cause internal bleeding. There was no room for complacency.

Sam knew this more than anyone. An E ranked mage stood no chance of surviving against his opponent alone. But this time it was different. He didn’t have to worry about being to sole target. The offence group still outnumbered the enemy juggernauts.

His current target swung her hairy arm at him, but an ally jabbed her hip, causing the enemy to jerk awkwardly and fluffing the blow. Sam took the opportunity to land a hook square in the face, putting the mage in a brief daze. It was only a delay tactic. Sam knew he didn’t have the means to finish the juggernaut off. She backed off, going back into formation.

The sun had completely set but the fireballs illuminated the battlefield in short bursts. It proved difficult as one moment Sam could see everything; the next and he relied on his instincts.

The only source of vision came from ally fireballs. The enemy had stopped firing for a while. They knew that the juggernauts were better equipped for a nocturnal battle.

The sky lit up again. A new barrage of fireballs crashed into the enemy. They were massive yet less numerous compared to before. Instead of hitting multiple targets, this only hit a few. But this several times more effective. They couldn’t shrug it off like before. It burnt though the fur of the enemy. They howled in pain as the flames seared into their flesh.

Sam was entranced by this new spark of hope. Maybe they could actually defeat the juggernauts. Maybe they didn’t need reinforcements in the end. Maybe holding out wasn’t the only win condition.

Careless thoughts.

A fist smashed into his backside. He tumbled a couple metres into his allies. He could taste the metallic taste of blood. It trickled onto the inside of his helmet.

He tried to get up, but a sharp pain from his back caused him to collapse once again. The defence the stealth bestials drained him. Now he was meant to win against those several ranks ahead of him? How foolish he was.

Sam’s senses dulled. The shouts surrounding Sam got drowned out by the frantic beating of his heart. It was the only thing that decided to function properly. He could make out was his allies moving around him, filling in the gap he left behind. Even then he wasn’t sure.

Then his body began to move. It wasn’t on his own accord though. Someone picked him up and wrapped Sam’s arm around his shoulders. That person groaned. Sam’s armour dug into him, but there was nothing he could do about it. It was strangely nostalgic.

‘Gin? That y-’ Sam coughed blood before he could finish.

‘Huh?’ the person replied. It wasn’t Gin, to Sam’s disappointment. ‘I’m just a messenger taking you over to the artillery group. You’ll be safe there. Hey! You still alive?’

A few coughs and heavy breathing confirmed his current condition: unresponsive but alive.

****

Michal pointed towards where all the torches should be placed. He didn’t understand the sudden need for them. Brim just said it was urgent then went off to the leader’s caravan, carrying Syndra on his back. A few moments later and some fire mages from his battalion joined the utility group.

‘That’s the last of the them,’ he said, as he guided the last fire elemental. ‘Oh. One last thing. Did Brim tell you anything? Why are you here?’

‘He didn’t tell us,’ the man replied, pausing to prepare the final torch. ‘However, I did hear from others that some stealth bestials have infiltrated us’

‘What?!’

‘Apparently our leader had already dealt with one. Think their target is Syndra’s battalion. Most of us were sent there.’

‘Is that why Brim was carrying Syndra? Did she get attacked?’

‘I believe so.’

‘I should check on them then. Good work on the torches,’ Michal praised.

‘Thank you, sir,’ the mage replied.

Michal did a few final checks before heading towards the caravan. His nerves made him conscious of his surroundings. He looked around, checking for shadows that didn’t belong to anything visible. It looked like there was no immediate danger.

As he reached the caravan, Michal saw Brim exiting. He had a stern expression but there was a hint of anger, as if he was annoyed at something.

‘What happened?’ Michal asked.

‘She’s completely out of it,’ Brim grumbled.

‘Syndra?’

‘Her stupid bird got killed. Now she’s completely out of it.’

‘That condescending tone probably didn’t help.’

‘I don’t care. We’ve been breached and she’s gone and begun moping! If we fail because of this, it’ll be my fault for not noticing earlier.’

‘Brim! Calm down. You’re rushing too much. You haven’t told anyone anything. We’re all confused because of it. Take your time. Make sure everyone is informed of the situation and give orders accordingly. Then go back to your battalion. You just left them without warning.’

‘You’re right,’ Brim said, sighing after calming down a bit. ‘Heh. Didn’t expect this level of calmness from you.’

‘I’ve been so paranoid of being completely useless this war, I thought being anxious would turn me into a burden instead. I’m a harmless creator of armour after all. I would like a way to fight though.’

‘I think I’ve calmed down now thanks to you. I think you should talk to Syndra though. See if you can do anything. I need to go to her battalion. That’s where they’ve attacked.’

‘Better get to it then.’

Brim headed towards Syndra’s battalion, while Michal entered the caravan. Inside was a distraught Syndra, who was clutching onto a tinoo. She was so fixated on the dead creature that she didn’t notice Michal enter the caravan.

‘Syndra?’ Michal called, but a quick glance was all he got. ‘Not going to talk, eh? No problem. I was brought up as a stone elemental, so I never got to know how the MBP brought up utility familiar types. I heard they bred the familiars along with the mages themselves. The familiars would then grow along side their partner. I’m sure you’ve developed a great bond with your tinoo. I might feel the same in your position.’

Syndra remained silent. It unnerved Michal. He tried sympathising with her, while Brim scolded her. Neither of the two could get to her. Michal didn’t know what else he could do, so he decided to give up for the time being.

He uncovered a slab of rock within the caravan. It was broad on one side and narrowed as you went along it. The end of it was still blunt. Michal secreted a foamy liquid and lathered it on the end, causing the rock to liquify. He then used his fingers to prune the end, sharpening it in the process.

‘What are you doing?’

The voice schocked Michal. He turned to see Syndra watching him through the corner of her eyes. Did his small monologue actually have some effect on her? Or were his actions that unusual that one would take notice?

‘Gin’s a manush, isn’t he?’ he commented.

‘So?’ She said, giving a muffled response. She gave the impression that she didn’t care yet was interested. Michal didn’t look too deeply into it and continued.

‘He has no strength himself. He doesn’t even care for how we view people relying on anything but their own strength. His INS and gauntlets are proof of that. So, I was thinking, “why not do the same?” I can’t do anything this battle since I have no means to fight the enemy. I can’t even do surveillance like you familiar types. I’m just deadweight. I was only useful in the build-up, but nothing more.’

‘Which leads you to whatever it is you’re doing,’ she heckled.

‘I’m just trying to recreate Gin’s weaponry. If I can, then I could learn how to fight, right? I plan on showing this to him and hopefully get him to train me.’

‘Huh.’

Michal did a few finishing touches to the stone ‘blade’. He put it down, letting it to dry. It still wasn’t sharp enough at the end, but he planned to rectify that later. He then looked at Syndra who was still cradling the tinoo, like a mother to her child. Michal felt disheartened by the sight, but he was glad she spoke, even if it was for a few words.

‘Alright. I’ll go check on how everyone’s holding out.’

‘Mm. OK.’

Still conscious of stealth bestials, Michal had eyes focused on the ground, looking for any anomalies. Sudden shouts startled him, diverting his gaze to the side they originated from. A small crowd had gathered over there.

As he came closer, someone broke off from the crowd. It was the same fire elemental he had seen setting the torches up. He had blood stains on his body but looked healthy enough.

‘What’s with the crowd?’ Michal queried.

‘We found a stealth bestial and dealt with it.’

‘Thought as much.’

In the centre was the charred remains of a mage. Parts of it disappeared and reappeared, as the enemy’s bodily functions spasmed in death. They had to thank Brim for his quick thinking. It provided a sense of relief for the utility group, knowing they were under his battalion’s protection.

The utility group didn’t expect to see death right in front of them, unless it was all over squadron W. Even Michal didn’t expect the current turn of events. He didn’t expect to lower his guard. He didn’t expect the ownerless shadow that broke off the crowd’s massive shadow. He didn’t expect claws pierce through his chest.