Battle Has Begun
An uncomfortable tension washed apon the land the rivaled countries united. Edelgard had recently placed herself on the oposite side of the maze like strutcure, causing everyone opposing to be on guard. By her side was her son, her right-hand man and a group of soldiers baracading her in defense. She was ordering her troops to their places.
Meanwhile, Claude was preparing his Wyvern to fly. The creature nussled it's head against Claude's shoulder in affection. A small smile grew on the older mans features as he returned the gesture by patting it's head. The Wyvern was clearly uneased by the sudden change in Claude's normal attitude; sensing his distress and tried to cheer him up.
" I'm alright, Fata." ( Prounced Faatah because idk the actual name for his Wvyern :) ) He soothed, adjusting the saddle one last time before climbing onto the white beauty. He held the harness tightly in his hands and pulled it back with ease. The Wyvern spread it wings and obliged his orders, raising them into the air to over look the entire site.
" Well, well! Look who desided to show their face." The distant echo of Edelgards voice could be heared all throughtout the stronghold. Claude held back his grimace.
" Says the person who hasn't shown their face to the public eye for almost 16 years." He raised his voice to her level, making sure he could be heard.
" Is that all you have to say!? Sarcastic remarks aren't going to get you anywhere in life." Edelgard sneered, her grip tightening on her relic. " Somethings never change with you, Claude."
" Can't say the same for you, however. You used to be kindhearted- welcoming! " He sighed, " But that's probably a stretch. And anyway it looks like my remarks have gotten me somewhere. If they hadn't I wouldn't be King of the Leicestor Alliance."
Edelgard audibly groaned in fustration, her eyes darkening in agrevation. " I've had enough!! CHARGE!!" She flicker her wrist as thousands of soldiers began their battle throughout the maze.
To the far left of Claude, Byleth signalled other soldiers to come fowards. She cleared her voice and cupped her hands around her mouth, making sure all soldiers could hear her call.
" REMEMBER TO STAY ON GUARD! ATTEMPT TO MOVE TOWARDS THE EMPRESS."
A mass collection of replies in agreement yelled back, begining their journey towards Edelgard.
Byleth quickly looked up to Claude, sending him a short nod.
" Be careful. I love you. "
Claude smiled, and tilted his head. " Don't be going soft on me, Teach." He gripped his bow in his left hand, securely arranging the arrows then looked back to Byleth. His expression visably softened at the pout she had on her face which made her look even cuter in Claude's eyes. " Alright, alright! I promise. You better be safe as well, Teach. I love you too." Soon after his remark, he began to fly above the grounds.
Byleth placed her hand to her unbeating heart and sighed. The never-ending dread seemingly growing worse. " Please be safe, Khalid, Sitri. "
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Aydin shuffled uncomfortably in the crimson metal that covered his body in protection. The sword in his grasp surprisingly matched his armor. The only part of it that seemed out of place was glowing green gem that stood out.
" Ms. Hresvelg?" Huburt utter quietly, as he looked to the Empress in concern.
" Oh I'm fine! Completely fine." She hissed, her knuckles turning white from the immense grip she had to her relic. " Aydin."
" Yes, Ma'am?" Aydin suddenly straightened his posture. As much as he'd hate to admit it, he was afraid of this side of his Mother. The last thing he wanted was to make her mood even worse.
" Go and find that Riegan girl, you have my permission."
" R-Right!" Not needing to be told twice, the boy turned on his heel and ventured into the maze.
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" Who in the right mind- " Swing. " Does that woman. " Swing. " Think. " Swing. "She is!? " Swing. Hilda groaned as she embedded her axe into a now lifeless Adestrian soldier.
" Hilda, I think you may be over doing it. " Marianne lowed her hand after healing a nearby defender.
" I'm not, Mari! I am just..." She wiped the splatter of blood off her forehead. " Overworked. "
" Oh for the sake of Serios, have you never worked a day in your damn life!?" A newly added voice chimed in from beside Marianne as she was forfilling her promise to accompany the shorter girl, Sitri, with her magic.
" Of course I have! But not as much as this. They keep on appearing out of nowhere!" Hilda groaned in annoyance, as she attacked yet another Adestrian Soldier.
With Marianne dragging a long sigh and Sitri rolling her eyes, the three brought their focus back to the fight they were engaged with.
While in the middle of casting a spell, an unexpected sight caught Sitri's eye. Her stomach filled with anxiety and confusion at it.
" Thun....der...." The begining of the spell started strong but grew weak as she dragged the last part on. This caused the spell to waver as her distraction directed the bolt in the oposite direction, heading straight for Hilda.
The blush-haired woman had no time to react as the bolt of electricity had already striked her critically.
" HILDA! " Marianne cried, rushing towards the falling woman. Fortunately before Hilda was struck, she had defeated the last remaining Archer in their area, meaning the surrounding environment was clear from danger.
Luckly, Marianne caught Hilda mid fall although it brought her down to the ground as well. She placed both of her hands on each side of Hilda's cheeks, hitting them gentley in an attempt to wake her from her unconcious state.
" Hilda! Hilda please wake up! " Her body raked with sobs as she began to shake her harder. Her mind couldn't handle the thought of Hilda being dead. She brought her ear to Hilda's mouth, trying to find a sign of her breathing. In other circumstances Marianne would be turning scarlet with her face this close to Hilda's, but the silence of her airway failing to make her breathe sent Marianne's heart to the floor.
" PLEASE!" Marianne slammed her hands against Hilda's chest trying to perform CPR, but her hands shook violently. If Hilda was here, she'd be in shock at how loud she screamed. If Hilda was here, she'd wipe away her tears. If Hilda was here... Hilda is here.
Marianne took in a shaky breath and started the CPR treatment again, this time she was more confident in what she was doing.
" One, two, three.....twenty-nine, thirty." Marianne hasitly moved from Hilda's chest and placed a hand under her chin. She parted Hilda's lips and brought her head down to meet them. As their lips touched, Marianne shuddered slightly by the cold temperature pulsating from them. Her eyes fluttered close naturally as she performed the two rescue breaths. Marianne copied this movement but with each second more tears clouded in her eyes and down her rosy cheeks.
" S-Sitri could you please ask for he-" She croaked and turned to Sitri but, to her horror, discovered she had disapeared. " S-Sitri!?"
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Grey clouds creeped their way across the summer sky, turning it ashe and dark. All evidence of the warm summer sun had vanished, making the air sharp and gloomy.
A cold chill ran down Sitri's spine but she couldn't tell if it were for the cold or the chilling sight up ahead. She had escaped from Marianne and Hilda's supervision, oblivious of the choas she had caused. Her main priority was to stop the everlasting brawl she had witnessed between her brother and the Empress' son.
Sitri drew out the hidden dagger from her boot as she quickened her paste to turn the corner. The scene made her blood turn cold. She was scared to death. Her brother was slashing at the Empress' son with all his strength. Not once in her life had she ever seen Khalid be this violent. His eyes were even darker than before as he screamed with every hit he made. The Empress' son was struggling to dodge every attack but Sitri could tell he was holding back.
" GIVE UP ALREADY, AYDIN!" Khalid screamed, his voice breaking from the distress of his yelling. The Almyran bandanna tightly secured on his head swaying violently with his every attack. The bulk of his armour restrained him from moving as quickly. His forehead was damp with sweat.
" K-Khalid! Stop! I don't want to hurt you. " Aydin backed away, holding his sword out for defense. His hands shook slightly as he looked at his 'friend' solemnly.
" That didn't stop you watching as they poked holes in my skin! DID IT!?"
What...?
" I couldn't do anything! They did the same to me!! Why do you think my hair is white!?" Aydin stood still, holding the sword more securely.
" Everyone believes it was head trauma that has made me the way I am. But it was YOU! YOU DID THIS TO ME."
An uncontrolable gasp made its way out of Sitri's throat, alerting the two boys of her presence. She brought her hands to her mouth but it was too late.
" Sitri I-" Khalid turned towards his sister but was cut off by a shocked yelp crawling from his throat. His hands darted to his adomin where the sharp outline of a sword could be seen. The sword was quickly removed from the wound, causing Khalid to drop in agony.
" BROTHER!" Sitri called out with a sob, reaching forwards but Aydin kicked his body to the side.
" I'm sorry I have to do this." The boy seemed full of genuine regret, but that completely passed through Sitri's mind. Her hands started to twitch and so did the rest of her body. A wave of rage ushered into her bones. Her left eye glowing a hint of green much like her right.
" YOU BASTARD!" She charged at full speed at Aydin, knocking him back a good 7 feet. Startled by the impact, he rolled on the cobblestone a few times before lying on his back, winded. He was quick on his feet and recovered from his shock. The boy breifly closed his eyes, inhailing a good amount of air. Sitri thought she was at an advantaged and charged at him once again.
At an unsettling rate, he dodged her attack, sending her flying into the wall behind his original position. Sitri groaned and pushed her dead weight off the wall. She attempted to rid of the dizziness she was feeling but it never went away. It was as if he was using a spell...
Aydin yelled as he rushed the sword through her stomach, the green gem shining brighter than ever. He removed the sword slightly more delicately than what he had done with Khalid. The taste of metalic grew in her throat as she gasped for air. The glow from her left eye returned to its natural cyan colour. Her dead weight made her legs buckle from beneath her, sending her to the floor.
The slight spit of rain grew heavier as Aydin stalked his way towards Sitri. The sudden outpour caused the blood off Aydin's, already crimson, armour to wash away into little droplets. Sitri's ashe brown hair was stained red from the blood pooling from her adomin.
" You will pay for this!" Her voice was harsh and brittle, as few tears of pain and discomfort escaped her eyes. The white button up shirt she had been wearing was now torn and splattered scarlet. Her vision was clouded with black dots that eventually grew bigger and forced her into unconsiousness.
Aydin sighed, his face showed sincerity and concern before he forced himself to walk away from the massacre.
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After sucessfully gathering the attention of near by Archers, Marianne removed her cape and hovered it over Hilda's now unconsious state as she waited for them to arrive. Thankfully, Marianne had successfully got Hilda to breathe again which put her at ease.
Hilda's head was rested on Marianne's lap as the cerlean haired girl ran her hands through Hilda's loose hair. She was using her other hand to keep the cape above Hilda's top body.
" Help is coming, hang in there." She whispered, her damp cheeks now being drowned with the droplets of rain instead of her tears. Although her mind had rested slightly at Hilda breathing again, her brain was still racing for thoughts on Sitri's whereabout and what had distracted her so much that her spell directed in the oposite direction.
Her worries were cut short when five medical mercenaries rushed to the compact corner her and Hilda were huddled in. After some convincing Marianne eventually let them take Hilda back to Garrag Mach for her to rest.
As Marianne was now alone with neither of her battle companions by her side, she made her way to attempt to find to Claude. Although Marianne could simply look for Sitri herself, it was more fitting at least one of her parents were aware of her disapearance.