Exalted: Age of Sorrows (IC)

[Luminesa]

The Siege of Lethlinburg

"Loose!"

Volleys of arrows and bolts cascaded from the walls and tower battlements. Crashing into the vanguard forces of the Northmen invaders. Bodies peppered with shafts began to dot the snow white fields. Ruining their virgin snow coverage with churned red mush. The Bull's forces did not cease their bombardment all the while. Crashing among the city's Easterly districts, smacking the walls, and impacting towers. The bucket brigades, aided by water aspect Exalted, were kept in a constant frenzy to put out fires before they could get out of hand. But it was chaotic battle. One fraught with danger as ever more ordinance hurled by the enemy's siege engines came crashing down. Blowing through house walls, collapsing store fronts, and puncturing rooftops.

"Loose!"

More volleys as the forces of the Empire arrayed along the walls unleashed deadly torrents of fire. But it was not just arrows. The powers of the Imperial Exalted further frustrated the enemy's assault. Both Mahajan and Ledaal reaping a fearsome tally among the foe. But yet they came still. The momentum of the enemy assault gaining tempo as another wave stormed from their trenches. The trenches themselves crawling every closer as enemy troops dug closer to the walls. Wooden barricades to block arrow and bolt fire moving up in accordance. Shielding their diggers. The first wave had probed the defense. The second would be to see how far they could press and hopefully gain some beach head in the defenses. Thousands of enemy troops stormed forth. Joined by yet more Trolls and beasts.

But it was below the Eastern gate, in the outer palisade defensive ring, that would see the greatest violence. As the vanguard of the enemy crashed into the ordered phalanx of the Elledanosi! Spear punctured flesh, grinded across bone, or lacerated arteries. Axes and maces chopped. Swords cleaved. The enemy ranks temporarily withered against the wall of spears from the Elledanosi. Then a dull roar as the nearest trolls arrives. Bashing aside several spears with their tough shields the trolls were among the Elledanosi! Swinging their vile clubs, axes, and scimitars too big for human hands! Roaring and snarling their inhuman war cries as they smelled the spilled vitality of man about them!

Up above Zara looked down at the carnage and frowned. "Concentrate fire on the trolls!" she shouted and archers, relayed the order by messengers and officers sounding off, began to adjust their aim on the trolls. One went down, but after no more than sixty-eight arrows protruded from its tough hide between its oversized ramshackle armor plates. Crashing among the fallen human bodies of both sides. But the enemy was emboldened by the presence of their inhuman allies. The second wave joining the first in their fearsome berserker assault of the Palisade and walls.

Shan Yui - Dam That River

The enemy soldiers advanced, despite the casualties that Ledaal and Mahajan had dealt. They were ruthless, marching over drowned and burned bodies alike. Trolls marched like shifting towers, made of skin like stone and with rage like a mudslide. Ledaal's Exalted kept busy with putting-out fires, but some found time to drown a dozen or so enemy soldiers in the midst of the firefight. Far below, swords and spears continued to clash, and arrows landed mostly among the infantry. Every now and then, they pierced a troll or two, but the trolls were enormous, and needed far more force to be stopped. Some trolls even managed to pluck the arrows out of their arms and necks like stray splinters, much to the dismay of watching archers.

Shan Yui's sword remained sharp, however, as he rushed along the walls to give continual orders. "Those tenements below, put out the flames!" he shouted to the Exalted. They did not scorn his orders, even as he was a Patrician. His voice was as well-honed as his blade, and every word landed like a slash. "Keep firing! Take as many soldiers as you can! Focus!" he called to the archers. He ran to one edge and shouted to another general below. "AROUND THE SIDES! SURROUND THEM!" Ledaal's army began to focus on cutting soldiers around the exterior of the formation, moving to the sides and hoping to surround them. Arrows continues to whisk through the air, making deadly music as archers plucked their strings and released death into the Bull's Army.

The Ledaal general focused much on the trolls trying to get through the walls, as they presented the biggest physical and strategic threat. He had killed one troll successfully, but the effort was painful, as their necks were thick and their muscles were stiff. He found another one coming toward the wall, and he coordinated with one of the Exalted standing nearby. "ICE! ICE TOWARD THE FACE!" he screamed. The shocked man aimed toward the troll, and the orb of water forming in his hand turned to ice as it hit the troll's face. Frostbite might not kill it immediately, but blindness and frostbite combined made for a good deterrent. With opportunity presenting itself, the Ledaal general charged his sword into the side of the neck, cleaving as hard as he could. If he had an axe, perhaps the job would be easier. Yet he did not need to cut all the way through the neck, just to the jugular. Another troll's blood spurted along the wall, and the horrific visage stumbled back and collapsed in the snow, struggling to breathe for a few minutes longer.

"AXE! I NEED AN AXE!"

A willing soldier found one, though not one of the troll's own weapons, as those were far too big. Shan Yui accepted it, and kept his sword at his side. The next troll that managed to find its way to the wall felt the borrowed broad-axe's blade fall into its eye and finding a way into the skull. While Shan Yui was not as well-trained with a broad-axe, the monster's own speed and rage kept it from slowing itself to avoid being gashed, and as he strained himself to remove the weapon, he almost lost it as the troll fell back and bleed from its face. The general panted, showing some signs of wear, but he did not let himself lose composure for long. He was used to harsh combat. Every downed troll was a net-positive for his men.

Daana Mahajan - Fix Me

The firefight was currently succeeding for Lethlinberg, but Daana and his men made sure that smoke continued to fill the air. Every time a catapult exploded from flames, the men cheered and kept count of how many they had destroyed. Now they had gotten four completely destroyed, and two that were severely damaged. Their own infantry was bathing in the blood of the Bull's army below, though they had suffered themselves as they followed Ledaal along the ridges. Daana grit his teeth at the losses below, but he could not mourn those lost. Mahajan was used to fighting with plenty of casualties, and the general had long suspected that Gregor actually enjoyed being the hated underdog. "One of these days, being the heel is going to get him a beating, and not just a verbal slap from Lady Vai," he groaned for a second.

"GRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!"

He was then promptly awakened from his thoughts by the scream of a raging troll. It bulldozed through a crowd toward him, and he held out his hand. A soldier screamed for Daana to move, but the general held his ground, still as a statue and grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

"COME AND GET IT, BIG BOY!"

An enormous fireball slammed the creature's face, spreading promptly over its body as it had no time to react to such a sudden fireball. The smell of burning troll-flesh was enough to make even an experienced butcher's eyes water, but Daana grinned even through his own disgust. The troll certainly made for a large pyre, and as he crumpled and fell after perhaps a good fifteen minutes, the men once again whooped and hollered their delight. He could not attack every such troll in the same fashion, but he did order them to aim as Shan Yui did-for the jugular.

The slash had to be fast and heavy, and it was not always successful. The trolls that did not die from their wounds tried to slam some of the soldiers off the walls, and at least a handful did fall to their deaths with the smack of a troll's enormous palm. Seeing the damage done, then Daana stepped into action and burned him down, pushing him away from the wall and causing him to land on some enemy soldiers below. The fire spread and continued to make thick mud around the battlefield, but even as blood and mud mixed into a vile, visceral cocktail below, The Mahajan Army continued to hold their leader's fire and shot flames, arrows, and spears at anything wearing an enemy uniform. And now with at least five trolls down, progress was slowly coming.

[Antimersia]

The high seas
Medi Munki and Azrellia

The smell of saltwater is suffocating. Water wakes in through the port holes at times. Making the air dehydrating down in the lower decks. There is a storm over head. Even though Medi and Azrellia sit down in their hammocks, the loud rain and crackle of thunder is unmistakable. Azrellia doesn’t seem to mind one but though. The whistles of the high speeds winds hit her ears like music. She rocks back and forth in her hammock, listening to it as a big smile forms on her foggy face.

Medi, however, lays on his bed with his eyes shut and not even sensing the world around him. In a rare moment, his smile is gone. Azrellia can’t help but notice his change in demeanor. She hops down off of her hammock and sits cross legged beside Medi in his.

“What has you down in the dumps Medi? We are on our way to the Blessed Isle! I hope you aren’t regretting not going to see that dessert. I promise you it really isn’t anything special compared to the Imperial City!” Azrellia says cheerfully. Medi sits quietly for a moment, thinking hard on how he will answer. Something he rarely does.

“I’m sad I didn’t get to say goodbye to a friend before we left.” Medi answers as he sits up in his hammock to face Azrellia more directly.

“Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that. Why didn’t you say something we could have stopped on the way while we were searching for a ship!” Azrellia replies, her eyes welling up.

“No need to worry Azrellia! We did stop. I went to speak with her when I dove into the water before we sailed off. But, she wasn’t there.” Medi says, starting out cheerful, but trailing off as he speaks. “She’s always been there before. I don’t understand why she wasn’t there then.”

“Oh you must be worried sick about her!” Azrellia says leaping towards Medi to give him a hug. “Don’t worry, Medi. I’m sure she’s alright. And if not, I’ll help you find out what happened to her. I’d never let a friend go without justice!”

“Thank you Azrellia.” Medi replies with a lighthearted chuckle. “Medania can handle herself. I know that much. I’m just so confused by it all. I’ll search for her again when we reach the Isle, I’m sure I’ll find her there.”

“The Blessed Isle? How will you find her there? Does she know we are headed there?” Azrellia asks, confused.

“No, but Medania has never known where I was headed. But, she has always just been there. Every time I swim deep enough into the ocean, Medania is there.” Medi answers.

“Is medania a fish?” she asks, completely flabbergasted by the explanation.

“No no, not a fish!” Medi laughs, “She’s a spirit!”

“You have other spirit friends?!?” She asks with joyous shock. “Why didn’t you tell me that’s amazing!”

“I’m not sure, but she is great! Let me tell you about her now!”

Hours drift by as Medi describes all of his time spent with Medania to Azrellia. From the first time they met, to the many magical spells she has taught him, to his last time speaking with her. The conversation brings Medi’s smile back for the first time since they set sail. Every word that comes out of his mouth making him happier as he reminisces with his new friend.

[Luminesa]

Daana Mahajan - Til I Collapse

Smoke was floating off Daana's hand as a troll's body crashed into the snow, sending about a foot of white-and-red sludge into the air around him. The general was grinning like a madman, and he felt the fire flickering off his torch. He gave it a look, and smiled. He felt a message in his bones, something that made his entire body alight with the drive to fight. Gregor was pleased. Somehow, in the midst of the chaos below, he had seen the troll fall, and he was praising his men's good work. "...That one was for Faraz, sir," he muttered into the torch. Even if Gregor could not hear him, he was glad to give the message. It soothed his heart as much as it would have pleased his lord's own heart.

"TAKE THE AXE AND SWING IT HARDER! COME ON! I WANNA HEAR BONES CRACKING WHEN THEY HIT THE GROUND!" Daana shouted another order, as he took his own sword and began to slash away soldiers climbing the ladders. They were much smaller enemies, so killing them was easier. The trolls, while they were good trophies for battle, were tiring to battle. As cold as this line of thinking was, Daana knew he had to preserve his strength, and that meant fighting smaller targets. Such kills of soldiers came easier for Daana, and he was able to rest his Essence by simply slashing enemies. "Preserve your strength, Daana, preserve your strength. Remember, your goal is to break them down into smaller pieces...and then...devour."

Shan Yui - To The Stars

"People do love to talk about reaching the moon, and only finding stars, don't they?..."

Eugeni made the suggestion during training exercises, somewhere out-of-the-blue. As often happened when he became tired or distracted during a mock swordfight, he would twirl his sword in his hand, look toward the clouds, and think. No deceit was intended, even when other generals told Shan Yui to make sure he did not take advantage of him. Perhaps they feared that as a Patrician, Shan was vulnerable to falling to an unfair fight, or to an Exalted that did not respect his other skills.

"...They certainly do. Is there something in the sky that made you ponder that?..." The general would entertain his thoughts, even if they seemed strange or unrelated to the battle at hand. Somehow, he understood these were not diversions meant to disrupt combat. Eugeni saw mindful discussion and sword-fighting the way he saw having tea with chess.

The young scion, at the time only about twenty, gave a dreaming smile as he held his sword. "...Well...people I think forget...that even if the stars look as if they are close...they are actually very far away...Much further than the moon. We reach for the moon only because we think it is further away...but the stars are only reachable to those willing to leave the light behind..."

Two lieutenants standing nearby mumbling amongst themselves, "The heck is he talking about?", but Shan simply gave a knowing grin. These questions floated in the Ledaal noble's head, in his eyes, much like the stars themselves. No wonder he did not find the world to be a home, at times, and wanted to live among the celestial realms of knowledge and peace.

"...Indeed. Reaching for such stars is...never a bad thing...And if they are further away, we should attempt to find them...should we not?...That is why we fight. We wish to reach heights that no man has seen...even in the midst of human decay and war...What stops progress beside our own lack of virtue or desire to reach?..."

The light in Eugeni's eyes always sparkled when someone actually attempted to talk with him. He gave a sweet smile and nod, and lifted his sword off the ground. He was ready to continue. "...We must become stronger...It takes much power to leave the Earth...and also...much understanding...Let us continue to strive for that strength..."

At least a dozen men fell like lead to the snowy depths below, as Shan flexed his sword and got a short break from the trolls. He saw that Daana was having fun, so he did not know why he could not have the same fun. Though he did not like killing in itself, he certainly would not let himself be considered somehow lesser than the Mahajan general. Shan Yui had high standards written in his heart and on his blade, and he would hold them high until he finally fell. For now, however, he demonstrated his strength and speed as a killing machine among men. Even if he could not explode a hundred men in a huge, revenge-laden fireball like Lord Gregor, his sword spoke a bloody groan of rage all the same. And yet his rage was tempered by the image of the Lord for which he fought. Always, defending what stood behind him meant more than simply destroying what was in front of him, and this knowledge made his sword fall harder against his enemies. "To the stars...We'll find those lights in that vast darkness...We will find it together..."

[Imperialisium]

Siege of Lethlinburg

Arrows flurried back and forth as the Imperial defenders unleashed volleys from the fortifications, only to be met in kind by advancing teams of enemy archers. The fighting as the day moved on moved onto the walls and about the gate. The spirited defense on the part of the various defenders matched by the aggression of their attackers. Enemy soldiers who managed to reach the top of the walls engaged in close struggles atop the stonework. Fresh corpses, Northman and Imperial, beginning to dot the parapets. Matched by the grisly scene outside as the human and troll forces of the Northern enemy crashed into the troops arrayed to protect the gate. That being the Elledan phalanx. Supported by the archers and crossbow men of House Vai above them. At first the Phalanx seemed to mow down the initial enemy warriors that struck up against it. That changed when the first trolls arrived.

Great weapons, from simple clubs, to garish axes swept along the spears and shields. Breaking shafts, rending armour, and bodily lifting up defenders like rag dolls. Then came Alex's call for retreat. The phalanx breaking for the gate as the archers of House Vai began to concentrate their fire. A pair of Vai Exalted doing a complex series of moves as they channeled their essence. Orange fire coming alive along their body. Then in practice synchronization they shoved their firsts outward. A gout of flame washed forth from them. Wreathing the leading trolls and driving the rest to retreat.

A horn sounded in the distance. The Northmen broke from the walls, down their ladders, other fled from the gate. But this was no rout. This was a tactical retreat back to their siege lines.

Above the Eastern Gate, her officers about her, Zara gave the order for the missile troops to cease their fire. Turning to her officers she spoke grimly, "Ready teams to recover our fallen and wounded. Set the watch. The enemy has probed our defenses and now knows our mettle. They will attack again with greater effectiveness. We must be ready."

Turning on her booted feet she moved from the gate. Down the steps. And towards her awaiting steed. The Wardens of Eternal Storm. The bodyguard unit of House Vai. Ever vigilant around their liege.

[Luminesa]

Siege of Lethlinburg

Arrows flurried back and forth as the Imperial defenders unleashed volleys from the fortifications, only to be met in kind by advancing teams of enemy archers. The fighting as the day moved on moved onto the walls and about the gate. The spirited defense on the part of the various defenders matched by the aggression of their attackers. Enemy soldiers who managed to reach the top of the walls engaged in close struggles atop the stonework. Fresh corpses, Northman and Imperial, beginning to dot the parapets. Matched by the grisly scene outside as the human and troll forces of the Northern enemy crashed into the troops arrayed to protect the gate. That being the Elledan phalanx. Supported by the archers and crossbow men of House Vai above them. At first the Phalanx seemed to mow down the initial enemy warriors that struck up against it. That changed when the first trolls arrived.

Great weapons, from simple clubs, to garish axes swept along the spears and shields. Breaking shafts, rending armour, and bodily lifting up defenders like rag dolls. Then came Alex's call for retreat. The phalanx breaking for the gate as the archers of House Vai began to concentrate their fire. A pair of Vai Exalted doing a complex series of moves as they channeled their essence. Orange fire coming alive along their body. Then in practice synchronization they shoved their firsts outward. A gout of flame washed forth from them. Wreathing the leading trolls and driving the rest to retreat.

A horn sounded in the distance. The Northmen broke from the walls, down their ladders, other fled from the gate. But this was no rout. This was a tactical retreat back to their siege lines.

Above the Eastern Gate, her officers about her, Zara gave the order for the missile troops to cease their fire. Turning to her officers she spoke grimly, "Ready teams to recover our fallen and wounded. Set the watch. The enemy has probed our defenses and now knows our mettle. They will attack again with greater effectiveness. We must be ready."

Turning on her booted feet she moved from the gate. Down the steps. And towards her awaiting steed. The Wardens of Eternal Storm. The bodyguard unit of House Vai. Ever vigilant around their liege.

House Mahajan - Spoils of War

The pulse of the battle continued to beat frenetically, with blood continuing to spill into the snow, which had now become a thorough sludge of ugly pinkish-grey sludge. House Mahajan continued to fire on the enemies and laughed with glee at the pillars of smoke climbing to the overcast sky above, which continued to watch the warfare below in aghast. Yet the destruction was done, and several hundred soldiers had met a fiery end at the hands of the small, proud House. Time seemed to flow seamlessly under the mud and blood, until finally a horn sounded in the distance. Another strategic retreat, this time for an even larger army.

With many Orcs' and soldiers' corpse underneath them, the Bull's forces headed back North from whence they had come. They had made the weaknesses they wanted to create, and now they would go back and replenish their fallen forces. Even so, the Mahajan forces took the opportunity to grin and cheer at their success at making the enemy retreat. Several soldiers began to murmur their cheers in a low buzz, both on the walls and in the snow on the ground. Yet Daana Mahajan led the loudest shout of all, as the enemy faded into the mist and faded from sight.

"HOW 'BOUT THEM ORCS, BOYS?!"

Mahajan's army screamed their excitement, roaring and pumping fists like rockets aimed toward the sky. They counted their losses, but also the enemy's losses, and though they would have much to mourn as they buried their dead, now they reveled in the enemies they had killed. Daana stood on the wall with his shoulders firm, a hand on his hip, and the torch raised high.

From the shelter he had been forced to take, in the wake of the attack, Gregor had seen everything. The torch had provided an excellent vantage point for his pyromancy, and he had taken a look at his men as they had scorched everything the enemies had. He stood from his spot in the shelter, and suddenly he was replaced by a pillar of ashes and smoke as he vanished. In the next moment, he was beside Daana, who was almost startled to see his lord beside him.

"L-Lord Gregor! Sir!"

As Daana called his name, the Mahajan army turned to their lord, who gave a mischievous grin.

"Excellent work, my men. You've made a dent in them. But our battle is far from over. They will be back, and we have reinforcements to make. Now! If there are any leftover catapults, bring them into the city-gates and we'll see about making use of them. Take care of the wounded, and we shall see about burying what dead can be buried," he explained, as he addressed his troops. Several in the infantry ran to grab the single unmolested catapult left, and others looted some of the orcs and soldiers lying on the ground. They had swords, axes, and clothes-anything which could benefit them and their mission. One soldier managed to lift a great-axe, though he nearly toppled into the snow as he tried to hold it above his head.

"MEN, DON'T FOOL AROUND! GET BACK INSIDE NOW!" Daana called, as he saw some of the soldiers acting like clowns. Yet he knew that hoarding supplies was necessary. They would polish and sharpen any weapons they could find. They would make wraps for their boots and wrists out of any furs they could grab. After all, the dead were not using them. Gregor did not seem to show any disgust toward his soldiers' mistreatment of the dead, and when he and Daana made their way down the wall, he ordered several of the soldiers to take the enemy ladders and to store them within Lethlinberg.

House Ledaal - When the Party's Over

Shan Yui was simply glad for the enemies to leave. Every muscle and sinew in his body groaned for rest. His eyes stung from sweat, screeching cold, blood, and maybe a tear or two of frustration as he had driven his great-sword through the last Orc's neck, sending his head flying through the snow. He could not swing the great-sword in his hands much longer, though his men could look upon him with horror as the battle ended and the enemies' hoofbeats became a distant echo. He was covered from head-to-toe in blood, both human and Orc, and his eyes were dull from the mechanical motions of swinging a sword back and forth in his hands. He unclenched his hands for the first time in an eternity, and he nodded toward a captain nearby. "...Order the infantry inside, check for the wounded, send them to our healers. Then go to the Eastern District and check the damages. Report back when you can," he murmured.

Ledaal's army was not as boisterous as Mahajan, nor did Eugeni and Shi have a way to get to the battlefield. Shan Yui could only hope they had found shelter, though now that the fight was over, he could sigh his relief and think yes, they were most likely safe. The enemy had retreated, and had given them time once again to recuperate. He came down from the walls and watched Mahajan's soldiers rummage through the belongings of the dead with a stern look of disgust. Even if he understood the need for supplies in this cold, merciless environment, the gleeful way they dug for treasures from the bodies of the dead made his stomach sick. "...Young men without honor...No prayers for the dead, no respect...we are all only human, after all..." he murmured to an Exalted who was checked for wounded along the gates.

"...Sir, with all due respect...you look as if you just walked through the rivers of the Underworld," the man muttered, as he applied a salve to a soldier's wounds. A hiss of pain escaped the young man's teeth, but he remained still.

Shan Yui turned to him and gave him an exhausted look. "I'm sure I do. Perhaps I have seen a glimpse of the Underworld, where demons laugh and make playthings of wretches..." he answered, with a frosty groan. He tried to stretch his arms and back, but even stretching created more aches. His eyes needed sleep, to cold and to not look upon the carnage they had wrought.

"Oh gods above, may these men who have breathed their last here...be received into your rest...For we are all a slash and a stab away from reaching you ourselves..." he prayed.

The captain returned a few minutes later, and he reported the damages. "General, the Eastern district has seen severe disrepair. Several apartments are total losses. We have many civilians hiding in shelters. What are your orders?"

"Go to those hiding in shelters and explain that we will mobilize our reserves in temporary rebuilding efforts. Any Earth Exalted we can find shall help with these efforts. We will also see about reinforcing the walls of the city. Bring them any medicines and clothing they may need."

The captain hurried away to gather some men for this task, and Shan Yui felt his vision become blurred. He stared down at the body of a young soldier, whose face had been broken by the blunt end of a sword. His eyes were shut and pouring blood. His nose was shattered into pieces, and he was lifeless. Cold. Uncomforted in his last moments of death. Shan Yui nodded to himself, as if he now understood Eugeni's own pains and qualms about killing. Yet the image continued to melt under the sweat pouring into his eyes, and he felt his stomach unsettle. He was an experienced general, a fearless leader, a stone obelisk of House Ledaal. And yet the expenditure of battle tolled on him, and the world began to turn sideways.

"Sir? SIR! GENERAL!"

Several healers rushed through the sludge and the snow, as their overworked leader seemed to faint in the snow. He barely heard their voices, but for once, the cold snow seemed to relieve some of his pain for a while...

[Finsternia]

With the battle outside the walls of Lethlinberg over for the moment, Ledaal frantically began to work to repair anything that could be fixed within the city. The Water Aspects had managed to put-out a significant amount of the flames, and had saved quite a lot of the Eastern District. Yet the district had also endured much destruction, and many were now without permanent homes. Many in that area had scrambled to another district, under the instructions of the soldiers patrolling the inside of the city. Though Lethlinberg had a small victory to celebrate, a shadow of panic and fear fell over many who were hiding in the darkness of their shelter, desperate to see if their houses had survived the onslaught.

Eugeni had gone to the shelter with some of his soldiers, as he had heard reports that some civilians had been brutally-wounded in the crossfire. Some had burns that stretched down their backs, down their legs, and down their chests. Some were nauseous, others were hyperventilating and caught in the midst of panic attacks. Some had enormous scars from fallen boulders. He had a long list of people to heal, and had to start healing as soon as he walked in the doorway.

“Bring the people with the worst injuries first! Bring first aid kits to the people who have the lesser wounds! Take count of everyone here, check to see if we need to look for missing children or civilians.” While the Ledaal scion was not the most polished general, he understood the need for triage in order to settle the pandemonium that had unfolded before him. He began with those who had the most severe burns, grabbing his healing salve and working gently on their wounds. “Hello. This will work for burns, but you must keep it clean and dry. Now...rubbing it will hurt a little, but the skin underneath will start to heal after I apply it. Do you understand?” he asked his first patient, speaking quickly and with volume over the crying citizens and their screaming children.

“Y-Yessir, please, just...OWWWWWWWWWWCH! AAAAAUGH!”

He started to apply the salve, rubbing his gentle fingers in circles around the center of the wound. As soon as the intense burning pain fell away, the coolness of mint and pine scent filled the air. As this refreshing smell filled his nostrils, Eugeni had to wonder…

“Goodness, I do hope Shi is taking care of himself. Why oh why did he have to go out to the front lines...I begged him not to, he was needed here...And Shan as well...Oh gods, I hope they are okay…”


***

The Dragon-Blooded deals in blood, whether in war, politics, or in everyday life. Blood is the basis of their power and claim to divine strength, and blood is the basis of all their relations and is the very fabric of their Empire and society. A Dragon-Blooded child would know how to swing a sword first, before they could speak, and throughout adulthood their companions would be the sword to their side and their battle-ready "friends". Yet even with an entire lifetime of readiness and training, no one could be prepared for their first taste of war and conflict. The scent of iron in the air, the ring of screams and pleas for help, nor the clash of steel against steel, flesh against blade, would ever be forgotten when you first tasted it.

Beyond the gates and the walls lie men and women, fighting under the banners of the Empire and the Anathema and under the grace of Mars, soiling winter white with wine red. The chaos beneath would be suffocating, and even before regimen and strict conduct humans are still animals in the end. When steel fails to uphold its sheen, claws and brutal fists answer. Up above in the air sings the song of dozens, if not hundreds, of arrows, slicing through the cold air to find its destination. Lucky, or unlucky, hits would end a life, but many are drawn by practiced fingers and guided by sharp eyes.

"DRAW! AIM! FIRE!"

A harsh voice calls and another rain of arrows fall, with several of them streaked by the luminous aura of cold frost and drowning waters. An innocent hit would stop a man and steal the air from their lungs, but those who did find a gleaming arrowhead of elemental Water lodged within them would find themselves succumbing to either the biting cold or the grip of suffocation, as water drowns them from within. This merciless hail of arrows, guided by able commanders and a certain Dragon-Blooded, continued to assault the battlefield below until the retreat has been sounded, and there is nothing to do but to carry the bloodied and the dead, and to wait for the next battle.

Shi takes stock of his men, Ledaal archers, and whatever he could get his hands on for the defense. The distance surely numbed the sting and horror of reaping another life. Perhaps the veterans wouldn't balk at it anymore, but those who had endured their first foray into Lady War's dance and performance are certainly shaken. His division sustained minor wounds and losses, except for those who have been sniped by enemy archers and long-distanced fighters. Still, it is a victory. "A minor victory…" The Ledaal servant sighs as he pulls down most of his heavier pieces of armor, ones that protected his torso and organs. "...The city has sustained some damage… I wonder how Lord Eugeni is doing… Certainly he would be safe… and his entourage would keep him protected…" He unties his hair and lets it down, the silver threads cascade like a heavy waterfall before floating as if caressed by invisible waves. "Men, with me. We will check on the wounded outside and bring our own people, as well as the allies, that we could for treatment."

***
The soldiers moved on Shi’s command, obeying him as if he was Lord Eugeni or his parents. The Ledaal scion would have expected no less from his men, and would have scolded anyone who treated his cousin with any degree of disrespect. To help matters, Shi was a much better commander, not afraid of blood and gore like his mild-mannered lord. The men nodded and silently moved to find the wounded, using makeshift stretchers of logs and canvas to move the bodies. Those who had died remained in the snow-the soldiers did not wish to bring pestilence into a city already shaken to its core. Yet they were shaken themselves, as they noticed a particular body dropping into the snow.
“SIR! GENERAL SHAN YUI! HELP! SOMEONE!” a captain nearby screamed for help.

Shi is a stark contrast against the surrounding environment, clad black leathers with snow pale skin and moonlit hair as beneath him is white earth stained by red blood. He issues commands to aid those who are still standing and check for the pulses of those who lay still, before a scream for help gains his attention. The crunch, or rather the sickening squelch of frost and still hot viscera and blood, echoes from his footsteps before they are silenced as he moves in a blur. "By the Dragons, General, this is no place for you to take a nap." The captain sees the Dragon-Blooded lord kneel down to take his neck pulse. "...Is he in critical condition, soldier?"

The captain knelt next to Shan, pulling some of his hair out of the pinkish mush that rested under his head. Yet he himself did not have any visible head trauma, though he was drenched in enemies’ blood. He listened to the general’s heart and to his breathing, and then looked at Shi. “...Heart is beating fast, breathing is fast and labored. I imagine he is exhausted, but he needed to be cleaned and assessed within a shelter, not on this battlefield full of corpses,” he explained.

"I am not the strongest man here so… I shall leave General Shan's transfer to my men. I am no medic so I am hoping that Lord Eugeni would be able to find a remedy to the General's ailments. But, as far as I'm concerned, he is not horribly wounded. Men, get me a stretcher here! Captain, help me get him up." Shi then tried to lift Shan Yui by his armpits and shoulders as his own men brought a stretcher for the spent soldier to be carried and transferred.

The men surrounding Shi followed his orders as soon as they left his lips, and they grabbed the stretcher to help carry their proud general back into the city gates. Because he could not control his own weight, moving him was cumbersome for some of the smaller soldiers, and so they employed some of Mahajan’s burlier soldiers for the job. With a quick heave and a lift, they moved his body and hurried away to retrieve proper medical attention for him.

"...How's our casualties, Captain? Not too much, not too many?" He watched Shan Yui be dragged back into the city for a moment before turning back to the captain. "How about our brothers and sisters in arms? Have we stood our ground at the very least?" He surveys the field before him, littered with blood, bodies, and groaning men and women who are injured in various and increasing levels. "...That is just the vanguard… We still have time to recuperate and adjust our strategies…"

“We don’t exactly have much time. I’m sure they will be back soon,” the captain explained, as he looked out toward the frozen wasteland that stretched toward the horizon. “...Ledaal’s casualties are at least in the double-digits. We are currently counting casualties as we find them, but I would say at least thirty to forty men were lost so far. The true number is probably higher. But we have indeed stood our ground, and we shall continue to do so when they return.”

"I, and the Elders back home, would surely be disappointed if that number is in the triple digits… But fifty and higher is good enough… Whatever softness that is left in the new recruits would have hardened by now and by the next battle. For now, we need to get on repairs, as well as healing our soldiers and personnel. I will be checking on Lord Eugeni as well as our Generals to see what's our next step… Good job, Captain. You did well. Get your men up and back inside the city walls. We have rubble to sweep and people to bury." Shi leaves the Captain for a moment to join his own men in rescuing those who are wounded as well as cleaning up the dead and the spoils. Weaponry and armor are expensive investments, and families back home would want to have their loved ones, or whatever that is left, to come home.

Written by Luminesa and Finsternia.

[Luminesa]

Eugeni - Beneath the Blood

The soldiers aiding Eugeni’s healing efforts worked like buzzing bees in a hive, moving among the pockets of scared, wounded citizens who required care. They brought free blankets for the cold, especially for the infants. In the meantime, the line of patients with more severe injuries and burns slowly began to shorten, as Eugeni used a mix of salves, ointments, and bandages to soothe them. He was a model physician-quick yet meticulous, both professional and kind, patient with every grunt and groan.

“Oh dear, did you get a burn on your arm, sweetie?” Eugeni inquired, as a small girl approached with her fearful mother. When the little girl bobbed her head up and down, he gave her a reassuring smile. “What is your name, Miss?”

“Mila...”

“What a lovely name. Well Mila, I have an ointment that’s nice and cold, and when I rub it on your arm, it will stop the burning feeling. Would you like that?” When she bobbed her head again, he smiled and went to work. He showed her the container, and then started rubbing a circle of ointment on her arm. When she gave a tiny moan of pain, he looked at her and gave a sympathetic look. “Don’t worry. It’ll stop soon. You’re being very brave.”

“...Y-You are Lord Ledaal, correct?” her mother inquired, as she watched him heal her daughter.

He looked up at her and nodded. “Yes, my lady. Do you require healing as well?”

She shook her head. “There’s...There’s a woman wailing in the second row of the people, back there...I think she’s lost her baby somewhere in the rubble outside. Is there something you can do?“ She sounded overwhelmed, as if she had wanted to yell at the world, but had quickly realized doing so would not change her situation.

As soon as he finished putting a clean bandage over Mila’s healing arm, he stood and looked at her mother. “I have several other patients who need to see care, but I will send the soldiers to-”

“I don’t trust them. You’re Exalted, are you not? Please, do something.”

As she spoke, Eugeni heard the mother’s wailing over the now murmuring crowd. Many other civilians had received the care they had needed, but this particular woman was rushing to any and all of the soldiers, begging them to find her lost infant. He felt her loud, chaotic cries in his heart, and he nodded. “I shall see if I can be of some help.” He called to another Medic nearby, and nodded to the last couple of patients with aches and pains. “Give them aid, I’m going to see about helping the army find this woman’s lost child. I should be back momentarily.”

The medic nodded, and looked to the rest of the patients who needed healing. While he lacked Eugeni’s ethereal grace, he did his job as was expected, and did not complain. Thus the Ledaal scion was free to go and address the case of the woman’s missing baby.

“My lady?”

As the beleaguered mother cried to a group of guards, Eugeni’s soft voice rose beside her, and she whirled to face the Air Aspect. Hope bloomed in her eyes, and she rushed to hug him tight. “Yes! Lord Ledaal from the South! You’ll be able to find my baby! Yes, please, help me! Help me please! Have mercy! Have mercy, I’m so sorry, I’ll be a better mother...I’ll be a better mother...”

“Shhhhh...Take deep breaths. We’re going to do our best. Where did you last see your baby?...” he inquired, whispering to her as if she herself was an infant who needed comfort.

With a pitiful sniff, the woman faced him. “Sh-She was in her crib...E...Eastern District...I...I ran to help a neighbor, and...and when I turned around the...the roof had caved...oh gods...my baby...my poor baby...I had just gone outside...for a moment...AAAAAAAHHHHH!”

She screamed into his chest again, and Eugeni took a moment to calm her, running a hand through her hair and letting her cry. When she seemed to gather herself just a little more, he looked at her and nodded. “What does your baby look like?”

The mother nodded. “...B...Brown eyes...blonde...blonde hair...she eats a lot...”

“And what does your house look like?”

“...Red...red brick...two stories...shale roof...a boulder or two must...must have...hit it...”

“I see...shhhhh...go sit and let one of the guards bring you some food. We’ll look as much as we can.” The women listened to his instructions with a bit of a struggle, but as soon as she did, he nodded to two of the nearby guards and walked out into the cold.

The Eastern District was...horrendous. A painful sight, almost as awful as the battlefield he had seen the previous day. Rooftops had burned to ashes, apartments were skeletons or collapsed into logs, and boulders clogged the streets around them. The stale, cold air did not make the atmosphere any more comforting, and Eugeni felt his stomach turn. He feared what they would find, after they reached the right house. “...Search for the house, see about moving some of those boulders...” he explained.

As he walked through the streets, he turned around a corner and saw a red-brick house. His eyes widened, as he took a glance at the comet-sized hole in the roof. Many houses had similar holes, but he had a feeling. His stomach continued to turn. “Here! Over here! Clear the road!” he yelled. As the men rushed up the street to push aside some of the blocking boulders, Eugeni forgot about his own safety and began to rush toward the house.

“SIR! SIR GET BACK HERE! THAT HOUSE IS NOT SAFE!”

Eugeni did not look back. He stared toward the top floor, and robins began to chirp around him. Suddenly, a gust of air launched him off the ground, and he managed to float in the air for a moment before landing in the second-story window. His feet hit the hard wooden floor, and he felt pain jab his heels. Yet he ignored this sensation, as a sound met his ears. An infant’s cries of pain and fear.

“SIR! THIS HOUSE IS DANGEROUS! GET OUT, NOW!” a guard called below him.

Yet Eugeni ran until the crying became almost too loud to bear. He was close. He could feel it. The baby was a few steps away. His heart jumped to his throat, and he threw open a door at the end of the hall.

He gasped with horror. The roof had partially collapsed, just as his men had warned, and the crib was partially crushed. The pressure had caused for the baby to slide down toward the edge of the crib that had been smashed, but she was in one piece. He saw kicking arms and legs, and heard the screams of a distressed infant, and he hurried to gather her. Blonde hair, brown eyes, and very chubby.

She was beautiful.

Eugeni had never held an infant, even with his family being as large as it was. Perhaps he had a subconscious fear of holding them before now. After all, they were so small and fragile, and he could easily drop them if he was not careful. Yet he found that the little infant fit perfectly into his arms, with her head resting against the inside of his elbow as he propped her head upright. As she saw his face, and heard the robins chirping, her cries gradually stopped, and she stared wide-eyed at her savior.

“...Hello there...Your mother has been very scared for you...and it’s so cold here...I bet she’ll be quite happy to see you again...” he whispered. She was too little to understand his words, but his voice was soothing and warm. She continued to stare at him, as he carefully moved to the nearest open window and used his Magic to get out of the house.

The soldiers awaited him with exasperation, which was not unfounded. Seconds after Eugeni landed with the baby, a huge, lurching groan sounded behind them, and the boulder that had crushed part of the crib crashed through the ceiling of the first floor. Wood, glass, and much more exploded from within, causing the baby to cry all over again. “...You’re quite insane, sir,” a guard muttered.

Eugeni himself was shocked by the terrible sound, but he tried to keep his composure for the baby. “Give her a blanket when we reach the shelter, see if we have any rice for her. Something!” he urged them, as he walked ahead with the baby in his arms.

“Hey! Sir! Wait! Don’t wander by yourself!”

He moved at a fast pace, but not too fast for the infant in his arms. He whispered a lullaby in her ear, trying to assuage her fears again. She was so warm, so soft. Her wide-eyed state returned, and he could not help but chuckle. Even through her tears, her puffy eyes sparkled with wonder, and she began to grab at his face. “Oh goodness, be careful, I do need that!” he teased her, as she smacked his nose. He found himself slowing for a moment, as he was out-of-breath from running and had been staring at this baby’s eyes. Soon, however, he reached the shelter, and he opened the door with his back.

“MY BABY!!!”

The mother rushed over as soon as the door opened, and she snatched the baby out of his arms. “MY BABY! Ohhhh my poor darling, I’m so sorry...Kya, my baby, I’m so sorry...Mommy loves you so much...”

As Eugeni watched her, he felt that his arms suddenly felt...empty. He had only walked with this baby in his arms for about twenty minutes, and yet he had felt as if he had connected with her. Kya’s mother merely nodded her thanks to him, before rushing to get food for the baby, but she did not come back and offer to let him hold her. He understood her rush-the baby was hungry, and needed a warm blanket. He also had more patients to heal. He gulped down the new feeling that had risen from his chest, and he looked to the line of people waiting for his care.

“Kya...what a lovely name for a baby...”

“SIR! SIR ARE YOU OKAY?!” Someone barked nearby him, and he was forced to let go of his thoughts about the infant he had rescued. His head swiveled toward several of Mahajan’s soldiers entering with a crude-looking stretcher. Upon which lie General Shan Yui.

Eugeni’s heart fell into his stomach like a rock, and he hurried through the crowd to go see him. Tears stung his eyes as he saw the sight. Shan Yui was breathing, but he was covered in blood, and he looked languished. “...Oh goodness...Shan Yui...” he murmured, as he knelt next to the stretcher. He looked to the Mahajan soldiers that had brought him, and he snapped more orders. “A wash cloth and a bucket, please! I have soap, just hurry! He needs to be cleaned so I can inspect his wounds properly! Hurry!”

They rushed to follow his orders, and for a moment, the Ledaal scion finally got to be still. He knelt beside his trusty general, who was usually so firm and strong. Seeing him so vulnerable and covered in blood made his heart crack from sadness. He found his ponytail and removed the band around the nape of his neck, feeling the thick, oily blood that had coagulated in his hair. “...Oh goodness...” He took a deep breath, as the Mahajan troops brought him the supplies, and bowed before heading away to help their own. He found a bar of soap, and he started to scrub and wash the copious blood on the general’s face, hair, clothes, and hands-starting with his hands.

“...Don’t worry, dear...I’m going to take good care of you...”

[Luminesa]

Shan Yui - Passing Dreams

Exhaustion creates strange visions in the mind. When the mind’s tether to reality snaps and turns to threads, fever is all one feels. The body knows it is broken, and so sometimes compensates by shaping that sensation into something tangible. In the darkness of his fatigue, Shan Yui heard voices and felt waves of motion fall over him. His chest and shoulders felt as if they had been caught in the afternoon waves of the sea, well-warmed by the sun. His head turned to the side as he felt himself relax, and the waves swept him into a dream.

Before he lost his first battle, Shan Yui had never cried in his life. His parents had taught him even as a baby that crying meant weakness. They wanted him to be strong, to hide his weakness, and this effort increased after he was discovered to not have Exalted. Yet as an adult, a battle with an Exalted cousin had broken that wall.

An unstoppable force met an immovable object, and hit it until boulders crashed through the stone. His cousin was an Earth Aspect, and quite proud of his accomplishments. He took his time demonstrating how inferior his cousin was, even though Shan had recently become a Captain. When he blocked and parried away boulders from his body, his family was silent. His aunt and uncle yelled for his cousin to aim for the head. Aim for the eyes. He aimed lower, and used an enormous boulder to slam his chest.

Six ribs, and his pride, shattered to pieces.

Shan felt more than the wind leaving his body. He felt an entire current, all of the motion and force that pushed him to strike again and again. His family stood to their feet. His own mother and father cheered.

“And the naughty little sheep heard, ‘Snip, snip, snip!’”

The then-Captain had hated that cruel joke, which his cousin had thought was hilarious. This time, however, he did not joke. He approached his cousin as he coughed blood, and he took a dagger from his pocket. A rough swipe later, his beautiful raven locks fell into clumps at his feet. His cousin had beaten, tied, and now sheared the black sheep. A total victory.

“You should be ashamed of yourself, Shan Yui! Your own younger cousin defeated you? And you were so determined that your swords were enough against a man with REAL talent.” His uncle, who boasted with his belly full of wine, was not even an Exalted himself.

Hot tears fell, as his parents turned to congratulated the better child. The stronger child. The beloved child. They would go home and act as if this was normal. They would expect Shan to accept it and to say nothing. Such was the way of the world, they had always said. And now he was determined to flood the world with his tears, to wash away the cruel laughter and the abandonment. Crying made his ribs ache more, but he let himself ache. He would rebel any way he could.

As he knelt in this spot in his uncle’s garden, however, a new feeling reached him, much like someone reaching through a lake into the cold, rippling water below. Two hands cupped his tear-stained face. Long, warm fingers. He did not recall these entering his memory. Shan reached to touch them, and a voice whispered to him.

“It’s okay to cry, dear...You’ve fought so hard...I’m so proud of you...”

Those sweet words were not a part of his dream. His family did not hear them, as they walked with his cousin to go celebrate. He heard a giggle, and someone reached down to kiss his forehead. A reassuring peck, which lingered for just a second. “Don’t be afraid...Let love push you further than their hate...You are stronger than them, dear...”

His chest continued to ache. What voice spoke these beautiful words, he asked in silence. His eyes searched for a face, but he saw none. “...What are you...” he questioned. Yet a rough gasp escaped his throat, and the pain stung him so fast that he awakened before he heard an answer.

His eyes shot open, with Eugeni’s nose inches from his. He was lingering over him, with a hand on his collarbone.

Shan Yui took a moment to orient himself. He knew this face was familiar. That hand was also one he knew. Noise gradually flooded his ears, as bustling soldiers marched past and families talked amongst themselves. He was no longer in the cold snow, and he no longer smelled blood. And Eugeni’s face was still close to his. “...Ah...” He tried to speak, but words would not rise from his throat.

“You have rejoined us in the waking world...Welcome back, General...” Eugeni murmured kindly, as he removed his hand and knelt upright. “I’ve been bathing and scrubbing the blood off your body for almost an hour...I hope I didn’t scrub your arms raw, they were so covered in blood and...I suppose other things...That ointment should help your aches as well...I have applied it to your tension points...”

The Ledaal prince’s words became a smooth buzz, as the general stared up at him. Realization fell like moonlight over him. The waves he had felt as he had begun to dream were Eugeni’s hands washing him. He smelled roses, the scent of one of his sweet medicines. The hand on his chest had been the hand holding his cheek. ...Did he...

“...General?...”

“Ah!...Y...Yes, sir?...” Finally, he found his words.

Eugeni gave an understanding smile. “...Rest your body, sir. We shall bring you back to your quarters soon, so that you may sleep. But not before I brush your hair!” he explained. He wielded a brush, and began to unknot the general’s now drying, rose-smelling hair. His hair was long again, and the Ledaal scion made long, slow strokes as he searched for any tangles and mattings. More noise sounded, soldiers were passing a warm stew made by one of the local cooks. Yet he focused on the smell of roses, the soothing touch of the bristles in his mane. The hands that moved pieces of hair away from around his ears.

Did you...

“...Sir...”

“Y-Yes, my Lord?...”

“...Your hands are shaking...did you...have a nightmare?...” Eugeni inquired, his voice laced with the quiet compassion of a nursery. A lullaby.

Shan Yui could not speak. Something in his chest told him, “Not now, not now.” He shook his head. “...Thank you for bathing me...You...did not have to do it...”

Eugeni giggled. The general recognized that laugh, and his heart bubbled. “Of course I did...Now just close your eyes...Everything will be alright...”

For a moment, indeed it was. Even as Shan Yui’s heart was about to burst into a thousand stars, indeed it was.

[Antimersia]

The high seas
Medi Munki and Azrellia

A thunderous crash rips Medi out of his deep slumber. He jolts out of his hammock, and lands onto the wood of the deck below him. He quickly activates his sensing ability to see what is happening. Azrellia is the first thing he sees, herself popping up from her hammock. Medi places a hand on her shoulder to calm her. The sailors are sprinting around frantically. The sounds of the storm outside give both of the young travelers a good idea as to what has gone wrong. The both head up the stairs to the top deck. The pair can immediately recognize the toll that the storm has truly taken on the ship. A bolt of lightening has stuck the main mast and toppled it. And much of the top deck is ablaze. The sailors try to put out the flames but they are growing faster than they can stomp them out. And further strikes continue to set further fires on the deck and sides of the ship. Medi and Azrellia share a short look. They know the ship is going down. They rush down back into the crew deck to collect their belongings. Heading back up they look around, hoping to find a dingy and abandon ship. But there isn't a single one to be found. The captain of the ship is barking orders. The look on his face tells the pair everything that is on his mind. He knows that the ship is going down. The look of sorrow and regret on his face is unmistakable.

"Do spirits need to breath?" Medi asks Azrellia, turning to her with a concerned look.

"I don't know about all spirits but I'm sort of made of smoke. I'm not sure I can survive in water." Azrellia said insecurely.

"Well I have one Idea. I know a spell, I'll transform my body into that of a dolphin. You can ride on my back and I'll get us to land." Medi replied feigning a confident smile.

"Are you sure? We have no idea where the closest land is!"

"I don't see any other options. Besides, it will be fun!" Medi says, widening his smile until its as big as it has ever been. He turns towards the port side of the ship and starts sprinting. He begins reciting an incantation, similar to those he said in the past to transform into a dolphin. He is halfway through reciting it, when he begins to leap off the side. Although, he is stopped in his tracks. A sudden water spout erupts up along the side of the boat with enough force to break through the wood. It strikes Medi as he is in the air, knocks the wind out of him and send him flying off, back over the ship, and into the sea on the starboard side.

"MEDI!!!" Azrellia shreiks in fear as she hurriedly dives in after Medi, in a desperate attempt to save her friend. As she plunges into the water, the pair disappear beneath the waves. In their place, the sailors see a faint blue glow, and an ear shattering screech from deep below the depths.

[Luminesa]

Eugeni/Shan Yui - You Confuse Me

Slowly, the knots in Shan Yui’s hair evaporated, as did some of his stress. Of course, the Bull would be back, and the exhausting battle would continue. The war would only get harder now, as the enemy’s army had reached the gates and knew how to strike. Yet as the brush’s bristles stroked his scalp, and he felt a gentle hand brushing away some of the smaller tangles, the general let himself relax for a short time. He closed his eyes, as Eugeni requested he do, and his body’s muscles stopped tensing.

The noise in the shelter had calmed, as people now ate and tried to relax. They could only do so much, as the rebuilding efforts outside would begin. Perhaps they had expected that some calamity would come to them from the Bull, and they had decided to brace themselves by keeping their strength. Parents and children ate together, and after they had received their meals, the guards had begun to feed themselves. One guard approached the general and the Ledaal scion, and offered them food to eat.

“The stew’s still hot, sirs. You better get a bowl while you can,” he explained.

“I’ll eat in a moment. Thank you,” Eugeni answered. He had a hand over the nape of Shan Yui’s neck, as he had reached for a knot deep in his long mane.

Shan opened his eyes and looked to the guard. “I’ll have some, please.”

The guard nodded, and walked to get a bowl from nearby. It smelled of salted pork, a heavy broth, and spiced sausage. “Don’t get Orc blood in it, sir,” the soldier joked, as he handed Shan Yui the bowl and a loaf of cold bread.

“Oh don’t even joke about that, I must have gotten some of that in my mouth. Their blood tastes as awful as they smell,” he groaned. He then gratefully ate the hearty stew, which warmed his chest and belly. It was rich, and made him feel as if he was home. No wonder everyone had stopped crying or worrying for a few minutes.

Yet Eugeni’s hand over his nape made him feel a different sort of heat. His cheeks radiated pink, but he said nothing and slowly ate his meal.

“There we go! That should be all of them. Now to go eat, and then to bring you to your quarters to rest, yes?...” Eugeni let Shan Yui’s hair fall down his back, and he rose to get himself a bowl of the soup. The General watched him turn his back, and noticed that for a moment, he could have almost spotted some pink in his own cheeks.

They sat and ate together, taking advantage of the relative calm that had fallen. People’s wounds were healing. Guards were chatting and sitting amongst themselves. For some reason, the scene was almost too lax to be part of a war. Shan Yui did not mind, however. Every now and then, he would eye the Ledaal scion, who would give an innocent smile as he chewed his bread.

“Perhaps I ought to cook as well! I should get some practice...What would I make for an entire city, though? Certainly not much could be better than this stew, which is better than anything I have cooked...” Eugeni mused.

“Your help would be appreciated by the cooks. They must be aching for rest themselves...” Shan Yui responded.

The Ledaal prince tapped his chin, and nodded. “Lots of bread, obviously...perhaps some cheese and venison?...”

“My lord, have you cooked venison before?”

“No, but what better time to learn than now?”

Shan Yui chuckled. “Simply remember to cook it until the inside is hot. And season it well. My father...would cook venison on camping trips. He fussed too much over it...but he fussed too much over many things...” he joked.

“Mine does as well...”

Time passed, stomachs filled, and parents tried to sleep. Some tried to rock their children to sleep. Others were obviously worried about going to their homes to check the rubble, but the guards informed them that a force was outside already assessing the damage. They needed to remain in the safety of the shelter, and so they did. Yet Shan Yui did have a place to go, with guards waiting for him. Eugeni stood with him, and the Ledaal prince and a handful of guards escorted them to the inn.

Away from the shelter and back inside the quiet halls of the inn, which also had a dozen or so civilians sheltered in some of the bedrooms, Shan admittedly felt some relief. If he had been stronger, he would have gone to check the needs of the people. Yet he was thoroughly exhausted, and needed rest. Ledaal’s reserve army would guard him, and they were armed and ready for any sudden shock-attacks by the enemy. Eugeni opened the door to Shan Yui’s room, and the general
sighed. “...I hate being so helpless...all of my limbs feel like rubber...”

“All the more reason for you to sleep...” his lord murmured, massaging his shoulders.

Shan Yui felt a current run up his back. Eugeni knew exactly how to comfort him. His voice was a soft incantation, a spell to make his heart soften and his ribs heal. He could only obey. He walked to the bedside, and the Ledaal scion dressed him in a bed-robe. He looked up at the general’s face, and noticed him staring.

“...Is something the matter?...Is it too tight?...”

The general gulped. His arms began to shake again. As he lifted his hands to hold Eugeni’s, they became small earthquakes. “...My lord...I...did you...comfort me in my dream?...” he whispered, his voice suddenly almost breakable.

Eugeni’s eyes remained calm and focused, but he looked puzzled. “...Did I?...”

“...I...felt your hands...Someone...you...held my face and...” He stopped himself. He felt dazed. Something told him his words were not flowing in sentences.

The Ledaal prince’s eyes now widened with wonder, but he did not pull away from the general. Dreams were important, and those of generals could even be prophetic. “...Go on...it is alright...”

The general acted as if he would continue, and then he shook his head. “...Thank you, my Lord...your care is...splendid, as usual...” His heart had already burst, and the twinkling stars in his heart wept their distant light. For a moment, neither of them let go of each other’s hands. Shan Yui needed to validate his dream.

Eugeni...shivered, as he realized how much he had wanted someone to hold his hands. They fit perfectly over his own. “...I am...always glad to care for you...” He himself gulped, and he reached to tuck a hair behind Shan’s ear. “...Get your sleep...have sweet dreams, and not nightmares...May Mela bless you...” he murmured. Now he let go, and turned to go back to his duties. Yet before he left, he added, “...I shall...come check on you again soon...” He then walked back down the hall, allowing for Shan Yui to close the door.

The general sat on the bed, and knotted his robe tighter. Perhaps he was trying to tie back together the floating pieces in his chest. Yes, Eugeni would come check on him. He just needed to wait. He needed to sleep. He let himself fall back in the bed, and did not bother to straighten his body. His eyes fell shut, and he faded into the darkness of dreams once again.

Eugeni stood in the hallway of the inn, closest to the bar, and stared down at his hands. They could heal so much, but not his heart, which now pounded in his chest. Such softness and quiet, the sort of life he longed to have at home. He held a piece of it in his general’s hands. He had not planned such a sensation, he did not know what to do or say. Tears fell down his cheeks, as he examined the lines in his palms. He had to hold his hands again. He belonged there.

On the other hand, duty called, and he could not stand and bewail such a personal desire. Not now. He raised his head and dabbed his eyes with his sleeves. He rubbed his hands together to warm them, and he prepared to walk back to the shelter. Yet he knew that once the day was over, and he could come back to his own room in the inn, he would be sure to check his general before he went to bed...

[Imperialisium]

Lethlinburg
Grand Hall

The Grand Hall was once again host to a singular, large, round table festooned with maps and miniatures. Counters and models simulating troops, while stenciled marks showed movements and possible noteworthy bits of information, she stood before it alone. Mostly. The bodyguards of House Vai stood at attention along all entrances. While a pair bearing small bows strutted the balcony. Zara, chin resting on the back of her fingers, other arm supporting the other. Mused to herself silently at the tactical and strategic situation. In placing herself squarely at Lethlinburg the enemy would have to take the city or be unable to secure the surrounding lands. Unable to press forward to the Coastal areas and bisect the Imperial territories of the Near North. However, she could not move either with the true scope of the enemy forces in the region being unknown.

Lethlinburg was still besieged. The enemy still having encircled the city. Not yet throwing their full weight against the defenses. That would likely happen within the next few days. Now the enemy knows the amount of soldiers holding the city, which is significant, and that only a full out sustained assault bore the chance of quickly securing Lethlinburg. But she could frustrate their plans. From observers on the walls it was clear the enemy lines thinned to the North and North-West. No doubt due to reinforcements being incredibly minimal or null there. No strategic point of value was there either. Only the symbolic complex housing a shrine to Zara's grandmother. The greatest matriarch of House Vai and the one whose actions brought many a Northern lord to heel. Azairya Vai.

Reaching down she gingerly picked up a miniature symbolizing the Imperial cavalry in the city. Moving it to the North. She would strike there. Punch a hole through the siege lines and force the enemy to react. Test their speed of reaction and inflict as much carnage as possible. Shame the Dawnlight had not returned from its mission. No sightings of the great warship had occurred. With it she could have ended this siege in an hour.

Pursing her lips Zara moved away from the table and to the windows. The view was commanding. Allowing her to see over the buildings of the lower castle structures and into the city itself. Black plumes arose from doused fires in the Eastern district. Strict rations would have to be imposed.

[Finsternia]

While Eugeni struggled with his feelings as he walked back to the Eastern District, the soldiers outside had plenty of work to do. Shan Yui had left them with a checklist of sorts, before he had fallen unconscious.The Ledaal troops were busy moving aside rubble, loading debris to be dumped outside the city, and checking for damages. With Shi among them, they hoped to make progress.

“Sir, there’s quite a lot of rocks, mud, and ice blocking this intersection between two of the major streets, all the way over here,” one captain explained, as he pointed to the sludge that covered the road. “Do you know any way to turn that into steam or something? There’s no way we’re going to be able to shovel that-it’s going to be much colder this evening.”

"I could certainly manipulate the ice and move the mess away. Please give me some time, Captain." The Ledaal scion stands before the rubble and mess, surveying the damage on the road. It wouldn't take much of an effort to move it, but an Earth Aspect would have a much easier time in clearing the paths to the city. With a deep breath, Shi reaches with his hands and gestures with his body. Like a seaside wave, the frozen ice and snow answer to his call. Shi then proceeds to sweep the street with the help of the accumulated frost. It takes time, but it's a lot faster than what a brigade of normal humans with shovels could. With a sigh and a wipe to his brow, Shi turns to his compatriots. "Let's survey some houses. There might be trapped citizens under the rubble, or people who haven't been able to leave and evacuate."

The soldiers nodded at his command, watching in awe as he managed to move the icy mixture as if it was only a few snowflakes on the road. Shi was graceful, calm, and subtle as the ocean, capable of exploding with power at any moment. Once he was finished, however, they headed toward the houses along that street. Plenty had major roofing damage and broken windows, but they did not hear any people screaming or crying within the houses. The silence was deafening, and the cold wind that floated past them made them shiver.

“S-Sir?...We...don’t hear anything…” one of the soldiers murmured, before they walked toward one house which was crushed through the roof.

"...Start moving some rubbles. See if there are anyone trapped underneath them, or if there are any survivors. Move!" Shi gestures sharply to his men as he moves towards one of the houses that had its roof collapsed. With careful yet nimble feet, the Water Exalted launches himself up into the air and up the broken wood and stone. There, on top of a shattered house, Shi could see high and far into the district. The Bull's siege weaponry surely made a mess of this one part of the town. "...Good thing the walls weren't hit… But then…" Sighing, Shi leaps down through a hole in order to survey the inside.

"Empty…" The house is all but crushed and destroyed, with nothing left standing but the barest frames and the ground beneath. Rubble, dust, and the faint stench of blood lingers in the air. "Hello? Is anybody trapped in here? If you are still conscious, please respond!" The Exalted's deep voice echoes into the ruined walls, tinged with slight hope that someone would answer.

A single, soft moan came from somewhere upstairs. Shi could not tell if it was a bending beam in the roof, a cat, or a person, but the sound was soft and sorrowful.

"...Somebody is upstairs…" Shi navigates through the rubble with the same dexterity as before. There's little much left from the stairs, but with careful maneuvering he manages to get himself up to the second floor. This place is much tighter than below, with a couple places crushed by the impact of the catapults' volley. With swift yet strong movements, Shi summons pillars of ice from the atmospheric cold to support places that would crumble with the slightest pressure. "At least this could free up some space… If somebody is here… I could take them out through this route…" He continues onward, trying to conserve as much Essence as possible in order to navigate the crumbling interior, as he follows where he thinks the sound of someone trapped is.

A weak wail echoed from down the hall, barely a word and more of a sound. “Heeeeeelp meee…” The sound was from the room furthest down the hall to the right.

"...I'll be right there!" Shi walks faster now that the voice is clearly someone trapped and is in need of help. With a swift kick, he busts through the shut door. "Where are you?! Are you alright?!"

“...Jas...Jas is that you…” the voice sounded as if it was fading in and out of consciousness. When Shi kicked the door open, he was met with the full horrible image of a woman being crushed under an enormous boulder. All of her body below her chest was not visible, and she was bleeding from her mouth. “...Jas...love…”

"...Ah…" Shi is used to blood, but what he deals with is swift and quick bloodshed. Arrows quickly reaps lives with each flight, and daggers cleanly finish jobs that should be done with a flash. He doesn't like suffering, especially for those who do not deserve it. He stares at the blood, at the woman crushed beneath this horrible boulder. He slowly walks towards her. She is still breathing, alive, but with the situation right now she might not be able to do so if he does not move quickly. "Please… Stay with me, madame…" He kneels down beside her and he holds her hand. The woman hears the trickling of water as Shi summons his might. The gentle waves, of water washing up the shore, fills the room as a translucent sea rises behind him. A beautiful serpent, its scales of pure alabaster, rears its head as the Water Exalted raises a fist. "...I just… need to shatter this boulder…" With a deep breath, Shi pulls his fist and punches the boulder. With mystical Essence backing his attack, it was like the might of the sea and the eroding power of water. The woman hears a loud crack, followed by more cracking. She feels water drip to her face as water fills the cracks which then freezes. In a blink the boulder shatters and each fragment freezes and shatters in turn.

The Anima banner behind Shi fades, but not before the serpent lifts her gently into the Exalted's arms. He smiles at her with tired eyes, blue at this moment before turning to turquoise and then to beautiful seaglass. "...Please… Do not shut your eyes… I will get you to treatment as fast as I could… Hold still, alright?" He turns his gaze to his serpent, whom he rides on its head. It slithers through the gap on the roof, which his men and troops would see. They hit the streets, and the alabaster snake vanishes into snow and mist. His men would see him cradle a severely injured woman in his arms, yet he doesn't seem to mind her staining his ornate robes and armor. "...Please get her to safety immediately… She is losing blood and… we need the attention of a Wood Aspect as fast as we could… Get her to Lord Eugeni immediately…"

Eugeni had just arrived back at the shelter, when he saw a horrible sight enter the building. Shi was soaked in blood from the chest down, with a woman barely alive in his lap. Everything beneath her torso was utterly crushed. She was breathing fast and sweating, and her eyes were hardly open. She was covered in blood, and mumbling, “Jas?...Jas?...” She had no idea where she was, and while her eyes were focused on Shi, she somehow thought he was this ‘Jas’.

Without much delay, he hurried to his cousin’s side and looked over the dying woman. “Put her on a cot, I’ll see what I can do. Get a warm towel and help me regulate her temperature. I’ll see about healing her…She’s not aware of her surroundings anymore…”

Shi nods to his cousin and he gently and slowly lays the poor woman down a cot. Eugeni sees that Shi is exhausted from the prior battle, and seeing the damage done on the woman it seems that he has expended much of his remaining strength in saving her. In silence, Shi moves with his cousin in order to save the poor woman. With a towel in hand, he does what Eugeni tells him to do. "She has lost so much blood… Will your sorcery… save her? A Wood Aspect… could help her greatly…" He tries to keep the woman awake, wiping the sweat from her brows and massaging her hands to keep her consciousness from fading. "...She needs blood…"

Eugeni gazed at his cousin for a second, taking note of the weariness on his face. He was alive, thankfully, but he had clearly worked himself beyond his limits. “...I can probably repair her wounds…but it will take some time...bring me the numbing ointment, it’s in the bag, it smells like sandalwood. Hurry,” he murmured. He then put his hands over the woman’s wounds, and robins began to chirp around him. The air lifted, and his hair floated around his ears. He focused on the bones in her legs and pelvis, which had suffered the most damage. Because the wounds were so extensive, he had to sink much of his power into the shattered splinters to knit them together.

The process was also excruciating, and the woman began to scream. Even if she did not know where she was, as Eugeni healed her nerves, she regained the ability to feel pain, and several guards had to restrain her. “Shi! Please, hurry!” he called to him.

Shi does follow his instructions, rushing quickly in order to get Eugeni's bag of medical ointments and implements at the ready. He retrieves the numbing ointment, as well as other instruments that could be used such as a splint, some bandages, needles, and sewing threads. "Here!" The younger Ledaal hands Eugeni the bottle of ointment, popped open for easier access. "Do we have… any hard liquor for her?" He asks a nearby soldier. "...Just a little to numb the pain. Quickly." He then turns to their patient, and he bundles up some scraps of clothing for her to bite onto. "Maam, bite this. Just something for you to focus on as we heal you…"

Without delay, his cousin grabbed the supplies and he put the cloth-bundles in her mouth. She clenched her teeth into the bundle, still screaming, until Eugeni began to rub the numbing ointment over her legs and lower torso. “Her organs will be harder to heal...If you can...use Blood Magic, Shi...then such would be helpful…” he explained, as he continued to pull her bones together with Magic. Her soft tissues would heal next, as long as he was able to concentrate.

The guards harangued the Exalted working outside, until they found one who specialized in Wood. Someone also ran for a Fire Exalted. The Wood Exalted rushed inside, looking baffled by the sudden chaos. “Goodness, what is it now?!”

"Blood is… rather difficult to manipulate… It is under the purview of Wood and not Water…" He turns to the new arrival and takes stock of them. "Are you a healer? We need some help with civilians as well as some of the injured soldiers. Please, she is barely clinging to life." The Wood Exalted would see Eugeni and Shi, clad in Ledaal heraldry and are covered in varying degrees of blood. Whether it is from combat or from treating the injured and the dying, the two Ledaal scions have been busy.

The Wood Exalted grit his teeth at the smell, but then he had smelled blood all day. He held his stomach and knelt opposite Eugeni to try and manipulate Blood. He was nowhere as skilled as the Ledaal medic, who worked in a grave silence near him, but he gave his best effort. “...I don’t think...I can restore all of her lost blood...but....enough…” he murmured.

“That is fine. Anything is fine. Whatever you can do for her…” Eugeni assured him.

As fresh O- blood entered her veins, the woman’s body began to become warm, and she sighed a little as she started to regain a little energy. She was still in pain, but not screaming as much.

“...Should heal her organs...though I’m guessing you were planning on doing that as well,” the Wood Aspect muttered to Eugeni.

He nodded. “...Shi, get her a blanket...She’ll need it for some time after we are finished. She’ll need rest, and maybe something light to eat…” he whispered to his cousin. Shi would now notice that Eugeni was also becoming drained, as he had been healing patients for at least an hour or two. Using this much Magic on one woman was a heavy endeavor, and he was beginning to feel this exhaustion in his own bones.

Shi nods and silently does so, bringing a blanket not just for the woman but for his cousin as well. "...She is safe now… You may rest and sit back, Young Master…" Eugeni feels something placed upon his hands. It's a warm cup of tea, good for exhaustion and this cold weather. "It's a quick brew… Let it steep for a little longer…" Shi smiles at him and he pats his shoulders. "Thank you for helping that woman… It means a lot to me…"

He also turns to the Wood Exalted right afterwards, thanking him for his help. "Thank you very much for your help… If you wish, buy some drinks from the tavern and I will foot the bill. A little thanks for your efforts and… a little liquor would be a good companion for this kind of weather, would it not?" Shi smiles at him, though it vanishes as the man leaves. He turns back to Eugeni and he idly combs his hair.

“Heh...drinks would be great after a day like this. I need something stiff enough to numb my nerves for a while. I think they’ve been shaking all afternoon,” the Wood Exalted cracked, as he managed to heal the woman’s organs as much as he could. His limits meant that some of the surface damage remained, and would have to heal on its own. Yet she was stable, and both the Wood Exalted and Eugeni were sweating from the effort.

The gentle Ledaal noble had a hard time letting the Wood Exalted take-over the healing process, especially since he felt helpless simply waiting for the process to finish. Yet his hands were shaking, and he was glad he had decided against cutting her open and trying an invasive procedure. ”Humility requires letting others take the reins when you reach your limits...doesn’t it, Eugeni?...Let others take care of you…”

His own words echoed in his ears, as Shi placed a hot mug in his hands. A steam, smelling of oranges and herbs, rose from the cup, and he sighed. His cousin knew that Eugeni loved his tea after a long day of studying or pouring over his medicines and tools, and during a war, his love for tea was no different. He smiled at Shi, while tired bags began to show themselves under his eyes. “...Thank you, sweet cousin…” he murmured, sipping the tea.

The Wood Exalted then placed the blanket over the resting patient, took the wad of cloth out of her mouth, and stretched his arms. “...Agh...Blood Magic...is always painful...oh geez…” He glanced at the two Ledaal nobles, watching as Shi stroked his older cousin’s soft auburn hair. “...Heh...You two are close. That’s good. Nothing ties together soldiers in a war like a strong brotherhood. Now if you’ll excuse me...I’ll be at the bar when you wanna get me that drink…” The Wood Exalted stood, stretched again, and walked out the building.

Two of the guards, relieved by the medical efforts they had witnessed, walked over to Shi and Eugeni. “You two are quite the excellent Exalted, but we expected that. Though...Lord Eugeni’s got a bit of a reckless streak, doesn’t he?” One of the soldiers spoke with a mischievous tone.

Shi waves to the Wood Exalted as he leaves. He calls to one of his men, telling him to make sure that the Exalted is well paid for his efforts. "Pay his tab for the night under my name… It's the least I could do for his efforts…" He retrieves a comb from his pockets as he smooths Eugeni's hair, untying knots and tied up strands made by stress and the weather. He sits in silence, combing his liege's hair for a moment of respite, before the two guards approach. "...A reckless streak you say?" Eugeni feels Shi stop for a moment as he was in the middle of braiding the older Ledaal's hair. "I surely hope that Lord Eugeni hasn't given his entourage a big headache while treating patients and wounded soldiers."

The first guard coughed, and the other one nodded to him as if to say, “Go on.” The first guard then answered, “Well, he did save an infant who was stuck in their own house...but erm...he almost got crushed by a boulder in the process. We were going to send troops to help him, but he...went inside by himself.”

Eugeni looked nervous, as Shi stopped combing his hair. His change of tone meant he was not happy, or at the very least annoyed by the prospect of his cousin risking his life without good reason. Though Eugeni had thought it was a good reason, he did not say anything.

Eugeni hears the crisp sound of what seems to be a comb breaking. "...My, my, it seems that our liege seems to have been quite a headache!" The older Ledaal scion sees grey and dark green eyes look down at him with disappointment before turning back to the guards. "While I understand that Lord Eugeni was moved by his soft and tender heart, did anybody even accompany him to ensure that he too would not be buried underneath the rubble? Those swords, spears, and muscles surely are not for display." Shi stands up to cross his arms, a disappointed glare colored by a silent storm over the sea gazes on the soldiers. "...Was he injured in any shape or form?"

The troops lost their nerve, as Shi stood and questioned both of them with a cold, snapping tone. “...We did plan to head in after him, but he used his Magic and...flung himself through the second-story window. I headed to look inside...and uh...saw the ceiling on the first floor starting to cave...a lot,” the second guard explained.

"...Next time stay by his side. And Your Excellency…" Eugeni sees Shi lean down with a smile that does not reach his eyes. "...Please refrain from doing that stunt again. You have bodyguards for the exact reason of protecting you. I was by the gates and walls, how could I come to save you if the roof crumbled down on your back?" His smile turns to a frown again and Eugeni sees him fiddling idly with the broken comb in his free hand. "Next time, think about your safety as well… It is admirable and honorable work… but all your work will be for naught if your life is snuffed by fallen timber."

Even if Shi was technically his servant, he had always been tougher than his gentle cousin, who also did not take criticism well. Eugeni seemed to shrivel under his gaze, though he tried to keep his composure. After all, the guards could not see their leader’s weakness-it would hurt their morale. “...I shall be more careful...Thank you…” he answered. He wished to the gods that the guards had not said anything, but they themselves were quietly moving away to allow the two nobles their space. Eugeni could only guess at how Shi would have reacted in private, and for once he was glad to be at the shelter, and not in his room.

"...You two could take a break. I will handle guard duty for His Eminence." He waves them away as he sits back down. With a little expenditure of Essence, Shi fixes the broken comb with a little ice. He continues to comb Eugeni's hair, and with dextrous fingers he braids them neatly. "Take a bath to wash away your exhaustion and the stench of blood off your body… Did General Shan arrive here safe and sound? I found him outside of the gates unconscious. The poor man was too exhausted to move, and he passed out when the retreat was sounded." Shi's voice grew warmer, even for just a moment. The time for reprimand is over, after all, and he sincerely hopes that his cousin would be more careful in the future.

The mention of Shan Yui reminded Eugeni of the interaction they had shared just a few minutes ago. The general had struggled to speak, as he had tried to tell him about a dream...and then he had stopped and decided to rest. If only he had decided to finish what he was saying. “...He is safe...I cleaned him of all the blood on his body and...gave him fresh clothes. He did not sustain any major wounds, but...he had cleared expended himself, and desperately needed sleep. I brought him to his room at the inn...and then...came back here…” Even as Shi’s voice was now inviting him to talk, Eugeni did not know how to explain what he had felt in that moment, and he needed time to think. His own head ached. “...A bath...for myself...would probably be lovely…”

"It seems that… he still has battle fever… Exhaustion and blood could do things to a man… Let him sleep, and you too need to rest. We'll discuss the things we need to do tomorrow when everyone is rested and in better spirits, hm? I will handle matters for now… Get to your room to wash and clean, Young Master…" Shi leans down to kiss the crown of Eugeni's head, before standing up and helping the older Ledaal up from his seat. He is tired as well, but he still has many things to do. The troops need surveying, their employed soldiers and staff need to be checked up on, and security needs to be reviewed. "I'll be taking watch after I bath as well…" He helps Eugeni get up to his own room before he goes to his own, to change and to get dressed, before leaving for his own duties.

“...Yes...we do not have much time to plan...and so we need...as much rest as we can get…” Eugeni agreed. He stood to walk with his cousin, while the guards patrolled the shelter and monitored the inhabitants. He did not have trouble walking, but as soon as he got to his room, his bathroom and bed began to call for him. He turned and smiled at Shi, giving him a hug before he left. Yet when he was alone, as he walked to go take a bath, his mind began to wander back to Shan Yui. An hour or so had passed now since he had fallen asleep. ”Perhaps...I’ll go check soon…”

Post made by Finsternia and Luminesa

[Luminesa]

Eugeni - Safe for the Moment

Eugeni never thought that he would have enjoyed a bath so much in all his life. Though he did not see combat, his body ached as if it had, and he sank into the tub with delight. He used one of his own soaps, which smelled of sweet jasmine. The scent reminded him of home, and as he stroked it over every muscle under his skin, he felt the comfort he had needed all afternoon. He also applied an ointment to the nape of his neck, which helped to release some of the tension that had formed from leaning over dozens of patients to check their wounds.

“...Ahhh...that’s much better...” He sank deeper into the tub and closed his eyes, letting himself almost fall asleep. Yet as he closed his eyes, he saw them again. Those dreadful images. Eyes of every color, scattered around on the floor. They rolled everywhere, before stopping to gaze at him. Some even blinked. He saw their lids wrinkle and their lashes flicker.

He gulped down a scream, trying to find some way, any way, to keep from panicking. He splashed his face with the bath-water, and then put more relaxing ointment around his shoulders. He also used a scrub on his face to get rid of dirt in his pores, careful to rub some gently over his own eyelids. Just in case. Taking deep breaths, he finished his bath, emptied the used water, and put on some cottony nightclothes and sandals. He also went and combed his hair in the mirror, counting each stroke. Rhythm and routine would be his two weapons against his nightmares, and he would use them as much as necessary.

“One...two...three...four...five...six...seven...”

When his hair was shiny and dried, he stopped and took another deep breath. Thinking back to Shan, he decided that now would be a good time to try and go visit him. Being alone seemed to aggravate his traumatic thoughts, and he had told himself he would, before his bath. He opened the door, creaked it shut behind him, and then turned down the hall. With everyone in their rooms at this inn, save for the staff and some people hanging in the bar, the halls were quiet. Eugeni almost would have preferred them that way, if he had not been trying to escape the images brewing behind his eyes.

Two guards stood stationed outside of Shan Yui’s room, and they became alert when they heard footsteps. As they identified Eugeni, however, they relaxed a little. “Ah, Lord Eugeni! You have come to see the general? I believe he is sleeping.” one soldier addressed him.

“...I would just...like to check on him...He took quite the beating today, after all...I have a duty to pay my respects to him...” the Ledaal noble responded with a kind, genteel tone.

The two troops nodded, and one unlocked the door. As Eugeni entered and closed the door behind him, he fixed his gaze toward the bed and its inhabitant. Shan Yui was silent as he slept, his long hair splayed out on the pillows. He lay a bit crooked, as if he had fallen like a stone into his bed. The Ledaal noble walked toward the bed, and he adjusted Shan a little in his bed. Now his head lay in the center of his pillow, and his head, neck, and back were properly aligned.

Once he had propped the sleeping general, Eugeni grabbed a chair and sat by his bedside. He was so still and serene like a statue, save for his rising and falling chest. He brushed away the hair that had landed in Shan’s mouth, and gazed at his face. “...I should have...listened to what you were trying to tell me...It was important, wasn’t it?...” he whispered, his voice barely a breath. “...I know how it feels...to feel intimidated talking about something close to your heart...You never have to be afraid to talk to me...”

He wondered if Shan Yui could hear him. A blush rose to his face. Here he was being so tender toward this man, and he hardly knew why. Yet he felt the need, the desire, to care for him. After sitting in the sumptuous quiet for a few moments, he leaned over to be closer to his face. Careful as to not awaken him, he gave him a soft peck on each eyelid. “...Good night...” he murmured over his face. Eugeni realized that all of his tiredness had caught him in the moment, and he felt himself sink his cheek into the pillow beside him. He did not mind. The nightmares would not bother him here. He stared at Shan Yui for a few more moments, and then his eyes fell closed.

“...Good...night...dear...”

A Wreck on the Shore...

“BY THE EMPRESS. WHAT IS THAT?!”

A group of Mahajan soldiers had been wandering around the outer walls of Lethlinberg, trying to find some way to move those heavy catapults into the city. They needed to put them in storage, and to see about getting a Wood Exalted to repair them. Their efforts were interrupted, however, as they heard a loud crashing noise from the distance.

Rushing toward the echoing sound, they moved far from Lethlinberg. They moved through the forest, trekking despite their exhaustion, to the sound of what they had thought was an explosion. What they found was almost stranger. An enormous ship had found its way up the river and into the lake, and had crashed into the shoreline with an unceremonious bang.

“...A ship?!...That...wasn’t there before, was it?...”

“Who cares? Someone might be aboard! Should we check?”

“Might as well make sure there’s no enemies coming, but let’s not be hasty. Let’s stay here and see if anyone comes out...”

“Lord Gregor is going to kill us...”

The soldiers mumbled and grumbled amongst themselves, as they waited behind the trees for some sign of life to emerge. They had just fought a major battle, and they hoped that this sudden appearance was not one of the Bull’s navy...

[Antimersia]

Medi Munkii and Azrellia

Some hours ago

The scream was all that could be heard. Not the lightening, not the wake, not the destruction on the ship, or even to scramble by the men to try and save it. Only the scream. Medi was completely unconscious, and he even heard it. It penetrated his very soul. Shaking him at his core. The scream was immense for Azrellia as well. Even with her resillience and desire to save Medi she fell victim to its power as well. Falling unconscious in the depths, as a bright blue glow fills her waning vision, until it is blackness.

The present

Medi's eyes slowly opened. Grey as ever, they provided him with no stimuli. He felt too weakened to activate his senses. So, laying on his back, he used his hands to feel around him. It was all just sand and wood. His body ached, but he managed to force himself up to his feet. He reached around to find a piece of wood that had split from the ship. Once he held what felt like half of a plank to him, he used it as a cane to guide him through his surroundings. He found the hull of the ship and walked along it until he found an opening. Once he felt a gap in the wood he used the makeshift cane to check the size. Finding it to be big enough for him to walk through he left the ship and stepped out onto the beach. The cool ocean breeze hit his face, soothing his pained body ever so slightly. Once he felt this modicum of safety though, a sober thought filled his mind. He didn't know where Azrellia was.

"Azrellia!?" He called out loudly, turning and repeating the call several times. Hoping to heard her respond.

[Luminesa]

Medi Munkii and Azrellia

Some hours ago

The scream was all that could be heard. Not the lightening, not the wake, not the destruction on the ship, or even to scramble by the men to try and save it. Only the scream. Medi was completely unconscious, and he even heard it. It penetrated his very soul. Shaking him at his core. The scream was immense for Azrellia as well. Even with her resillience and desire to save Medi she fell victim to its power as well. Falling unconscious in the depths, as a bright blue glow fills her waning vision, until it is blackness.

The present

Medi's eyes slowly opened. Grey as ever, they provided him with no stimuli. He felt too weakened to activate his senses. So, laying on his back, he used his hands to feel around him. It was all just sand and wood. His body ached, but he managed to force himself up to his feet. He reached around to find a piece of wood that had split from the ship. Once he held what felt like half of a plank to him, he used it as a cane to guide him through his surroundings. He found the hull of the ship and walked along it until he found an opening. Once he felt a gap in the wood he used the makeshift cane to check the size. Finding it to be big enough for him to walk through he left the ship and stepped out onto the beach. The cool ocean breeze hit his face, soothing his pained body ever so slightly. Once he felt this modicum of safety though, a sober thought filled his mind. He didn't know where Azrellia was.

"Azrellia!?" He called out loudly, turning and repeating the call several times. Hoping to heard her respond.

Mahajan’s Soldiers - The Wanderer

The men watched the boat for any signs of life. Any footsteps, any random noises, or any movement at all made them jolt in place. They eyed each other every time they thought they heard something, and one unsheathed his sword in silence as he waited for an ambush. However, what they finally saw was not an enemy. Much to their surprise, they saw a young man with a cane emerge from the ship, feeling for his surroundings and trying to gauge his location. No weapons, no armor, just a marooned stranger and a rough piece of wood in his hand.

“...A single old man?” one soldier murmured.

“Don’t you have eyes? He’s not old! Look at him, he’s blind!” another admonished.

“So should we attack him?”

“Wait! He’s calling someone’s name!”

They stopped bickering and decided to listen to the man’s yells. He was calling for...a woman? He yelled her name several times, with each scream increasing in urgency. After all, he was by himself on an unfamiliar beach, shipwrecked, and the silence that had found him was crushing. As the Mahajan soldiers realized what had possibly happened, one put away his sword and stepped forward, though he kept his hand over the hilt.

“Sir! You are shipwrecked on the shores of the lake of Calmar! My name is Navid, Lieutenant of House Mahajan! Do you require our assistance to locate your friend?!” he called.

[Antimersia]

Medi Munkii

Medi heard the calls of the soldier. He turned towards the sounds, lamenting his weakened state as his senses are so dulled. He begins to take a step towards the voice of the man who introduced himself as a lieutenant of house Mahajan. But, before his foot even touches back down on the ground a loud crash erupts from within the ship. It is just as booming as the one heard by the soldiers earlier. Except this time much closer. Medi stepped away from the ship, confused as to what was happening. He was set to start to run towards the soldiers, but the loud noise disoriented him, and made him lose his bearings. Then, a second explosive sound came from the ship, this time, the source made itself known. A burst of wind blasts away part of the top of the ship as a wispy spirit zips out of the ship, landing roughly on the sand merely a few feet away from Medi. Azrellia lays on the soft sand, completely unconscious. She is unmoving and by the wear and tear of her clothes she had been trying to fight her way out of that ship for quite some time. Or possibly, fighting something else for quite some time. Medi, still unable to sense is lost and confused. He taps around with his cane, having heard something land near him. But, he is completely unable to locate the source.

"What just happened? Was that you Azrellia?" Medi calls out, hoping to get an answer from her, but making sure the soldiers here him just in case it is not. "Lieutenant, please tell me, is there a spirit somewhere around that looks like a smoky lady? I need to find her!"

[Luminesa]

Medi Munkii

Medi heard the calls of the soldier. He turned towards the sounds, lamenting his weakened state as his senses are so dulled. He begins to take a step towards the voice of the man who introduced himself as a lieutenant of house Mahajan. But, before his foot even touches back down on the ground a loud crash erupts from within the ship. It is just as booming as the one heard by the soldiers earlier. Except this time much closer. Medi stepped away from the ship, confused as to what was happening. He was set to start to run towards the soldiers, but the loud noise disoriented him, and made him lose his bearings. Then, a second explosive sound came from the ship, this time, the source made itself known. A burst of wind blasts away part of the top of the ship as a wispy spirit zips out of the ship, landing roughly on the sand merely a few feet away from Medi. Azrellia lays on the soft sand, completely unconscious. She is unmoving and by the wear and tear of her clothes she had been trying to fight her way out of that ship for quite some time. Or possibly, fighting something else for quite some time. Medi, still unable to sense is lost and confused. He taps around with his cane, having heard something land near him. But, he is completely unable to locate the source.

"What just happened? Was that you Azrellia?" Medi calls out, hoping to get an answer from her, but making sure the soldiers here him just in case it is not. "Lieutenant, please tell me, is there a spirit somewhere around that looks like a smoky lady? I need to find her!"

House Mahajan - Lost In Wilderness

Medi almost seemed to walk toward the Lieutenant, but he seemed startled. Of course, being at the very least startled after a shipwreck was understandable, and Navid stood and waited to see whether or not the man needed assistance walking. As he stepped onto the sand, however, an explosion sounded that caused all of the Mahajan soldiers except Navid to rush back a good dozen yards. Screams and shouts erupted at the sudden destruction, and two soldiers drew their swords to await an unseen enemy. However, what landed in the sand next to Medi was not an enemy.

"HOLY-"

"WHAT IN THE IMPERIAL-"

"Is that a body?!"

Chaos erupted, but Navid turned and quieted his men with a stiff hand raised in the air. He then rushed to the scene, checking to see what had landed. A woman, unconscious and motionless, lie in the sand. Her clothes were torn, and she looked as if she had survived a fight. Hearing Medi panic, a held out an arm to him. "Sir, I am right next to you. It's alright. We are not far from civilization. We can bring you and your companion to receive medical attention. Lethlinberg is not far from us, but we need to get away from this area immediately. BOJING! YING! Come help get this woman's body off the ground! Take care of the head and neck! Come on, MAKE YOURSELVES USEFUL!" he ordered his soldiers. The aforementioned men rushed to follow their orders, and carefully lifted the woman out of the sand. Navid nodded, and then looked to Medi. "Your friend is unconscious. We need to move quickly, but first we must ask. Is there something else on that ship that we need to dispatch?"

[Revlona]

Silisia Lancast
Lethlinburg

Silisia narrowed her eyes into a squint as she slipped past the opening in her tent and into the light of day. She waited a few seconds before opening her eyes fully again as they got used to the bright winter sun which assaulted them. With a sigh she placed tow hands onto her armors backplate and did her best to stretch her body, a silent groan escaping her as the muscles screamed in protest, tight from days of labor and waiting for battle. Silisia had obtained been apart of the Vai forces that went uncommitted against the northern assaults and so was like many unblooded soldiers in history, eager to experience such a thing yet terrified at the potential outcomes.

With a final glance around the small tent city that her Regiment had been using as barracks she turned and walked away from the tent city. She tightened the belt from which her families blade hung at her hip as she felt it loosen as she walked, she passed Lady Vais command center as she walked, she had seen the Lady Vai only a few times the entire time they had been on campaign and never once had she been within 50 feet of her. With another sigh and a tired shrug the young woman continued walking, trying to find something to do with her off time in between battles.

She had already spent the morning helping to patch up damage across the city before being let off duty, what followed then was a much needed nap which lead to the present situation of boredom that every soldier could easily associate with. "Maybe a tavern is open deeper into the city..?" She muttered to herself, her accent that of a well educated young woman. She had been born into a family wealthy enough to properly educate their children luckily for her.

Half an hour of walking later she finally found an open tavern which was currently packed to the brim with off duty soldier like herself, "The Prancing Squirrel...it'll do I guess" She said, falling into her old habit of speaking her thoughts out loud. "I wonder if they even have any ale left, I'm probably about to buy a cask of aled down water," She said again, her voice not loud but also not a whisper as she sat down at a table and chair which looked to have been borrowed or taken from a living room. "An ale and tonight's dinner please, one ration" She said as she flicked handed a few coins to the harassed looking serving girl that came over a few minutes later. The girl took her coin, looked her over once, and nodded before walking off.

Several minutes later she came back with her drink and meal before leaving just as she set the food and drink down, another soldier catching her attention with a raised hand. Silisia let out another sigh as she settled more comfortably into her seat and began to sip and her drink and pick at her food, her eyes glancing around the gathered soldier as she did so. "Mahajan...Elledanos...I don't know who those are, savages from the south maybe..quite a group" She muttered.

[Antimersia]

Medi Munkii

Medi listened to the soldier. Hearing them mention his friend made him confused. He had hoped it was Azrellia. But without his senses it could have been anyone from the ship. Although with a powerful burst of magic like the one he heard, he doubted it could be anyone else. As the soldier asked him if there was anyone on the ship that needed to be dispatched, Medi's mind went blank for a moment. His memory of the water took hold. The scream, the blue lights. He knew the source in his heart but he was terrified to admit it even to himself. He pushed the thought from his mind, turning to the soldier who had his arm on him.

"I- I don't think so. We were attacked by something from the sea. Something large and strong. But, I don't think it could be on land with us still. Please, be careful, if the friend you are referring to is who I hope it is, she is a spirit. I'm not really certain how one would treat her wounds. But I thank you for your help." Medi says, each word getting weaker until he eventually collapses into the Lieutenant's arms, passing out suddenly.

[Luminesa]

Medi Munkii

Medi listened to the soldier. Hearing them mention his friend made him confused. He had hoped it was Azrellia. But without his senses it could have been anyone from the ship. Although with a powerful burst of magic like the one he heard, he doubted it could be anyone else. As the soldier asked him if there was anyone on the ship that needed to be dispatched, Medi's mind went blank for a moment. His memory of the water took hold. The scream, the blue lights. He knew the source in his heart but he was terrified to admit it even to himself. He pushed the thought from his mind, turning to the soldier who had his arm on him.

"I- I don't think so. We were attacked by something from the sea. Something large and strong. But, I don't think it could be on land with us still. Please, be careful, if the friend you are referring to is who I hope it is, she is a spirit. I'm not really certain how one would treat her wounds. But I thank you for your help." Medi says, each word getting weaker until he eventually collapses into the Lieutenant's arms, passing out suddenly.

Mahajan - The Voodoo That You Do

Medi was not too helpful about the details of his crash-landing. He was beyond disoriented, and his eyes wandered as Navid tried to explain what they were going to do to help him. Then again, he had been using a makeshift cane, so he was most likely blind. The Lieutenant turned to his men and motioned for them to move. "Move, move, MOVE!" he yelled, ushering them to get away from the ship. He had no idea if some sort of creature had followed them, and he wanted to get everyone back to Lethlinberg before Gregor started thinking they had deserted the city.

"Did uhhh...did that guy just say this lady is a spirit?" one soldier questioned.

"Yeah, if she's a spirit why's she so heavy?" another asked.

Navid turned and looked at the second soldier with an exasperated gaze. "If you could ever stop asking stupid questions, Ying, the little rabbits hopping in your skull might be able to catch their breath and get the carrot." He then turned back to Medi, whom he was now carrying due to the fact that he had collapsed in his arms. Just when they day could not get any worse... he thought. The group trekked their way back to Lethlinberg, though they stopped as an aura of terror fell over them. Gregor was standing outside the Western Gate, armed crossed, his eyes glaring directly at the group.

"...Oooooooh we are so dead..."

"SHUT UP!" Navid ordered. He then turned back to Gregor and saluted. "Lord Gregor! We heard an explosion and we went to the source! We found this body and-"

The Mahajan noble took about three strides to reach his Lieutenant, whose lungs turned cold as his presence interrupted him. "Did I, at any point, tell you that you could freely leave the city?" he inquired. Navid knew better not to answer, so he simply waited for his leader to speak. "If you hear something that sounds like an explosion, or any sort of threat, you do not go tackle it without informing ME first. Do I make myself clear?!" His eyes pierced all of his soldiers, who nodded in frightened unison like rings in cold, rattling chainmail. "Very good. Bring the bodies to the infirmary."

"E-Erm, if I may, s-sir?" Ying piped-up, terrified of the garnet gaze that fell on him. "Th-This lady is...um...apparently a spirit...Sh-She...might need something that's...not medical care..."

Gregor took a look at the unconscious woman, and then his pinched his nose. "...A spirit. Lovely...Well...I may have something I can do. Bring her to my chambers." Nobody dared order him about what he could and could not do, and so the two soldiers brought Azrellia's form toward the Mahajan's inn.

In the meantime, Navid finally breathed again as he carried Medi to the nearest shelter. With the building now calm due to most of its inhabitants beginning to sleep, he was able to approach a cleric and to ask for help. "Found this stranger in a ship, he needs healing, or something for exhaustion," he explained. The medic nodded, and began to use some of the reviving ointments Eugeni had left. They smelled strong, like cinnamon and spice, and filled the nose enough to make one's eyes water. He rubbed this ointment over Medi's chest, and looked over the rest of him for wounds. "...Oh dear, oh dear...if that doesn't work, this is definitely worse than a little exhaustion. Might be a concussion, might be worse..." he murmured.

In the meantime, Gregor decided to take Azrellia's healing into his own hands. He did not want to disturb Shi or Eugeni, and was confident enough in his own skills to try and help her. Spirits needed energy, and he could give it to her without causing anyone else to feel harm. He laid her on the floor, and then closed the door. He snapped his fingers, and the candles in his room came alight. He snapped them again, and the fireplace yawned to life. Between all of these fires, big and small, was enough energy to revive an unconscious soul such as herself. While he let the fires work, he sat in a nearby lounge and smoked, letting the natural Magic work its course.

[Luminesa]

So Flies the Evening...

The evening continued to pass, now as an uneasy quiet began to settle over all of Lethlinberg. Soldiers continued their rounds, moving rubble and debris as much as they could. Daana went to help both Ledaal and Mahajan's troops, using his fire to melt some of the sleet and snow that prevented them from reaching some damaged areas. He had expended himself quite a lot, but he fought through pain to give the men a hand. Then he watched them from afar, giving orders and resting his power for a while. Troops rolled boulders out of houses when they could, provided the structure of the houses would stand if they moved them. They took stock of the levels of damage to different neighborhoods and assessed their needs.

They also went and counted the people, both living and dead. Out of Lethlinberg's population, about two dozen had gone missing. Of that number were dead, and they got help moving bodies out of collapsed homes. Some were crushed beyond recognition, and could only be named based on their clothes. Others were more preserved, and had possibly died of heart attacks or strokes. They also found one toddler, a little girl. No parents, no information.

"Well, apparently she's mute, what should we do with her?" one soldier questioned.

"For Heaven's sakes, she's someone's child, you idiot!" Daana scolded the troop. "She's sitting chewing stale bread in a cabinet, in a cold house with a giant hole in the roof. Bring her to the shelter in the Western District and don't ask me anymore idiot questions!" The troop obeyed, and tried to cajole the little girl out of her hiding place. He gave her a little piece of salted pork from the inn's kitchen, and she devoured it. As soon as she swallowed the food, she slowly rose to her feet, and Daana hurried over to her. "She can hardly walk, what are you doing just standing there?!" He then held out his arms to the little girl, who let him lift her. "We've got a cot available for you, I'm sure. You'll like to have a warm belly full of soup, won't you?" She nodded, though her eyes still shone with anxiety. "It's okay, I have little ones at home. My boys always ask for food, sometimes I wonder if they're actual dragons in disguise!" With a chuckle, he carried the little girl out of the house, giving his troop the stink-eye as he motioned for him to follow. Yet when Daana turned his eyes back to the little girl, he gave her a big, goofy grin.

Eugeni/Shan Yui - Blue In Green

Eugeni slept while sitting at Shan's bedside, and he had needed this rest. His body was limp from exhaustion, but warm from resting. He did not snore, so his sleep was quiet. The evening continued to stretch forward, maybe for another hour, until the Ledaal noble heard panicked breathing. "...Hm...mhm?...Wha..."

Shan Yui sat awake in bed, breathing heavily and trying to understand what he had just seen. He hated how his bad dreams had been keeping him from enjoying the sleep he needed, and now he groaned under his breath as sweat dripped off his nose. "...Gah...hah...ahhhhhhh..." After coughing to catch his breath, the general became aware of another presence in his room, and he blinked. He turned toward the shadow now sitting upright, and his eyes adjusted to the darkness. "...Who is...Oh...I...Lord Eugeni?!" He had not thought he would come back to see him so quickly, though he had no idea how much time had passed. He was also embarrassed that the Ledaal noble had seen him caught in the grip of a nightmare, shivering and struggling to compose himself.

"...You had a bad dream, dear?..."

The way he said 'dear' was such a tender afternote, a wisp of sweetness in an air of fear. Shan Yui nodded, hoping Eugeni could not see the blush on his face. "...These dreams...of my family...keep coming back. I am sure that...even now, they believe I have failed them...Even now, while being a general and leading your very army...They have always believed it, and now I hear their laughter...their jeers...I just can't seem to shake this miserable feeling...that they will never be pleased..."

Eugeni let Shan vent about his nightmare and about his insecurities, and he reached to stroke his hair. He did feel as if he had raven's feathers for hair. "...But you are a successful general...fighting in a grand war for the honor of our kingdom...That you have not had time to conceive a child is-"

"Unacceptable to them. My cousin has two...I'm...running out of time..." As he spoke the last phrase, a tear fell down the general's cheek. Children were everything, whether they were loved or not by their parents. His cousin left his children to go and sleep with women around the kingdom. His parents did not mind, as they got more grandkids. Shan's parents did not mind either, as they got to bury the pain of their only son still having none. "...Lord Eugeni...what if...I have been doomed from the start...I have calculated all of my decisions to bring honor...but what...what shall I find in the end?...Happiness?...What is happiness when you are not allowed to make your own way..."

"Shan...you have made your own way...You have done much more than I..." the Ledaal scion assured him. "...Have I not told you how proud I am of you?...You...bring me happiness just by being who you are...We could not have survived this day without you...As for your family..." He sighed, thinking of the pressure his own parents were putting on him to bear children. They loved him and had tried to shield him from consequences, so that he could study as he liked. However, he knew that even they could not protect him forever. He wiped Shan's cheek with a thumb. "...If they cannot see you for the wonderful person you are, then they have missed an opportunity. You are around your men, people who do believe in you...the people of Lethlinberg...and me..."

Shan Yui's blush grew brighter, and he reached forward to pull Eugeni into an embrace. He squeezed him, and held a hand in his hair. "...Stay the evening with me, won't you?..." he whispered.

"Ah?..." Eugeni's own blush grew a little, and he gazed at Shan Yui with surprise. His voice sounded even more delicate now.

"...Just for the evening...Nothing has to happen...just...you are here...and...you have cared so much for me...Pardon me if...I am being selfish..."

Eugeni blinked twice, and tears fell down his own cheeks as his general apologized for his request. Knowing the pain he had endured in his heart, he could not turn down such a plea. "...No, no...you can ask me anything...I won't leave...Shhhhhh..." He did not know if he was consoling Shan or himself, but tears fell down both of their cheeks, and they spent time in each other's embrace with such vulnerability between them. Eventually, the tears stopped, as Shan Yui lie down in his bed. Eugeni lie next to him, and hugged him. "...I'll stay..." he whispered.

They both became still, as they closed their eyes to sleep. Both of them were afraid of nightmares, of their demons coming back to find them, much like children hiding from monsters under their beds. They clung to each other, with Shan keeping his arms around Eugeni's back and with the latter nestling close to his chest. They began to dream in peace, for the first time in several nights for both of them.

The Prancing Squirrel - Silisia and the Fiery Boys

Silisia had taken her time in the bar to nurse her drink, as many patrons were wont to do after a long day of battling. Dinner was a block of cheese, some sweetmeats, apples stewed in honey, and warm sourdough bread with butter. The scents were rich and warm, and with her drink she would soon feel the sleepy contentment that came from a good, hot meal.

Until a couple of Mahajan's soldiers waltzed into the bar.

A handful of soldiers had decided to do a pub crawl, after they were relieved of their duties, and they headed to The Prancing Squirrel because it was on their list. They were not overtly boisterous as they entered, but at least one troop was three sheets to the wind, and when they sat down to get drinks he immediately fell asleep. His friends laughed and talked about how much they had to drink, as well as how many enemies they had killed. One turned and looked toward the bar, and they saw Silisia sitting by herself, hoping for some peace and quiet. He nudged his friends and turned their wide, saucer-like eyes toward the pretty girl sitting alone. "Hey...hey...watch this..." one of them murmured, as they rose to approach her.

He walked over and sat next to her, ordering another rum before he smirked at her. "Why hello there. You're all dressed-up with nowhere to go, well...I can give you someone to see, if you'd like." He continued to grin, as his friends at their table began to cheer and goad him. The barkeeper already looked as if he wanted to scream. "There's not much sightseeing to do in...a cold, frosty town like this. But we can build a snowman, if you know what I mean." He winked.

[Revlona]

Silisia - The Prancing Squirrel

Silisias eyes flicked to her left as the obviously drunk soldier sat down beside her. “If he doesn’t touch me then I’ll just ignore it,” she thought to herself as he rattled off some awful pick up lines, all the while glancing over his shoulder as his drunken friends egged him on from their table.

After he was done with his little lines she turned towards him just a bit, the steel armor she wore clinking together as she shifted her weight, the sword at her hip moving with her body. “You couldn’t handle half of me little man,” She says, her eyes flicking around her for potential allies should things get dicey.

There were at least a dozen other other soldiers wearing the Vai colors in the bar, some of them had even begun to take notice of the current situation. The Mahajan man and his buddies were being quite loud after all. There were also half a dozen Ledal troops and maybe a dozen more Mahajan men, things would get messy if they got violent.

After she said her fill to the solder, she turned away from him and picked up the heavy wooden cup she was drinking her ale from. She brought it to her mouth and took a sip, leaving it here for a second as she awaited any response from the boisterous soldier.

[Luminesa]

Silisia - The Prancing Squirrel

Silisias eyes flicked to her left as the obviously drunk soldier sat down beside her. “If he doesn’t touch me then I’ll just ignore it,” she thought to herself as he rattled off some awful pick up lines, all the while glancing over his shoulder as his drunken friends egged him on from their table.

After he was done with his little lines she turned towards him just a bit, the steel armor she wore clinking together as she shifted her weight, the sword at her hip moving with her body. “You couldn’t handle half of me little man,” She says, her eyes flicking around her for potential allies should things get dicey.

There were at least a dozen other other soldiers wearing the Vai colors in the bar, some of them had even begun to take notice of the current situation. The Mahajan man and his buddies were being quite loud after all. There were also half a dozen Ledal troops and maybe a dozen more Mahajan men, things would get messy if they got violent.

After she said her fill to the solder, she turned away from him and picked up the heavy wooden cup she was drinking her ale from. She brought it to her mouth and took a sip, leaving it here for a second as she awaited any response from the boisterous soldier.

The Prancing Squirrel - Why You Wanna Hurt Me?

The soldier stared at her, and then looked back to his friends. Clear as day, Silisia could not want less to do with him, but clarity is hard to find with beer goggles. The men seemed to nod to him, as if they were goading him to do something possibly quite stupid. Only one managed to take notice of the Vai soldiers in the room, but they said nothing. The soldier talking to Silisia continued to pay attention to her, unwarranted or not. He paid for another drink, though the barkeeper gave him a suspicious look as he went to dig for the liquor.

"If you touch her, I'm cutting you off. We're not tolerating that, sir," the man warned. He squared his shoulders and gave a look to the bouncers at the door. When he gazed back at the drunk in question, he waited for a confirmation that he had heard him.

The man hiccupped, and then hiccupped and burped at the same time. "Ahhhhhhhhh the doctor always said it feels sure good to get it...ALLLLLLL out before you go to bed...thanks, barkeep. You're the father I always wanted," he slurred, with a stupid grin on his face.

The barkeeper looked a slight bit uncomfortable, but nodded. "Take your drink and go sit down in that booth. Understood?" The soldier barely made it to the booth and put his rum on the table, before his head smacked the edge of the table and he fell into the booth, legs straight-up like uncooked pasta. The tender sighed, and gave Silisia a sympathetic look, before another soldier walked toward the bar. "May I help you?"

He looked back to the same group, which gave the bartender a bit of a pause. "Uhhhhh yes, sir, I'd...like a shot of some of that pale ale right there," he said, pointing with a noodly finger toward Silisia.

[Antimersia]

Medi Munkii

Medi finally awoke, feeling soothing warmth running through his body. His eyes opened to the nothingness he is used to. But he felt invigorated, at least partly. He breathed in deeply, and used the small amount of essense that he had built back up to activate his senses. He focused, allowing himself to scan the room by the disturbances in the air. He sensed the cot he was laying on. He sensed the others that joined him, several of them he could hear groaning in pain. He sensed the man just above him in cleric's robes. The cleric was looking down at him as he checked Medi's condition. Medi smiled for a moment. He remembered the beach and the soldiers who helped him. He did not sense Azrellia in the room, which worried him, but he believed her to be safe.

"Hey, Doc!" Medi said enthusiastically as he suddenly sat up on his cot. He looked the cleric right in the eyes as he spoke, the hauntingly grey but joyous eyes peering at the man, making it hard to guess that Medi were actually blind. "How am I doing? I feel pretty good, so you must do great work!"

Azrellia

Azrellia, a spirit of friendship is one that never wishes to harm anyone if she doesn't have to. Especially not a new potential friend. but in her weakened and borderline battered state, she is not even conscious of the fact that she is siphoning energy from Gregor as she rests by him. her smoke like form gradually thickening and turning deeper shades of grey. She remains unconscious for a time, but being in the presence of a Dragon-Blooded, allows her to heal and regain strength more swiftly than she would be able to otherwise. Her unconscious mind is filled with a plethora of dream like thoughts. Most of them return to Medi, and her hope for his well being. The few that are not are ones of anger and hatred, towards the being that attacked them. The memory of the blue glow and the scream makes her shiver in her slumber.

[Revlona]

Silisia - The Prancing Squirrel

The Prancing Squirrel - Why You Wanna Hurt Me?

The soldier stared at her, and then looked back to his friends. Clear as day, Silisia could not want less to do with him, but clarity is hard to find with beer goggles. The men seemed to nod to him, as if they were goading him to do something possibly quite stupid. Only one managed to take notice of the Vai soldiers in the room, but they said nothing. The soldier talking to Silisia continued to pay attention to her, unwarranted or not. He paid for another drink, though the barkeeper gave him a suspicious look as he went to dig for the liquor.

"If you touch her, I'm cutting you off. We're not tolerating that, sir," the man warned. He squared his shoulders and gave a look to the bouncers at the door. When he gazed back at the drunk in question, he waited for a confirmation that he had heard him.

The man hiccupped, and then hiccupped and burped at the same time. "Ahhhhhhhhh the doctor always said it feels sure good to get it...ALLLLLLL out before you go to bed...thanks, barkeep. You're the father I always wanted," he slurred, with a stupid grin on his face.

The barkeeper looked a slight bit uncomfortable, but nodded. "Take your drink and go sit down in that booth. Understood?" The soldier barely made it to the booth and put his rum on the table, before his head smacked the edge of the table and he fell into the booth, legs straight-up like uncooked pasta. The tender sighed, and gave Silisia a sympathetic look, before another soldier walked toward the bar. "May I help you?"

He looked back to the same group, which gave the bartender a bit of a pause. "Uhhhhh yes, sir, I'd...like a shot of some of that pale ale right there," he said, pointing with a noodly finger toward Silisia.

Silisia - The Prancing Squirrel

Silisia looked to the Barkeep as he warded off the first man and flashed him a genuine smile of appreciation, that smile turning to rot as another man from the same group of Mahajan soldiers sauntered up to the bar. He came uncomfortably close to Silisia, closer than the first man, and she tensed up her muscles to lash out at him as he pointed to her drink.

"I'm going to finish this drink and then leave, this is getting annoying," She muttered under he breath, looking at the half empty cup she was holding. She tipped it up and a third of the remaining liquid dissapeared into her mouth. She kept her eyes on the new drunk beside her as she drank, always keep her hand on the heavy wooden cup that would serve as a decent improvised weapon should it come to that. "You're a little close for comfort and you aren't so easy on the nose, mind giving me back my personal space?" She said to the drunk, once again swiveling half way in her seat to face him.