Pillars of the Kingdom

She’s walking through these creatures opening and closing her eyes as the situation seems to dictate, with not one drop of her own blood —

Serge felt it first, the ripple of mystical energy nearby, one which tore his thoughts to a completely different track. He looked upward over the nearby hills and gasped audibly - Fire. He leaned forward, raising his shield in preparation for the worst, and was rewarded with exactly what he anticipated. A large ball of flame was heading toward the city! He cursed and leaped into the air. While Clarice had hit thirty feet without difficulty, Serge was no less than fifty feet airborne and still rising.

Judging accurately, he raised his shield to the huge fireball. It struck him and he gritted his teeth, his own power rising around him to deflect the attack or, if he were not able to refract it, to nullify it at a much higher cost to his flesh. The flame exploded against his barriers and sent him falling to the ground. He recovered almost immediately from the breathtaking fall, slaming into the ground and rolling to his feet near the battle raging around him. One Raptor decided to get brave and attack him, and he dispatched it with nary a thought. That fireball...That had to be something big, and this can’t be it...He paused to concentrate his energy, silencing his thoughts before they got in the way.

Unfortunately, the first phase of the battle was almost over and Serge felt more energy signatures rising around him. Not just the incredible source of that fireball, but six or seven less powerful ones to back it up. Six or seven ones right around him, ones which had escaped his ability to detect them.

The ground nearby exploded in a shower of soil and seven metallic entities stepped through the cracks in the earth. Each one of these resembled, in a very faint way, the electrical sprites which had not long ago been slain. Shit, Serge thought as he readied himself, This just got a whole lot worse.

*****
As she found the right vantage point from within the city; one capable of seeing over the walls and concealing her, yet letting her position herself properly, she bit her bottom lip ever so tightly as she anticipated her duty. Though she knew she had a few more alternatives than she intended to use, she still knew that the situation was not getting better and to not act now could force greater action later.

She opened the case and quickly assembled the rifle. She cocked the bolt and checked momentarily to ensure the receptor was clean. The weapon accepted “charges,” shaped crystals which were broken up into six easily processed pieces. Each piece would be rapidly “tapped” once she pulled the trigger, releasing all of its energy into a powerful beam which could reach over a long distance and do a great deal of damage.

She long ago had built this custom-made weapon for herself based on technology predating Coaslund’s research centers. Most long-range weapons were solid projectiles, as energy dissipated too rapidly to be effective at a distance. By using this six-charge method, each chunk of material would be burned up instantly and would dissipate at a slow pace, giving the weapon a powerful punch which would make up for most of the energies that burned off.

She quickly threw the tripod together and lined it up with the direction of battle. Patiently she sighted down the field and dry-fired twice, making certain everything worked properly, aiming at nothing in particular. She finally looked at the seven silverish creatures, and then looked up over the closest of the rolling hills.

She bit off a curse as what she saw enticed a shiver to run down her spine. The hill itself was many feet high and yet this creature - manlike in nature, with a beard that actually dripped red sparks and wearing flame as a fashionable outfit - was clearly taller than it. When a monster was over forty feet tall, it could only mean trouble. The good news? She had many blue crystal charges, very light blue ones - Those not just of water but those of ice. Her rifle could fire any form of crystal, be it fire or earth, and she made damn sure to carry those along with special “last-ditch” ammunition she kept as secret as possible.

The first of these shaped charges was loaded into her gun, and Kathy smiled to herself. Come on, baby, just get distracted. I know you’re smarter than you let on, and I ain’t gonna shoot until you’re nice and busy. Just show me a shot.

*****
“Take care of them!!” Serge shouted, confident that his comrades would interpret the rather vague order correctly. He knew as well as anyone what a disaster this had turned into. Clearly this was more than a signal of “teamwork” - This was definitely some sort of coordinated attack against the town. White light began to shimmer from Serge’s blade as he bit his bottom lip.

“Not as young as I used to be...” he muttered, knowing full well the consequences that harsh action could have upon him, knowing the side effects of using a large amount of spiritual energy in a terribly short period of time. Regardless, he also knew what little chance Jacin, Charles, and perhaps even Alan really had against a Fire Titan. But with seven of these Steel Sprites to back the rest of the attackers up? This was a disaster waiting to happen.

He raised his sword slowly, white light radiating off of it, then ran toward the large beast. His eyes narrowed as he leaped into the air, landing upon and delivering a thrusting blow toward its slightly bent knee. It reacted as he’d predicted as blood which resembled magma poured from the deep puncture wound, and Serge used the knee’s curvature to quickly leap away from it, letting it bleed and think for a while on its new decoration.
*****
“This ain’t getting anywhere!” Charles screamed, bashing his sword against the metallic entity once again. While his blade was enchanted, he just couldn’t seem to gather enough force to penetrate the creature’s resistance to damage. It was rather interesting, how the beasts chose not to attack despite how often he drew sparks from metallic friction.

“No, not at all!!” Jacin might have had it easier, as he’d decided to focus primarily on the Raptors still standing. While few of the land-bound lizards were still alive, he’d only claimed one Wyven. Most of the fliers were doing their best to avoid being chewed to bits by the hot lead fired into the sky by the platform guns. His new spear, glowing red with mystical fury, was almost enough to penetrate the incredible metaphysical defense of the human shaped mass of steel when faced with one of them after dispatching the last of the nearby Raptors. Almost.

“Serge!!” Shouted Clarice, the only one who’s swords had any real effect upon the beasts. She’d nearly, almost killed one. With each deep wound she opened, molten metal poured from it and rapidly cooled to seal the wound. At the very least, it also seemed to adhere to her swords and keep them from getting severely notched up.

Upon failing to hear a reply, Clarice shouted again. “Serge, we can barely even hurt these things! A little help?”

One of the elementals, in a way which shocked even Clarice, looked at her and spoke. “He not helping. He dying. You dying.”

With the element of surprise absolutely in their favor, they began a vicious attack.

*****
“Dammit,” she whispered as she lowered her gun, focusing the sights upon the one - yes, one - of these silver things attacking the blonde haired kid called Jacin. Two of them, of course, were on her lover; but Clarice could handle herself despite the sudden pause in her motion and the near-impact of a claw against her face.

One was on the boy named Charles, who was holding his own by, in general, becoming a turtle with his shield. Jacin, however, had quickly taken two wounds to the chest. Three others were headed toward the city’s gates; aside from the archers which would strike them with flaming arrows, they’d have to deal with Alan Booker, a more competent man then he let on in combat (though a complete prick to deal with in a social situation.).

She drew in a very slow breath, holding it as she rested the sight right at the creature’s chest, and she waited until an opportune moment. There. She squeezed the trigger once, the barrel of the rifle rising a little (Crystal weapons produced minimal kickback, thankfully), and watched the long line of energy depart from the weapon’s muzzle.

She fired once again, the quick-succession shots intended to make sure that even if one round was avoided the second would strike true. She knew ahead of time she likely didn’t need this second shot, and the first round smashed into the Steel Sprite attacking Jacin. It barely had time to accumulate a layer of condensation before the second struck and froze the thing while it was moving, the metal becoming so brittle that it cracked on its own accord due to its inertia. What hadn’t broken off was melting to re-form, but that left the awkwardly colored metallic heart of the beast open to attack.

“Now!!” She shouted to him, and Jacin fulfilled his task nobly.
*****
They saw the large Titan and the man fighting it, and both riders paused. Branden leaped off of Coldflame’s back and quickly began assembling and donning his armor. His dark plated partner approached him and canted her head, having never chosen to remove her black platemail.

“What are you doing, Branden?” She asked quizzically, her head remaining cocked at that curious and oddly sexual position. Branden couldn’t help but blush as he observed her mesmerizing face.

“I’m saving a town, what’s it look like?” He said in a muffled voice while sliding the lightweight blue breastplate over his body, quickly affixing a dark blue cape to his back to add the effect that any hero would drool over.

“You’re kidding,” she retorted, shaking her head in the negative. “We have greater tasks ahead of us.”

“You forget, M’Lady, that my assignment with The Four is to work within Emor’s political structure and keep tabs on what they know. And...” he added as an afterthought, “I’ve seen that they know nothing. So let’s keep it that way, eh wandering stranger?” A slight grin came over his face before he placed a blue helmet on his head - One which left him a large field of vision with which to use his incredible speed. So what if he’d just come up with a pliable excuse to help his godfather out - Even if he couldn’t come up with one, he’d sooner kill this black haried vixen and arrive to save the day rather than let Serge fall.

The woman sighed, but shrugged her shoulders as she too put her helmet on. “Alright,” she said with resignation, “but far be it from me to be responsible for this nightmare of a distraction.” The fact was that she did not approve. “If our Lord disapproves...”

“Don’t worry,” Branden said with a look to his left hand as his right hand twirled his saber idly, “It will be quick.”

Chapter Fifteen

Each breath was difficult, and he didn’t know if he could continue standing through this onslaught. Had he not already dispelled (with nothing more than sheer power) those electrical entities this would be no problem for him, no problem at all - Oh well, too late was too late, and next time he resolved not to use so much power so early in a battle with beasts; he never did when dealing with other humans. Serge bit down on his bottom lip from underneath his helmet, knowing full well that the helmet direly needed to get fixed after this little duel.

He raised his shield to block the kicking foot that seemed to appear from thin air and allowed the momentum to shoot him backwards, the toes of his feet being angled to trail along the ground until they came against a strong enough rise in the ground to support his weight and counter the inertia he’d built up. He felt one and acted quickly, curling into as compact a ball as he could and letting the force of the blow shoot through his legs as if they were shock absorbers. With the force of the impact dispersed into the ground - the stones underneath him beginning to buckle from the pressure - He added his own strength into it. The ground cracked into small stones just as he leaped into the air.

He very nearly was flying, and the feeling drew him back to his days of youth. He smiled to himself for a moment, letting that reminiscence have some time in the front of his mind before he reached the Titan’s striking distance. He frowned as he returned to reality, feigning a preparation for a thrust. The Titan would never throw a punch into a sword with even a faint glow of energy around it - And Serge lit his up like a star to deter the forward attack.

Instead it waited for the thrust to come, flames gathering around its body before a stream of red energy fired from its eyes. Serge raised his shield, the beams parting around the solid metal easily thanks to his spiritual defenses. He grinned to himself for just a moment before the oddest thing happened - A wall of ice sprouted up in front of him. This not being an Ice Titan and there being no other energy sources than his foe, he was plainly surprised.

He bounced off of the frozen water and fell to the ground, his balance so thrown off he nearly couldn’t manage a proper landing. Taking just a split second to scan his surroundings, he looked immediately to his right, fifty or so yards away, where Branden Frost stood with his saber at the ready and his battle gear on his body.

“Hey old man!” He said as he waved his left hand and the dagger in it, “You didn’t think I’d let you take all the fun out of this big guy, eh? But I take it, from your impression, you’ve had a long day already?” Ahh, playful youth; Branden had so much energy in his voice that it jarred Serge to reality. The elder hadn’t even realized that his own “impression,” one phrase for the “aura,” “vibe,” or whatever one wanted to call the spiritual corona around him, had dropped to a minimum. He hesitated, not wanting to admit his weakness, then nodded his head.

“Yeah, I had to deal with some Elder Lightning Sprites, and the city itself is getting hammered by elder Steel ones. All in all a miserable proposition,” Serge offered, information which was vital to the defense of the town being placed in the hands of the younger warrior.

He glanced about ten yards from Branden, seeing the charcoal black figure of the armor-wearing woman next to his foster-son. He could tell by the form of the plates she was female, and while she hid it well there was a terrible undercurrent in her spiritual wake. Whatever it was, this girl was powerful in a bad way.

“Yes, the old one is correct,” She began in a haughty voice, “I’ll go help deal with these sprites, Branden. You take the flame thing - It’s where you’ll be easier off.” Serge bit his bottom lip from just a taste of the sheer arrogance this woman had. The power was there to back it, true, but...He couldn’t help but feel disturbed, feel that her pride would be her downfall.

The two split up, Branden drawing a circle in the dirty by drawing the tip of the blade along the floor; the mysterious lady running quickly toward the city. Serge decided it would be best to watch his young friend handle this situation, as he wanted nothing to do with the woman in black.
*****
“One down, two left, and I’m only bleeding a little. Not bad, all in all,” He muttered gently to himself as he quickly adjusted the spear-shield in front of him to deflect an oncoming attack from the one on his right. The one on his left moved as well, but he was faster and they all knew it.

Alan’s spear was planted into the ground and used as a point of leverage for him to press himself into the lower part of the creature. It would fall - On top of him, nonetheless - but he had more than enough speed to make this move work on this foe. As the metallic creature fell he quickly re-adjusted the spear and planted the back of it on the ground, letting the sprite fall atop it. He wrenched his shoulders, nearly dislocating them, lifting the monster just enough that he could, with the tip of the spear, curve the beast’s flight path into a full circle with its back against the ground. All the force of a full spear thrust was now coming down right in the monster’s chest, and there was no air for it to be knocked back into. The ground trembled as the liquid metal shot up into Alan’s face, the creature’s death wound causing him to shiver as it quickly formed into solid metal - It would flake off, but it was always unsettling.

He ducked quickly, four flaming arrows and two covered in ice flying into the elemental near him to little avail; they struck true but did not stick in the body of the monster, deflecting off and causing only minor surface wounds. He tried to remove his spear from the sprite on the ground and found that, in ducking, he’d dallied too long - He tugged twice more, but only managed to crack the decaying corpse’s solid metal exoskeleton.

“This is bad,” He whispered, the remaining creature’s arm turning into a blade quickly. Alan abandoned his spear, stepping backwards and slowly raising a hand to guard against attack. It would be futile, but at least he knew he was an agile man. He could try to deflect the blade, though allowing it to strike his wrist would work quite to his advantage...

Then the absolutely oddest thing happened - Six golden flashes filled the gate’s shadow with dazzling light, as if the stars had suddenly descended from the sky, and the creature fell to its knees rapidly. Standing behind it was a woman - The large breasts built into the armor made this an obvious deduction - wearing black armor and with the oddest spiritual presence he’d felt to date.

“You alright, young one?” The helmed figure spoke in a melodic tone, looking with emotionless eye-slits toward him for just a moment. Powerful yet dark, perhaps even as dark as he felt Kathy’s soul to be.

“Yeah.” He went back to his weapon and tugged a few more times before the metal came away from the creature. He looked up toward the gate to see his people in the throes of victory.

Jacin was injured, no doubt about it with the blood that leaked from his back, and Charles was looking worse for the wear. He looked for Clarice, who was standing with only a pair of wounds - One to her left shoulder and another to the ribs on her left side.

“Everyone okay?” The black-armored woman spoke once again, surveying each of them with the same alien glint in her eye that Alan had previously observed. Whatever this woman’s deal was, she was foreign to his idea of humanity.

“I guess.” Jacin replied. Of the group, he was clearly the most injured. Medical attention was not only wise, it was downright necessary or he could suffer serious damage.

“Yeah, just tired.” Charles muttered, moving to his underling and taking his arm, placing it around his own shoulder to support him. Jacin looked damn well like he needed it, because he was not walking in any sort of straight line.

“Just a quick healing spell and I’ll be fine.” Clarice muttered as she sheathed her swords and came to the other side of Jacin, taking his other shoulder. She gave him a quick looking-over, and both she and the dark knight spoke at once.

“He’s bad.” They looked at one another, then the black armored one nodded her head in acquiescence.

“We need to take him to Fiono,” Clarice declared the obvious, obtaining a nod from Alan and Charles. Her helmeted head then looked toward the newcomer. “No complaints, lady, but who are you?”

The knight seemed to ponder this question, standing still for a moment. When it seemed Clarice inhaled once again, ready to repeat her question, the stranger spoke. “I’m a traveling companion with Branden Frost. He and I have a lead on your situation, and I too am troubled by it. We decided to join company, since you could use another Hora in your travels if I am not mistaken.”

The velvet voice was compelling, and Clarice nodded while trying to quiet the uneasy feelings in her gut. It then came to her all at once - Serge! She took a deep breath and started to release the arm she held, yet the dark knight held her hand up.

“Relax, Branden is taking care of it.” It turns out that wasn’t even the beginning.
*****
A loud scream penetrated from underneath the blue helmet as he leaped into the air, sword flashing seven times across the chest of the Titan. It bled flame, and Branden quickly snuffed it with his ice. Serge had to admit as he watched that Branden had indeed grown up.

One of the things few knew about the young man is that Serge’s version of an Hora-rank test was not a trial by tournament, as some were, but was instead a trial by fire - Literally. Branden had isolated and taken down one of these beasts at the age of 17, and he took the fragmented crystal that was all that remained of its hair and fashioned a ring out of it - A ring which gave him a resistance to heat as well as a large increase in physical strength.

The liquid flame flowing from the open wounds nearly engulfed him, but he was far too experienced to fall for such a basic defense mechanism. He landed, leaping backwards and avoiding a hastily thrown fist, then jumped to his right to avoid a fireball.

He countered with a storm of ice-shards, vaguely hoping to strike the beast in a vital spot but intending more to annoy and distract it. This measure failed as the familiar red beams shot from its eyes and vaporized his attack. The Titan moved to bellow in victory, a shallow assumption made in the face of serious wounds.

It was all too bad that Branden had already begun his third step - By the fourth, he was invisible to all except Serge. (and, as much as he could assume, his female companion who was watching from afar.) The Titan stared at the location where he’d disappeared, never sensing the Hora behind him. When the blade stabbed into the back of its neck, it was far too late.

The blue saber’s magic helped it do even more damage, and Branden quickly exploited the open wound by forming another shard of ice and slamming it downwards into the fiery blood, cooling it so that he could continue to hack at the exposed shoulders and vertebrae without risk of being burned. The tactic was useful for another reason - A Fire Titan was extremely averse to cold, and any form of chilling magic would wreak havok upon its senses.

The creature’s spinal cord took no less than three blows to sever, and it fell first to its knees and then prone upon its stomach. Branden smiled and leaped off of it’s back, stepping over to it’s forehead and forming one last icicle of gigantic proportion. All it could do was watch and howl impotently at the human who dared to defy it.

“Good night,” He whispered almost pityingly as he threw the spear forward, penetrating the brainpan and ending the monster’s life with one last spike of cold to numb its flame.

“Good night, indeed,” Serge added as he sheathed his sword and nodded once. “Glad to see you back, boy.” He nodded his head again for emphasis, stepping over and placing a hand firmly on Branden’s shoulder.

Branden removed his helmet and tossed it into the air once, his straight blue locks flowing in the breeze in an almost picturesque manner as he sheathed his weapons. He caught the helmet without a word, then looked to his father figure with a grin on his face. “I hate to think of what you’d have done without me, old man.”

“Yeah, and I’d hate to think about what’s wrong with your new girlfriend.” Serge was already back to business, and Branden frowned a little. The old man’s helmet was removed, and though he smiled Branden easily observed the slight discontent in the elder’s eyes. It was as if a young lamb had brought a wolf home for the evening - Yet this was more than a choice of bad bedmates.

“If it makes you feel any better,” the younger one said as he chucked his helmet high into the air again. He leaped up and caught it at its apex, flipping backwards to land on his feet before smiling at Serge again, hoping to amuse the elder with the display of acrobatics. “I’m just as disturbed. She feels like...” he paused, contemplating the right word to use. He found it, yet it had a very sinister taste about it. “...Familiar.”

“Same, kiddo.” The old knight had a few ideas floating in his head, but they were all far too early to call. “I think that’s why you travel with her,” he said with a nod as a response. Serge sighed. “For now, let’s just get back to town. I’m sure at least one of our boys needs medical attention.”