Siege of Bilgaragz, Part 3

Leaving the square and moving through the streets of the great city of Bilgaragz, amidst the confusion and chaos that had ensued since the beginning of the flaming stone-ball attack, a small group made up of soldiers, militiamen, and now adventurers as well, ran.

Helik had ordered some of his men to gather as many people as possible willing to contribute to the city's defense. He had been informed, just minutes ago, that the enemy seemed to be advancing with siege towers toward the walls. The general didn't have much time, and he knew it.

"Why did the Empire decide to attack now? The situation is just as bad as it's always been, but I don't remember any special reports recently that could have encouraged them," Helik thought, as he ran, getting closer and closer to the southern wall, the city's main entrance.

The area was teeming with people; a small sense of discipline was beginning to be established. There were no civilians in sight, but some bodies of rebels, dropped down moments ago, could be seen. Similar bodies were scattered throughout the city.

After catching his breath and giving a few quick orders to his subordinates, Helik turned his attention to a soldier, assuming he had already organized the additional adventurers for the fight. He approached and began a brief speech, assessing the discipline and determination of those about to fight.

It was clear that most were not there by choice: some sought the reward in coins, others feared what the Nazenese Empire would do to the city, and there were those who had caved under pure pressure. Although what Baldar and Dukken had done wasn’t considered entirely wrong, their actions were poorly viewed in times of war. At that moment, everyone in the city was expected to contribute in some way to the battle. What Helik was trying to do was take a step forward, offer a favor to those fighters, as facing the Empire wasn’t an ordinary task. Without the proper motivation, they would all soon scatter.

"Gentlemen, our enemy is no ordinary one..." – Helik began, raising his claymore and capturing the attention of the present.

Meanwhile, Livy, Ouros, and Kairos stayed further back. They had already sworn their oaths and were just waiting for the brutal battle that was approaching at sunset to begin.

"Huh, I thought we'd be the only ones helping the city..." – Livy remarked, watching Helik address the other adventurers.

"The more, the better," Ouros stated.

Kairos seemed tense but engaged with what was happening. Looking up, at the base of one of the towers on the wall, he observed with the wide-eyed wonder of a child the magnitude and power represented by those stones. Watching soldiers run to climb and a small wooden elevator being raised made him even more curious about how those structures worked.

"Hey, you! I hope we can count on you up there," Livy called, pointing to the top of the wall when she noticed Kairos distracted by the scene.

The Karinni shifted his attention to the girl, flashed a small smile, and nodded in confirmation. Livy couldn’t see his eyes, but she was sure they conveyed confidence.

Unlike Ouros and Kairos, who seemed determined for the conflict, Livy was trembling, tense, and filled with fear about what was to come.

"I made it this far, I swore the oath... It’s not the time to be scared," she thought, trying to convince herself.

"By the way, how are you going to get up there, Ouros?" Livy asked, now paying attention to her companion's size and realizing that the entrance to the tower wasn’t wide or tall enough for him.

Ouros shrugged; he didn’t seem concerned. At that moment, a nearby voice interrupted the conversation.

"Do you see that small elevator? It can carry heavier stones than your friend. With one lift, it’ll be able to raise him," a soldier commented.

Livy and Kairos turned their attention to him. The man looked tense, but his wide smile carried a slight sense of ambition.

"Shouldn’t we take him up already?" Livy asked.

"Sure, sure. As soon as Helik finishes with the others, I’ll ask if we can," he replied.

Helik seemed to have finished his speech and then draped his weapon over each of the potential soldiers' shoulders. It didn’t take long before he was done.

"All of you, speak to my scribe. He’ll record each name so we know who truly swore loyalty today... And, of course, who survived," Helik declared seriously, sending shivers down the spines of the new "recruits" for the defense.

"You too, give me your names, and I’ll take you there," the soldier nearby said.

"Livy, Ouros, and..." – Livy started.

"Kairos!" – he finished.

"Great, you can start getting ready. And... I hope you don’t die," the soldier commented, now without the smile, speaking in a tone of concern. This same concern seemed to whip Livy's morale, making her visibly more scared.

After a few moments, some soldiers called Ouros closer to the wall and began preparations to lift him. Looking more closely, it was clear that they weren’t just soldiers there. Several civilians were also trying to contribute in some way: men and women were engaged in different activities.

The heavier physical labor was mostly carried out by the men, while many women helped the soldiers with armor maintenance and other organizational tasks, such as sorting arrows and transporting oil from the depots and homes to nearby areas. Independent conjurers were few, but on the militia and soldiers' side, the number was considerably higher.

In times of war, everyone was expected to contribute to the battle. From the conversations in the group, it seemed that one of the nobles, Baltazar, had already ordered the civilians to help with the war effort. Another noble, Ludwig, had promised financial compensation to those who participated in the battle. Their spokespeople were quickly spreading these orders.

Although many remained hidden in their homes, trying to avoid everything happening outside, the civilians knew that, in situations like this, participating and being seen as helpful could define who would receive help first when rebuilding.

"With this, I assign you to the main battalion that will stay on standby on the west side of the wall entrance. I’ll be at the gates, fighting alongside you, brothers!" – Helik shouted fiercely, finishing with his claymore raised.

Metallic sounds and intense soldier shouts echoed, signaling that everyone was ready. Ouros was already being lifted, while Livy and Kairos began to climb the tower’s stairway in a line.

Livy kept her eyes fixed ahead. Any touch could startle her at that moment, and that’s exactly what happened when Kairos touched her shoulder, noticing she was frozen.

"It... It’s going to be okay. Stay close to me, just in case..." – he said, his hoarse voice reassuring.

Kairos’s empathetic expression brought some comfort to Livy, who now looked at him with a calmer demeanor. She nodded and replied:

"I... I hope so..."

"Sorry for earlier... I think I’m starting to understand the gravity of the situation," Livy responded, her voice trembling.

"It’s fine. Once the battle’s over, you can go back to worrying about the others. For now, focus on staying alive," Kairos commented.

"Imagine that we’re not fighting against people. Today, they are our enemies. So, it’s either them, or us," he continued.

"I can't ignore what I'm doing... But if this is the only way to end this madness, then I can't stand still," she replied, gripping her wand tightly.

"It’s normal to feel fear, just don’t let it take over you. Think of the gods; they’re watching us..." – said Kairos, placing his hand over Livy's in a calming gesture.

Livy took a deep breath, trying to soothe her mind. She gave Kairos a small smile as they continued to climb, grateful to have someone supportive by her side at that moment.

With another deep breath, this time Livy felt the metallic, aged smell coming from the Karinni’s rags and fur.

"Look, after this, I’m taking you to the inn for a bath. You’re in need of one," she commented, letting out a small laugh.

***

Upon reaching the top of the wall and positioning themselves facing the horizon, all the soldiers, militiamen, and adventurers – now mercenaries – gazed upon endless rows of enemy soldiers. Several battalions seemed to encircle every visible angle.

The city of Bilgaragz was located on an elevation, at the edge of a forest, right in the center of a small regional peninsula. The forest extended inward into the peninsula, while in the direction from which the enemy soldiers were coming, the main road cut through a sparser forest and small prairies, leading to Khatharb, one of the cities of the Nazenese Empire. Khatharb was close to the dunes and deserts, in the lands ravaged by the Cataclysm of Xelor.

On the wall, the southern entrance was heavily guarded by soldiers. Some groups were more specialized, and Livy had been separated from Ouros and Kairos, staying with the spellcasters and archers.

The spellcasters shared some potions with her, designed to strengthen and expand her attacks. The archers, on the other hand, asked for her help to set fire to a pile of oil and wood in front of them, where they then began to ignite their arrows, using small rags and flammable materials at the tips.

The allied army appeared united and strong, but irregular. For some there, this formation had been familiar since the Second Great War against the Nazenese Empire and the rupture of the Flatlia Empire. Flagon’s troops were astute and carefully selected, but relied heavily on numerical contributions – something the Nazenese Empire had plenty of since the Great Unification.

On the enemy side, the various units of the so-called legions of shadows were visible. The Nazenese army displayed impressive discipline and organization. The battalions were clearly specialized, with light, heavy, and winged infantry; combat, shock, and irregular cavalry; archers, slingers, and spellcasters; regular and irregular aerial cavalry; as well as siege equipment such as crossbows, catapults, and magical condensers.

Among the siege equipment, the towers were the most attention-grabbing. Sixteen had been erected, and three of them were advancing slowly toward the wall, while everyone prepared for battle.

“What do they intend to do by advancing only three rows?” Helik thought, suspicious.

Alongside the three advancing rows, two irregular battalions of archers were approaching the wall, moving ahead of the towers, which were advancing more slowly. As he observed them, Helik noticed the diverse composition of the troops and their seemingly light equipment.

“Do they… look like slaves?” he questioned, furrowing his brow.

“It must be a decoy to divert attention from the siege towers,” he concluded, speaking quietly.

“Soldier, give orders for the archers and spellcasters to split their focus between the towers and the advancing units,” Helik commanded to a soldier beside him. The young man nodded and quickly passed the orders along to another, who rushed to inform the battalions.

With the archers and spellcasters notified, the two main battalions organized themselves to focus on different targets. On the western side, Livy concentrated her elemental shots alongside the other spellcasters against the siege towers, attempting to set them on fire.

The first, second, and third rounds of projectiles crossed the air toward the enemy. As the projectiles struck the siege towers, the enemy archers unleashed volleys of arrows. The small battalions advancing toward the foot of the wall began to retreat and shrink under the bombardment.

“Protect your heads, lads!” Helik shouted to the soldiers on the wall. The scene was terrifying, as though a giant monster were approaching, growing with every moment.

The siege towers were daunting for those fighting on the wall. However, strengthened by Helik's presence and words, everyone held their position firm.

“Why aren’t they burning?!” Livy wondered, frustrated, as she noticed that the tower she and the other spellcasters were targeting didn’t seem to be affected by the flames.

Something was protecting the towers, though Livy was unaware of what. A layer of damp animal hides and metal plates reinforced the front and sides of the structures, mitigating the effects of their attempts to set them on fire.

Helik, paying close attention to the enemy movements, noticed two figures on the battlefield that caught his attention. The first seemed to be the general of the Nazenese army – a Grogna, imposing but still smaller than Ouros. He paced back and forth, shouting orders, while his thick and intricately textured skin resembled natural armor.

The second figure was among a small group of enemy spellcasters. They gathered discreetly in a corner, beginning to prepare some sort of joint spell.

“Quick, order one of the groups to eliminate them!” – Helik exclaimed, pointing to the spellcasters.

One of the soldiers, who was assisting Helik closely, transmitted the order swiftly. However, the message didn’t arrive in time. Before the archers could act, a black cloud formed over the wall, and a lightning bolt abruptly descended, striking near Helik and electrocuting a dozen soldiers.

“Faradh!” – the Nazenese spellcasters shouted in unison, as a deafening thunderclap echoed, spreading fear among the combatants.

The counterattack, however, came quickly. Arrows cut through the air and pierced the enemy spellcasters, one by one. Only one of them survived, and, terrified, began to retreat hastily, fleeing further away.

“Hey, Donny, you okay? Get up, brother!” – said one of the soldiers to his companion, who lay on the ground, trembling after the lightning strike and spitting blood mixed with the remnants of what he had eaten.

Helik raised his arm, signaling to his assistant. Seconds later, trumpets sounded intensely around them. The siege towers were at the walls – all three had arrived. Despite the flames that had slowed them down, their advance was uninterrupted, and the gigantic machines were about to release their boarding ramps.

“Attention! Stay with me, and don’t let fear dominate the battle!” – Helik shouted, his firm voice echoing across the field. His aides took care of relaying the message to the more distant groups, but Ouros and Kairos, who were nearby, heard clearly.

The heavy sound of the lower parts of the siege towers impacting the wall made everyone’s hearts skip a beat. The tension was palpable. All eyes were fixed on the small ramp that, in moments, would open, bringing direct combat.

“Go… Go already!” – Kairos thought, suppressing his anxiety as he kept his eyes fixed on the gate of the towers.

Ouros, on the other hand, gripped his war hammer and shield tightly. Although tense, few would notice it, as his features were not very expressive.

Breaking the tension, the ramp began to lower. To the surprise of those at the front lines, the first enemy to appear was not a soldier, but a spellcaster who cast a spell against them.

“Dummilis Aquestrum!” – shouted the spellcaster, summoning in front of him a group of four Krubaks, monstrous creatures that seemed to be a mix of boar and horse.

The creatures charged forward quickly, leaping over the wide line of soldiers. Due to their size and strength, some soldiers were knocked down and others were forced to retreat. Right behind the spellcaster, a group of four archers appeared, firing arrows at the front line. Soon after, the enemy infantry began to charge in frenzy, as if death were the only destination ahead.

Some enemy soldiers reached the edge of the wooden ramp and jumped into the gaps opened by the Krubaks, starting to strike the first opponents they encountered. Helik seemed to be right: the lack of equipment and the presence of chains around their necks with engraved magical runes, along with visible tattoos, made it clear that these combatants were slaves.

The first wave appeared to be composed of a suicidal group. Their members wore very light gear, and many didn’t even have clothes from the waist up. Slowly, the slaves were being cut down, but from within the siege tower came the real threat.

Groups of better-equipped soldiers, although in light armor, began advancing toward the wall, moving more cautiously. Once they positioned themselves, they formed a fearless shield wall, challenging the defenders. The real combat was beginning!

“Livy! Focus on the entrance now! Try to hit the archers, don’t let them… don’t let them advance!” – shouted a spellcaster beside Livy, while firing a beam of light in the form of a lightning bolt toward the siege tower.

The visibility wasn’t the best. Long-range shots were part of basic training for spellcasters in their first years of study, but nothing had prepared Livy – or many of the adventurers beside her – for a situation like this: a true war.

Livy tried to land her shots on the enemies, but only one in three hit the target.

“Focus! Aim well, then shoot, Livy…” – the girl thought to herself, trying to remain calm.

“Siffnus!” – she cast her spell, and a group of air bubbles formed in front of her, firing a barrage toward the enemies.

Her shot hit one of the archers in the leg, causing him to stumble, hit his head on the wood beside him, and, dazed, fall from the great tower. Livy shivered in awe at what happened but couldn’t help but smile slightly, pleased that she had managed to help.

“Did you see that?” – she turned to speak to the girl beside her. However, when she looked, she realized that her companion had been struck by an arrow in the neck, shot by the same archers, who were now focusing on the tower where she and the other ranged attackers were.

Livy looked at the girl in disbelief and fear. Her pupil contracted, and her hands began to tremble lightly, as if she were in a mild shock. One of the archers touched her shoulder and shook her, trying to alert her to the danger, but she seemed to ignore it. For a moment, it was as if she had no control over her own body, until, suddenly, she felt her legs give way, and she was thrown down.

Above her head, another fireball was fired by enemy catapults, passing very close to her before crashing into a well and exploding in flames under a tree in the city.

When Livy regains control and stands up, she looks toward the eastern tower and sees that another shot has hit that group directly, completely destroying the structure and wiping out everyone there.

Turning her attention back to the enemy army, she notices that fireballs continue to be fired, and the frequency of the shots begins to match what she had witnessed in the square, with Helik and the Rofxis.

Desperate, she fears that the next fireball will strike her and destroy the tower. However, as she thinks about it, she quickly glances at the siege tower. Luckily, it seems to be catching fire more intensely as the last troops exit it. But from inside the same tower, a heavy, growing sound starts to intensify, and Livy watches it with a confused and doubtful expression.

“BUM! BUM! BUM!” – the sound grows with each moment. Then, suddenly, one of the archers shoves Livy.

“Watch out!” – he shouts, pushing her. Livy begins to fall toward the wall, where soldiers were already clashing, but in the air, she notices a group of aerial cavalry approaching and starting to fire at those in the tower. However, Livy cannot see what happens to them.

When she hits the wall of the fortress, she strikes her head hard and loses consciousness.