Call for Aid

Leona, Sybille, and I all knelt before the throne of the Town of Heiddston. After the incident in the Silverpeak Monastery, we returned to report on the matters to Count Victor, with one purpose in mind.

To get help.

Count Victor tapped the armrest of his throne.

“Allow me to understand the situation,” he said. “The monster that has been wreaking havoc across Holy Brenna for the past few weeks is a ReConstruct like you, Bastion, and now that ReConstruct has a Divine Scion in his hands?”

“That is correct.”

“And you let him escape.”

“I…”

Before I could answer, Sybille rose up.

“Count Victor,” she said. “Bastion did nothing wrong. He is not equipped for long term flight. Even if he had chased after Number CS-1, he would have been unlikely to survive aerial combat. Staying behind in the ground was just about the best course of action at the time. That is what I believe.”

Count Victor stroked his chin.

“Very well,” he said. “I will trust in the Harbinger of Light. Now, for the crux of the matter… what brings you to my hall, then? Other than to make a mere report.”

“We are looking for assistance,” said Sybille. “That of the military kind. I assume that the Kingdom of Holy Brenna has been planning a counter-attack against the Kingdom of Akhronna. Is that not the case?”

“There have been plans, yes,” said Count Victor. “We have gathered the forces and logistics, but have been waiting for the right opportunity to strike. For now we have been defending what territory we could, but with that menace flying all around the border, we have not been able to find a moment to make a push.”

“Then, allow me to inform that the moment to strike is now. Number CS-1 is heading towards a territory in the central-west region of Akhronna. There he will have to remain for the following weeks.”

“What makes you so sure?”

Sybille hesitated.

“I once worked with the man who created Number CS-1,” she said. “It was the same man who created Bastion, here. I have an idea of what he may be planning.”

The count’s brow twitched.

“You worked with the man who created The Siege?” said Count Victor.

“I have,” said Sybille. “That was before I arrived to this country, and helped prevent Bastion from becoming something like Siege.”

“Very well. And now, you believe that Siege will not be of trouble to us for some time, is that correct?”

“I do. When I was an apprentice under Master Croghan’s tutelage, I came across a number of his schematics. Among them was a theoretical weapon that needed nothing short of a Divine Scion to be made to work.”

“What is this weapon?”

“I am not entirely sure,” said Sybille. “It could be some kind of bomb, but the schematic I had found was mostly for an energy source for a very large machine.”

“A machine, you say?”

“Yes, one that would be needed to be fine-tuned for weeks before being made usable. I believe that Number CS-1, what you call Siege, will remain guarding Master Croghan’s workshop while the machine is being constructed. Thus, we will know where he is, and that he will not escape, this time.”

“And strike at the heart of the invasion, in one fell swoop.”

“Precisely.”

Count Victor stroked his chin once more.

“There is opportunity in this scheme, after all,” he said. “I will lead the gathering of the forces. We will take what warriors and monsters we can to focus an attack on the tower of this Master Croghan, and give you the opportunity to break through. After that… it all falls on you and your friend, Harbinger of Light.”

Sybille nodded.

“We will not fail this time,” she said.