Fleeing Hope

Magic flashed as Kiaki and Velena looked around, both covering one another as they fought through the fog. Exhaustion weighed down their bodies, it was hard to see, and the combined attacks of both Diluvian leaders were whittling down what energy they had. However, despite the pain and the bodies of lesser cultists around them, they never faltered beneath the onslaught.

They couldn't. Not when so much was at stake.

Velena felt vibrations in the air for another attack.

"Kiaki-dear, toward your left!"

A crystal shield appeared to deflect a black-steel maul downward in response, cracking behind the force as the weapon continued its arc deep into the cobble.

The shockwave shook the entire street beneath the dusk light.

"To think your strength extends this far even after prolonged combat." Their minotaurus opponent grunted. "Impressive. I can see why half the world still fears you."

Velena tensed as she rose earthen pillars behind her, just in time to block a mist-filled swipe. Rock crumbled as claws gouged out a chunk.

"It's true. They haven't lost their edge despite the slander." Rathgara retreated back into the mist after her failed attack. "Though perhaps it's been dulled a bit by age and exhaustion."

Several brutal swings barreled at them from all angles once the tigrin was clear, bombarding the duo as they tried weaving out of the way.

Kiaki shot back slag bolts in response, buckling the minotaurus' armor and searing skin.

"You should've engaged us earlier then, before the dukedom caused a stir. We could've promised you a far better fight in that case."

As Stahl recovered, Rathgara chuckled—something that'd once been uplifting before this fight—then launched several more stakes of mist at the duo.

"That was exactly the point. If we want to accomplish our goals, it was imperative you weren't at your best."

Velena conjured walls of stone to block the attacks, but a few made it through the defense this time, slamming against armor and drawing blood.

She and Kiaki flinched as a maul followed up.

"Even still," Stahl chuckled, his attack smashing into them like a battering ram. "You're proving to be very difficult. We would've thought that the knight-earl would wear you down a little more."

Kiaki bristled as she tanked the blow for them and bones cracked. Her poleaxe resonated with vita magic in a desperate counterattack, bashing the minotaurus off-balance and down to the street.

"Hypocrites!" she shouted as she cratered the obsidian-haired man cratered into the ground, swinging in an arc into the mist toward Rathgara next.

"Don't tell me the Diluvian colluded with my brother?! That makes no sense! After what he did to people like us? What twisted goal do you have that would require such a disgusting action? And what damned reason could he have for helping you?"

Her attack cut across the approaching tigrin's chest, drawing a line of blood along her fur.

"You misunderstand, Vice-Captain!" she snarled in pain. "All we did was nudge things into place for his 'recruitments'. He was nothing more than a distracting pawn who will get swept away by what's to come."

Rathgara jumped to slash at Kiaki, mist smashing through a few crystal shields as it rended plate down to her leg. Then, just as the vice-captain was forced to her knees in a yell of pain, she lunged at Velena.

"As for our goal? You two know full well I would never back a cause without merit." A claw was deflected to the side as Velena backed up. "If you want to understand, join us. Bring the worldwalkers to our side willingly. It's not too late before we use the artifact, we can still work together to—"

Diamond abruptly slammed her backward onto Stahl, more of it rising upward around the cultists. Before they could recover, Rathgara and Stahl had been trapped within its confines.

"There, that should buy us some time," Kiaki said, panting as her leg bled to the stone. "We need to talk."

Velena sighed at her wife's action, using the brief reprieve to heal their wounds as they exchanged thoughts.

"If this is about Rathgara's offer then don't be swayed. Whatever their goal is, it's not worth the butchering of thousands."

She shook her head as healing waters stretched around her form. "It's not about joining them, it's what was just said: 'before we use the artifact.' Did you hear that?"

Velena's expression dropped as it registered.

"…It seems a few of our guesses was correct then. That's horrible news. Any one of those could be disastrous if they're anything like the legends!"

"Which makes it even more vital the worldwalkers not fall into their hand, not if they have the ability to utilize any one of those things."

Kiaki motioned toward the cathedral in a grimace as flesh formed back into place. "Speaking of, that pulse of power we just felt—the one that was like divine aura. Do you think that those two are safe?"

Velena lips curled. "Hopefully so. They should be strong enough with our training to get to the shelter safely, and with the traitor wards gone and our new Head-Ward, the barrier should be enough to dissuade any enemy."

"Here's to hoping then," Kiaki uttered through gritted teeth.

Velena frowned toward the diamond prison growing cracks with each second, continuing her thoughts as she healed her wife's other injuries. Her energy was fading, but she would not let Kiaki fall to wounds while she was still standing, and she still had plenty of spunk in her yet.

"On another note, do you believe we can beat these two at this rate? I can still fight, but I'm unsure for how much longer they're going to endure."

Kiaki had to pause for a moment to answer, breathing heavily as bone weaved together.

"They've been on the backfoot this entire fight, and we've never lost while fighting together yet. I don't see why now would be any different. It's not a matter of if, but when."

Velena scoffed as she mended a wound to her wife's breast, noting the gash torn from her chest plate. "Talking rather big considering our circumstances. However, I'll take it."

They exchanged the slightest of smiles as the last healing seeped in.

However, before they could breathe more, diamond was split open by a furred fist and black-steel maul, wind bursting forth from the break.

"Had enough conversation?" Stahl asked, rising from the shattered prison with a grumble. "No idea what you were saying, but if it was about the worldwalkers, you'd be correct to worry. Reathe plans quite thoroughly."

Velena immediately took up her stance at the half-elementaling's mention, conjuring roots from the pavement to surround them. They launched, prompting the Diluvian to backpedal.

"Just what are you talking about? I know how conniving that fiend can be, but how is that relevant—"

She cut herself off as realization dawned.

"Damn it. Reathe's after the worldwalkers… these two are just a distraction."

Rathgara let out a breath as she and Stahl cut down the attacking roots. "I've no comment to make, Velena. Now then, let's get back to fighting. Shall we—?"

A volley of water bullets shot at the cult leaders, cutting her off and surging through the air like a torrent.

"It's good to know that some things never change, Rathgara. You never were a good liar."

She looked over to Kiaki as her body tensed.

"Go. Find and help them before it's too late. If Reathe manages to capture either one of them, it's likely over for us."

"What? And leave you to fight by yourself? I can't do that!"

Velena continued blasting as sweat streamed down her face, one after another in a relentless barrage. Armor, robes, muscle, and fur were bombarded in pain.

"You have too, Kiaki," she eked out between pants. "It's our duty to protect all residents of Lerwood. Especially our friends. One doesn't find souls like those two nor their potential every day."

"I can understand that, but—"

"Go," she repeated. "As Knight-Baroness of this town, that's an order. Not just for those reasons, but everything that goes beyond us! The Diluvian cannot get their hands on either of them!"

Velena grit her teeth as her bombardment faltered. The strain had become unbearable. Her knees buckled beneath her slightly, almost toppling her to the ground before she caught herself.

Yet despite it all, her wife hadn't moved yet. Not one bit.

"Why are you still here, Kiaki? Go while you can! I can take care of these two! If you hurry, you can catch up to that fiend!"

Rathgara and Stahl grimaced in the aftermath as Velena caught her breath. The fiends' pained expressions were somewhere between growls and acceptance, blood dripping from their wounds amidst the carnage. The entire street at this point had more or less been turned into ruin.

"Don't grasp hope so tightly," Stahl said first in a rumble. "Not when it's already over for the dukedom's order."

Rathgara readied herself looking at Velena. "Stahl is right, our victory is close. Our dirtied hands will bring suffering to an end. Can you say the same thing while beneath the dukedom—"

A blast of molten earth slammed into her jaw to shut her up.

"For the good of everything, say something of substance if you want to talk! All I hear is delusion!"

Velena frowned deeply as Kiaki shoved her away from the fight, posturing in front of them with her poleaxe. She summoned a storm of crystals to slam into both cultist leaders and drive them backward.

"You go, Velena. I'll stop them myself. Only you can heal greater injuries anyways if something were to happen to them. You're faster too, and I'm weighed down by my gear."

Her heart dropped at the refusal and the list of reasonings.

"Kiaki, this isn't what I ordered—"

A chaste kiss silenced her.

"You're Matron first and foremost, Velena. It's my job to protect you."

Purple eyes hardened into amethysts as Kiaki stared at her. "Now leave. You and I both know it makes more sense for you to go instead of me. I'll try and keep them from stopping you."

"…" They locked gazes for a moment longer before their enemies began to break from the onslaught.

"Then stay safe, dear," Velena begrudgingly said. "There'll be hell to pay if you aren't."

"Same to you, Velena. And I'd be more worried about these cultist's lives than mine." Blonde hair swayed in the breeze as she grinned.

The matron dashed off after the confirmation and taking in the sight for the briefest of moments.

She prepared herself for what would come next. Her mind was already spinning from worry, dread, and everything in between. She really hoped that the worldwalkers were alright. But knowing their luck and how fate worked against them…

Velena's jaw clenched as her eyes landed on the outline of the cathedral.

She had a feeling that wasn't the case.