Arriving for a test

Nearing the Hall of the Damned, I can hear the sounds of battle long before we crest the rise and the full madness of the situation reveals itself. Elves, dwarves and demi-humans all running around as black-clad demons wielding those black knives dart between them. Bodies lying where they fall. Leaping from the horse, I summon my battle gear and weapons as I land heavily on the ground, rolling forward to negate the force.

"Oscar, wait!" Ignoring Ella's call, I bring Thorne from its holster, I release a shot, dispatching a nearby demon a moment before he impales a young woman with fox ears. Walking over to her, I offer my hand. Taking it, she pulls herself to her feet.

"Are you alright?"

"I am thanks to you. Who are you, human?" Leaping from the horse, Ella hits its flank to send it away and walks over.

"We're emissaries from the human* kingdom. King Elias sent us ahead to help hold the line. What's the situation?" Turning for a moment, the young fox woman sizes up Ella before she replies.

"The situation is dire. Where we are standing was supposed to be our supply line, but everything has been overrun. Follow me. I'll take you to the command tent." Picking up a thing rapier off the ground, she gestures for us to follow and, with a grimace, she leads us further into the battlefield. Making our way through trampled tents and slain soldiers, I fire off the occasional shot, dispatching demons as we make our way through. As we reach the center of the camp, a stocky dwarf with a hammer steps forward in front of us.

"Halt, what business do you have with the generals?" Stepping forward, the fox girl squares off against the dwarf.

"These are emissaries from the human kingdom, Rock -brain. Now step aside." At her tone, the dwarf's mustache bristles in anger for a moment before his eyes open wide in fear.

"My apologies, my lady. Head on in." Looking at Ella with a raised eyebrow as we pass the dwarf, she gives me a shrug. Stepping inside the tent, a wall of sound hits us as a handful of people yell commands around a table. Walking forward, the young woman slaps her rapier on the edge, getting their attention. As they turn to look at her, the three oldest-looking men drop to their knees.

"Our queen. We thought you lost." Sighing, she turns and gives me a small wink.

"I almost was. These are the emissaries from King Elias." Standing in front of the table, she turns and places the rapier point down. Leaning against it with both hands closed over the back of the hilt.

"Apologies for not introducing myself earlier. I am Kiarae Velossama. Queen of the Federation of United People." Stepping forward, Ella stands close to her, both women looking into each other's eyes intensely. After a moment, smiles break on both their faces, and letting go of the rapier, Kiarae throws herself onto Ella, giving her a hug."

"Ella! It is so good to see you. It has been too long."

"Your majesty, then this is?" turning to the old elf who spoke, she smiles.

"Correct. This is Ellavessa. Daughter of the Demon King and one of my oldest friends." Letting go of Ella's neck, Kiarae holds her at arm's length.

"How have you been, Ella?"

"I have been well. But I hardly think now is the time to reminisce. Do you?" shaking her head in laughter, the queen turns to me.

"You are right. You human, who are you?"

"That's Oscar. An outlier from Earth." At the mention of my name from Ella, a strange look enters the queen's eyes.

"An Outlier. Interesting. Tell me, Oscar from Earth, why are you here?"

"To let you know that King Elias is about an hour, maybe two, away. With an army of reinforcements."

"That explains why you are here right now. But why are you fighting this fight? Outliers exist outside the natural laws of our world. You have no reason to fight for it."

"My daughter is the hero. And ill be damned if I let her face Saetaen alone."

"So you have no fear of him, it seems. Where do you get such bravado, I wonder? And can you truly protect her?!" In a single movement, she kicks the rapier off the ground and lunges towards me. Dropping below the blade, some instinct makes me draw Final Testament. Twisting clear of the woman as she turns back towards me, I level the barrel an inch from her head. For a second, energy crackles down the length of the gun, and the readout pops up above the weapon, showing three rounds remaining.

"Well, well, well, a god-killer weapon. Perhaps there is some hope for you after all." Not lowering the gun, my finger twitches inside the trigger guard, and the Queen's eyes narrow.

"Do not mistake my Praise for patience, human. IF you squeeze that lever, I will take it as an act of war and will not hesitate to end your existence." Running up to me, Ella places her hand on my arm.

"Oscar. That is enough. Please?" Feeling her soft hand, I break free from the instinctive feeling and lower the weapon.

"Sorry. I'm not sure what came over me there."

"I am sorry for testing you like that without warning. But I had to be sure."

"Sure of what?"

"That you are who you say you are. What you felt is the outlier battle instinct. It is that instinct that leads you to learn skills the way you do, and it is what keeps you alive. I have been around a long time, Oscar, and I have never seen an Outlier with a battle instinct as sharp as yours. Truly, you are something else." Smiling at me softly, her eyes widen as she remembers something as she rounds on Ella, waving her arms in exacerbation.

"Also, really Ella? This human? After all these years, this is who you choose?" Laughing, Ella walks over to me and links her arm through mine.

"He is. And despite everything, I am happy." Feeling the heat rise in my cheeks, I watch the astounded look on the queen's face soften,

"I am glad for you, my friend. Truly I am. Now I think we have dallied enough." Turning to the three men, she assumes an air of authority.

"What's the situation?"

"My Queen. The Demon King's army has secured the area between here and the door. Our forces are holding the line, but if something does not change soon, we may be in trouble." Walking over to the desk, she looks at the wooden figures representing the army's positions on the map. Looking over it, she gestures for me to come closer.

"Oscar, can you go here? There were reports of a behemoth there before my command post was overrun. If you could help my people, I would be grateful." Looking at the area she's pointing to, I nod my head.

"Where do you want me?" Turning to Ella, she smiles.

"Stay here with me. I need you to bring the King when he arrives." Coming over to me, Ella gives me a quick kiss.

"Stay safe."

"Always." Walking from the table out of the tent, I head towards the battlefield.