Ophelia

Whatever plan Lilly may have had went astray the second we approached the border.

A grand stone wall separated the two countries. Vines grew up its side, bits of rock falling to the ground as we got close. It stretched at least fifty feet up and as far as I could see on either side.

If it was just the gate though, that wouldn’t have been a huge issue.

That honor belonged to Thien.

His guards blocked every bit of the massive gate connecting the two countries, with the general standing confidently in front. Torrents sprung from rockets as we approached.

There was no hiding here. All around us, the ground was flatter than Kansas.

Lilly gripped her dagger tight enough blood dripped from her hand. “Listen, you two. Thien won't admit it, but flatlands like this are where he’s weakest. The second he finishes talking, we’re getting flooded. I want you to rush the border the second this happens. Aila watches Rin.”

“What about you?” I asked.

“I’ll distract them.”

“Then what?” I scowled. “Thien beat you last time!”

“We were in a tight room last time.” She let a second dagger form in her left hand. “Pretty girls like me don’t lose fights like this, silly.”

I gripped my fist, light encircling each finger like gloves. “If that’s what you want, Lilly, I won’t stop you.”

“Take this,” Just as we reached Thien, Lilly slipped me a small note. “This has directions on how to reach Riverlight’s base. It’s less than half a day’s walk from here.”

“You’re set on not coming with us then…” I said.

“Trust me.”

“Welcome!” After what felt like forever, we reached the general. His robes flew valiantly in the wind, any signs of our last fight gone to time. “I am glad you were able to make our little gathering.”

“Let us through,” Lilly stepped to the front, forgoing even a hint of formality. “Why bother wasting time? We both know how this ends.”

“Oh, do we?” his voice boomed with every word. “That’s news to me, Ms. Lilly.”

She held her dagger at the ready. “On my signal–”

“Have you ever considered how weird this planet is, both of you?”

“How weird?” I asked, still ready to jolt.

“Follow along with this old man’s ramblings for a second. I know of your planet well, it's a contracted planet how could I not. You have weapons more powerful than any Senn, towers that break through the clouds, electricity vastly more flexible and useful than our river water.”

“What’s your point?” Lilly asked. “Our world isn’t exactly free from problems either.”

“Yet humanity thrives. I’ve always believed this planet has been too cushioned, unwilling to make progress. Is that the point of evil, you think? To advance humanity?”

Lilly didn’t offer a response as she stared the man in the eyes.

“Life’s never been very hard here. The gods dictate humanity’s slow improvement while protecting them from any real harm. Sure, there's the occasional war or disaster, but nothing compared to the horrors your people have gone through!”

“So that's your plan,” I stepped up next to Lilly. “Plunge the planet into a recession to speculate on your imaginary growth?”

“My plan? No, no, I’m just a humble Sailor. Someone like me does not deserve the credit.”

“So you’re just killing them all under someone else's orders. Much better.” Lilly rolled her eyes. “What a stupid ass plan.”

“Is it?” The way Thien asked made his question sound earnest. “I’ve accepted I’m the villain of this story. We're not so different, you know, both of us kill for the sake of a perceived greater good.”

Thien brushed a bit of dust from his cloak. “East has kept this world hidden from the horrors of the universe. That time must come to an end!”

With those parting words, water sprang into the air. Its brown tendrils tore up grass and dirt alike as the geysers stretched up nearly a hundred feet into the air. “For the sake of this country, I will fulfill my mission to the people of Sarai!”

“Now!” Lilly exploded into a ball of smoke, launching into the air. Her leap sent a trail of smoke in her path as she sent the soldiers flying with a throw of her dagger.

I took Aila’s hand in mine and let the light condense around my palms. My heart raced, yet a fire burned within me like never before. Gone were the hesitation and flickering light that I’d had in every battle before. This time, things were different!

I kicked off the ground, avoiding a tendril of water that demolished the dirt underneath our feet.

Red grass scattered against my clothes, yet white tendrils burned the plants away. My entire body glowed with a pale white, smoke burning away the dirt as I stood on the battlefield. For the first time in this world this fight felt mine for the picking.

If we were going to escape, the least I could do was bring about some damage on the way. My feet slammed into the ground, creating a shockwave of light that knocked the men around us in the air helplessly.

“I’ll see you on the other side,” I nodded toward Aila, who disappeared within a heartbeat. “Let’s show these guys what I got.”

Two men rushed toward me, streams of water circling around their fingers. “Freeze!”

Streams of water flew by my head like arrows. I ducked, feeling the wind whip about with every shot as twice as many flew toward my head.

Yet, compared to some of those bandits, they felt like a joke. I let the first of the two send a water covered punch toward my shoulder, sending a fist of my own toward his chest as the man flew like a dummy in the air.

I turned toward the second, letting light vibrate in my palm. “Last chance.”

Yet the Streamwielder just continued to charge toward me, shooting even more arrows of water as if the last few dozen had found any success.

My fist hit him before he could realize, shoving him a foot down in the soaked ground.

I glared around the scene, meeting soldier after soldier's gaze. “Anyone here wanna take me on? I’m waiting!”

With my taunt, half a dozen took the charge, a mix of Brickwellers and Riverrunners. Not that either stood a chance.

I leaped into the air just as Lilly loved to do, letting light glow from every inch of my body. I felt unstoppable! These were rank and file soldiers, nothing compared to even the average Unit E member! With this power all of them combined couldn’t stand in my way.

The first went down with a single blow, the second able to dodge my punch. I threw a haymaker at the third, our arms meeting as his muscles pulsed with the effort.

I threw myself into the man. His left arm didn’t stand a chance as I smashed my light-covered hand into his face, the familiar sound of a bone breaking echoing out over the battlefield.

The other three took the hint after that.

I glanced back toward Lilly. With Thien right behind her, she soared like a bird through the air, dodging every attack of his with ease.

Even from here I could see the pain on his face. With every burst from his geysers, Lilly countered with an attack of her own, sending daggers that soared like bullets towards his face.

In the open like this, they felt equal for the first time. With every hit one threw, the other reacted in kind instants later.

Yet I’d have to place my faith in Lilly.

Our eyes met. “Go!”

With that I turned toward the gate, launching myself just as Lilly had done toward where Aila stood, facing another set of Gallai soldiers without too much trouble.

I shoved one into the ground as I landed. “Let’s head out!”

“What about Lilly?” Aila shouted.

I turned back one last time. “If we want to win this, we’ll have to trust she’ll find a way out of this. We’re half a day away. Let’s go.”