CHAPTER 4.5: THE BATTLE AT THE BORDER CROSSING

***The border crossing of Chersea and Cherflammen***

After the breakdown of the negotiations between the Human Saint and the conspirators’ leader, the Count of Hermon, both sides prepared for the resumption of hostilities. Maddie’s forces were composed of a coalition of armies from the rulers who supported her, besides her Paladin Corps, and some volunteer groups of common folk angry at Kuro’s fate. Facing them were the private armies of the Count of Hermon, as well as the two other nobles with him. Though it was small compared to the Human Saint’s coalition, they occupied a fortified hill that would make any frontal assault foolish.

Maddie stared at her hand as their armies marched into their starting positions. Deep inside, she wished to use her god-powers against her enemies. However…

“Are you alright?” Lily asked, after she noticed her worried expression.

“Yes…”

“I know that face. Tell me, you’re thinking of what?”

The Human Saint showed her hand to her Head Maid, “If I can only use my power over the plagues once again, then we won’t have to do this. I would just cast a plague to obliterate any opposition, but…”

“What happened to it?”

“I don’t know…” Maddie heaved a sigh. “After my god-powers were repeatedly suppressed, I found just recently that I can’t cast it anymore.”

“But you can still heal instantly, right?”

“Yes…however, aside from that, I’m just a normal human.”

Lily then gave her friend’s shoulder a pat, “Well, I don’t know what could’ve possibly happened to it but, I think it’s better this way.”

“What do you mean?”

“Actually, I’m scared whenever you do that, Maddie, punishing people with plagues,” the Head Maid chuckled. “Perhaps you abused it too much that the gods took it away from you, and just left the healing spell for you to use. Think about it, you’ll only be using your god-powers for helping people instead.”

“Hmm…when you say it that way, it feels much better,” the Human Saint smiled. “However, what shall we do about those villains before us?”

“Well, we’ll defeat them, with or without your god-powers.”

“True,” Maddie nodded and surveyed the battlefield, just before their attack. Her plans called for surrounding the hill on three sides (as the rear was in the territory of the demons), then conducting an assault to the flanks while their artillery battered the center defenses. After making sure that her forces had already loaded their ‘demon weapons’ and fixed their bayonets, the Human Saint raised her hand and ordered the advance.

“Holy armies of Chersea, charge against those villains and let justice prevail!”

“Raaaarrrrgghhh!!!”

The coalition forces moved forward as the cannons opened fire. The battle was on!

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Meanwhile, the enemy was waiting behind their defenses on the slopes of the hill. While the Human Saint’s artillery pounded their center, the Count’s men reinforced the flanks, as they watch her armies marched in those directions. Once the Saint’s coalition forces reached the foot of the hill, a musket duel ensued, which took out a few men on both sides. Then, the coalition captains sounded the charge, and the brave warriors fighting for the saint rushed up their opponents’ breastworks.

“For the Saint and the Lord Kuro, kill them!”

“Deeeeaaaaaaaattttttthhhh!!!”

Bayonets and swords clashed. Shields bashed against armors. Muskets fired and counter-fired. Bodies slashed dead or maimed, falling like dominoes. The contest between the coalition’s soldiers and the conspirators’ warriors were at an impasse. No one was gaining the upper hand, yet the casualties were mounting.

“…”

From her spot, Maddie watched the bloodletting at the flanks. Then, she signaled for the artillery to cease their fire. Once the dust settled down, the Human Saint mounted her horse, drew her sword, and led her Paladin Corps into a cavalry charge against the enemy center. Maddie’s paladin soon crashed on the surprised enemy, and the latter quickly broke and fled.

“We got them at the center! Don’t let up the advance!” the Human Saint shouted her orders, as well as encouragements to her paladins. However, the bombed-out slopes and craters in the enemy center was making it harder for the Paladin Corps cavalry to keep their cohesion. A few moments later, their charge fizzled, and they had to retreat and regroup, in face of a desperate enemy counterattack.

However, Maddie still had an ace up her sleeves.

“Your turn, Lily!”

“Leave it to me!”

The Saint’s Head Maid, and Nerfes’ princess, Lilyhaven von Leese, activated her ‘Bloodbath’ skill and went on a rampage. She carved a wide path of death and destruction against the Count’s counterattacking armies. The enemy was routing once again, in face of Lily’s onslaught. But then, just as the Iron Princess was about to defeat them…

“Gah!”

“Lily!” Maddie turned her horse around and rushed to her friend’s side, as the Iron Princess fell after getting shot. The paladins followed after her and formed a defensive ring around them.

“Ah! I think they got me, Maddie! It hurts,” she pointed towards her leg, which was profusely bleeding.

“Hold on!” the Human Saint healed it in an instant. “Can you stand?”

Lily tried to put pressure on her leg, and once she determined it was already good, she picked her once again, “Alright, let me get back at them.”

“No, take a rest for now!” Maddie insisted. “Don’t use your ability too much, or it might revert to its uncontrollable state.”

“But—”

“Your Holiness, I bring in dire news!” an orderly suddenly came to them. “The attack at the left flank is beaten, and your warriors there are retreating! The right flank is also wavering in face of a stubborn defense of the enemy.”

“What?” both of them couldn’t believe what they just heard.

“Your Holiness, Your Highness,” it was one of the paladins. “We should retreat for now; the enemy has reinforced the center, and another counterattack is imminent.”

Faced with a confident foe that had beaten back her flanking feints, as well as her paladins’ charge, the Human Saint faced no other option but to retreat. Soon, the horns signaling the coalition armies to call off the attack were sounded, and they prepared for a long siege.