The Coming Assault

They waited for the funeral procession to pass before continuing onwards. Rell watched as the Sisters instantly went back to their daily tasks of cleaning and patrolling as if nothing happened. Elena's somber mood improved quickly as well. Within minutes she was back to having a stride in her step, humming as she skipped along.

"The battlefield is too familiar here huh?" Rell said aloud.

"The battlefield is a lonely pasture..." Tia said, putting on her best brooding face.

"Truly, we are cursed on this earth." Vi added.

"We walk alone." Hope said.

"Oh, you kids are back." Rell sighed.

"Of course my dear knight. What kind of rulers would abandon their subjects?" Tia asked, looking offended.

"Who exactly are your subjects?" Elena asked, looking down at the small children.

"Why you lot of course!" Tia pointed. "Isn't it obvious?"

"I think Mira's been a bad influence on you." Elena stated.

"Something smells good." Hope sniffed.

A trail of smoke rose a little distance away. The group continued towards it, discovering the source of the smell. A gigantic pig hung over an open fire pit. It's flesh was already a deep brown color, indicating it was almost finished. Two Sisters attended it, spinning the spit in order to roast the hog fully.

"The sleeping prince has awaken!" Mira called out. She was sitting on a log a short distance away from them.

Mira was not wearing the combat dress Rell had met her in. Instead she was wearing a simple plain long skirt with a drab looking sweater. It was much plainer than her flashy blue outfit.

"There you are. I hadn't seen you in two days." Elena sighed.

"I was working on a secret project." She adjusted her glasses, glaring at Rell with a sinister smile.

"I feel uneasy..." he said.

"Luna?" Elena asked.

Mira gestured with her thumb. The silver haired girl was sprawled under a nearby tree, completely asleep.

"Don't worry she'll wake up when the food's ready." Mira said.

"Of course she will." Elena laughed. "Shall we eat then?"

Rin and Rena walked along the road looking downtrodden, dried tears in both their eyes. 

"This was your fault..." Rin sobbed. 

"Please, shut up..." Rena replied back. "I don't want to get in trouble again..." 

"She's making us repaint the entire HQ, isn't that a bit cruel?" Rin asked. "You know how long that's going to take? Do we even have the paint?"

"I'm sure she'll make us collect it from somewhere..." Rena sighed. 

The smell of pork in the air met them, causing their noses to prick up and their bellies to ache. 

"Looks like food is ready." Rena noted. 

"Mhm." Rin drooled. 

"Jeez, Rin." Rena sighed, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket and wiping Rin's mouth. 

"I can get it myself!" Rin protested, pushing Rena away.

Rena's face burned red hot, but she calmed herself, remembering the retribution they faced earlier. Rena tucked her handkerchief away, before continuing down the road ahead of her sister.

"Don't you think it's kinda crazy?" Rin asked, catching up to her. 

"What? The Commander's plan?" Rena asked.

"Deploying five squads to destroy the Overlord, with the hopes that Rell's Nin can break its barrier?" Rin said. "It's a bold move." 

"I think it's too risky. We can't trust him, this Rell. Even if he is a human." Rena stated. 

"He saved Elena." Rin answered. "That's good enough for me to trust him." 

"You're naïve, sister." Rena shook her head. 

"Feast your eyes on my newest subject, Homo Sapien!!!" Tia stood atop a bench, declaring to a cheering group of Sisters while pointing at Rell eating some meat. 

He swallowed his pride, trying to hide annoyance. 

"Truly a formidable knight, Sir Rell here wields the power of Shadow Nin! With this power, and my stunning leadership, we shall lead this empire to a new era of peace and democracy!"

"I feel like you have a very warped sense of what empire means, Tia." Mira added. 

"Silence!" Tia turned to Rell. "My knight, slay this interloper!"

Rell stood up, grabbing Tia and rubbing her hair furiously. 

"Ahh! Betrayal!"  She cried. 

"The revolution has begun!" Hope raised her hands. 

"Revolution." Luna raised a fist, prompting Mira to punch her on the head. 

"Don't encourage them!" Mira scolded. 

Elena sat to the side, a perplexed look on her face as she watch the whole spectacle unfold. 

"What are you lot doing?" Rin asked, approaching them. 

"Oh they released you already?" Mira asked. 

"We already replaced you with Luna as our leader." Elena jumped in, not missing a beat. 

"Bow before the revolution." Luna declared proudly. 

"Where's the loyalty??" Rin shook her fist at her squad. "What are you looking so smug about?" She asked, turning to Rena. 

"This just proves that I'm the better captain." Rena declared, puffing her chest. "My squad mates have undying loyalty to me." 

"You wanna go again?" Rin hissed. "No. Calm. Calm." She took a deep breath.  

Elena walked up to Rin, shoving a big piece of meat in her mouth, causing her to choke. 

"What was that for!" She said, pulling it out. 

"You looked hungry." Elena shrugged. 

The group past the time, eating and drinking as Rell watched. He was still at a lost to how he ended up here, or where the rest of his friends were. His thought drifted to the possibility that he was the only one caught in the explosion. He pushed those thoughts away. He had to. 

Elena shoved his arm, breaking him out of his thoughts.

"You done?" She winked, offering another bit of meat on a makeshift plate.

Her face ached him. Alicia was out there somewhere, frozen, and here he was, sitting down without a care in the world. He wasn't sure if he could wait. 

Elena sighed, taking a seat next to him. 

"You know, it's kinda weird." She noted. 

"What is?" Rell asked, turning towards her.

"That I can kinda recognize that look on your face."

"What look?"

"Oh, you know." She kicked a rock away, her eyes drifting to the Tia trio harassing Mira with the help of Luna. "The look that you're planning to sneak off at night to go look for your friends look." 

"You got me." He sighed. 

"Can I ask you not to?" 

"You can." 

"Not to." She smiled, satisfied with her non-sensical answer. 

"I'm sorry about your friends earlier." He said.

"Don't be." She shook her head. "It happens to all of us eventually. We Sisters are born to die." 

"That's a terrible way to live." Rell answered her, watching as the Tia trio shifted their focus to Rin. Rin fought back pretty violently. 

"We're like fleeting leaves, Rell. We flutter in the wind, thinking we're free, but our pre-destined path is the earth below." She repeated. 

They looked at each, both confused with the words. 

"That was..." They said in unison. 

"Strange." Rell let out. 

"Mhm." She nodded. 

They sat in silence a few moments, an unusual feeling emitting between both of them, pondering the words that were said. 

"I have a feeling that the commander kind of threatened you to help us." Elena broke the silence. 

"She did."

"Do you mind if I ask you something then?" Elena asked. 

"What?"

"Can you help us please?" 

"It's not like I had a choice anyways." He answered. 

"That's why i'm asking." She replied. 

Rell sat and pondered this for a moment, before turning towards her. For some reason, she could read this expression too. She nodded, thanking him in silence.