“The Light of The Goddess smiles upon us this month. Messengers arrived from the northern city of Islin confirming its survival and current state. The news saw the morale of Marsun rise and fortify their spirits once more. My team and I have also done what we can to facilitate the continued arrival of Volksgradian supplies to the frontline. On the East, Senior Inquisitor… ”

  - Inquisitor Julian Hastor, Northern Observation Reconnaissance Group, “Letter To Saintsrest #14”

  Crudely sketched maps, a field kitchen, and some barricades had been hastily set up in the remains of the barns on the Grunwald farmstead. Horses and wagons were hitched in one, strategic planning in the other, while templars and knights patrolled the perimeter. From the outside, it almost looked like an officially sanctioned military operation. Perhaps an armed reconnaissance mission of sorts. It would make sense, in Sophie’s eyes. After all, Eichafen was a fortress town near the border for a reason. But prone to disappointing those with aspirations, she had no inclination to help clear the town beyond uncovering what mysteries she could from it. Even then, we don’t know what’s left behind or if everything has been wiped clean. Undead hordes aren’t exactly the type to leave behind usable corpses. She shuddered at the grim thought that entered her mind.

  The current plan was much the same as their advance, if augmented by the addition of the Red Hawk Knights and the inquisitors. With the only adjustment being the size of the groups. Since the city was relatively large for a fortress city, they would only deploy into two teams instead of the originally envisioned three. Sophie and Eva’s team would combine as one force to search through both the ruins of the guild halls and the church, while Sir Taurox, some templars and some of Theodore’s retinue would investigate the town center and the merchant’s districts. After which both teams would clear the gate house leading up to The Golden Quarter. And then we’re on our own.

  Right now, the expedition was quietly preparing themselves for what could potentially be brutal fighting ahead. Hushed whispers and curt comments belied the scale of what they were about to undertake. Despite limiting themselves to mostly the southern edges of the residential and market districts before going to the Golden Quarter, it still represented dozens of city blocks, hundreds of little alleyways and houses, all providing a chance for still lurking undead to ambush the parties. On a good day, it could’ve taken perhaps a house to navigate the throngs of the city streets and travel from one end to another. They had a relatively accurate map of the whole city, after all, that wasn’t exactly something that had to be hidden away. The problem was that no one knew what streets had debris blocking them, or what buildings have since collapsed creating more avenues of ambush from the lurking dead, or what pathways would even take them to their respective destinations without adding an unnecessary amount of extra time that they would have to spend in the city.

  She did already learn something new from this expedition. Since they had met, Eva had usually always wielded either a rapier, saber, or sword of sorts. This was the first time she saw her mistress carrying along something half way between a buckler and a full sized shield. Eva was practicing swinging it around alongside the saints, the group of them forming a far more cohesive unit than Aoi’s squadron from the caves. The saintess Suzuki displaying her own martial adeptness with quick, precise but still powerful blows. I can see why they would trust in her.

  The others were no slouches either. Emi falling in with her squad leader and joining Eva with an additional shield. Riku held the mid line, practicing swordsmanship despite preferring the bow. While Miyuki and Ayumi demonstrated decent melee skills with their staffs as well. All in all, considering how readily they went in and out of formation almost in sync with each other. She wasn’t really worried about them. They seemed to know what they were doing.

  That was in stark contrast with Sophie’s own party. While each member of the Lily Knights certainly carried with them very specialized an unique skillsets. It was only seeing the effortless maintenance of formation by the saint squadron that she realized just how unorganized her own battle formations were. In fact, it would be fair to say that as long as anyone using a ranged weapon was behind the main line, that would be all the tactics they really used. For the most part, now that she thought about it, unless they were assigned a part of a larger battle group like now. Each person really just fought however they could or knew how. Hells, we don’t even have a plan. We just fight.

  Thankfully, she had little time to be embarrassed, for duty was quickly coming to call upon them. Janos and Mila seemed to have finished hashing out any last minute concerns with Sir Taurox. Naturally, the inquisitors filtered out to their respective groups. Mila let out a soft grunt of acknowledgement when reuniting with the others. Sophie being the only one who grunted back where the others just nodded, though Elaria did flash the girl a smile.

  “Anything we should know?” Sophie asked.

  Mila half shrugged half scoffed before throwing an annoyed glance towards the outside of the barn.

  “Eva’s brother, Theodore is raising a bit of a stink. Something about us favoring outsiders instead of calling upon Carrador.”

  “Ah…” Sophie groaned. Trouble.

  Mila just scowled in agreement.

  “Is it going to be trouble?” Sophia posed a question when she noticed Sophie’s quietness.

  “I don’t know him as well as your sister does. Though I’d say he’s liable to make a fuss once we actually get a foothold inside the city. I doubt it’ll be anything too troublesome though, he might not be pleased with the current arrangements. But I think he’s smart enough to know that this expedition will only really find anything of value if we cooperate.”

  “Great.” Sophia drawled.

  “Don’t blame me. I’m just telling you what I think.”

  “Ugh. What do you think?” Sophia rounded on Sophie, “Do we need to get rid of him before he becomes a problems?”

  ‘Huh? What? No. It’s fine." Sophie responded with mock indignation, hoping that Sophia was joking, "Eva’s here. If he makes a fuss, she’ll uhh, fuss right back until they both calm down again.” Sophie reassured the others.

  “Whatever the case, it’ll make for a most fascinating tale, at least.” Elaria chimed in, her voice sounding almost far too delighted for the occasion.

  The bard had traded in her usual apparel and equipment for something more practical for the situation, thankfully. Gone were the baggy and frilly clothes, replaced instead by a worn but thick gambeson and padded pants. Her assortment of instruments had also been left behind at the Rosengart estate. Opting for a spare rapier that Eva had been able to rummage around for. Though oddly, despite Eva and Sophie’s insistence that she at least aim for something that was a little less worn out, Elaria had steadfastly refused.

  “I can see it now, you know?” Elaria continued, the girl’s good cheer still haven’t found any willing compatriots to match it, “I’ll call it… ‘The Heroes Of The Rose’, a tale of House Rosengart’s staunchest defenders and most controversial ones.”

  Mila rolled her eyes and shot Sophie a glance. Sophie just shrugged. If this was to be the extent of Elaria’s contributions to this expedition, it was enough for her. A way for House Rosengart to make more of their deeds be known, and one that she hoped would at least be somewhat flattering given the hastily organized nature of this expedition.

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  “It could be like your stories. A gallant knight riding out with his men to fight evil. The scruffy noblewoman looking to make her mark on the world, well, more of a mark. I suppose people might see Eva as one of the outlanders at this point.” Elaria pouted in annoyance.

  “But we’re the only ones who know the truth, eh?” Sophia snarked.

  “Heh, something like that.” Elaria smirked back.

  “How… predictable.” Mila scoffed.

  “Oh? A little jealous are we?” The bard nudged a little closer to the black hat.

  “Perish the thought.” Mila exaggeratedly pulled away.

  “Not even a teensy bit? A ballard for the church made for the commonfolk?” Elaria batted her eyelids and cooed like a child.

  “That’s what the hymss and sermons are for.” Mila growled back, swatting at the girl like she would a fly.

  “Boo, how boring. Stirs up fervor maybe. But what of excitement? Of action, adventure and dreams!” Elaria cheered.

  “Ela…” Sophie finally joined in with a sigh.

  “Ugh, fine. Just trying to have some fun.” Her sister stuck out her tongue.

  “I know.”

  “You’re all so serious.”

  “The matter at hand is quite serious.” Mila chided.

  “Mmhmm, but so is most of everything else we end up doing. Might as well keep up the good cheer. Tis’ what a bard’s good for, is it not?” Elaria theatrically pranced around a little., “And it’s not like the rest of them are exactly an inspiring bunch minus the outsiders, eh?” She jerked a thumb towards the others.

  Sophie let out a soft chuckle to help cool their heads. Sophia just choosing to ignore the distractions and do one last check of her own equipment.

  “Gah. Fine. So stuffy sometimes.” Elaria tutted, “There is so much to discover in this world. Why let some undead stifle our creativity, hmm?”

  “Best to keep the celebrations for afterwards. A reprieve before our next journey. For now, keep your mind sharp and wits about.”

  Elaria made a dismissive noise of sorts, though Sophie did notice that for a brief moment. The bard had shed the often feigned grin she wore and traded it for a small, if amused smile that was almost wholly genuine based on how her eyes wrinkled with it. Catching sight of Sophie’s scrutiny, Elaria flashed a cheeky little wink. Sophie smiled back, much to her sister’s delight.

  Pleased, Elaria sauntered over to a nearby stool and plopped herself upon it. The bard letting out an almost comedically loud sigh to indicate her readiness for the journey ahead.

  As usual, once Elaria had begun calming herself back down, Raylani made her presence known. The dark elf had kept mostly to herself and Elaria once they had arrived in Rosengart territory proper. While the saints and Eva were already somewhat used to her presence. In terms of immediately catching attention from the folk of this land, a mere glimpse of her would have them staring at the odd looking elf. Even the templar escort had not been immune to their innate curiosity, her kind being so rare that even they couldn’t resist trying to analyze her. Only the unquestioning nature of the two inquisitors had tapered any forthcoming questions that they might’ve had.

  With the emergence of their Carradorian escorts and now Theodore’s retinue. Raylani had kept an even lower profile than before.

  She shot Sophie a look before tilting her head towards the doorway. The first foray, Sophie tensed up.

  She returned the gesture with a nod of her own before glancing at the others. An unspoken compact was sealed and they collected what equipment they needed before getting up. Elaria giving the group a wave of farewell.

  The first day had already mostly gone by with travel and setup alone. Only a scant few hours of ‘daylight’ remained in this misty hells. Thus their first venture into the city would be a simple one. Secure the main entry way, assess the situation, regroup back at the farmstead to better plan for their true foray into the dead city.

  There was no more subtly needed. They had established their outpost and now sought to reconntaire the outskirts in force. A contingent of knights and templars that were not guarding the rear began riding around the city walls, keeping a close eye on any nearby undead or those hidden above the walls. The rest of the ground force made their way towards a breach in the wall facing the farmstead. Though the city gates were also destroyed, the constant bombardments from the siege had rendered the roads around there virtually impassable without some level of finesse. Fallen debris and the collapsed gatehouse also added an unnecessary amount of challenge in navigating the broken terrain.

  Only the rattling of weapons, bootsteps and labored breathing from the advance now echoed in the air. Alongside the ever familiar thrumming of her own heart as it beat like a drum in her ear. It was a feeling that she found herself drawn to despite despising it in the very same breath. The call to battle, to combat. And the way it almost made her feel excited.

  Though the fire inside was tempered by the equal amounts of dread that she felt getting closer to EIchafen. The place where her own fate became intertwined with a darkness that she hadn’t even known about back then. A place where she had seen such life and joy amidst the gloominess of the Mistveil around it. Where people thrived and lived to the best of their ability against the harsh frontier.

  Whatever stories or futures that it once held were now lost forever more. Just a husk of what it once had been. And though she knew that the darkness that overtook it was part of a greater whole. With how thoroughly it had been destroyed, she wondered if there anything more worrying at play. Perhaps something that Arantos had set their sights upon that was found within the city.

  The undead don’t advance beyond the Mistveil, that’s for sure. She mused. She then flicked a glance towards the inquisitors and the templars that were present. Certainly they would’ve purged many. Her eyes wandered back to the city’s crumbling walls. The marks of war and decay getting ever clearer the closer they got to it. Each pockmarked divet and collapsed support marking one more note of the city’s final song before it’s fall.

  Remnants of the battle still lingered even now. Scattered weapons and armor lay strewn on the approaches to the city. Most rotting or caked in the dirts and dents that had marred it before its wearer’s demise. In way, it seemed almost like a gentle tribute to the dead, only leaving behind the last of their effects to mark the struggle they had been involved in. Only the eerie silence of the dead remained. But perhaps that was what might be the most terrifying thing of all. Whatever bodies that should’ve been there weren’t. Either burned by the church’s soldiers or snatched by the darkness to add to the ever growing ranks of the undead. Whatever the case, a poor end for the hardy frontier folk who fought so dearly to survive in this harsh forest.

  The shadow of the city now loomed over them. It’s ominous shadow pushing what little wriggle room they have further and further into the darkness. Sandwiching them beneath it’s overgrown shattered corpse grey stones and the gnarled tangled roots of the misty forest beyond.

  A low groan sent the forward force screeching to a halt. Shieldbearers raced to the front while those without stood on the flanks. The few bow, bolt, or magic casters holding a few feet away in anticipation of an attack.

  At the fore, Sir Taurox gestured for some of the templars to take up the rear, two of the silver knights obeying almost instantly despite him no longer technically holding any sway over them. Swords and shields raised, the minotaur motioned for the frontline to carefully advance, the soldiers and others forming a makeshift shieldwall as they pushed forward, each step careful and measured.

  A soft whistle drew their attention towards Raylani. Still covered mostly by her shawl, she raised an arm towards a collapsed chunk of rubble near the blown open wall.

  One of the riders had apparently ridden past loud enough that it stirred the dead. Though they made no noise since he passed by quickly enough. Upon sighting the party though, the guttural groans had reached them. Yet their presence wasn’t the real concern. It was that they seemed to be stuffed into the rubble, half torsos and arms flailing feebly as they clawed hungrily at the air infront of them. Some still clutching the very weapons that had been in their hands during their demise, though most looked to be on the verge of simply rotting away, too weak to even crawl out of the debris. A potent reminder that in the Mistveil, the forest still ruled supreme even against the dead.

  Sophie glanced towards Sir Taurox and the minotaur shook his head. A forgotten pocket that hadn’t been seen by the original cleansing of the town.

  The minotaur motioned for everyone to remain in formation as he trudged forwards, the groans growing into wails as the starved dead had finally found their prey.

  Sophie winced as the minotaur delivered blow after blow, by axe or fist. Each with enough strength to cleanly sheer off the heads of the dead or to simply pulverize them through brute force. There was a quiet professionalism that disquieted her. The casualness of his demeanor coupled with the ease of the violence. But with his savage display came another daunting realization for her. The way to Eichafen was now clear.