Orsgadts
Retrogressive

Eimersun's army moved closer to the palace. Alfred prevented King Duncan and asked him to wait on the hill of Thorsca. As an experienced knight, he knew something was wrong. Although Yhourin's magic had already covered Orsgadt's second barrier but the absence of security forces around the wall alarmed him.

The movements of the Eimersun forces were very fast and orderly.  In an instant they had already formed an attack formation and were defending around the second wall. Avena sharpened her ears. Ordinary humans might not catch the strange sound of the faint-heartedness that fills the night air. Not a human voice, Avena thought.

Hemworth and Arrand stared at each other. The wind that suddenly disappeared and the concentration of the night made the two even more vigilant. There must have been another surprise prepared by Goenhrad and his magician. Neither Hemworth nor Arrand liked surprises. Especially in the midst of war at night.

“Retreat! Backward!” avena shouted like a madman. His swinging hands made a high ice wall in front of the Eimersun army.

Eimersun's forces immediately retreated in order. They were confused because they did not see the enemy that Avena was worried about. Eimersun's army was completely blinded from fighting at night without the slightest moonlight.

Alfred ordered the catapult army to throw fireballs. One by one the fireballs shot through the air. Some fell in the vast field and some fell in the lake. As soon as a huge fireball flashed above their heads, the new Eimersun army could see hundreds of black figures already surrounding them with unsheathed weapons.

Already late. One member of the black army was equivalent to four or five Eimersun soldiers so a massacre was inevitable. Shouts of anger and roars of death rose into the motionless air.

Avena went berserk looking at the black troop. As Arrand and Hemworth made way for his troops to retreat, Avena angrily covered the place with ice fog. He shouted loudly and all the black troops fell down with gaping wounds on their chests. Avena's fury had frozen and destroyed the heart of that ruthless army.

King Duncan ordered his troops to retreat behind the second wall. A third of his army was already depleted and the rest had to fight against whatever would appear next after this. There was no other choice but to wait for the day to be bright enough.

Avena, unwilling to risk a new attack, added a pile of pointed ice to the interior of Orsgadt. Making an ice wall that big would naturally consume his energy. He decided to go down and lean on the big tree. His body was weak and almost fell down as two arms caught and carried him.

“Horeen ...” Avena smiled weakly.

“Still also like to get angry until it runs out of energy,” said Horeen.

Horeen floated up and carried Avena up the branch of a large tree. Protected by the lush trees, Horeen kissed her lover's lips while putting her right hand on Avena's chest. Fortunately he quickly came, otherwise Avena could be critical.

“Rest,” says Horeen softly.

Avena's eyes open. He smiled at Horeen. His eyes then closed back.

***

Leonz appears in the king's room where Emune and his friends are gathered. His mouth opened as he looked at Emune who was already wearing a harness and ready with his sword. He looked at Proner and the others. He was glad they were okay.

“Ehem, Prince Elric, be fascinated later. We still have other business,” said Leonz.

“I-iya,” replied Elric.

Proner, Sean and Aiden immediately laughed amusedly at the embarrassed Elric being said by a little girl. Sean knelt down as if examining Leonz. He smiled when he saw the little girl was fine.

“How did you get here?” ask Aiden. The path to this place is very confusing. He himself sure would be lost if not with Emune.

“I have a strong love sensor,” replied Leonz casually.

Aiden grimaced, strange to hear the sentence coming out of the little girl's mouth. Emune and Elric laughed amusedly.

“Knight Orsgadt turns shy,” tempt Sean. He elbowed the embarrassed Proner.

Proner. It should distract everyone before they make it into a hoax. “What should we do next?”

“Yhourin. We have to stop him before he resurrects Korta and Anthura,” Emune said.

“Where do you think Goenhrad is currently?” ask Aiden.

“Aula, I guess,” replied Proner.

“Don't think of going there and finishing him off. Yhourin protects him with multi-layered magic,” Leonz.” said

“You can't beat that magic?” ask Sean to Leonz.

Leonz suddenly stopped. He made everyone behind him collide with each other. Sean and Aiden are complaining.

“Only Emune can do it,” replied Leonz. He continues his path.

The path to the basement was very confusing. Emune who felt memorized the ins and outs of this palace became confused himself. He scratched his head.

“It looks like this place has been changed,” murmured.

“Magic again,” says Leonz. Leonz sowed the magic powder and knocked on the floor three times with the tip of his shoe. He looked at Emune. “It's visible now?”

“Yes. Come, this way,” take Emune.

“Where are all the bodyguards?” ask Sean.

“It looks like Goenhrad is very confident in Yhourin's ability so he feels no need for bodyguards,” replied Elric.

Arriving at the door leading to the basement, Leonz pressed his palm. There was no magic power he felt. It's weird, he thought. Leonz backs off and lets Sean and Aiden in after reminding him to be careful.

As soon as the door opened, several arrows shot towards them. Sean and Aiden swiftly moved their swords to fend them off.

“Yhourin is not here,” says Leonz.

“Retreat,” said Proner beware.

“If he wants to see the mess he made, he must be in the main tower,” Emune said. Emune clucked in annoyance. He was too focused on the basement to remember the main tower of Orsgadt's palace.

They ran up the steps, straight towards the main tower of Orsgadt. A fierce fight must have been waiting for them even more Yhourin would not easily give up.

Emune's guess is right. The path to the main tower was guarded by the king's guards. It won't be easy, Emune thought. He is not afraid. They ran while attacking anyone who was blocking their way. Sweat and blood soaked their clothes and bodies.

“Leonz, how?” ask Emune. He wiped his sweat and shook his blood-soaked sword.

“Feel strong here,” says Leonz. “Be careful,” says Leonz.

Proner and Eric broke down that thick door. Upset that the door was so sturdy, Proner took out the light sword given by Leonz's mother and smashed the door with a single slash.

“I want one. Where can I buy it?” ask Aiden to be amazed.

“My book gave him,” replied Leonz with a proud smile.

Aiden grimacing. He would not have had such a sword if it had been given by Leonz's mother.

They entered the room vigilantly. Before reaching the top room, they had to climb the snaking stairs. Suddenly Leonz fell. Proner quickly lifted the little girl's body.

“Emune, can't ...” Leonz reached out his hand towards Emune.

Emune caught Leonz's hand. I don't know how much power Leonz used since. Stupid, said Emune in the heart. He should have paid more attention to Leonz's condition.

“Leonz,” says Emune. “We return to Eimersun,” Emune said.

Sean and Aiden are confused. They're a little bit more going to get to the top room of the tower and Emune wants to go back to Eimersun? Both thought their ears were hearing wrong.

“There is no point in forcing yourself. We're facing a witch. Without Leonz's strength, we wouldn't be able to break through his protector,” Emune said as if understanding Sean and Aiden's confusion.

“How do we get back?” ask Elric.

“Emune, take my hand. The other one, hold Emune's arm. Don'tdon't move. My energy is just enough for this,” said Leonz.

After the others followed his instructions, Leonz sowed the magic powder on Emune's hand that held his hand. A blinding green light appeared and surrounded the six of them. The moment the light disappeared, Emune and his companions had already vanished.

***

The night is long. The awaited dawn is still far away. All Eimersun's forces had retreated beyond the second wall. The ice wall Avena had made seemed to be enough to prevent the black troops from passing through it and storming again. A change of ranks was made in the Eimersun army.

King Duncan growled as the number of his army had dwindled and there was no sign of help from Arsyna. Horeen reported the events in Imperia. His anger grew higher but after listening to the fairy story, he crossed his arms and sighed sadly. He was also upset because Theosyes became a victim of Goenhrad's cunning. Imperia's readiness to fight alongside Eimersun was of course welcomed by King Duncan. If Arsyna's army is ready, the black army is no longer a threat.

Horeen let Avena rest in Eimersun's palace. He will replace him guarding the western border of Eimersun tonight. He was relieved by the Imperia King's decision to fight Orsgadt. He whispered to Arthen to keep an eye on Theosyes.

“Do not hesitate to behead him if he betrays,” said Horeen earlier. The knight of course grinned happily.

Avena walked slowly towards Leonz's room. He asked Horeen to take him to Emune's room next to Leonz's. He was curious because he heard a noise. As soon as he saw Emune and the others standing within the circle of Arthenes, he gave a joyful shriek. Forgetting his weak condition, he forced a run in until he fell down.

“Avena!” shout Emune. He immediately helped Avena stand up and helped her lie down on the bed.

“It's okay, just need a little recovery. Horeen replaced me tonight.”

“Sorry, I'm making it hard for everyone. So much to sacrifice.” Emune wiped her tears.

Elric sat Emune on the bed next to Avena. His girlfriend looked sad. His fierce face during the battle had already returned to Emune, the Ulrych girl he knew. Elric knelt in front of Emune and clasped his hands. Emune's shirt is full of blood, so is his armor.

“Do not continue to blame yourself. Sooner or later Goenhrad will damage the peace of Artamea. There will be more casualties if we do not fight it.”

“Thank you. I don't think I'd make it this far without everyone's help.”

Elric smiling. “Rest. We'll be on guard taking turns tonight.”

Emune smiled as Elric kissed her forehead and chose to sit in the corner of the room with Proner. Aiden and Sean stood guard at the door. Emune got up and walked to the bathroom. He had to wipe his body and change his clothes that were exposed to blood and sweat. Orsgdt's armour which is a fairy-made heirloom item detached itself from Emune's body and neatly arranged on the table.

After cleaning himself, he laid his body between Avena and Leonz who had been exhausted. Father, Mother, I am among great and good people, he murmured inwardly.