Chương 100: Chapter 99- The Passageway

Astra's POV Seven years ago… The clack of wooden blades striking each other, the pounding of feet on flagstones, and the shouts of the men training in the main practice yard of the Emberhold fill the air as a younger Astra sits before a Mira in her resplendent armor, standing in front of a slate board displaying various battle formations as she has Astra recite the calls.

Astra had quickly grown fond of the tutor that her family had brought her once she had finished her System initiation and became a [Child of the First Flame]. When she had wanted to learn the blade, her brothers had simply indulged her, and while her father had been enthusiastic he doted on her enough that it felt warm and comforting but less reassuring.

When Astra had declared her intentions to be powerful enough one day to join the heroes from her stories with all the confidence of youth, Mira on the other hand just responded with a slight smile and a simple, " And so it shall be so, my Lady." The very next day Mira had her drilling out in the yard, and had not slowed a bit in the two years hence. Astra wrinkled her brow in confusion, " I don't know why we are learning this now? It will be years before I am old enough to lead men in battle?

Would practicing more spellforms not be a better use of my time?" Mira fixed Astra with a stern gaze, " You can not know the future my Lady, you may not need this knowledge for a hundred years or you may need it tomorrow, and there is no substitute for being prepared and consistent work on the basics. As with many things the strength of men through combined arms has a magic all of its own. Also, it is 'do not' not 'don't' you know better.""

The day may come when I may be gone, and my words will be all you have to guide you." She drew herself upright once more and fixed Astra with an imperious gaze, " So again, what is the call pattern to advance under fire?" A quiet chanting rises sharply into a triumphant chorus, shattering the memory and drawing Astra back to the present.

As her song rose in warning she snapped her blade into a parry as one of the massive Antler Fiends reached over the shield wall in snatching at the men and women sheltered behind in her distraction. As she deflected the blow to the side, an axe blade flashed into her vision as Eli furiously hacked at the limb, only remembering to activate his new blade skill on the final blow.

For all his talent, the man is still raw, relying on skills when he has Skills much better suited to the cause, but he is nothing if not reliable. The Fiend reared back to its full towering twelve foot height, screaming a discordant roar in fury clutching the stump of the severed arm as Astra sent Eli a quick pulse of affection down their bond in thanks.

Triggering her [Crimson Aspect], [Flame Channeling], and [Cinder Constructs] in rapid succession she poured a heavy flow of mana as she condensed a massive pillar of flame into a dense bar of crimson plasma guided by [Keen Strike] to connect with the skull of beast as it stood tall, the dense aspected mana punching through and leaving behind a smoking crater.

The corpse of the creature slumped back behind the battle lines, and Astra called the men to brace as another wave of monsters gathered to descend on the wall. As she leaned forward to brace the man in front of her in unison with the rest of the formation, she made eye contact with Eli again across the back of the front line.

The memory of Mira's lessons were fading, but the image of her stern glare lingered, the exact same expression that made her feel like a young girl even nearly a decade later, and strangely enough it helped to settle her. A core of steel stiffened her spine, as she resolved to show Mira just how well she had learned her lessons.

Astra's emotions shifted into grim determination, and Elias could feel his own heart grow lighter at the iron willed resolve that buoyed up in its wake. As they shared a look, blood flecked and sweat stained, breathing heavy as they were lost in the middle of a crush of blood, muscle, and steel, the sight of Astra filled with resolute and undaunted took his breath away. What little he had anyways, as he helped brace the front line.

Finding himself unable to resist the urge to share his sense of sonder, Eli sent a pulse of his emotions to her, as well as a mix of admiration for her resolve and a hefty dose of his own determination to see their mission done, giving her a wink as her eyes snapped to meet his. The slight grin and roll of her eyes amused him as he chuckled to himself, mission complete. A confused voice entered his mind from above, what's complete?

Shaking his head, he spoke out loud as he sent his thoughts to her, " Nothing Tia, just let me know if any make it to the top of the wall." Aye, aye, how is Sister-Astra?" BREAK!"" STRIKE!"" KILL!"" WALL!" He paused as Astra called out another series of strikes to soften the press before answering with a grunt, " We're just peachy down here Tia, keep it up!"" FORWARD!"" LOCKED!"" READY!" The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation." MARCH!"

Elias's world dissolved into a haze of blood, squeals, sweat, and the rhythm of death. Astra called and the men killed, over and over again, she screamed and they marched a single step at a time, streams of crimson blood running thick and hot in a continuous flow beneath their boots, steaming in the cool night air.

After what felt like hours, but was mostly likely minutes, a flow of fresh air blew over the top of the wall as the front line reached the edge of the passageway, and a shout in his mind from Tia broke Eli from his fugue state. Brother! They reached the top, a couple of the big ones just made it to the edge! Elias swore as Astra glanced over grimacing in anticipation of the news, " Tia said they made the ramparts, we need to hurry."

Astra struck, her greatsword flicking out and lopping off a hand that was reaching over the wall, getting a pained squeal and a thump in return. She cocked her head to bellow over her shoulder." MR MASON I NEED A WALL!" A voice answered from the press behind her, nearly lost in the cacophony." Aye! It will run me dry!"" NOTED, THE ORDER STANDS!"" Aye, the order stands! Make me a hole!"

Astra called once, twice, thrice more for a march, but no matter how the shieldbearers pressed, once the passageway opened up the scrum was too heavy for them to move. Elias grinned, " Tia you're up, time to bring the sunrise! Make us a hole!" Astra cackled, " Bring it sister!" before bellowing again." BREACH AND COVER!" The front line stamped three times and called out the response as the second line swapped with the fourth as they stepped forward shields in hand." READY. BREACH! AYE! AYE! AYE!"

A chorus of boots crashed in time with each call of 'Aye', and a ripple of shattering and splashing sounds came from the front as Tia strewed a line of clay jars across the front of the formation, coating the lead elements of the horde in thick oil. Astra sheathed her sword as an orb of flame lit a soft yellow orange in the palm of each hand.

Her eyes narrowed, losing focus as a look of concentration took over her face, the color of the orbs deepening into a crimson red, the crackle of the flames shifting into a roar. She gave a pained grunt as the color shifted once more from a crimson red into an azure blue, the roar shifting into the crackling whine of a jet turbine, and at a slight nod Elias bellowed out the order." BREACH, BREACH, BREACH!"

The wall parted to open a single but large gap as Astra slammed her hands together and a plume of azure flame roared into the gap. A searing blue pillar, as if someone had jammed a blow torch fit for a giant through the passageway. The spell took a heavy toll on Astra and quickly guttered out, the shield wall slammed closed before Eli could even call out the final warning." BREACH! COVER, COVER, COVER!"

The second line lifted their shields upwards to extend the wall as the night turned day, a massive fireball jetting skywards from the fuel soaked creatures, as a wave of heat washed outwards and a roaring boom echoed throughout the passageway. The pained screams and wails of the dying creatures were nearly drowned out by the roar of approval that burst forth from the men behind them.

Elias caught Astra with an arm around the waist, bracing her as she slumped from the disorientation and nausea that came with such a rapid expenditure of mana, taking over for the moment as she recovered." MASON, YOU'RE UP!"" Aye! One Wall, Post Haste!" Astra pulled a canteen from her belt and upended it over head before shaking, flicking a spray of water across the men behind her. Feeling her legs steadying beneath her, Eli whispered a quiet " Ready?"

and hauled her to her feet at the slight nod he received in return. She drew her greatsword once, stamped her feet to get her blood pumping once more, and bellowed, " MR MASON WHERE IS MY WALL?" A rumble beneath their feet turned into a groan, and the shieldbearers took a half step back as the flagstones bracket beneath their feet and a broad sheet of grey stone rose, a foot thick and as wide as the passageway, the grinding groaning noise coming to a halt as it covered the end of the opening.

The men paused for a moment, taking a moment to catch their breath, before Astra sighed and shouted once more." AND THE LOOPHOLES?" A scratching and creaking sound came from the brand new wall as a series of rectangular shapes etched themselves into the surface as if the stone was no more than soft clay before blasting outwards and ricochetting across the courtyard beyond to a chorus of pained squeals.

Astra nodded in satisfaction, finally taking a deep breath of her own, the next orders coming out in a lower tone now that she no longer had to scream over the din of battle." Very good Mr Mason, you stand relieved! Archers to the front, Pikes on standby, marshal two by one!" Realizing they had a short break, Eli checked in with Tia as he turned to give Astra a once over, how's the situation out there?

For once, Astra had been unable to dodge the blood spray, although Elias knew that was more likely due to the volume than any lack in talent, and while he couldn't feel anything concerning through the tether it was hard to tell if any of it was hers. Eli doubted he looked much better, but Astra's normally pristine and beautiful armor was awash with dust and blood, the only clean spots were tiny rivulets from where she had just emptied her canteen.

At the question in his eyes she gave him a broad but tired smile, " Whole and hale, just winded, give me a moment to steady myself. Have you spoken with Tia yet? Can she relay the conditions above?" He nodded narrating for Astra as Tia responded, Bad, lots of monsters, and they look angry that they can't leave anymore. Did you see that fireball?! Did Sister-Astra?! What am I saying she was the one who lit it up, what did she think? Astra smiled, " Tell her it was awesome, but I need a report."

Eli grinned, She said it was awesome and amazing, and you're the best dragon friend ever. Really?! Of course, but bad guys first, fun stuff later, what's happening? A few big ones up top, more little two-leg ones, lots and lots in the middle. Big ones look like they are trying to get down and haven't figured it out yet.

Shiny-Boy-Mira showed up with the slow two-legs, there was a lot of shouting, and he sent some of the slow two-legs out to surround the monster-walls, and a bunch of the rest look like they are trying to put out the fire in town. Astra took a deep breath and seemed to relax for a moment, " Excellent, we can still contain this." She glanced up at Eli with a wry smile, " Ready for more?" Eli spun his poleaxe to flick the blood from the blade as he grinned, " Do you even need to ask?"

Astra snorted as gave his chest a slap, " No, but a lady would be rude not to ask, come."