Chương 34: Ch. 31 - Your Turn

We kept a steady pace. My heart was pumping adrenaline through my body and I didn't stop to think of the gunfire around us. It was too much. But we didn't stop as flashes of light that pulsated through the square. The bang of the ballistics as they peppered into the buildings. Each clearing in every alley was a brush with death. Sweat was beading down my face. Air was pushing and pulling into my lungs. We sprinted each clearing. Hid when the shouts were loud, but only until we could move again.

If we stopped moving, that would be it for us. Palina looked restful in the stasis pod. The runes on her face had stilled and faded. We crossed a set of buildings, staying in the alley. A gun towards us had us stop in our tracks. It was Strentor. He lowered his rifle and motioned us closer.

"What are you doing?" he whispered.

"Getting Palina to the manor," huffed Luna. She was behind me. Jeromy was at the front with me, but he was starting to drag us. The wound on his body still healing.

"What happened?"

"The goblinoids," I said.

"They shot her." Strentor's face went grim and he looked inside. He took a deep breath.

"Alright. I'll escort you. But at the end of this alley, there is a clearing. We have a defensive position set up, but it's out in the open. I was protecting the flank, but getting her there is more important."

"You alright, Jeromy?" I asked.

"Never better. The pain in my stomach is probably heart burn from unhealthy eating. I'm sure the 16 inch sharpened metal playing hide-a-way in my organs had nothing to do with it."

"Jokes?! Now?" yelped Luna. Debris from the building had us duck as an explosion rocked the building.

"If not now? When?" said Jeromy.

"Laughter is the best medicine. I'm starting to think whoever said that was obviously never stabbed before."

"How far?" I asked Strentor. He pointed further down, the curve to the left hiding whatever would be ahead of us.

"About four more buildings," he said.

"Like I said, I'm going with you. Just keep your head down." He spun out and towards the only way forward. We followed after him. The runes on his arms brightening each time he pulled the rifle up to peek around the corner. He fired twice and the screams followed. He took cover and a shot hit the back wall, scorching where Strentor would've been. He got lower to the ground, turned into the corner again and shot twice. The runes on his body disappeared on his fourth shot.

He grabbed a flask from his back pocket and downed it. The runes illuminated again with a dull light. He pushed forward, clearing for a different angle before letting us know to pass. Once we did, he hurried ahead of us until we got to the fourth building. He held the rifle up and took a deep breath.

"They seem to be endless," he said.

"Even now, more are coming down. It is slowing though. I can only buy you a moment, so run as fast as you can to cover." He dropped the rifle onto the ground and held up both hands. The runes on his body seemed to move. Like lights were drawing closer to his hands.

"Alright. I'm ready. GO!" He jumped out ahead of us before we had a chance to survey our surroundings. He was almost too fast and we were a half step behind. But we followed. I closed my eyes, putting one foot in front of the other. Only the rush of air going in and out of my lungs was all I could hear for a moment. I opened them to the chaos before us. Strentor held his hands up, the runes on his body dimming fast. The goblinoids were everywhere. They peppered the area with round after round.

Each one firing a single one before needing to reload. But there were so many it didn't seem to matter. Ahead of us were a couple dozen Elvians. Some had their hands up in a familiar way to Strentor. They had a second, bathing them in the water we had brought. Their bodies absorbing the water faster than it could be applied. Explosions bounced off the shields they were forming.

"Strentor! No!" yelled a voice. We pushed as fast as we could harmlessly through the shield. An explosion hitting the shield just behind us. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. The runes on Strentor went dim. Multiple shots hit him and he fell to the ground. The server from the restaurant, short with long white hair, he marched over.

"Move!" he yelled, pulling us closer to the manor. He raised his rifle and fired, the runes depleting on a single shot. He sipped from his flask and shot again. Repeating the process with each shot.

"We have-" I tried saying.

"I don't care!" he yelled.

"Head inside!" He fired again, moving back to his position.

"Oh no," said Luna, looking behind her.

"We have to go back! We can get-""Stop idling!" yelled a different voice.

"Inside!" Luna let go of the stasis pod and Jeromy quickly adjusted to keep it from dropping to the ground.

"Luna, what can you do?" I yelled. Someone grabbed Luna by the arm and yanked her back to us.

"Now!" yelled the Elvian. He pushed her as she protested.

"Either get inside or learn to use mana immediately." Luna took a step back and gave a nod of understanding before turning around to follow, grabbing the front handle where Jeromy was. We jogged in.

"He'd still be alive if we didn't…" muttered Luna.

"We need to save Palina. Would you have rather she die in a building with us to follow?" grunted Jeromy. His hand was on his abdomen with blood seeping through his clothes. The inside wasn't better. A couple of teams stood at the entrance, ready to relieve the ones outside. The ones behind them were filling their bandoleers with flasks, dirt on their faces from the fighting. Further in were people rushing in and out of the hallways. The injured ones limped to the rear, rifles still in hand as they stared ahead.

We we approached, one of them pointed to the left, the same direction we had found the body of the old magistrate. The injured were moving in and out.

"Yula," I said. Her hands were bright with healing energy. The HUD on her face scanning quickly. She looked up and a red tear rolled down her face in recognition. The runes on her body shut off like a light switch. The Elvian she was healing grunted in pain.

"Is she-" she murmured.

"No," I said.

"She's been shot, but we put her in the stasis module." She nodded, wiping the tear and pointing at a section on the floor that was clear.

"Yula," said Ilonar.

"What are-" she stopped herself and rolled up her sleeves.

"What do you need?"

"Get Lixana. She's in triage. Two healers would work better."

"You know we can't. She's needed."

"NO, MOTHER!" yelled Yula.

"I need her. It would be faster with two. Then we can continue!"

"No, daughter," stomped Ilonar.

"She is needed there. Do what you can now. You're the best at it." Yula let out an ear splitting shrill. The agony in her voice clear. The blood on her arms painted the picture of her pain.

"Open it," commanded Yula. The pod opened and not a second later, she was pushing her hands on her daughter's skin. The glow brighter than the sun. I covered my eyes as we looked away. Her primal screams silenced the room.

"Come on, Palina. Open your eyes dear. The Nexus doesn't need you yet." What felt like an eternity passed. The grunting of the injured filled the space. Not even the sounds from outside dared interrupt. Ilonar just stood, holding her breath. We all did. Palina gasped. Then she coughed.

"Hold on. Hold on," said Yula.

"Here. Drink this. You need mana too."

"Oh. Mother. What happened?" murmured Palina. A sigh of relief came from practically the whole room.

"You're alright now. I have work to do. Rest," said Yula. She glared at Ilonar as she walked past, continuing to heal the person she was working on earlier. I got to one knee as Palina sipped from the bowl.

"Thanks," I said.

"We weren't going to let you die after you saved us."

"I did do that," smirked Palina.

"It was my charge. It's okay." Ilonar took a knee next to her granddaughter and put a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm glad you're well," she said. She looked haggard. It had only been a few hours since she was in charge, but it was like years had passed. The flawless Elvian skin was showing cracks on Ilonar, looking closer to her age.

"We've already lost too many."

"Magistrate!" yelled a voice from outside. They were running to the door.

"Magistrate!" He got to the threshold and gasped.

"I have news. Both good and bad."

"Speak," said Ilonar, coming to her full height.

"The assault is slowing. We are advancing our position. The forward team at the hanger claims that the two humans were already gone. It appears they used an Exfil."

"What? They just left?" I asked.

"I thought they'd wait." They couldn't attack in here, cause then they might get crushed as well. But to just leave? A cold feeling rushed up my neck. A worry. Or anxiety.

"Jeromy," I whispered.

"Do you remember what level Hernando was?"

"He was like level 20. You're not planning on fighting him, are you?" Three versus one might help even the odds."

"Mate," grunted Jeromy.

"I am half the pilot I usually am right now. And in case you don't remember. I was middle of the pack. I didn't hold a candle to you, much less Ania-""Hate it when you remind me," I interrupted.

"And yet," he continued.

"You think that I somehow even the odds. What about Luna? Was she good?" I hesitated and Caddie spoke for me.

"Actually, she was last in her class for piloting," said Caddie.

"I found the recordings. It was abysmal, but I did note incremental improvements as time progressed for her. Her role in this squad is better as a support role." Jeromy gave me a flat look.

"So," said Jeromy.

"At best, it sounds like her and I put together make up one whole pilot right now. Hernando was the vanguard in the group. He had a walker unit, but he was still the vanguard."

"We can beat him," I said.

"We have to. I have the concepts of a plan."

"I say this with love, Stefo. That's the single dumbest thing I've heard."

"What are we whispering?" chimed in Luna. Her hands were shaking and her lip quivered. But her face didn't betray the bravery she was putting out.

"We have to fight Hernando. If he's working with the goblinoids, then he's going to take this place out," I said. Luna's shoulders slacked and her head let gravity win for the moment. She took a deep breath and lifted her chin.

"I know," she said. Her eyes were teary but firm.

"I assume you have a plan?"

"He has the concepts of a plan," mocked Jeromy. Her firm look turned to worry.

"It'll work," I said.