Mordred was sitting hunched over in his chair watching MKC Online’s sudden surprise broadcast. Fingers steepled in front of him, eyes narrowed, his expression souring even more with every word he heard. He had known, realistically, that Amelia breaking out from the special world quest she’d become embroiled in was something that could happen. He was impressed with how decisive she was, announcing the time and place she would reappear. She could have abandoned the quest sooner, but hadn’t. The truth was that the Imperials were putting a surprisingly fierce fight up even in her absence.

Pushing the quest to start the Rebel and Imperial questline with Empress Amelia indisposed had been the right move, he knew that. He could never have imagined that so many people would choose Rebel or how enthusiastically they would wave that flag. Nor could he imagine how stubbornly and bitterly the minority that had chosen Imperials would respond. The longer the Imperials held on without Amelia, the better their morale got. Amelia returning would only give them benefits, probably skyrocketing the already fierce and angry Imperials already swelling pride.

“Phew!” Mordred tried to relax a little bit and focus on the rest of the MKC Online broadcast.

Abhijita Thompkins, the lady of MKC Online herself, was sitting in one of several chairs on a stage situated in front of a large screen displaying random clips from AAO in MKC’s lit studio. Two of her co-hosts were obvious stand-ins while they got some they were acquiring some people with more clout. Mordred thought that they might even get Idolia, making him wince. She was so popular, so talented, it would be a huge blow if she came on screen and started chatting in her beautiful voice about how she hoped Amelia crushed him.

“Ugggh!” Mordred’s face turned extremely ugly.

Abhi, without pity or knowledge of Mordred’s delusional romantic crisis, smiled at the screen. “Already Elisha has marshalled the majority of the Imperials into Keristrazly Square, seizing and securing the area even before MKC Online learned of the breaking news that Empress Amelia, the powerhouse Order of the Black mage who has been absent this entire war, is returning.” Her face turned somewhat gleeful as she continued. “One of the special feeds in the lower screen is dark now, but we’ll begin streaming it immediately when Amelia logs in. In the meantime, join us as we wait to see the Rebel response. Elisha and the rest of the Imperials have, thus far, proven difficult to pin in place. Previously, as we just saw, every time the Rebels have pushed in thinking the Imperials vulnerable a trap has been sprung onto them. The move into Keristrazly Square is probably the boldest and most overt movement the Imperials have made this entire war. Is the Royal Palace district really left undefended? Will the Rebels push in and take over the dragon statue square and capture Empress Amelia as she attempts to return? Is this all a trap? Stay tuned, we’ll be right here with you, live, at MKC Online.”

“Boo!” Mordred groaned. “You’re so biased it’s sick! Trying to suggest that no matter what the Rebels do it’s a mistake!”

Mordred pulled up his messenger and sighed. He’d already typed in the order, but he’d been sitting on it while he checked and rechecked the information he had available to him. As much as he despised what Abhi had said, she was absolutely right. With the smaller Imperial force Elisha had been absolutely running rings around the larger Rebel force. There would be Rebels that would push into the Royal Palace District no matter what he said, he didn’t have control over the Rebel army, after all. Best then, to let them do it. If they succeeded? Great. If not?

Get everyone online and start organizing. We need to take Keristrazly Square before 1700. Out of messenger apps. It’s short notice but anyone that can take time off from work, we need’em. It’s going to be a slugging match.

Mordred grimace as he hammered the send key. “What a day. Go out into the world and see your heroes, and then kill them.”

Elisha stood with one hand on the tail of Keristrazly’s statue, staring into the fog over the heads of thousands of Imperials, watching the nearby side-streets and listening to the distant staccato sounds of spellcraft.

Khiafin came around the base from the other side where he’d been standing, and called up, “Elisha. They’re coming. Mordred gave the order.”

“Of course he did,” Elisha said without looking back. “What else could he do? Heh.”

“So this is all part of the plan?” Khiafin asked, looking around with interest. “There aren’t very many choke points, the surrounding districts aren’t under control. Everyone here is sticking their face out to get hit.”

“That’s why we’re leaving.” Elisha hopped down and then looked passed Khiafin, waving to get the attention of a few people waiting nearby.

“All of us?” Khiafin was surprised. “Is Amelia not going to show up here then?”

“Oh, she’ll show up here.” Elisha replied. There was a sort of glee in her expression.

“Then why are we leaving?” Khiafin frowned.

“Not all of us, just some of us. This place is doomed as it is.” Elisha smiled as Schulia nervously skirted around Khiafin.

“We’re off then?” Schulia kept giving Khiafin uncomfortable looks. “Is he coming?”

“He’s the guest of honor,” Elisha smirked. “We have to go before this place is entirely surrounded. Gather up everyone who is coming and tell anyone that asks where we’re going that we’re off to see to the defenses.”

At this point, Hunter had just sort of appeared nex t to Elisha, having been summoned obviously via some sort of private channel. “You’re leaving?”

“Yeah, we’ll be back. Uncle Aidan will be here soon, and Raven when she logs in. Tell them to go wild. There won’t be any tricks tonight. We’ll fight until everyone is too tired to fight or we win.” Elisha’s eyes gleamed. “We’ll see how many veterans are with the Rebels. Let’s see if they remember what it’s like to fight when you’re so tired your body reacts on instinct.”

“Amelia should be here by 1700, you know that right?” Hunter smiled. “We just have to hold out til then.”

“Mom, when has Amelia’s plan ever gone as expected?” Elisha replied sweetly, and then when Hunter made a soured face at how true that was, continued softly, “if that does happen, then it’ll be great. We’ll just have to get our punches in before 1700.”

“Okay~.” Hunter’s voice drifted off as she spotted Forsythe in the crowd.

“I need Dad, too.” Elisha watched her mother’s expression darken, but she nodded.

“Be excellent.” Hunter hugged Elisha to her. She turned to Schulia and gave her a hug.

Khiafin stepped forward and spread out his arms.

“...are you kidding me right now?” Hunter’s audible scoff made everyone smile.

“Where are we off to really?” Khiafin was desperate for entertainment and the look on his face was begging for this plot to be any sort of interesting.

“To undoom this place. C’mon boy, c’mon!” She clapped her hands a few times condescendingly at him and turned away, making her way through the throng. Schulia, Khiafin, Forsythe, and several others on the ‘secret’ mission followed along.

None-to-soon.

“They’re coming! The calls came down the line and the sounds of multitudes of feet echoed through the fog along the cobblestone.”

“Holy hell,” Hunter muttered as wall-to-wall Rebels started to rush into the square.