Chapter 60 – Toppled Tinople

At the end of summer, the City of Tinople had a rebellion happened. The Resistance forces living in the city, which has built up its forces, started the ‘rebellion’ against the fortified city of sands.

The Rebellion’s Leader declared freedom and capture of the city. The Roar of resistance members echoed around the city. The Guards stationed on the walls was about to suppress the rebellion when they found out that among the guards, there were resistance members. The Guards were caught by surprise. And thus the resistance members started to clash against the guards on top of the wall.

Dust filled the airspace of Tinople City. The Resistance members carried their weapons and rushed to the front gates of the city. Along with them was a battering ram that can force open the gates. The battle started, weapons clanged at each other, and blood started shedding in the sandy streets of Tinople.

Fire rise above the rooftops and districts. Corpses were strewn across each block, and people of the two factions fought. In the defense line of the resistance members, three blocks away from the gates lays Ramiel and Leone.

Leone is brandishing his ebony dagger, guarding Ramiel who is healing the injured. Ramiel is wearing leather armor, a gauntlet, boots, and a capelet is wrapped around his shoulder. On his back is repeating crossbow, around his waist is a quiver of bolts. He stole the items from one of the targets. Leone helped him procure the items. He decided that his better off using a crossbow than a dagger or a sword.

“There you go.” Ramiel tapped the grunt that he was healing in the chest. The Grunt stood up, brandished his sword and went back to battle. A stray arrow broke the air; Leone saw the glint of light and deflected it.

“That is amazing, Leone.”

“Nothing much, please remained on the cover.”

“Okay, whatever you say.”

Ramiel dragged himself into the barricade. He cringed in pain with his right leg aching in pain. It has been either hurting or not, quite a trouble for Ramiel, but he has no choice but to suck it up.

“Incoming rain of arrow!” A Grunt shouted. Leone’s ear moved, he rolled into cover and pulled his head down. The sounds of arrows piercing the barricade followed, like hammers punching a nail.

“Sounds tough out there.”

“You bet, so is it really necessary to keep on drinking the ale? Leone asked, seeing the gourd of ale on Ramiel’s left hand.

“Hey no, leave me, Leone, without this ale, I would be shitting my pants right now. Besides, I am not used to conflict.”

“Really...” Leone frowned. He looked up the barricade and surveyed the area. He spotted some of the members of the resistance bleeding. Some are dragging themselves to the barricade. Leone tapped Ramiel’s shoulder, he informed him.

“Incoming injured.”

“Got it.”

The members carried themselves over while Leone covered for them. Ramiel then pulled the members and healed them. His wrist was trembling, simply because of a swollen lymph node. He wasn’t healing at all, and his conditions are worse. But luckily, the aid of ale helps the pain.

“Next,” Ramiel said.

Another grunt took his place and let himself be healed by Ramiel. In this battlefield, this was the only thing he was good at the moment.

...

The battle continued throughout the whole day. Most of the resistance members were exhausted. Ramiel and Leone got their rest, so they accompanied the wave of resistance members to the last line of defense. Ramiel stayed on the cover while Leone was getting covered in blood.

Clang, clang, clang, the swords clashing and the noise of an arrow being notched entered Ramiel’s ears. He is keeping a stoic façade, but inside his head, there was a storm brewing.

I just need to get this over with. I know things will always get terrible. But no need to fret, because maybe it will be okay, and if not then the worst thing that could happen is I will die. Not bad.

Ramiel smiled cynically at thought of death. He started expecting things to go bad, and so far he meets everything with an exasperated sigh. So far, it worked well in keeping his sanity intact, not letting Ludak take control of him again.

Ramiel decided to stop his complaining for now. Or maybe the ale just keeps his brain foolishly drunk and numb.

“AHHAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

Ramiel heard a familiar cry as he keeps rambling inside his mind. He looked over to the distance and saw Leone hit in the thigh. Seeing it, he took his repeater crossbow, took aimed and shot the guard right in the chest.

He just did it without thinking. That way, he would have to worry about until he has done it.

The Guard fell on the floor. Ramiel crouched down and moved towards where Leone was. He was bleeding, and seeing that an arrow is lodged in his thigh, he clicked his tongue and froze the wound for now. He raised his left palm and used the elemental bracer he has. The wound froze, and with that Leone stopped bleeding.

Ramiel heard a squawk. He looked at the guard he shot. He was alive and seeing that. Ramiel emptied his mind, created water through his left palm and let it fall like faucet water down a basin, he then froze it. With the water frozen, he grabbed the icicle and stabbed the guard in the throat.

Ramiel made a blank face, he keeps a frown as he watches the light on the guard’s eyes fades off. He then told himself not to vomit, he told himself to suck it up and successfully he managed.

He grabs Leone and pulled him out of the way. He defrosted the wound, pulled the arrow out of his thigh and healed him up. Ramiel saw that Leone was making a pained face, so joked around.

“You have a nice thigh for a man...”

“It’s an elven thing!” Leone retorted.

“Well, looks like the guards are finished.” Ramiel ignored Leone’s comeback and observed the battering ram being deployed on the gates. The top of the walls was filled with resistance members crying in victory, and as the battering raises up back high.

The Gate that seals Tinople city got toppled. And as the gates were destroyed, Ramiel saw the sun arise out on the horizon.