The sun beat down on a trio, two of them cursing as they stared up through their fingers at the miserable orb that hung in the sky far above them and sweating worse than they had in months.

"Hottest day of the damn year so far, of course the Savul choose to attack now," a man with bright red hair groused, a massive spear held firmly in his right hand. "Ah... sorry. Ignore that," he said, seemingly coming out of a trance and realizing what he'd said.

"Why wouldn't they," another red-haired man asked, dressed in the same light armor and also wielding a long spear. "It's basically a worldly law or something, I've heard. They've been more active ever since what happened three days ago."

The two men stared out across the ramparts on the eastern side they were to watch, every section of the long wall exposed to the elements. They were on the furthest point of the wall east and the highest up in the area, several higher vantage points built in to the massive stone wall to give just a bit better vision of the nearby forest and hills.

"If you ask nicely, I don't mind making a breeze," a singsong, sweet, higher-pitched voice from behind them both called out.

Both men ignored the woman and continued their duty of staring out over the plains they were assigned to. There was a small hill in the distance they were all three taking turns focusing on, the only location the monstrous things could really appear from if they weren't going to be arriving via the forest.

The woman behind them grumbled about impotent men before moving past them to sit on the edge of the wall, feet dangling some thirty or so feet above the ground below. Pink hair, fair, tanned skin, and a shorter stature made her out to be a beautiful woman to most eyes, but the two standing near her knew better than to take the bait that she was. They'd been together before the Expansion, after all.

"Hey, cease that, Tati," the first man chided, having felt the air around them cooling off and fending off a smack from his younger brother to his side. "You'll get us in trouble with the Captain. I don't want to have to explain why your [Mana] suddenly ran out halfway through a battle."

"Let her, Jora. Just say she did it against orders," his brother whispered from the side. "I'm sick of this damn assignment. How many times have we asked them to let us build tents or some covering up here? Hell, Tati could do it in a couple of hours with some stone. We should have done it before those bastards took over."

Jora took a deep breath, glad to see that their young friend had at least listened to his orders and quit cooling their surroundings off. He'd always known [Mages] to be fickle, and ever since they'd come here, Tatiana had been a bit more... excessive in her actions as well. Then again, losing everything you knew after being forcefully ejected to the other side of the cosmos sometimes had that effect on people.

"I know you're peeved that they're forcing you into Guard duty with us instead of managing things, Tati, but that's just how it is with the Empire, and they run things here," Jora said, scratching at the back of his head as the slim woman went rigid for a moment, her quarter staff clicking as it was placed against the ground. "Or, S5. Whatever they're called. Also, I wish you wouldn't sit like that. You're gonna end up falling off one of these days."

"And then I'll just float back up," she replied with a shrug. "Oh no."

Jora sighed, but let her do as she pleased while continuing to do HIS job right, at least. Keeping the two in line had always been his job back on their home planet of Malanna, and it had remained such here even after everything they'd been through. The last four years had been... hell, to say the least.

"Still, do we even want to stay here? I know Jiun doesn't, and I'm sick of this... attitude they have," the woman complained. "All for the good of the people they say, confiscating more than 50% of our earnings after every single wave... where the hell do all those [Credits] even go? The Savul attacks just keep getting stronger and we haven't seen anything from the higher-ups. How are we supposed to get stronger to defend ourselves when those bastards are hoarding everything?"

Jora sighed, but didn't respond to the provocative topic. He'd worked his way up to a somewhat trusted spot in this hierarchy here and didn't want to risk it with someone overhearing their conversation, though he missed his old job as well.

Jiun didn't share his fears, however.

"We'd be better off forging out on our own and crossing the divide. This is still a relatively new settlement and even it's already been assimilated into this damn miniature country. I've heard there are other powers on the other side besides the S5, too."

"And you think they'd be any better?" Jora whisper hissed at his brother.

"Better than dying here," Jiun grumbled, along with Tatiana.

"Look, if you're worried about safety we can transfer-"

"It's not that!" Tati yelled, Jora finding a finger somehow poking itself straight through his armor, jabbing him hard in the chest as he looked down at her gorgeous, irritated scowl. "They don't care! No reinforcements, no supplies, nothing. We are dying every day and what do they do? Nothing. They come in, promise to help, threaten to leave, take over, take [Credits], give a few things for comfort, get some backing, and the settlement's slowly going to shit! At least the geezer gave a damn about-"

"We would have been overrun months ago without them," Jora pointed out, waving around at the smaller settlement. "Freid and you tried your damnedest, but we would have all died. I'm sorry you got kicked out of the logistics, but they are the reason these people have all lived until now. Those suits are damn strong. Just... get a new [Profession]."

"Not very strong when I can [Phase] through them and roast the stupid..." Tatiana grumbled, sitting back on the edge of the wall.

Jiun joined her as Jora sighed, looking over his shoulder to take in the small town. Neither of them were necessarily wrong in their complaints, but... it was just hard to justify complaining, or even thinking of rebelling after being saved. Even if they were obviously being used and wrung out at this point.

"Senior Guardsman Jora!" a voice called out from further down the wall, Jora turning to see another Guard running their way and waving a hand.

"Stand up, stay here, and please don't make a fuss," Jora said to the two before turning and meeting the man.

They spoke for a few minutes before he returned to their spot, another group of three in tow. Two of the men were outfitted similar to Jora and Jiun, the exception being one holding a large sword and shield. Behind them, a large Combat Suit, dwarfing those in the area with its massive, metal form, caused Tatiana to scowl in displeasure. The visor was lifted, revealing a dark-haired man's handsome face.

His eyes scanned over Jora and Jiun, landing on Tati. A wink was met with a middle finger as a reply and the woman mouthing words that anyone would get slapped by their mother for.

"Glad to see you're lively as always, my love," the man laughed her off.

"Go to hell, Tren," came the reply as Jora pulled her away, leading them to a nearby staircase.

"If I ever do, I'll be sure to drag you along with me for my last ride," the man called back, Jora tightening his grip as Tati yanked her arm against it toward the man.

"I'd sooner kill you than touch you like that," she yelled back, Jora practically feeling the [Mana] coalescing in the air as the other man held up his hands and backed off.

"Stop it," he hissed at her. "He wants you to attack him, you idiot."

"Then I'll give him what he wants! Smug prick thinks he's so safe in there; I'll boil that son of a bitch alive," she growled out.

"Yes, you'd kill him alone. Except they always have enough [Credits] to fast heal, and there's always someone nearby to help. We'd all be taken prisoner, and what do you think would happen to you then?" Jora asked.

Tati went silent and Jora sighed, closing his eyes and feeling a bit of the tension leave his chest. Four long years, and he was barely at 9, Tatiana closer to 11 with Jiun. Stronger than most in their small colony, but still way too weak to do as they pleased. They'd found this home two years back almost, still growing into what it was as wanderers came together from across the area. They'd helped it grow once, [Professions] from before helping nicely, but once the S5 had gotten their claws in the settlement things had begun to look bleak.

Still, until they had an obvious way out, or until things could change, they were stuck, and Jora would do whatever he could to keep them safe. He'd played by their rules and gotten promoted twice already. Maybe a bit more...

"So, why were we relieved? Not that I'm complaining," Jiun asked, hiding in the shade of the wall as they descended a nearby staircase.

"I'm not sure. Pina there was just saying we had an assignment from the General with a few others," he said, the three of them moving into the city proper once they'd gotten to the ground.

"Other than defending from the wave?" his brother asked, surprised.

Jora nodded.

"Well, maybe it's our turn to go missing, then. Sure you don't want to run?" Jiun asked.

"We'll be fine," Jora stated, realizing he'd still been holding Tati's wrist and letting her go then, seeing the mark his hand had left behind and apologizing for it.

She didn't respond, and the rest of the walk to the central building was quiet. The only thing of interest was when they'd passed by a wooden carriage with a figure in it, reminding him of the slave carts from Malanna. The figure groaned in obvious agony, shifting once as the cart passed and sticking one of its limbs outside of the blanket covering its form. Jora's head tilted in fascination, wondering if they'd found another new type of creature from the event three days prior, seeing the colorful patterns adorning the torn-up, fabric-strewn leg.