“Let’s get to the yarking wall.” I plotted a route and traversed the roofs once again, albeit slower than last time, taking care to limit the pressure through my shoulder. The occasional Evil Myconid traversed below, but nothing to be worried about.

Before long, I saw areas untouched by the Myconids. Either yet to make their way over or their mission lies elsewhere. And finally, people frantically moved about with what they could carry in their hands.

“Looks like they're evacuating to the wall.” I don’t see any chevaliers, but guards were sporadically placed about, directing and yelling at all the passing individuals. “Yup, definitely evacuating.”

It would suck to find your city being invaded during twilight and you need to evacuate, but at least it’s better than dying before you realize it. But at least the ones here have a chance, unlike the screams and unmoving bodies I passed. I shivered, but I put my mind past it for now. “I still have a long night ahead of me. Don’t get distracted, Ayla.”

“THE CITY IS UNDER ATTACK, GET TO THE WALL!” A guard was pointing behind him and continued yelling the same words. The citizens had a look of panic as they scrambled along, still in their sleep ware, but the abruptness of the situation made it remarkably normal.

Guess I found my way out. Let’s hope I can just leave. With relative safety in sight, I made my way down from the roof and blended in with the crows and put my hood back up.

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaan. MOOOOOOOOM!” A few children were crying as the parents either carried them or shuffled them along with concern.

A mess, to be sure. A normal siege would’ve their normal defenses to hold the enemy, but from the inside out, left them with their back wide open.

“Come on, the night has yet to end Ayla. I can take it easy once I get far enough from the town, but until then, full focus.”

I traveled along with everybody until I got close to the wall. Then I peeled off from the group and walked to a nearby guard. I doubt a random guard knew anything, but it’s worth the chance. “What’s going on?” I asked outright, now wasting any time as he’s looking off to the side.

He turned to me with a jut “The city is being invaded. Proceed to the wall.” The same stupid line, well, not stupid, but not the answer I was looking for.

Ya, everybody knows that! “Do you know anything about who or what?” I pushed.

His eyes squinted. “Just proceed to the wall. You’ll be safe there.”

Oh, come on. “So you know nothing about it?”

His squint turned to clear annoyance on his face, helped by the prominent bags underneath his eyes. “Look Miss, I know nothing, just proceed to the wall.”

“Who would know?” If he couldn’t give an answer, then I wanted someone who could. I’ll disappear in a few hours anyway, but some information would be nice, just in case.

“Just ask someone with a higher rank than me, but please proceed to the wall.” A cop out answer.

“Thanks.” I sent a wave in accompaniment and proceeded to the wall.

At least I got something, albeit pretty useless. His face softened in relief, happy that I didn’t make his day worse than it already was. Everybody’s already stressed out, so tensions are high. I’ll try to be careful if I can, but I’m getting out of this town, regardless.

Each step got me closer, but the ground remained wet as the mud caked my shoes, making each step heavier. The sun has yet to rise, but it’s getting close with how long I’ve been up. The situation could still slip further down this slippery slope, and I want to be as far away as possible when it does.

On the final approach, a mass of stationary people laid ahead, all crammed together. Hmmm, it might be difficult to make my way through, but can I even get out of the city? I swivel my way through the crowd, bumping into a few people along the way. As I approached, the crossed iron bars of the gate cut off my path.

A line of guards stood stout, blocking the closed gate as I watched a woman walk up to the guards.

“What’s happening? Are we safe?” The woman asked. “Yes, just remain calm. We will inform everyone here when it’s all settled.” The words didn’t ease her worry as she kept shaking, holding her elbows.

Welp, that’s not gonna work if they're blocking the entrance. Not sure why they're blocking the gate, the invasion coming from the inside. Do they not know what’s happening?

The wall's height makes it a challenge, but luckily for me, the scaffolding that dots the wall remained, just like the ones I saw when I first arrived on the outside of the wall.

What could possibly go wrong with a handy ladder there for me to climb?

“Well, only if asking doesn’t work.” With that in mind, I made my way to the line of guards. I approached from an angle and spoke out.

“Is it possible for me to leave the town? Sir.” I asked as the guard at the end of the line blocking the gate. His leather armor stretched as he gave me a look, and just like the previous guard, dark circles underneath his eyes. Looks like everyone’s having a fun night.

He probably didn’t get any sleep or his night shift just got extended. “Leave the town?” At least he responded.

“Yes, I was planning on leaving today, anyway.” I looked over my shoulder before turning back. “And with whatever is happening back there, I would like to leave now.”

He shifted his weight to the other foot before responding. “We aren't allowing people to leave, to contain potential problems. There could be more dangers out there, but we can protect you here. Although I don’t know what’s happening, you should be safe for the time being. Whatever it is, it’s only happening on the other side of town. Things might be a mess for a few days, but you should be able to leave then.”

“No chance for it to be any sooner?”

“Unlikely, unless things clean up quicker than expected.” The guard said. Plain and simple.

Welp, time for plan 2. “Thanks.” I gave the same wave to this guard and got away from the crowd. It got quieter as I walked further along the wall. I passed a few people, but it thinned out as I left the evacuation area. The people near the wall were probably the ones who heard about this first, since the guards were close, so most of the houses should already be empty.

My shoulder and back ached as the adrenaline wore off. It was a miracle drug for the moment, but it’s going to suck for the next few days.

Before long, all I can hear is the wind rustling through the nearby buildings and the guards sparsely dotted along the wall top. Their manpower is going to be quite thin for the next while, so I should be able to sneak past, at least on this part of the wall.

I looked around and found a chimney of a bakery reaching quite close to the wall. The gap looked to be the length of a few arms, but I should be able to make it, even with my bad back. The earlier rooftop adventure gave me some good practice.

Since I wasn’t in a rush this time, I wanted to take my time and do this the proper way. “Well, I wouldn’t say that climbing on someone’s roof is proper, but I don’t have much to work with.”

Walking over, I arranged some empty barrels into a stair-like formation. The wetness of the wood made them slippery, but the empty barrels were manageable enough, even with my shoulder pain.

I made my way on the roof and then on the chimney’s top. It restricted my placement with the limited room along the edges, but it was good enough.

A calming breath with the night’s wind brushing across my face made for quite the mellow feeling. “Finally, the end is in sight.” I viewed the city one last time. “It wasn’t fun, but I hope the best for everyone still alive.”

I looked back ahead and shifted my weight, pausing, then going for it. As my foot left the chimney, time slowed down as I drifted into the air. I was too tired to be affected by any mixed emotions or butterflies rumbling my stomach, it all felt calming as everything was finally ending.

My foot landed on the wall with surprising smoothness. I turned a bit and brought my other foot to slow my momentum, coming to a stop. “Haaaa, let’s finish this and think about something else.”

Next step, climb the scaffolding down.

I looked down the wall, making sure the coast was clear before I started. The nearest set of convenient construction scaffolding was only a dozen steps away. I made quick work of the drops by sitting along the edges and scooting off, saving my poor shoulder from exerting itself more.

The last drop was farther than I would’ve liked, but the dirt below cushioned my fall. Man, that was easier than I expected. I know most of the guards were fighting the Myconids, but someone should’ve noticed someone escaping. They hardly knew anything when I asked, so it’s worth it to be careful, but lucky me, it made for a simple escape.

I shook my head and started moving. I’ll need to find somewhere temporary for tonight, and then I can head south.

Still disorganized, as some were missing their preferred weapon, but good enough considering the circumstances. Ilbertus himself was fine with this, but something else was wrong here, something beneath the surface.

They always came from outside the wall, relying on the patrols to give them enough preparation time to be at full power before whoever was outside could get in, but this time was different.

They came from the inside, gutting up the city from the inside out.

This was large enough that someone must’ve known, but the question was who? Who would betray all the people that lived in the town? Their faith of protection vanished in an instant. These towns were purpose-built from the ground up to keep a hold of the kingdom's territory, so this was unexceptable. It wasn’t the guards' fault, but it was his. As the chevalier captain, all responsibilities fell to his shoulders.

Something somewhere got past him, and he failed. Failed the people of the city. It would damage their reputation after the events of today, one that would be hard to rebuild, but whoever was behind this was going to have a rough time once Ilbertus found them. But for now, there was someone missing from this stormy night.

“Where are you? In this time of need.” Ilbertus whispered out to the chaotic night.

“You saved them once, so… do… it… again. Just like the old days.” He clenched his fist, forcing all the blood to evacuate, leaving a white husk of a hand.

“Grab your fucking sither and show up.” Ilbertus said through his strained teeth, watching the building burn in front of him. The flames rose high, lighting up the surrounding destruction.

“If you don’t show up soon, then I’m going to beat the shit right out of you. Then drag you to the front lines. Your people are dying, and you're going to stop it.” The last of the burning building collapsed, completing the rubble pile.

Ilbertus’s gaze wandered over, down the street to his next destination. If he couldn’t think his way to the lord’s location, then he was going to run around the town until he did.

Whatever it took to end the nightmare for the people of this town, he would do it. These raging thoughts were difficult to calm down as his nostrils flared, but remaining calm was paramount to achieve anything into this disastrous night.

His eyes wandered around, trying to find anything to go off of. Hopping from building to building until he noticed something remarkable. Sat upon the roof ridge was a young girl, shaking in the wind with all hope lost in her eyes. There.

Ilbertus took immediate action, dashing over with force. ““Captain?”” The couple of chevaliers said in unison. Watching their captain disappear from their sides.

Ilbertus’s foot landed stoutly as he pushed off, blasting high into the air. The girl, looking down into her hands, looked up to see a hulking form heading right towards her. “Ahh.” Myra’s eyes widen as she let out a gasp, losing her balance on the ridge.

Upon seeing her faltering form, Ilbertus reached out, grabbing her falling from. “Ahhhhh.” Myra yelled in confusion at the sudden touch. Ilbertus’s momentum continued in an arc to the other side of the building, falling back to the ground. The mud splashing outwards upon landing, coating the walls of the nearby buildings. Ilbertus placed Myra’s rigid form onto the ground after taking a second to stabilize himself.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to disturb you. Wasn’t expecting you to lose footing, but I guess with a night like tonight, I should’ve been more careful. Sorry again.” Ilbertus nodded his head at the girl, realizing his mistake. The proper conduct had slipped his mind, disturbed by the other thoughts of the night.

This was another mistake he made tonight, but this one was much preferred to the atrocities of the other. It wasn’t much, but he’d hoped to save everyone he could, even if it was just a single life.

The girl's frozen state softened at the chevalier’s words, but it still took her a second before frantically looking down the alley. Looking at the footprints and circular indentations that litter the mud. Magic girl… NO! Not another one! Myra thought, the memories from a few moments ago still lingering and the tears forming in her eyes.

Two already sacrificed themselves to save her, and now a third…

Following her gaze, Ilbertus notices the same marks in the dirt.

His eyebrows furrow at the realization. “Does someone need help?” He asked.

Myra looked back at the chevalier captain, a tear flowing down her cheek. Her hollow gaze regained some hope as she muttered. “Helped me.. but they chased the magic girl. You… you… you have to help her!”

Magic girl? What? Don't tell me there’s something else happening. He looked back at the girl. Her eyes reflect a true clarity past the moisture building up, her hands eagerly holding onto him.

I’ve nothing to go off of at the moment, so I might as well check it out while watching out for the true cause of tonight's events. If I’m lucky, the magic girl might prove useful in figuring out this fucking mess. If she saved this girl, then she’s unlikely to be my target, but it’s not every day that you see someone with internal mana.

“I’ll go after her. How long ago?” He said.

“Uhhh, a… a few. Uhhhh, not sure…” She said timidly.

His frown deepened. Let’s hope it hasn't been too long. “Ok, let’s get you back to safety, then I’ll go after the magic girl.”