Chapter 54 – Keepers of Shiromori - Part 1

THE SOLDIERS ON THE OPEN FIELD were all on high alert. The mobile towers have five floors filled with longbow archers and automated mounted crossbows. Some infantry and cavalry units were patrolling from one point to another while some were perfectly in line with their shields.

The soldiers made sure that there were no blind spots.

Then, from the forest, an eerie fog started to crawl toward the soldiers. It was easily spotted by the soldiers as it came out directly in front of them. The fog continued to spread and froze the grassy field as it does.

From the fog came out Siegfried with his two swords in his hands. He moved so quickly that the soldiers only saw his afterimage. When he stopped, one of the wheeled towers was already destroyed and toppled down.

“A Rogue Archer!!” shouted a soldier.

The soldiers scrambled. As one of the soldiers saw Siegfried standing still, he sounded a horn that alerted other soldiers. More sounded their horns until a mixture of yelling soldiers and sounding horns covered the whole area.

Siegfried continued to attack the soldiers without actually wounding them. Since his sword was not double-edged, he used the blunt side to knock the soldiers out. He alone could easily defeat all the soldiers at the border. He even looked bored as they were no different from the army of the Colosseum Empire. He then just decided to destroy all the mobile towers.

The soldiers were too busy trying to deal with Siegfried that they did not notice that the fog was already enveloping a large portion of the border. The soldiers saw that the toppled towers started to freeze that they didn’t bother going through them. The icy fog basically divided the soldiers.

The fog continued to spread through the lake that separated the wall of Sandersonia Arc from the grassy field, freezing the surface, thick enough for people to walk on. Inside the fog, Mirana used another spell that kept everyone from freezing.

“This fog will not last very long. Once it reached the other side, you’ll have to find a way inside the kingdom quickly,” said Mirana.

“Where are you going?” asked Riku.

“I have to help Siegfried. We’ll keep the soldiers busy here and escape if we are no longer able to keep up.”

“Okay. Keep safe, Mirana. And don't overdo it.”

Mirana smirked then nodded. “That's Daisuke's job. Now go!”

The group continued to walk on the frozen lake while Mirana went to the other half of the border where there were more soldiers. As she left the fog, it started to disperse starting from her end.

“Another Rogue Archer!!” shouted another soldier.

Mirana used Glacio Aeon which destroyed more mobiles towers and to break the formation of the soldiers. With her staff, the Everfrost, she sent out a blast of chilly wind that froze unlucky soldiers. Even the arrows that were coming her way froze midair and dropped as they lost momentum and shattered as they hit the ground.

Meanwhile, inside the kingdom, the four remaining knights of the Emergent Table have already heard the horns and received a message that the soldiers at the border were being assaulted by two Rogue Archers.

“Damn those archers! I’ll never forgive them!” said Percethal in anger.

“Remember, Percy. Thoras, Lancea, and Drancei sided with those archers and even kidnapped the princess. If you see them, do not listen to their lies and do not hesitate.”

“I will not, Sir Rourke.” Percy took his helmet and wore it. He took his sword, the Irithium, and left.

“What’s the plan with that newbie?” asked Garanin.

“We keep him. For now,” Rourke replied.

“If he proves to be useful, then maybe we can spare him,” suggested Ronan.

“Right. Now come on, we’ve got some Rogue Archers to play with,” said Garanin.

* * * * *

The Princess Retrieval Team finally reached the kingdom shore. They were just in time as the fog was already gone and the surface of the lake quickly thawed. They looked at the other side and saw Siegfried and Mirana dealing with the soldiers easily.

“Those two are amazing,” said Lancea.

“Yeah. I think those two are born warriors,” said Riku.

“Let’s not worry about them then,” said Raghnall. “Now, how do we enter the kingdom from here?”

“I know away inside,” Robin revealed.

None of the members of the Princess Retrieval Team liked Robin’s idea.

“Seriously. No matter how great a kingdom is, deep inside, everything is a piece of—”

“Let’s just go, Riku. The faster we get out of here, the better,” said Jack.

Robin led the group through the sewers. There were no problems going through it as it seems she was still familiar with the layout. However, as soon as they ascended to Sandersonia Arc, hundreds of soldiers were already waiting for them.

“You have got to be kidding me…” said Riku.

“You are all under arrest for treason and illegal entry,” said one of the soldiers.

“So, it’s true then; even the knights of the Emergent Table have been conspiring with the Rogue Archers,” said Percethal.

“Percy, listen…” Lancea tried to reason with Percethal.

Percethal walked towards the group. “You thought we didn’t know that your group managed to cross the lake? We’ve already anticipated your arrival! Soldiers are spread wide, waiting for you all to ascend from the sewer.”

“Percy, listen!! Rourke’s just making up whatever he told everyone about us. He is just controlling you and the soldiers. He is the one who took the princess,” said Drancei.

“Enough! You and these people are to be taken to prison. You’re all lucky not to be killed on the spot. And once you are fairly trialed here, all of you will be taken by the United Alliance navy present here to the Union Gates.”

“Oh, to hell with this! Germinio Phrenesia!” Riku grew impatient and used her rose magic that created briars of thorny rose that pushed back the soldiers. The soldiers panicked that they all stumbled, trying to run away from the thorny rose that was violently growing and spreading.

Jack then used his power to immobilize Percethal, constricting him with jackfruit branches.

“E-E-Elves? Why are there elves here?!”

“These elves are scary,” Lancea whispered.

“Agreed,” Drancei nodded.

Robin faced Percethal. “I am Robin, leader of the Rogue Archers. Tell me where the princess is!”

Percethal suddenly halted from struggling after hearing her name. “Robin? The Robin? Sir Robin Bodkin?”

“Where is the princess?!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about! You have the princess! You took her during the diplomatic visit!”

“Ugh. He’s useless,” said Fergal. “Seriously, Robin. This is a waste of time. Let’s just go to that mansion or something!”

Drancei went over to Percethal. “Percy, you’ve got to listen. Rourke has the princess. Prince Rafflesia might have been even involved.”

“Come on, Percy. You must have noticed something odd,” Lancea insisted.

“How…How can I trust you? You are with these Rogue Archers!”

Jack sighed and undid the binding. “Please, just help us find the princess.”

“A-And then what? Suppose the princess is here. Will you take her away from the kingdom? What do you think will happen after that? What do you think the king will do?”

“She’s not safe here,” said Robin.

Percy looked at the group. Even Lancea and Drancei looked both determined.

“Percy, you’ve got to help us,” said Lancea.

* * * * *

Siegfried and Mirana were both far from exhaustion. They could continue dealing with the soldiers, but most of the soldiers already retreated. From the bridge that connected the kingdom and the open field came out Ronan and Garanin.

Ronan was wielding his two-handed longsword, the Supernova, while Garanin was carrying his giant battle-ax, the Rosetta. Mirana and Siegfried immediately noticed them.

“They look pretty strong,” said Siegfried. “What do you think?”

“Dibs on the one with the giant ax,” Mirana replied.

Ronan and Garanin came face-to-face with Siegfried and Mirana.

“They’ve told us there were Rogue Archers here. But you two don’t seem to be archers,” said Ronan.

“Wow. What gave it away?” asked Mirana sarcastically.

“We are the…um…Keepers of Shiromori. Your soldiers are disrupting the peace and tranquility of the forest.”

Ronan and Garanin looked at each other.

“No one’s buying that,” said Garanin.

Ronan raised his Supernova and tried to strike Mirana while Garanin tried to cut Siegfried sideways.