Irene soaked in a bath under the starry night. She wasn’t alone. A few of the other adult sorceresses and adventurers found their way in with her. Though they were all speaking to each other about many topics. Irene felt no disturbance from them at all. She knew many days and nights of people talking over each other whenever she wanted peace and quiet. Fayspell had many parties, some for children's birthday parties and small tourneys between them.

She looked around the water. To all the young and mature women who lives were made here. Same as hers. But she knew the time had come. As her cyan hair flowed into the bath in many directions. For it was nearly as much as she was big. The sorceress took up plenty of space, however the other women were still envious of her figure.

“Lady Irene. What will we do next?” A young sorceress asked.

“I’ve sent Grimm out to scout the village. Considering how things will go there is a chance we’ll be fighting tomorrow afternoon.” Irene answered. They all had to plan around defeating two armies and saving the people of Cloudwick, including Nicholai.

Grimm was to go out and check defenses first. He stayed within the trees, hiding his presence and mana. Not long out, he saw the top part of the village. As well as the large cannon from underneath it.

“The Cloud Buster. Vesta….” Grimm closed his eyes. He let his mana flow just a little so he could use his ability, Eyes of Death, to pinpoint the location of Vesta. Even from this distance he was able to see her. And Nicholai. The young man was also giving off mana. Even with his restraints on. Benneb was right next him, yet Grimm was unable to tell that he was a statue.

He looked around the village more to find a battalion of Hulion Knights on the bottom section of the village. And they had set up a barrier around the whole village.

“That place is a fortress now with that barrier. Where are the boys?” Grimm continued to look about. Until his eyes fixated on a large group bundled together in one place. They were his boys, all chained together in Cloudwick’s prison. The warrior became furious. His mind wanting him to rush into the village and start cutting down each soldier. He could feel it, the power within him, the being within him, getting ready to come out. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Oh….but we need some excitement. It’s been so long since I’ve come out. You should have unveiled me against that Dracion.” Grimm’s inner voice spoke to him.

“That would have been overkill.” Grimm said back. “We have to go back. Tell the group what I saw.”

“Are you going to tell them you saw that arrow coming for you?” The inner voice said. Grimm quickly turned and noticed a spiral arrow coming his way. He dodged quickly. Jumping down to the level of the trees. The arrow hit the ground, and a splash of liquid gold flooded into the area.

More arrows continued to come down. Grimm retreated from them. They each started to color the forest gold. The warrior looked back to see his assailant. He couldn’t make it out, but it was the knight Uziro. Who was taking guard duty from the top section of the village. And then, Vesta appeared next to him. Grimm recognized immediately. The knight went straight back to firing arrows. Grimm didn’t retreat. He analyzed their speed and range. With quick reflexes he grabbed on of the arrows with his bare hand. He left his scythe back at Sarabell due to it not sticking out if he was seen.

With his hand on the arrow, it slowly started to cover his hand with gold. Grimm noticed quickly. Then flung the arrow back at great speed. It was headed straight for Vesta. Grimm had no intentions to kill, yet wanted to see what she would do. Vesta of all people in the Freelands knew that Grimm was the last person who’s bad side you were on. Normally he would test a person’s strength to tell if they were worth the fight. Even knowing Vesta for so long, Grimm had to check again.

The arrow was instead blocked by uziro, who shielded his princess From the attack, with his armor. Which morphed off his body and safely around the young woman. Grimm saw this from afar. Then silently retreated before they were able to see him again.

Irene set up tables and a some food for the main force. Grimm, Ezra, Granius, and the other higher ups at Fayspell and Dustgarde. Grimm began speaking about the situation at Cloudwick.

“From what I saw they have about 1000 men with them. Not alot, But i’ve heard the conditions they put their knights through for training. Something I refuse to not believe.” Grimm said.

“I’m guessing they don’t have anyone inside the village or on the top level?” Granius asked.

“No. What they do have….is the Cloud Buster. A powerful cannon that absorbs clouds and fires concealed energy burst capable of immense damage. If they shoot that thing even once at us. We’re done for.” Grimm stated, making everyone go silent.

“Then let’s disable it.” Ezra said sipping on a drink.

“And how do we manage that?” Granius asked angrily.

“Simple. I’ll sneak around the back of the village. Cut a hole in this barrier Grimm spoke of. Climb the elevator, disable or destroy the cannon, then save Nicholai.” Erza confidently stated. Everyone was speechless.

“That. Might actually work.” Irene replied.

“Shouldn’t this barrier be protecting the cannon. Like if it fires then the barrier will just deflect it right?” A higher Fayspell mage asked.

“That blast will nullify the barrier for just a little. They have their own mages who guard crystals that power the barrier. They should be simple to deal with.” Grimm commented.

“And that will be where we split up. Dustgarde to one, Fayspell to another, and Grimm’s group to the last.” Granius said.

“Wait who’s in Grimm’s group?” Ezra questioned.

“Noone. It’s just me really. Katreena will go with Dustgarde. You will help Fayspell, they’ll carve a small opening for you to get into the village.” Grimm answered.

“But don’t you think it would be better to mix the two groups. Dustgarde has both mages and fighters. Just like the enemy. I don’t think it would be wise to send just mages against well trained knights and mages.” Ezra wondered aloud.

“Ahh. So you’re wondering more about our lives than our own headmistress.” A higher Fayspell mage spoke aloud illy of Irene. Making her rejoin the conversation with a stern look to the man.

“Do you have anything else to add?” Ezra said back to the mage. He scoffed at the swordsman. “Anyway. I say we split our forces 50/50 and merge them. Team A is Grimm. Team B is led by Irene, and Team C is led by Granius.”

“Kid knows his stuff.” Granius complemented.

“Then it’s settled. When do we attack?” Irene asked. Everyone looked over to Ezra for an answer. Anabelle felt him become nervous for a second.

“We should go at noon. Only because right afterward, we’ll definitely have to deal with the Serx Knights. Once we retake the village we should gain control of the cloud buster. Which means I won’t be destroying it. Then we’ll use it on them if we have too.” Ezra said, quickly glancing at Grimm. “Alright then. Everything is settled. Except for one thing. Irene. Granius.”

The two adults met Ezra off near the ocean.

“I’ll make this quick. We’ll be leaving the children here in the village. Both of you have parents that may not want to risk dying and leaving their children alone. So I suggest you talk to them. If anyone doesn’t want to fight. I’ll understand.” Ezra said to the two.

“Hmm...you really are covering every base for this battle.” Granius spoke.

“That’s good of you Ezra.” Irene said. She turned to Granius. “Could we have some time.” Granius nodded and then left the two alone on the beach. Irene came and sat down next to Ezra on her knees. “Feeling obligated.”

“No. But fighting with Grimm made me see that you can’t be too careful. I know everyone isn’t going to be happy. My point isn’t to make them happy. My point is to win this battle and keep going with my adventure.” Ezra stated.

“What kind of adventure are you going on?” Irene asked.

“I want to see the world. There is so much out there. I need to embrace it. I want to see some of it before I complete my Dracion ceremony. And I didn’t expect to be taking a party with me. But that’s the pros of an adventure I guess. But there’s one thing I know. There is something out there no one has seen. And I will find it.” Ezra said aloud, not really paying attention to Irene.

“My villagers. They don’t respect me.” Irene said.

“Well. It’s either that or death. And If they think they’re better off without you. Leave them or tell them to scram.” Ezra responded immediately. Irene already thought of that possibility numerous times. Ever since Nicholai’s father, Evangelos, left her in the village with his son. She wondered if leaving and going away from all of this could happen.

“It’s too late to ask how. I already know what I will do once this is all over.” Irene said.

“Good.” Ezra concluded as he left the beach.

Sunrise on the fated day. Everyone who was prepared for battle crowded together outside near the exit of Sarabell. Irene stood with her team. Granius with his team, Ezra and Grimm stood to the side and watched.

“This your first real battle.” Grimm asked.

“Pretty much. “

“You seem to know a lot. Especially after last night’s meet.”

“Well, you learn alot when you spend your whole life training. Come on let’s get these people moving.” Ezra said, before moving to stand before the large crowd. He glanced to the children that were made to stay behind and watch as their parents left into battle.

“Alright, everyone. This battle won't be simple. Our objective is to drive the Hulion Knights out of Cloudwick. Then once we do we’ll drive them and the Serrx Knights from the Freelands. Then hopefully we can all go home, or we go where we want.” Ezra thought about his last few words. “Actually no. This isn’t just some get it down and move on thing. By coming out here today you are deciding that it’s time for change. Because that’s what they want. Whether we win or lose something does have to change. And that starts not with us, but with them as well. This isn’t my home. It’s your. So you’re the ones who decide how it changes.”

The people all thought of his words. Turning to each other and thinking about what to do next. Until one voice came forth.

“He’s right.” It was Katreena. “I lived on the idea that the Freelands had warriors beyond imagination. Warriors capable of anything. Are you all going to let these foreign invaders take that away?”

It was silent for a second. Then Granius let out a howling cry. The rest of Dustgarde followed, then the mages of Fayspell, and even the people of Cloudwick too. Ezra smiled over the warriors.

“If that’s settled. Then let’s go!”