Yuriko glared sourly towards the southern plains.

After she missed the day’s fighting, which she was still annoyed about, she had opted to take the first watch within the observation tower. A rotation of Knights was needed to guard the town, otherwise, the Federation could sneak in their higher-level fighters and wreak havoc.

But…nothing had happened during her watch, and by the time midnight had come, and she’d been relieved, the only thing she’d looked at were the Feds toiling in their fortifications. She’s slept back at home, though she could have just as easily taken her rest in the barracks. Mainly because her brothers demanded that she always rest there rather than elsewhere if there was no emergency or battle.

Still, it wasn’t all that difficult or time-consuming. Jumping across the rooftops to cross town had been amusing even if the Dark Moon barely shed enough reliable light. While the Chaos Streams at night certainly illuminated the terrain, the varied colours and shifting hues sometimes tricked the eyes and senses. Also, Dark Moons were notorious for riling up the ambient Chaos when some things shifted and changed into something much less benign. With emotions charged because of the circumstances, the ambient Chaos had shifted, too.

Shadows lurking, figures half seen through the corner of the eye, coincidences, and accidents. All such things could happen during the night of the Dark Moon, and it wasn’t impossible for people to become Chaos-touched if they weren’t careful and indoors.

Such things didn’t affect anyone at her current Anima strength though, so it was a moot point for her.

The next morning, before dawn and less than five hours after she’d turned in, she was back in the observation tower and glaring. The Feds hadn’t formed up into their squares and were instead digging trenches across the fields. The Eastern part of town had been evacuated, but since the enemy didn’t try to occupy it, a token force of militia and reserve fighters had manned the walls. Northbridge and Southbridge were heavily fortified too, so anyone trying to chase that force across the river would be stopped cold.

Marron had told her of the events she missed, but they hadn’t repeated it this morning. And from the looks of it, it didn’t seem they were going to assault the walls anytime soon. Not that she could blame them. She was more nervous about those cannons that they moved away from the hilltop. If they were visible, she could have destroyed another one or two and made the town that much safer. As it were, those trenches would allow the Feds safety against direct fire weapons and the town’s nonexistent Carronades. Well, it also gave them protection against her one spell, but then again, she hadn’t exactly tried it out yet.

Nor would she, at the moment. There were no proper targets for her to blast, and using it against infantry was a waste of Will and Animus.

Half of the morning passed like that, and halfway to noon, Gwendith and Desire climbed up to the observation platform. Er, she hadn’t fed Desire yet, and the Chaos Lord looked at her with begging eyes. Gwendith gave her a tremulous smile. She also had dark circles under her eyes. Yuriko gave Desire her distilled Chaos while Gwendith hugged her from behind.

The other people on the observation platform studiously ignored the three of them, though Yuriko’s perceptive aura saw them giving her group furtive glances.

“Here we are, in another siege,” Gwendith murmured.

“At least we aren’t facing barbarians,” Yuriko pointed out. “Though at least those would actually commit to attacking.”

Gwendith shook her head. “They’re delaying. I’m not sure what they’re waiting for.” She grunted. “The eastern side of this town…I was stationed there yesterday. They blockaded the road to Rumiga City.”

“I’m not surprised. Reinforcements can come from either the east or the west, through the Chaos Sea.” Yuriko muttered, “But since they’re allied with the Chaos Courts…”

“Their reinforcements are more like to arrive from the west.”

“Going through Tidelands is more difficult for Chaos Lords, you know.” Desire said softly, “If there’s too many coming at once, the ambient Chaos thins.”

“Oh. That’s a relief, I guess,” Yuriko muttered, though she wasn’t sure if she should feel disappointed instead. She preferred fighting Chaos Lords over other humans, even barbarians really, though…looking at Desire, maybe she should rethink that preference.

Then again, her artefact slurps up and devours Chaos Lords and helps her grow stronger…

“Where were you yesterday?” Gwendith asked.

“At home. Asleep.”

“Oh, why?”

“I, er, exhausted myself.” Yuriko shrugged. “I formed a Sorcerous Implement, but Da…it didn’t feel right so I had to change it.”

Gwendith stiffened and stepped around her to look at her eyes. “You what?”

Yuriko raised a brow. “I cast a spell and…”

“You’ve initiated into Sorcery?”

“I guess. I didn’t even know until Spellweaver Merill told me. I thought I was just using my Ennoia.”

You were, actually.

Yuriko ignored Damien’s voice and continued. “Anyway, after my attack the night before last, I felt really exhausted, but I had to adjust a few things in my Anima which took the rest of the night. So…”

“You slept through the day.”

She nodded, then looked to the south. The Federation army still hadn’t formed up, but she could see patrols leaving their fortifications. Some were headed east and west, while she saw at least a couple heading farther south.

A palisade had already been constructed, and even as she watched, they dug up a ditch in front of their walls. From her vantage, she could see that only the north side of their fortifications was complete, while the other sides were completely vulnerable.

The three of them chatted idly for a couple of hours. At noon, someone brought up lunch. She should have expected ration bars, but really, they were in town, why wouldn’t they serve fresh food? But apparently, the town council was preparing for a long siege and supplies were being stretched to ensure they wouldn’t starve a year from now.

“Would we really sit here for years?” Yuriko asked in disbelief.

“Sieges last that long, at least,” Gwendith shrugged. “Assaulting the walls and trying to get over them is not only dangerous but wasteful. All they have to do is cut us off and lack of food will eventually defeat us. But…” Gwendith pointed at the River Caradec, “they’d have to control that to really have a chance.”

Yuriko nodded. “And they’d eventually have to take over the east side.”

“They haven’t tried yet, but it’s only a matter of time.” Gwendith growled. “But I don’t like waiting like this. Why don’t we…”

Yuriko smiled as Gwendith continued talking.

“Sieges are all about supply and logistics. If we run out of food, healing supplies, weapons, and ammunition, we’re essentially done. The same thing for the other side, but even worse. We’ve got shelter and with the Season of Water coming soon, they’ll be exposed to the elements. They’re rushing to build their shelter now, but quick work isn’t going to be as tough as properly laid out houses…

“The Season of Water here in Western Rumiga is mostly rain and mud season,” Yuriko interrupted. “No snow.”

“...right,” Gwendith muttered. “Anyway, that still means the terrain is nearly impassable for landcraft or, Ancestors forbid, wagons and carriages. So, my idea is that we, and by that I really mean you, destroy the Cierra road.”

Yuriko blinked. “You’re telling me to destroy Imperial property?”

“It’s being used against us. The point stands though. They’ll then have to expend effort to either transport their supplies another way, like through the river, or build another road, and both will drain their time and resources.”

“Alright,” Yuriko nodded.

It was a good idea, and she itched to do it now. Better than staying here while waiting for them to do anything. Still, she should talk to Marron about it first.

Gwendith readily agreed with the caveat, and the three of them left the observation platform after a couple of hours, near noon, when Yuriko’s formal watch was over. They arrived at the rather crowded town centre, which was filled with kids running around the fountain and clambering over the stonework.

There were plenty of adults, too, of course, with long faces and frequent sighing. Perhaps several of them were from the east side and had evacuated here, but more probably, they were residents around the central district whose routines had been disrupted by the Feds.

Many of the households in the surrounding neighbourhoods were hosting a family or two, though the Davar Household had been spared of that duty since she was already hosting Gwendith, her attendants, and Desire.

She entered the town hall and asked where her brother was and the receptionist directed her to a side hall, where Marron was going through a bunch of paperwork. Yuriko suddenly wondered if Finan had made it back safely to the Watchtower and if he and his Chaos ship were going to leave.

She suddenly felt a burst of disquiet when she thought about him leaving.

Shaking her head, they walked up to her brother who glanced up and smiled.

“Yuri, how’re you feeling?”

“Good.” She smiled back. “Gwendith got an idea and before we do it, I thought to tell you first.”

Marron’s smile disappeared and he frowned at her while pursing his lips. “Hmmm.”

“What?” she said crossly.

“At least you’re…” He coughed. “Well, let’s hear it then.” After Gwendith explained, he nodded, “Sounds like a good idea, but are you planning to do this alone? And how are you going to wreck the road?”

“With my sunshards,” Yuriko answered. “Just sticking them into the stone will cause them to melt, I do that unevenly and the road will be nearly impassable to wheeled landcraft.”

“Alright…but to be effective, you’ll have to go behind their lines.” He grunted. “Were you planning to do this alone or with backup? Huh, there’s only a dozen of us, and I’m pretty sure they have more on the other side.”

“I can do it alone,” Yuriko insisted, “but I’d appreciate either a distraction or suppressive fire.”

“Right, can’t leave the town bereft. You…prioritise your safety please, if the choice is getting it done but you get wounded or captured, don’t. Just come back and we’ll try again.”

“Alright,” Yuriko agreed easily. “I’d like to do this today.”

“Now? But…?” Marron paused.

“...cowards who won’t even leave their wall! We challenge you…”

Yuriko glared towards the door.

Marron sighed. “They're causing a ruckus again.” Then his eyes lit up. “Looks like that’s your distraction.”

“We can do that later,” Yuriko said instead. “I think I’d like to get the measure of their Knights.”

Her elder brother sighed. “My sister’s such a brute now.”

Yuriko rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything else.

The four of them hurried to the wall, all the while hearing the Federation army commander’s taunting. With each slur, Yuriko’s blood boiled, and she ached to cut the rotter down to bits. However…she also noticed the slight mental influence the man’s voice imparted. It was weak actually, but coupled with the inflammatory words, it didn’t take much to rile up her temper.

From Gwendith’s frown, she knew that her friend was also affected. She grabbed Gwendith by the shoulder and pulled her into a one-armed hug. The other girl’s expression melted into a shy smile.

By the time they arrived on the walls, Yuriko saw that the Federation army hadn’t quite formed up in squares. Rather, there was a single squad near their encampment, along with the Commander yelling profanities and insults at them.

“That’s not the same man,” Marron frowned.

“Different commander?”

“Yes. It’s the other one who remained silent. But this one is a bit more crass.”

“So, what are we doing about it?”

“Constable Andersen left it up to the Knights to do as they will,” Marron said, “as long as there’s at least half a dozen of us on the walls at all times. Or in battle. If you want to strike…” He shook his head. “We’ll need something bigger than a single squad fighting.”

“So, what do you want me to do?”

Marron smirked. “Answer his insults.”

Yuriko nodded grimly, then proceeded to bring out her arsenal of sunblades, and shards. She thought briefly of using her Radiant Lance, but didn’t quite want to experience the mental fatigue that came after using it. Not when she had to fight in melee.

A dozen sunshards revolved around her body, and she had a sunblade and sundagger on either hand. She activated her Animus Armour and leaned over the precipice.

“Come back to me, after,” Gwendith murmured as she kissed Yuriko’s cheek.

“I will.”

And with that, she leapt off the wall, spread her Anima into gliding wings and rushed into battle.