[Book II Chapter 66] SARAH: The Front Lines

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The airship landed in an empty central square. Sarah stepped off as men and women rushed out to unload the supplies. This small village was on the front line of the battle against Kaygren’s demonic beasts. Most civilians were gone, with only soldiers and mercenaries remaining.

“Welcome to Valance.” A uniformed woman walked up to greet her. “I’m Corporal Ashley. Lord Yohan assigned me to you during your stay.”

“Was it really necessary for you to come all the way out here?” She added, not hiding her disdain.

“It was.” Sarah answered curtly. Her reputation for being powerless would not change overnight. “Please guide me to the command center.”

As they approached the town hall, she felt eyes on her. On the roof, a large ninja in black was staring down coldly. He seemed somehow familiar, but she couldn’t place him.

Inside, Sarah instantly recognized Lord Yohan, Rosaria’s former Lieutenant Governor, leaning over a map in discussion with a shinobi. Varon had entrusted the command of Tulven’s northern defenses to the saint.

“Glad you arrived safely.” Yohan said seeing her. “This is Jayden Zuto, a ninja from Hearth. He and his squad have been a godsend for us.”

“What’s the situation?” Sarah asked, not wasting time.

“Our forces are concentrating on preventing any beasts from breaking through.” Yohan reported. “However, new rifts kept opening, forcing us to retreat. There’s also the more pressing problem of Turok. Your brother killed him him once in Rosaria. The revenant likely bears a grudge and has been relentlessly in assaulting us. Thank goodness Jayden arrived when Adele left. I don’t want to think where we’d be without him.”

“My squad and I have a grudge against the wendigo.” Jayden said simply.

“How are our casualties?” Sarah inquired.

Yohan winced. “Unfortunately, against Turok, foresight only offers a couple minutes warning. By the time Jayden and his squad intercept him, many lives have been claimed.”

“I might be able to predict where he will appear.” Sarah offered. “Would that help?”

“Enormously.” Jayden nodded. “Whenever the revenant is killed, he disappears for about a day. If we could ambush him each time he crosses over, that would nearly shut him down entirely.”

Sarah held up her staff and concentrated. Slowly she reached out and felt the threats of causality which shaped the world. This was the technique Orion had developed to compensate for his lost sight. Her mastery was rudimentary in comparison. Peering into the future, she eventually identified the arrival of a hostile immortal-level entity. Grasping the thread, she followed it backwards. There.

“Found him.” She declared. “He’ll come through a rift in the forest to our northeast in a few minutes.”

“Could you point out where?” Jayden gestured to the map.

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Sarah shook her head. “It’s faster to lead you there directly.”

Bounding across the landscape was exhilarating. It was Sarah’s first time moving at top speed with her new power. Behind her, Jayden and his subordinate followed. She was relieved and disappointed to see Ashley also keeping up.

It’s the clearing over there. She dropped down where the rift would appear and found herself face to face with a shinobi. Before she could wonder at this development, Jayden joined her.

“A fang ninja.” He observed. “I have long suspected this lot of doing more than scouting… Care to show us what you’re holding?”

The man took a step back, hiding a hand.

“Give it up.” Jayden continued . “You know who I am. There’s no escape.”

These words pushed the man to action. He held up a large, sharp claw and shouted, “’Rending Reality Itself’”

Transforming into bright light, the claw released a lighting strike into the sky. When it faded, a rift had formed and a huge white figure jumped out. So this is the wendido sovereign that’s been plaguing us.

Turok roared to announce his presence but was interrupted by a giant gemstone axe bearing down on him. The revenant reacted with a barrier of ice, and the impact send shards everywhere.

As one whizzed past her head, pain gripped Sarah’s heart, knocking her to her knees. Stupid Astra! She’d disobeyed the immortal’s instructions by heading into a battlefield, and the curse was preparing to claim her life. She was paralyzed as more beast poured through.

Turok turned, sensing her vulnerability. He grinned and leaped, his right hand covered in razor sharp ice. Before he could reach her, a black hammer smashed into him, sending him flying.

The large ninja from the roof landed besides her, his weapon disintegrating into iron sand which hovered around him. Up close, Sarah was shocked to see this was Light Skyfell, one of Astra’s brats. He’s grown so much… he must be close to eighteen! It wasn’t just his appearance. She sensed a malicious power pulsing from his right arm, twisting the strands of fate. He’s cursed too.

“Thank you for leading us to him.” Light said, genuine appreciation in his voice. “Leave this to us.”

Ashley dragged her away, and soon the pain faded. While she could again move on her own, her mood did not improve. I finally have the power to fight, yet I’m forced to flee. Could she really save her nation by remaining on the sidelines?

Her brooding was interrupted by a distant horn. “That was from Valance!” Ashley cried out. “Demonic Beast are attacking!”

An assault timed with Turok’s incursion. They rushed back, joining soldiers on the fortifications outside town. This time, there was no crushing sensation in her chest as the enemy hordes closed in. I guess when they come to me it counts as self-defense.

Sarah assisted the defenders by throwing out minor maledictions and knocking beast back with her staff. She was sure Orion’s ghost was out there watching, cringing at her crude tactics. The blind immortal had been able to visualize the threads of his opponent’s attack and redirect them at will, but this was beyond her. She just couldn’t make them out fast enough.

Just as the skirmish was wrapping up, someone yelled. “Airborne incoming.”

A huge swarm of griffins, crows, and bats was approaching. Magical missiles of all types shot up to greet them, but it quickly became apparent there wasn’t enough firepower to down them all. Sarah helplessly watched half pass overhead.

Then there was light. From the roof of Valance’s townhall, a string of laser beams was released, striking beast after beast. Flaming corpses rained to the ground as the skies were systematically cleared.

“Fantastic!” Sarah laughed. “Who was that? They saved the day!”

Ashely smirked, “You should see for yourself.”

Back in town, Sarah found a crowd gathered around a boy of ten. The youngster looked tired but was smiling sheepishly at the praise being heaped upon him.

“Jordan Seers.” Ashley chuckled. “He’s the savior you were looking for.”

Sarah was stunned. “Is the situation so bad we must resort to children?”

Ashley snorted. “Jordan returned from the Veritas War Academy when he heard of Rosaria’s fall. A prodigy with a light affinity, he’s determined to protect his people. Who are we to object?”

And he’s far too useful to turn away, Sarah acknowledged. It was strange feeling to realize she was being outdone by child. She clenched her fists around Miracle Worker, letting the shame strengthen her resolve.