Tactics
Parc and Lepanque each held one of Kita's hands, watching her flame of life slowly diminish into nothingness. Steady moving tears flowed freely from Lepanque's eyes, mourning the loss of her friend. Parc's eyes were crimson red, regretting ever having denied Kita's nonsense.
As the warmth from Kita's hands disappeared, so did the resistance fighters around them, realizing the fragile moment was private. Parc gave her hand one last squeeze, and let go. "Lepanque, we must go now." Lepanque shook her head. "What about Kita? We have to give her a proper burial!" Parc closed his eyes in regret. "I want to give her one just as much as you do, but if we don't move, thousands more will perish, just as Kita did." Lepanque released Kita's hand from her hard grip. "You're right...let's not let her sacrifice be in vain. Come on Parc, mobilize!"
Tomi and his share of the resistance forces assaulted Konaia's citadel in the hopes of snatching a victory. Erynne watched nearby to Tomi, intricately weaving her way closer to him with every step. They stood at an overlooking cliff, watching the attack. The resistance forces quickly brought down the first gate to the citadel. Thousands of Konaia's dark troops flooded out of the citadel, ready to repel the invasion.
Tomi shook her head in dismay. "Konaia's forces will quickly overwhelm our force. It's over." Erynne spoke up. "It's not over. It's not too late for us to join at Konaia's side. Tomi, everyone will die if you don't." Tomi's eyes widened. "Erynne...what are you saying?" "We can be together! I have feelings for you, and I know you have feelings for me! We'll be together by Konaia's side!"
Tomi slapped her. "You're out of your mind Erynne! You're a spy, aren't you!? I never should've befriended you!" Erynne was appalled. "I'm sorry, but if you don't join us, I'm going to have to kill you." Erynne quickly brandished a knife to Tomi's throat. Tomi grimaced. "Erynne..."
An arrow quickly glided through Erynne's back, who recoiled in the sudden burst of pain. "Argh!" Tomi looked over, and Irojima had arrived with Kethiryne. Kethiryne ran to Tomi. "Are you OK!?" Tomi nodded. "I'm fine. Did you manage to get reinforcements for Orcra?" "We got them, thanks to Irojima, who works for the Council! Why was Erynne attacking-"
Kethiryne screamed. Irojima had fallen to the floor, blood gushing. Erynne stood over him, glowing with a dark red light. "Get. Away. From. TOMI!" Erynne sent a blade of red lightning straight at Kethiryne, but Tomi deflected it with his sword.
Anger rushed through Tomi's body. Rage coursed through his veins. Fury enraged his soul. Emotions reached from his fingertips to his toes. "Erynne. Why did you kill your friend, Irojima. My friend, Irojima. You tried to kill Kethiryne too, you murderous fiend. You'll pay!" Tomi unsheathed his sword and rushed towards Erynne, ready to strike her down.
Erynne smiled maliciously. "Hehehehe. Ahahahahaha. AHAHAHAHA! Go ahead, kill me. All I ever wanted was your love, but no. You gave it to Kethiryne. You might as well both die now." Tomi's fists clenched in fury. "DIE YOU MONSTER!" He rushed towards her, but she raised her hand, sending a shockwave at Tomi. He flew back, over the cliff.
Kethiryne rushed over. "TOMI!" He was hanging on by a thread, a jutting rock at the cliff's edge being his support. He hung on with one arm. The other, red, gushing with blood, dripping from the cliff. "Kethi!" Kethiryne reached down to help him, but Erynne kicked her over as well. She grabbed onto the cliff, her hand next to Tomi's.
Erynne grinned. "This is precious. The two of you, hanging at your doom. And I, in control of your fates. Tomi, it's not too late to pledge your eternal love to me." Tomi spat. "I'd never do such a thing." Erynne's grin turned to a frown. "Then you'll die, here, with your precious Kethiryne." She smashed her foot their hands at once.
Kethiryne looked at Tomi. Tomi looked at Kethiryne. In unison, they spoke. "I love you." They both let go of their grip, and falled to their doom, embraced in each other's bodies. Erynne laughed hysterically into the night.
Parc and Lepanque led the defense of Orcra, with the newly acquired forces of Pronyas. They battled valiantly. Parc was at the head, fighting. "Come on! We must fight! If we fail, then all is lost! Fight on!" The troops fought, and triumphed over Konaia's invasion force.
Lepanque celebrated. "Yes! Kita's loss was no longer in vain!" Parc shook his head. "I think it was, as will ours." Lepanque was confused. "What do you mean, Parc?" Parc pointed. "Look, only half of Konaia's original army is here. Where'd the other half go? To Pronyas. There are tracks leading off. They must have realized the reinforcements from there. Even if we were to mobilize now, by the time we got there, they'll have broken all the way to Piladia."
Lepanque was appalled. "No. That can't be!" Parc sat down. "But it is. All we can do now is mobilize Orcra, and keep on our toes." A messenger riding a horse came to them. "Commanders Lena And Madane! We have a report. Our attack on Konaia's citadel has failed! Also, Commander Agretio and miss Kethiryne have both been killed. Their bodies were found at the bottom of a cliff. We believe this to be the work of miss Erynne Lena, who killed Irojima as well. She was seen entering Konaia's citadel after the battle."
Parc's eyes widened, then closed. "I can't believe it...my own sister, betraying us...our cause is truly lost..." Lepanque slapped him. "All is not lost! We have to fight on! We can't let the losses of our friends be in vain! We will fight on! We will stop Konaia!" Parc sighed. "For our sake, I hope you're right."
Erynne stood at the cliff, near Irojima's body. She looked down, and saw that the bodies of Tomi and Kethiryne had been moved. She grimaced. Her one true love, slayed her herself. What would her brother think? "TOMI!!!" Erynne stood at the apex of the cliff. Turning around, she pointed her hand at herself, muttering an incantation. A shockwave sent her body flying over the cliff.
Parc and Lepanque fought on against Galdor for years to come. They managed to keep Konaia away from many nations, including Orcra, during their lifetime. During a fateful battle to retake Pronyas however, they were slayed, leaving their legacy behind. Two children they bore, leaving room for hope. The children traveled to Zeran, in hopes of starting a new life.
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