96.3. Siege
Cless joined Sophia and Edithe in their conversation shortly after. Sophia’s best friend had been helping out some of the [Mages] in trying to estimate the number of adventurers and assassins the Iron Champions Company had. Their magic led them to conclude the Valiant Dreamers Company were outnumbered by nearly two-to-one.
No one was happy to hear such a ratio. But neither of the two Gold Ranks let it get to them— much to the surprise of Cless. He came to them a bit of a mess. But since none of them had guard duty, Edithe managed to cheer him up too before the next assault happened.
This time, Sophia and Cless joined in on the battle. They were kept even further behind the lines than Edithe was, but it allowed them to experience what it was like to at least participate, even if barely.
Halfway through the prolonged fight, Edithe was forced to summon Druma to swap with Mistshard. The [Elemental] had been blasted by an invisible spell. It was some kind of wind magic— not one Edithe recognized. It probably came from a Platinum Rank, and it was a miracle for Mistshard to have even survived the attack.
So, Edithe let her rest. And Druma charged out alongside a group of [Warriors] and [Rogues], clashing with the relentless wave from the Iron Champions Company. Assassins stalked through the battlefield too, but Baris was with his son this time. And his spells locked onto these assassins, taking many of them down until they were all forced to retreat once again.
It was over. There was going to be another period of reprieve. Perhaps two hours— or maybe even three this time. At least, that was what Edithe was anticipating.
She didn’t expect to find herself outside of the building once again so soon when the Iron Champions Company gathered just before the gates.
Stephen had returned despite not showing up in the previous engagement. Hadrian and Baris both came out this time, neither of them hiding themselves from the single Platinum. Although how many of those assassins are above Level 70? How many of those adventurers?
Edithe was suspicious of all those inconspicuous individuals surrounding Stephen. Any of them could be Platinums. All of them could be Platinums. Some of them can even be Diamonds.
This had to be a trap to lure either Hadrian or Baris out, right?
Wrong.
Spreading his arms out wide, Stephen spoke out in a loud voice. His self-satisfaction was evident.
“My, my. You’ve repelled us twice. The second time, you didn’t even have to use a Skill, Hadrian. Very impressive.”
“What do you want, Stephen?”
Hadrian growled, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade.
“If you’re going to charge us with that ‘army’ of yours, why not just do it now?”
“Oh, no. That’s not what I’m doing. You see, after nearly getting killed by your old man earlier, I decided to take a break from the battlefield. Get a little breather.”
You didn’t even fight, bastard, Edithe retorted in her mind. Baris raised an eyebrow, seemingly catching on to something here.
Stephen continued.
“And while I was out on a stroll, I caught myself a little puppy wandering the streets of Viechester. A worried puppy. Who was actually barricaded in his home.”
A pair of hooded figures appeared behind Stephen. They produced a tied-up and blindfolded man, setting him down beside Stephen. Edithe blinked, not sure of who that was. But someone else knew.
Evelyn stepped forward, yelling out a name.
“Thomas!”
Edithe glanced over at the Platinum Rank, confused at their relationship. Then she saw the fear in her eyes. And the way the man had been bruised and taken against his will here. Her boyfriend? Or her husband?
“What are you doing? What did you do to him?”
“Nothing just yet.”
Stephen casually walked up to the man named Thomas and crossed his arms. Hadrian narrowed his eyes while Baris snapped.
“You’re not allowed to involve innocent civilians in a company war, Stephen. The Sunmere Republic and the Adventurers Guild will not stand for it.”
“I’m not going to do anything to him. Nor is anyone from the Iron Champions Company. But some assassins unaffiliated with our company might.”
“That reasoning won’t stand!”
“Will it? Maybe not. We’ll see. But I don’t think Ms Evelyn cares about that, does she?”
Evelyn’s eyes grew wide as one of the two assassins produced a large knife. They stepped up to the tied-up man as Stephen shrugged.
“Collateral damage happens all the time in company wars. It’s… unfortunate.”
Licking his lips as he saw Evelyn draw her two daggers, Stephen raised a hand.
“I wouldn’t do anything brash if I were you, Ms Evelyn.”
“What do you want?”
She asked through gritted teeth. He waved a hand nonchalantly.
“I just want you to come here, over to us, without your weapons. Then Thomas can go. I’ll even let your Valiant Dreamer friends take him in. You wouldn’t want anything to happen to the only thing you have in your life, right?”
Edithe frowned as Evelyne stood there, mulling over his words. How does he…? Then the red-haired woman made the realization. Just as Baris and Hadrian did. He’s done research on us.
Each adventurer had at least some of their personal information out in public. That was an unfortunate side effect of having the job. Especially with the higher ranks. It didn’t matter if you tried to be as discreet as possible. There was always going to be something out there about you. And this was Evelyn’s one secret.
And the Platinum Rank’s weakness.
Dropping her weapons, Evelyne started forward. Hadrian opened his mouth and said her name.
“Evelyn—”
“You can’t stop me, Hadrian. Just… just make sure Thomas is safe.”
“...right.”
The lone adventurer marched out to meet Stephen face to face. He nodded at the assassins behind him, and they kicked Thomas forward, rolling into the Valiant Dreamers Company headquarters.
Evelyn watched Stephen grab her lover. Then she burst into action. A dagger appeared on her hand as she leapt up to the other Platinum Rank.
The two assassins intercepted her. One appeared behind her and the other to her flank. Evelyn spun around and sliced the first in half. She kicked the second back—
And Stephen stood in front of her. He drew his sickle back, pulling it away from the woman’s neck. She fell, her head thumping on the ground and spinning to face Thomas.
Edithe stared in shock as the Platinum Rank was easily disposed of by Stephen. A Skill? That was the only explanation. [Flash Step] to catch her, and another Skill to finish her off.
Baris glared at Stephen wiping the blood off his golden blade, walking away nonchalantly. The former leader of the Valiant Dreamers Company called out warningly.
“You will not get away with this, Stephen.”
“Oh, we will.”
Stephen turned back, a smug look on his face.
“And we will continue to get away with it.”
“What do you—”
The meaning behind his words took a moment to sink in everyone’s mind. The eyes of Baris widened as Hadrian stood up, Thomas on his back.
“These bastards are going to keep taking our loved ones hostage. While we’re trapped in here, unable to go out.”
“Your new leader is smart. Honestly, old man, you’re a bit slow in the head. It might’ve been better off for your company if you had just died from the poison.”
Hadrian brought his blade down, sending an aura blade at Stephen. Another [Flash Step] brought him away from the attack.
“That was close. But good try.”
Then he left. And the figures hiding out in the darkness slowly drew back. They would return. But for now, they let the news settle. The fact that the Iron Champions Company were willing to stoop to even more dirty tricks— tricks that could backfire at any time.
And Edithe stood, unmoving, even as the others returned, a fear and mourning on their faces. Hadrian stopped by the red-haired woman, Thomas still on his back.
“Edithe, let’s go back.”
“But—”
She turned to him, a worried look on her face.
“Rachel.”
—--
There was a commotion inside the headquarters of the Valiant Dreamers Company. There were many voicing their concerns. Would their family be targeted? Would their friends?
It was unlikely. Only those at Platinum had any cause for concern. Gold Ranks in Viechester were almost common amongst adventurers. It would be too hard and too risky to target those that could be killed by their Level 70 assassins.
So, the Iron Champions Company dared to make this play. They dared to threaten the lives of those dear to the Platinum Ranks. And Edithe should not have been worried.
Rachel was not only at the Sanctum of Elements, she was also only related to Edithe. There was no reason for them to target her. Except— Salvos.
Edithe remembered the encounter between Stephen and Salvos. How upset the man had been at her rejection. Would he… would he try something?
That was Edithe’s worry. It was all she could think about even as the Iron Champions Company attacked the headquarters a third time. This distraction nearly caused her death, but Druma saved her just in time.
And when they got their reprieve once again, Edithe heard Hadrian speaking with Baris. They were making plans.
“Not all of our Platinum Ranks are like Evelyn. They won’t charge in the face of death. They won’t make that leap across that chasm or fall trying. If their family gets dragged into it, they might not volunteer themselves. But their morale will still break.”
“Hadrian, I have heard your reasoning before, and you’ve already convinced me once. But unless you have a solid plan of action, I will not approve any such brash decisions!”
“I know, Father. But we have to do something.”
She knew she shouldn’t have been listening. But she had to know what they were going to do. Edithe would not just let Rachel die.
Rubbing his temples, Baris let out a tired sigh. The man had just recovered from a poisoning not long ago. The battle had strained him. And now it was clear that his dilemma stumped him too.
“What do you propose?”
“That we break the siege and reunite with Gabriel’s forces. Then drive the Iron Champions out of the city.”
“How are we supposed to do that? We are surrounded.”
“I know. But I’ve spoken to a few of the Platinums. The brazen ones and the ones worried about their family. They’re willing… they’re willing to make a sacrifice.”
Baris took a step back, eyes wide. Hadrian continued.
“They will form a spearhead. The one to break their armor.”
“We’re outnumbered. We might lose everything.”
“We’ll lose everything regardless.”
Edithe heard this, and she couldn’t help but speak up.
“But what… what if we found a chink in their armor?”
The two turned to face the sudden guest in their conversation. She burned up for a moment, realizing she probably shouldn’t have spoken, but Baris gestured to her to continue.
“And what is that?”
Edithe turned to face the closest window. She looked through the glass pane, staring into the darkness beyond, remembering something Stephen had said. Then a small smile— one of hope… or was it madness?— spread across her lips.
“We know they outnumber us two-to-one. But we think they’re always there, keeping guard. But they also think we won’t try to break the siege. That we won’t sally forth and face them. So, they’re complacent. Stephen said it himself, the assassins are the ones gathering our loved ones in between each of their assaults. One of their biggest advantages is gone when they’re not attacking.”
Edithe grinned as Hadrian finally understood what she was saying. He looked her over, slowly nodding.
“That could work. That should be when we strike.”
“Our counterattack.”
She agreed. But Baris still seemed undecided. The older man met Edithe’s gaze, almost studying her.
“Edithe, before I say anything, let me ask you: why do you agree with this plan?”
The red-haired woman stopped. The once feisty, fiery, and short-tempered woman tilted her head up. She spoke slowly, thinking over her words carefully.
“Perhaps if you asked me this question a year ago, I would have told you this was for revenge. To make them pay for what they did to Evelyn. But now? The reason is much simpler than that.”
“And that is?”
Edithe looked back down at Baris, speaking softly.
“I’m tired of doing nothing while my friends die.”
Then it was settled.
—--
It was past midnight now. It had been no more than an hour since the Iron Champions Company made their third assault. But now, there was a susurration.
It came not from the side of the invaders, but from that of the defenders. There was movement— the barrier surrounding the headquarters of the Valiant Dreamers Company was fading. But it was not a failure on the runes powering it. It was being done on purpose.
Everyone had been informed of their change of plans. And while not everyone had been too happy about it, most approved this course of action. Especially the Platinums.
Edithe did not stick around to discuss what her role in the battle was going to be. Because she only had one role. She was to act as one of the few in the strike force. Like the cavalry that would open up the ranks of the infantry.
Her job was to charge and tear through the Iron Champions Company alongside Celine and the other Platinums, hopefully surviving.
The Platinums who wanted to check on their loved ones all volunteered for this job. Not all of them did— only about a quarter, which still made up almost a dozen different Platinum Rank adventurers. Together, they would have been able to save a city from a monster horde on their own. They would have been able to clear out Dungeons that were threatening nearby towns.
Their efforts would have been better put somewhere else. And yet, they were risking their lives here, against other adventurers who could have done the same.
They were to charge through the gates, followed by the main bulk of their forces, acting as the spearhead being thrust against an enemy. Hadrian assured them he would be right behind them and even cut down any possible threat to them if it showed.
And once they were through, they would scatter. Each to check on their own friends, family, or other loved ones they were worried about. That meant Edithe would be on her own. And that was what worried her.
She looked between Mistshard and Druma, rubbing at the tip of her staff in a nervous tic.
“Do you think we’d be able to… handle any assassins we meet?”
“As long as they’re not too far above our levels, yes.”
That was the logical answer, but not the one Edithe had been looking for.
“I know, but— never mind.”
Edithe turned around, sighing. Then she blinked as she saw the person standing before her.
Sophia.
“I heard what you were doing, Edithe.”
Edithe stared at the young woman, confusion written on her face. She opened her mouth— then realized what was happening.
“You’re not going to follow me, are you?”
“First of all, only a dozen Platinum Ranks charging out on their own is stupid. Secondly, it’s dangerous for you to go alone. So, I’m coming with.”
“But—”
“So am I.”
Cless walked up behind Sophia. He grinned as he leaned an elbow on the young woman’s shoulder. She scowled and shook him off. He shrugged.
“I’m not going to let Sophia here go on her own. And don’t worry. Neither of us may be the best fighters, but we’re good at surviving. At remaining sneaky. Something which I’m sure you’re not familiar with.”
He gestured at her outfit, and Edithe looked down at herself. She sputtered.
“These are traditional [Mage] garments—”
“I’m a [Mage], and you won’t even see me wearing those stupid robes. Seriously, you can barely walk with them!”
Edithe glanced between the two of them, hesitating. Then she finally asked.
“Why?”
Sophia shuffled her feet uncomfortably.
“It’s, uh, because… uh…”
“Because she feels bad about the way she treated those two Gold Ranks, Salvos and Daniel, when they were just helping us out. So, she wants to at least help pay them back by making sure this Rachel is safe.”
“Hey! You were rude too!”
The young woman pointed an accusing finger at her best friend. He laughed— a nervous laughter which Edithe saw through. The red-haired woman slowly nodded.
“Well, if you’re going to insist on coming with me, I won’t stop you. But it’s going to be dangerous, you know?”
The two paused. They exchanged glances and then grinned.
“We know. But we’re Gold Rank adventurers.”
“Our very job description is dangerous, so don’t worry about us.”
Edithe sighed.
“If you say so.”
But before she could fully process the sudden induction of two new members in her mission, another voice spoke up.
“I’m following too.”
This time, Edithe was caught by surprise with who she saw. Ian, the aloof, bald [Rogue] who she had barely talked to, stood there. She gave him a confused look.
“But… why?”
“Because Paige liked that little girl.”
“...That’s it?”
Edithe dubiously eyed him. He nodded curtly.
“And you were friends with Paige.”
“I see.”
Apparently, Paige had been close with Ian. She had frequently seen them together. But Edithe wasn’t exactly close with him. But because of their common friendship, he was helping her. Edithe felt her grip around her staff tighten, just thinking about Paige.
Then she nodded.
“Alright then.”
And it was settled.
Ian, Sophia, and Cless joined Edithe as they gathered with the Platinum Ranks leading the charge. Behind them, the rest of the Valiant Dreamers Company were relying on them. Hadrian’s voice boomed out as he drew his sword.
“Tonight, we break this siege! Gabriel will continue holding down the training grounds, waiting for our arrival, then we’ll finally rid the Iron Champions Company from Viechester! They wanted war, but we’ll end this war!”
There were cheers. And then, silence. The front doors swung open and before Edithe could do her job, it was first up to the powerful artifacts owned by the Valiant Dreamers Company.
Baris stepped forward, wielding what looked like a pointed spear. He aimed it at the open gates, eyes closed and muttering under his breath.
“Latticing Flare.”
A single streak of flames blasted out, striking something out in the shadows. Then it spread out in all four directions from where it had struck, breaking into four smaller streaks of flames. This process repeated again and again until the entire battlefield ahead was gridded by the golden flames.
“Now it’s your turn.”
Tossing aside the now-depleted Latticing Flare, Baris nodded Edithe’s way. Then it was her job. And the job of those with her. They charged out of the gates, following the trail of the powerful artifact that had been loosed on the Iron Champions Company. Mistshard and Druma stayed by her as they rushed straight out of the gates, flinging magic and arrows at their highlighted enemies.
The Iron Champions were caught off guard. They did not expect this assault. The sentries had been slaughtered by the initial magical blast. And the ones that were ready for battle were mostly Silver; only a handful of Gold met this attack. One survived and rallied the rest of the opposing force into action.
[Warriors], [Rogues], [Mages], [Archers]— even [Alchemists] and [Enchanters]— tried to stop Edithe as she made a mad dash through her unprepared enemies. But they couldn’t just reach her. Not only did the fire spreading throughout the battlefield make it difficult to easily navigate to them, but she blasted them with spells, aiding Mistshard who hovered above sending hails of ice.
Druma shielded her, knocking aside any adventurer who got close. At one point, a hooded individual appeared with blades at the ready, but Druma and Mistshard both quickly dealt with him, saving Edithe from what was nearly her death.
They tore through the ranks of the Iron Champions Company, meeting almost no resistance until—
An explosion nearly sent Edithe flying back. The [Mage] from before— the Platinum Rank— appeared, followed by the other Platinums of the Iron Champions Company. Some assassins showed up too. However, their numbers were lackluster. Especially compared to what they had before.
No signs of Stephen either.
“Ignore them! We press on!”
Celine bellowed, leading the charge. Edithe followed after. She realized how out of their depths Cless and Sophia were, yet they still tried their best to help. Neither specialized in combat— at least, not against people.
A bolt of lightning that cracked the earth caught the attention of the Platinums. Baris did not let them get close to Edithe and the others. He was around their level, yes. But he was more experienced. And he had spent decades building up his General Skills. Edithe knew he could take them all on himself.
Then, just as their first obstacle was overcome, another came barring their path. And this one was a mountain.
The ground broke before the charging group as a large broadsword broke the streets of Viechester. It sent a shockwave that knocked them off balance. And just as Celine got up, an aura of concentrated energy shot out at her.
Her eyes grew wide, but she managed to raise her axe just in time to block the attack. The other Platinums gathered themselves, eyeing warily what had halted them all to a stop. Edithe glanced up too, feeling fear strike her heart.
[??? - Lvl. ???]
A Diamond Rank adventurer. One from the Iron Champions Company. But not just anyone. It was one Edithe recognized.
One of the current leaders of the company. One of the original members of the Iron Champions. The ones that were dubbed the champions. They were the ones who exploited the Millcliff Iron Mines to get rich. To get to where they were today.
Orbur Vale.
The purported [Warrior] was dressed in shimmering plate armor. Powerful enchantments were no doubt protecting him. He had a helmet on, covering all but the signature scar on his face. A vicious grin spread across his lips.
“Oh, seems like the valiant dogs finally decided to stop cowering and bite back. How... foolish.”
He raised his weapon that was twice his own size. The patterned runes running through its blade limned under the moonlight. Or was that an enchantment?
Edithe wasn’t sure, but she didn’t hesitate. No more.
She sent an icy spear shooting out at the man. It smashed into his armor, dealing no damage. Like an icicle falling against a metal surface. He laughed.
“Did you think that would—”
“[Valorous Charge]!”
Hadrian’s voice cut off Orbur, some Skill propelling him through the air. It was like he had leapt off a building and was falling straight at the other Diamond Rank.
Orbur countered with his own Skill, his sword growing larger as he swung. The two clashed, sending a ripple through the battlefield. The nearby Silvers all fell from the blow, and Edithe nearly stumbled as she was standing up.
The two Diamonds traded blows, fighting at a level Edithe couldn’t possibly hope to ever reach. She wanted to help Hadrian, but as he kicked Orbur back, sending the other Diamond flying, he glanced back at her.
“Go!”
And that was all he had to say. Edithe dragged Celine who was enraged by Orbur. She had nearly died from that initial attack and wanted to help Hadrian face one of the champions from the Iron Champions Company.
But she would have only hindered him. So Edithe had Druma pick up the woman, much to her chagrin, only putting her down once they were out of sight of the two clashing Diamonds. When Celine was back on her feet, she had a scowl on her face. But she didn’t say anything to Edithe.
The group reached the end of the Iron Champions’ line. The last of the adventurers there were mostly Silver and Gold. They didn’t even try fighting, choosing to flee and maybe regroup elsewhere. Edithe would have tried to stop them, but it wasn’t worth the effort.
Instead, it was time for them to do what they came for. Their job here was finished, and it was time to move on.
They stopped at an intersection, each of them casting wary gazes at the shadows creeping through the side streets and alleyways of Viechester. They all held the same fear in their mind. Assassins. But none showed up.
Finally, after they were sure they weren’t being followed, Celine turned to Edithe.
“This is where we part ways. I need to check on my little brothers back on my farm. They live just outside the city, so I probably will take a while and can’t help you.”
The other Platinums were already streaming off, going on their own to check on those they cared about. Edithe smiled and nodded at Celine.
“It’s fine. I have help.”
The red-haired woman glanced back at the Greater Spirits and Gold Ranks accompanying her. Truth be told, Edithe would have preferred if Celine followed them. She was pretty sure Celine could have killed half— if not all— of them by herself. That was just how big the gap between Gold and Platinum was. Yet, Edithe couldn’t wait for Celine’s help.
This was something she had to do on her own.
“Go. Check on your family.”
“You didn’t need to say that twice. Good luck.”
Celine waved and started sprinting down one of the side streets. She disappeared into the darkness, heading out of the city, whereas Edithe would be heading further in.
“The Sanctum of Elements is in the city square. It’s usually crowded during the day, but… at night it’s like a ghost town, huh?”
Edithe casually commented as her group— Sophia, Ian, and Cless— made their way through the streets, arriving at the large courtyard that would be lined with shops during the day. Ian grunted in agreement, although Cless scoffed.
“Of course it is. Everyone’s asleep. No one would be wandering about at night for no good reason.”
Sophia rolled her eyes.
“That, and the fact that the city has issued a lockdown warning too for the citizens’ own safety.”
“Ah, right.”
It seemed like such a nonchalant conversation at first. They almost seemed uncaring of Rachel— unpressed for time. But they were being cautious.
At any moment, an assassin could strikeout. And that was what they feared. The Spirits too— Druma protectively shielded Edithe with his body, while Mistshard flitted around, close to any alleyway and corner where someone might be hiding.
“It’s fine, guys.”
Edithe waved a hand at her summons, pointing at the temple ahead.
“We’ve arrived, look.”
Sure enough, the tall staircase leading up to the Sanctum of Elements lay before them. It was spotless. Cleaned like it was every single day. It certainly looked untouched. As though nothing had actually happened to it, and Edithe had just been paranoid. But as the group made their way up the stairs and into the temple, they found—
Nothing.
96.3. Siege
Cless joined Sophia and Edithe in their conversation shortly after. Sophia’s best friend had been helping out some of the [Mages] in trying to estimate the number of adventurers and assassins the Iron Champions Company had. Their magic led them to conclude the Valiant Dreamers Company were outnumbered by nearly two-to-one.
No one was happy to hear such a ratio. But neither of the two Gold Ranks let it get to them— much to the surprise of Cless. He came to them a bit of a mess. But since none of them had guard duty, Edithe managed to cheer him up too before the next assault happened.
This time, Sophia and Cless joined in on the battle. They were kept even further behind the lines than Edithe was, but it allowed them to experience what it was like to at least participate, even if barely.
Halfway through the prolonged fight, Edithe was forced to summon Druma to swap with Mistshard. The [Elemental] had been blasted by an invisible spell. It was some kind of wind magic— not one Edithe recognized. It probably came from a Platinum Rank, and it was a miracle for Mistshard to have even survived the attack.
So, Edithe let her rest. And Druma charged out alongside a group of [Warriors] and [Rogues], clashing with the relentless wave from the Iron Champions Company. Assassins stalked through the battlefield too, but Baris was with his son this time. And his spells locked onto these assassins, taking many of them down until they were all forced to retreat once again.
It was over. There was going to be another period of reprieve. Perhaps two hours— or maybe even three this time. At least, that was what Edithe was anticipating.
She didn’t expect to find herself outside of the building once again so soon when the Iron Champions Company gathered just before the gates.
Stephen had returned despite not showing up in the previous engagement. Hadrian and Baris both came out this time, neither of them hiding themselves from the single Platinum. Although how many of those assassins are above Level 70? How many of those adventurers?
Edithe was suspicious of all those inconspicuous individuals surrounding Stephen. Any of them could be Platinums. All of them could be Platinums. Some of them can even be Diamonds.
This had to be a trap to lure either Hadrian or Baris out, right?
Wrong.
Spreading his arms out wide, Stephen spoke out in a loud voice. His self-satisfaction was evident.
“My, my. You’ve repelled us twice. The second time, you didn’t even have to use a Skill, Hadrian. Very impressive.”
“What do you want, Stephen?”
Hadrian growled, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade.
“If you’re going to charge us with that ‘army’ of yours, why not just do it now?”
“Oh, no. That’s not what I’m doing. You see, after nearly getting killed by your old man earlier, I decided to take a break from the battlefield. Get a little breather.”
You didn’t even fight, bastard, Edithe retorted in her mind. Baris raised an eyebrow, seemingly catching on to something here.
Stephen continued.
“And while I was out on a stroll, I caught myself a little puppy wandering the streets of Viechester. A worried puppy. Who was actually barricaded in his home.”
A pair of hooded figures appeared behind Stephen. They produced a tied-up and blindfolded man, setting him down beside Stephen. Edithe blinked, not sure of who that was. But someone else knew.
Evelyn stepped forward, yelling out a name.
“Thomas!”
Edithe glanced over at the Platinum Rank, confused at their relationship. Then she saw the fear in her eyes. And the way the man had been bruised and taken against his will here. Her boyfriend? Or her husband?
“What are you doing? What did you do to him?”
“Nothing just yet.”
Stephen casually walked up to the man named Thomas and crossed his arms. Hadrian narrowed his eyes while Baris snapped.
“You’re not allowed to involve innocent civilians in a company war, Stephen. The Sunmere Republic and the Adventurers Guild will not stand for it.”
“I’m not going to do anything to him. Nor is anyone from the Iron Champions Company. But some assassins unaffiliated with our company might.”
“That reasoning won’t stand!”
“Will it? Maybe not. We’ll see. But I don’t think Ms Evelyn cares about that, does she?”
Evelyn’s eyes grew wide as one of the two assassins produced a large knife. They stepped up to the tied-up man as Stephen shrugged.
“Collateral damage happens all the time in company wars. It’s… unfortunate.”
Licking his lips as he saw Evelyn draw her two daggers, Stephen raised a hand.
“I wouldn’t do anything brash if I were you, Ms Evelyn.”
“What do you want?”
She asked through gritted teeth. He waved a hand nonchalantly.
“I just want you to come here, over to us, without your weapons. Then Thomas can go. I’ll even let your Valiant Dreamer friends take him in. You wouldn’t want anything to happen to the only thing you have in your life, right?”
Edithe frowned as Evelyne stood there, mulling over his words. How does he…? Then the red-haired woman made the realization. Just as Baris and Hadrian did. He’s done research on us.
Each adventurer had at least some of their personal information out in public. That was an unfortunate side effect of having the job. Especially with the higher ranks. It didn’t matter if you tried to be as discreet as possible. There was always going to be something out there about you. And this was Evelyn’s one secret.
And the Platinum Rank’s weakness.
Dropping her weapons, Evelyne started forward. Hadrian opened his mouth and said her name.
“Evelyn—”
“You can’t stop me, Hadrian. Just… just make sure Thomas is safe.”
“...right.”
The lone adventurer marched out to meet Stephen face to face. He nodded at the assassins behind him, and they kicked Thomas forward, rolling into the Valiant Dreamers Company headquarters.
Evelyn watched Stephen grab her lover. Then she burst into action. A dagger appeared on her hand as she leapt up to the other Platinum Rank.
The two assassins intercepted her. One appeared behind her and the other to her flank. Evelyn spun around and sliced the first in half. She kicked the second back—
And Stephen stood in front of her. He drew his sickle back, pulling it away from the woman’s neck. She fell, her head thumping on the ground and spinning to face Thomas.
Edithe stared in shock as the Platinum Rank was easily disposed of by Stephen. A Skill? That was the only explanation. [Flash Step] to catch her, and another Skill to finish her off.
Baris glared at Stephen wiping the blood off his golden blade, walking away nonchalantly. The former leader of the Valiant Dreamers Company called out warningly.
“You will not get away with this, Stephen.”
“Oh, we will.”
Stephen turned back, a smug look on his face.
“And we will continue to get away with it.”
“What do you—”
The meaning behind his words took a moment to sink in everyone’s mind. The eyes of Baris widened as Hadrian stood up, Thomas on his back.
“These bastards are going to keep taking our loved ones hostage. While we’re trapped in here, unable to go out.”
“Your new leader is smart. Honestly, old man, you’re a bit slow in the head. It might’ve been better off for your company if you had just died from the poison.”
Hadrian brought his blade down, sending an aura blade at Stephen. Another [Flash Step] brought him away from the attack.
“That was close. But good try.”
Then he left. And the figures hiding out in the darkness slowly drew back. They would return. But for now, they let the news settle. The fact that the Iron Champions Company were willing to stoop to even more dirty tricks— tricks that could backfire at any time.
And Edithe stood, unmoving, even as the others returned, a fear and mourning on their faces. Hadrian stopped by the red-haired woman, Thomas still on his back.
“Edithe, let’s go back.”
“But—”
She turned to him, a worried look on her face.
“Rachel.”
—--
There was a commotion inside the headquarters of the Valiant Dreamers Company. There were many voicing their concerns. Would their family be targeted? Would their friends?
It was unlikely. Only those at Platinum had any cause for concern. Gold Ranks in Viechester were almost common amongst adventurers. It would be too hard and too risky to target those that could be killed by their Level 70 assassins.
So, the Iron Champions Company dared to make this play. They dared to threaten the lives of those dear to the Platinum Ranks. And Edithe should not have been worried.
Rachel was not only at the Sanctum of Elements, she was also only related to Edithe. There was no reason for them to target her. Except— Salvos.
Edithe remembered the encounter between Stephen and Salvos. How upset the man had been at her rejection. Would he… would he try something?
That was Edithe’s worry. It was all she could think about even as the Iron Champions Company attacked the headquarters a third time. This distraction nearly caused her death, but Druma saved her just in time.
And when they got their reprieve once again, Edithe heard Hadrian speaking with Baris. They were making plans.
“Not all of our Platinum Ranks are like Evelyn. They won’t charge in the face of death. They won’t make that leap across that chasm or fall trying. If their family gets dragged into it, they might not volunteer themselves. But their morale will still break.”
“Hadrian, I have heard your reasoning before, and you’ve already convinced me once. But unless you have a solid plan of action, I will not approve any such brash decisions!”
“I know, Father. But we have to do something.”
She knew she shouldn’t have been listening. But she had to know what they were going to do. Edithe would not just let Rachel die.
Rubbing his temples, Baris let out a tired sigh. The man had just recovered from a poisoning not long ago. The battle had strained him. And now it was clear that his dilemma stumped him too.
“What do you propose?”
“That we break the siege and reunite with Gabriel’s forces. Then drive the Iron Champions out of the city.”
“How are we supposed to do that? We are surrounded.”
“I know. But I’ve spoken to a few of the Platinums. The brazen ones and the ones worried about their family. They’re willing… they’re willing to make a sacrifice.”
Baris took a step back, eyes wide. Hadrian continued.
“They will form a spearhead. The one to break their armor.”
“We’re outnumbered. We might lose everything.”
“We’ll lose everything regardless.”
Edithe heard this, and she couldn’t help but speak up.
“But what… what if we found a chink in their armor?”
The two turned to face the sudden guest in their conversation. She burned up for a moment, realizing she probably shouldn’t have spoken, but Baris gestured to her to continue.
“And what is that?”
Edithe turned to face the closest window. She looked through the glass pane, staring into the darkness beyond, remembering something Stephen had said. Then a small smile— one of hope… or was it madness?— spread across her lips.
“We know they outnumber us two-to-one. But we think they’re always there, keeping guard. But they also think we won’t try to break the siege. That we won’t sally forth and face them. So, they’re complacent. Stephen said it himself, the assassins are the ones gathering our loved ones in between each of their assaults. One of their biggest advantages is gone when they’re not attacking.”
Edithe grinned as Hadrian finally understood what she was saying. He looked her over, slowly nodding.
“That could work. That should be when we strike.”
“Our counterattack.”
She agreed. But Baris still seemed undecided. The older man met Edithe’s gaze, almost studying her.
“Edithe, before I say anything, let me ask you: why do you agree with this plan?”
The red-haired woman stopped. The once feisty, fiery, and short-tempered woman tilted her head up. She spoke slowly, thinking over her words carefully.
“Perhaps if you asked me this question a year ago, I would have told you this was for revenge. To make them pay for what they did to Evelyn. But now? The reason is much simpler than that.”
“And that is?”
Edithe looked back down at Baris, speaking softly.
“I’m tired of doing nothing while my friends die.”
Then it was settled.
—--
It was past midnight now. It had been no more than an hour since the Iron Champions Company made their third assault. But now, there was a susurration.
It came not from the side of the invaders, but from that of the defenders. There was movement— the barrier surrounding the headquarters of the Valiant Dreamers Company was fading. But it was not a failure on the runes powering it. It was being done on purpose.
Everyone had been informed of their change of plans. And while not everyone had been too happy about it, most approved this course of action. Especially the Platinums.
Edithe did not stick around to discuss what her role in the battle was going to be. Because she only had one role. She was to act as one of the few in the strike force. Like the cavalry that would open up the ranks of the infantry.
Her job was to charge and tear through the Iron Champions Company alongside Celine and the other Platinums, hopefully surviving.
The Platinums who wanted to check on their loved ones all volunteered for this job. Not all of them did— only about a quarter, which still made up almost a dozen different Platinum Rank adventurers. Together, they would have been able to save a city from a monster horde on their own. They would have been able to clear out Dungeons that were threatening nearby towns.
Their efforts would have been better put somewhere else. And yet, they were risking their lives here, against other adventurers who could have done the same.
They were to charge through the gates, followed by the main bulk of their forces, acting as the spearhead being thrust against an enemy. Hadrian assured them he would be right behind them and even cut down any possible threat to them if it showed.
And once they were through, they would scatter. Each to check on their own friends, family, or other loved ones they were worried about. That meant Edithe would be on her own. And that was what worried her.
She looked between Mistshard and Druma, rubbing at the tip of her staff in a nervous tic.
“Do you think we’d be able to… handle any assassins we meet?”
“As long as they’re not too far above our levels, yes.”
That was the logical answer, but not the one Edithe had been looking for.
“I know, but— never mind.”
Edithe turned around, sighing. Then she blinked as she saw the person standing before her.
Sophia.
“I heard what you were doing, Edithe.”
Edithe stared at the young woman, confusion written on her face. She opened her mouth— then realized what was happening.
“You’re not going to follow me, are you?”
“First of all, only a dozen Platinum Ranks charging out on their own is stupid. Secondly, it’s dangerous for you to go alone. So, I’m coming with.”
“But—”
“So am I.”
Cless walked up behind Sophia. He grinned as he leaned an elbow on the young woman’s shoulder. She scowled and shook him off. He shrugged.
“I’m not going to let Sophia here go on her own. And don’t worry. Neither of us may be the best fighters, but we’re good at surviving. At remaining sneaky. Something which I’m sure you’re not familiar with.”
He gestured at her outfit, and Edithe looked down at herself. She sputtered.
“These are traditional [Mage] garments—”
“I’m a [Mage], and you won’t even see me wearing those stupid robes. Seriously, you can barely walk with them!”
Edithe glanced between the two of them, hesitating. Then she finally asked.
“Why?”
Sophia shuffled her feet uncomfortably.
“It’s, uh, because… uh…”
“Because she feels bad about the way she treated those two Gold Ranks, Salvos and Daniel, when they were just helping us out. So, she wants to at least help pay them back by making sure this Rachel is safe.”
“Hey! You were rude too!”
The young woman pointed an accusing finger at her best friend. He laughed— a nervous laughter which Edithe saw through. The red-haired woman slowly nodded.
“Well, if you’re going to insist on coming with me, I won’t stop you. But it’s going to be dangerous, you know?”
The two paused. They exchanged glances and then grinned.
“We know. But we’re Gold Rank adventurers.”
“Our very job description is dangerous, so don’t worry about us.”
Edithe sighed.
“If you say so.”
But before she could fully process the sudden induction of two new members in her mission, another voice spoke up.
“I’m following too.”
This time, Edithe was caught by surprise with who she saw. Ian, the aloof, bald [Rogue] who she had barely talked to, stood there. She gave him a confused look.
“But… why?”
“Because Paige liked that little girl.”
“...That’s it?”
Edithe dubiously eyed him. He nodded curtly.
“And you were friends with Paige.”
“I see.”
Apparently, Paige had been close with Ian. She had frequently seen them together. But Edithe wasn’t exactly close with him. But because of their common friendship, he was helping her. Edithe felt her grip around her staff tighten, just thinking about Paige.
Then she nodded.
“Alright then.”
And it was settled.
Ian, Sophia, and Cless joined Edithe as they gathered with the Platinum Ranks leading the charge. Behind them, the rest of the Valiant Dreamers Company were relying on them. Hadrian’s voice boomed out as he drew his sword.
“Tonight, we break this siege! Gabriel will continue holding down the training grounds, waiting for our arrival, then we’ll finally rid the Iron Champions Company from Viechester! They wanted war, but we’ll end this war!”
There were cheers. And then, silence. The front doors swung open and before Edithe could do her job, it was first up to the powerful artifacts owned by the Valiant Dreamers Company.
Baris stepped forward, wielding what looked like a pointed spear. He aimed it at the open gates, eyes closed and muttering under his breath.
“Latticing Flare.”
A single streak of flames blasted out, striking something out in the shadows. Then it spread out in all four directions from where it had struck, breaking into four smaller streaks of flames. This process repeated again and again until the entire battlefield ahead was gridded by the golden flames.
“Now it’s your turn.”
Tossing aside the now-depleted Latticing Flare, Baris nodded Edithe’s way. Then it was her job. And the job of those with her. They charged out of the gates, following the trail of the powerful artifact that had been loosed on the Iron Champions Company. Mistshard and Druma stayed by her as they rushed straight out of the gates, flinging magic and arrows at their highlighted enemies.
The Iron Champions were caught off guard. They did not expect this assault. The sentries had been slaughtered by the initial magical blast. And the ones that were ready for battle were mostly Silver; only a handful of Gold met this attack. One survived and rallied the rest of the opposing force into action.
[Warriors], [Rogues], [Mages], [Archers]— even [Alchemists] and [Enchanters]— tried to stop Edithe as she made a mad dash through her unprepared enemies. But they couldn’t just reach her. Not only did the fire spreading throughout the battlefield make it difficult to easily navigate to them, but she blasted them with spells, aiding Mistshard who hovered above sending hails of ice.
Druma shielded her, knocking aside any adventurer who got close. At one point, a hooded individual appeared with blades at the ready, but Druma and Mistshard both quickly dealt with him, saving Edithe from what was nearly her death.
They tore through the ranks of the Iron Champions Company, meeting almost no resistance until—
An explosion nearly sent Edithe flying back. The [Mage] from before— the Platinum Rank— appeared, followed by the other Platinums of the Iron Champions Company. Some assassins showed up too. However, their numbers were lackluster. Especially compared to what they had before.
No signs of Stephen either.
“Ignore them! We press on!”
Celine bellowed, leading the charge. Edithe followed after. She realized how out of their depths Cless and Sophia were, yet they still tried their best to help. Neither specialized in combat— at least, not against people.
A bolt of lightning that cracked the earth caught the attention of the Platinums. Baris did not let them get close to Edithe and the others. He was around their level, yes. But he was more experienced. And he had spent decades building up his General Skills. Edithe knew he could take them all on himself.
Then, just as their first obstacle was overcome, another came barring their path. And this one was a mountain.
The ground broke before the charging group as a large broadsword broke the streets of Viechester. It sent a shockwave that knocked them off balance. And just as Celine got up, an aura of concentrated energy shot out at her.
Her eyes grew wide, but she managed to raise her axe just in time to block the attack. The other Platinums gathered themselves, eyeing warily what had halted them all to a stop. Edithe glanced up too, feeling fear strike her heart.
[??? - Lvl. ???]
A Diamond Rank adventurer. One from the Iron Champions Company. But not just anyone. It was one Edithe recognized.
One of the current leaders of the company. One of the original members of the Iron Champions. The ones that were dubbed the champions. They were the ones who exploited the Millcliff Iron Mines to get rich. To get to where they were today.
Orbur Vale.
The purported [Warrior] was dressed in shimmering plate armor. Powerful enchantments were no doubt protecting him. He had a helmet on, covering all but the signature scar on his face. A vicious grin spread across his lips.
“Oh, seems like the valiant dogs finally decided to stop cowering and bite back. How... foolish.”
He raised his weapon that was twice his own size. The patterned runes running through its blade limned under the moonlight. Or was that an enchantment?
Edithe wasn’t sure, but she didn’t hesitate. No more.
She sent an icy spear shooting out at the man. It smashed into his armor, dealing no damage. Like an icicle falling against a metal surface. He laughed.
“Did you think that would—”
“[Valorous Charge]!”
Hadrian’s voice cut off Orbur, some Skill propelling him through the air. It was like he had leapt off a building and was falling straight at the other Diamond Rank.
Orbur countered with his own Skill, his sword growing larger as he swung. The two clashed, sending a ripple through the battlefield. The nearby Silvers all fell from the blow, and Edithe nearly stumbled as she was standing up.
The two Diamonds traded blows, fighting at a level Edithe couldn’t possibly hope to ever reach. She wanted to help Hadrian, but as he kicked Orbur back, sending the other Diamond flying, he glanced back at her.
“Go!”
And that was all he had to say. Edithe dragged Celine who was enraged by Orbur. She had nearly died from that initial attack and wanted to help Hadrian face one of the champions from the Iron Champions Company.
But she would have only hindered him. So Edithe had Druma pick up the woman, much to her chagrin, only putting her down once they were out of sight of the two clashing Diamonds. When Celine was back on her feet, she had a scowl on her face. But she didn’t say anything to Edithe.
The group reached the end of the Iron Champions’ line. The last of the adventurers there were mostly Silver and Gold. They didn’t even try fighting, choosing to flee and maybe regroup elsewhere. Edithe would have tried to stop them, but it wasn’t worth the effort.
Instead, it was time for them to do what they came for. Their job here was finished, and it was time to move on.
They stopped at an intersection, each of them casting wary gazes at the shadows creeping through the side streets and alleyways of Viechester. They all held the same fear in their mind. Assassins. But none showed up.
Finally, after they were sure they weren’t being followed, Celine turned to Edithe.
“This is where we part ways. I need to check on my little brothers back on my farm. They live just outside the city, so I probably will take a while and can’t help you.”
The other Platinums were already streaming off, going on their own to check on those they cared about. Edithe smiled and nodded at Celine.
“It’s fine. I have help.”
The red-haired woman glanced back at the Greater Spirits and Gold Ranks accompanying her. Truth be told, Edithe would have preferred if Celine followed them. She was pretty sure Celine could have killed half— if not all— of them by herself. That was just how big the gap between Gold and Platinum was. Yet, Edithe couldn’t wait for Celine’s help.
This was something she had to do on her own.
“Go. Check on your family.”
“You didn’t need to say that twice. Good luck.”
Celine waved and started sprinting down one of the side streets. She disappeared into the darkness, heading out of the city, whereas Edithe would be heading further in.
“The Sanctum of Elements is in the city square. It’s usually crowded during the day, but… at night it’s like a ghost town, huh?”
Edithe casually commented as her group— Sophia, Ian, and Cless— made their way through the streets, arriving at the large courtyard that would be lined with shops during the day. Ian grunted in agreement, although Cless scoffed.
“Of course it is. Everyone’s asleep. No one would be wandering about at night for no good reason.”
Sophia rolled her eyes.
“That, and the fact that the city has issued a lockdown warning too for the citizens’ own safety.”
“Ah, right.”
It seemed like such a nonchalant conversation at first. They almost seemed uncaring of Rachel— unpressed for time. But they were being cautious.
At any moment, an assassin could strikeout. And that was what they feared. The Spirits too— Druma protectively shielded Edithe with his body, while Mistshard flitted around, close to any alleyway and corner where someone might be hiding.
“It’s fine, guys.”
Edithe waved a hand at her summons, pointing at the temple ahead.
“We’ve arrived, look.”
Sure enough, the tall staircase leading up to the Sanctum of Elements lay before them. It was spotless. Cleaned like it was every single day. It certainly looked untouched. As though nothing had actually happened to it, and Edithe had just been paranoid. But as the group made their way up the stairs and into the temple, they found—
Nothing.
