Chapter 642
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Chapter 642
At twenty years of age, there was no denying that Mila was a formidable woman and Warrior.
Today, she single-handedly slew three Demons and participated in no less than a dozen more kills, tying down or distracting her monstrous foes while her allies dealt the killing blow. Many of the Defiled were well armoured in Runic helms and breastplates, but they proved meagre defence against Paragons chain-whip form, scything through unprotected legs and necks with laughable ease. Wherever she rode, the Enemy tide parted aside as if readily giving way as she killed them faster than they could charge in, and even Spiritual Weapon wielding Champions and Chieftains were unable to stop her. All they could do was avoid her attacks and leave their comrades to die beneath Paragons eight-hundred and eight segmented blades, capable of striking someone over seven meters away when stretched to its utmost limits.
Her accomplishments werent confined to the battlefield either. She was a married woman now, wife to Falling Rain, her beloved idiot who she could not imagine a life without. Though many wives of the Empire derived their status solely from their husbands, Mila intended to make her own mark in history, but this did not mean she took no pride in being a wife. After moving into their new manor at the Northern Citadel however, shed come face to face with her own glaring ineptitude when it came to domestic aptitude, utterly useless at cooking, cleaning, sewing, decorating, or really anything that had to do with the household. She couldnt even make heads or tails of the manor expenses, wholly reliant on Luo-Luo to handle everything from hiring servants and gardeners to ensuring their kitchen was well-stocked without letting food go to waste. It didnt matter that her sister wife Yan was equally useless, but it irritated Mila that her husband was so adept when it came to managing the household. However, instead of complaining to no end, she took precious time away from contemplating the Martial Path to learn how to be a better wife, a path which was far more difficult and troublesome than shed ever imagined, because Mama made everything look so easy.
All her life, Mama had been larger than life, not just as a Warrior, but as a mother too, a paragon who excelled in everything she tried. Mama could stitch together a new outfit for Mila and have time left over to cook a sumptuous lunch, without skipping her morning training or forgetting to tend to her flourishing courtyard garden. She kept the house impeccably clean and the pantry generously stocked, sometimes too generously as if afraid they might go an entire year without a good harvest or clean catch from the forest, yet nothing ever went to waste. All while running the Sentinels to flawless perfection mind you, ensuring that every village in the Saints Tribulations mountains was properly protected while simultaneously keeping track of everyones personal contributions so that they were appropriately rewarded without fail. In Milas eyes, Mama was an indomitable force of nature, someone who bore the weight of the Heavens on her shoulders so that others could walk freely without this burden to inhibit them, and she did so as easily as turning a hand.
Which was why seeing her strong, domineering, confident mother lying in the grass with eyes closed and a gaping stomach wound made Mila feel like a girl in pigtails once again. Warm courage gave way to icy dread as the Healer tended to Mamas many grievous wounds, made all the more visible due to the minimal blood covering each horrific injury. Logically, she understood Mamas eyes were only closed so she could replenish her spent Chi, and that the lack of blood meant she stopped the bleeding within seconds of taking injury, but the truth did little to reassure Mila. Instead, she fixated on the open cavity along Mamas pale stomach and the various bone-deep cuts distributed about her body, including a particularly gruesome one running along her left cheek which exposed not only broken bones, but also shattered teeth inside Mamas mouth. Her wounds told a tale of a hard fought battle, and for Mila, whod never seen her formidable Mama even lose a sparring match, it was a difficult tale to swallow.
Whenever people came to Mama for help, she would often smile and say There are still taller shoulders to hold up the Heavens, or something to that effect. Only now, the Enemy delivered unto them a foe even Mama could not defeat, so who was left to bear this burden now that shed faltered and fallen?
A comforting arm wrapped around Milas shoulders and she started in place, caught by surprise in Tursinais embrace. Hold firm to your courage, Mila of the People, she whispered, her gaze more solemn and serious than ever. The Chief Provost is injured, but she still yet lives and will return to the fight soon enough, so it would be best if you stopped scaring everyone with your frightened expression.
Right. Mamas injuries looked daunting enough, so there was no need for Mila to make things worse by overreacting. Doing her best to put on a brave face, she rallied her flagging spirits and sought Balance to calm her mind, before turning to watch the Royal Guardians go about their business. The lion-mounted warriors were a fearsome sight to behold, driving deep into the Defiled flank to slaughter tribesmen and Chosen with near impunity. Much of it was due to the deafening roars of their mounts, inspiring sheer terror and causing their targets to bleed from all seven apertures, panicking, blinding, and deafening their foes before slashing them apart with single swipes of their massive claws. Golden creatures with dark, luxurious manes, even the smallest lion was the size of an average horse, while the largest had shoulders standing at over two-metres tall. Then there were the Royal Guardians themselves, powerful Experts who fought with wickedly hooked spears, mundane weapons which did little to hold them back as they made short work of their foes.
It took almost a full minute for the Enemy to respond to this unexpected attack, one which threatened to crumble the entire right flank unsupported. Fur-laden garo riders appeared in the distance, moving around to cut off the Royal Guardians path of retreat, but rather than disengaging to fall back, the Royal Guardians pivoted as one to meet the Defiled charge head on. Where a battle between horses and gajashia heavily favoured the latter, garos and lions were even more mismatched as the powerful felines made short work of the wiry, armless lizards. Time and time again, the same scene repeated itself on the fields of Central, the garos leaping at their chosen targets only to be swatted down mid air. Whether it was power, speed, reach, or intelligence, the garos were sorely outmatched, unable to hold a candle to the majestic, graceful lions of the Imperial Clan.
The sight was far from inspiring though, as a single thought gnawed on Milas mind. The Royal Guardians, she Sent, wasting this Chi because she dared not risk being overheard. They were not trained to do battle against the Defiled. Disciplined as ever, Tursinai refrained from replying through Sending, conserving every last iota of Chi for use in battle, but Mila had to share this information with another. The lions roar is a tool meant to overwhelm a foe and scatter them to the winds. This is only marginally useful against the Defiled, who by and large, do not rout. Understanding dawned on the older womans face, and her brows drew together in concern. Turning her gaze upon the Royal Guardians, Tursinais eyes had the look of a predator studying a potential rival, for that was what the Royal Guardians were. Their purpose was the defend the Imperial Clan, but their tactics had not been developed to use against the fearless and almost suicidal Defiled.
No, they were meant to be used against Imperial citizens, rational Martial Warriors who still understood the meaning of fear.
This training served them poorly here today, for while Imperial infantry wouldve likely routed under the initial, devastating charge, the Defiled infantry had already rallied to chase after the Royal Guardians, pinning them between a rock and a hard place. Their only chance was to fight their way through the garo forces, but even as the thought came to mind, Mila spotted a force of gajashia riders moving around to lend their weight to the battle. Though fierce and powerful beyond expectations, the Royal Guardians numbers left much to be desired, less than three-thousand in total and in grave danger of being overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
Whistling as she ran towards the fray, Mila yelled, Tursinai, send word to Hongji. Sentinels, on me. Our allies require our aid. Eager for battle as always, Zabu trotted out next to her, his head lowered and pace steady so she could jump on without slowing down. Drawing her short spear from its holster affixed to her shield, she flipped it into an overhand grip, Reinforced for all she was worth, and came to her feet in the harness. Zabu slowed and growled as she placed a tremendous weight upon his furred frame, but he bore it without much complaint as Mila took aim and loosed her weapon at the foremost clump of Defiled infantry. The spear shot out like an arrow and took the closest Defiled through the shoulder, passing through in a spray of blood and shooting down the line to kill seven more tribesmen before finally coming to a stop.
The Sentinels with Mila lent their bows to the cause, but there was only time for a single volley before battle was joined. Waiting until the last moment to deploy Paragon, she whipped the wand about and grinned as the sectioned blades hurled out into the Defiled crowd, cutting through flesh and bone like a hot knife through cold butter. That was the beauty of her weapon, for a mundane weapon would have to deal with issues like friction and density, but Paragons sectioned blades were so slender and light, they were all but weightless once Honed and Lightened. This meant that so long as they didnt get caught on anything like the edge of Runic shield or wrapped around a Spiritual Weapon, it didnt take much effort to send Paragon hurtling through the Enemy ranks, unlike Tursinais longer, thicker, and heavier chain and sickle which she used to the same effect.
There they stood, two Warriors of the People spearheading two separate attacks. Like twin wolves working in concert to rend apart a stag, Tursinai baited the Enemy out of position while Milas forces bit in deep, a gambit they used to great effect time and time again. Gongsun Qi was an able commander, but his underlings lacked training and discipline, a flaw which inhibited his tactical options since his Junior Officers could not be counted on to keep their subordinates in check. No doubt Gongsun Qi knew how to deal with the quin-mounted Sentinels, by ordering his soldiers to present a unified front and march forward together, rather than letting sections break away to chase a retreating foe, but he might as well try to hang the moon on his belt instead. Though dressed differently, the Chosen were still Defiled in the end, and no matter how many times the Sentinels used this same tactic against them, the Enemy fell for the bait every single time.
Quick to divine her intentions, the Royal Guardians soon fought their way free of the garos and infantry, though not without their own losses. More than one Guardian sported dire injuries, and their mounts fared only slightly better, with many a golden flank looking a little worse for wear after this singular exchange. Whats more, being shock cavalry, their effectiveness likely plummeted the longer a battle drew on, largely due to their lions lacking stamina. Ordering her Sentinels to fall back, Mila escorted the Royal Guardians back to safety with a sense of smug superiority, for the roosequin was still the king of all mounts in her eyes, a creature which could run, fight, and kill with the best of them, while also being the most aesthetically pleasing to boot.
Patting Zabus neck earned Mila a mild glare of reproach, but she paid his grumpy demanour no mind as she put her spear and Paragon away to take up the bow once more. With Tursinai to pass along her messages, she ordered the Royal Guardians to block for the Sentinels as she loosed arrow after arrow into the horde, directing their aim towards the infantry whenever she could solely because there were more of them. Part of her wondered if this was a mistake, because technically, Mamas unit was supposed to be resting in reserve, as even loosing arrows took stamina and focus, both of which would soon be in short supply. However, if she could whittle away the Enemy cavalry numbers until they were no longer a threat, then the Imperials would have free rein to pick and choose their targets. Up until now, the cattle chariots had yet to be deployed, meaning Ulfsaar and almost five hundred Warriors were standing idly on one flank, which lent credence to Rains idea of training more commoners for the battlefield. A commoner in a chariot could easily mow down dozens of Defiled under the right circumstances, and if they should die in the process, then little of value would be lost. It seemed callous to even think it, but a chariot driver could be trained in a matter of weeks, whereas a Martial Warrior took years to develop. In fact, should a chariot be lost, Mila placed more value on the cattle and wagon than the driver, even if they were a Martial Warrior themselves.
She had Rain to blame for this, him and his animal loving ways. Truth be told, the cattle were quite cute once you got used to their smell, which really wasnt all that much worse than horses.
Distracted by her idle thoughts, Mila almost missed seeing the force of Demons headed her way. Led by a formidable, Water-Blessed abomination which could only be the Demon Rain had dubbed Pudge, the monstrous cadre was accompanied by nine other Demons and a large contingent of gajashia cavalry, no doubt here to silence the Peoples longbows and keep the dangerous Royal Guardians in check. The smart move was to fall back and pepper the gajashias with arrows, but she wasnt sure if the lions could keep up with quins and still have strength left to fight afterwards. Probably not, since the cats were built for power rather than speed or stamina, so she ordered the Guardians to withdraw to the North while the Sentinels distracted the Enemy and drew them north-west. Another bait to set up for a flanking charge, but Gongsun Qi was paying close attention and split his forces well, sending the Demons after Mila while the gajashia cavalry chased after the Royal Guardians.
How was the man so adept at battlefield command, never missing a single detail even whilst embroiled in bitter combat with Situ Jia Yang? A duel which lasted much longer than it should have, by the way, considering Zians uncle was no match for Baatar, much less Mama. It didnt make any sense for Gongsun Qi to take this long to defeat his opponent, and Mila was almost offended since this might lead others to think Mama was only so-so, rather than one of the foremost Warriors of every generation since the one shed been born to.
With no targets to aim at, the longbows fell silent as Mila carefully weighed her options with Tursinais input, unsure if she should fight or flee from this formidable threat. Tenjin had almost died to Pudge once, and that was without any other Demons to support it. Were Naaran, Yaruq, or even Mother-in-Law Sarnai here, then Mila would order the charge and be done with it, but the strongest Sentinel Demon Slayers had left to support the centre, meaning Mila had limited options to deal with these Demons. Sending word of their plight to Hongji, she received a vague assurance of aid coming as soon as possible, though it sounded like soon would be anything but.
Hesitation and indecisiveness did little to aid her cause, but the Enemy was in no rush either. To the south west, the Royal Guardians had already engaged their foes, and the Demon-contingent seemed happy to let them fight it out. No doubt there were even more forces on the way to bog down the Royal Guardians, because if Mila could see that they were lacking in stamina, surely Gongsun Qi knew it as well. To make matters worse, Milas five-thousand Sentinels were too valuable to be wasted playing cat-and-mouse with their foes, which meant a decision had to be made now.
That was the theory at least, and though Mila ultimately concluded that the name of her Esoteric Blessing didnt matter, she still wouldve liked to have one, since not knowing made it difficult to figure out how to actively use it.
This was why she spent so much effort modelling her Natal Palace after the Bamboo grove, studying how the forces interacted and putting her knowledge to use in modifying her Natal Palace to better suit her needs. All four Primal Blessings were present in her bamboo grove. Earth in the Mountain the whole structure sat upon, Water in the river which ran through it, Air in the wind whistling through the trees, and Fire in the heat of the sun shining down from above. This wasnt all though, for there were plenty of Secondary and Auxiliary Blessings represented as well, such as Light and Shadow playing out over the grove, Wood and Plant in the bamboo and flowers, Cloud and Scent, Mountain and River, Gravity and Pressure, and thousands upon thousands more. There were forces she had no name or concept for, but existed all the same, like the forces dictating how concentrated or diffuse a certain scent would be, or what image was presented in the waters reflection, or which direction a plant grew in to face the sun.
...
The epiphany struck Mila like a hammer to a gong, and once sounded, she could not shake the thought. During her extended bout of Insight, she felt like the Mother Above had been trying to explain what her personal Blessing entailed, but alas, shed been unable to comprehend the message laid out before her. Now... now she felt like she had an inkling of what the message mightve meant, and she followed this line of thought in hopes of a breakthrough. Guan Suo Awakened to the Blessing of Smoke, an Esoteric force comprised of all four Primal Blessings. Fire for the heat, Air for the form, Earth for the ash, and Water to bind it all together. As the blood of his blood, Milas Blessing was undoubtedly the same, and she suspected that everything she built and studied in her Natal Palace were in some way connected to her own personal Blessing.
And now she knew what name to give it.
Calling upon her Blessing, Mila felt her body thrum with power as she deliberately exerted her efforts to do what she unintentionally had been doing all along. Buoyed by her new Insight, she surged forward to meet the Demon in battle. Twirling Paragon like a staff, she ducked Pudges opening back-handed swing and leapt over the follow through punch delivered by its other hand. Calling upon her Blessing to dissipate the murky Water Chi, her grin widened when the swirling torrents parted around her as she charged in headlong for a stab. Paragon glanced off the Demons thick belly, scoring a superficial gash across one side of its belly, but even this was enough for Milas Blessing to take effect. The pale, loose skin around the insignificant wound scorched and blackened before her eyes, and she allowed herself a small chuckle of glee. Leaping over yet another wide swing, she ducked and Deflected the follow-up which came much faster than the first. Minutes ago, this strike would have hammered her flat into the ground, but now? Now, she barely felt the impact through her shield, for the sun shone brightly overhead on this clear, cloudless day.
And just as its presence enabled so many different forces to function, so too did the sun fill her with strength and purpose.
Everything within her Natal Palace tied directly back to the sun. The light and shadows, the plants and bamboo, even the wind and clouds were somewhat dictated by forces set in motion by the mere presence of the sun, emanating warmth, light, and Heavens knows what else by mere virtue of existence. Water evaporated and fell back to the earth as rain, cutting channels through the rocky mountain to form the ever-flowing river which ran through it, a source of sustenance for the plants and animals around it. Even the most fertile fields would lay barren without the nourishing light of the sun, and the air would grow stagnant and stale without heat or cold to drive it. Whats more, the sun itself was a source of energy, and each day, Mila drew a little more nourishment from its rays, nourishment her body put to good use moulding her to be as strong as an Earth-Blessed Warrior through means she didnt entirely understand, but understanding didnt matter, so long as she realized what forces were in play and could harness them effectively.
Plus, now she finally had a reason to explain why she never could wake early: when the sun hid below the horizon, her source of strength was no longer within reach.
Well, not really.
Drawing upon her Chi to replicate the forces of the Sun, she emulated it as best she could and turned this against her Demonic foe. Thrusting Paragon directly into Pudges belly, she laughed even though her weapon once again bent and failed to pierce its flesh, for her blow still blackened flesh and sent the Demon stumbling back a full step, forced away by the sheer power of her Reinforced, fortified physique. Hers was not a Blessing to solely use directly against her opponents, not in the way Wind, Fire, or so many others were but rather a Blessing which augmented everything Mila herself could do, drawing her strength from the sun itself. No, better to say she herself was the sun, and the Natal Palace her world, marking her as the source, the origin, the catalyst of all forces within.
Warmth, light, life, and nourishment, the Sun was the source of this and so much more, and was no doubt also the result of countless interactions between countless forces, all of which Mila could now tap into.
Thoroughly enjoying her newfangled prowess, she gave up on piercing the Demons defences and shield charged into its knee, all but ignoring three Water tentacles which brushed against her with the force of a gentle push. Domain or not, natural laws still held sway, and Pudges knees carried a lot of weight, making them easy targets. Though unable to break bones, she sent the Demon stumbling back once more, and as soon as she recovered, aimed a second tackle at the same knee while the other leg was raised in the air. Crashing through multiple Water barriers as she went, the Demons Elemental Chi never touched her as she Emanated Sun Chi to counteract it, her body glowing with invisible light and searing heat as she tackled the Demons leg once again. The impact drove the breath from her lungs and she felt her forearm fracture, but Pudges leg shot back and sent the Demon toppling down into the dirt. The thrill of near victory superseded any pain as she brought her shield down on her fallen foes leg, Reinforcing, Honing, and Amplifying for all she was worth in a desperate attempt to cripple it. A flick of her wrist sent Paragon hurtling out behind her, and a second flick drew it back, where affixed to its end was her short spear, which she caught in hand and drove down into Pudges thick flesh. This time, she focused all her will and effort into the attack, and her weapon plunged deep, spraying her with Ichor in the process, but she cared not for the pain as she cackled in pure delight.
For if she could hurt it, then she could kill it.
A massive foot slammed into her and lifted her off her feet. The world spun, and when it finally stilled, Mila found herself staring up at Tokta, who grimaced as he mumbled, Fool of a girl, laughing while within arms reach of Demon. Smack it around a bit and you think yourself invincible? Have a heart, dear child. Think about what your Mother would do if you died under my care. I still have yet to bounce a grandchild upon my knee, and might never get a chance if you are not more careful.
Sorry, she whispered, her head aching too much to lift it, but she didnt have to because Song knelt down beside her. Hi. What are you doing here?
Sister Tursinai brought you over, Song replied, her expression drawn in worry, but not worry for Mila, as her eyes darted to something out of sight. You should know. Rain is not well, and possibly dying.
Panic welled up from within as Mila fought to sit up, but a growl from Tokta and his forceful hand pressed upon her head kept her from moving too much. I need to see him, she whispered, staring at the kindly Healer whod treated all her injuries since she was a little girl, one who made silly faces so she would focus on something other than the pain. Please.
Grunting in wordless neutrality, Tokta paused a beat before gathering Mila in his arms and moving her over to Rains side, who wasnt all that far away and looked like death warmed over. A Death Corps guard was tending to him, even though there was no visible sign of injury, just a pale, wan, tired Rain, who seemed so fragile and weak in his resplendent, golden armour. There they lay, side by side, for how long, Mila could not say, but she was soon joined by sweet Lin and Song who held her hands tight, as well as Yan who joined them so silently, Mila didnt even know she was there until her sister wife stroked her hair and reassured her that all would be well despite being terrified all the same.
Then, without warning, the Death Corps guard collapsed, the last of his strength spent ensuring he would not fall upon Rain. Someone tended to the Healer, but no one moved to attend to Rain, because the Healers Chi was still at work and would interfere with anyone elses attempts to Heal until it wholly dissipated, though how long that might take, no one knew. With help from the others, Mila moved closer to Rains side, propping herself up on one elbow to stroke his cheek and cry, while Lin-Lin sobbed and Yan held them both tight. Sensing their distress, Ping Ping ambled over to check on Rain and emanated an Aura of sorrow which had tears spilling from Milas eyes. The turtle wandered away soon after, patrolling the perimeter with anxious vigilance, but Mama Bun joined them soon after, hopping out of the wagon to nuzzle Rains face. Soon enough, the rest of the animals were there to crowd around Rain, with Auries mewls a match for Ping Pings Aura while the rest could do naught but watch and wait.
Please save him, Mila silently prayed, hoping the Mother above was listening. For though You have Blessed me with the Sun, he is the light in my life, and I cannot live without him.
Chapter Meme
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Chapter 642
At twenty years of age, there was no denying that Mila was a formidable woman and Warrior.
Today, she single-handedly slew three Demons and participated in no less than a dozen more kills, tying down or distracting her monstrous foes while her allies dealt the killing blow. Many of the Defiled were well armoured in Runic helms and breastplates, but they proved meagre defence against Paragons chain-whip form, scything through unprotected legs and necks with laughable ease. Wherever she rode, the Enemy tide parted aside as if readily giving way as she killed them faster than they could charge in, and even Spiritual Weapon wielding Champions and Chieftains were unable to stop her. All they could do was avoid her attacks and leave their comrades to die beneath Paragons eight-hundred and eight segmented blades, capable of striking someone over seven meters away when stretched to its utmost limits.
Her accomplishments werent confined to the battlefield either. She was a married woman now, wife to Falling Rain, her beloved idiot who she could not imagine a life without. Though many wives of the Empire derived their status solely from their husbands, Mila intended to make her own mark in history, but this did not mean she took no pride in being a wife. After moving into their new manor at the Northern Citadel however, shed come face to face with her own glaring ineptitude when it came to domestic aptitude, utterly useless at cooking, cleaning, sewing, decorating, or really anything that had to do with the household. She couldnt even make heads or tails of the manor expenses, wholly reliant on Luo-Luo to handle everything from hiring servants and gardeners to ensuring their kitchen was well-stocked without letting food go to waste. It didnt matter that her sister wife Yan was equally useless, but it irritated Mila that her husband was so adept when it came to managing the household. However, instead of complaining to no end, she took precious time away from contemplating the Martial Path to learn how to be a better wife, a path which was far more difficult and troublesome than shed ever imagined, because Mama made everything look so easy.
All her life, Mama had been larger than life, not just as a Warrior, but as a mother too, a paragon who excelled in everything she tried. Mama could stitch together a new outfit for Mila and have time left over to cook a sumptuous lunch, without skipping her morning training or forgetting to tend to her flourishing courtyard garden. She kept the house impeccably clean and the pantry generously stocked, sometimes too generously as if afraid they might go an entire year without a good harvest or clean catch from the forest, yet nothing ever went to waste. All while running the Sentinels to flawless perfection mind you, ensuring that every village in the Saints Tribulations mountains was properly protected while simultaneously keeping track of everyones personal contributions so that they were appropriately rewarded without fail. In Milas eyes, Mama was an indomitable force of nature, someone who bore the weight of the Heavens on her shoulders so that others could walk freely without this burden to inhibit them, and she did so as easily as turning a hand.
Which was why seeing her strong, domineering, confident mother lying in the grass with eyes closed and a gaping stomach wound made Mila feel like a girl in pigtails once again. Warm courage gave way to icy dread as the Healer tended to Mamas many grievous wounds, made all the more visible due to the minimal blood covering each horrific injury. Logically, she understood Mamas eyes were only closed so she could replenish her spent Chi, and that the lack of blood meant she stopped the bleeding within seconds of taking injury, but the truth did little to reassure Mila. Instead, she fixated on the open cavity along Mamas pale stomach and the various bone-deep cuts distributed about her body, including a particularly gruesome one running along her left cheek which exposed not only broken bones, but also shattered teeth inside Mamas mouth. Her wounds told a tale of a hard fought battle, and for Mila, whod never seen her formidable Mama even lose a sparring match, it was a difficult tale to swallow.
Whenever people came to Mama for help, she would often smile and say There are still taller shoulders to hold up the Heavens, or something to that effect. Only now, the Enemy delivered unto them a foe even Mama could not defeat, so who was left to bear this burden now that shed faltered and fallen?
A comforting arm wrapped around Milas shoulders and she started in place, caught by surprise in Tursinais embrace. Hold firm to your courage, Mila of the People, she whispered, her gaze more solemn and serious than ever. The Chief Provost is injured, but she still yet lives and will return to the fight soon enough, so it would be best if you stopped scaring everyone with your frightened expression.
Right. Mamas injuries looked daunting enough, so there was no need for Mila to make things worse by overreacting. Doing her best to put on a brave face, she rallied her flagging spirits and sought Balance to calm her mind, before turning to watch the Royal Guardians go about their business. The lion-mounted warriors were a fearsome sight to behold, driving deep into the Defiled flank to slaughter tribesmen and Chosen with near impunity. Much of it was due to the deafening roars of their mounts, inspiring sheer terror and causing their targets to bleed from all seven apertures, panicking, blinding, and deafening their foes before slashing them apart with single swipes of their massive claws. Golden creatures with dark, luxurious manes, even the smallest lion was the size of an average horse, while the largest had shoulders standing at over two-metres tall. Then there were the Royal Guardians themselves, powerful Experts who fought with wickedly hooked spears, mundane weapons which did little to hold them back as they made short work of their foes.
It took almost a full minute for the Enemy to respond to this unexpected attack, one which threatened to crumble the entire right flank unsupported. Fur-laden garo riders appeared in the distance, moving around to cut off the Royal Guardians path of retreat, but rather than disengaging to fall back, the Royal Guardians pivoted as one to meet the Defiled charge head on. Where a battle between horses and gajashia heavily favoured the latter, garos and lions were even more mismatched as the powerful felines made short work of the wiry, armless lizards. Time and time again, the same scene repeated itself on the fields of Central, the garos leaping at their chosen targets only to be swatted down mid air. Whether it was power, speed, reach, or intelligence, the garos were sorely outmatched, unable to hold a candle to the majestic, graceful lions of the Imperial Clan.
The sight was far from inspiring though, as a single thought gnawed on Milas mind. The Royal Guardians, she Sent, wasting this Chi because she dared not risk being overheard. They were not trained to do battle against the Defiled. Disciplined as ever, Tursinai refrained from replying through Sending, conserving every last iota of Chi for use in battle, but Mila had to share this information with another. The lions roar is a tool meant to overwhelm a foe and scatter them to the winds. This is only marginally useful against the Defiled, who by and large, do not rout. Understanding dawned on the older womans face, and her brows drew together in concern. Turning her gaze upon the Royal Guardians, Tursinais eyes had the look of a predator studying a potential rival, for that was what the Royal Guardians were. Their purpose was the defend the Imperial Clan, but their tactics had not been developed to use against the fearless and almost suicidal Defiled.
No, they were meant to be used against Imperial citizens, rational Martial Warriors who still understood the meaning of fear.
This training served them poorly here today, for while Imperial infantry wouldve likely routed under the initial, devastating charge, the Defiled infantry had already rallied to chase after the Royal Guardians, pinning them between a rock and a hard place. Their only chance was to fight their way through the garo forces, but even as the thought came to mind, Mila spotted a force of gajashia riders moving around to lend their weight to the battle. Though fierce and powerful beyond expectations, the Royal Guardians numbers left much to be desired, less than three-thousand in total and in grave danger of being overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
Whistling as she ran towards the fray, Mila yelled, Tursinai, send word to Hongji. Sentinels, on me. Our allies require our aid. Eager for battle as always, Zabu trotted out next to her, his head lowered and pace steady so she could jump on without slowing down. Drawing her short spear from its holster affixed to her shield, she flipped it into an overhand grip, Reinforced for all she was worth, and came to her feet in the harness. Zabu slowed and growled as she placed a tremendous weight upon his furred frame, but he bore it without much complaint as Mila took aim and loosed her weapon at the foremost clump of Defiled infantry. The spear shot out like an arrow and took the closest Defiled through the shoulder, passing through in a spray of blood and shooting down the line to kill seven more tribesmen before finally coming to a stop.
The Sentinels with Mila lent their bows to the cause, but there was only time for a single volley before battle was joined. Waiting until the last moment to deploy Paragon, she whipped the wand about and grinned as the sectioned blades hurled out into the Defiled crowd, cutting through flesh and bone like a hot knife through cold butter. That was the beauty of her weapon, for a mundane weapon would have to deal with issues like friction and density, but Paragons sectioned blades were so slender and light, they were all but weightless once Honed and Lightened. This meant that so long as they didnt get caught on anything like the edge of Runic shield or wrapped around a Spiritual Weapon, it didnt take much effort to send Paragon hurtling through the Enemy ranks, unlike Tursinais longer, thicker, and heavier chain and sickle which she used to the same effect.
There they stood, two Warriors of the People spearheading two separate attacks. Like twin wolves working in concert to rend apart a stag, Tursinai baited the Enemy out of position while Milas forces bit in deep, a gambit they used to great effect time and time again. Gongsun Qi was an able commander, but his underlings lacked training and discipline, a flaw which inhibited his tactical options since his Junior Officers could not be counted on to keep their subordinates in check. No doubt Gongsun Qi knew how to deal with the quin-mounted Sentinels, by ordering his soldiers to present a unified front and march forward together, rather than letting sections break away to chase a retreating foe, but he might as well try to hang the moon on his belt instead. Though dressed differently, the Chosen were still Defiled in the end, and no matter how many times the Sentinels used this same tactic against them, the Enemy fell for the bait every single time.
Quick to divine her intentions, the Royal Guardians soon fought their way free of the garos and infantry, though not without their own losses. More than one Guardian sported dire injuries, and their mounts fared only slightly better, with many a golden flank looking a little worse for wear after this singular exchange. Whats more, being shock cavalry, their effectiveness likely plummeted the longer a battle drew on, largely due to their lions lacking stamina. Ordering her Sentinels to fall back, Mila escorted the Royal Guardians back to safety with a sense of smug superiority, for the roosequin was still the king of all mounts in her eyes, a creature which could run, fight, and kill with the best of them, while also being the most aesthetically pleasing to boot.
Patting Zabus neck earned Mila a mild glare of reproach, but she paid his grumpy demanour no mind as she put her spear and Paragon away to take up the bow once more. With Tursinai to pass along her messages, she ordered the Royal Guardians to block for the Sentinels as she loosed arrow after arrow into the horde, directing their aim towards the infantry whenever she could solely because there were more of them. Part of her wondered if this was a mistake, because technically, Mamas unit was supposed to be resting in reserve, as even loosing arrows took stamina and focus, both of which would soon be in short supply. However, if she could whittle away the Enemy cavalry numbers until they were no longer a threat, then the Imperials would have free rein to pick and choose their targets. Up until now, the cattle chariots had yet to be deployed, meaning Ulfsaar and almost five hundred Warriors were standing idly on one flank, which lent credence to Rains idea of training more commoners for the battlefield. A commoner in a chariot could easily mow down dozens of Defiled under the right circumstances, and if they should die in the process, then little of value would be lost. It seemed callous to even think it, but a chariot driver could be trained in a matter of weeks, whereas a Martial Warrior took years to develop. In fact, should a chariot be lost, Mila placed more value on the cattle and wagon than the driver, even if they were a Martial Warrior themselves.
She had Rain to blame for this, him and his animal loving ways. Truth be told, the cattle were quite cute once you got used to their smell, which really wasnt all that much worse than horses.
Distracted by her idle thoughts, Mila almost missed seeing the force of Demons headed her way. Led by a formidable, Water-Blessed abomination which could only be the Demon Rain had dubbed Pudge, the monstrous cadre was accompanied by nine other Demons and a large contingent of gajashia cavalry, no doubt here to silence the Peoples longbows and keep the dangerous Royal Guardians in check. The smart move was to fall back and pepper the gajashias with arrows, but she wasnt sure if the lions could keep up with quins and still have strength left to fight afterwards. Probably not, since the cats were built for power rather than speed or stamina, so she ordered the Guardians to withdraw to the North while the Sentinels distracted the Enemy and drew them north-west. Another bait to set up for a flanking charge, but Gongsun Qi was paying close attention and split his forces well, sending the Demons after Mila while the gajashia cavalry chased after the Royal Guardians.
How was the man so adept at battlefield command, never missing a single detail even whilst embroiled in bitter combat with Situ Jia Yang? A duel which lasted much longer than it should have, by the way, considering Zians uncle was no match for Baatar, much less Mama. It didnt make any sense for Gongsun Qi to take this long to defeat his opponent, and Mila was almost offended since this might lead others to think Mama was only so-so, rather than one of the foremost Warriors of every generation since the one shed been born to.
With no targets to aim at, the longbows fell silent as Mila carefully weighed her options with Tursinais input, unsure if she should fight or flee from this formidable threat. Tenjin had almost died to Pudge once, and that was without any other Demons to support it. Were Naaran, Yaruq, or even Mother-in-Law Sarnai here, then Mila would order the charge and be done with it, but the strongest Sentinel Demon Slayers had left to support the centre, meaning Mila had limited options to deal with these Demons. Sending word of their plight to Hongji, she received a vague assurance of aid coming as soon as possible, though it sounded like soon would be anything but.
Hesitation and indecisiveness did little to aid her cause, but the Enemy was in no rush either. To the south west, the Royal Guardians had already engaged their foes, and the Demon-contingent seemed happy to let them fight it out. No doubt there were even more forces on the way to bog down the Royal Guardians, because if Mila could see that they were lacking in stamina, surely Gongsun Qi knew it as well. To make matters worse, Milas five-thousand Sentinels were too valuable to be wasted playing cat-and-mouse with their foes, which meant a decision had to be made now.
That was the theory at least, and though Mila ultimately concluded that the name of her Esoteric Blessing didnt matter, she still wouldve liked to have one, since not knowing made it difficult to figure out how to actively use it.
This was why she spent so much effort modelling her Natal Palace after the Bamboo grove, studying how the forces interacted and putting her knowledge to use in modifying her Natal Palace to better suit her needs. All four Primal Blessings were present in her bamboo grove. Earth in the Mountain the whole structure sat upon, Water in the river which ran through it, Air in the wind whistling through the trees, and Fire in the heat of the sun shining down from above. This wasnt all though, for there were plenty of Secondary and Auxiliary Blessings represented as well, such as Light and Shadow playing out over the grove, Wood and Plant in the bamboo and flowers, Cloud and Scent, Mountain and River, Gravity and Pressure, and thousands upon thousands more. There were forces she had no name or concept for, but existed all the same, like the forces dictating how concentrated or diffuse a certain scent would be, or what image was presented in the waters reflection, or which direction a plant grew in to face the sun.
...
The epiphany struck Mila like a hammer to a gong, and once sounded, she could not shake the thought. During her extended bout of Insight, she felt like the Mother Above had been trying to explain what her personal Blessing entailed, but alas, shed been unable to comprehend the message laid out before her. Now... now she felt like she had an inkling of what the message mightve meant, and she followed this line of thought in hopes of a breakthrough. Guan Suo Awakened to the Blessing of Smoke, an Esoteric force comprised of all four Primal Blessings. Fire for the heat, Air for the form, Earth for the ash, and Water to bind it all together. As the blood of his blood, Milas Blessing was undoubtedly the same, and she suspected that everything she built and studied in her Natal Palace were in some way connected to her own personal Blessing.
And now she knew what name to give it.
Calling upon her Blessing, Mila felt her body thrum with power as she deliberately exerted her efforts to do what she unintentionally had been doing all along. Buoyed by her new Insight, she surged forward to meet the Demon in battle. Twirling Paragon like a staff, she ducked Pudges opening back-handed swing and leapt over the follow through punch delivered by its other hand. Calling upon her Blessing to dissipate the murky Water Chi, her grin widened when the swirling torrents parted around her as she charged in headlong for a stab. Paragon glanced off the Demons thick belly, scoring a superficial gash across one side of its belly, but even this was enough for Milas Blessing to take effect. The pale, loose skin around the insignificant wound scorched and blackened before her eyes, and she allowed herself a small chuckle of glee. Leaping over yet another wide swing, she ducked and Deflected the follow-up which came much faster than the first. Minutes ago, this strike would have hammered her flat into the ground, but now? Now, she barely felt the impact through her shield, for the sun shone brightly overhead on this clear, cloudless day.
And just as its presence enabled so many different forces to function, so too did the sun fill her with strength and purpose.
Everything within her Natal Palace tied directly back to the sun. The light and shadows, the plants and bamboo, even the wind and clouds were somewhat dictated by forces set in motion by the mere presence of the sun, emanating warmth, light, and Heavens knows what else by mere virtue of existence. Water evaporated and fell back to the earth as rain, cutting channels through the rocky mountain to form the ever-flowing river which ran through it, a source of sustenance for the plants and animals around it. Even the most fertile fields would lay barren without the nourishing light of the sun, and the air would grow stagnant and stale without heat or cold to drive it. Whats more, the sun itself was a source of energy, and each day, Mila drew a little more nourishment from its rays, nourishment her body put to good use moulding her to be as strong as an Earth-Blessed Warrior through means she didnt entirely understand, but understanding didnt matter, so long as she realized what forces were in play and could harness them effectively.
Plus, now she finally had a reason to explain why she never could wake early: when the sun hid below the horizon, her source of strength was no longer within reach.
Well, not really.
Drawing upon her Chi to replicate the forces of the Sun, she emulated it as best she could and turned this against her Demonic foe. Thrusting Paragon directly into Pudges belly, she laughed even though her weapon once again bent and failed to pierce its flesh, for her blow still blackened flesh and sent the Demon stumbling back a full step, forced away by the sheer power of her Reinforced, fortified physique. Hers was not a Blessing to solely use directly against her opponents, not in the way Wind, Fire, or so many others were but rather a Blessing which augmented everything Mila herself could do, drawing her strength from the sun itself. No, better to say she herself was the sun, and the Natal Palace her world, marking her as the source, the origin, the catalyst of all forces within.
Warmth, light, life, and nourishment, the Sun was the source of this and so much more, and was no doubt also the result of countless interactions between countless forces, all of which Mila could now tap into.
Thoroughly enjoying her newfangled prowess, she gave up on piercing the Demons defences and shield charged into its knee, all but ignoring three Water tentacles which brushed against her with the force of a gentle push. Domain or not, natural laws still held sway, and Pudges knees carried a lot of weight, making them easy targets. Though unable to break bones, she sent the Demon stumbling back once more, and as soon as she recovered, aimed a second tackle at the same knee while the other leg was raised in the air. Crashing through multiple Water barriers as she went, the Demons Elemental Chi never touched her as she Emanated Sun Chi to counteract it, her body glowing with invisible light and searing heat as she tackled the Demons leg once again. The impact drove the breath from her lungs and she felt her forearm fracture, but Pudges leg shot back and sent the Demon toppling down into the dirt. The thrill of near victory superseded any pain as she brought her shield down on her fallen foes leg, Reinforcing, Honing, and Amplifying for all she was worth in a desperate attempt to cripple it. A flick of her wrist sent Paragon hurtling out behind her, and a second flick drew it back, where affixed to its end was her short spear, which she caught in hand and drove down into Pudges thick flesh. This time, she focused all her will and effort into the attack, and her weapon plunged deep, spraying her with Ichor in the process, but she cared not for the pain as she cackled in pure delight.
For if she could hurt it, then she could kill it.
A massive foot slammed into her and lifted her off her feet. The world spun, and when it finally stilled, Mila found herself staring up at Tokta, who grimaced as he mumbled, Fool of a girl, laughing while within arms reach of Demon. Smack it around a bit and you think yourself invincible? Have a heart, dear child. Think about what your Mother would do if you died under my care. I still have yet to bounce a grandchild upon my knee, and might never get a chance if you are not more careful.
Sorry, she whispered, her head aching too much to lift it, but she didnt have to because Song knelt down beside her. Hi. What are you doing here?
Sister Tursinai brought you over, Song replied, her expression drawn in worry, but not worry for Mila, as her eyes darted to something out of sight. You should know. Rain is not well, and possibly dying.
Panic welled up from within as Mila fought to sit up, but a growl from Tokta and his forceful hand pressed upon her head kept her from moving too much. I need to see him, she whispered, staring at the kindly Healer whod treated all her injuries since she was a little girl, one who made silly faces so she would focus on something other than the pain. Please.
Grunting in wordless neutrality, Tokta paused a beat before gathering Mila in his arms and moving her over to Rains side, who wasnt all that far away and looked like death warmed over. A Death Corps guard was tending to him, even though there was no visible sign of injury, just a pale, wan, tired Rain, who seemed so fragile and weak in his resplendent, golden armour. There they lay, side by side, for how long, Mila could not say, but she was soon joined by sweet Lin and Song who held her hands tight, as well as Yan who joined them so silently, Mila didnt even know she was there until her sister wife stroked her hair and reassured her that all would be well despite being terrified all the same.
Then, without warning, the Death Corps guard collapsed, the last of his strength spent ensuring he would not fall upon Rain. Someone tended to the Healer, but no one moved to attend to Rain, because the Healers Chi was still at work and would interfere with anyone elses attempts to Heal until it wholly dissipated, though how long that might take, no one knew. With help from the others, Mila moved closer to Rains side, propping herself up on one elbow to stroke his cheek and cry, while Lin-Lin sobbed and Yan held them both tight. Sensing their distress, Ping Ping ambled over to check on Rain and emanated an Aura of sorrow which had tears spilling from Milas eyes. The turtle wandered away soon after, patrolling the perimeter with anxious vigilance, but Mama Bun joined them soon after, hopping out of the wagon to nuzzle Rains face. Soon enough, the rest of the animals were there to crowd around Rain, with Auries mewls a match for Ping Pings Aura while the rest could do naught but watch and wait.
Please save him, Mila silently prayed, hoping the Mother above was listening. For though You have Blessed me with the Sun, he is the light in my life, and I cannot live without him.
Chapter Meme
Chapter 642At twenty years of age, there was no denying that Mila was a formidable woman and Warrior.Today, she single-handedly slew three Demons and participated in no less than a dozen more kills, tying down or distracting her monstrous foes while her allies dealt the killing blow. Many of the Defiled were well armoured in Runic helms and breastplates, but they proved meagre defence against Paragons chain-whip form, scything through unprotected legs and necks with laughable ease. Wherever she rode, the Enemy tide parted aside as if readily giving way as she killed them faster than they could charge in, and even Spiritual Weapon wielding Champions and Chieftains were unable to stop her. All they could do was avoid her attacks and leave their comrades to die beneath Paragons eight-hundred and eight segmented blades, capable of striking someone over seven meters away when stretched to its utmost limits.Her accomplishments werent confined to the battlefield either. She was a married woman now, wife to Falling Rain, her beloved idiot who she could not imagine a life without. Though many wives of the Empire derived their status solely from their husbands, Mila intended to make her own mark in history, but this did not mean she took no pride in being a wife. After moving into their new manor at the Northern Citadel however, shed come face to face with her own glaring ineptitude when it came to domestic aptitude, utterly useless at cooking, cleaning, sewing, decorating, or really anything that had to do with the household. She couldnt even make heads or tails of the manor expenses, wholly reliant on Luo-Luo to handle everything from hiring servants and gardeners to ensuring their kitchen was well-stocked without letting food go to waste. It didnt matter that her sister wife Yan was equally useless, but it irritated Mila that her husband was so adept when it came to managing the household. However, instead of complaining to no end, she took precious time away from contemplating the Martial Path to learn how to be a better wife, a path which was far more difficult and troublesome than shed ever imagined, because Mama made everything look so easy.All her life, Mama had been larger than life, not just as a Warrior, but as a mother too, a paragon who excelled in everything she tried. Mama could stitch together a new outfit for Mila and have time left over to cook a sumptuous lunch, without skipping her morning training or forgetting to tend to her flourishing courtyard garden. She kept the house impeccably clean and the pantry generously stocked, sometimes too generously as if afraid they might go an entire year without a good harvest or clean catch from the forest, yet nothing ever went to waste. All while running the Sentinels to flawless perfection mind you, ensuring that every village in the Saints Tribulations mountains was properly protected while simultaneously keeping track of everyones personal contributions so that they were appropriately rewarded without fail. In Milas eyes, Mama was an indomitable force of nature, someone who bore the weight of the Heavens on her shoulders so that others could walk freely without this burden to inhibit them, and she did so as easily as turning a hand.Which was why seeing her strong, domineering, confident mother lying in the grass with eyes closed and a gaping stomach wound made Mila feel like a girl in pigtails once again. Warm courage gave way to icy dread as the Healer tended to Mamas many grievous wounds, made all the more visible due to the minimal blood covering each horrific injury. Logically, she understood Mamas eyes were only closed so she could replenish her spent Chi, and that the lack of blood meant she stopped the bleeding within seconds of taking injury, but the truth did little to reassure Mila. Instead, she fixated on the open cavity along Mamas pale stomach and the various bone-deep cuts distributed about her body, including a particularly gruesome one running along her left cheek which exposed not only broken bones, but also shattered teeth inside Mamas mouth. Her wounds told a tale of a hard fought battle, and for Mila, whod never seen her formidable Mama even lose a sparring match, it was a difficult tale to swallow.Whenever people came to Mama for help, she would often smile and say There are still taller shoulders to hold up the Heavens, or something to that effect. Only now, the Enemy delivered unto them a foe even Mama could not defeat, so who was left to bear this burden now that shed faltered and fallen?A comforting arm wrapped around Milas shoulders and she started in place, caught by surprise in Tursinais embrace. Hold firm to your courage, Mila of the People, she whispered, her gaze more solemn and serious than ever. The Chief Provost is injured, but she still yet lives and will return to the fight soon enough, so it would be best if you stopped scaring everyone with your frightened expression.Right. Mamas injuries looked daunting enough, so there was no need for Mila to make things worse by overreacting. Doing her best to put on a brave face, she rallied her flagging spirits and sought Balance to calm her mind, before turning to watch the Royal Guardians go about their business. The lion-mounted warriors were a fearsome sight to behold, driving deep into the Defiled flank to slaughter tribesmen and Chosen with near impunity. Much of it was due to the deafening roars of their mounts, inspiring sheer terror and causing their targets to bleed from all seven apertures, panicking, blinding, and deafening their foes before slashing them apart with single swipes of their massive claws. Golden creatures with dark, luxurious manes, even the smallest lion was the size of an average horse, while the largest had shoulders standing at over two-metres tall. Then there were the Royal Guardians themselves, powerful Experts who fought with wickedly hooked spears, mundane weapons which did little to hold them back as they made short work of their foes.It took almost a full minute for the Enemy to respond to this unexpected attack, one which threatened to crumble the entire right flank unsupported. Fur-laden garo riders appeared in the distance, moving around to cut off the Royal Guardians path of retreat, but rather than disengaging to fall back, the Royal Guardians pivoted as one to meet the Defiled charge head on. Where a battle between horses and gajashia heavily favoured the latter, garos and lions were even more mismatched as the powerful felines made short work of the wiry, armless lizards. Time and time again, the same scene repeated itself on the fields of Central, the garos leaping at their chosen targets only to be swatted down mid air. Whether it was power, speed, reach, or intelligence, the garos were sorely outmatched, unable to hold a candle to the majestic, graceful lions of the Imperial Clan.The sight was far from inspiring though, as a single thought gnawed on Milas mind. The Royal Guardians, she Sent, wasting this Chi because she dared not risk being overheard. They were not trained to do battle against the Defiled. Disciplined as ever, Tursinai refrained from replying through Sending, conserving every last iota of Chi for use in battle, but Mila had to share this information with another. The lions roar is a tool meant to overwhelm a foe and scatter them to the winds. This is only marginally useful against the Defiled, who by and large, do not rout. Understanding dawned on the older womans face, and her brows drew together in concern. Turning her gaze upon the Royal Guardians, Tursinais eyes had the look of a predator studying a potential rival, for that was what the Royal Guardians were. Their purpose was the defend the Imperial Clan, but their tactics had not been developed to use against the fearless and almost suicidal Defiled.No, they were meant to be used against Imperial citizens, rational Martial Warriors who still understood the meaning of fear.This training served them poorly here today, for while Imperial infantry wouldve likely routed under the initial, devastating charge, the Defiled infantry had already rallied to chase after the Royal Guardians, pinning them between a rock and a hard place. Their only chance was to fight their way through the garo forces, but even as the thought came to mind, Mila spotted a force of gajashia riders moving around to lend their weight to the battle. Though fierce and powerful beyond expectations, the Royal Guardians numbers left much to be desired, less than three-thousand in total and in grave danger of being overwhelmed by sheer numbers.Whistling as she ran towards the fray, Mila yelled, Tursinai, send word to Hongji. Sentinels, on me. Our allies require our aid. Eager for battle as always, Zabu trotted out next to her, his head lowered and pace steady so she could jump on without slowing down. Drawing her short spear from its holster affixed to her shield, she flipped it into an overhand grip, Reinforced for all she was worth, and came to her feet in the harness. Zabu slowed and growled as she placed a tremendous weight upon his furred frame, but he bore it without much complaint as Mila took aim and loosed her weapon at the foremost clump of Defiled infantry. The spear shot out like an arrow and took the closest Defiled through the shoulder, passing through in a spray of blood and shooting down the line to kill seven more tribesmen before finally coming to a stop.The Sentinels with Mila lent their bows to the cause, but there was only time for a single volley before battle was joined. Waiting until the last moment to deploy Paragon, she whipped the wand about and grinned as the sectioned blades hurled out into the Defiled crowd, cutting through flesh and bone like a hot knife through cold butter. That was the beauty of her weapon, for a mundane weapon would have to deal with issues like friction and density, but Paragons sectioned blades were so slender and light, they were all but weightless once Honed and Lightened. This meant that so long as they didnt get caught on anything like the edge of Runic shield or wrapped around a Spiritual Weapon, it didnt take much effort to send Paragon hurtling through the Enemy ranks, unlike Tursinais longer, thicker, and heavier chain and sickle which she used to the same effect.There they stood, two Warriors of the People spearheading two separate attacks. Like twin wolves working in concert to rend apart a stag, Tursinai baited the Enemy out of position while Milas forces bit in deep, a gambit they used to great effect time and time again. Gongsun Qi was an able commander, but his underlings lacked training and discipline, a flaw which inhibited his tactical options since his Junior Officers could not be counted on to keep their subordinates in check. No doubt Gongsun Qi knew how to deal with the quin-mounted Sentinels, by ordering his soldiers to present a unified front and march forward together, rather than letting sections break away to chase a retreating foe, but he might as well try to hang the moon on his belt instead. Though dressed differently, the Chosen were still Defiled in the end, and no matter how many times the Sentinels used this same tactic against them, the Enemy fell for the bait every single time.Quick to divine her intentions, the Royal Guardians soon fought their way free of the garos and infantry, though not without their own losses. More than one Guardian sported dire injuries, and their mounts fared only slightly better, with many a golden flank looking a little worse for wear after this singular exchange. Whats more, being shock cavalry, their effectiveness likely plummeted the longer a battle drew on, largely due to their lions lacking stamina. Ordering her Sentinels to fall back, Mila escorted the Royal Guardians back to safety with a sense of smug superiority, for the roosequin was still the king of all mounts in her eyes, a creature which could run, fight, and kill with the best of them, while also being the most aesthetically pleasing to boot.Patting Zabus neck earned Mila a mild glare of reproach, but she paid his grumpy demanour no mind as she put her spear and Paragon away to take up the bow once more. With Tursinai to pass along her messages, she ordered the Royal Guardians to block for the Sentinels as she loosed arrow after arrow into the horde, directing their aim towards the infantry whenever she could solely because there were more of them. Part of her wondered if this was a mistake, because technically, Mamas unit was supposed to be resting in reserve, as even loosing arrows took stamina and focus, both of which would soon be in short supply. However, if she could whittle away the Enemy cavalry numbers until they were no longer a threat, then the Imperials would have free rein to pick and choose their targets. Up until now, the cattle chariots had yet to be deployed, meaning Ulfsaar and almost five hundred Warriors were standing idly on one flank, which lent credence to Rains idea of training more commoners for the battlefield. A commoner in a chariot could easily mow down dozens of Defiled under the right circumstances, and if they should die in the process, then little of value would be lost. It seemed callous to even think it, but a chariot driver could be trained in a matter of weeks, whereas a Martial Warrior took years to develop. In fact, should a chariot be lost, Mila placed more value on the cattle and wagon than the driver, even if they were a Martial Warrior themselves.She had Rain to blame for this, him and his animal loving ways. Truth be told, the cattle were quite cute once you got used to their smell, which really wasnt all that much worse than horses.Distracted by her idle thoughts, Mila almost missed seeing the force of Demons headed her way. Led by a formidable, Water-Blessed abomination which could only be the Demon Rain had dubbed Pudge, the monstrous cadre was accompanied by nine other Demons and a large contingent of gajashia cavalry, no doubt here to silence the Peoples longbows and keep the dangerous Royal Guardians in check. The smart move was to fall back and pepper the gajashias with arrows, but she wasnt sure if the lions could keep up with quins and still have strength left to fight afterwards. Probably not, since the cats were built for power rather than speed or stamina, so she ordered the Guardians to withdraw to the North while the Sentinels distracted the Enemy and drew them north-west. Another bait to set up for a flanking charge, but Gongsun Qi was paying close attention and split his forces well, sending the Demons after Mila while the gajashia cavalry chased after the Royal Guardians.How was the man so adept at battlefield command, never missing a single detail even whilst embroiled in bitter combat with Situ Jia Yang? A duel which lasted much longer than it should have, by the way, considering Zians uncle was no match for Baatar, much less Mama. It didnt make any sense for Gongsun Qi to take this long to defeat his opponent, and Mila was almost offended since this might lead others to think Mama was only so-so, rather than one of the foremost Warriors of every generation since the one shed been born to.With no targets to aim at, the longbows fell silent as Mila carefully weighed her options with Tursinais input, unsure if she should fight or flee from this formidable threat. Tenjin had almost died to Pudge once, and that was without any other Demons to support it. Were Naaran, Yaruq, or even Mother-in-Law Sarnai here, then Mila would order the charge and be done with it, but the strongest Sentinel Demon Slayers had left to support the centre, meaning Mila had limited options to deal with these Demons. Sending word of their plight to Hongji, she received a vague assurance of aid coming as soon as possible, though it sounded like soon would be anything but.Hesitation and indecisiveness did little to aid her cause, but the Enemy was in no rush either. To the south west, the Royal Guardians had already engaged their foes, and the Demon-contingent seemed happy to let them fight it out. No doubt there were even more forces on the way to bog down the Royal Guardians, because if Mila could see that they were lacking in stamina, surely Gongsun Qi knew it as well. To make matters worse, Milas five-thousand Sentinels were too valuable to be wasted playing cat-and-mouse with their foes, which meant a decision had to be made now.That was the theory at least, and though Mila ultimately concluded that the name of her Esoteric Blessing didnt matter, she still wouldve liked to have one, since not knowing made it difficult to figure out how to actively use it.This was why she spent so much effort modelling her Natal Palace after the Bamboo grove, studying how the forces interacted and putting her knowledge to use in modifying her Natal Palace to better suit her needs. All four Primal Blessings were present in her bamboo grove. Earth in the Mountain the whole structure sat upon, Water in the river which ran through it, Air in the wind whistling through the trees, and Fire in the heat of the sun shining down from above. This wasnt all though, for there were plenty of Secondary and Auxiliary Blessings represented as well, such as Light and Shadow playing out over the grove, Wood and Plant in the bamboo and flowers, Cloud and Scent, Mountain and River, Gravity and Pressure, and thousands upon thousands more. There were forces she had no name or concept for, but existed all the same, like the forces dictating how concentrated or diffuse a certain scent would be, or what image was presented in the waters reflection, or which direction a plant grew in to face the sun....The epiphany struck Mila like a hammer to a gong, and once sounded, she could not shake the thought. During her extended bout of Insight, she felt like the Mother Above had been trying to explain what her personal Blessing entailed, but alas, shed been unable to comprehend the message laid out before her. Now... now she felt like she had an inkling of what the message mightve meant, and she followed this line of thought in hopes of a breakthrough. Guan Suo Awakened to the Blessing of Smoke, an Esoteric force comprised of all four Primal Blessings. Fire for the heat, Air for the form, Earth for the ash, and Water to bind it all together. As the blood of his blood, Milas Blessing was undoubtedly the same, and she suspected that everything she built and studied in her Natal Palace were in some way connected to her own personal Blessing.And now she knew what name to give it.Calling upon her Blessing, Mila felt her body thrum with power as she deliberately exerted her efforts to do what she unintentionally had been doing all along. Buoyed by her new Insight, she surged forward to meet the Demon in battle. Twirling Paragon like a staff, she ducked Pudges opening back-handed swing and leapt over the follow through punch delivered by its other hand. Calling upon her Blessing to dissipate the murky Water Chi, her grin widened when the swirling torrents parted around her as she charged in headlong for a stab. Paragon glanced off the Demons thick belly, scoring a superficial gash across one side of its belly, but even this was enough for Milas Blessing to take effect. The pale, loose skin around the insignificant wound scorched and blackened before her eyes, and she allowed herself a small chuckle of glee. Leaping over yet another wide swing, she ducked and Deflected the follow-up which came much faster than the first. Minutes ago, this strike would have hammered her flat into the ground, but now? Now, she barely felt the impact through her shield, for the sun shone brightly overhead on this clear, cloudless day.And just as its presence enabled so many different forces to function, so too did the sun fill her with strength and purpose.Everything within her Natal Palace tied directly back to the sun. The light and shadows, the plants and bamboo, even the wind and clouds were somewhat dictated by forces set in motion by the mere presence of the sun, emanating warmth, light, and Heavens knows what else by mere virtue of existence. Water evaporated and fell back to the earth as rain, cutting channels through the rocky mountain to form the ever-flowing river which ran through it, a source of sustenance for the plants and animals around it. Even the most fertile fields would lay barren without the nourishing light of the sun, and the air would grow stagnant and stale without heat or cold to drive it. Whats more, the sun itself was a source of energy, and each day, Mila drew a little more nourishment from its rays, nourishment her body put to good use moulding her to be as strong as an Earth-Blessed Warrior through means she didnt entirely understand, but understanding didnt matter, so long as she realized what forces were in play and could harness them effectively.Plus, now she finally had a reason to explain why she never could wake early: when the sun hid below the horizon, her source of strength was no longer within reach.Well, not really.Drawing upon her Chi to replicate the forces of the Sun, she emulated it as best she could and turned this against her Demonic foe. Thrusting Paragon directly into Pudges belly, she laughed even though her weapon once again bent and failed to pierce its flesh, for her blow still blackened flesh and sent the Demon stumbling back a full step, forced away by the sheer power of her Reinforced, fortified physique. Hers was not a Blessing to solely use directly against her opponents, not in the way Wind, Fire, or so many others were but rather a Blessing which augmented everything Mila herself could do, drawing her strength from the sun itself. No, better to say she herself was the sun, and the Natal Palace her world, marking her as the source, the origin, the catalyst of all forces within.Warmth, light, life, and nourishment, the Sun was the source of this and so much more, and was no doubt also the result of countless interactions between countless forces, all of which Mila could now tap into.Thoroughly enjoying her newfangled prowess, she gave up on piercing the Demons defences and shield charged into its knee, all but ignoring three Water tentacles which brushed against her with the force of a gentle push. Domain or not, natural laws still held sway, and Pudges knees carried a lot of weight, making them easy targets. Though unable to break bones, she sent the Demon stumbling back once more, and as soon as she recovered, aimed a second tackle at the same knee while the other leg was raised in the air. Crashing through multiple Water barriers as she went, the Demons Elemental Chi never touched her as she Emanated Sun Chi to counteract it, her body glowing with invisible light and searing heat as she tackled the Demons leg once again. The impact drove the breath from her lungs and she felt her forearm fracture, but Pudges leg shot back and sent the Demon toppling down into the dirt. The thrill of near victory superseded any pain as she brought her shield down on her fallen foes leg, Reinforcing, Honing, and Amplifying for all she was worth in a desperate attempt to cripple it. A flick of her wrist sent Paragon hurtling out behind her, and a second flick drew it back, where affixed to its end was her short spear, which she caught in hand and drove down into Pudges thick flesh. This time, she focused all her will and effort into the attack, and her weapon plunged deep, spraying her with Ichor in the process, but she cared not for the pain as she cackled in pure delight.For if she could hurt it, then she could kill it.A massive foot slammed into her and lifted her off her feet. The world spun, and when it finally stilled, Mila found herself staring up at Tokta, who grimaced as he mumbled, Fool of a girl, laughing while within arms reach of Demon. Smack it around a bit and you think yourself invincible? Have a heart, dear child. Think about what your Mother would do if you died under my care. I still have yet to bounce a grandchild upon my knee, and might never get a chance if you are not more careful.Sorry, she whispered, her head aching too much to lift it, but she didnt have to because Song knelt down beside her. Hi. What are you doing here?Sister Tursinai brought you over, Song replied, her expression drawn in worry, but not worry for Mila, as her eyes darted to something out of sight. You should know. Rain is not well, and possibly dying.Panic welled up from within as Mila fought to sit up, but a growl from Tokta and his forceful hand pressed upon her head kept her from moving too much. I need to see him, she whispered, staring at the kindly Healer whod treated all her injuries since she was a little girl, one who made silly faces so she would focus on something other than the pain. Please.Grunting in wordless neutrality, Tokta paused a beat before gathering Mila in his arms and moving her over to Rains side, who wasnt all that far away and looked like death warmed over. A Death Corps guard was tending to him, even though there was no visible sign of injury, just a pale, wan, tired Rain, who seemed so fragile and weak in his resplendent, golden armour. There they lay, side by side, for how long, Mila could not say, but she was soon joined by sweet Lin and Song who held her hands tight, as well as Yan who joined them so silently, Mila didnt even know she was there until her sister wife stroked her hair and reassured her that all would be well despite being terrified all the same.Then, without warning, the Death Corps guard collapsed, the last of his strength spent ensuring he would not fall upon Rain. Someone tended to the Healer, but no one moved to attend to Rain, because the Healers Chi was still at work and would interfere with anyone elses attempts to Heal until it wholly dissipated, though how long that might take, no one knew. With help from the others, Mila moved closer to Rains side, propping herself up on one elbow to stroke his cheek and cry, while Lin-Lin sobbed and Yan held them both tight. Sensing their distress, Ping Ping ambled over to check on Rain and emanated an Aura of sorrow which had tears spilling from Milas eyes. The turtle wandered away soon after, patrolling the perimeter with anxious vigilance, but Mama Bun joined them soon after, hopping out of the wagon to nuzzle Rains face. Soon enough, the rest of the animals were there to crowd around Rain, with Auries mewls a match for Ping Pings Aura while the rest could do naught but watch and wait.Please save him, Mila silently prayed, hoping the Mother above was listening. For though You have Blessed me with the Sun, he is the light in my life, and I cannot live without him.Chapter Meme
