First Arc (King of Euphorion) – 44. Charge!

Meanwhile, as soon as the western gate exploded, the rebel leader who was above the town wall quickly jumped down to avoid the explosion impact. General Ferand whistled wildly, his horse rushed forwards to him. He grasped the reins and jumped to the back of his horse.

"Charge!" he commanded as he pulled out his sword and moved forward.

He and his troops stormed into the town, they were greeted by the rebels who were ready to shoot them with their arrows.

"Attack them!" ordered the leader.

Dozens of arrows flew towards his troops.

General Ferand raised his clenched fist, ordering his troops to stop.
"Barrier!" he commanded.

In an instant, the light came out from the direction of the magic users who were ready to cast their spells from the backline of his troops, forming an invisible barrier in front of them blocking all the arrows. With his experience of leading battles for years as a General, he was able to predict this. That's why he had ordered the magic users to prepare the Magic Barrier once the gate exploded.

The arrows bounced once they touched the protective wall in front of them. He raised his two fingers, ordering the archers to get ready. Some rebels quickly stepped aside as soon as they saw it as if they understood military gestures well. Then General Ferand waved his two fingers forward, the Magic Barrier in front of him disappeared, replaced by arrows from his troops that flew towards the rebels.

It was not long before the rebels before him began to fall. While some of them tried to escape.
"Swordsmen Charge!" ordered General Ferand again.

The archers stopped their attack replaced by swordsmen who stormed towards the remaining rebels. Within minutes, all the rebels were defeated. General Ferand and his troops quickly spurred their horses, advancing towards the middle of the town. The town conditions were so quiet that there were no signs of other enemies. He looked at the surroundings while keeping moving forward.
'This is weird ...'

He raised his three fingers asking the magic users to get ready with the Magic Barrier. As they passed the Town Square, what he was worried about came true, arrows flew from the buildings around them and succeeded in killing several of his troops.
"Barrier!" General Ferand commanded as he brushed aside the arrows trying to reach him with his sword.

A protective wall reappeared around them and protected them from the arrows. Suddenly the rebels stormed towards them from all directions, while the arrows were still being fired at them.
'It's a trap!'
"Spread out! Avoid open areas!" he ordered.

Their protective walls disappeared and they quickly spread out to all directions, avoiding open spaces at the square. The battle was inevitable, the town condition turned chaotic. The sound of swords clashing mixed with screams of pain could be heard everywhere. General Ferand continued to swing his sword to kill the enemy in front of him. But soon, a small explosion could be heard from Ironwall City direction.

-BUM! Treek-- Treek-- Treek!

General Ferand turned his gaze towards the explosion. The magic fireworks symbolized the lion's head crest of Asteria visible in the sky, then he turned his attention back to the battlefield and swung his sword again to kill the enemy before him.
'An attack signal from the kingdom of Asteria?'

Shortly, several Asterian troops joined them. In just a matter of minutes, the number of the rebels was rapidly decreasing as if being replaced by Asterian troops who came to join his troops one by one.

After all the rebels were defeated he got down from his horse and approached one of the Asterian troops nearby.
"What does all this mean? Why are you here?" he asked without further ado.

The Asterian troops placed his right fist on his chest to greet him.
"General, we are Asterian elite troops who were assigned by Prince Ilex to help you to deal with the rebels at Slyhelm Town."

General Ferand placed his right fist on his chest upon his greeting.

'Why did Asteria interfere in Zephyrus' internal problems?' thought General Ferand.
"How did you get in?"

"We were already in this town before the revolt occurred, but we could not do anything before getting orders. Therefore we can only hide to avoid the rebels."

General Ferand was just about to open his mouth to ask again since their appearance was really strange and too coincidental. But another Asterian troop approached them and placed his right fist on his chest.
"General, we think the rebels are imprisoning the hostages at the Town Hall. We have to rescue them before the rebels use them to threaten us."

Rose walked to the Lobby with Ivetta who followed her from behind. Just as she turned at the end of the corridor, suddenly, several rebels stormed at her. Rose swiftly took out her whip and attacked them. While Ivetta backed away as she stared at the rebels in annoyance.
'Stupid! Didn't I tell them to retreat once they see the fireworks signal! These fools are hard to manage!' thought Ivetta.

Rose threw her poison knife, killing the last enemy before her. A breath out of her mouth before she turned her gaze to Ivetta.
"Let's go," she said as she returned the whip to her belt.

Ivetta nodded and followed her from behind, but after a few steps, another enemy took Rose's poison knife which was stuck in his friend's body and then threw it at her.
"Watch out!" screamed Ivetta.

Rose turned around but she was too late to realize the attack. Suddenly a dark-haired man wearing Asteria's white military uniform lunged in from behind and brushed the knife off. She paused as she looked at the back of the man who protected her, her heart began to pound, her mind began to drift away remembering a prince of Asteria who had saved her five years ago.
"Angelus..." she murmured involuntarily.

She quickly pulled his hand and the man turned towards her, but she was disappointed when she saw his face clearly.
"Your Highness, do you need something?" he asked in confusion.

Awkwardly, she released her hand.
"No..." she said, disappointment seeping in her tone.
'What am I thinking? He's dead...'

The rebel who had attacked her slowly retreated and tried to escape. That Asterian soldier just about to move to chase him but Rose threw the blade of her whip at the rebel, killing him instantly. The Asterian soldier went silent staring at the rebel body that fell lifeless before him.

"Thank you for saving me, sir," she said. Then she walked towards the lobby followed by Ivetta from behind.

He turned his gaze to Rose and bowed.
"It's my duty, Your Highness."

Rose sighed in annoyance without stopping her steps.
'He even answered with the same words as' him'. She unconsciously clutched at her chest, even though five years had passed but her heart always ached every time she thought about him.
'Angelus Raizel...'