Preparations for War

Lunsai: <Then what would you suggest we do, Ace? I can't see us surviving out here for long.>

"I'd say that's a safe assumption," Enkidu nodded after getting his breath back. "I don't think I'm in much danger of being defeated by these phantoms as long as I can still project my flames. I suggest we stick close together."

Cursed Jungle, Northern Leudella

Ace: <B-But we lost them...>

=====
Capital Nymphe, Nymphe

Kelvin: <No, I think we know everything we need, unless you have something else you want to tell us.>

Kelphy: <Welcome back, Allina.>

Allina: <Thanks, Your Highness.>

Kelvin: <We must not waste time. Alto and Keika will arrive at the Elven Woods in a day or two. We will prepare for war while we wait for them to contact us. It has been too long since Helzol's last attack.>

Lunsai:<Maybe, but what were you expecting? I thought the whole point of this was to join up with them.>

Ryzell waves, "Hello Ranmaru~"

"Oh shut up Zell. You act like this is all going according to your plan" Ranmaru walked over to Ryzell and flicked him in the forehead.

"Ow ow ow, I'm injured be nice Ranmaru"

"Anyway... this girl was captured by the army. I brought her to safety. That's all. What do you want to know that Ryzell here hasn't already told you?"

Lumyr: <So, why did you pull us out of the battle?>

=====

Kasa: <Yeah. This whole thing would be wasted effort if we backed out now...>

Cursed Jungle, Northern Leudella

*Crone nods and shrugs, keeping his eyes on the moon's reflection on the calm river.*

Crone: <Before we do that, there is a rat I've allowed to play around for too long, and I believe it is time to catch it.>

-----

*Olympe widens her eyes when Lumyr mentions his condition, and rushes to help him sit down by a tree nearby. She then salutes him and stands respectfully and stiff in front of him.*

Olympe: <I heard rumours that you've been preparing to turn on Legel.>

----

Ace: <B-But we lost them...>

=====

Capital Nymphe, Nymphe

Kelvin: <No, I think we know everything we need, unless you have something else you want to tell us.>

Kelphy: <Welcome back, Allina.>

Allina: <Thanks, Your Highness.>

Kelvin: <We must not waste time. Alto and Keika will arrive at the Elven Woods in a day or two. We will prepare for war while we wait for them to contact us. It has been too long since Helzol's last attack.>

Lunsai:< I don't we've lost them for long. I'm guessing they can follow our scent or something.>

"That's because Legel is already having the Elven Wood's searched" Ranmaru states.

Lumyr: <What of them?>

=====

Kasa: <Yeah. And besides, staying alone out here, even hidden, isn't wise.>

Cursed Jungle, Northern Leudella

Olympe: <I... are they true?>

----

*Ace slams his palm into his forehead and groans in frustration.*

Ace: <W-We lost the Generals!>

=====

Capital Nymphe, Nymphe

Kelvin: <What? What are you saying, that apparition was a trap?>

Lumyr: <What do you plan on doing if they are?>

=====

Kasa: <Oh, right! The generals. Of course. Uhhh... we could always go in some random direction?>

"I'm saying whatever is in the woods that you guys are searching for Legel is also after"

*Lunsai looks about ready to slap him*

Lunsai:< SURE, let's wander around this completely safe swamp. We need to find a strategy for searching.>

*Lunsai looks around for any clues*

Cursed Jungle, Northern Leudella

Olympe: <Ask you why.>

----

*Ace narrows his eyes, looking into the distant darkness of the jungle.*

Ace: <...I th-thought I saw a light.>

=====

Capital Nymphe, Nymphe

Kelvin: <The Elven Woods and, by extension, the Johanna Falls are protected by powerful elf tribes. I doubt they could've gone there without being noticed.>

Lunsai:< Where?>

*Lunsai looks in the direction Ace is*

Ryzell just facepalms.

"Even if they are... the army is strong enough to most likely crush the elven tribes flat."

---

"I... hate... walking...." Alto complains.

Lumyr: <...Then if they were true, I would, theoretically speaking, tell you that I'm fed up with being Helzol's slave and killing innocents for personal gain, and for not being strong enough to do anything about it alone.>

*He sighs.*

Lumyr: <But, that's just theoretical.>

=====

Kasa: <Well, lead the way.>

Cursed Jungle, Northern Leudella

Olympe: <...General Ryzell has defected. Perhaps we could join him at Nymphe. We've lost General Crone and Aera, it's our chance to go.>

----

*Ace points, though there's nothing there to see. He glances at them before running off in that direction.*

=====

Capital Nymphe, Nymphe

*Kelvin sighs.*

Kelvin: <Listen. We're not talking about four or five elves in a group. There are hundreds, and they're scattered. Maybe whomever Helzol sent could kill them all, but certainly not before word got out about the attack. And if they sent a large amount of soldiers, they'd be spotted even faster. How sure are you of what you are saying?>

Lumyr: <But... Helzol cannot be stopped with the power we have now.>

=====

Kasa: <Uhh.. okay.>

*He runs after Ace.*

"You fail to realize how vast Helzol's army is. The palace isn't just a building; its an entire alternate space. The army is the fruit of thousands of conquered worlds. Imagine if you will how many turned traitor or were forced to join against their will. Imagine the population of a thousand words being brought to bare against a single one. That is precisely why in order to defeat the army we have to cut it off at the source" Ryzell lectures Kelvin and informs him of how big an idiot he's being.

"Its not that hopeless Ryzell. Remember I've been working from the shadows. There is a good chunk of the army still loyal to you or I. We CAN win."

*Lunsai sighs and runs after Kasa and Ace*

Cursed Jungle, Northern Leudella

Olympe: <I know... but maybe if the three kingdoms can come together! With General Ryzel... with you, maybe this world stands a chance.>

----

*As they're running, white ghostly cloaked figures begin to fly around them, some clashing with them and disappearing. Each of these attacks hurts almost like a knife's stab.*

=====

Royal Palace, Nymphe

Kelvin: <You miss the point completely. I have no doubts that the elves do not stand the smallest chance against the army, but I am sure you must realize it isn't possible for an entire army to march into a forest crawling with elven tribes, under Vinian protection, and near the Vinian capital without being noticed.>

Lumyr: <I... I don't know what to say.>

=====

Kasa: <What the hell?!>

"If Legel gets bored enough he'll drop the entire army on that forest, and that's bad for everyone."