Preparations for War

"They already know" Ranmaru said.

Royal Palace, Nymphe

*Allina seems surprised.*

Allina: <Really? How? All I heard was you telling them they were scouting the Elven Woods.>

"The jungle is part of the woods isn't it?" Ranmaru asks.

Royal Palace, Nymphe

Allina: <They shouldn't be. The Elven Woods are a really pretty place. Wait.>

*She turns to a maid cleaning up the table.*

Allina: <I'm sorry, could you show us to the library please?>

*The maid nods and walks out, followed by Allina.*

Ranmaru follows.

Lumyr: <Not at my best, but I'm good enough to fight.>

=====

Winston: <For the traitors.>

*Lunsai looks from Winston to Crone, wondering what she should do*

Cursed Jungle, Northern Leudella

Crone: <Traitors? What traitors?>

*Crone's eyes widen and the irises turn red as his head mechanically turns to a tree's base nearby. The shadow seems to pulse momentarily, and the group can catch a glance of a pair of eyes within it for a brief second. Crone shakes his head and his eyes go back to normal.*

Crone: <That was Olympe... Ah, let me guess. General Lumyr's also jumping ships.>

-----

Olympe: <They're up ahead, but I think General Crone got me!>

=====

Royal Palace, Nymphe

*Allina looks around and eventually goes to sit at a table with the large book she just took from the bookcase. After a couple minutes, she holds it up to show Ranmaru a picture of the Black Swamp and the Cursed Jungle.*

Allina: <I knew it, this is where we were at.>

*She turns the page to a world map, and points the Western corner of the continent, above the capital of Vinia.*

Allina: <The Elven Woods are here.>

*She then drags her finger along the map to the Northern tip of the continent, quite a large distance up from the capital of Nymphe.*

Allina: <The jungle is here.>

*Kelphy & co. walk in, having finished getting ready. Rhea is carrying one backpack on each shoulder.*

Kelphy: <I can carry my own ba-->

Rhea: <No no, I'll take it, don't worry, Your Highness.>

*Kelphy smiles awkwardly and shrugs to the others.*

Lunsai:[ What are General Lumyr and Olympe thinking!? Why defect now?]

"We've got some bad news" Ranmaru says.

Ryzell is now walking on his own power. He probably asked Rhea to let him drain her a bit so he could walk but it was still evident he wasn't up to full capacity yet.

Lumyr: <Well, it would've had to happen eventually. I don't think we'll be able to outrun them for long, either. Unless you have some sort of plan?>

=====

*Winston cracks a smile.*

Winston: <Indeed.>

Cursed Jungle, Northern Leudella

Crone: <I suppose this could be fun.>

*Crone smirks and looks across the group, thinking.*

Crone: <They probably won't try fleeing around us, because they know we would catch up and they would waste the element of surprise. The waltz begins.>

-----

Olympe: <Not... really. The problem is it isn't just Crone. Winston, Enkidu and two other soldiers are with him. We can't win. Maybe we should try to hold them off until we get a chance to escape. Aera has to be nearby, too, and we haven't heard from Ranmaru in a while.>

=====

Royal Palace, Nymphe

Kelphy: <What happened?>

*Rhea stares at them, surprised.*

"The generals are in the cursed jungle. Show them Allina" Ranmaru says.

Lumyr: <I see... That would be a lot to deal with. How should we approach this fight?>

=====

Winston: <Heheh. Alright. Try to save at least some remains after we're done though, eh?>

*He loads all his weapons and prepares for the attack. Kasa leans in to whisper to Lunsai.*

Kasa: <(This won't end well... Should we book it? Everyone else here is way out of our league...)>

Cursed Jungle, Northern Leudella

*Crone glances at Kasa, sending a chill up his spine, as if he heard every word he just said.*

Crone: <Where is Aera?>

-----

Olympe: <Hm. If you can keep General Crone busy, I might be able to distract the others for a short bit.>

=====

Royal Palace, Nymphe

*Allina shows them the book and the pictures.*

Kelphy: <But that's not too far from the lake we were going to!>

Rhea: <...We must warn the Regent, he can mobilize the soldiers there!>

Kelphy: <W-We aren't telling my uncle anything. They would slay too many, and we'll be faster to get there on our own. Besides, he already thinks we're going out anyway. All we need to do is lose the bodyguards and hurry to the jungle.>

"That's an exceedingly bad idea Kelphy" Ryzell states.

"He's right. I doubt Ryzell's back at 100% and I may be strong but I don't think for a second I can go up against all the generals combined."

Lumyr: <I could very well try.>

=====

Winston: <Dunno, she took one of the other kids that was with them and disappeared.>

*Lunsai taps her foot, bored*

Lunsai:[ If I shut up, I'll probably be able to learn more then if I spoke.]

Enkidu stood, his staff once again resting lazily on his shoulder, and listened. He was still not entirely sure of the situation, but he enjoyed the prospect of a fight.

Cursed Jungle, Northern Leudella

Crone: <Ah, so she took the spy... They're here.>

*In their route, Olympe and Lumyr finally reach the small clearing Crone, Enkidu, Winston, Lunsai and Kasa are gathered at.*

=====

Royal Palace, Nymphe

Rhea: <They're right, this isn't a good idea.>

Kelphy: <You don't have to come, but don't try to stop me.>

*Allina nods firmly.*

Allina: <I'm coming too. Razz and Ella could be in danger, and I don't want to waste any more time.>

*Kelphy hurries out to warn her uncle and order someone to bring their horses out.*

"So, I kill them?" Enkidu asked, pointing his staff at Olympe and Lumyr. At the end of his staff an orb of fire about the size of a human head had formed.

*Lunsai turns around and prepares to use Psy*

Lunsai:[ I should have slit Ace's throat when I had the chance.]

Ryzell sighs, "We'll need more than just us."

*Lumyr looks across, seeing a few faces he wasn't that familiar with.*

Lumyr: <...Why are there kids here? Please get them out of this field.>

*Kasa glares angrily at him at this mention.*

Kasa: <Us? KIDS?! Look at you! You're, like, in our age group!>

*Winston just aims his cannons at Lumyr and Olympe and stays quiet.*

Cursed Jungle, Northern Leudella

*Crone motions his group to wait, smirking to Lumyr.*

Crone: <I must say, you have resisted longer than anyone expected you too. But it was a matter of time, wasn't it? You are too soft...>

=====

Royal Palace, Nymphe

Allina: <You're underestimating us. We don't have to rush into battle. Rhea, will you please come with us? Your powers could help us scan the area for them...>

Rhea: <I don't know, it sounds dangerous...>

Allina: <There aren't many of them... if we can isolate one or two, we'll be fine.>

Rhea: <This is crazy...>