The Valiant

"Well, yes, er, no," Mortal ran a hand through her hair, which she had let down for the time being, "It was nothing. I shouldn't bother you about it."

--

"Look at you. Lilith: Tactical Mastermind," Zac said with a smile, "When should we start setting up?"

~Dorter~

E"No, go on. I'm here for you, come what may."
==================================
~Lake Poescas~

L"If you have all of the equipment you'll need, as soon as possible. Roatha and I already restocked."

*Seraph teleports to the exact location Lilith told Zac he should take. She flips him the bird. In response, he does jazz hands.*

Mortal smiled, and tinged a bit pink at that, "Thank you. I'm so happy I have you. Its just, the woman with the scar on her face, Vanessa... She constantly makes me doubt myself. She makes me feel like I'm a bad person, like I'm nothing." She looked at Euryale, "Am I? I like to think I'm not, but what do I have to show for it?"

--

"I'm perfectly fine with my provisions," Zac said, taking a few steps towards the bridge, "I'll go take my place then. Do try to be careful."

~Dorter~

*Euryale takes a deep breath and leans on the sink.*

E"There is some merit to what that woman says. Not about you being a bad person. But the truth, Mortal, is that most people can't be anything other than what they were born. Look at Roatha, and myself. We have done more work than Noctis has probably done in her entire life, but we are still commoners. Not that I fault Noctis either, of course. What I am saying is...just as some nobles look down on us commoners...some of us commoners envy and resent the nobles. As long as you ally yourself with nobles, I doubt very much that this Vanessa will ever stop hating you. I do not think that way. I encouraged you to go with Noctis because otherwise, you probably would have been forced to resort to brigandry, just as she was. I know that probably doesn't make you feel any less guilty. Unfortunately, I can't tell you how you should deal with people like that. But, if your situations were reversed, I do not believe Vanessa would have allowed you to escape with just a scar. She likely would have killed both you and Noct, and even myself for associating with you. Sorry...I know I'm not being very helpful, but I don't know that I'm a good person either, so I'm in no position to judge you."
========================================
~Lake Poescas~

L"Likewise."

S"If you shoot me in the back, I will knock you off of this bridge and poison you."

Mortal looked a bit take aback, "Thank you, that was," Mortal struggled to find the right word, "Sobering." Mortal let out a long sigh, whatever mood she was in before she now felt just that, sober, and a bit somber to. "I hate that this world isn't fair, Euryale. I know I'm in no position to judge, but in my opinion you're a great person, the best I know. You... I..." She couldn't find the words to finish her thought, so she let out another sigh, "I'm just sad, I guess."

--

"I'll try not to," Zac replied, sitting down to clean his gun.

~Dorter~

*Euryale suddenly spins and throws her arms around Mortal.*

"I'm sorry."
=================================
~Lake Poescas~

*A moment later, they hear the sounds of a cadre of knights riding up. The Baron is leading the charge. Behind him are 2 male knights and a male archer. A female archer and a male samurai are positioned on the other edge of the lake, with a female Time Mage and a female chemist behind them. In addition, the Baron is riding a Red Chocobo. At the moment, everyone is stationed JUST outside of firing reach.*

Baron<I am aware of your ambush plot, but it was all for naught. I outnumber you two-to-one, not including the Chocobo.>

???<Yes, it seems you do. Mayhap I should even the odds.>

*A man in expensive-looking gold armor joins the group atop the tomb. He has a slicked-back, brown hair style.*

Baron<You? Even the odds? One more soldier or one thousand, it won't make a difference. Once I am on the scene, you'll all be dead before five minutes can pass!>

"It isn't your fault," Mortal said, her face flushed with color. She wrapped her arms around Euryale as well, tightening the hug somewhat, "And even if it was, I'd forgive you." With that Mortal's face was cherry red, so she nuzzled it into Euryale's neck so she wouldn't see, and hoping she wouldn't mind her head there.

--

"Outnumbering us two to one isn't that much of an issue, the odds were more or less the same before... or were those the odds of the battle after your battle?" Zac shrugged, then looked up at the man, "I thank you for the help, but it comes at a price. Are you prepared to mark yourself a criminal in the eyes of the Southern Sky?"

~Dorter~

*Euryale does the same.*

E"You have really nice hair. I'm sorry if mine...isn't so much."
============================
~Lake Poescas~

???<Misplaced concern is a rare and valuable gem in this age.>

L"If you are to be assisting us, what might we call you?>

???<You may call me Alph.>

Grimms<We'll see if you still feel that way after a taste of my new weapons.>

*The Baron rides up into the fort and dismounts. Afterwards, he growls, glowing faintly red. The rest of his troops do the only thing they really can do and proceed forward. The Time Mage casts Haste on her group.*

At seeing the time mage, Zac briefly wonders if Sab is doing well. He then shoots an arm shot at the Samurai, should he be in range.

--

"Your lovely," Mortal said, "Uh, I mean, your hair is lovely... Not that you're not lovely, you are..." As Mortal's blush extended down to her neck and chest, she decided then was a good time to shut up.

~Dorter~

E"Aww, thanks. You're lovely, too. Also warm. And getting warmer. Are you feeling okay?"
==================================
~Lake Poescas~

*Though disabled, the samurai continues to advance with the rest of his team. The Chocobo heads back to the Baron's Squad, one of the knights jumping aboard. The Baron himself stabs at Alph with a pure white spear, but Alph blocks it with his shield. He then swings an orange-red mace at Roatha's head, but he ducks and it smashes into the stone wall. Lilith uses Kiyomori on herself and Roatha as Alph hits the Baron with white light from the sky.*

Mortal nodded, and backed up some, "I'm fine. I just, really enjoy being close to you. You make me happy, more so than anyone else."

--

Zac fires a Barrage at the Chocobo, aiming to kill it and send the Baron and the Knight tumbling to the ground.

~Lake Poescas~

*The knight jumps onto the Chocobo, riding to join the Baron atop the tomb. After he dismounts, the Chocobo sits there, drooping its eyes and bleeding all over the place, until Lilith takes it out by attacking it and the knight with evil ghosts. The Baron takes a few quick steps around Alph. Alph ducks his mace, but when the Baron hits him with the spear, a bright white pillar of light erupts from it and throws him back. He counters by blasting the Baron with lightning. It should go without saying that the Baron's remaining forces are still advancing.*
=====================================
~Dorter~

*Euryale looks taken aback.*

E"I--I don't know what to say, I...didn't realize I was that important to you...or...anyone, really."

"Euryale, you were there since... what I'd call my birthday. You gave me comfort when I was lost, and scared. I mean, I still have that dress you gave me. I don't know what I would do without you." As Mortal is talking she grows redder, and redder, casting her eyes downward as she goes along.

--

Zac shoots the Baron with a leg shot, "Damn... I kind of want that spear..."

~Dorter~

E"Wow...I guess we always underestimate how important we are to our loved ones. I have to be honest, I didn't have any friends before I met you. It was just me and the wilderness. I had my adventure, but I always felt like I was missing something. Until the day I found you in the desert, that is. This might sound a little weird, but you've always felt like...more than someone I could talk to who shared my interests. You know?"
==============================
~Lake Poescas~

*He successfully shoots a stone pillar. Seraph holds up his arms and begins charging a spell. The Baron ducks behind Lilith. She manages to grab his spear thrust, but is hit in the chest by the mace and an accompanying burst of flame. Roatha starts to attack the Baron, but is forced to duck out of the way of a slash by the knight.*

~2~

Zac thinks about moving in closer, really wanting that spear, but decides to stick to where Lilith put him for now, and shot a Barrage at the Samurai from before.

--

"I think I do," Mortal replied. She rubbed the back of her neck, and looked down. For once, her posture betrayed a meekness that her height and stature usually wouldn't allow, "I have feelings for you. I thought they were normal, like the feelings you have for a best friend, but sometimes I'm not sure. Sometimes I feel like I want more."

~Dorter~

"I'm...not sure we're talking about the same thing. But then again...I'm not sure we aren't. I am so confused."
==================================
~Lake Poescas~

*Lilith tries to retreat, but the Baron stays on her. After missing with his mace, he stabs her in the stomach. Roatha finally just takes a hit. The sword seems to go through him, and seconds later, the rest of him vanishes. The knight is hit from behind by a bomb as Alph hits the Baron with another blast of lightning. When they begin to climb the embankment, both the Samurai and the Time Mage are hit with rings of fire from the ground. The Samurai stoops, clutching his wounds.*

~1~

Mortal hung her head, and drooped her shoulders with disappointment, "I know it is confusing." She laughed a humorless laugh, shaking her head slightly, "I could make my position clearer, I suppose, but... I won't. If I'm wrong... I don't want to negatively impact our friendship. Even if it hurts keeping it to myself, I'm happy knowing I can always just be your friend."

~Dorter~

E"Please, tell me. I swear, I won't get mad, I just...I feel like you know something about me that I don't even know."
=============================
~Lake Poescas~

*The Baron begins and Alph suddenly leap away from each other, back-tracking to opposite ends of the battlefield. Lilith uses the time to heal herself with sword-rain. As the knight is looking around, trying to figure out what's going on, he gets two sword slashes across his back. He swings wildly, slicing into Roatha's arm and rendering him visible again. Both the Time Mage and Seraph begin charging spells. The Baron's second team is getting close to the base of the fort.*

~0~

Mortal seemed to be quiet for a second, then leaned in and kissed Euryale. It was awkward and hasty, but it still left Mortal's face red, "I love you, Euryale. My feelings for you are those of love. I don't know how else to describe it." She stared back expectantly, hoping for the best, but fearing the worst, "I'm not sure if that is what you think I know about you, but... that is how I feel."

--

Zac unloads a barrage into the wounded Samurai.

~Dorter~

*Euryale staggers back slightly, feeling for something to sit on. Mostly, she looks like she's in shock.*

E"No...no, that can't be, two women can't be in love...or can they? I mean, it would explain some things. But...I've never heard of that before."
===================================
~Lake Poescas~

*The samurai goes down and soon afterwards, the Time Mage is hit by a burst of flame. The chemist then uses a potion on her from behind. Alph finally reaches the position he wanted, and hits the Mage with a lightning bolt, critically wounding her. Soon afterwards, green orbs orbit around the mage, just before a large beast appears above Seraph and Zac and begins pouring fire down on them.*

Baron<What a shame, you've fought so hard, yet you haven't laid a scratch on me.>

*The Baron grabs the crystal his Chocobo turns into, fully healing himself. The knight attacks Lilith as the archer shoots Roatha in the back. Roatha finishes the knight off with two quick cuts to the back, and then Lilith heals them both.*

~3,3~

Zac shoots the chemist with a barrage.

--

Mortal looked entirely drained of happiness. She had been preparing for rejection, but she hoped Euryale would at least do it gently. Instead she back dashed, and said 'No', as if it was all the answer she needed to give. Mortal let out a sigh, "I don't know. Maybe they can, maybe they can't. Maybe I'm a freak... Well, I don't have to guess on that one, but maybe this makes me more of one." Mortal frowned, "I... I should go." She said that before realizing that Euryale stood between her and the way out, so she kind of just stood there for a second, not knowing how to leave without having to look at Euryale.

~Dorter~

*Euryale shakes her head.*

E"No, I'm to blame. What am I doing, getting so worked up over such a small shock? I should have known how upsetting that would be. And after I just said that I'd always be there for you...I don't feel half as awful as I should."
===============================
~Lake Poescas~

*The only thing the Time Mage can do before Alph kills him is to cast Slow on him. The chemist also drops, leaving only that team's archer standing. She takes aim at Alph and begins drawing back her bowstring.*

<Fools!>

*The Baron dashes at Roatha, smacking him with the mace. It only glances off of his shoulder, but he's blasted by an accompanying fireball. He tries to strike back, but the Baron sidesteps him and continues on to Lilith.*

<With every knight you slay, your bounty only grows!>

*He stabs Lilith, also blasting her with a pillar of white light. If he even notices her retaliating slash, he gives no indication.*

<Making my inevitable victory all the more glorious!>

*The archer moves slightly to get a better line of sight & shoots Roatha again. Fortunately, he turns invisible after being struck. The enemy knight takes position guarding the archer's back.*

~3, 3, 2, 2~

Mortal was starting to feel a bit ashamed, and the feeling kept growing the more she shared the room with Euryale, "Please, I just don't want to talk about this anymore. We can pretend it never happened, I just want to go away now."

--

Zac shoots the knight with an Arm shot.

~Dorter~

*Not knowing what else to say or do, Euryale steps aside.*
===============================
~Lake Poescas~

*The knight is crippled, but the archer is still free to shoot over the Baron's head, hitting Lilith in the shoulder. The Baron himself does not let up, hitting her with both of his weapons, another flash of bright light striking her. Lilith sinks to her knees as something attacks the Baron from behind. She kind of rolls behind one of the stone pillars to heal herself again. The other archer finally lets loose an arrow, dealing a devestating blow to Alph's throat.*

~2, 2, 1, 1~

Mortal leaves without making eye contact, and heads towards Noct's room.

--

Zac makes his way over to Alph, and patches him up with a potion.