Arcanum - Chapter 141

“What are you on about?..” He asked turning around.

“They have hundreds more in the darkness!!! Paul said we need to retreat to the inner district.” I explained to Sven.

“Dear lord… can’t be?..” the Guard captain uttered in complete shock.

“Captain….. You need to send word to pull back the front line.” Sven answered.

“Wait a second… this is suicide…. if we lose the wall and the front gate there is no way….. We’ll stop them taking the city.” The Guard Captain argued.

“I’ve already sent word to out Deputy Head Mistress….. No doubt within a few minutes we’ll be retreating to the inner district…” Sven explained.

“You are all insane…why would giving up out most defensible position be the right move….” He questioned.

“I can’t be certain what the plan is…. but Paul said we need to retreat we need to retreat..” Sven said to him very seriously.

“And how would you propose such a feat??…. The moment we leave the gates or the walls unattended they will scale and flood the city faster than we can retreat….. Not to mention there are still guard units securing the city.” The guard Captain explained as if it was impossible.

“Emilia we need to go and find Jila….. She’s gonna be the only way to bring back the injured.” Yuna reminded me

“Paul is here?…” Daisy gasped in shock.

“Yeah he’s out there with a few soldiers holding up a barrier…” I explained to her.

“We must hurry!!” Daisy insisted.

“Hey Sven…. do you know where Jila is?..” Yuna asked.

“……. head of transportation division?….” He asked.

“Yeah…..” Yuna replied.

“She somewhere in the lower district helping evacuate anyone who stayed in the lower district.” Sven answered.

“Of course… one problem after another…” Yuna cursed. “So shes anywhere in the lower district?…” Yuna asked.

“Yup that’s what I’m told.” Sven answered.

“What’s the situation in the lower district?..” Yuna asked.

“I think almost all citizens and non-combatants have been evacuated deeper into the city…. so she and a few other students and a guard unit are checking for anyone left behind…. It should be safe but be on your guard… a few small contingent of Dark Elves did make it into the city with tunnel worms….. Over watch has been keeping an eye on the city.” Sven informed us.

“You don’t have a pin point location on her?..” Yuna asked.

“Of course not…she’s relatively safe…..” Sven answered.

“Damnit… okay…. Tell Deputy Headmistress we need to retreat to the inner district… And we need a large open empty area for an emergency teleporter….. Message us once a suitable location is found and tell Jila to meet us there.” Yuna informed Sven.

“Okay… I’ll let the Deputy Headmistress know…” He smiled.

“Let’s go we need to find Jila.” Yuna ordered us.

“Wait… Aren’t you gonna wait for her at the location?..” Sven asked looking confused.

“No…. we’re gonna need to try and find her…. in case she needs help or she decides to put off the order to rendezvous with us.” Yuna replied.

“Ahh… you’re right…..” He nodded….. “Good luck…. if I receive word on where she is… I’ll try and let you guys know.” He said

“Okay… thanks for the save…. Priscilla Stay safe.” She thanked Priscilla and nodded to Sven.

“Ohh and don’t forget your friends…..” Sven said pointing at the wall towards what looked like Jay, Helen and Grace. “OI newbies!!!! Get off the wall and reunite with Emilia….” Sven shouted to them and with his head issuing an order to Priscilla.

Priscilla picked up her sniper rifle, giving Yuna two pats on the shoulder and began making her way towards the wall.

“Let’s get going….” Yuna ordered us and began making our way to meet up with Jay, Helen and Grace.

“Emilia!!!” they all shouted with giant smiles running towards us.

“Hey guys!!!” I shouted back as the feeling of relief and happiness filled my soul.

“Thank goodnes you made it back!!! We were so worried! Lucky we saw the flare.” They smiled checking if I’m okay.

“Ohh yeahhhh!! That was so epic…..Umm this is Yuna she’s also a student of Atlantis she helped me get back ion one piece.” I smiled introducing her to them.

“Hi Yuna… nice to meet you!!! Thank you for saving Emilia.” They all smiled.

“It’s no problem….” Yuna smiled in return.

“Yuna this is Jay, Helen and Grace.” I introduced them to Yuna.

“Nice to meet you….. Emilia brief them on our task as we move….. It’s nearing 10 minutes I don’t know how long Paul will last…” She insisted and began hastening her pace into the city.

“Paul’s here?….” Jay asked in shock.

“Yes… he’s out there currently trying to protect those who couldn’t make it…. we need to quickly find another student called Jila so she can teleport him out.” I explained.

“No way….” Jay sked in shock his jaw hung open.

“Yes there’s still hundreds in the darkness…..” I explained quickening my pace to catch up to Yuna.

“Keep your eyes open…. we’ve been informed there may be some Dark Elves skulking around.” Yuna informed them as they caught up.

“Ummmmm……. I think I can do something to help…” Helen politely asked Yuna.

“I’m up for any suggestions….. We’re in dire straits right now.” Yuna accepted.

“I can shift into a bird and get better view.” Helen suggested.

“That would be great!!! Can you communicate to us in bird form?..” Yuna smiled.

“Ummm…. I’ll squawk once to tell you if I see something…. then followed with another squawk if they are friendly or a second squawk if they look hostile or Dark Elves.” Helen answered.

“That will be great… if you can do that for us….” Yuna smiled.

“Okay!!!….” Helen smiled closing her eyes, her form began to glow green… and began to shrink slowly her arms began to change form into wings and her feet shrivelled into avian talons…. her nose and mouth elongated into a beak, shifting into a big Hawk. The transformation looked elegant, peacefuland natural… unlike the common depiction of transformations like werewolves or other monsters in movies and stories….

“Ohh before you go off…” Yun asked holding her arm up for Helen to land on, Helen squawked landing on her arm. “This is just for safety….” Yuna smiled pulling out a gold pendant from her pocket with the symbol of an octopus on it and tied it onto Helen’s talons. “Be safe don’t do anything risky and don’t fly too far from us.” Yuna informed her and raised her hand to let her go. With a squawk Helen beat her wings and began soaring into the sky.

Grace stopped for a few seconds muttering something and pointed at Helen. “What was that?..” Jay questioned.

“I marked her so I will know where she is at all times.” She smiled.

“That is great…” Yuna smiled.

“Jay is there anything we can do to help?…” I questioned wondering what spell we could perhaps use.

“Hmmmm none that come to mind sadly…” Jay replied.

“Don’t worry we’ll find her.” Yuna smiled leading us.

“Daisy you’re a little quite…” Grace asked noticing that she hasn’t spoken in ages.

“Huh… yeah…. I’m just a little worried.” Daisy said looking back at the city gates.

“Don’t worry… He will be alright…” Yuna tried to reassure her….in the back if my mind I knew we needed to hurry….. We don’t know how long his barrier will last or even if it’s still up….. and I’m sure he would be overwhelmed instantly once it drops….

“Is there any word on Scarlet and how she’s doing?..” I asked worried for her.

“Sadly… We haven’t heard anything sadly… Grace and Jay replied frowning.