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And so, the city of Eyris had been taken from FEF as a group. The clan had no choice, with enemies on both sides to retreat to the uninabited mountaintops, for none in the country of Learania would give them quarter. It was a long, hard journey that weighed on the hearts and minds of all whom had to escape. They'd lost their beloved home once again, just only able to watch as it was stolen by the forces of Mika, her morphs, and the heroes. All looked dim for the future of the FEF clan.

These thoughts settled into Sue's mind, as well as the minds of all whom followed her to this hiding place. Everything that she looked forward to seemed so very hopeless. In this third anniversary of her group, a cloud of despair shadowed over her, how she was once again unable to protect FEF Castle or even their base, FEFGA's manor. She was ashamed.

Another member of cavalry, Leon also bore his shame. His days as an Archanean recruit now came back to him full circle, haunting him as if they existed right then and there. The images were all so vivid... oh, the things his former squad did in the name of fame and glory! Massacres, tortures, kidnappings, burnings! To think that now...

Now the only man he ever respected... the only group he ever saw as his true comrades would do the same... exile and join the winning side! The Watch were the same as Archanea... and Captain Dan was the same as his former General. None of them were different! Leon felt a regret stinging once again... the regret of a deserter. One branded a traitor to his country and a disgrace to his family name... as well as one whom was a coward. That's what he was once again.. now that he knew Dan was on the Druid, Mika's side.. he was a coward and a traitor. Nothing could change that. Nothing. "My... my own.... my own hero! He was... he was... he was never a hero at all!"

Victoria arrived shortly after the Fire dragon and his companions and chose to just find a nice patch of grass to lie down in. She wasn't in the mood for sadness the others experienced. She was exhausted. Too tired to feel anything but the need for sleep. Staring into the sky, and wondering why Elmine let this fate come upon them... she prayed things would get better. Every time she prayed, it seemed to work. The blonde Etrurian put her faith in her Saint the most in times like these.

FD returned to his substitute form after dropping off Nino and Canas - Victoria having gotten off to protect them from the barrage of lightning arrows sent their way earlier. He immediately went after Sue, in search of Nils. As long as Nils was alright, FD didn't really care about the damage he had taken from Shento's initial shot - his right arm still sore after changing forms from Shento's first attack. There really was a Dragon's Bane. What a horrible thought... there was someone who sought to slay Dragons in this world too...

Oujay was sitting down around the group members as everyone's mood has gone down. "This is not good for us," he thought as they had no where else to go right now. He had his head down for a moment s he thought to himself. He slowly lifted up his head to see how everyone else was doing. They were all basically reacting the same way. Some people had drifted all to sleep while others stayed awake. "What's going to happen next?" he whispered to himself as he leaned back to lay on the ground. Around this time was suppose to be happiness in the air, since it's the third year anniversary after all, but it turns out to be the total opposite.

It was all just a blur. A rather painful blur, that is. Shouts of panic, screams of pain, bloodshed, the clattering of weapons, spells colliding and making contact, more shouts... the noise of combat was still ringing loud and clear in Alihi's ears, even though they were far away from the battlefield. The wounds that she got from protecting Amara, who was sniffling and wailing in her arms, seemed like nothing to the tactician.

"Shh... shh... it's okay... we're okay now..." Alihi murmured comfortingly to Amara, gently patting her head. "It's alright..."

But where they really alright? They just got kicked out of town and got forced to flee to some mountains!
... But they were alive. Yes, we're alive. Alihi's eyes began to close slightly as she continued to whisper comforting words to her child.

We're alive.

---

He wanted to scream. When he was handed off to Sue, FD had told him to stay safe... And, in fact, he did. Sue had protected him, retreating before he could hop off Andre and head back and help FD. It hurt to leave him, but if he had stayed behind, he would have gotten in the way. He was completely useless back there.

Nils ran over to FD as soon as he saw him. "Hikaru!!" The bard called out once he was close. "Hikaru... Hikaru, I was so worried... W-when I saw you go, I thought..." His head lowered slightly and his hands clenched, unable to finish his sentence.

Nils smiled slightly, wrapping his arms around FD to complete the embrace. He was safe. He was actually safe. He--

... Dragon's Bane?! His eyes widened and he instinctively wrapped his arms tighter around FD. "It's... alright, Hikaru. As long as you are okay, then it is alright..."

(( ... pfft submitting the post early killed my inspiration, I swear >> ))

FD felt at ease for the first time since looking upon FEFGA's manor today, in Nils' arms. He rested his eyes. Today had been a rollercoaster - he'd enjoyed the festival with Nils, seen the most lethal lazer-show in history, transformed for the first time in some odd three months (and for more than a single shot of Flametongue), and been shot at by an a*****e who earned his name by slaying dragons. The encounter with Shento disturbed him greatly. If they were to have to face him again, FD would either have to risk direct attacks from the Dragon's Bane, or remain in his substitute form so as not to be seen for what he is - and useless all the while, even unable to aid others as Nils could with his flute. "Oh Kaoru... why can't there be peace anywhere we go?"

Miledy had arrived with the rest of the group. Now, everyone was either nursing their wounds or resting.

Among the noise, Miledy's ears picked up Shimon's cries for help. She didn't know Shimon at all. She also didn't knwo any healing magic. All, she could do was bandage the injury up and call for a healer.

She approached Shimon and took some cloth to tend to his wound. "If any of the healers are available, we need one here!" she called out.