A Knight's Lilies

“Citizens of Arteria: This is a state wide announcement from the High Magistrates of Arteria. Given the recent situation regarding the Traxian occupation of Felsmarch and Tynsford, we are designating Traxia as a high risk nation. Please direct any inquiries to your local district official."

- Poster in Arteria

The two hacked up another goblin patrol, the dozen odd goblins just bloodied corpses thrown to the wayside as they protected their charges. Despite having cut through a fair few together they barely shared a word. Ever since Eva followed his lead the two maintained a cordial if distant partnership as she still wasn’t quite sure how much to trust him. To his credit, the two other prisoners at least followed him like loyal hounds, though they did hang back whenever Grorok and herself got into a fight with some goblins.

This is an escort quest, an escort quest mixed with a remove goblin archers quest. Eva thought to herself, allowing the amusing if somewhat random thought to occupy her mind. It was only after they snuck over to the other side of the cavern when Grorok held a finger up to his lips that Eva’s focus jumped back around them. The orc gestured down a passageway and Eva saw a squad of ratty looking hobs, all armoured up and wielding halberds or swords. She shrank back at the sight, crap if they rush the frontline our guys will be hard pressed considering how many goblins there already are.

“How are there so many of them?” She hissed to herself.

Grorok paused and pointed at the other two, Eva following his gaze only to find him pantomiming mining when it returned to him. The two mining? Oh! People mining…”Unearthed a goblin tribe?” She muttered.

“No…city.” Grorok whispered as much as an orc could.

Eva looked up and spent a moment trying to process things when it finally clicked. “Humans dug into a goblin city?”

A nod.

By the Gods, so this is just like a vanguard or something? She looked up to find the orc nodding as if already expecting the question. A knot of existential dread twisted itself around her, the idea of entire cities filled with monsters a terrifying prospect. Adding to the fact that the Arterian officials only recently noticed their presence and had presented it as a small handful of goblins worried her even more, are they going to end up pouring out onto the surface?

“We have to seal the entry point.” She stated firmly and at the Grorok paused, giving her a thoughtful look before pointing at the other two.

“Get them out first.” He said.

The two warriors stared at each other for a moment, both unwilling to back down before Eva finally sighed. “Fine, but we will need to clear these platforms to give the main force some breathing room.”

Grorok nodded at the obvious and the two broke into a light sprint, the two prisoners barely keeping up. Eva chewed her lip, speed and time were of the essence given the fur orc escaped, likely warning anyone he saw. She gestured for Grorok to take out the closest platform as she headed for the other. Little sounds of bow strings and arrows slamming into rock echoed throughout the hallway as sounds of the battle just beyond filled the air with a cacophony of chaos.

She turned the corner to find another set of five goblins and their hob captain. Wasting no time, she sprinted over and even while they began turning back to face her, she had already reached the hob and just pushed him over the edge. The goblins were horrified at the disappearance of their leader but she ended their horror quickly as she cut down the five unprepared archers with swift strikes. Looking over the edge, she found the battle seemed to be going well enough.

The house knights added a strong offensive element to humanity’s arsenal that Eva had to begrudgingly admit came in quite useful here. Their coordination was superb and, as they linked shields to thrust and advance, they slowly but surely gained ground against the horde. The Inquisition too proved useful as their templars acted like singular tanks that held the line, allowing her students time to drop into formations or begin their own attacks. Janos and the two stern-faced inquisitors on the hand acted as their ranged element, firing crossbows at strategic targets.

Her own pupils seemed to be performing just as well. Jonathan helped keep the frontline focused whilst Hiro’s squad focused on dashing in and out of combat to ensure the tide couldn’t overwhelm them. Aoi and a few others provided what support they could and Eva could see a shrine maiden-like girl tossing little fire bolts at the goblin’s rear lines. Miyuki san, if I remember, her spell casting technique needs work but I’m not complaining. Eva’s gaze eventually met Aoi’s and the girl seemed to wave.

“Sensei!” Came Aoi's cry across the cavern.

Eva winced, forcing herself to wave back. I’ll never get used to being called sensei.

“Sis!” Moritz yelled as well and Eva felt herself almost sneer at the concern in his voice before a light grin touched her face, so he does care after all.

To his credit, he led the more martial orientated nobles who had joined their knights in the formation whilst the rest hid behind the inquisitors. Vendricks himself seemed caught in the middle, pretending to be busy whilst Eva noticed the only who really led things was squad one. Suzuki would point or bark some commands and the frontline would ebb and flow based on her words.

She felt a twinkle of pride within her, holding back the despair slightly as she looked over her students. Damn fine job guys.

“Sensei behind!” Someone yelled and Eva spun around only to Grorok approaching. Thinking fast she waved her hands frantically in a cross.

“Friendly! Friendly!” She yelled back, hoping they would get the message.

To the duo’s relief no arrows came flying even as Grorok ducked back into the passageway for safety.

“I’ll explain later!” She yelled over the din of combat and went to join the orc.

“Sorry the kids are jumpy.” Eva apologised sheepishly to the orc.

“Kids?” He asked.

“Ah right, this was supposed to be a training trip but well…”

“Training…trip? Training trip…here?!” He almost exploded with rage.

“We didn’t know, okay? We didn’t think there’d be so many.”

Grorok growled with displeasure but stifled his criticism as Eva sensed a shift in his mood.

“Human hubris is always so…” He paused to shake his head, “No matter, you did not know. But regardless we must head down to your people, yes? That way these two can receive help. Then we must seal the entrance as you say.”

“Why are you frowning?”

“We will need to follow the heavy hobs.”

“Ah.”

The two collected themselves before he led the group back towards the passageway where the hobs went. At least the archers are dead, should free up some space for Aoi and the others to hit more important targets. Arriving back at the passage, he raised his hand for silence again and carefully made his way into the passage, Eva following soon after.

Like a legionary unit or what she imagined a legionary unit to sound like, she could hear their slightly off sync footsteps as they clattered around in their armour, the noise bouncing off the passage walls.

It felt like an eternity before they reached the bottom. Here the sounds of combat were alive and well, though goblinoid cries of fear echoed than any human ones reassured her that it wasn’t too late.

“There.” Grorok pointed up ahead. A barricade of shoddy wooden palisades and goblin archers fired over their own kin, interspersed by armoured hobs forming a pikewall with their halberds. Not exactly the best way to use them but a tactic is a tactic even if inefficient.

“Guess you’re not planning on just waiting for our guys to push past?” Eva whispered.

“Always liked direct action myself, worried?” Grorok growled.

“Eh.”

“Heh.” He smirked, though his wounds clearly affected him somewhat as it was followed by a pained wince. “You two, stay here and make sure you don’t come out unless one of us calls you.” He turned to the others.

The two humans nodded fervently and went into hiding once again, disappearing in the gap between two rocks, fitting perfectly within the shadows. Talk about a jump scare in waiting.

“Plan?” She queried and shuddered as the orc just grinned.

“Rip and tear.” He snarled, fingering the battleaxe as he sucked in his chest.

Oh shit. Eva quickly plugged her ears as Grorok let out a ferocious battle cry and rushed out into fray, battleaxe swinging madly at any goblin or hob in his way. So loud was his cry that Eva had to spend a few seconds trying to get the ringing sound out of her ear before she staggered forward behind the trail of corpses. Like a madman carving through a sea of flesh, his aggression brought the horde to a standstill as they tried to comprehend the carnage in front of them. Seeing her moment, Eva rushed out and started swinging as well.

“Rally to me! Support the orc! Into the fray!” She yelled various encouragements, cursing her own enthusiasm as her voice finally became hoarse. I’ll be feeling that for a while.

Though cries of surprise and joy at her appearance came from the human lines, she ignored them. Following in the orc’s wake, she felt a sense of exhilaration at being in the middle of such a large skirmish, the danger, the thrill, the noises, all brought something exciting to her life. It was like a theater play, no wasted actions allowed. Every sword strike, every lunge, every parry or dodge playing their part to heighten the thrill of battle. Each moment jumping from scene to scene with goblin fodder leaping here and there in a futile attempt to stop the two warriors. It was only when three armoured hobs began squaring up against her did a sense of danger tingle down her spine.

Easy now, just oversized pests, she grumbled to herself, her eyes trained on the tips of their halberds. The first hob lunged forward in a feeble attempt to impale her and she deftly avoided the attack, moving in to finish it off only to have to avoid the second hob swinging his halberd at her. Before long the third one joined the assault and she found herself retreating back towards the passage. Shit can’t expose the other two. With renewed vigor she jumped sideways from an oncoming attack and dashed around the second hob only for the first to have recovered and lunged at her again. Crap!

The pike head passed dangerously close to her armpit before she had a brilliant idea. In the split second the tip of the halberd passed her, she threw all her weight onto the staff, the unexpected pressure making the hob loosen his grip on the weapon. With his weapon clattering to the floor, she rolled off and moved to deliver the killing blow, pushing her sword through the face of the surprised hob. One down, two left.

They circled each other again, like gladiators locked in a show match before a strange battlecry came from their flanks and Hiro crashed into the second hob. Disorientated, it tried to engage the new foe, Eva watched Hiro spin around to deliver a stylish cut against the hob’s neck, ending the threat for good. Definitely radiating that chosen one energy.

“Aoi!” The boy yelled loudly as the third hob turned to face him, now confused on which foe to focus on when an arrow pierced through its skull.

Pressured by the advancing humans and seeing the three hobs fall in quick succession alongside the orc berserker rampaging through their lines, the remaining goblins quickly routed. Eva sighed in relief and gave an appreciative nod to her student.

“Sensei Eva are you okay?” Hiro asked as the calvary began catching up.

“Yeah, yeah.” Eva brushed it off nonchalantly, “Thanks for the help. But your technique could use work.”

“Aww-” The boy started to complain until Eva flashed him a cheeky grin before another voice joined the fray.

“Sis! You idiot what were you thinking! At least you’re alright! By the Goddess look at the state of you…” Mortiz rushed forward with her students.

“I’m fine, Moritz, I’m fine.” Eva just shrugged and acknowledged the others as they slowly turned their attention to the orc who just stared back curiously whilst cleaning the viscera off his battleaxe.

“See? Friendly. The orc is friendly. Ah! Oi! It’s safe to come out now!” She yelled at the passage as knights and templars began securing the area.

“Huh? Sensei?” Suzuki asked as she breathily ran up to them.

To their horror, the two gaunt looking figures emerged from their opening, timid and frightened and clearly battered. The gathered crowd sucked in a small breath at the sight of the two emaciated humans and turned to Eva for clarity, their eyes swirling with questions.

“Prisoners.” She stated plainly only to realize every still looked at her, “Same as the orc, forced to dig out this cavern.” At the revelation everyone stared in morbid fascination until an unexpected voice chimed in.

“Well what are you waiting for? Help them over here!” Janos yelled as he directed several templars to assist the two prisoners. Eva spent a moment just looking at the man, his commanding tone a complete 180 from his usual more amiable if almost timid actions at the academy.

Remembering the situation at hand, Eva coughed to draw attention her way before spluttering out a few words, “Right… umm the goblins have a city, ahem. Sorry. The goblins dug into these mines from a city further underground. We need to seal it.”

“That’s preposterous, the Arterian guard informed us of only sparse sightings in this area.” Vendricks chimed in.

“Yeah well, but clearly what we’ve already seen is a tad more than sparse.” Eva bit back, annoyed at the instructor for butting in.

“Now young lady, that tone-”

“Instructor, now is not the time.” Janos commanded and the aura of the room shifted once more, like a guillotine hanging above their heads, the inquisitor radiated malice. Obey or die. Eva felt chills running down her spine at the sight, this isn’t the stupid liason I recognize, has he always been this dangerous? The man’s usually timid expression was replaced by a calm, almost killer-like expression, a sign of someone who had seen more than their fair share of death.

“But-”

“Silence.”

At that all eyes followed Janos back to Eva and the orc now behind her, awaiting on them to speak. Eva traded a small glance with Grorok and he shrugged, as if to say ‘well it's your people’. Eva rolled her eyes at him as she turned back to the others and laid out the simplistic plan she had crafted.

“Right, seeing as the situations changed we need to pull back out of the caves, but according to Grorok, that's the orc. According to him there is a passage the miners dug further in the cavern that leads directly over a goblin city. It needs to be sealed because there’s no telling how many more await inside.” She began, and everyone stared at her making her a little more nervous, so many eyes, ugh.

She pointed at Janos and saw the man lift his eyebrows, “I don’t wanna rob anyone of their experience to learn but this affects the safety of the town itself I think having your people help the orc seal the entrance is appropriate given your more elite skill sets.”

“Hold on, are you saying we just trust this orc?” Some noble shouted from the back.

“Considering the threat? Yes. He also helped me-”

“He could’ve just been using you to find freedom.”

“Yes, but like I said, the chance of a potential goblin breakout is-”

“Is this just going to be like your little tantrum?”

“Enough!” She stomped her foot, “If you want to go ahead and die in the cave be my fucking guest. Otherwise shut the fuck up you jumped up prissy monkeys.” She cursed, earning herself a few gasps from the nobles and their knights.

“You-”

“Silence!” Janos roared, and Eva noticed even Grorok flinched a little, “Templars rally up and follow the orc. You two, help the wounded back up to the surface. Galerios, get everyone prepped and ready to go. Horace, make sure a message gets to the city guard.”

“Yes Inquisitor!” Came the echoing reply from the gathered Astralian members, their unity surprising even the students as they all dispersed to their various tasks.

“Grorok was it?” Janos asked and the orc quietly nodded, “Lead the way. Lady Rosengart, take charge with Galerios and rally up back on the surface. If we aren’t back in an hour assume we failed.”

“Understood.” She nodded.

“You can’t just have her assume cont-” Vendrick tried to protest.

“I can and I will, instructor. I am declaring this an emergency and placing this expedition under direct Inquisitorial supervision or do you have a problem with that?”

“I-no sir.” Vendricks backed down, and Eva chuckled on the inside. Bitch.

“Very well. Templars move out!”

As the troops left following the orc everyone stared at Eva again, except for the two stern-faced inquisitors who seemed to be doing their own thing in directing the wounded out. A few nobles and Vendricks seethed, Moritz seemed confused and everyone else just waited for her to speak.

“Ahh…” She paused before looking at Suzuki who flashed her a thumbs up, making her roll her eyes, this kid. “Right. Squad one, Instructor Vendricks, and other assorted students, stick with the wounded and move out of the cavern. Squad two, three, and knights watch the flanks and stay close to the group. Squad four, you’re with me on rearguard duty.” She laid out her commands to find everyone still staring.

“Well? Get to it!” She tried to yell like Janos and everyone got to work, some more reluctantly than others.

Seeing everyone moving at least, brought about a relieved sigh. It'll be over soon, this stupid trip.

“Sensei!”

“You were so cool!”

“Yeah!”

“You just jumped in like rarggh!”

“And the orc!”

“He just crashed through them!”

Aoi, Hiro and other members of squad four crowded around her.

“Yeah, yeah, you guys did good too. Hiro! Go back to manage your squad!” She chided, the boy sticking out his tongue at her as he jogged over to the flanks.

“Heheh.” Aoi and the others giggled at his misery before she gave them light raptors to the head.”Ow! Sensei?”

“You guys are rearguard duty so keep your eyes alert around us and not on me. We can talk later once we’re outside.”

“Yes, sensei Eva.” The squad grumbled, but she could tell that they took it in stride. Hopefully.

She sighed again and couldn’t help but smile inside seeing all the students all fall into position as she had drilled them too. Suzuki taking charge from the front, Jonathan and Hiro’s squads watching the flanks and Aoi keeping her bow ready for any goblin stragglers from behind. Goddess help me, Freddie and Sophie would laugh so much if they figured out I was getting fond of being a teacher, much less knowing this many outlanders. You hear me you two? Better come back soon or you won't get to make fun of me. With a final huff she held her head high and joined the journey back to Arteria for some much needed rest. That's enough excitement for a while, heh.