The Invasion [Pt.2]

Leaving the tunnel in a rush, the guards seemed to be informed already when coming out into the light as we instantly saw a large number of them with sabers out.

"You two! How many are out there!!"

The leader amongst them yelled out when we came in the town, and answering instantly, "There's a skeleton with strong magical abilities! And two Death Knights in the tunnel behind us! Prepare a Priest for this fight!"

Mari told them with a firm, assertive voice.

And we kept moving, without stop.

Running past them, they didn't even bat an eye. They kept looking straight forward. And turning my head as that confused me? Because they let us pass so easily.

"Don't worry!"

Looking over to Mari as she was running at my side an holding my hand as we fled, "They'll be fine, that team is a special defense unit and their gear's blessed!"

She said I assume assuring me of their safety?

Yet their safety wasn't even in my mind.

"I just hope. . .They can win"

. . . . .

Running a few feet, a large blast erupted from behind us, and most likely coming from those gates were the two heavily armored Death Knights Mari. . . Crushed.

"It's now or never! ADVANCE!!!"

Startling me with a sudden outburst, the leader of the defense unit, I turned around to see him and his blade glowing orange with magical energies around it.

And seeing this, and watching as the Captain charged at one of the Death Knights, the Death Knight came in and with a heavy step swung a heavy rusted sword an even though it looks heavy, he swung it with absolute ease.

The Captain turned his saber and pressing the blade side against his skin, a spark shot out as the Knight's rusting broad blade collided with his arm, and sword.

He was pushed back greatly as the Knight swung all the way through, but it didn't break his defense, and honestly, seeing that, it made my eyes light brightly.

I couldn't believe that captain survived the attack!

He's way stronger than he seems, same as his blade.

Now fascinated by the strong captain, I was yanked.

"PAY ATTENTION! We can't afford to look back!"

Hearing Mari yell that, I turned my head back around and before I could say anything back, "Now, where do we go? Where are your friends, we need to go quick!"

She said bringing me back to my original thoughts before the through of martial combat occured.

We need to grab my associates and go.

I can't leave them behind.

. . . . .

Fleeing the area, we ran many blocks down to the train station, and getting on the train we heard a cacophony.

Booming in the distance, near the gates, it was heavy and thunderous, way stronger then the mere clash of blades happening, surely magic was heavily involved?

Trying not to think about it we boarded the train an went on our way to district there, where when we got off half an hour later, we left, running to the brothel.

Runnin down the district, amongst the races and the people who had no clue of what was happening, right now, here and now, Rosa was being invaded, NOW!

But I didn't involve myself with such matters.

Instead I need to get whoever was at the brothel and then Catherine. . .Or was it Nara, it's still slowly comin back to me? These memories were very long ago?

Plus. . .I made a deal with Catherine.

But that doesn't matter, now there at the mostly red colored district yet, we kept on moving and as our hands weren't jointed anymore, she followed me.

But then speak of the devil, after a few more minutes of running, also running this way, in the total opposite direction of us, it was Catherine running this way.

And upon seein the both of us. Her expression turned overjoyed when seeing me. But then her eyes looked next to me an suddenly a strong desire to kill came.

Stopping three yards away from us, I heard her say, "I told Zim, that I'd kill you, if I saw you again. . .Girl"

She said in a voice so cold that it gave me shivers.

And making me tense up as her strength was vast.

I gulped, "We really don't have the time for this, Cathy long story short the towns being invaded by a scary Skeleton and Death Knights, and we need to flee!"

I said and hearing me, her attention went away from her and she started looking at me with Sharp Eyes.

But then in a snap after gettin me joltin from her gaze, they turned extremely soft and as she was looking at me, she moved her hand to her cheek side; nervous.

"I know. . .Which is why you should flee. . ."

And hearing her I was startled, "What?!"

"People are going to die if I don't step in, so–"

But as she was saying that I stormed over to her and I grabbed her shoulders, shocking her, "People are goin to die no matter what!" I said breaking the news to her.

"Yes, but–"

"I'm not leaving you here so you can fight them!"

Knowin exactly what she was doing, I don't care if she is strong, or a monster, with her strength vs that thing!

There's no way in witch hell I'm letting her fight them!

But as I was saying that, she gave me a sorrowful smile, moving her hand to my cheek, "You have to, and I can't come with you, I work for the crown"

"So! What do they have to do with this!"

"I have to protect these people with my life. . .Aster"

And hearing her say that, my heart swole. . . She's.

"Fuck these people! Please! Just come with me!"

"I can't... I'm bound to a royal contract, I'm–"

"Shut up I won't take no, Catherine!"

Holding her shoulders tight, I know we just met, but I, I can't just stand here and let someone I know die here!

". . .I'm sorry"

"No!"

Tears lightly ran down my face, "We made a promise" I said to her, "I know. . ." and she remembers, but, "Then why? Why are you still doing this!" I started breaking.

I can't explain how to feel.

My heart is aching with every word we're saying.

And the more I think about it, she's sacrificing herself.

"You're goin to die if you fight them! So come with us!"

But saying that to her, she shook her head and a tear fell down from her eyes, and her hand on my cheek, it shook as if she had trembled when hearing me say it.

"I know. . .So. . .This is goodbye"

My heart and mind shattered when hearing her.

"Why. . .You can't do this, please, Catherine. . ."

Stepping in and rising onto her toes, she came up and kissed me, "Please. . . Forgive me for this, Aster" she said with her voice low, "No, I'll never forgive you"

"I'll never forgive you if you walk away"

"Then, I hope you'll understand, one day. . ."

"I'll never understand, I'll never understand why!"

"Hopefully, in my next life. . .–"

"Please, don't say it"

I begged her, but she said, "In my next life, I hope we meet so I can I fall in love with you all over again," and she made me cry because she knows her own fate.

Hugging her, I don't want to let go. And she hugged me back, fully knowing it'll be both our first and last hug.

"Aster, let go. . .I have to go, they won't last without–"

"Please, what can I do for you not to go. . ."

"I'm sorry, but there isn't, they won't last without me"

"Please, I'll do anything for you not to go, so please"

"I'm sorry, just don't forget about me. . .Okay"

Putting her hands to my chest and pushing me away, I didn't want to but I stepped back, but then, she came back and kissed me again, before stepping back.

"Aster, I love you, I want you to know that"

Tears fell from my chin when hearing her say that.

"I. . .I love you too, Catherine"

Hearing me say it made tears swell more on her face, and turning her head to Mari, who was with me and not saying a word, just watching us from the sideline.

"And you, take care of him for me, got it!"

Standing there, heartbroken and raining tears, I heard.

"You don't have to tell me, I'll protect him with my life"

"Good, because I'll kill you from the grave otherwise"

Hearing her jokingly talk about her death like this, I want to knock her out and take her with us, looking at her as she was smiling and talking to Mari, I turned.

Balling my fist, I want to so hard, but then opening it in the next second I can't do that to her, but stepping on over to her, I grabbed her head pullin her to my chest.

"Fuck you and fuck death, you're stronger then them, don't you dare die out there, do whatever to survive"

Looking up at me, I looked back at her, and said.

"Because when you come back, we can get married"

And hearing me, Mari gasped, and looking at me, Cathy was speechless, but then a smile came across her face.

Letting her go, I stepped back and rubbed my head.

"And when we do, we can move wherever you want"

And hearing me say that as I was blushing and crying.

She came over, with a cheeky smile, tryin to tease me.

"Does that even mean, goin to the mountains wit me"

But before I could even get the answer out to her.

"And then it just being the two of us, and only us?"

And stomping my foot on the ground, startling her.

"Yes Yes Yes! And a million times over yes! Just come back to me and don't die here! Promise me it and I will too! We can go to the mountains, wherever you want!"

She started giggling when I said that to her.

But then she walked past me and turned away. Turnin' around to see her go past Mari, an explosion came to ear in the distance and she put her hand up saying.

"If I survive, I'll be waiting for you in the capital!"

And hearing her, I felt my heart tremble.

"If you survive I'll let you do anything to me!"

I said as she stopped walking; grabbing her mouth.

"And I'll do anything you want me to do to you too!"

And hearing that, her ears turned crimson red too.

Not turning around, she jumped, leaping to the top of a building left of us, an then we heard, "Don't forget your promise to me! I'll be waiting for you! Aster" she said with the most joyous voice ever, an even I chuckled.

"If it means I get to see you again, then I'll do anything I can to make sure you make it back to me. . .Cathy"

Warming my heart after seeing her vanish from that roof top, I turned to the jaw dropping Mari and said to her.

"Let's keep going, we still have to get the others"

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Thursday, November 3nd, Year 12