The first task, on duty (Day 4), Part 1

10th of the Second

Fasnilthar

We woke up before sunrise that day. The goal was to finish the task during early morning still, and getting us each prepared would have taken some time, hence it was always best to get up as soon as possible to handle everything. This included our morning meal, that was eaten up before we even got to change, as well as checking up on equipment and putting it on. During that time, the group was mostly quiet. That appeared to surprise my juniors specifically. Especially since I wasn't talking a whole lot either, seeing as by then they must have been somewhat getting used to constantly hearing chatting between Nalfimiria and me. I never really felt like talking a whole lot before a fight, though. 

How do I put this? Although a lot of it simply comes down to me being a chatterbox, there is a reason why I talked as much as I did, and it isn't because I loved my voice. Like, people have a lot of depth, don't they? Even if you already have a grasp on someone, that doesn't guarantee you know how they would act in any given situation whatsoever. Maybe some of my smarter coworkers could pull that off to some effect, but to me, the best way to understand others was through persistence. That, and the very act was a constant learning experience. Like, the six of us were all more or less in the same field of work, though still, the paths that led each of us there were so different. You could more or less say the same about any person you walk past on the streets, or talk to for whatever reason in your daily life. 

Hence, I like to think that there is always something to learn by spending time with others, be it about them or the world as a whole. And a great deal of the reason why I liked interacting with older kinds was because I felt there was so much to learn from each of them. That was always something that pushed me forwards during day to day life. And maybe precisely because of that I generally avoided anything that might spark that interest on me before going out for a fight. That would end up providing me something to think about during our walk to the field. Something to expect post the match, you could say. Maybe some of the people reading this will think that sort of thing could provide motivation, but I didn't think like that. 

Because to me, what mattered the most prior to a battle was absolute focus. To concentrate myself fully on the things I already knew. To make sure the only things in my mind were the present battle and the potential consequences each step of it could have. In this way, spending some time quietly before a battle was quite invigorating as well. It reminded me of my biggest priority while on the job. "Go through this alive and while keeping my friends, the innocent and those under our protection safe." If someone got too hurt or killed, there would be no means of chatting after that. Especially in the later case, seeing as all that would be left were memories to keep track of. Hence, to me, everything else was secondary in battle. 

Not that I liked killing hostiles or anything of the sort, but like me, each of those I had killed in the past made a decision to accept this kind of risk when heading to a battle. If you haven't accepted that possibility before heading into one, you should have never been allowed to pick up a weapon to begin with. And though I wasn't indifferent to the lives of hostiles, I obviously wouldn't put them on the same scale as that of my teammates, something I hoped most of them would understand as well. 

But wasn't this specific task supposed to be relatively easy, you might be asking. I knew that, of course, and I wasn't expecting anyone on our side of things to get hurt. Still, there was a rule I adopted very early into my career that kept me from relaxing, even if the stakes were as small as the ones on that day. To never underestimate someone who is ready to kill, and to always be especially watchful over opponents that are ready to die. I myself never had felt the latter at any point during my job. Most of the times my friends and I were in dire straits, there still was the option to fall back, seeing as the guild usually didn't employ its mages under desperate circumstances. And honestly, to be rather blunt, I doubted the intelligence of someone who would be willing to die for every job that was tossed their way. Like, shit would need to feel really serious before the train of thought dying might be worth it to even be considered for me. 

Some of my main motives aside, I made sure to be careful while verifying everything I would be putting to use in that task. My armor, staff and some of its attachments, the daggers, spheres, and the slots in my gear meant to carry each, especially so the bags I used to carry most of my shots. I estimated how many times I likely would have attacked in a situation like the one we were headed to, and took a few extra rounds in case my guess work failed. I also kept in mind the offensive ability our opponents would have while testing the state of my armor. In parts so that I could already begin to consider what kinds of hits I could take, in case I had to choose something akin to that during the fight. I also made sure to assist my juniors with checking on their own things as well. Senshin seemed used enough to the process by then, but seeing as Chiaisei barely was even used to wearing armor herself, I made sure to assist her with putting it on and checking the safety of it. 

"These two might end up making some mistakes along the way, but I can't afford to make any. Not when we're accompanying two coworkers into their actual first real battle." After the check up, I put everything I usually carried with me in the proper place to help with this. I also tied down my hair then, before placing part of the headgear I usually wore above it. I didn't have many varieties of it since that would have meant extra expenses, but for that job, the gear I wore was thankfully meant as camouflage for the kind of forest we were heading to, meaning there was that as a positive. A bit after I got fully ready, so were the others. Not that surprisingly, Chiaisei was the one who took more time to get ready, though I guess I should note Sowanar took some time as well. He and Nalfimiria were the only ones heavily armored, after all, and it looked like our sister was not so surprisingly far more used to putting her gear on than he was. That was also the first time I had seen each member of the group fully equipped, come to think of it. 

Senshin and Chiaisei more or less had the standard armor you would expect out of independent mages with their level and fields, while Sowanar and Nalfimiria wore the expected armor for each of their orders. As a result, this sorta made Nalfimiria seem like the flashiest one of us by far at that point, seeing as the sisterhoods typically beat everyone else in quality for equipment by a longshot. Based on the sheen of it, I was pretty sure the metal base for her plating wasn't even steel, and seeing as it showed no reaction to my attempt to test magnetism against it, I imagined it likely was incredibly resistant to most base forms of energy spells. I also had some idea as to what secondary effects it might have, but I doubted I would end up seeing it activate most of them that day. 

From there, we headed to the same entrance to the forest in front of which Chiaisei had done her scouting the previous day. To do that, we crossed the fields within which the sheep in that town were mostly habitating, and along the way many of the town folk greeted us and wished us luck. They seemed more confident than usual in our group, based on my previous memories of similar situations, though. It was likely the combination of a sister and the knight champion with us. I mean, my previous group also had members of the sisterhood with us, but both were around my age, meaning they likely didn't inspire quite as much confidence as the elf with us, so there was also that. Regardless of their level, Champions tend to have an easy time inspiring confidence in their people as well, seeing as they were viewed as the elite among the knights. 

In front of the place we would be entering the forest from, we found Finarkzir waiting, alongside a group of 8 sisters and brothers, all of which carrying the green tones of Unity. Unlike Nalfimiria, instead of being combat ready they mostly only had supplies with them, though. They would have been the ones responsible for aiding our targets post the fight, based on the look of things. As for Finarkzir, since she didn't really have much of a need to get ready, she had moved there from the start, to stay near enough to the forest to be on watch before we even got there. 

Nalfimiria talked to them for some time, probably to confirm things on their end and coordinate our two sides, and from there we got back on the move. During this walk, we made sure to test if the thought communicators were each working properly, and when we got close to the spot we were expecting to find the encampment we were after, we began splitting up slightly. Finarkzir then confirmed their post would soon go into view, and after identifying where each of our agreed upon hiding spots would have been at, each of us drew closer to our positions, while Nalfimiria and Sowanar waited on guard for a few minutes. Finarkzir, meanwhile, flew to the highest branch of the tallest tree around, so that she could gain a higher view of the entire battleground right at the start of the fight. 

While I got into position, I managed to get my first good look at the place we had been searching for. There was an improvised wooden wall around it, and I could see the tents the Daokinyev slept on behind them. At the entrance we were nearest to, I could also spot what looked like guards, though there had yet to be any sign they had noticed us. After everyone got in position, Senshin confirmed for us that the caster was indeed in her tent. Nalfimiria then headed to the guards near the front of the camp, announcing our presence. Upon noticing she carried the armor of a Path Tracer, one of the guards headed inside after they briefly exchanged words with her. Based on the movement within the camp following that, it seemed like their entire group would be there to hear the final proposition brought by the sisterhood. Not exactly an unmerited reaction, all things considered. 

According to Finarkzir and Senshinzako, it looked like they were more or less already waiting for us to show up. Most of the Daokinyev seemed to be on standby, and it barely took a minute of the messenger heading in for them to begin taking their places in front of that camp. Most, with the exception of one, it seemed. In the words of our eyes, it looked like the female mage was the only one surprised by the timing of our arrival, as it looked like she rushed into her tent to prepare something as soon as the news began to spread. Her guards were also the only ones who hadn't headed towards the front of the camp, and instead Finarkzir got the impression based on some exchanges between them that they were actively trying to delay the caster, if not just straight up keep her in her tent forcefully. It looked like her participation in this discussion and potential fight wasn't something wanted by that chief.

Soon, the chief in question appeared in front of the gates. He matched the appearance I had heard been described for one of his kind in this kind of position. A bit shorter than Sowanar, but considerably wider, seeing as during that stage his kind usually is already a bit bigger than humans in terms of shoulder length. Didn't look like he had finished his growing process though, likely due to his age. The transformation some types of semi-magical creatures could go through often delayed their development by a few years. He wore something resembling a mantle, and below it what appeared to be some kind of armor. Looking at him then also made the difference in height between this leader and the rest of the group more striking, due to how clearly he towered over the guards near the entrance. 

By the time he had taken his stand, all other members of the encampment were already standing guard up front. It seemed most of them were around that area then, and the few remaining inside were reuniting themselves behind the walls in front of us as well. They stood in a kind of formation in front of Nalfimiria. Most held their weapons in guard, and it seemed like their positions took into account the division of their fighting lines. First stood their shieldbearers, followed closely behind by two lines of spear men, one of which had smaller, reserve shields, and lastly the backline was mainly composed of slings, but there were a few bows among them. I didn't count at that point, though my estimations of those near the wall and standing outside told me there were a little more than thirty standing in front of us. As they finished preparing themselves, a messenger reached the leader of the group. Based on what we heard and understood from Nalfimiria, it looked like the messenger was there to confirm the caster had been successfully contained in her tent. That sort of confirmed that theory, at least. 

—Greetings, sister. Allow me to once again thank the efforts the order devoted to this issue and that you currently make. Even if the negotiations end with blows, know that my soul will remain thankful to the kindness I've been shown, even within this disgraceful display I've given shape. — He spoke in his own tongue. Naturally, none of us could understand anything he said, and even if I could have I was too far away to listen. This was what Nalfimiria understood from the scene. Since our thoughts were connected, the rest of us more or less could understand the message directed to her.

—If you wish to repay those acts of kindness and undo this disgrace, then consider your answer with care. I assume the options for shelter have been discussed among you? — She replied in the same language. I didn't understand them, but it seemed the Daokinyev audience had no trouble comprehending her.

—They have. The thoughtfulness in each suggestion has moved us, so we've considered each carefully. 

—I hope this is leading to a positive response, then. Have the locations to relocate this camp pleased you? It should take about two months waiting in either before the nation has calmed down its civilians, but you shouldn't be lacking food, water or occupation on them. There should be no risks in each location either, and if the current preparations aren't enough it would be simple enough for the sisterhood to provide additional supplies. 

—I've taken the time to read about each. Our exile might be prolonged on them, but it hardly sounds like that great a sacrifice, given it came to this for my mistake. Not only that, yet given the fact the humans gave us permission and how fitting those are to my kind, on the long run those camps might potentially be used as secondary outposts within this same goal. I can hardly say the period there would be unproductive, as a result… But taking that offer would mean small disruptions in an ecosystem besides the one we've been given authorization to alter. With the aid of the sisterhood, forcing the solution to the issue in this fashion shouldn't be difficult, yet it will weaken our group's position as messengers within the wild world, especially as we would be relying on the interference of a third party to fix our mistakes. Not all of us have left our home ready to extend the journey for this long, as well. Those two months would only be added to the process of creating this outpost itself, which might also be delayed due to the issues I've caused. There is an easier sacrifice to be offered in this instance. — This had only been the start of the conversation, yet I felt it already showed signs no other offer would hold ground. 

—I doubt the wild kin of this region will judge the issue as significant if the failure came from a single Daokinyev of your town, or that the disruption would have had any significant effect. But for now, fine. Will you accept taking shelter with us, then? All the comforts previously mentioned would be easier to provide while under our direct care. If the sisterhood acts on your behalf, the potential panic should dissolve rather quickly as well. Even humans who have never stepped into the Wilds know that the sisterhood tends to come in frequent contact with inhabitants of the wild world. If you are received by us officially, it shouldn't take that long for the tension to melt. If anything, it might make it easier to keep this outpost closer to human cities, or speed up the announcement of it from the hands of the human leaders. Overall, this will only speed up this process.

—It likely will. The followers of the Greater Ones aren't the kind to ever commit careless mistakes, nor to often misjudge a situation. If all of you claim solving this problem through your name won't be a problem, I won't doubt it for a second. And yet, a part of me feels sorrow at the thought of imposing any risk upon this order.

—If you worry over imposing difficulties onto us, then stop being stubborn. The creations of the Star of Wisdom are also what feed both human lands and the towns of your folk. Redistributing what would normally reach you at home hardly would be an issue. And as for worries regarding space, remember we speak of a domain of reality that can be controlled through magic. Providing it is hardly a difficult task for the hands and eyes of the Greater Aspects. Or is it elsewhere that you imagine said risk?

—It is in future failures that I speak of risk, sister. There is no telling if I won't commit similar mistakes. The fear of disgracing the shields that guarded me through my errors seems rather oppressive when matched with my recent deeds. Staining the name of the Great Order feels like a risk too heavy on the hands of a fool. I-

—Quit it. Out of all shows of concern you have offered, this one is by far the least merited. My brethren have fought for thousands of years to defend this world's harmony, be it in times of crisis or norm. Through it all, we have always stood at the front to defend and chase their dreams of ideals. Do you seriously think any mistake you could make would manage to damage our reputation? — From the fact she interrupted the spiel this time to her tone, I started noticing by this point that Nalfimiria was growing increasingly aggressive with each of her sentences. 

—Not to a great deal of effect, of course. The Agents of the Great Stars have stood undefeated in countless battlefields since their origin, and have always remained consistent in their devotion and effectiveness. I can say without a doubt that no order of warriors in this world has ever had or will ever have such an honored image. In fact, it is precisely the shame of briefly smearing this flawless shield that I fear. To place this dishonor on you and my folk is precisely what I fear. There is another solution that places no such risks in my actions.

—You overestimate the odds for subsequent failures, but fine. What of taking temporary refuge within other forest towns? They should avoid the issues you have currently pointed to. Or do you also have an excuse for those? 

—Apologies for my stubbornness, but that would be correct. I've already failed multiple tasks while acting under the authority of a higher chief. Asking for refuge might damage our reputation, even with the sisterhood's aid. I can't guarantee my companions would be greeted well either. 

—Nor can you guarantee they would take these missteps as seriously as you have been. In fact, you misjudged the proportion of things almost constantly since this talk started. I am beginning to doubt if you even recall the cause for this talk. 

—Perhaps that is what this looks like to others, but the core of what I'm here for still remains the same. I've been asked to take responsibility for the mistakes we've made, not to drag down others alongside it. This is the solution I felt worked the best for that goal. 

—Oh truly? You think dying will mysteriously fix all of these problems? What of the task you've been given? Does passing it along to one better suited count as contributing? And is this the idea you have of leadership? That subordinate and sovereign should take turns throwing their lives against their problems, until they magically disappear?! Call this "resolve" if you like, all I see is cowardice. You collectively stumbled into an issue you can't comprehend and now, striving to hold tight to the pride that led into it, took the simplest solution available, indifferent to its actual effectiveness. Am I supposed to applaud you for your bravery before one stronger? To honor your will for leaping onto a pit instead of simply facing forward?! — The sudden shift in tone to her negotiations seemed to startle the guards around this chief. It didn't seem they expected this shift to aggression from her part, yet in a sense I kind of shared it. There is such a thing as giving up on life too easily, and this was starting to look like a case of that. 

—If there is more to be done, then can't you at least give me another direction? A proposition that meets my needs, sister. 

—Any of the ones already offered would be if you stopped dramatizing your issues for a moment. But alright. No sharing of dishonors or struggle are your requirements, based on what you've said. Would individual restraining solve the issue, then? If we give you shelter under the premise of retribution for transgressions, our faith shifts into a form of punishment. So once the process is ready once more, no risk to anyone's name will be tarnished by your potential mistakes, and you can carry that piece of repentance without having to worry over anyone. Is that enough for a solution? — The proposition didn't get an answer immediately. It seemed like the head of that encampment was considering it rather seriously for a moment. That contemplation was shortly after interrupted, though. 

—Sister, we must oppose part of this offer! Why must it be necessary for our chief to atone alone? We have vowed to follow him, both before and after this temporary exile. If a punishment is needed, it shouldn't be directed exclusively at him. — One of the soldiers jumped in to interrupt the offer, though. 

—I can't say what I have in mind is particularly a punishment like in the first place, and this decision was made based on his requirements. If you wish to argue with someone, it should be him. 

—This cell likely won't be much different from any other guest room the sisterhood would offer us. This will just be a stay under a different name, and with a few more restrictions. And as there is no need for all of us to wait in the end, it should simply be more practical for our hosts to deal with the issue through this manner. It both deals with the situation and meets all of our requirements. I can't think of many ways this deal would be improved further. 

—But you've sworn it as well, leader! That as future warriors we would be sharing in both pain and joys! We only wish to continue upholding our promise. 

—And yet my own vows spoke of leading with wisdom. If I fail on my end, yours should naturally be softened. What need is there for you to follow if no pain shall be had either? And what other propositions do we have to grasp onto now? 

—If neither option is picked, I'll either need to force a choice or go for the violent solution. There wouldn't be much of a point following your leader past this point, would it? Regardless, it matters very little to us which of these final options you take. Simply make up your minds. If there is no agreement to your will, I will be left with no option but to guess at it. 

—I've stated my wish, more plainly now than ever. This situation falls entirely on my shoulders, and as of now we gain nothing by living the consequences as a group. Let's spare ourselves the needless pain. 

—But that isn't what warriors should strive for! The brave must stand united, and follow the head of a blade band with loyalty! 

—This band has never left its training stage, though. We should not delude ourselves into thinking ourselves true wild warriors at this point. 

—Then allow us to test our mettle! Sister, we request you to act as a measure to our courage! 

—Are you fools acting madly intentionally?! You speak to a High Chanter*! What chance do you assume any of us would stand in combat?! — Over the whole discussion, this was the first time the leader there raised his voice. Even if they had armed themselves, it looked like they never had any expectations of a fight going well if one happened. 

(*An expression used by some kinds to refer to high level mages.) 

—Showing resolve before insurmountable odds is part of what makes a warrior, sword chief! What do you say about this challenge, oh Path Tracer? 

—That it is unwise, mainly. You have no means of opposing my blade. Thus, in the spirit of fairness, I will offer you a chance at victory. Other than the knight before you, there are four other companions who joined on this mission. If any of them is captured, I will deem this the victory of the soldiers, and therefore they shall select the proposition to be followed. Otherwise, I shall confront this aspiring Sword Chief under rules of his choosing, including the conclusion to this incident. To keep this competition somewhat fair, I will be restricting my strength over it, on the condition that the Brave here opt to avoid harming my allies. Additionally, I ask that once disarmed you leave the battleground. Are these conditions sufficient? 

—...It is one way to reach an answer. I will allow this. Soldiers, do not push yourselves too hard. The margin of error between disarming and killing one of us isn't that large before a spell chanter. Do not persist after falling, and play by her rules for your own safety as well. Am I being clear? — After a shout of approval from the soldiers, they started moving into position. And so, after the conclusion to the discussion was reached, the fight swiftly began.