Reinforcement Arrived

The sun was slowly setting and casting a beautiful orange-yellow light onto the landscape. After hours of treading the mountain path, the Imperial rescue party finally arrived at Serendale village in the late afternoon.

The party heard the bell tolled from the town center and marched towards it. Once they arrived, they saw a horrifying sight; harpies attacking the villagers!"Harpies, captain!" Corporal Knightly shouted to Captain Willem.The villagers were tolling the bell of the courthouse in an effort to repel them. Distress calls and screams were filling the air. Villagers were banging anything they could find such as frying pans, to make loud, high-pitched noises. Harpies don't like this noise because of their heightened sense of hearing."Men! Take arms, secure the villagers!" Captain Willem commanded the party. Everyone grabbed their weapons, bows, and arrows, then dispersed to fight off the harpies, but Oliver and old man Jed stayed put.The air soon crackled with the whizzing of projectiles as the smugglers and knights unleashed a relentless barrage upon the swooping harpies. Arrows soared from the smugglers' bows, their feathered shafts cutting through the sky like deadly harbingers. Simultaneously, the knights unleashed a hailstorm of bolts from their fearsome boltcasters—formidable crossbows capable of rapidly discharging ten armor-piercing quarrels in rapid succession.Aden looked around and saw chaos. Aden felt something wasn't right. The harpies didn't attack them on the road to this village. they were just flying in a circle while observing the caravan party from the sky until they disappeared when the party met the roadblock built by the goblins.The goblins they fought back in the roadblock were a mere diversion, like ants before the coming of summer's heat."Tsk, don't tell me.." He suddenly realized what the harpies' real objective was.The harpies weren't looking to fight the villagers, but rather to distract the party from their wagons and horses. His eyes darted towards the nearest wagon."I knew it," Aden muttered to himself."Harpies! - harpies targeting our wagons!" Aden shouted to everyone as he sprinted towards them in an attempt to protect their supplies and siege weapons from being stolen or destroyed in this fateful raid by these unearthly winged creatures of darkness. He searched for Captain Willem, but unfortunately, he couldn't find him anywhere. Maeda is the one closest to Aden fending off a harpy with his arrows."Maeda, come with me back to the caravan!" Aden shouted."Ryokai!" Maeda affirmed to assist Aden.Aden clenched his spear, and accompanied by Maeda they rushed to protect the wagons.They've got cover from Ser Parcival who shot arrows with his boltcaster, repelling the harpies in their way.The rear caravan was attacked by half a dozen harpies, Maeda released his arrows as he and Aden rushed back to the rear caravan.By the rear caravan, Gilbert and old man Jed banging the metal part of the wagon's frame hoping the harpies would stay back. They were overwhelmed by the numbers of the harpies. The avian women already got the two horses of the rescue party's caravan. Now they were tearing and clawing the covered wagons as if they knew what the recon knights stored in the wagons.Aden fended off the harpies tearing and clawing the wagon with his spear while Maeda unleashed his arrows to the nearby harpies lingering the caravan.Aden was very skilled with a spear. he was fond of using a spear because it could defend both of his sides in front and rear side simultaneously. Although outnumbered by the harpies, it looked like Aden got the upper hand.Knowing they couldn't get through Aden's defense, two harpies disengaged from the fight, they flew away in a circle to keep their distance and look for an opening on Aden who engaged in battle with the other harpies.As the chaos of the battle continued, Aden's senses remained sharp, his anticipation heightened. His keen eyes caught sight of two harpies that just breaking away from the frenzied swarm. Like predators honing in on their prey, the two harpies built up speed and range, closing in on Aden with calculated precision.The Old Man Jed's words echoed in Aden's mind as he recognized the imminent danger. The harpies were employing a deadly technique known as the belly pincer maneuver, a coordinated attack from both his rear and front. They planned to swoop in from opposite directions, their talons aimed to impale his vulnerable belly and rend him apart, leaving him disemboweled.Aden's instincts kicked into overdrive as he assessed the approaching threat. With a quick mental calculation, he positioned himself, his spear at the ready. He knew that he had only one chance to defend himself and turn the tables on his adversaries.The two harpies screeched giving the signal for the other harpies to disengage, left Aden alone, and cleared up the way for them to swoop in.As the two harpies closed in, their wings slicing through the air, Aden's muscles tensed. He timed his movements with precision, waiting for the precise moment to strike. With a swift and powerful thrust, he aimed his blunt end of the spear towards the first harpy charging from behind.When a harpy charged from behind, Aden swiftly pivoted, his movements fluid and precise. He shifted the grip of his spear, aiming the rear end towards his assailant. With a powerful thrust, he unleashed a forceful poke, striking the charging harpy with the blunt end of his weapon. The impact reverberated through the harpy's body destroying its ribs, momentarily staggering it, and disrupting its attack.Seizing the opportunity, Aden capitalized on the momentum generated by the strike. In one seamless motion, he unleashed a swift thrust toward the harpy that stood before him, aiming for its vulnerable areas. Though his aim was true, he only managed to graze the inside of the harpy's arm, inflicting a deep and bleeding wound. The harpy screeched in pain, its focus momentarily diverted by the injury.The harpies, sensing the wounded comrades and the resolute determination of Aden, momentarily faltered in their relentless assault. The chaos of the battle momentarily subsided as they dispersed, their attention divided and their hunger for flesh momentarily quelled.Aden stood amidst the aftermath, his spear poised and his breathing steady. The scent of blood filled the air, mingling with the sounds of harpy cries and the beating of wings. He knew that the respite would be brief, that more harpies would soon descend upon him. But in that moment, he allowed himself a fleeting sense of triumph, knowing that his skill and resourcefulness had bought him a precious moment of reprieve.While having his moment, Maeda sliced through any harpy that got too close to Aden with his katana, his newfound curved-bladed Median steel originated from the Land of the Rising Sun. Maeda gave Aden enough time to get a grip and come out of his daze.At the front of the caravan, Gilbert and Old Man Jed were making loud banging noises, while at the back Aden and Maeda fought back to back to fend off any harpy attacks. The two worked perfectly in tandem and their efforts were successful - none of the creatures came close enough to endanger the caravan.Everyone fought fiercely against the harpy onslaught for a time, until finally the sky slowly shifted to an orange hue and dusk descended across the horizon. As the sun set, the harpy flocks began to retreat.Harpies are not nocturnal creatures, their visibility will be very limited as the night comes. Though they were able to see with their Resonance ability they only use it for casual flying, locating destinations, and fellow harpies positions in the sky.Knowing they should end their engagement with the people, each of the harpies screeched, calling to their flocks and reminding them the night was coming, soon they dispersed and flew away to the east direction where they nestled.As the sun set, the harpy flock scattered, their wings beating against the cooling evening air. The sky glowed pink and orange, and for a moment it seemed as if time had stopped.The party and villagers were victorious, but everyone was exhausted. Aden felt a surge of relief wash over him as the harpy menace had been subjugated. He sheathed his sword and took a deep breath, allowing his body to relax from the intense battle. He looked up at the disappearing flock of harpy silhouettes against the beautiful sky and he knew that this would be a battle he had to remember.⁕⁕⁕After the villagers were freed from the temporary menacing threat of the harpy, they quickly set out to clean up all of the destruction left in their wake. Broken furniture, shattered glass, and scattered feathers also possessions littered their home and posed a potential hazard to their safety. They tried their best to put back together all that had been torn apart by the harpy's rampage.Father Edgar, the village chief, sat in the courthouse's main hall, his mind racing with thoughts of the looming threat of the harpies. As he looked out the window, he saw a group of knights approaching, their armor glinting in the sunset.The rest of the rescue party were told to wait outside.As the knights entered the courthouse, Father Edgar rose to greet them, his eyes fixed on their leader, Captain Willem who wore a distinct coat of arms—a golden lion facing left with a crown on its head and a wyvern sigil below it."Welcome to Serendale," he said, his voice warm and welcoming. "We are grateful for your aid in our time of need."Captain Willem nodded in acknowledgment, his eyes scanning the village outside for any signs of danger."I am Captain Willem of the Wyvern Reconnaisance unit. We are here to help in any way we can," He introduced himself. "The harpies are a formidable foe, but we are confident that we can defeat them."Father Edgar nodded in agreement, his mind filled with a sense of relief and gratitude. "We have been struggling to defend our village against the harpies," he said. "Their attacks have been relentless, and we fear for the safety of our people.""How's our situation here, Father?" Captain Willem asked straight to the problem."The harpies start attacking the seaport at first and then the caravansary. We thought they were drawn to the fish that the fishermen's caught. the people in the seaport and the caravansary were fleeing with their boats and ships, those who can't, seek refuge here in this village."Captain Willem listened intently, his eyes fixed on Father Edgar."We thought the harpies would cease their attack as they ransacked the seaport and the caravansary." Father Edgar's voice trembled in fear."Take your time, Father." Captain Willem grabbed Father Edgar's shoulder. comforted the village chief.Father Edgar took a breath before resuming, "Two days later they started storming this very village.""Do you have any idea why they attacked this village?" Captain Willem asked."I, uh.. I don't know," Father Edgar shook his head, "They just like goblins, nothing but a nuisance the village can't handle.""Maybe..," Father Edgar recalled something, something missing. "Maybe because of the storm.""The storm?" Captain Willem was confused."Aye, the storm." Father Edgar. "two weeks ago a raging storm unfolded in the northern part of this mountain range."Father Edgar took a seat for this might be a long tale to tell. "Never been in my twenty years as a chief in this village I saw a storm lasted for so long like that.""It still raging on until now, Sir." Ser Cedric affirmed. Holding a retractable-looking glass in his right hand, he just came from scouting the area. "I have surveyed the area from the rooftop."The courthouse was built on the most vantage point in the village and from the rooftop one can see lightning and thunder flashing in the storm in the northern part of the mountain."it probably blocked the path of the harpy migration." Father Edgar gave his insight."The harpy migration?" Ser Cedric asked."Aye, the harpies are supposed to migrate to the south as we talking now." Captain Willem explained."How about the civilians?" Captain Willem directed his question to Father Edgar again.Father Edgar was still shaking just talking about the harpy, "some were killed and some are still lost. Aione bless their soul and those who lost, may they be safe and sound.""We understand your concerns," Captain Willem said. "But we are here to provide support and protection. and for that, we need your guidance as the elder in this village. Together, we can overcome this threat and protect this village."Father Edgar smiled, his heart filled with a newfound sense of hope. "Thank you, Captain Willem," he said. "Your words are a comfort to us all. We look forward to working with you and your knights to defend our village."Captain Willem nodded in agreement and turned himself toward the sky outside. his eyes fixed on the horizon."The harpies may be a formidable foe," he said. "But we are knights, and we are trained to face any challenge that comes our way. Together, we will emerge victorious."⁕⁕⁕