Left to her own devices, Ariellia barely knew where to begin. The events of the game were already off the rails, there's no telling how many variables will pop up. Still, she's been tasked with an important mission. She must do something, so after a moment to collect her scattered thoughts, she began to give orders to the small forces allocated to her.
"Clad I want you and your men to help the patrol units to escort the citizens on the west side of the city. Be sure to knock on every door, use mana to project your voices so everyone hears your instructions. If anyone starts to fall into hysteria or tries to cause a riot, subdue them immediately. We can't have this getting out of hand."
"But my lady where does that leave you? I promised the duke and the young lord that I would protect you." The gentle giant looks deeply troubled by her request.
Arie sighs, this is supposed to be her death arc. No one wants Clad's added protection more than her at the moment but if he's by her side it would drastically slow down their progress. Rahnoff is a big city with many districts and a decent size population. If they are trying to save as many people as possible, they can only spread themselves thin in this manner to have the maximum reach.
"I know you are honorable Clad, I know you don't want to leave my side, but you've watched me grow stronger these past few weeks, right?"
"But my lady-"
"I'm a lot stronger now thanks to your help but I know there are many others in the city who are not. Women and children who have no one to turn to. Can I forsake their lives just so I can be reassured of my own safety? Do I not bear any responsibility for carrying the last name Garrod?"
The big oaf looks ready to cry, even Miranda and several of their gathered forces begin to tear up at her speech.
"I understand, I will do as you command. Once I have evacuated the west end of the city I will return to your side. Please assist Lady Oya at the church, she may not look it but that old elf has seen her fair share of battles as well. It'll ease my worries to know you are under her protection while I'm away."
"I will do as you say, but that's a bit much, no?"
"What do you mean my lady?"
"You called Lady Oya and 'old elf'. I never pegged you as a rude person."
Clad and his men look stunned for a second before offering a whole-hearted laugh.
"My mistress misunderstands me. Lady Oya and I are actually the same age. We grew up together, I meant no offense by my words."
"Oh…oh!" Ariella is left gapping at him in disbelief as she takes in his shiny tight skin. When it comes to elves, age is always a hard thing to confirm. They could be hundreds of years old while looking like young adults. The only thing that advances their aging is stress. An elf cut off from their tribe, the world tree, or magic ages visibly.
"It's understandable for my lady not to know. Oya prefers a quiet life, so I try not to stir up any waves regarding our past. Most of the elders already know anyway since they watched us grow up."
"Right~" yet another plot hole filled without her even asking.
"My lady I will go with you to the church" Miranda promptly walks over to her side like this has always been the plan.
"Actually, I was going to ask if you could take Sena to alert the citizens on the East side of the city. You're from there so the nobles and merchants might be willing to listen to you."
"Absurd, then who will be by your side! We can't just leave it to Lady Oya, her main class is that of a healer not a defender." Miranda's eyes shine fiercely, ready to argue her down if need be.
"I will watch her back."
!
"Anya! Where have you been, Rei has been looking for you everywhere." Arie was shocked to see the heroine appear out of nowhere at this solemn hour. It almost felt like fate trying to push the story back to some semblance of itself. During the monster march, a player's duty isn't to fight at the frontlines to defend Rahnoff but to find Anya and flee the city. It would truly be strange if she didn't show up at this point.
"Right, I will go with her" using the wolf girl's timely appearance as an excuse she orders the still protesting head maid to escort the nobles living in the east district.
"Phew, I'm grateful for the save. I don't think she would have ever given up if you hadn't shown up." Arie tries to make some small talk while they head to the church. She notices Anya is oddly quiet, looking a bit withdrawn and distracted.
"We're not friends anymore, you don't need to pretend to be nice to me."
Arie frowns, "I didn't mean what I said the last time. My mind was being influenced by something else."
"…"
She's testing the waters, trying to see Anya's reaction. Is she aware or was it all just a coincidence? Ever since she started taking things more seriously and not looking through the limited lens of Rei's perspective, she's noticed a lot of things unraveling. Anya's claim in the game that Clad and his men had their way with her sounds completely out of pocket now that she knows the man. Throughout their entire days hunting monsters when it was just the two of them, he never once took a step out of line. She's also never seen the knight partake in any drink, preferring to stay clear headed at all times.
It's highly unlikely that such a chivalrous knight would turn into a despicable vulgar brute, assaulting a defenseless Anya in her cell. As a player she never questioned it, taking it as a plot item to move the love story of the protagonist and heroine along. Now she's not so sure if it's that simple anymore.
Grraaaar!!!
Both girls stumble, feeling a tremor travel beneath their feet like a huge seismic earthquake about to take place. Their bodies involuntarily shaking at the sound of that deafening roar. It came from the north gate where the main bulk of the monster army appeared. Each person had their own thoughts on the situation, but their horror-stricken looks are the same. Eren recognizes that roar…it can only come from the one-eyed Wyrm.
'But why is that old monster here! It shouldn't be time yet, you only fight it closer to the end when Rei is strong enough to win. It's no wonder Rahnoff was obliterated, if that's the beast controlling the monster wave it's certainly possible.'
Suddenly she feels her heart painfully constricting at the thought of Rei and her father fighting at the north gate.
'Please come back alive…please.'
Would this world even be able to continue if the protagonist dies?
"They promised they wouldn't release it till Rei left town!"
Ariellia paused her erratic thoughts, slowly turning towards the heroine.
"What did you just say?"
"It's all your fault, you've been nothing but bad luck since Rei met you!"
"Anya, who are they! What have you done!" her amethyst eyes widen in disbelief and horror. No way, it couldn't be that Anya knew this would happen. She couldn't have joined forces with the enemy just to get Rei right? She's supposed to be the heroine, unable to resort to such unspeakable means.
'Please tell me this isn't happening.'
"You were never meant to be with him." She didn't want to believe it but the cold look in Anya's green eyes told her the truth. The heroine she knew had blackened into a villain overnight.
"Take her, she's yours as promise."
"What are you-!"
She feels a sharp pain against her neck before the world twists upside down and everything goes dark. She couldn't even scream for help before her consciousness began to fade.