Mihel along with the second regiment leader and Godwine stand gathered around a table. Mihel looks back at the bloodied field riddled with corpses both friendly and enemies. "This is simply what I must do for my people. They left me with no choice," the second regiment leader looks at Mihel opening his mouth but is interrupted before he can speak. "Ready your troops. Neer is just ahead," with that Mihel stands quickly leaving and Godwine and the second regiment leader leave soon after.
As the sun rises smoke rises in the distance. Noticing the smoke Godwine simply scoffs as he picks his helmet up, hooking it to his side. Celina leans against a tree talking to Tasha. The soldiers of their regiment run around some getting some last minute practice while others haul trophies and the spoils of war onto transport horses. There are some soldiers burying the dead, most of them burying their allies yet there are some burying enemies. A few soldiers can be seen crying as soldiers are buried.
"War truly is a terrible thing. How have you two learned to handle killing and watching your allies die?" Tasha is visibly disturbed as she watches the soldiers bury the dead. "I can't imagine the amount you two have buried."
Celina scoffs saying nothing while Godwine sets his hand on Tasha's shoulder. "This is the sad truth of this world. They have to die and kill to feed themselves and their people, and we have to kill and watch to keep ourselves from going under. It is simply what must be done nothing more to it," Tasha doesn't seem happy with Godwine's answer but she can't respond before a horn sounds followed by many more and their own. "Neer is just a little farther. Once Neer is taken we may likely stop our advance."
After hours of marching there it lies, Neer the city nestled between mountains, the icon of Folga's determination, the city that has never fallen, and now that same city is what stands between Osmon and survival.
Many more hours pass as the final defenses of a siege camp have been finished. Soon after construction of a catapult begins while Godwine sits down listening for the king's horn.
Celina walks within the walls of Neer, no one suspecting her. After finding the market place she walks around. As she walks through the crowds she is able to catch glimpses of the Osmon assassins, stalking through the city on roofs hiding in plain sight or some with slightly bloodied weapons giving signals to one another. Celina walks up to a weapon merchant looking at the different steel weapons and shields. "That is some fine weapons you have there," the merchant turns to Celina. Within a second the merchant looks away, ignoring Celina. "Hey I'd like to buy some weapons you bastard."
"I don't sell to people like you," the merchant has a tone of disgust. "Leave my store and leave this city."
Celina's face fills with surprise as the merchant turns to speak to a customer. Ceilna turns around walking away offended, with a hint of worry. As she walks, someone bumps into her. Celina turns to look at her and the person simply stares at her smiling as they get buried into the crowd. Seconds after a bang can be heard as a few people can be seen falling from atop the outer wall disappearing as they fall behind buildings. Shouts can be heard as people begin to run around most running towards the inner wall surrounding Neer's citadel. Garrison troops not stationed on the wall begin to mobilize. The garrison troops who fall behind are grabbed by the Osmon assassins being quietly killed.
Celina runs into an alleyway as she watches garrison troops run to the outer wall. Celina looks up at the side of a wall and begins to climb up. She looks at the outer wall as another strike is heard knocking more of the wall. The soldiers run from the open part of the walls into more fortified zones. Celina jumps from roof to roof until she reaches the Osmon assassin leader. "It is likely that the main gate switch is in that building," she points at a fortified part of the wall above the main gates. "I was unable to get any information about their side gates sadly."
"We can't get into that building with everyone there. Do you have any guesses as to where the side gate lever could be?" the leader questions Celina as she looks over the outer wall.
Celina looks back at the wall then at the fortified zone. "Likely we would just have to follow the wall," Celina looks back at the leader as they lock eyes.
"I will lead a group down the right side of the wall, you lead the rest down the left," Celina nods at the leader's plan and seconds later the leader is gone jumping to other buildings. Seconds later Celina begins to go down the left side of the wall.
As Celina reaches the wall she watches soldiers stand watching for anyone who may approach the wall. A group of Osmon assassins stands on the buildings around her continuously dropping and killing soldiers who have fallen behind or who are on their own. Celina looks down the wall until she notices a more heavily fortified area. She looks over at the assassins signaling for them to follow.
When they get close to the fortified area they can see one of the side gates. As Celina jumps towards another building her head starts to pound and her vision blurs causing her to mess up her jump. To her luck a quick thinking assassin sees this and quickly turns grabbing her arm before she falls to the ground. As she is pulled back up her head returns to normal and her vision clears. She rests her hand on head catching her breath as she stands.
"What was the abyssal deal you made, hmmm~?" a voice speaks to Celina but as she looks around there is no one that the voice matches. The assassin sighs as he jumps to another building. Celina shakes her head as she quickly returns to her task jumping onto another building.
As they look over the fortified zone eventually Celina jumps down and the assassins follow her. Celina lands on a soldier crushing his skull as she draws her sword. She flicks her wrist and two soldiers are blown off the front of the wall. "Shit they infiltrated the city!" The soldiers begin to quickly try to hole themselves in the fortifications as Celina swiftly kills soldier after soldier. The assassins begin to break into the fortifications stabbing and slashing the soldiers. The soldiers taken by surprise put up little resistance, quickly falling as the side gate is opened by one of the assassins.
The assassins stand checking for any survivors but before they know it they see six tails and within the second every assassin is slaughtered. "So Chiasa it has truly been a while since we've spoken," a figure appears behind Celina was untouched. Celina quickly turns around swinging her sword at the figure. The figure simply pushes the sword to the side. Celina's eyes widen as she recognizes the figure. Quickly she jumps backwards holding her sword tightly. "Well that's not a way to treat an old friend now is it Chiasa?"
Celina shakes in fear as the figure slowly walks towards her closing the gap between them. "I don't know who the hell you are," Celina attempts to push her back with her magic but to no avail she doesn't even seem bothered. "Who the hell is this Chiasa? I think you have the wrong person."
"Oh no I know exactly who I'm looking for," in a second the figure grabs Celina by her neck not tight enough to choke her but enough to hurt. They bring her up to their face and they look directly into Celina's eyes. Fangs protrude from their mouth long and sharp as their tails spread out. "Chiasa don't make me force you out," as she speaks shouts can be heard from below as the regiments begin to spill in through the side gate. The figure closes one of their eyes for a second and when they open it again it is vertical and thin. As they gaze into Celina's eye her head pounds and her vision blurs. "That's it, come and speak to me Chiasa."
Slowly the tails begin to extend from Celina once more as her body grows slightly. "Shit let go of me you fucker!" Celina begins to kick the figure. But they don't budge at all. Once again five tails form from Celina's bottom as the fangs begin to protrude from her mouth sharp but not as long as the figures.
With new strength Celina slashes the figure with newly formed claws. But her stance is different and she drops her sword. No this isn't Celina anymore. "Emiko the Smiling Child," Celina speaks but the voice is not the same as it just was. "Just because you are higher up then I, does not mean I can break my deal for you."
"Well isn't that just too bad. But you can find another desperate soul to make a deal with can't you?" Emiko walks forward inching closer to Celina. "I simply want to speak to you, that is all. After all, you haven't been seen in years."
"To speak to you an enemy is to break my deal," Celina no Chiasa grabs Celina's sword from the ground pointing it at Emiko. Chiasa takes a deep breath as cherry blossoms begin to flow into the fortifications catching the eyes of the invading soldiers.
Then nothing. The only sound that is heard is the wind and the cherry blossoms. Emiko smiles as she looks up at Chiasa. Chiasa grits her teeth burying her fear and worry as Emiko takes a step. With a single move the battle begins and the cherry blossoms flow.