Impending Blizzard (Closed/Finished)

[Lynessa]

The fall of Remi was expected but it happened faster than the Ilian force in Araphen had predicted. Maybe the Etrurian army was too strong for the port city or maybe the defenders simply weren't ready. Whatever it was, the news ignited reaction from the Araphen soldiers. The tragic death of those who were mercilessly purged by the commander of the Etruria army had reached everyone in the fortress. The reaction was quite varied, some had showed rage and motivation to avenge Remi while some others seemed to be intimidated by the brutal approach chosen by Brutus, the man who led the invaders. Anyway, the atmosphere in the fortress was quite heavy after the loss of a city. Remi wasn't like an other cities. It was a port town which connected Ilia's trade routes and an important source for salts and fishes. And even worse. Strategically, losing it to Etruria would mean that the invaders could establish supply route through the sea, which much safer compared to the land route full of treacherous cliffs and snow. Adding all those losses, the Ilia had arguably been put in a great disadvantage.

Small parties had been sent out to determine the situation and collect information. It was unlikely that the enemy would make a big move so soon but the Ilian commanders in Araphen wouldn't risk another surprise attack or additional losses so any information could be a key factor right now. A few squadrons were sent out to fortify some strategic and defensible passes, blocking almost all roads that led further into the heart of the snow country. Even now messengers frantically rode in and out the fortress as the Araphen soldiers prepared and put themselves into intensive drills to face the invaders.

Lynessa was invited by Floki, her friend and a high-ranked officer, to attend the strategy meeting that was being held now but she refused and chose to stay in the top of the tallest tower, looking for a place to clear her mind for a while. This place was perfect. The cold wind stroke her face gently and sometimes came strongly to make her long violet hairs fluttering. The emerald eyes of the gentle dragoness reflected the anger and anxiety she was feeling right now. Like many others, the tragic event that had occurred in Remi affected Lynessa more than the woman herself had expected. How could someone think to purge anyone that wouldn't submit to Elimine ways? She knew that Etrurians could be quite fanatic sometimes but the last act had crossed the line too far. In personal level, it had affected Lynessa greatly. She had many friends and acquaintances in Remi and their whereabouts were unknown until now. I was difficult to tell if they had died in the purge or had submitted. And the people of Remi...why they had to suffer that much? There weren't many survivors among those who had tried to escape from the city and the dead bodies piled up for every Ilian who were thrown into the burning pit. This madness made the dragoness sick. Living among the humans, having a family and many friends, had made her grown attached to this land and its people. Lynessa wasn't a patriot but she couldn't simply ignore the cruelty that had been brought to her family's homeland. While she was still not sure about her role and presence in this war, the urge to just go out there and destroyed the fanatical army had grown stronger everyday.

A sad expression came to paint her face as Lynessa looked at the scenery. White mountains, steep cliffs, and snowy forests looked beautiful from this height. However, this beauty would soon be trampled and dirtied by a war. Maybe it was inevitable, after all. Using her imagination, the dragoness tried to conjure a clear image of bloody battle and burned forest in her mind. "I can't allow this..." she thought to herself. Her hands gripped the stone railing as she tried to vent her raging emotion, teeth gritted and eyes closed.

[Faith]

Remi had fallen. The Etrurian invading force had crushed it, smashing the defenses and grinding the city beneath the boot of their war machine. Now they stood as conquerors, occupying an important port city. It was a truly unpleasant situation, and it had Faith in the most unpleasant of moods. The Seventh Unit was stationed in Araphen, and after retrieving the two traitors, the would-be informant and the Etrurian spy, they had received little more than a commendation and extra rations. Faith was alone, having just left yet another unsuccessful audience with her Unit’s leader, who once again had refused to send them undercover to commit acts of espionage and sabotage against the Etrurian occupying force. A ‘fool’s errand,’ she had called it. ‘Suicide.’ ‘Impossible.’

That angered Faith. She knew that her unit could be of service to Ilia, could make a contribution to fighting to expel the invaders who were squatting upon their land, oppressing their people, and plundering their resources. But instead of doing something, instead of doing ANYTHING, they were essentially confined to barracks, not even allowed to fly outside of the city. It was as if a leaden chain had been locked around her neck and she had been thrown into a dank cell.

With all of this pent-up frustration roiling beneath her skin, she felt as if she was being slowly boiled and pickled, her skin tingling and every slightest thing poking at her like a thorn in her boot, always pushing her nearer to losing her composure. The only ways to expel the negative feelings and put herself at peace were to fight or to draw, and she had already been reprimanded by her commanding officer earlier that day for trying to train for six hours at a time. She had given Faith strict orders not to train any more that day, and so the Squire had left unsatisfied and certainly no calmer than when she had begun the six-hour session at daybreak.

So now she found herself climbing the stairs to and emerging upon the landing of the tallest tower in the Araphen fortress, where she saw another woman looking out over the landscape. Faith did not recognize the woman, but, realizing that she could very well be a non-commissioned officer or other figure of importance, saluted, clicking her heels and standing at attention as she announced,

“Beg to report, ma’am, Ensign Faith reporting. Off duty, ma’am, and wished to relieve personal frustration by drawing. Upon your orders, ma’am.”

It was clear from her posture and tone that she did not intend to move one inch until given some sort of orders from Lynessa, or unless the other woman explained her lack of affiliation with the Ilian military.

[Lynessa]

Lynessa was so lost in thought that she failed to notice someone coming behind her. She didn't expect anyone would come to this place anyway since everyone should still be busy. The strong salute surprised the dragoness and it was enough to make her turn quickly to the squire. Observing the young girl and finding her seriousness amusing, Lynessa giggled as she leaned herself against the edge of the stone fence.

"I don't have any order for you, young one. And even if I have, I fear I simply don't have the authority to do so. I am sorry...it seems you are mistaking me as an officer, am I right?" Lynessa said with a bright smile. It was bit awkward at first but Faith's strict military greeting was successful to make her smile. It somehow reminded Lynessa about how her sons began practicing formal salute even in home after they had joined the military, which was a funny and pleasant memories. Her hands joined in front of her stomach and her fingers started tapping rhythmically, another habit of hers when the violet-haired woman was in good mood. It was strange but nice how talking with someone could lighten her mood.

"I am not an officer. I am here by invitation of Commander Floki, an old friend of me. You can think me as a simple guest, sort of, although Floki said that he would give me a mission sooner or later." Lynessa hadn't told Faith the whole story. There was no need to tell this serious square about how her dragonic power would probably be used as a weapon in this war. The only people in this fortress who knew about Lynessa's true identity was Floki and probably a handful of his most trusted generals, although I was also very likely the cunning commander had told no one else. "Actually, I should be joining a meeting now, being personally invited, but I am not good with that kind of thing. Enjoying the cold wind here is much better, don't you agree?" she said. Maybe she shouldn't have told Faith about how she had neglected the meeting that was being hold right now. The girl was a military personnel, after all, she probably wouldn't take it well.

"There is no need to talk me with that much formality. Relax. My name is Lynessa Heartwater. Who's your name, young girl?" Lynessa finally introduced herself. She approached Faith and offered a handshake.

[Faith]

"I don't have any order for you, young one. And even if I have, I fear I simply don't have the authority to do so. I am sorry...it seems you are mistaking me as an officer, am I right?"

Faith remained at attention, not moving an inch as the woman laughed and smiled, but merely answering in the same restrained, formulaic tone she adopted whenever speaking to a superior.

“Beg to report, ma’am, yes. I was under the impression that you were an officer visiting Araphen, as there are many meetings currently underway in the fortress.”

"I am not an officer. I am here by invitation of Commander Floki, an old friend of me. You can think me as a simple guest, sort of, although Floki said that he would give me a mission sooner or later. Actually, I should be joining a meeting now, being personally invited, but I am not good with that kind of thing. Enjoying the cold wind here is much better, don't you agree?”

“Beg to report, ma’am, yes, I do find the wind to be refreshing and invigorating, although I cannot say that I have ever neglected a responsibility to enjoy a wind.”

Faith had no emotion whatsoever in her voice – no sarcasm, no judgmental sneer, no patronizing edge. It was as if one was reading dictation back, a simple response delivered in crisp and flat Common.

"There is no need to talk me with that much formality. Relax. My name is Lynessa Heartwater. Who's your name, young girl?”

The woman approached and extended her hand, and slowly, Faith lowered her salute and shook the woman’s hand, firmly and professionally, like a soldier. Her demeanor remained tense and upright, however, and she remained at attention in all respects save her missing salute.

“Beg to report, ma’am, my name is Faith. I am an ensign in the Ilian military, a member of the Seventh Unit Experimental Tactics Squadron. I am honored to meet a friend of the esteemed Commander, who I hold in the highest regard!”

Faith finally relaxed, moving to the edge of the tower and setting her notebook on the flat stone of the fortress’s rampart. The breeze ruffled her short hair, and the young Ilian looked out over the landscape, troubled. Her pencil began to move, and she seemed immersed in her work. But then she spoke, suddenly and abruptly, cocking her head and turning it slightly to peer at Lynessa.

“Beg to ask, ma’am, are you one of the Seraph Knights?”