As the cultivators reunited with the Continental Army, Helace walked up and examined Qatrand’s blade edge. The razor sharpness of it was notably shiny despite the fuller holding so much gunk.
"No dulling after all that? Impressive forging."
Such an unexpected complint made the Yecine stare briefly at the weapon her wife had gifted her. The heiress had reinforced it with old, unreplicable micro sigils and crafted it all with premium materials most wouldn’t recognize. Elua humd while looking at him from way up close.
’Perceptive eyes, as expected of an archer.’
"He’s right, though. Most weapons would need sharpened after every large encounter. The Void essence sohow warps and dulls, rounding off the finer points of practically anything into near shapelessness. It’s only their Rend physique that lets them make barbs, talons, and other ripping implents onto their bodies."
"What’s the status of the civilians and the periter on the other end of the tunnel?"
Qatrand redirected the conversation to their primary mission before the brunette who could not be seen or heard by them distracted her further. Kefa moved to join other two Order mbers while Ryder began conferring with Army scouts about any Voidling movent patterns they’d witnessed. He hoped to locate the direction the biggest one was in.
"Everything is ready at the rear. Rather, right now this *is* our rearguard. We’re maintaining this position until dawn, then falling back to march them to the nearest fort."
Perhaps fifty soldiers moved with purpose, preparing supplies and tending to equipnt. Functioning despite exhaustion from their march today and their fear of being overrun. Everyone else was well out of sight.
"Your diversion bought us the ti we needed to get everything in place. I won’t forget that, Qatrand."
The admission ca with sincerity from the seasoned commander. Qat nodded and saluted in acknowledgnt at first. Though only a second later...
"I wasn’t alone. My team deserves equal recognition."
A smile from the old woman ca instantly at that remark.
"Spoken like soone who might be worth following into battle again soday."
The comnt hung in the space between them as the captain turned and walked away to address other matters. It left the swordswoman with pride flickering in her chest, but not only from El’s fragnt. Her own feelings were different... and smaller.
This wasn’t the respect expected by her family na, but sothing earned through her own actions. She’d been trying for years since joining The Ironclad Order for anything close to excellence to not be diminished into the na ’Yecine’. The competition had added more tinder to that goal, but now it suddenly sparked.
She moved deeper into the cave network to find a mont of rest and a drink of water. When she sat down, Qat felt the fragnt in her chest pulse with what could only be described as ’smug satisfaction’ mixed with a ’mischievousness’ that had the swordswoman feeling that she had taken it easy too soon.
"I’m not doing anything bad, probably, so don’t worry so much darling. Would you like to experience it as they will?"
"Yes, please."
The sound of approaching footsteps drew the muscular teen’s attention. A slender man with dark hair pulled back in a tight braid was let through the defensive line with what looked like urgent purpose. Judging by his outfit, he was a scout for the Whispering Winds.
Sothing about the way the individual moved tickled at Qatrand’s awareness.
They both watched as Captain Cyera engaged with the newcor, their conversation growing increasingly serious looking. The scout gestured expressively, describing sothing with precise hand movents on a map that caused the captain’s face to harden.
While the woman talked to so of her soldiers, the scout turned slightly and waved twice in their direction. Pigeon blues took that as confirmation of what the swordswoman already suspected.
"Are you sure you aren’t being reckless?"
Mint eyes looked over before she leaned right into her husband-wife’s face.
"You have a lot of gall to ask that. But if you want to stop, just give the order and I’ll change my plan so this all looks like a false alarm."
Elua had taken on a new role with her illusions - and whatever she was reporting would likely shape the next phase of their battle against the Descent. The Army force leader leaned over the map that the cultivator scout had laid out, her weathered finger tracing the marked positions.
"You’re certain? This position here, north of the abandoned quarry?"
Qat tensed when she suddenly heard her voice speak so clear from so far. Her wife must have done sothing to make the sound carry better. The man Cyera spoke to nodded with confidence, dark braid swinging slightly behind his back.
Now that Qatrand was taking more stock, she realized it looked a lot like the weave style that Nohre wore hers in. She supposed it made sense that the imagination of the heiress would easily use things that she was accustod to seeing when putting together quick... disguises.
"I wouldn’t have co to report it otherwise. The leader-class is establishing a forward position there. Based on the convergence patterns of lesser Voidlings between the two forts, I’d estimate it is trying to gather the closest to it by dawn."
The Void Defense Society mber had stepped close as this ’man’ spoke. Ryder’s expertise was in this field, so he was easily drawn into the discussion despite his fatigue.
"It’s unusual for one of them to establish a position so quickly. They typically spend the first day or two looking for a more optimal location while constructing a proper hive structure."
The scout gestured toward him, and then the Yecine who was watching them from a distance away.
"That may well be due to the unexpected resistance. I saw what was going on from a hill before I got here. The Voidlings were particularly fixated on that one target earlier this evening."
Every eye turned to the ichor-covered heavy blade wielder. The Captain’s expression grew even more severe. The group as a whole fell into tense discussion.
The shield bearer argued for continuing with the evacuation plan, prioritizing civilian safety like they’d been sent for in the first place. Others, mostly from the senior Army group, advocated for a pre-emptive strike while the leader was still establishing its position. Especially with how many of its forces were estimated as slain.
Qatrand observed the ’scout’ carefully, noting the subtle ways the figure manipulated the conversation. Tiny gestures, planned pauses, and carefully chosen words that directed attention and shaped perceptions. Her mint-drop was playing the room by plucking the right strings, like a musician.
All while standing right next to her, in reality. The existence of her ability - her control with it - really would unnerve society at large. It would undermine everyone’s trust in each other if they could possibly be so completely false.
But Qat was sure that, in the end, she wouldn’t stop trusting her El... or that this was all the small girl cared about in the first place. The swordswoman rose to her feet again and took steps toward the group.
"May I offer a suggestion?"
Her low voice cut through the current debate. A lot like when her Physique activated, everyone stopped and turned toward the ’young man’. An amount of deference was granted by her earlier actions that would of course give more weight to her words.
’Above all, people tend to not argue with the person spattered in blood. Whether it is red, green, gold, or black.’
The reincarnator stretched as she followed behind her beloved. The obsidian mirror floated at the small of her back, no longer needing to hold it so tightly now that her darling was ’safe’.
"We need better intelligence before committing to either course of action. A small reconnaissance team could verify the leader’s exact position, an estimate of its goal, and strength of numbers without risking everything on a full engagent."
Captain Cyera considered this path as well. She should be sending the Whispering Winds mber to give his statent directly to the nearest fort. But another cultivator traveling alongside them as they evacuated the other mortals was welco.
She didn’t want to lose the aid, but understood that a leader being hemd in this early would be a veritable boon to the length of the war. A risk now that may save more lives later.
"And who would you suggest for this reconnaissance?"
"Myself, for one."
A murmur ran through the gathered soldiers. The scout’s eyebrow raised as if surprised. While Elua, of course, wore a smile on her face that no one saw.
"I’ve demonstrated I can both draw their attention and evade capture. If I go, I can definitively draw off forces to allow another with the gathered information to make their escape."
Another cultivator stepped forward, twin blades sheathed but hands resting on their hilts. Kefa grinned more openly.
"I’ll go as well. I have experience working with our Yecine’s ability now. If a quick fighting retreat becos necessary."
The captain nodded slowly before she gestured to the scout that had brought them this information.
"And you’ll need soone who knows the terrain. You’ve already mapped the leader’s position - you’ll guide them."
"I would also like to join-"
"You’ll remain here. In the chance that things go badly, your word about everything that has happened carries more weight than mine."
Without rcy, the old woman cut off Ryder and his attempt to join in the reconnaissance. He truly could not argue with her assertion, as much as he would have preferred to see the situation firsthand. A Continental Army report would be taken ’under advisent’.
A Void Defense one would be acted on swiftly.
"Dawn would be the optimal ti to move out. The leader-class tend to be less active during the transition from night to day as they consolidate their gathered forces."
With so final advice, he stepped back and returned to trying to clean off so of what vantablack remained on the back of his hands.
’My sister would be laughing until her sides split at my appearance right now.’
The map the scout brought was rolled up and reinserted into a tal tube for safety. A fake map wouldn’t do anyone very much good other than to seem like it was missing, once the illusionist stopped insinuating its existence into their minds.
"Then I have so ti to rest. A lot of you look like you need it as well."
It had been a week since they’d seen each other last. Elua er Goltbred’s spirit thrumd with an eagerness for the content feeling of nestling in strong arms. Covered in filth or not.
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