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Featured: Leon Karnak

Rune Factory 4

Copyright © Marvelous

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~3 years later

I carefully scan our surroundings slowly looking for any movements and listening intently for any sounds. I tighten my grip on Falchion's hilt in my left hand as my eyes dart around the camp boundaries. I look down to make sure everyone is okay and in position below me as I drift over the camp for getting a better viewpoint.

Titania is out front with her horse. Oscar and Ralf are out back, Oscar is mounted on his horse and Ralf is hidden behind him with his bow. Boyd is on one of the sides with his axe and little Merric. Ike is on the other side with older Lance while both are holding Ragnell. Papa must be inside with Myst and little Lance.

I move closer to Ike's position as he turns in my direction for getting a different view of the camp and he jumps mildly when he sees me. I notice Lance darts his head around towards me as well like he was also a bit startled. They keep my gaze for a short moment before turning back away from me towards the boundaries.

I dart my eyes towards the front once again. As soon as I sweep over Titania's position, my insides jump into my throat while Titania quickly darts her head and eyes towards the bushes when a small animal leaps from within it creating a lot of sudden noise. Her horse pushes up onto its hind legs and she has to quietly calm it down swiftly. She looks as though she also was startled by the noise because she watches the bushes for several moments longer before turning away back towards the boundaries.

As I continue watching further out beyond our boundaries, I feel my chest tighten as I study the area. It is very quiet.

Too quiet.

It has been just a couple of days since the last encounter with a small group of the Daein Forces. They seem to be stalking the entire kingdom with their hit and run tactics. Lucina informs us that the entire Castle Guard are on watch at all times. She has told us to do the same and monitor the area with caution.

We have been out here for hours now, watching, listening and waiting for if anything is going to happen. So far everything has been quiet and still. Like the eye of the storm.

We should probably keep watching. Looks like Titania wishes to speak to me.

I watch as Titania motions me to approach her. I begin to lower myself down from my perch above the camp and land on my feet in front of her up on her horse. She studies me for a short moment with a touch of nervousness in her emerald eyes as she darts them around behind me before falling onto my gaze, "See anything?"

A wave of uneasiness fills me as I slowly shake my head once, "Nothing. It is eerily silent. Everything is deathly still like the life has been drained away,"

Titania looks up behind me and she motions for someone else to approach her. I turn to see Boyd approaching through the bushes from the side of the camp with little Merric following him. Merric runs up to me and wraps his arms around me. Boyd wearily studies me before moving his gaze up to Titania while stopping next to me, "How's the east side, Boyd? See anything?"

Boyd reaches over and ruffles Merric's hair a bit before answering and a flash of worry pulses through his eyes as he moves them back up to hers, "Nothing. This is driving me crazy. We never know when they are going to hit," He says while using a low and halfhearted voice, "Or where. I wonder what they are planning with this,"

"I know. Me too. All we can do is keep watch," Titania sweeps her gaze across me and she looks as though deep thought is taking over, "Maybe they are waiting for a weakness to be broken before fully engaging,"

Boyd breaks his gaze from Merric and darts them back up to hers, "Weakness? What weakness? We have more than enough power to take them!" He says while increasing the emotion in his voice.

Titania studies me for a moment before looking over to him, "That may be true, Boyd, but you forget why we have enough power. I think they are targeting Star,"

I glance between the two as I feel my emotions flood through me. I find my gaze lingering on Boyd longer than I thought I would. I believe that is correct. I believe the Demon Lord is the reason for that. He wants my power and to take over Daein as well as Ylisse.

"Star?" Boyd's voice comes out confused as he studies me.

I nod before Titania can answer as I keep my gaze on his with my voice low but stern, "Yes. Don't you remember, Boyd? I explained that the Demon Lord has control over Vladimir who is leading the Daein Forces. My power is what he wants and if he gets it then Ylisse will be an easy target along with Daein. Nothing will stand in his way then," I tighten Falchion in my left hand and place my right up on my hip.

Titania agrees with a grunt, "They must be waiting until they weaken us by targeting Star,"

Boyd grunts and narrows his eyes as he glances at me before keeping his gaze on her, with a hardened gaze, "Yeah but that does not change the fact that we cannot do anything but wait while our nerves shoot through the roof! You remember the previous ambush, Titania!" A wash of sadness floods in his eyes as they soften a little, "I almost lost my baby brother,"

Titania's eyes fill with her motherly emotions as she reaches over and touches Boyd's face with her hand, "You mean we almost lost our baby brother. We all love him too,"

A small smile appears on his lips before he turns away from us, then his smile gets bigger, "Yeah, Mom! Nothing can get in between us!" He exclaims before turning back to me with a bit of affection flowing in his eyes and pulling me into his embrace, "We have to protect Star! That is our new mission!"

Titania chuckles as she smiles, "Yes, we look out for each other all the same. Hopefully we can trick them and catch them before they retreat one of these next times," She turns to Boyd, "You think you can do that? You are good at that, right?" She says with a wink.

Boyd chuckles and releases me from his hold, "Of course he can handle that. This is Boyd we are talking about!"

Boyd chuckles louder while Titania and I chuckle softly along with him. A hand slaps my right shoulder and I look up behind me and see a smiling Oscar reaching over to me from atop his horse. Ralf is on the back.

Oscar watches his brother for a moment before looking back down at me, "What have you done with Boyd? How have you gotten him to be this much fun to hang around?"

Ralf chuckles loudly behind him as a Boyd-like grunt fills the air around us while Oscar keeps his wide smile on his face, "Hey! No one asked you, Oscar! Star is a delight!"

Oscar chuckles and releases my shoulder before turning towards his brother, "I know, I heard mostly everything!"

I cannot help but chuckle louder before replying, "Picking on Boyd is my favorite,"

"H—Hey!"

"Mine too!" Oscar replies with a smirk larger than his last.

A sudden explosion erupts around us forcing all of us to immediately stop giggling and spin around to face the camp. The entire area rumbles and shakes beneath our footing as we stagger around trying not to fall over. Pieces of the stone hideout fall down and crack apart into tons of pieces as the smoke bellows through the open windows. A high pitched scream escapes from inside the hideout and my stomach drops.

"Myst!" I frantically call. It gets drowned out by the crackling sounds of the debris from the explosion.

"IKE!"

Ike has already started rushing inside long before her cries are heard. Everyone begins to follow suit when they catch their footing as Merric and I leap into the air and swiftly hover inside before the others. Instead of going inside, I go over the top to stay higher in the air for a better view and instruct Merric to go inside with his father.

As I approach the back where the smoke is bellowing from, I see many Daein Soldiers surrounding the fort. I sweep across the damage and the entire back section of the fort has been destroyed, exposing the inside. When I focus closer, I see Ike kneeling down next to a body lying on the ground with Myst next to him covering her mouth and tears streaming down her face.

No...

When I jerk my head back up, I see streams of arrows with explosives tied to them being flung towards the fort at rapid succession. Before the first one can strike, a black magic shield appears forcing them to explode on contact, keeping the fort safe. I look down and see Merric focusing on his shield, standing in front of everyone at the edge of the debris. I swiftly rush next to him, place my left hand onto his right shoulder and transfer my power through him, allowing him to fortify the shield further. My hand glows the black light along with my eyes as I focus on transferring my magic.

The shield responds to the extra power by enlarging to cover the entirety of the exposed fort and thickening to become impenetrable to the explosives being flung towards us. The shield stops showing signs of weakness. The surface flattens out from the rippling and distorting surface it once had while flashing white throughout it every time it is struck. The deep purple color the shield now has stays steady and transparent as the white flashes through it.

Merric lowers his left hand now that he has the shield under control and only keeps his right one raised before him while it is the only thing encompassed with his magic. The arrows decrease and the frequency of them striking the shield dwindles as the Daein Forces notice we have developed a defensive structure.

I turn my head to the side and tears slide down my face before I begin to realize what is happening behind me. I see Papa's body lying lifeless on the littered floor with debris scattered around him from the explosion. Papa's right side has been stained to a deep red as his face shows no signs of life with his body limp in Ike's arms.

I hear Ike's controlled anger from behind me between his slight sobs he is trying his hardest to hold in. I catch a glance of older Lance and he looks up to me with a couple of runaway tears sliding down his face as well.

Titania has dismounted from her horse and she is by Papa's side, "Oh, Greil," She whispers softly while bringing her hand up to her mouth. Many tears fall down her face.

I turn back to notice the Daein Forces have ended their onslaught of throwing explosives and have started gathering themselves together. They look to be beginning to retreat once again.

This group looks to be the majority of their forces. If we chase this group, me may catch them off guard.

When I turn to face Ike and the others, he seems to have already formulated a plan by the look he gives me. He catches my gaze and I can see the pain all over him as he tries to keep his composure before speaking to me. I can tell he wishes for me to embrace him but now is not the time. I know he dislikes being in charge but right now he is being fueled by his strength and the urge to make sure we do not lose anything else to this hit and run strategy of the enemy.

He approaches me slightly with a step while glaring across the field at the retreating Daein Forces, "Give chase. If we can catch them off guard, we might be able to take back the advantage,"

Several agree with their small grunts as I nod, "I am thinking the same,"

"We will follow you to the end, Ike," Titania gives her support. The others reply with more grunts of agreement.

Older Lance takes a step forward before I turn to follow Ike, "Ma, Pa, I believe this is the decoy that I vaguely remember that Vladimir sent in hopes we would chase them,"

Ike turns around for a moment to look at him. Both of them are fighting tears as they study each other, "Understood. For now, this is our plan. Move out,"

:'(

The war continues. It is nearing its end though. The suspense and tension are extreme in this part within the hideout of the mercenaries.

Thank you all for reading!