Steel and Mana

Chapter 385 – Winter in Markoth (1)

The first snowfall came around midnight, covering the wrecked rooftops and shattered ruins of the Kingdom of Markoth in a thin layer of white. By the third day, they almost disappeared from view as the snow blanketed the land, turning a desolate and destructed country into something more pure... white. The only place that retained any sign of life was the capital city, where the remaining citizens tried to hide in their homes to keep the fire going, both inside their hearths and their own hearts.

Around the city, Avalon’s banners were erected high as they flapped in the winter wind at the top of their perimeter towers, mostly there for show as no soldiers manned them for lookout. They didn't need to. With the Knight's Errand present, hovering above the city, its sensors were seeing farther than any human eyes could. Since snow began to fall, it was on full alert, constantly monitoring the surrounding region, its crew taking strict turns that were drilled into them, one half always on duty, the other resting.

On the fourteenth day of snowfall, Veron stood near one of the inner gates of the city, staring into the swirling white still coming down from above in thick, never-ending batches. He couldn't help but sigh, reaching into his coat's inner pocket, taking out a pipe, and stuffing it. Glancing back over his shoulder, one of the makeshift soup kitchens was passing out steaming bowls of stew, working together with the Avalonian troops and the merchants from Atuvia. It wasn't much... yet many stood in line, drawn there by the scent of food that filled the frozen air.

What surprised Veron was that there was no fighting, no pushing. Based on how they looked, the people here should have been scrambling to get something to eat. Yet even that was gone; the monsters even killed their drive to survive. Or at least, they almost succeeded in doing so. The only reason it didn't happen yet was that the people here were still afraid. When that feeling was gone, the city and its people would have probably welcomed the winter so they would be freed of suffering.

He had seen their stares—emptied, hollowed. Not suspicious, not hostile. Just tired. Souls so weathered they couldn’t imagine safety was real anymore. Maybe if they hadn't come, this winter would have been the one when they finally gave up.

He didn’t blame them.

But, since their arrival, the children had begun to speak again. Still, most clung to their parents like animals sensing an approaching wolf. Their laughter, being as rare as it was here, seemed subdued. But at least... it was happening more and more, especially when they witnessed Tiburon's antics. By the third day, he became the city's new clown and spent his time with the hundreds of orphans, playing with them.

"Damn," Tiburon, just as Veron thought about him, strode up beside his commander, his hot breath clouding the air as he rubbed his massive palms together. “Soup ran out faster than expected. But it should be fine until we get more supplies from Atuvia. The locals are rationing themselves with almost everything.”

“It is a habit,” Veron said grimly. “They’re waiting for it to vanish. For us to leave. Or die. I did hear them talk about it. Some don't expect us to last, not even with our machines.”

"I know." Tiburon shrugged, shaking his head, looking at the people around them. "Not that I blame them. But watch their faces when we show what Avalon is capable of. My father served under Lord Kalash; he had been fighting monsters before our Sovereign was born. When I became his Knight, my father was overjoyed. If he still had his legs, I think he would have been dancing!"

"Why don't you petition for Lady Mikan's healing? He should have been cleared for it, no?"

"He doesn't want to." Tiburon shrugged, "He says he is content with how things are. Leave her majesty's gift to the young."

"I see..." He muttered, eyes turning in thought, surveying the scenery.

He watched as Corinne passed by with a team of engineers, her words on point and her voice clipped as she directed them to the southern edge of the wall where the last works were being finished, filling up the final gap that was left on Markoth's defenses. Although they were now here, they weren't enough to possibly stop an entire horde from getting through. Depending on the size of the beasts, with their own numbers, they had to prepare for everything. The Avalonian soldiers, that one platoon they brought along, needed a completed wall that they could defend.

"Come," Veron said, puffing up a big cloud of smoke, "Let's make sure our mechs are battle-ready. I have a hunch that soon, the silent winter days will be over."

"Yes, sir." Tiburon nodded, cracking his knuckles, "I do believe that you are right."

...
....
.....

On the same day, when the sun was already setting, Corinne sat with a small group of children in one of the converted temples, which had been made into an orphanage. She was reading from a thick book to them, her tone changing with the characters, voicing them passionately as they huddled together beneath thick Avalonian blankets. Their guardians, the remaining nuns, and priests stood nearby, silent, some clutching their leftover relics and silently praying to the Gods to make sure their miracle would hold. That the visitors would indeed be as strong as they claimed to be.

"One more!" A girl cried out as the story ended, and Corinne was about to stand up.

"Sorry, little ones, but I need to head out. Big sis needs to protect you while you are sleeping!"

"Miss Corinne..." One of the older boys, entering his teenage years, finally spoke, his voice shaking. “You’re really staying? Even now, that winter had come?”

"Duh. That is my duty!" Corinne chuckled, gazing at everybody, watching their faces. "I am a Knight of Avalon. I swore to my Sovereign, and I accepted his will,” she said with such conviction that it was on par with how the priests held their sermons in Markoth's past glory days. "Just as my comrades. We’re here to stop the monsters. And we will.”

Many of the children kept looking at her, and she noted that their eyes were not as hollow as those of the adults in the city. They all had light in them—a twinkle that Corinne swore she would protect. She wouldn't let it be snuffed out.

...
....
.....

Inside the castle, what remained of the royal household, including servants and ministers, mainly stayed out of sight. King Edric, Lord Cedric, and General Lothal were the only three who were still alert and kept meeting with the Atuvian and Avalonian people, coordinating with their wishes. It was a good thing to do because they ordered what remained of their pitiful armies to simply stay out of the way and act as a second line of protection. Nobody was fighting against the decision... they welcomed it.

"I wonder if they are telling the truth..." Lothal muttered, looking at the others, before turning towards the room's tall and old window, glancing out into the black night at the mountains hidden behind the clouds and the darkness.

"You saw their machines." King Edric sighed, "If they say they can see in the dark as well as in daylight, I believe them."

"We can do nothing but believe them," Cedric agreed, "not that our soldiers would see even further. We can't summon the sun!"

"Not without mages... and if they really cared about the issue... they should have sent one." the general grunted, arms crossed before his chest.

"I wouldn't..." the king sighed, walking up next to him. "If I had to choose between defending my own or a foreign country in the winter, I would have also chosen my people. It is a ruler's prerogative to do so."

The general didn't answer in the end; he just shrugged, feeling his king's hand squeeze his shoulders. He just couldn't help it... believing in change gave him hope, and now he didn't want to be disappointed.

...
....
.....

On that night, Jonas, the same wall guard who once rang the alarm bell when the Knight's Errand arrived, stood again at his post, hands pulled before his mouth, breathing hot air on them, trying to endure the cold night. He had seen the monsters before, and he had a gut feeling that he would do so again. He’d lost his sister to the first one that got through...

But tonight, he whispered to himself, he hoped that won't be the case. A prayer. A plea. He repeated it over and over again.

"Not again... Not again..."

But, as he did so... the midnight wind howled louder and louder every time. Then... he realized it wasn't the wind. It was actual howling.

...
....
......

Far to the north, past the tree line, the snow shifted and not because of the wind or because some old building gave out under the weight of the snow.

The first had arrived.

It moved with a head, pecking up and then down again in a somewhat... familiar manner. At least familiar to those who had ever seen a chicken looking for food. This one had a massive, sloped skull along with a long, beak-like snout. But, instead of useless wings, it had clawed forearms, too small for its immense size. It stood on thick hind legs and stomped through the woods, each step sending tremors through the snow-covered scenery, sending the fluffy cover into the air to swirl around its body. Behind the creature, he dragged a long tail that, when it was swung, was shattering trees like twigs.

The beast stood more than thirty meters tall, its feathers fluttering like a peacock's tail around its body. Its head twisted in unnatural jerks as it scanned the distant city. Finally, it found something—something that made its yellow eyes glow.

Then, it opened its jaws... And it howled in anticipation, its shriek carried far by the wind.

...
....
.....

"Incoming signal!" the officer called, bringing up the image on the Knight's Errand's Imaginary for Captain Kain to observe. "Its magical waves correspond to those of a beast. Approximately... twenty minutes before it reaches the city."

"Send the signal to the soldiers." Kain ordered, then he added in a hurry, "Only to our soldiers. An early panic amongst the citizens would only hinder them."

"Already sent, Captain. Knight Veron had responded by saying they were going to be combat-ready in five minutes!"

"Any other signals?"

"Nothing, Sir. Only one."

"Has to be a big bastard..." Kain muttered, crossing his arms, thinking. "Take the ship a bit higher up. We will circle around the city and keep watch. We will make sure while they deal with this one, they won't be surprised by a sneak attack."

"Cannons are ready, Sir!" Another officer called out from his position, "The Knight's Errand is prepared for combat!"

"Good. Let us show Markoth that Avalon is true to its words!"

...
....
......

"Type?" Veron asked as his Valiant prepared for combat, his arms moving as he brought the shield and sword forth, testing their responsiveness.

"A big one," Corinne answered, already moving forward, using her speed to try and corral the beast away from the city and kite it towards an emptier plain. "About thirty meters in height, and it looks like someone smushed a chicken and a lizard together."

"The bigger they are, the bigger the surface I can punch." Tiburon chuckled, also beginning to move out towards the spot Corinne indicated for them. "Can you bring it close?"

"Already doing it. The bastard smelled my core and has now changed course towards my Shadow!" She answered with a giggle, "Despite how big and clunky-looking it is, it has ample speed. Though... I'm faster."

"Edrin?" Veron asked. Edrin's mech was the only one that hadn't moved yet; instead, it began kneeling, the massive weapon on his back already held in an arc, aiming upwards, holding its barrel with two hands.

"Ready whenever." He replied, "400 meters or a bit more, and I can start sniping it."

"One chicken alá Avalon, coming up!" Corrine chuckled, making Veron smile in his cockpit.

"Alright, Knights..." He said resolutely. "Corinne, bring it in firing range. Tiburon, you go and bash its head in. I'll make sure that no surprises get through to the city. Edrin, you fire whenever ready. This one stays, got it? We will harvest it... but its meat will feed the locals. They need proper meals to heal. Let's show them who the new boss is around here! For Avalon!"

"For Avalon!" the three echoed in unison, their voice already convinced of their victory.