plays: "Great Escape"
The sun had already set,
and the knights were ready to leave. Connor and Edgar went to survey the
region, while Rudra and Leslie got ready to follow the path. The curfew had
resounded throughout the Ellerith region, and this would be the FIDELIUS
knights' cue to leave the place without being seen by the Aleonia garrison.
“Come on… this is our opportunity” informed Connor, who was observing the movement of the soldiers and escort.
So, the knights set off towards the city's sewers, where they would not be found and could easily move around without being seen.
…
a little earlier
“The… sewers?” Alyfir asked.
“Yes, it will be a great place to move around after the city's curfew,” said Edgar, based on the escape strategy thought up by Rudra and Edgar.
“The city’s sewers are in this region, further north of the main city division,” said Leslie.
“We’re going to have to be very cautious, and be very lucky with that.” said Connor, who was organizing the maps on the dusty table.
“Luck, you say? Ellerith's sewers are periodically patrolled due to the horrendous smell emanating from there.” – Edmond added.
"That's why we'll be leaving in a few moments. According to Leslie, this will be our cue so we can enter the place without any problems." - Connor replied.
“Eww..! just imagining that I'm going to set foot in those putrid sewers...!” – complained Alyfir.
“Stop whining, princess. Are you afraid of a little shit on your sneakers?” – asked Augustus, who was making fun of Alyfir's indignation.
“Shut your mouth, you–!”
“Listen everyone!” – Leslie exclaimed, to attract everyone's attention.
“We’re leaving in a few hours, so get ready and don’t leave anything behind.”
"They must be aware of the route, right? Then we shouldn't waste time with that."
"The soldiers usually make periodic rounds in the sewers due to invasions and illegal trafficking."
"Maybe we'll have a tiny spark of luck in that regard."
"He said it so nicely just now." - Alyfir mocked Leslie's statement.
"Do you want to be punched in the face, you brat?" - Leslie asked, in a threatening tone.
"No sir! I'm sorry!"
“Ellerith is divided into 4 quadrants. The first to the north, is a military point where soldiers are housed, The second, to the east, is a noble area, where civilians live and coexist, the third is to the west, there is popular commerce, and the last to the south is the predestined region, the sewers.”
…
The knights advanced through the darkest corners of the city. Several soldiers could be seen patrolling through alleys, squares, and even sparsely populated areas. Civilians remained in their homes, unable to leave, imprisoned and in fear of reprisal.
“There, I can see it now!” Bart, who was further ahead, could see the entrance to the sewers.
“Great, let's take it easy, without attracting the attention of the soldiers…” Leslie reinforced while walking with the group.
Upon reaching the sewer entrance, Leslie took the lead as his companions followed, descending the stairs one after another.
"Here is our escape route. Stay together and stay alert. We don't know what could be lurking in the depths below."
Descending the grimy stairs, the knights ventured into the moist and odorous sewers. The faint murmur of water trickling echoed along the shadowy corridors, as the flicker of torchlight illuminated their path.
"Awww-! Man, What a horrible smell..!” – complained Bart.
“The people of this city eat very poorly, apparently.” – added Gael, to Bart'Olimios' criticism.
“Keep quiet you chatters!, or the echoes from the sewers may attract the attention of the patrollers.” – warned Lloyd.
In the depths of Ellerith's sewers, the darkness enveloped everything, thick and moist. Silent footsteps reverberated across the galleries as the FIDELIUS Entourage proceeded with caution. Leading the way were Connor, Rudra, and Leslie navigating through the labyrinthine tunnels, while Gael, Alyfir, Edgar, Augustus, Lloyd, and Bart followed closely behind.
"This resembles a labyrinth..." Edmond whispered, keen to avoid making any unnecessary noise.
"It's true; it feels as though we're moving in circles," Lloyd added.
"Don't fret too much, kids. We're closer than you think," Leslie responded.
"...This man continues to treat us as if we were children..." Alyfir pondered.
The discussion about the route echoed off the damp walls, but no loud sounds escaped the sewers. Connor whispered instructions, and Leslie pointed out possible detours. The mission was clear: escape unnoticed.
"squeak" "squeak"
“!” – Gael’s attention is taken by a sharp sound.
However, the stillness was abruptly broken by a curious rodent. A mouse approached Gael, making an involuntary noise. The knights immediately froze, aware of the dangers that could arise.
“...Get off me, you disgusting rat...!”
“...Hide–! Fast-!" – Leslie exclaimed, keeping in whispers.
Two guards appeared, patrolling the area exactly where the FIDELIUS were hiding. With agile movements, the knights managed to avoid being seen.
“I heard heavy footsteps coming from this direction.”
"Are you sure about that?"
“Yes, I'm never wrong.”
However, a new challenge arose when the mouse attracted the attention of one of the soldiers. The patrolman approached Gael's hiding place, but a second noise distracted him, taking him away.
“A bang–?!”
"Let's go! We must return to the surface!”
Gael sighed with relief, having managed to avoid an unnecessary fight:
“Ah… thank heavens…”
"...I didn't have to shoot anyone..."
“Rumbling… it can’t be… Knights, follow me.” – Ordered Leslie.
With the soldiers leaving, FIDELIUS found the trail of the patrol and continued forward, ascending the stairs that the soldiers descended to patrol the sewers. It looked like their escape was successful, until they rose to the surface.
“What the reck- huh… guys.”
Outside, the city of Ellerith was in chaos. News of the domination of Balterlutt by soldiers from Galèsia arrived quickly, and violence broke out. Blazing explosions and arrows destroyed buildings, consuming everything in flames. The population tried to escape, but the cruelty of the invaders left a trail of death.
"We…! We-! We have to do something” – Bart, indignant and frustrated, decides to pull out his bow and arrow to counterattack the invaders.
Frustration gripped the FIDELIUS knights as they witnessed the horror. Bart, driven by a desire for justice, wanted to fight the invaders.
"Let's go, guys-"
Bart, as he turned back, saw his companions turning their backs on the carnage, without any remorse.
"Hey…! What are you doing?"
“We have to save them! The civilians! The children!"
Leslie turns his face to Bart, and says:
“Boy, enough with the tantrum. Let's go."
“Captain… But what are you saying!?”
“Are we just going to let them die–!?”
Leslie slowly walks towards Bart, while dictating his ideals and motives:
“I understand your frustration with this situation…”
"But…"
Leslie remains standing in front of Bart, looking deeply into the eyes of the FIDELIUS archer:
“I’d rather sacrifice a few thousand than lose millions to this shitty war.”
Bart was immobilized by the intimidating posture that Leslie imposed on him. His empty blue eyes provided the knight with his pre-established conviction. Bart could barely form a single word through those statements.
“Captain…” – said Edgar.
“Yeah… I took it hard…” – Leslie replied.
Edgar turns to Bart, and says:
“Bart, I recognize your frustration, but…”
“I ask you to look at the others.”
Bart turned his eyes to the others, who were also in the same situation as him: frustrated and upset with the attacks on Ellerith's civilians.
“Don’t be selfish in thinking that only you are upset about this situation.”
“Unfortunately, if we participate in this clash, we will not know our fate.”
“Whether we will come out alive, or with our heads cut off”
Bart lowered his bow slowly, and placed his left hand against his face.
Meanwhile, Rudra arranged the horses that were in a stable near the parallel exit of Ellerith.
“The mounts are ready, we have to leave.”
Leslie placed his right hand on Bart's shoulder, and continued his statement:
“Kid, you’re good, but don’t let your sense of heroism hold you back.”
“…”
"Right."
“Alright, Folks–! We are leaving!”
The difficult decision was made, and Bart relented, fleeing with the group. On their way out, they came across seven trained horses in a stable, and so they took them and left the city through the northern gate that connected the road to the borders of Lisithea. The brutality they had witnessed earlier motivated them to continue their mission until the war was over.
Amidst melancholy and helplessness, the FIDELIUS Party set out that same night on the Lottrengarth road towards the borders of Lisithea. The sound of the horses' hooves echoed in the emptiness as they left the devastation of Ellerith behind.
As they left Ellerith behind, the FIDELIUS Party knew that more obstacles awaited them for the rest of their journey. Night was falling over the region, and the uncertainty of what would come next hung over them.
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