by The Ranger
"Why have you stopped here?" Eren questioned, sidling up to his former battlemaster.
"My scouts just got back to me, and-" the older man started.
"There's a large group of Seekers ahead," Richard finished. "Not too many on the road out, but a sizable amount rambling on either side of the gate."
"Yes," the battlemaster verified. "The creatures in our path are not so worrisome, as much as the thought of the others turning their attention our way."
"You believe the nearby Seekers will confront us once we challenge the ones ahead?" Khora echoed. "It is a concerning thought…"
"I can try to sweep through them all myself," Richard volunteered. "Even with my power, it might take time, but I should be able to manage it."
"I don't like the idea of all these people sitting here for any longer than they need to," Finnegan sighed. "Ideally, we'd only have to confront the monsters on the main road."
"Well," Edmund started. "If the biggest concern is the Seekers on either side merging with the ones ahead… why don't we block their path?"
"Block their path?" Eren muttered. "What do you mean?"
"Well, like the old story with the bridge and the blasting jelly," the young boy explained. "If we make it so their path is blocked, then they won't be able to get in our way… I mean, I know they might climb over most obstacles, but these Seekers… they don't seem as driven as the others we've faced."
"I agree, as far as their impulses, but how do you propose we block their path?" Richard questioned.
Before he had an opportunity to answer, Eren began chuckling awkwardly as a stray thought crashed through his mind.
"We knock down the bunkhouse," he murmured, his idea garnering a few bewildered expressions.
There was a bunkhouse that stood across from the southwestern gate; it was a building he knew quite well. It was run by a woman named Helga, and it was open to any young working man without a home of their own. Many journeymen from the outlying areas would stay there as they attempted to display their skills and earn a few coins, and traveling fieldworkers returned there to rest after harvest season. He would choose to stay there whenever he was given a few days for himself, as his mother and sister had left the city and joined his uncle within a nearby farming village. It was a place he had grown fond of.
"The road to the left of the gate is narrow enough that the bunkhouse could obstruct it if it's torn down," Eren continued. "Richard can topple it with a few thick vines, and that might keep them from blocking the gate."
The group looked to Richard as if he was the only one that could justify Eren's farfetched plan. Yet, it was Khora that spoke up to fill the quiet.
"Do not take this as an agreement to this… unreliable thought. But there is a guard tower on the opposite side, which could be brought down for the same purpose."
"Blocking off both sides of the main road," Richard reached. "I'm not sure that would work. Finn? What do you think?"
The aged battlemaster shrugged, shaking his head lazily as he did so.
"I haven't seen this power of yours put to use, but if it can manage what they've volunteered… then I think it may just help," he agreed, although a subtle hint of doubt traced his words.
Richard nodded at his mentor, stretching his fingers as he turned to look ahead.
"I think I can manage it," he sighed. "I'll try to sneak between the empty alleys and get there without drawing the creatures' attention. Bringing down the bunkhouse wouldn't matter if they've already combined with the others on the main road."
"There's something else," Finn warned. "I've got two of the older boys stationed in that guard tower— they were meant to keep an eye on the roads and light a signal fire if something changed. You'll need to get them out before you tear it down."
"I can help with that," Khora offered. "It is best that he not stall himself for too long. While he does his work on one side, I'll make certain the other has been emptied."
"We don't want the Seekers drawn to you or the boys," Richard warned. "You'll have to be careful."
"When have you known me not to be?" she smiled. "But, of course. I will not be detected."
"I'll go with her too," Edmund offered, quickly turning to look at Finn. "It's probably best if Ranger stays here, though, if we're trying to go unseen and unheard."
The battlemaster seemed to groan as he spared a look at the large dog but still brought his attention to Eren despite the lukewarm expression on his face.
"I want you to go with them. Use that flail of yours— it'll be helpful, should things grow desperate."
"I think I can do that. A few lashes and a handful of vines, and we'll have cleared the way for the shepherd and his sheep," Eren joked, gripping the Viper tightly. "Fine; let's say we get moving then, eh?"
Khora nodded, turning to face the road as they began to leave.
"Don't give Captain Finn much trouble, Ranger," Edmund smiled, pulling the dog's ears slightly when he said it. "We'll be back soon, so don't worry about us."
The animal whined slightly when his master moved away, joining the other defenders.
The Soul Seeker groaned as Khora lifted it into the air and cracked to pieces when she slammed it back onto the cobblestone. A quick kick to its skull provided an extra measure of certainty as it skidded away.
"That seemed just a tad excessive," Eren murmured as she took her spear back from Edmund.
"It isn't often we find a lone Seeker," she muttered, already walking away from the site of her clash. "And, best not make a fuss by using our weapons."
"Well, to be fair to Eren, that wasn't exactly quiet," the young boy cut in, lagging behind them as they snuck through Azra's backstreets. "At least it was quick, though."
"Quick as a cannon, and just as noisy," Eren jabbed. "But, I suppose it doesn't matter. We're close enough that I can already see the tip of the tower."
He pointed his finger up and ahead, tracing it along the edges of the southwestern gate's guard tower, which poked up just above the buildings that stood between them.
"I'm a bit surprised we made it through so quickly," Edmund commented. "I thought we'd run into more Seekers and hoped we'd at least find a few people."
"It's probably best we haven't run into people. We don't need to lug anyone around other than the two we'll be pulling from the tower," Eren returned, hopping across a smashed wagon as something occurred to him. "Wait… I just realized, Ed, what about your parents?" We haven't seen them, have we?"
The younger boy shook his head as they trudged along.
"No, but I'm sure they're safe. Our home is in the southwestern woods, remember?" he reminded him. "If Finn's been moving people through there, they would've been among the first to go. I'm keeping an eye out for some friends of Khora's, though."
Eren spared a glance towards her, and she nodded slightly.
"They should be easy to spot. One of them has hair of scarlet-fire, touched by age. She and her husband have done much for me, but I'm afraid that, as stubborn as they are, they refused to leave Azra."
"And you didn't spot them in the crowd before," he surmised. "Where do you think they might be?"
"I've no clue. Safe, I hope, but I don't know. All that's left to do is remain vigilant and trust that I will find them before danger does."
"Well, we'll make an effort once we've wiped away this mess," he replied, stepping out of the shadowed alleyway. "And that starts with clearing out of this place."
The guard tower was ten feet tall, at least the section of it that rose higher than the wall, which — at its peak — was twenty feet. According to his memory of its structure, Eren knew there were three levels to it: the entry room, with a few weapon racks and a handful of quivers; the next level up offered a view beyond the wall, and defenders could toss stones, loose arrows, as well as sling tar onto invaders; the top of the tower allowed an open view of all sides, and possessed a mounted crossbow that served to deter incoming enemies.
It was a familiar and al
most comforting sight for the young man; however, there was another, more intimidating sight to be found here— Soul Seekers. A pack of the monsters, two dozen or so, lingered between them and the entry to the tower. Dispatching them, especially with the Viper in hand, would cost no great effort; at least, it would not have if not for the horde of skeletons that appeared to be dawdling some thirty feet away from them all.
Richard had seemed to be correct, as far as the Seekers not immediately sensing their presence, but Eren worried what would happen if they overcame the group in front of them and, in doing so, summoned the rest.
"Are you thinking as I am?" Khora asked, scanning the small group of creatures cautiously.
"If you're thinking we just had an iron rod shoved up the back end of our plan, then we're of one mind," Eren grumbled. "What do you propose we do?"
"Hmmm," she murmured. "I might have suggested waiting for them to move on, but it does not look as if they will wander away anytime soon. Knowing that Richard — and the rest — depend on our swiftness, I believe we must act now."
"Well, if sneaking and being quiet won't work, why don't we just go in loud and fast?" Edmund offered. "Eren can use his flail to knock the Seekers aside while you and I go up and get Finn's guards. He can keep them away from the tower long enough for us to get back. Then, we just run clear so Richard can do what he needs to."
Eren nodded a bit and turned to Khora to see her reaction to this plan, and it appeared she had glanced at him to do the same.
"It could work," she whispered. "You'd be the one fighting them; what do you think?"
He shrugged and allowed a forced grin as he did it.
"Any chance to put this beauty to work is one I'm happy to take," he said, a mischievous look in his eyes. "All I ask is that neither of you drag your feet while you clamber up the steps."
"Consider it done," she smiled. "Ed, stay close."
The youth flashed a curt nod and crept closer to her as Eren marched forward and into view of the drifting monsters.
Slowly, they all turned to look at him and trudged forward a few tentative steps at a time. He waited for them to come closer, both to him and each other, before whipping back the Viper as he readied a swing. A quick look over his shoulder revealed that Khora and Edmund were waiting patiently for their opportunity, and he decided the time was right. He lashed his arm in front of him, and following its path, darted flashing steel as the enchanted weapon crushed everything in its way. A second, more precise attack dismantled the remaining Seekers, and he spun back to look at his friends.
"Go! Hurry!" he shouted as they began to run past him.
The slight scraping of hurried footsteps drew Eren's attention elsewhere as his allies ran for the tower. It was just as they had feared— the Seekers lingering nearby were now aware of their presence.
"Crap, there's a lot," he sighed to himself. "Crap, crap, crap."
A curious march faded into an eager sprint as the monsters raced towards them. He watched them tear forward, and he flicked the Viper's chain, stretching it as far as he could while still keeping some measure of control over its trajectory. He readied himself, adopting a steadfast stance as he prepared to strike, when he heard a panicked pounding behind him.
"The door is barred!" Khora yelled.
"Damn it!" Eren groaned, sparing a look back. "Of course it is! Why would things be easy!"
"Keep your focus on them!" Edmund squealed, reminding him of the approaching danger.
He whipped the flail forward, and it cracked through the first line of Seekers, but there seemed little end to their ranks as they rushed forward. Eren could still hear Khora slamming her fists and feet into the door while he kept up their defense. It was not something that could last, he realized— a thought that grew deeper when he looked overhead and saw vines crawling up the bunkhouse. Richard had nearly completed his task.
"Step away from the door!" Eren ordered, raising the Viper to strike. "I'll knock it down!"
Khora gripped Edmund tightly and moved aside to grant him an open target. He began to swing his arm downwards when the door started to creak open, and the face of a terrified sixteen-year-old poked through.
"Crap on my co-" Eren started to curse as he awkwardly forced the flail into a new path, crashing it into an abandoned cart.
"Are y-yo-you here to help?" the youth squeaked.
"Of course we are, you little idiot!" Eren screamed. "We're living, breathing people not-"
"Focus!" Khora scolded, pointing behind him.
He was confused for a moment before a lancing blade grazed his arm and granted him a sizable cut. He winced and smacked the Viper in front of him, pushing his enemies back. He had not expected them to gain ground as quickly as they did.
"Get the other one, and let's go!" he yelled. "They're starting to buzz around here like bees!"
A crack resonated across the air, and it took them a moment to realize it was not the rattling bite of the Viper that created the boom. The bunkhouse began to collapse, blocking off the narrow passage just as Eren had predicted. However, with the structure crashing onto the ground, the Seekers seemed to grow fervent. They charged with a renewed viciousness, one that had been saved for such a moment as this one.
"Run," Edmund called out. "Inside!"
Eren nodded as he backed away from their foes and dashed within the guard tower, slamming the door closed and sliding its bar into place. What followed was a volley of thumping fists against the trembling structure and looks of fear on the faces of those within. He was suddenly relieved he had not destroyed their only means of defense.
"Maybe less of an iron rod," Edmund whispered, meeting his eyes. "And more like a tree trunk."
He laughed awkwardly at his friend's joke, but the chuckle died out when the tower began to shake even further beneath the Soul Seekers' assault.
"Let us climb to the top and see what options we have," Khora presented. "We will not die here."
"You can fo-follow me," the young guard volunteered, moving towards the circular steps in front of them.
He led them up the stairs, keeping his hand pressed to the wall the entire time he climbed as if it might save him should the tower collapse. After a few moments of quiet anxiety, they reached the open platform that sat atop the tower. There were two other boys there, one looked to be about seventeen, and the other, who cowered behind the first, could not be much older than thirteen.
"There's three of them?" Edmund whispered. "Why are there-"
"Who are they?" the older of the boys questioned.
"Reinforcements," Eren growled, pushing past him to peek over onto the masses below. "And, looking at this mess, I'm starting to wish I had just stayed with the dog."
The sight that stood before them was not a comforting one. The Seekers that had been approaching were problematic on their own, but they were not the last of their numbers here. While the bunkhouse's destruction effectively obstructed the narrow paths that would have allowed Seekers from one side to approach, its sudden and loud collapse alerted most of the other nearby monsters. They began to approach in greater numbers. They joined their brethren as they slammed and thrashed against the tower, roiling like an angered sea.
"If only the crossbow faced the other direction…" Khora trailed. "Although, I suppose we can attempt to pull it loose, for all the good that might do."
"I could check below, see if they've stocked any tar," Eren muttered. "It won't be as effective as Richard's fire, but it'll burn the bastards a bit, at least."
As if summoned by his words, he turned to see a red-orange blaze spear through the sky. He turned towards its source and saw Richard perched atop the building that stood behind what had been the bunkhouse. He waved at them with his glowing blade and brought his hand to his face.
"What do we do!" he faintly shouted.
"I don't know!" Eren yelled back.
A small group of the Seekers attacking the tower broke off to scamper towards him, but he dispatched them wit
h his flames. He sent a few more waves of fire forward, but they merely seared a few lines of the monsters— he would need to face them head-on to burn through the masses between himself and his allies. Though in the time it would take him to do as much, there was no guarantee that the tower, which was already beginning to shake and shiver, would still be standing.
"He won't be able to destroy them before they knock down this thing," Eren grumbled.
"What about his vines?" Edmund prodded. "Maybe he can swat at them and clear a path for us."
"I don't think that would end well," Khora interjected. "These creatures are too close. I'm not sure he could attack them without damaging the same structure we're standing atop."
Eren remained quiet as he looked at the dark crowd that piled against the guard tower, and he turned to look at Richard, who was still steadily slinging fire at his enemies from above. He could almost feel his mind begin to flutter as he caught himself searching for a solution. However, his thoughts faded when a crack sounded out beneath his feet.
"Did that come from below?" the middling boy cried out.
"I believe so," she answered, slamming the trapdoor shut. "The tower's likely been breached."
"Well, what now?" Edmund said, glancing around them. "Even if we keep them from reaching us, they're going to tear the tower apart, and we'll be stuck between them all."
Eren slammed his fist against the wooden rail that kept him from falling over the edge of the tower.
"Everyone be quiet, and give me a moment to think," he pleaded, eyes ahead. "I'll figure something out; I just need quiet."
They obliged him, leaving a silence disturbed only by the murderous masses attempting to thrash their way towards them. He was unnerved by the scraping that emanated from below and was seconds from crying out when wisps of flame caught his eye.
One of Richard's swings had been poorly aimed and instead seared through the building directly in front of the tower. Its window shutters fell down to the crowd of Seekers, and Eren was able to glimpse into the room. In the center of the place, there was a silver bust atop a marble pedestal— a praying idol depicting the form of the dragon Izkar. The Fate-Maker's image sparkled brilliantly as light filtered into the room.
