[Now Playing: Theme of ?? ~~Ashes~~]On the ground....
"Someone help me!"
The woman cowered against a tree, surrounded by Camazotz and Arctos Fiends. The ravenous Calamity-fuelled monsters saw prey. For most people, a single Fiend was difficult to deal with; not impossible, as a healthy man could, with a decent weapon and some luck, fend a Fiend off even without an Arte or access to Alphinite-infused weaponry. Someone unarmed and surrounded by a pack of Fiends, on the other hand, might do well to write a living will.
The woman cowered gently in place, hoping that help would come in time. The Order had said they were coming after all, and there was talk of an airship flying in full of Knights.
But it already seemed too late for her. She was another ten minutes from the village even running. Nobody was here to find her.
At best, they would probably find her corpse, if the Fiends left anything.
Or it would, had a barrage of green-tipped arrows soared out from the surrounding underbrush, finding their mark deep in the beasts' hides. The Arcana-imbued arrows took their toll, and the Fiends thrashed around, swatting about their backs and looking for the shots that had guaranteed their deaths, before slumping to the ground slowly, before falling still.
".....huh?"
The woman looked up, as soft footsteps made their way to her. A pink-haired girl approached her, the bow in her hands lowered. The woman's expression brightened.
".....are you hurt?" "No, no, I'm not. You got here in time. Any later and I.....are you part of the Order?"
The girl's mouth briefly, subtly twisted into a frown.
"...let's get you to safety. Grab my hand, please."The woman, puzzled, grabbed her savior's hand. The pink-haired girl closed her eyes.
In a swirl of wind and color, the pair found themselves outside Whitby. The villager released her hand in shock, staring at her.
"H-how-?"
"Stay inside, and keep the doors shut. Keep yourself safe, please. I don't want to see anyone be hurt." "....got it."
The woman, still confused, sprinted away from her, heading into the village to safety. The pink-haired girl frowned, waiting until she'd exited earshot.
That was the fourth person she'd saved like that today.
She bit back pangs of guilt and placed a hand on her chest.
".....I'm so sorry for what is about to happen. If we ever meet again.....please forgive me."
Fifteen minutes later....The
Galla Maria landed in a clearing outside the village, the airship beginning to lower a ramp to allow the passengers to exit. All three combat course classes were gathered by the exit to leave.
As the doors opened, the engines of the airship wound down and the ramp lowered, a Knight of the Order sprinted up to the ramp, waving his hands to get attention.
"We have a problem! Something's come up!"
