Mercenary on the Winds

Lucille's assistance worked better than she could have hoped for; Naomi's surprise caused her spell to careen wide of the zombie, to which the zombie responded with a pin-point shot of her own. Unfortunately, Naomi didn't plummet to ground after the zombie's shot hit her, she wasn't down for the count. Naomi's surprise became a searing glare, one filled with hatred and embodied a single minded purpose, one that she made perfectly clear to her, 'Lucille! Traitor! COWARD! I will see you burnt for this.' Lucille's body froze. Without even realizing it, she had grabbed her right arm, holding it tight. Had it been anyone else, on any other day, with any other spell, Lucille likely would have been able to push past the threat without much issue. Unfortunately, it was Naomi, it was today, and it was Bolganone, a spell with which Lucille was intimately familiar. Lucille felt her body start to shiver as her mind began to race. No... Not here... not now... please... She had to do something, anything to keep herself from spiraling. If she lost composure now, she would put everyone here in danger, just as she always had. This time, however, she actually had a choice. She could run, and leave the rest of them to die, but that would only serve to prove Naomi and the siren right, that she was a coward, and a traitor. Perhaps more than anything else, she wasn't going to let Naomi and the siren be right about her, and she didn't want to have an attack in front the siren, or anyone for that matter, either. She hated that she considered running for even a moment, even if she was terrified of Naomi and her Bolganone, she still wasn't going to let people die when she could do something about it. She took a deep breath, body still shivering, and grabbed the wind tome from her bag. "Wind, hear me, and carry me to victory... T-This is good bye, Naomi." Lucille to 1, 18 and Wind Naomi, Canto to 1, 20

The second drake crumpled even faster than the first. Which was good, because Lucille barely had a moment before the Siren spoke up, 'Those pegasus knights.. they wouldn't happen to be friends of yours, are they? Perhaps you could speak with them, get them to fly elsewhere?'. She froze. Friends? Even if the Siren meant it in jest --which it certainly didn't feel like it was--, friends was so far from how Lucille would have categorized her former employers, that the Siren might as well have been speaking another language. And it just had to be the Siren, why did it have to be her? Lucille did her very, very best as she looked over as the Siren not to just fry her with a spell, her arm was already crackling. "You know... I thought for moment that maybe you were listening to anything I said. When you saw fit to judge me and my choices. But no, no, you're either hard of hearing, love hearing yourself talk, or are just plain stupid. Maybe even all of the above. Friends? You mean the people who have taken damn near everything from me? The people who have been trying to get me killed for years now?" Lucille took a deep breath before continuing, "Do yourself a favor, Siren. Don't say another word to me. Because you will not finish your next sentence. Coward was one thing, but friends? With them? I was nothing more than a tool, an--" Lucille cut herself off as she watched the cart head off on it's own towards the riders... and Naomi. While the zombie had proven herself to be entirely capable on her own, Lucille knew that Naomi was a cut above the rest. She was going to need backup and as much as every part of her being was telling her to let the others deal with it, she was probably the best equipped for it. The Siren helped somewhat at least, Lucille's fury was dampening her anxiety about the on rushing Naomi and the threat her fire magic possessed. Hopefully they could down her before her magic caused Lucille to lose it. But that was a bridge to deal with in a moment, the group coming out of the castle was going to have to deal with the brunt of her anger for now. Lucille to 2, 25 Breeze Lightning Myrm 8, Canto to 1, 22

The drake didn't even know what hit him. Two lightning fast spells, and he was careening out of the sky. Not much to be impressed about, but it should have at least clued the Siren in that she could have done much worse to the group had her heart not wavered. But the Siren was hardly moved by the display, in fact, moving into the fray herself calling Lucille to fade behind her and the Zombie. A tinge of annoyance, but she was far too frail to do anything else than let the two play defense. Though, "play" was hardly the word for it, as the Siren quickly established herself, expertly weathering the Drakes attacks and retaliating with her own. If nothing else, she was capable. Things seemed to be looking up though, the drakes were scattering and with another push, they could finish them off. They'd have to prepare for another group charging from the fortress, but they could be easi-- 'Lucille, Gabriela, behind us!' It was then that Lucille realized that the shivers from earlier had that not stopped. She turned and looked back from where they'd come and her heart stopped. It was unmistakably a Pegasus Knight, and there was exactly one group that the rider could possibly be from. No. No, no, no... That's not possible. Already?! How? Why? Had Thesephine lost? Or did Naomi and her group ignore her? Frankly, it didn't matter, they were here now and they would know it was her. A jolt ran up her arm as she forced herself back on task. It was always like this. Hope would find its way to her, only to be snuffed out thoroughly, convincingly right before her eyes. A chance at freedom? What a joke. She'd never be truly free, not as long as the Church exist-- Wait... Naomi's unit was the only group left that would be able to identify her immediately. Which meant, if they could take them all out here, the church would have no manner of figuring out that she had betrayed them, and that should keep her family safe for the time being. Either way, she had to keep it together, she was needed and perhaps Naomi had headed towards the main entrance; she was the only one among them who could use Fire Magic, and honestly the only one of them who could keep up with her in the first place. She hoped that making one of the drakes disappear would mask her palpable distress at the turn of events. Lucille to 1, 23 to Breeze Lightning Drake 10, Canto to 1-26

The drakes were closing in with weapons drawn. The uncomfortable feeling from earlier hadn't diminished even as Lucille steeled herself, in fact, it had gotten worse. It was just like being back with the Church, the feeling that something was coming for her. Focus, Thesephine will be fine, and as long as she's fine, Naomi and the others aren't going to make it here. Focus on the drakes in front of you. Lucille quickly glanced at the on coming drakes, searching for the one seemingly least prepared. With no weapons of her own visible to the drakes, she had the element of surprise. But the drakes weren't the only people who Lucille planned on surprising, if nothing else, she was going to make sure that the siren understood just what this 'coward' was capable of. "Here goes, Villkiss!" Lucille to 1, 24 to Breeze Lightning Draco Rider 12, Canto back to 1, 20

It certainly appeared to be drakes flying towards them. Of course it wouldn't be so simple to just break in through the back door. They appeared to outnumber the group but only just, so no matter how they went about it they would have to weather attacks. If it was just 1 or 2, Lucille felt that she could outfly the slower drakes, but with this many it wouldn't take long for her to slip up. Her lack of armor, and general frailty meant that a single hit would probably be enough to take her out. But the drakes would be just as, if not more susceptible to her magic. The zombie and the siren both picked up on the danger and began preparing themselves, it seemed like they were going to take the front with the zombie handing the siren a shield. If she was going to help the pair at all, it would be by taking the drakes out of the sky. Though... a shiver ran up Lucille's body as flew ahead to prepare, it was an uncomfortable, familiar feeling and she could only hope that it was nerves getting the better of her. Lucille to 1, 21

Breathe in, breathe out. The group was all together for a moment. Just get it over with, Luci. It's never going to get easier... She landed Villkiss next to the wagon, trying to ignore the siren on top of it. "I, uh..." She looked between the... Zombie? and the Pale Vampire just behind the wagon, "I guess one of you two is l-leading here? I'm... Lucille, I just joined not too long ago. I... um... I'll do my best to support as much as I can..." Lucille looked up at the Siren, and felt a tinge of annoyance. Though quickly overridden by rising anxiety, "...Which I'll do by scouting ahead for the moment. If, uh... you need me to do anything, just ask. Villkiss, up." Lucille panicked her way back into the air, introductions had never been a strong suit. But as she flew off, rounding the castle, she thought she could see something approaching in the night sky. "...Wait, are those..." Lucille to 1, 14

She was a tad behind due to getting a late start on her way towards the back entrance, but hardly anything Villkiss wouldn't make up. Though, Lucille figured it would be better for her to ease up a bit and at least attempt to introduce herself to the group that she'd be storming the entrance with. The Siren just happened to be an unfortunate setup, not something she needed to inflict on the others. Lucille to 3, 9

A rear entrance? That sounded perfect for her; she wasn't going to be much help in a frontal assault what with her needing someone to guard in the event that they got too close, which, with the gates now pulled open, they certainly would. A rear entrance would let her make better use of her abilities. Though, the Hero's call supplemented the Vampire's own, and called upon the siren, apparently called "Gabby" to join the riders who'd make their way to the back. Lucille sighed, as she tugged Villkiss's reins to join them. Just my luck. Of course I get the "gabbing" siren. She chuckled at her joke. It seemed like along with the siren, the wagon driver and the Vampire would be joining them. Of that group, the siren would likely be the last to arrive. "Well, I guess she can handle that on her own. Probably won't need any help from a 'coward'." Petty, but Lucille wasn't about to let someone who'd had no idea of the horrors of the church slight her like that. Lucille to 10, 9

Andddd she's gone. Thesephine disappeared by herself back, towards where the enemy reinforcements were set to arrive. Lucille sighed, if she was really concerned, the only thing she could do now was to help make quick work of Mixoco. They could double back if Thesephine hadn't returned by the time they were done. No turning back now, she made a vow to the medusa, that she'd be worthy of the kindness that she showed her. She returned to Villkiss, mounting her partner in a single jump. A deep breath. A brush of her now lavender hair. "Alright, Villkiss. Let's make the best of this chance. For Mom, Dad and Soleanna." With a flap of Villkiss's wings, they set off towards the fortress. Lucille from 16-4 to 17-9

Assessment

Lucille took a deep breath as Thesephine finished her speech. It was a far cry from the night before, and almost a dead ringer for some speeches she'd heard while under Coteon employ. But there was a feeling of true purpose in her words that the Coteon commanders lacked. Thesephine's voice carried necessity, and Coteon's carried obligation. Everyone here, as far as she knew, was here because they wanted to be, needed to be. They all had something they wanted to protect. She opened her bag, along with her wind tome and vulnerary, she'd also picked up a water tome from the convoy. She'd never really used water magic before, but it appeared to trap enemies in place occasionally. It seemed perfect for someone with magic as middling as hers, and it would help the others. Other than that, it was her, Villkiss, and a whole heck of a lot to prove. Though, Thesephine mentioned that she, alone currently, was going to hang back to cover the rear from those tailing them. She was almost certainly referring to Naomi's forces. She had no idea what the Demon King was capable of, but facing all of that alone... "I, uh... I know this is really out of line, your majesty. But... if you're talking about the Coteon forces, they're... strong. And their commander is even stronger. This... isn't my place, but going by yourself... That's not a good idea." Likely the worst way she could have chosen to stick out, but she was going to have to at some point.

New Orders

I'd like to submit my Olivia, the only +10 I've gotten since starting the game. https://imgur.com/i8NJdjp