-Callen-

  I watched Nixie roll off and turned my attention to the fort. Using the gate for the civilians to escape was viable, but I hadn’t considered at the time the consequences of using it as my escape route. Using Mana Zone, I could hold the gate open from the other side as long as the connection wasn’t cut. However, if I left through the gate, then I wouldn’t be able to retrieve the gate itself, and I still needed it later for Callia’s reinforcements. Without the reinforcements, I’m not sure we could hold out until the neighboring fief arrived. Honestly, if both Portten and Woodside fell, then the entire region would be at risk of being lost.

  Though the survival of the region in relation to the kingdom wasn’t really the biggest concern of mine, it did bode ill that every town and even a city between us and the rest of civilization had fallen. Our connection to any kind of support was thin even before our neighbors fell. Still, I didn’t have time to consider the larger implications; I needed to plot my escape once everyone else had left.

  First off, protection from arrows was essential, and I had just given all of my equipment to Nixie. I pulled out several smaller bones of the giant eagle and started engraving them carefully. Instead of a complex automated interception system, I just made a continuous defense. The bones would be ruined before the day ended, but it made creation much faster. I cut a small hole, looped some thread, and had my new necklace.

  Next was the getaway plan. Speed was the name of the game here. Since the elves were hunting the fleeing humans, they would undoubtedly be present as I fled. If I had time, decoys might’ve been an option, but I decided to place my bet on an old project that hadn’t seen much use since Lexia first appeared: a jetpack. I started making revisions in the work. Instead of upward thrust and careful balancing, I installed some very rudimentary wings and adjusted the thrusters to focus primarily on launching me forward. I inspected my personal booster pack. Will it get me somewhere fast? Yes. Will I break every bone in my body on impact? It was hard to imagine any other result. Did I have time to address that issue? Looking at the refugees dragging themselves forward with ragged determination outside, no.

  “Everyone this way! I’ve prepared an exit strategy to get you to Port Town.” The light of hope returning to the eyes of the refugees said everything that needed to be said. Before I activated my gate and before I could even notify Nightshade, she connected the gate on her side. It seems she was still watching the situation.

  The first to arrive at the fort were the strongest but also in the smallest groups. However, as more and more refugees started arriving in greater numbers, they started piling up at the gate, which only fit one or two at a time, and even with a steady stream of passage, only so many could fit through. I looked out the entryway of the gate helplessly while wondering how Nixie was holding up.

  -Nixie-

  I shifted the wheel, bringing the wagon drifting to a stop as I reached the next group of four survivors, two parents and their kids.

  “Push to the river fort! An escort is waiting there to deliver you safely to Port Town.” Just as I finished my statement, the mother's head exploded as an arrow slammed through it and into the dirt. The dad only had a moment to grab his kids and throw them before another three arrows blasted the man into meat chunks. I tried not to focus on that as I leaned out of the cabin just enough to catch the kids. I didn’t even wait to finish pulling them in as I slammed my foot on the accelerator.

  The wheels roared with life, pulling the battlewagon forward just fast enough for another set of arrows to whiz by. I leaned backward, reeling the kids into the vehicle as quickly as possible. I lifted my left leg, adjusting the steering wheel, sending me swerving to the side violently, narrowly missing a tree. With the kids inside enough to not fall out, I let them go and seized control of the wagon, bringing it back under control.

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  I flicked several switches on the side console, and a flap at the back of the vehicle released runic smoke bombs. Using the cover they gave, I triggered another compartment to release and activate proximity mines. As I made another swing around a tree, an arrow whizzed through the window before vanishing an inch from my eye. One of Callen’s three amulets glowed briefly before fading completely. Still, it bought me enough time to put several more trees between us and the elves. I didn’t let up as I pushed the car to take me through the forest and from the road to Portten and towards the road to Woodside.

  The sound of explosions behind me confirmed I had gotten enough attention from the elves to make the pointy-eared bastards follow. I quickly check on the condition of the kids. Pale faces, snotty noses, and teary eyes—they were sad but ok. I reached back and forcibly adjusted the kids into a safety harness. When I commissioned the vehicle from Earthkin, I gave them a list of features I wanted, but I also told them to get creative with extra features. I never expected to be so glad someone chose to add kiddie seats.

  This time instead of encouraging people to rush for the river fort, I circled around the road entirely to avoid dragging my pursuers into civilians. An arrow from in front of me signaled when I had encountered the pursuers of the Woodside refugees. It cost me another amulet as I felt the arrow sting my throat millimeters from decapitating me. I ducked down, pulling another set of levers, making a wheel of flamethrowers rise from the back of the battlewagon. It began spinning and spraying flames indiscriminately as I took a hard left. Of course I didn’t just use the flamethrowers. I also activated an automated dart launcher with Nightshade’s special applied to the tips. I reached back and pointed up.

  “Want revenge, kid? Try to hit em with that!” The boy was confused but obeyed, crawling up into the gunner stand. I ripped off the last talisman and shoved it into his pocket as I continued to navigate. The sound of the dart launcher comforted me greatly as I tried to put distance between us and the archers. I carefully navigated the forest, keeping us just ahead of the threat range of the elves, but I couldn’t find an opportunity to make a turn. Suddenly the forest opened up with a clear view of the ocean. With no more space to try finding an opening, I turned hard left. My wheels hit the sand at a bad angle and dug in; suddenly the wagon was rolling uncontrollably towards the ocean. I grabbed the boy's ankle, pulling him in just before the dart turret was crushed. We slid to a stop on the floor facing the forest.

  Looking out I spotted six elves, two of which were archers, emerging from the forest. Judging from their distribution, it was two separate teams, both of which followed me here, which meant I might’ve successfully diverted the refugee hunting teams. I pulled the kids onto my lap as I pulled and activated my secret weapon, fish bait.

  Plea for Aid

  Callia knelt down before the queen with her heart hammering. Breaking in urgently like she did didn’t seem like the kind of issue that could be dismissed so easily. She waited for the queen to respond as the guards grabbed her, intending to drag her out.

  “Halt, depart, and seal the chamber.” Karia’s voice rang throughout the chamber demanding compliance. The knight in white armor, who had been kneeling when Callia arrived, stood up, intending to comply, but stopped at the queen's gesture. “Report the emergency that brings you to me while disregarding my current visitor.” Callia swallowed nervously before taking a nervous breath and starting.

  “Dozens of elves from the Fallen Forest have overrun Woodside and Portten Towns. The level of the invaders ranges from 110 to 150, and Port Town doesn’t have the means to resist them. The neighboring towns have already fallen; the closest city that might offer aid is more than a week away and has no knowledge of our plight. You are the only person who I can turn to who has the strength to save my home.” Karia passively shifted her gaze from Callia to the knight.

  “Certainly dire circumstances, but it's beyond your station to demand my time as you have. Barging into my council chamber without notice bears consequences, Paladin Korin; it is your meeting that this girl has disrupted. You may decide the appropriate punishment.”

  Callia bowed lowly to the paladin as his gaze shifted from the queen to her and then back to the queen. He started to speak but stopped as his eyes locked on the prone body of the withered, charred humanoid creature on the floor. Its hands reached for Callia even as it lay dying from a broken neck.

  “My Queen, it appears the one I seek has been found. I ask you to permit me and my order to answer her plea for aid.” Callia’s eyes went wide in shock at the man's request.

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