As Daroon and Tirrellda turned their bodies, a small figure emerged from the shadows
Muwa. Large eyes resembling those of an owl gleamed yellow under the moonlight, and the face covered in a mix of brown and gray feathers showed clear signs of tension. The small beak opened and closed rapidly as it caught its breath, and the white feathers around the neck trembled faintly.
"Beuboa!"
Daroon called out the scout's name in a low voice. Even though he intentionally lowered it, the sound emanating from his massive frame resonated heavily.
"I'm relieved you're safe, Captain."
Beuboa approached with a sigh of relief. His diminutive frame was clad in light brown leather armor befitting a scout, with feather decorations unique to the Muwa adorning the chest and shoulders.
A quiver holding small but intricately crafted throwing spears—typical of the Muwa—hung from Beuboa's back, and several small pouches dangled from his waist.
His feet were shod in specially designed shoes that exposed the toes, allowing him to use his claws when climbing trees or gripping rocks.
"It's too close to talk here."
Daroon glanced toward the citadel as he spoke. The faint glow of the Minotaurs' bonfires reached the edge of the forest.
"Let's move deeper inside."
The three quietly ventured further into the forest's depths. Daroon led the way, forging a path ahead, with Tirrellda following behind him. Beuboa brought up the rear, vigilantly scanning their surroundings. Their footsteps varied distinctly: Daroon's heavy strides sank deep into the fallen leaves with a 'thud-thud' sound; Tirrellda's light steps were nearly silent; Beuboa treaded carefully on his toes, avoiding twigs and small stones.
Once concealed behind a large oak, Daroon leaned his halberd against the tree and opened his mouth.
"What happened while I was away from the citadel?"
Beuboa paused to steady his breath, then blinked his large eyes and began his explanation. His voice was soft but clear.
"At first, there weren't that many of them. Ramupha spotted about fifty Minotaurs approaching the citadel. Ramupha immediately spread his wings and returned to report the situation."
Beuboa slightly unfurled his wings as he spoke. The Muwa's wings were broad and rounded, with feathers that softened and branched out toward the tips, layered meticulously.
"What was the situation when they reached the front of the citadel?"
"They had prepared crudely made wooden ladders and iron hooks attached to ropes, intending to scale the walls. The ladders were shoddily constructed—some were decent, but many creaked with poorly driven nails. The hooks were mostly made of rusted iron but sharp enough."
Beuboa's large eyes sparkled in the moonlight.
"But the citadel's soldiers didn't stand idle. From atop the walls, they stabbed at the climbing Minotaurs with long spears, dropping them, and rained arrows from massive longbows. Those huge arrows pierced even the Minotaurs' thick hides."
"How much damage was there?"
"Five Minotaurs were killed instantly by arrows, and three were wounded by spears. One of them fell from the wall and broke its neck, dying on impact."
Beuboa paused briefly and glanced toward the citadel. Tension was evident on his face.
"Then, they retreated a bit from the citadel and started lighting bonfires. At first, just a few, but they kept adding more. It seemed like they were sending signals."
"Signals?"
Daroon's brow furrowed.
"That's when the real trouble began."
Beuboa's voice dropped even lower.
"From various parts of the forest, small groups of Minotaurs—threes and fours, or fours and fives—started pouring in continuously. As if someone had signaled them. They came from the Star side(north) forest, the Land side(south) valley, and even from across the distant Moon side(west) river."
Tirrellda opened her mouth with a surprised expression.
"So, that many Minotaurs crossed from the west?"
"Yes. The numbers were substantial... Normally, at most twenty or so would descend to the forest outskirts for hunting and then head straight back to the Star side. But this time was different."
Beuboa nodded.
"In the first hour, they came in tens, then twenties, then thirties... It kept increasing. After the sun fully set, Minotaurs arrived almost without pause."
"Until it became like this now?"
Daroon asked, gazing toward the citadel. Dozens of bonfires burned with red light, and shadows of Minotaurs moved ceaselessly between them.
"Yes. Now... I'd estimate over four hundred. Maybe even five hundred."
Beuboa's voice trembled.
"The situation was so urgent that I made the decision without your permission, Captain. I sent Rema and Ramupha to the small villages on the Sun side(east) to report the situation and evacuate the residents."
Daroon's expression hardened slightly, but he nodded.
"Yes, that was the right call. Such decisions must be made on the spot in those circumstances, and as the deputy leader of the scouts, you have that authority."
"Thank you, Captain."
Beuboa's face showed relief.
"I was just about to head out toward the villages along the farther river. I need to warn the three villages across the river and the two beyond the valley. But then I saw you and Tirrellda..."
Beuboa trailed off and shuddered. His feathers trembled in a way unrelated to the wind.
"When I left the citadel, the Minotaurs spotted me. As I took to the air, they started hurling nets and spears wildly. The nets were larger and heavier than expected—one tangled my wings, and I nearly crashed."
Beuboa slightly lifted his right wing. There was a small wound at the tip.
"A spear grazed me. If it had been any closer..."
"You're fortunate it's not a serious injury."
Daroon examined the wound as he spoke.
"It was truly dangerous. It seems the Minotaurs anticipated our Muwa movements. They've come prepared to counter flying races like us, with nets and spears at the ready."
Daroon fell into thought for a moment. He rested his halberd on the ground, propped his chin on it, and stared toward the citadel. Hundreds of bonfires burned with red light, and the shadows of moving Minotaurs danced endlessly. Occasionally, their roars and axe strikes cut through the night air.
"The Minotaurs... there are too many."
Daroon muttered lowly. His voice carried deep concern.
"We'll have to abandon the citadel. Holding out any longer is pointless. Open the gates and have the soldiers break through the Minotaurs' encirclement, retreating to the Sun side(east). It's better to fall back all the way to Damu."
A surprised expression flashed across Beuboa's face.
"But Captain, the Moonlit Citadel..."
"The lives of each Dawi and Muwa are more important than the citadel."
Daroon stated firmly.
"Then, Captain, you..."
"For that, Daroon intends to act as bait himself, drawing the Minotaurs away from the citadel in the opposite direction?"
Tirrellda said in a quiet but confident voice.
Daroon turned his head to look at her. Moonlight illuminated her silver hair, and her eyes held clear resolve.
"Yes, I'll draw the largest group of Minotaurs deep into the forest alone. That should disperse the enemies around the citadel, creating an opening for the soldiers to escape."
"It's too dangerous, Captain."
Beuboa said in a worried tone.
"Then, I'll help too."
Tirrellda stepped forward as she spoke.
"No."
Daroon immediately shook his head. His voice was resolute.
"It's too risky."
"Because I'm an elf?"
Tirrellda smiled faintly.
"Or because I'm a scholar far removed from battles with such Minotaurs?"
"That's not it..."
Daroon tried to continue, but Tirrellda raised her hand to stop him.
"But I have no choice."
Her voice shifted slightly, as if she had made a firm decision.
"I've already committed to helping..."
As she finished speaking, a bright light suddenly bloomed from behind her. Blue radiance pierced the darkness, and within it, a sword revealed itself.
"What... is this?"
Daroon's eyes widened. His large mouth parted slightly, his face filled with astonishment. Beuboa, equally startled, stepped back, his feathers puffing up momentarily and his large eyes growing even wider as he stared at the sword.
The sword orbiting around Tirrellda was about the length of a typical longsword, but its appearance was anything but ordinary. The blade, forged from transparent blue ice, emitted a cold glow from within, with blue light flowing at a steady pace inside. The streams of light traveled slowly up and down along the blade, as if tracing the veins between the ice crystals.
The surface of the sword bore intricate, complex patterns resembling frost flowers blooming on a winter window. These patterns were not static; they shifted slowly along the blade, transforming. At times, small snowflake shapes appeared and vanished; at others, sharp, precise crystalline motifs enveloped the entire sword.
The sword was not held in Tirrellda's hand but floated slowly rotating behind her right shoulder. The rotation speed was inconsistent—sometimes slow, sometimes a bit faster—moving as if it were a living entity.
The light emanating from the blade coated the surrounding leaves in frost, and the air where it touched visibly chilled. A cold aura spread outward, causing tiny ice crystals to sparkle in the air. These crystals emitted faint, subtle light as they slowly drifted downward.
The hilt was intricately wrapped in silvery threads, their surface smooth and seemingly fluid, with thin streaks of light flashing intermittently between them. At the pommel, a transparent gem was embedded, within which a gentle light ceaselessly stirred.
"OoooOoOoOoo..."
A humming sound emanated from the sword. It was unlike wind or someone humming with lips closed, yet mingled with the whir of the blade slicing through the air in place, creating an eerie resonance that tickled the ears.
"This, this is..."
Beuboa muttered in a trembling voice.
"This one's name is Hiyalkho."
Tirrellda pointed to the floating sword as she spoke. Her voice carried a bit more confidence than usual.
"A very battle-loving spirit of ice."
"A spirit... sword?"
Daroon murmured in disbelief. His large hand unconsciously gripped the shaft of his halberd.
"How did you come by such a thing..."
"I formed a contract with the spirit."
Tirrellda replied simply.
"That's..."
Tirrellda paused briefly and gazed into the distance.
At that moment, the humming from the sword suddenly grew louder.
"OoooOoOoOooOOOOooo! OoOoOoOooOOO!"
Hiyalkho began rotating faster. The cold aura from the blade intensified, and the surrounding air grew noticeably colder.
"Ah, Hiyalkho is..."
Tirrellda looked at the floating sword with a flustered expression. Her cheeks flushed slightly.
"What is it saying?"
Daroon asked with a curious look.
"Well... Hiyalkho is saying to hurry and go..."
Tirrellda trailed off and bit her lip. The sword's sound grew more insistent.
"OOOoooOOOooo! OoOoOOOOoooOO!"
"What?"
Beuboa blinked his large eyes and asked.
Tirrellda's face reddened further. She hesitated before speaking.
"It wants to... '@#%!~ their asses and &(@$)! them up so we can %^&#@!! them all to death...' or something like that."
A brief silence fell.
Daroon's large mouth parted slightly, and Beuboa's feathers bristled as he stepped back half a pace.
"The spirit... says things like that?"
Beuboa murmured in a small voice.
"Hiyalkho is... unusually aggressive for an ice spirit."
Tirrellda explained with an awkward smile.
"And its language is... a bit rough."
"OoOoOoOooOOO!"
Hiyalkho let out another loud hum, this time as if in agreement.
"It seems to be saying something again..."
Daroon said, watching with fascination.
"Right now, it's saying 'Hurry up and let's go fight.'"
Tirrellda replied with a sigh.
"Hiyalkho loves combat so much that one of the contract conditions was..."
She paused and looked at Hiyalkho. The sword rotated even faster, emitting urging sounds.
"That I wouldn't avoid battles. In exchange for protecting me, I must not shy away from opportunities to fight... That's why I said 'I've already committed to helping.'"
"Such a condition..."
Daroon muttered in surprise.
"OoOoOOOOooo!"
Hiyalkho hummed once more, this time with a tone of satisfaction.
"What now?"
Beuboa asked.
"'It was a good contract' it says."
Tirrellda smiled awkwardly.
Daroon picked up his halberd again and spoke.
"If that's the case... then if we can't avoid it, let's go together. Help me well in drawing out the Minotaurs."
"Of course."
Tirrellda nodded in response.
"OoOoOoOoo!"
Hiyalkho let out a joyful sound, rotating even faster.
"For now..."
He gazed toward the citadel. Countless bonfires still burned, and the Minotaurs' movements continued unabated.