The sun had already set, and the knights were ready to leave. Connor and Edgar went to inspect the area, while Rudra and Leslie got ready to continue on their way. The curfew had been sounded throughout the Ellerith region, and this would be the FIDELIUS knights' cue to leave the area without being seen by Aleonia's garrison.
"Come on… this is our chance," said Connor, who was watching the movement of the soldiers and escort.
So the knights set off towards the city sewers, where they would not be found and could easily move around without being seen.
…
a little earlier
"The… sewers?" Alyfir asked.
"Yes, it will be a great place for us to move around after the city curfew," Edgar stated, based on the escape strategy thought up by Rudra and Edgar.
"The city's sewers are in this region, further north of the main city divide," Leslie emphasized.
"We'll have to be very cautious, and very lucky with this," said Connor, who was organizing the maps on the dusty table.
"Lucky, you say? The sewers of Ellerith receive periodic rounds because of the horrible smell that emanates from there," Edmund added.
"Yuck..! Just thinking about setting foot in those putrid sewers..!" – complained Alyfir.
"Stop whining, princess. Are you afraid of a little shit on your slippers?" asked Augustus, who was mocking Alyfir's indignation.
"Shut your mouth, you–!"
"Listen up, everybody!" Leslie exclaimed, in order to attract everyone's attention.
"We'll be leaving in a few hours, so get ready and don't leave anything behind."
"They should be aware of the route, right? So we shouldn't waste time on this."
"Soldiers regularly patrol the sewers to deal with invasions and illegal trafficking."
"Maybe we'll have a tiny spark of luck on that one."
"He said it so cutely just now." Alyfir mocked Leslie's statement.
"Do you want to get punched in the face, you funny guy?" Leslie asked in a threatening tone.
"No sir! A thousand apologies!"
…
"Ellerith is divided into 4 quadrants. The first to the north is a military point where soldiers are housed. The second, to the east, is a noble area where civilians live and coexist. The third is to the west, where popular commerce is located, and the last to the south is the predestined region, the sewers."
…
The knights advanced through the darkest corners of the city. Several soldiers could be seen patrolling the alleys, squares, and even sparsely populated areas. Civilians remained in their homes, unable to leave, imprisoned and afraid of reprisals.
"There, I can see it now!" Bart, who was further ahead, could see the entrance to the sewers.
"Great, let's take it easy, without drawing the soldiers' attention…" Leslie reinforced as he walked with the group.
When they reached the entrance to the sewers, Leslie led the way, while his companions, one by one, descended the stairs:
"Here is our escape route. Stay together and stay alert. We don't know what may be lurking in the depths below."
Descending the dirty stairs, the knights entered the damp, stinking sewers. The subtle sound of flowing water echoed through the dark passages, as torchlight guided their way.
"Wow–! What a horrible smell..!" – complained Bart.
"The people in that city eat very badly, apparently." – added Gael, to Bart'Olimios' criticism.
"Keep quiet, you chatterboxes, or the echoes from the sewers might attract the attention of the patrollers," Lloyd warned.
Within the sewers of Ellerith, the darkness was thick and damp. Silent footsteps echoed through the galleries as the FIDELIUS Party advanced cautiously. Connor, Rudra, and Leslie led the way through the winding tunnels, while Gael, Alyfir, Edgar, Augustus, Lloyd, and Bart brought up the rear.
"This looks like a maze…" – Edmund whispered to avoid unnecessary noise.
"It's true, it feels like we're going around in circles," Lloyd added.
"Don't worry so much about it, kids. We're closer than we think." Leslie replied.
"...This guy keeps treating us like we're children…!" Alyfir asked in his thoughts.
The discussion about the route echoed off the damp walls, but no loud sounds escaped the sewers. Connor whispered instructions, and Leslie pointed out possible detours. The mission was clear: escape unnoticed.
"squeak" "squeak"
"!" – Gael's attention is caught by a sharp sound.
However, the stillness was abruptly broken by a curious rodent. A mouse approached Gael, making an involuntary noise. The knights immediately froze, aware of the dangers that could arise.
"...Get off me, you disgusting rat…!"
"...Hide–! Quickly–!" Leslie exclaimed, keeping her voice low.
Two guards appeared, patrolling the area exactly where the FIDELIUS were hiding. With agile movements, the knights managed to avoid being seen.
"I heard heavy footsteps coming from this direction."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Yes, I am never wrong."
However, a new challenge arose when the rat attracted the attention of one of the soldiers. The patrolman approached Gael's hiding place, but a second noise distracted him, leading him away.
"A bang–?!"
"Come on! We must return to the surface!"
Gael sighed in relief, having managed to avoid an unnecessary fight:
"ah… thank heavens…"
"Boom… it can't be… Knights, follow me." – Leslie ordered.
With the soldiers gone, the FIDELIUS found the patrol's trail and moved on, climbing the stairs that the soldiers had descended to patrol the sewers. It looked like the leak was going well, until they rose to the surface.
"What the hell… guys."
Outside, the city of Ellerith was in chaos. News of Galesian soldiers' domination of Balterlutt reached them quickly, and violence broke out. Explosions and fiery arrows destroyed buildings, consuming everything in flames. The population tried to escape, but the cruelty of the invaders left a trail of death.
"We…! We–! We have to do something" – Bart, outraged and frustrated, decides to pull out his bow and arrow to counterattack the invaders.
Frustration took hold of the FIDELIUS knights as they witnessed the horror. Bart, driven by the desire for justice, wanted to fight the invaders.
"Come on boys–"
Bart, turning back, saw his companions turning their backs on the carnage, without any remorse.
"Hey…! What are you guys doing?"
"We have to save them! The civilians! The children!"
Leslie turns her face to Bart, and says:
"Kid, stop the tantrum. Let's go."
"Captain… What are you saying!?"
"Are we just going to let them die–!?"
Leslie walks slowly towards Bart, while dictating her ideals and motives:
"I understand your frustration with this situation…"
"But…"
Leslie, remains standing, in front of Bart, looking deeply into the eyes of the FIDELIUS archer:
"I'd rather sacrifice a few thousand than lose millions to this shitty war."
Bart was immobilized by the intimidating posture Leslie imposed on him. Her empty blue eyes gave the knight his pre-established conviction. Bart could barely formulate a single word in the face of those statements.
"Captain…" – said Edgar.
"Yeah… I went too far…" – Leslie replied.
Edgar turns to Bart, and says:
"Bart, I recognize your great frustration, but…"
"I ask you to look at others."
Bart turned his eyes to the others, who were also in the same situation as him: frustrated, and upset with the attacks on Ellerith's civilians.
"Don't be selfish in thinking that you are the only one who is upset about this situation."
"Unfortunately, if we participate in this clash, we will not know our fate."
"Whether we will come out alive, or with our heads cut off"
Bart slowly lowered his bow, and placed his left hand against his face.
Meanwhile, Rudra was arranging the horses that were in a stable near the parallel exit of Ellerith.
"The mounts are ready, we have to leave."
Leslie placed her right hand on Bart's shoulder, and continued her statement:
"Kid, you're good, but don't let your sense of heroism hold you back."
"..."
"Okay."
"Alright, Knights–! We're leaving!"
The difficult decision was made, and Bart relented, fleeing with the group. On their way out, they came across seven trained horses in a stable, and so they took them and left the city through the north gate that connected the road to the borders of Lisithea. The brutality witnessed earlier motivated them to continue the mission until the war was over.
Amid melancholy and helplessness, the FIDELIUS Company set out that same night along the Lottrengarth road towards the borders of Lisithea. The sound of horses' hooves echoed in the void as they left the devastation of Ellerith behind.
As they left Ellerith behind, the FIDELIUS Party knew that more obstacles lay ahead for the remainder of their journey. Night was falling over the region, and the uncertainty of what would come next hung over them.