Councilmen sat in rows on either side of the main aisle facing King Wey's throne.
We sat near the front, closest to him.
"So — about this lead. It was a complex thing to obtain, I assume?" King Wey asked.
"No—um, they just said it. Well, said it to each other, but I overheard," I said.
"Curious," the king replied. "After a defeat like that, I doubt it'll be less than a few days before they attack. Before you arrived, we sent scouts across the bridge into orc territory to report any activity."
I thought the orcs moved fast, but the elves moved faster—preparations were already underway.
"Should we destroy the bridge, just in case?" a councilman asked, rising. "It's their quickest route to us."
"No," the king replied calmly. "Let them come by whatever means they choose. We will give them a proper elven welcome."
He stood up from his throne and walked over to the window to look outside.
"Talos Party, how did you all manage to beat them? What was the key?" King Wey asked.
Talos stood. "They're strong—really strong—but their attention is easily divided. That was our leverage."
"Lack of authority and organization, then," King Wey said. "Our strength will come from fighting as a unit. We must fight as one."
"Is there anything else we need to know about them?"
"Yes—actually." I stood up. "Uh, they stole creatures from the Wilderness. We don't exactly know how many, but they may be using them in this fight."
"Wilderness creatures?" King Wey turned around. "Why would they need them? Those creatures can't be tamed."
He walked toward us.
"Well, regardless, they shouldn't know that we're ready, so that's a significant advantage. If any beasts show up, we take them down all the same."
He then ordered the head knights to gather the other knights and bravest parties and prepare for battle—while still leaving enough to protect each city.
They would soon set up camp near the orc bridge—right where we'd fought the Haron Party way back when—and stay ready there.
Speaking of Haron, I couldn't help but wonder if he and his party would show up. They were pretty popular around here.
As things wrapped up, Alva begged us to stay the night and enjoy a bit of elven luxury before heading out—pleading that this might be the last fight of our lives. Eventually, we asked King Wey, and he agreed.
It was strange to realize how kings were starting to seem more and more like regular people the further we went on this journey. I never would've imagined that.
The pleasantries here were different from those at King's Tree—though just as regal.
Serenity seemed to be the theme; instead of standing at the center of the city, the royal castle was hidden away in its own tranquil domain.
It was peaceful.
The next morning, we set out for the bridge alongside the rest of the forces.
When we arrived, we found knights setting up small camps—tents pitched farthest from the bridge, with defensive structures taking shape closer to the front: catapults, walls, and freshly dug defense pits.
This already felt higher stakes and larger in scale than the last battles.
The land was mostly flat and more expansive than I'd remembered, with steep declines on either side leading down to the shore. It made for the perfect place to defend from.
I couldn't help but reminisce about the naive little adventurers we were the first time we came here. Who knows what might've happened if we'd actually gone into the Orc Kingdom back then—on Alva's whim?
I'm actually glad we were stopped by—
"If it isn't Alva and the gang," a voice called from behind us.
We turned to see Haron and his party approaching.
—him.
"I like the sound of that," Alva said with a smirk. "But it's the Talos Party."
Haron stepped closer, eyeing us up and down while walking between us.
"Looks like you put that gold to good use, huh?" he said with a grin.
He walked back to his own group, then turned to us.
"You really came to help us. Even after how we treated you. I respect that… and I'm sorry."
"We're sorry too!" the others said in unison.
Still just as resolute.
"It's no problem," Talos replied, though his tone carried a hint of caution.
"Alright, listen up, elves and company!" one of the head knights shouted.
"Stay alert at all times. Once the scouts return, all frontline units are to grab their shields and move into position—everyone else, fall in just as we practiced. Party members, fill any gaps and keep your eyes open. I want everyone ready at a moment's notice!"
We set up near an empty tent, while Haron and his party took one close by.
As we waited, we discussed our tactics and the enhancements we'd need.
We were going to be in the back this time, which probably meant we'd end up in a similar predicament as the battle for King's Tree. Talos—half joking, half serious—promised me he'd hold onto his weapon this time. Uri said he'd stay closer to us, expressing he had a premonition.
I did as well. I couldn't shake a strange feeling in my gut. Something told me these preparations weren't gonna be enough.
We were defending the bridge, but with the orcs' newfound control over Wilderness creatures, there was no telling what they might do—especially with that strange stone dust.
I just had to be ready for things not to go as planned. They rarely did.
Several hours passed before Haron came over to us—alone this time.
"Hey," he said, sitting down beside us. "I've been thinking. Why don't we fight together?"
First, the apology, now this? Was this the same Haron?
We gave each other and him confused looks.
"I know it's an odd request," he continued, "but let's put all that behind us. This isn't about us anymore—or about me."
He stood. "It's about my home."
Then he turned to Alva. "Our home."
He held out his hand. Alva looked at it, then met his eyes. He rose and shook it.
Haron went around, shaking my and Uri's hands, then extended his to Talos.
We were already fighting for the same side, but now it was official.
It felt strange—like welcoming temporary members to the family—but it was for the better.
Talos stood, meeting Haron's gaze. He glanced at the hand, then back at him, and finally took it.
"Thank you," Haron said with a small laugh. "I know we'll have a much better chance fighting together."
His party came over. We properly introduced ourselves, and then went over everyone's strengths and how we could effectively work together.
Haron and Talos would take point ahead of us, while Alva grouped up with the archer twins, Joll and Jell. Their healer, Verci, and I stayed just behind them—close enough to support, keeping Uri and anyone else in fighting shape.
Haron said he could handle greater strength, but the twins didn't want haste, which, for some reason, I took a little personally.
Afterward, they returned to their tent. We ate, then night fell. I managed to sleep peacefully, trying to quiet my thoughts while staying ready for what lay ahead.
At dawn, we rose, ate quickly, and prepared. Haron's party came to sit with us again.
Several hours passed before a distant scream shattered the calm.
"The orcs are coming! The orcs are coming!" We heard it from across the bridge. Moments later, elven scouts galloped into view—racing toward us on horseback.
A loud harp resounded across the field.
"Positions!" someone shouted.
We jumped to our feet as knights rushed around, scattering into formation.
We followed suit, taking our place near the rear.
I enhanced Haron, Talos, Uri, and Alva.
Then came the silence. The kind that settles before chaos.
Minutes passed.
A faint rumbling began—low at first, then rising, growing louder with every second. Grunts and roars echoed through the air.
Then they came into view: a stampede of orcs, many mounted on massive warthogs and other creatures I couldn't even recognize.
Wilderness creatures.
The elves held their ground as the orcs thundered toward the bridge.
But then I saw it—enormous logs chained together, rising into the air before being launched across the water onto our side.
They'd built their own makeshift bridges.
More orcs began climbing across them, while elven squads rushed to destroy the structures and stop the crossing.
Massive stones were hurled overhead by elven catapults, crashing into the advancing horde, knocking several orcs from their mounts.
The main force reached the bridge—some were struck down by arrows, others thrown off by the chaos of their own beasts.
It seemed not all of those creatures were fully tamed.
Most made it across, though.
Then, the real battle began—metal clashing against shields as the frontlines met.
We braced, waiting for the fight to reach us. Then it did.
Orcs charged through, clashing first with Talos and Haron. The two fought in sync, cutting down enemies one by one. Haron's strikes were swift and surgical, while Talos's were slower and sweeping.
They were like opposite sides of the same coin.
I'd underestimated how well they'd work together.
Some orcs broke through on either side of them, but Alva and the twins shot them down before they got close. When mounted forces surged through, Uri leapt atop them, disarming and dismounting riders in a single motion.
This battle was more intense than the last—more orcs broke through, and more blows were landing. I had to spread my healing wider than ever before, barely keeping up, with Verci doing his fair share as well.
Then I heard a shout from behind me: "Watch overhead!"
I looked up to see dozens of huge thick-skinned flying creatures sweeping wildly through the clouds—each ridden by fully-armored orcs barely holding control.
They had aerial forces?!
We definitely weren't expecting that. This was unheard of.
Catapults weren't going to cut it here.
"Archers! Attack!" someone shouted.
A volley of arrows soared through the air, most finding their mark—but only a few had any real effect.
What were these creatures made of?
Some of the flying troops plunged into the fray, crashing into soldiers—orc and elf alike.
A gap tore open in the frontline as more ground-mounted creatures broke through, scattering everything in their path.
For a moment, everything moved in slow motion.
Did we bite off more than we could chew?
Was this really going to be our last fight?
If we couldn't deal with these aerial troops soon, it was over—for everyone.
No. It couldn't end like this.
We'd come too far to lose now.
Then, an idea hit me.
"Uri, you have to dismount them!" I shouted. "Talos, can you throw him up there?"
Talos stole a quick glance at one of the orcs between strikes. "I'll try—come on, Uri!"
"Let's do it together!" Haron interjected.
"Here!" I conjured a pair of gloves and enchanted them—coating both the gloves and Uri's boots with a powerful stickiness spell.
"Don't fall off," I said.
He nodded, sprinted forward, and crouched. Haron and Talos grabbed him by the arms.
"One… two… three!" they shouted, hurling him into the air.
Uri soared upward, landing on the back of one of the flying beasts and startling the orc rider. After a brief struggle, Uri nearly slipped—but the enchanted gloves held fast.
An arrow from Alva whistled past, striking the orc cleanly and giving Uri the opening to disarm and throw him off. The orc plummeted to the ground below as Uri found his next flying target, while the now-freed beast veered away.
"Yes!" Verci cheered beside me, watching it unfold.
Uri leapt from one creature to the next, Alva covering him with precise shots while Haron and Talos fought fiercely on the ground ahead, the twins firing in support.
Between healing our parties, tending nearby elves, and replenishing Alva's arrows, I couldn't help but glance up—watching Uri tear through the skies, dismantling the enemy one by one.
The elves, just faltering, began to rally.
Stickiness—saving the day yet again. For the how-manyth time now?
"Come on, men! Together!" an elf roared, and the rest answered in unison.
"Together!"
The frontline rallied, with the Wilderness creatures on the ground now being taken down by coordinated elven strikes. Catapults thundered once more, their shots arcing high and landing true among the orc ranks.
One after another, the beasts fell. The orc lines thinned, and their formation broke apart.
"Retreat!" came the guttural cry.
"Orc stronger! Orc stronger! Orc stronger!" they chanted as what remained of their forces stumbled back across the bridge—battered and beaten.
"We won!" an elf shouted, his voice cutting through the air as the surviving knights erupted in exhausted cheers.
There were wounded everywhere— orcs and elves alike. It was more than I wanted to picture, and I knew many were beyond saving. I wished I could save them all, but I was nearly drained myself.
It was hard to stomach, but I forced myself to look elsewhere.
I could only hope this would be the last battle like this.
I hadn't seen the aftermath of King's Tree, thankfully… but after today, I never wanted to see war again.
Uri met up with us.
"You remembered the dragon?" he said.
I nodded. "If you can ride a dragon, you can ride whatever those things were."
"That was almost it for us," Alva muttered.
"Almost," Talos agreed.
We shared a tired, proud smile before collapsing into a half-laughing, half-relieved hug.
Haron was lying on the ground, panting. Talos walked over and offered a hand.
"Th-thank you," Haron said, taking it and pulling himself upright, brushing off the dirt.
Elven knights passed by, clapping us on the back, offering nods and words of gratitude as they began tending to the wounded and clearing the battlefield.
"That was amazing, Velara," Verci said, approaching us. "I've never seen anything like it."
"Uh… thank you," I said.
"Here— I want you to have this." He handed me a small, worn spellbook.
"Thank you," I said, flipping through it. Page after page of barrier types—one of which I remembered him using back when we fought him.
Who knew there were so many variations? Unlike the water barrier I relied on, these were designed to block physical projectiles.
It would've been useful before the battle—but I was grateful nonetheless. Even if he still didn't have a hat.
As the knights cleared the field and packed their gear, we sat together—exhausted, silent, and grateful to still be breathing.
As I watched Haron and his party, a question crossed my mind.
"So… why'd you give us that gold? Was it pity?" I asked.
"It wasn't pity—well, not entirely," he said, still staring at the ground. "Honestly, it was because I saw potential in you."
He looked up at us.
"There is something about your party I can't quite explain. Sure, you beat us—but it was more than that. Whatever it is, it's… special."
He stared into the sky.
"We vowed to beat the Orc King. If you're the ones who do it instead, the result's the same—we still get what we wanted. Giving you that gold was my way of giving you a boost… to see how far you could go."
A faint smile formed on his face. "But what you have—gold can't buy that."
We sat there for a few minutes letting that stew when a knight approached us.
"Hello. I'm Polagrias of the Kingsguard," he said with a courteous bow.
He was tall, wearing battle-worn dark gray armor, with long black hair and a spear hanging at his hip.
"I wanted to make sure our men were properly taken care of before offering you all my gratitude. There's no doubt we would've been defeated if it weren't for you. The Elf Kingdom is in your debt."
"We couldn't have done it without your leadership," Talos said.
Polagrias smiled and nodded. "Once I inform King Wey, he'll surely want to commemorate you and this victory."
"And we appreciate that greatly," Talos replied, "but there's no need. We've got the orcs on their heels. We have no idea how long it'll be until they strike again—and if they do, it might be the Human Kingdom next. We can't let that happen."
I imagined the aftermath of a war in the Human Kingdom and quickly brushed the thought away.
"We'll take the fight to them," I said.
"Let us honor you before you go," Polagrias said. "We want to give you a proper send-off."
"We'll gladly accept it," Alva said, grinning. "We're lucky to be alive right now, guys! Let's take a moment to celebrate that fact. They just lost big, we have time. Right, Uri?"
Uri looked at us, then gave a reluctant shrug and nod.
"See?" Alva said, smirking.
Talos and I exchanged a look.
I knew Alva just wanted to celebrate, but forcing Uri into it was cruel.
"After that, we'll head out right away, okay, Talos?" Alva continued. "But before all of this—we need to make one last stop." His grin widened.
And yep. There it is.
"You know where I'm talking about. It's basically our official hub now. What better way to celebrate a victory this big than visiting our favorite spot one last time?"
Polagrias let out a soft chuckle. "And where might that be?"
Alva looked at him, practically bursting at the seams.