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āA second return, but what for? And for whom was I brought back?ā
ćÉĪ¹Ī±ĘĻgĻ Ń cĻĘĻŃ:#0C94CC ā ŃŠ½ĻĻ gŠ½Ń cĻĘĻŃ #CC0C2Eć
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
ćÉĪ¹Ī±ĘĻgĻ Ń cĻĘĻŃ:#0C94CC ā ŃŠ½ĻĻ gŠ½Ń cĻĘĻŃ #CC0C2Eć
|| Azalea|| Nano.ripe ||
It happened again. Over and over again, Winter would end up in a position of needing rescue. Elise sighed, glad for one thing. Their enemies were nothing if not predictable. In the end it was all the same - they had delivered Winter right to Arke's doorstep. Her legs did not work, her body had reverted to a state similar to her last moment of life. A poisoned spine, with useless unfeeling legs. "Dammit, she outplayed us at every turn." Oliver grit his teeth. They were all stunned. What could they do at this point? There was nothing left that was available to them. At first she felt despair. "What do we do, El? Please tell me you have a plan." They were all counting on her. They were all relying that she would be the one to find a miracle solution to save Winter, save Olympia, and take down Arke once and for all.
Well, she had one. But they were not going to like it. "Arke knows we are here. She would not let loose ends live." She explained quickly, wishing that her legs would work properly. They hung onto every word like desperate children wanting their mother. "Then we have to fight back." Oliver declared, hardening his voice to try to dispell the fear, the sadness. "We can't save Winter if we're dead." Elise nodded, keeping her face stony and expressionless. She had to be the perfect actress. This time, not even Ezra was allowed to see through the facade. From the window they already saw it - Servants were attacking the base of the Sentinel Tower, making their move against them. All sorts of creatures, with rainbow collars on their throats. Enslaved, controlled. Arke's little puppets were climbing the tower, flooding everything.
"They're coming. Everyone, get in position. We have to defend this tower before trying anything for Olympia." Oliver ordered, Ezra of course not removing his hands from the handles of the wheelchair. They were all ready for battle. "These are Servants. They will be as strong as me, but not as experienced with combat." The Boundary was usually a place where Servants did not have to fight. They would not know the full extent of their powers, not like how Elise did. Furthermore, they were all enslaved. Like this, they were not capable of higher level strategy and planning. "As long as we are smart, we will be able to defeat them." Her cold confidence was enough to relax the others. Serenty was almost cheerful again, wiping her tears away. "Then let's do this!" She declared, in a rallying cry. "You never change, always the cheerleader." Mercedes shook her head, guns all ready to strike.
Could they win? Elise did not know. And she was not going to take the chance. As the Servants broke in, of varying shapes and features and limbs, the black eagle revealed her true colors. "Kore!" She cried, taking a gamble. In rainbow chains, the Heir of Mercy appeared. The chains faded away, melting, almost as if they could not work outside of Olympa. "You figured it out! My cute little Servant." Kore looked almost beautiful, starved and bruised and badly beaten. Elise nodded, accepting the hug. Even the attacking Servants were stunned with her arrival. Kore must have placed a mist ball inside of her the same way she did for Winter. "This is my Tower. I will have all you Servants leave immediately." Kore waved her arm, a wave of power knocking the enemies back. And those behind began to cower, while others charged forward, their bodies moving against their will.
One. Two. Three. And her own, four. The others, distracted by Kore's arrival, lost their guns and Elise pocketed each one. The bright clear line from point A to point B. The fastest and most efficient method to save the day was clear in her mind. It was the only option available to her, and the only one Arke would not anticipate. "See you later." Elise whispered and sent herself to Zed's palace, to what was once the storage room in Olympia. She could not bring the others with her, but she only needed their guns, her wits, and her bravery. Or was it recklessness? Coughing, she fell to her knees, feeling pain surge through them. She could walk again. She was mobile once more. The black eagle took a moment to steady herself, realizing the reality of the situation. She was alone, in a city full of enemies. But perhaps this desperation was where she was at her strongest.
Around the room was an assortment of devices. A myriad of strange objects. "Just in case you'll need them when you come home." Written on each of the tools and contraptions, one letter at a time per object. There were many - but she would not need each one. "Svarog." Elise could only hope the friendly bull was still alive. No doubt he too, tried to fight back. Stuffing a handful of the smaller devices into the pockets lining her cloak, she held one last device in her hand. Based on the design, she had an idea about what this did. And later, when she limped out onto the streets, unseen by any of the patrolling Servants, Elise knew it worked. She was now invisible as she held the hook-shaped rod. With a pained sigh, the black eagle walked alone to what was once Zeus's palace.