Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

The group joined the ranks of soldiers gathering in the courtyard, each standing in a tight, orderly formation as John addressed them. His figure was imposing, every inch the battle-worn captain clad in his gleaming golden armor. His voice rang out, cutting through the clamor of nearby skirmishes and distant shouts.

"Soldiers of Laxen!" he boomed, his gaze sweeping across the assembly. "You are the shield of this kingdom, the very heart of its defense! We hold these walls until reinforcements arrive. We cannot falter, we cannot break, because we are Laxen's last stand!"

The soldiers straightened, murmuring with renewed resolve. They clutched their weapons tighter, nodding with determination. John's speech seemed to ignite a sense of pride and unity in their ranks, as though the weight of defending their homeland was a fire rekindled within each of them.

Rey, however, furrowed his brow as he processed John's words. 'Reinforcements? Are they maybe allied nations? Or something else?' he thought, casting a quick glance at the scorched land beyond. 'And how did it even come to this, being pushed back in their own territory?'

Before he could dwell on it further, a gentle nudge caught his attention. Rosa had leaned in close, her voice barely a whisper. "Whatever you're planning, don't act on it yet," she cautioned, eyeing him with a knowing look. "I know you want to help, but we need you steady and in line right now."

Rey let out a faint chuckle, his smile sheepish. "Am I really that obvious?"

Rosa smirked but said nothing, her eyes softening with understanding before she turned her focus back to John.

John raised his sword, his voice unwavering. "Now, to the castle walls! We need every available hand to strengthen our defenses. Prepare yourselves, whatever they throw at us, we'll stand our ground!"

Without another word, they followed his command, making their way through the winding corridors until they reached the castle walls.

*****

When they finally arrived, the full view of the battlefield spread before them, leaving a heavy silence among the group. The town below lay in shambles, buildings reduced to skeletal remains of stone and ash, flames licking the skies from scattered fires.

The enemy camp stretched across the outskirts and into the wreckage of the town, with armored figures and war machines dotting the landscape. A haze of smoke hung over the area, blurring the lines between the battleground and what had once been a vibrant town.

Finn let out a low whistle. "They've really left a mess of this place," he muttered, gripping his spear tightly.

Aiden clenched his jaw. "We're up against more than just numbers. They've got an entire foothold here."

They all shared a grim look, recognizing the scale of destruction before them. Even so, they took their places along the wall, shoulders squared and weapons at the ready.

The camp sprawled out in stark contrast to the devastation of the town around it. Laxen's defenders watched with growing resolve as the enemy's tents stretched far into the distance, an intimidating sea of canvas under the green flag emblazoned with the emblem of fire, this was a reminder of Vond's unyielding aggression.

Smoke drifted lazily from scattered fires among the tents, the flickering flames casting unsettling shadows. Yet, the camp itself was oddly still, its movements subdued as though the soldiers were merely residents, unbothered by the siege looming on their horizon.

"What do you see?" Morrigan asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she turned to Evelina, whose eyesight was sharper than the rest.

"Nothing," Evelina replied, her eyes scanning the scene, unwavering in her focus.

The group tensed, each taking in her words with careful attention, waiting for a clue.

Finn squinted, pulling out a small telescope, and brought it up to his eye. "What do you mean nothing?" he muttered, adjusting the focus until the image sharpened. "She's right... they're really not doing anything. It's almost like they're just living their normal lives down there."

Evelina nodded. "Most of them are in their tents…," she murmured, her gaze following one small cluster of soldiers as they disappeared behind heavy canvas.

"Resting," Elora interjected. "They'll probably attack at night, once we're worn out from the day."

Marcella rolled her shoulders with a slight stretch, then began walking toward John, determination flickering in her eyes. "Then I'll use the time to prepare," she said. "This castle is enormous on its own, so I'm guessing there's a brewery somewhere nearby? I need to make a batch of potions. That's how I'll contribute."

John's brow lifted slightly in surprise, but he nodded, gesturing for one of his men to escort her. "Yes, we have a brewery, better stocked than most. I'll see to it that you have access."

"See you guys later." Marcella gave them a quick nod and headed off without another word, disappearing down a narrow stairway with her guide.

The group watched her go, a hint of surprise and respect in their expressions. "She hardly takes initiative like this," Matthew said, grinning as he watched her determined pace.

"We better get ourselves sorted out too," Seraphina said, giving Matthew a light tap on the shoulder.

"Yeah, we all need to prepare," Finn agreed, stowing the telescope back in his storage space.

From behind, Aiden raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Where did you even get that thing?"

Finn puffed up a little. "I've always had it. It's part of my survival kit: I never leave home without it."

Aiden rolled his eyes. "You sound like you just joined your neighborhood Boy Scouts."

"Oh, say that again, I dare you," Finn growled, leaning in.

"Sure, Scout Finn," Aiden teased, grinning as he put up his fists in mock surrender. "What's next, you gonna pull out a compass and some matches?"

The two broke into a scuffle, nudging and lightly shoving each other while tossing back jabs about survival kits and scout badges. Finn's face reddened with mock annoyance, but that couldn't keep the others from laughing.

John, who was watching this spectacle with Freya, let out a heavy sigh. 'These are the people we're depending on to help us win this?'

Freya chuckled, nudging him with her elbow. "Don't worry. They may act like this now, but you'll be thanking the prin… uh, I mean, the queen, for recruiting us."

John gave her a quizzical look. "Did you just read my mind?"

"Nope," she replied with a knowing smile. "It's just that I can practically hear it from your expression."

Meanwhile, off to the side, Cedric paced back and forth, his gaze darting around like he was searching for something. His brow furrowed in concentration as he muttered to himself, occasionally bending down to scan the ground before standing and continuing his nervous sweep of the area.

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He wants to be useful too (~‾▿‾)~