Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 250: Arc 4, Act II, - 95: To Division Four!
The carriages were set to depart, each of them climbed in with a background of a blooming dawn. The interior was quite spacious for the sacrifice of velvety seats and frilly curtains.
Feyan took a step forward, the rest had entered. "Fwish." A sound caught his ears. The half-elf searched around, his medic pack, his uniform, till he noticed the deep blue water droplets vaporizing from his left trouser pocket.
His brows in a knit, he reached in and took out what appeared to be an envelope with a brownish-gold seal. On the back he read in a mutter, "Do not worry brother, I paid the Ordinate a bonus so that this spell cannot be tracked.
In case you are in battle, you may read this later. It is nothing too urgent. Luciean," all in little cursive letters. Feyan sighed... Still no letter to be sent to the Artevik House, from one Feyan Ishan Artevik.
He shook his head, neatly putting it back into his pocket before stepping into the carriage and shutting the door. "Go!" the driving soldier cracked the reigns and the horsaroaches went into a gallop.
Out the window they could catch a glimpse of the chasm and ravines that led to sheer drops, the sky shifting hue with every hour and the pathways cleared out by the army—posts and signs to indicate direction as well.
Going northwest, the plateau gradually took an incline and they passed by an ally camp, most likely one of the Fifth Division’s. It seemed to be guarding a long, narrow land formation westwards.
The same formation the carriage took a turn into. Across the connected path of earth they went, onto the west side of the plateaus. A flock of ostriches chirped and screeched away.
One chased the carriage for a few metres before it stopped, agitating the horsaroaches to sprint faster. Lizards burrowed into little holes as the wheels rumbled across stone and dust.
Hotaru checked her watch; the silver hands ticked closer to eleven and before she could even say it aloud, the carriage began to slow down.
Soldiers peered and squinted before the driver gave specific gestures with his hand. The rifles they carried lowered and they signalled the carriage to be taken into the camp of Division Four.
The tents upfront were near-empty, with only a dozen or soldiers in sight as the carriage was brought in. Not too far from where they entered, they parked the carriage next to the other carriages.
The drivers got off to lead the horsaroaches in the direction Division Four’s soldiers pointed. One by one they got off, onto the ground of dark oranges. "Welcome, princess and her companions. Please, this way," the soldier held a rifle sideways.
"They must be spread thin," Feyan remarked, glancing around to the number of soldiers that could be easily counted.
The one greeting soldier turned, while six other soldiers kept a circle around them to escort. Sounds of unending wind was accompanied by the Sun blazing down to cook the air dry.
Paths were covered by tarps from above. "GAAHAHAHAA!!!" everyone lurched to one side as a horrific laughing scream burst out from a zipped up tent. Daiyu and Arabella barely moved an inch, though their heads turned.
"The hell’s that!?" Fumeko still stood on one foot.
"The ones going mad I assume...?" like a cat on the tips of its toes, Jotou placed her heels back on the ground.
Soldiers surrounding them looked to one another with a solemn contemplation. The one commanding ahead sighed, "Please just follow me," he walked on.
The group followed, warier of their surroundings. Asobi hung her chin on Hotaru’s shoulder, "You don’t think they could escape and attack people, right? That’d be scary."
Hotaru’s right ear had bent down to listen, "I think it’s safe to reason no. They did attack people, but they’re probably restrained for now..."
Her brilliant blue irises darted to the ground. Another yell of an unintelligible string of words escaped a tent they passed, only fazing Asobi who squeaked.
First Kria, now here... That intrusion into her mind—not once but twice. Her crimson ears flickered, not a memory she could forget; the same could be said of those who were affected here.
Her fingers curled, forming into two fists tightly clenched, her fangs feeling the need to chomp and the brilliance of her eyes rivalled the shine of a polished blade.
Only then did her view shift to a blonde walking beside her. Ever so slightly, her fists unfurled and her shoulders relaxed. However, the frown remained. Control. Control—she repeated to herself.
"Here we are, the general’s been waiting," the soldier opened up the tent flap, allowing the seven to enter. About a dozen or so soldiers stood around the vast interior.
And in the middle of all the various equipment, papers and bits of technology parts, stood a woman with dark brown hair and tan skin, discussing something to a few soldiers over a table.
The woman turned, with a cutting stare, "A bit earlier than expected. Greetings. Join me," she shooed away the soldiers standing around and they took steps back.
The seven of them followed the direction and circled around the table filled with pieces on a map of the area. Murmurs went throughout the soldiers whilst the soldiers outside stood guard.
"Why’s there so many people missing?" Fumeko checked the little pieces made of plastic.
"All my companies are spread out on the map; there’s enemy encampments all over the western region. But all companies have reported back twice every day.
We’ve also lost... some in this camp... You’re Namora, correct? The one I spoke to and figured it was an elite?"
"Division General Kapadia, right? How’d you guess?"
"I’ve gone through some of your files. The kid of the famous detective from Burnetrout. The youngest one of the princess’s supposed squadron for defeating the elite soldiers.
Funnily enough, I saw no credentials saying you were a detective. Also the voice doesn’t get any less nasally in person. Still, thank you for identifying the threat."
Fumeko growled, "That’s Detective Namora to you..."
"Eh, nasally suits Fumes though, sounds cute," Daiyu waved her hand.
Fumeko pouted and hid her lightly blushing face away. Her eyes then caught something else and squinted... One of the soldiers seemed to be sweating, her rifle quivering in her grasp.
What had these people seen? The heat mustn’t help either. The brunette glanced to the ground... Wait; files?
"We already got the memo so, what’ve you done so far about it?" Daiyu continued.
The general’s eyes were sternly open, her words firm and quick, "We haven’t done anything. Some of our troops are in delirium, some are already in body bags without enemy fire and one whole company is MIA."
She leaned her palm on the table, her other arm pointed to the west, "We’ve kept a close eye in the general direction, far enough not to warrant worry. Close enough not to warrant any sort of this unpredictable mess.
So, what we did, was fortify and wait for all of you to arrive. I have several troops, forces, weaponry, maps, etcetera. I can contact them, I can command them, I can give them detailed orders.
Now," she pinched her thumb with a finger, "I need advice, I need a plan, I need to know what you can do, how you can solve this, your modus operandi; because this—this—isn’t my forte. Apologies if I’m not being too formal your highness, but do you have a plan?"
"Not worries at all, I like the way you operate general," Daiyu grinned and planted her arm on the table, "Here’s the full plan."
"Oh boy," Jotou peeped with glazed over eyes.
Fumeko held a hand to her chin as she whispered to herself, "Why would there be files of our info with a Division General we aren’t under? And I don’t remember any files being spread during any of the meetings..."
"We’re gonna march over there, resist whatever the Psyching Dread can do and take down their camp. We’re gonna need some soldiers as some backup, lay the cover fire."
"That’s not a very good plan..." Asobi tilted her head.
"First of all, may we see those who were victims of Dread? I may be able to assist them," Feyan requested.
"Of course, in a moment," the general replied. "How are you so confident you won’t be affected in your charge?"
Fumeko squinted to the Division General, "I told you... Happy memories."
Arabella noticed the girl in purple’s expression change. The Ashen Whisper directed her attention to the general with furrowed brows.
"I know that, but I can’t imagine it being an easy feat. Regardless, if that is your plan-"
"It’s not," Hotaru rolled her eyes. "Jotou, would you mind?"
"Hey, I tried," Daiyu shrugged with a smirk.
Jotou had zoned out, thinking about something else. "Hm?" she turned. "Oh, plan. Sorry, it got me thinking is all. Some of us’ve fought Dread before."
Jotou faced the princess and hushed enough so that only the seven of them and the general could hear, "My mind’s protected, which is why I could remember the time loops.
Thing is, Dread has a psychic-based affinity, which literally means mind, right? But I could see everything Hotaru was seeing back in Kria when the talking velatos attacked."
Hotaru faced away, the memory now being brought up more vividly... Asobi observed the redhead and reached a hand over to pet her shoulder. Hotaru turned to look and gave a weak smile back.
"Magic’s weird; you’re trying to find logic behind it?" Daiyu half-closed her right eye.
"Can’t help myself," Jotou stuck her tongue out. "It was just a factor I needed to consider in the plan. Think happy thoughts just in case."
"Roger that," she stuck her tongue out in return.
Jotou turned back to the general, "The plan isn’t to just rush in. The Psyching Dread didn’t once show her face in Kria, I doubt it’s different here."
’From what Frost told me.’ "She’s probably hidden somewhere far away in the camp, enough to at least affect our allies who advance in the direction. I don’t think she’s much of a fighter like Gale."
"Yeah, the Psyching Dread’s probably the most chicken out of the elites," Fumeko narrowed her eyes further to the general.
Jotou side-eyed the brunette, "...Meaning... it’s safer for us to get into their camp undetected. We go invisible and try to at least find out her location before we take her out.
Then, Daiyu you’ve got free reign to attack all you want while we all retreat. We’ll go in silent and leave with a bang."
"Hell yeah!"
"Our goal’s the Psyching Dread and her alone. We’ll leave you to deal with the rest of the fight if the soldiers pursue us, so having some at the ready here and some to escort us for a bit is all we need. Feyan’ll stay behind to help heal the victims," Jotou plotted roughly.
"I see. Is there anything else you require?" the general enquired.
"We should everything taken care of," Hotaru replied.
"And if, the Psyching Dread manages to bypass the protection on your mind you mentioned? Could you send a signal?"
Jotou’s brows knitted to the general, "I think she can make me see things, but unlike the soldiers, she probably can’t prey on my memories, read my negative thoughts or amplify what I see. As long as I have my wits about me, I’ll be fine."
’And so will Daiyu hopefully. Although, something else feels, off... Or am I just being paranoid? Would a Division General really disperse all their forces so thinly? She said they stayed here and fortified... Wouldn’t you call a company or two back in that case?’
Daiyu saw Jotou’s expression slowly melt, as if her brain was formulating something. Then she saw Fumeko having the same expression, a hand to her chin.
"Understood," the general sighed and stood upright.
"Hey, Division General," Fumeko did not have the pieces quite yet. "If you have files on us, what’s a spell I specifically learned to help in this fight?"
"Enough," the general swayed her hand out, her voice dropped an octave. "I could read the suspicion off of you for ages. And that woman too," her chin pointed to Arabella.
Jotou went for her hilt, Daiyu reached for her greatsword, Fumeko took to her dagger, Arabella shifted her eyeshadow into a crescent in the air and slashed forth!
The ash cut through the general, but only went through some sort of pinkish light; not even fazing the general standing there. "Chchk!" All the soldiers around them raised their rifles in an instant, aiming towards the seven.
The other three were caught unaware and bubbled their eyes to the scene. "What’s happening!?" Asobi held Hotaru and her wand tight.
The general snapped her fingers and light pinkish energy washed over the entire area, taking over the tent in a flash. Her fingers snapped again and this time the sound echoed and rippled throughout the pinkish space.
The general’s form dissipated, revealing the real person behind the disguise...
