Chapter 7:
Miscalculation
"YOU'VE GOTTA BE kidding me."
The Guide was stunned by how things were going on House
Banfield's home planet. He'd lent Isaac his support, but he wasn't exactly
pulling out all the stops as he often did. All he'd done was send Liam to
another planet and copy himself to manipulate Tia and Marie, yet those
small efforts had thrown House Banfield into chaos.
Liam's disappearance had now been publicized, and his subjects
were panicking. Every city in his domain was in an uproar. Trash littered
usually spotless streets, and citizens met bright and early to consult one
another nervously.
"Hey, did you hear the rumor?"
"About Lord Liam? I asked a friend who works at the government
office. He said it's true."
"But why is Lord Liam missing?"
"How should I know?!"
Men yelled at each other in consternation. Women, likewise rattled,
huddled together and discussed the situation.
"I heard a rumor he was summoned."
"Lord Liam was summoned? I don't know much about magic. Is
that even possible?"
"No way! There's just no chance. House Banfield's mages would
prevent that."
"How did he vanish, then?"
"Well, I don't know, but..."
The Guide walked through town, hardly able to believe what he was
seeing. Outside one particularly tall building—the government office—he
found a group of citizens protesting.
"Publish the truth!"
"Tell us if Lord Liam's okay!"
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"Hey! Who just said that?! There's no way Lord Liam could be
dead!"
These weren't the festival-like protests Liam's people had held
before. There was real unrest here. The agitated protesters—men and
women both—were even getting into physical altercations. It was all a
happy sight for the Guide.
"How could this be? All I did was send Liam away and egg those
female knights on a bit." Given how little work he'd put in, the Guide felt
as though he'd hit the jackpot, and the unrest among the populace was an
added perk.
"Hey! Soldiers are leaving their posts!" one protestor told another.
"What? Why?"
"Lady Christiana and Lady Marie are gathering them for some
project!"
"What in the world are they planning during this disaster?"
The citizenry was perplexed that the two knights had called on
soldiers when Liam was absent. Both women had been popular with the
masses, so people were especially disappointed at their inexplicable
behavior. Negative emotions roiled everywhere.
The Guide sucked them up as if taking a deep breath in the great
outdoors. "Th-these emotions are wonderful! How long has it been since I
absorbed such delicious despair on this planet?"
Unbeknownst to Tia and Marie, there were other problems plaguing
House Banfield at present. Chengsi was trying to kill Liam's junior
apprentices, for whatever reason, and several government officials were
taking action for their own gain.
The military was also dealing with corruption. In the past, House
Banfield's military had been made up of diligent individuals, but more and
more questionable soldiers joined during its expansion. Thus, many
military personnel were taking advantage of the current situation in an
effort to get ahead. That was unexpected but good news for the Guide.
Furthermore, Isaac and Baori were already doing as they pleased
within House Banfield's mansion. Isaac was an arrogant child, but Baori
and the other adults in his orbit could manipulate him easily. Baori had
also reached out to other rotten nobles like himself, and they'd gathered in
House Banfield's domain to partake of its riches. Liam's domain crawled
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with villains in the process of devouring everything he'd built. Like
toppling dominoes, one bad thing led to another, throwing House Banfield
into more chaos than anyone could have imagined—and all of it was due
to Liam's absence.
"It's here! My time has finally come!"
Not even the Guide had expected things would get this bad due to
his simply removing Liam from the equation. He clenched his fists, his
whole body trembling with joy.
"All right! I'll steal everything Liam treasures, and make him taste
despair when he returns! Now, what's his most precious treasure? The
alchemy box? Where would that be...?"
The alchemy box was the fantastical device that could transform any
scrap into gold. Owning it had freed Liam from all financial concerns.
Since the alchemy box was the secret of House Banfield's success—the
source of Liam's vast resources—it would greatly limit Liam's future
activities if the Guide snatched it away, especially since all the evildoers
who had shouldered their way into his domain were whittling down those
resources in his absence. By the time Liam returned, no trace would be left
of the power House Banfield amassed during his rule.
The Guide skipped toward the alchemy box's location, imagining
Liam's unhappiness when he witnessed the crumbling of everything he'd
built.
"Oh, it's been so long since I felt this good! I just can't wait to see
Liam's look of despair when he gets back!"
***
In the mansion's basement was a specialized hangar for Liam's
personal mech, the Avid. The facility seemed ridiculously excessive for
the maintenance of a single mobile knight. Several large metal rings
surrounded the Avid, moving up and down and rotating to scan for
anomalies, which were immediately repaired to ensure the craft was in
perfect condition at all times.
A small visitor had just entered the underground facility: Liam's
student, Ellen. Clutching a blanket to her chest, as well as the sword Liam
had treasured, she sniffled and sobbed.
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"Where'd you go, Master?"
Liam was missing, so he could no longer supervise Ellen's training
in the Way of the Flash. Her fellow apprentices, Riho and Fuka, were busy
engaging in life-or-death battles with Chengsi practically every day—they
weren't exactly free to take over. No one could teach Ellen swordplay, and
she was lonely with her beloved teacher missing.
Searching for a place where she felt Liam's presence, Ellen ended
up in the Avid's cockpit.
Imbued with the Machine Heart, the Avid could move of its own
volition. It swiveled its camera eye in Ellen's direction when she
approached. The Avid normally never let anyone into its cockpit without
Liam's permission, not even mechanics. Frankly, it didn't like having
anyone but its master aboard. Seeing the crying Ellen, though, it opened its
cockpit hatch and allowed her to climb in. After ensuring she was safely
inside, the Avid slowly closed the hatch.
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Inside the cockpit, Ellen settled into the seat and wrapped herself in
her blanket, clinging to the sword.
"Master, please come back... I miss you."
The Avid played music in the cockpit to comfort Ellen as she
thought of Liam and cried even more. Once she had tired herself out and
fallen asleep, the Avid continued to quietly await Liam's return, as it had
been doing before.
That was when an uninvited guest showed up in the hangar: the
Guide.
"Oh my," he said. "I didn't think you'd hide the alchemy box here,
Liam. I doubt anyone would suspect that. Inside your favorite little robot,
eh? I'm glad you still don't trust human beings in the slightest."
The Avid could detect the Guide's presence. Sensing the being's
malicious intent, the Avid accessed and activated the hangar's security
system. Gatling guns and laser weapons emerged from the walls, instantly
aiming at the Guide.
"You can sense me? Robots with Machine Hearts are rather
troublesome, I see," the Guide remarked, impressed.
As he did so, fire began to spit from the guns' muzzles. Bullets and
lasers rained down on the Guide, but in his present state, none ended up
reaching him.
"It's useless! Did you really think crude attacks like this would take
me down, now that I've regained my strength?!"
Up until recently, the positive energy of Liam's gratitude had kept
the Guide in a constant state of weakness, but prior to that, the entity had
been far from weak. Now, feasting upon the roiling unease in House
Banfield's domain, the Guide had almost returned to the level of power
he'd known in his prime.
The Guide extended his right arm, and the bullets and lasers
changed direction, impacting safely away from him. Determining that the
security system would not stop this intruder, the Avid forcefully removed
its own locks, ripping its arms free from the clamps and bolts keeping
them in place.
"Oh, you want to fight me?" the Guide asked.
He floated up from the ground to the level of the Avid's cockpit.
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The Avid raised both arms, attempting to crush the Guide between its
hand-like manipulators, but the Guide spread his own arms and halted the
attack. The enormous Avid was losing a contest of strength with the
slender, human-sized Guide.
"I won't lose to some scrap iron Liam's not even piloting! Once I
have the alchemy box, I think I'll destroy you! I'm sure Liam will be
devastated when he returns and you're gone!"
With a cackle, the Guide exerted more force. He held his hand
toward the Avid's cockpit, and telekinetic force twisted its hatch open.
"You think you can stop me with—huh?"
When the hatch opened, the Guide saw a small golden sword
hovering in the air with its blade pointed at him.
"Wh-what?!"
The Guide froze, knowing that the energy sword was poisonous to
him. What was something like this doing inside the cockpit? He realized
the answer lay in the small girl sleeping in the craft. Liam's beloved
sword, full of mysterious power, had been clutched in Ellen's arms. She
wasn't a longtime swordswoman, but Ellen practiced the Way of the Flash.
She must have sensed the Guide's enmity in her sleep and responded
unconsciously. Liam's beloved sword amplified her feelings, producing
this blade to threaten her adversary.
The Guide broke out in a cold sweat.
"Master..." Ellen murmured before the Guide could flee.
The sword responded to Ellen's sleep-talking. It multiplied into
several blades, all of which pointed straight at the Guide.
"St-stop! G-g-g-girl, stop that this instant!"
The Guide panicked, but the sleeping girl couldn't hear him. One
sword suddenly flew toward him at an incredible speed, plunging into his
temple. The Guide toppled back onto the floor, even as the rest of the
energy swords rushed at him. As they stabbed him, his body crumbled into
black rags until all that was left was his top hat. Arms and legs quickly
sprouted from the hat, and he ran away pitifully.
"A-and I just revived, too! I-I'll remember this!"
As it watched the Guide flee, the Avid gave thanks to the sleeping
girl for saving it, resolving to become stronger.
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Glowing lines of energy almost like blood vessels appeared across
the Avid's outer surface as it restructured itself internally. The twisted
cockpit hatch returned to its original shape as the Avid self-repaired—and
self-evolved in order to become mightier.
***
"Malice! I will bring wholehearted malice to this domain!"
The Guide, now reduced to just a hat, was collecting all the negative
energy he could in Liam's domain. He'd decided to make Liam's absence
known throughout the Empire, attracting pirates and nobles with ill will to
his territory.
"I'll destroy everything you've built, Liam! Mwa ha ha ha! By the
time you return, your domain will be a wasteland!"
With his body destroyed by Ellen, the Guide was turning to acts of
desperation out of sheer annoyance. An idea suddenly occurred to him.
"I know! I'll lend Calvin my aid as well! He won't let this
opportunity go to waste. Yes, I'll involve him in this, too!"
The Guide was determined to support Calvin in destroying Liam's
domain.
***
"I'm lucky," I murmured, lying in bed.
Kunai—who stood at my side—nodded. "I believe that's true, but
what brought this on?"
Kunai normally guarded me quietly, but I was bored with no one
else to talk to, so I'd pushed her into chatting. I was her employer, after all,
so I felt entitled to a conversation here and there.
"Just thought I felt a little good fortune coming my way," I replied.
I'd had a strange premonition, but not a negative one. Rather, it had
felt like more good luck.
Kunai tilted her head, not understanding. "You can sense that?"
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"Of course I can. I have a god of good fortune on my side. Anyway,
tell me how things are going."
Kunai had sneaked out among the demon lord's army. She reported
her findings. "The enemy army plans to send soldiers into the city before
dawn to open the gates from within. The city will fall easily."
"Erle Kingdom can't defend it?"
"At this point, their army is nothing but children and the elderly.
The enemy forces, on the other hand, are made up of experienced
warriors."
"Experienced warriors, eh?"
From our perspective, of course, neither side seemed particularly
formidable. Still, the enemy was probably pretty strong by this planet's
standards.
"I believe the demon lord's army will take the capital easily," Kunai
concluded.
"Even with a hero on their side?"
"I can't imagine a single, inexperienced girl will turn the tide of
battle. Of course, Master Liam, it will be a different story if you
participate."
I had no interest in this country's survival, but I wanted someone to
be left to serve me. A little time remained before the battle would begin,
though.
"Get some rest. I'll do the same. Just wake me up before dawn."
"Please do not concern yourself with me. I will be fine without rest."
Having enhanced her body and undergone special training, Kunai
could function for several days without sleeping. That didn't change my
mind, however.
"Resting when you have the opportunity will improve your
efficiency. What I want from you is peak performance and results. Just
follow my orders as given."
I fixed her with a stern look, making sure she knew I wouldn't take
no for an answer.
Kunai slumped her shoulders. "Yes, sir."
She disappeared into the shadows. I lay back on my bed, keeping
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my guard up for potential threats. "Well, I'm looking forward to seeing
what happens next."
***
Kanami followed Enola into the city. The streets were full of people
covered in dirt and mud who had fled nearby towns. Enola took the
refugees' hands, trying to reassure them.
"Everything will be fine. We will triumph."
"Your Majesty..."
There were many very old and very young people, and most of the
remaining adult men were missing limbs. Anger at the demon lord's army
welled up in Kanami at that sight. At the same time, she felt herself
tremble with fear. She was only familiar with war as a concept, never
having experienced it herself. She'd only seen tragic things like this on
TV, in pictures, or on the internet, and those images hadn't truly felt real
until now.
"This is awful."
Overhearing her, Enola nodded. "Yes, it is. We've done nothing to
deserve this, but the demon lord is bent on tormenting us. We summoned
you and Lord Liam to have a fighting chance against him."
In truth, Kanami had been less than thrilled to be summoned
initially. She'd complained about Liam's attitude, but it wasn't as if she
didn't have her own frustrations about their circumstances. Now, though,
she felt differently. All that awaited her back on Earth was her miserable
old life. She preferred being here, where people needed her. She'd been a
bit sad to learn that, having been summoned, she'd never get to return. But
seeing how things were here, she'd come to want to help, if she could.
"Will you fight with us, Lady Kanami?" Enola asked.
Kanami looked across the city and nodded. "I will. Do I really have
the power to fight, though?"
"You do."
Enola took Kanami to the training grounds for knights and soldiers.
There, children around age fifteen had taken up weapons, receiving lessons
from men who could almost be called elderly. Hardly any men between
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the ages of twenty and fifty were left, so some women participated as
instructors. Kanami was astonished to see people her age taking up
weapons.
Enola addressed the group. "Someone please serve as the hero's
opponent."
When they noticed the queen's presence, everyone lined up. An old
man stepped forward in response to her request and took a stance in front
of Kanami. In his fists, he gripped the hilt of a real sword.
"Huh? We're fighting with real weapons?" Kanami said.
"If that's all it takes to surprise you, you won't last in a real fight,"
the man responded in a low voice.
Kanami's eyes widened when the man slashed at her, and she drew
the sword at her waist. To those around her, the movement likely looked
controlled, but inside Kanami was panicking.
No way! Everyone else looks so slow!
To her, it was as if everyone was moving in slow motion. She
wondered for a moment if they were tricking her. As she deflected the old
man's blow, her sword somehow broke his blade in half. With the duel
already finished, everyone's movements returned to normal.
As everyone reacted with shock to Kanami's movements, Enola
explained what had occurred. "A strange power dwells within summoned
heroes. Legend says they're stronger than the average person. And, when
they fight, their enemies' movements seem slow."
"I-it's pretty amazing being the hero, huh? Everyone really did seem
to be moving slower."
"With that power, I'm sure you can defeat the demon lord."
Seeing Enola so full of hope, Kanami thought, This makes me
almost too strong. If everyone else is moving in slow motion, I really will
be able to fight. Having finally realized the power she possessed in this
universe, she was excited. With these abilities, I'll be able to survive the
war, right?
Her doubts having lessened somewhat, Kanami looked up at the
castle walls. Beyond them, the enemy closed in on the capital. I'll fight.
I'll save these people. She'd been a nobody on Earth, but now she had a
grand mission. Kanami was starting to feel like she had a real reason to
exist in this world.
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Maybe I can atone for betraying my father.
***
I looked through my chamber's window and saw it was bright
outside, despite it still being late at night. Countless torches were lit atop
the city walls, and the kingdom's army was striving to resist the demon
lord's attack.
"The beastfolk have the advantage," Kunai observed. "This
country's soldiers are simply too weak."
I smiled at her report. "It's interesting to see a country get destroyed
firsthand."
This was kind of luxurious, in a sense. Outside, Erle Kingdom's
army was fighting for their lives while I spectated from my bed.
"So? What's Kanami up to?"
"After her disparaging comments about your attitude, Master Liam,
she claimed she would drive the enemies back herself. I imagine she won't
last much longer."
Kunai apparently didn't like Kanami much. I couldn't fully trust her
report if she was biased.
"I heard she's manifested the hero's power," I replied. "So, she's not
weak, is she?"
It had been my understanding that Kanami was supposed to obtain
some amazing power upon being summoned to this universe, but
according to Kunai, that still wouldn't push the enemy back.
"She received the power to fight, but she's had almost no time to
prepare herself. I highly doubt she will fight effectively with so little
training. Strength won't prevent her from dying if she doesn't know how
to fight."
I sighed. It was true, suddenly receiving raw power didn't grant
someone success in a war. In other words, the abilities Kanami had gained
didn't amount to much in the end.
"Erle Kingdom just buckled down too late," I said. "If they had
summoned a hero before they became this weak, they would have had
more time to train her properly."
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You could give a person power, but if you just threw them into a
battlefield, they wouldn't be any use. I sympathized with the queen, but
they hadn't handled the situation well.
"Master Liam, it's almost time," said Kunai, giving me the reminder
I'd requested.
"Guess I should get going, then. I'd like to see those beastfolk, after
all."
"You're interested in beastfolk?"
"Sure I am."
Nitta had often remarked on the appeal of animal ears. Beastfolk
seemed to be fairly standard in fantasy, and when such beings were
involved, there were always plenty of beautiful girls. Of course I was
interested.
I stood and stretched, then left the room with Kunai in tow.
***
It was nighttime. Woken by Enola, Kanami armed herself in the
dark by the light of a candle. Maids assisted her with shaking hands; they
must have been terrified.
"They attacked this late at night?" Kanami was surprised that the
enemy launched their raid at such an hour.
So was Enola. This was out of the ordinary. "Night battles are
usually avoided, since there's a higher chance of mistaking your allies for
enemies. But I suppose those concerns are meaningless to beastfolk."
Kanami's own hands shook as she faced her first real battle. I'm
scared. I should be strong now, but I'm so scared.
Enola held the girl's hand, entrusting Kanami with her hopes. "Lady
Kanami, please protect us. Please defend my innocent subjects from the
vicious beastfolk."
Enola didn't strike Kanami as very queenly. She pictured noble
queens and princesses as haughty and arrogant, but Enola wasn't like that
at all. She was sweet and kind. Kanami smiled at her, wanting to be her
strength.
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"Just leave it to me."
She's always thinking about her citizens. I guess that's because
she's royalty.
***
Atop the castle walls of Erle Kingdom's capital, a fierce battle was
taking place. The beastfolk had invaded in the night, and the kingdom's
army was trying to fight them off. Brawny beastfolk had successfully
climbed the walls and engaged the human soldiers.
A beastman crushed a human fighter's head. "Weak, so weak! We
could never lose to humans!" he shouted.
When Kanami arrived at the battle, she found the humans dropping
like flies. Anger filled her when she saw the corpses piling up on the wall.
"You won't get away with this!"
The beastfolk just guffawed at Kanami. "Look, a woman!" one
called. "They must be all out of real soldiers! We've won this war alrea—
h-huh?"
A deep wound gushing blood had opened in the laughing
beastman's gut. He hunched over, clutching at it.
Kanami trembled when she saw the damage she'd inflicted with the
bloodied sword in her hand. She could still feel the sensation of cutting
into the creature.
Th-this is war...
The look in the beastfolks' eyes changed when they realized how
Kanami could move.
"Kill the girl!"
"Hurry! Kill her! Otherwise, we'll—"
More beastfolk lunged at Kanami, but she deftly avoided their
attacks. She saw every move they made long before it arrived, so it wasn't
difficult to dodge their strikes. The beastfolk could only react with shock
as Kanami sliced into their arms and legs, immobilizing them. It all
happened in an instant.
"Hahh... Hahh..." Kanami was out of breath after a mere few
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seconds, mostly due to mental fatigue. She was already exhausted, yet
she'd incapacitated the enemies who'd come at her. She didn't have to
worry—she could really do this. As she realized that, the humans around
her rushed in with their spears and started impaling beastfolk.
"Die! Die!"
"This is for what you did to my son!"
"All hail the hero!"
The soldiers cheered for Kanami as they finished the beastfolk off.
Before Kanami even realized what was happening, most of the beastfolk
who'd scaled the walls were dead. A few managed to flee, but the battle
ended with Erle Kingdom's victory.
"We've won!" knights cried, elated. "We've won!"
Kanami couldn't believe what she'd just seen. The enemy couldn't
even fight back anymore.
The beastfolk had been helpless after she'd injured them, but the
human soldiers hadn't hesitated for a moment in finishing them off. The
thought terrified her.
As the sun rose at last, Kanami sank to her knees.
***
The Lion General Nogo swung a giant battle-axe down on the
beastfolk who had fled the castle walls.
One beastman tried to make an excuse. "W-wait! The hero—"
"My army needs no deserters," Nogo said coldly.
After cutting down the beastfolk who'd failed him, Nogo looked up
at his assembled fighters, his face bloodstained. "Whether they have a hero
or not makes no difference. If scaling the wall isn't the answer, we have no
choice but to break down the gates. We will take everything from them!"
He raised his battle-axe, and the beastfolk cheered.
Watching this, Glass clicked his tongue quietly. "Just blundering in?
We'll lose a ton of men again."
Nogo was strong, to be sure, but he had no mind for tactics.
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Crushing his enemies with nothing more than his own brute strength
excited him, but the level-headed Glass preferred methods that didn't lead
to excess casualties.
Chino stood next to Glass. Her eyes twinkled. "It's finally time for
the battle, Father!"
Glass put a hand on his innocent daughter's head, and her ears
drooped happily. Out of concern for her well-being, he gave her some
words of advice. "Do whatever it takes to survive. Only those who survive
become strong."
"I'll defeat all my enemies and make everyone see that I'm strong
like you, Father!"
"You don't need to do that. Just—"
Before Glass could caution Chino further, the clamoring beastfolk
suddenly went silent. Intense pressure emanated from within the castle
walls. Even Chino, who had been upbeat a moment earlier, trembled with
her tail between her legs.
"F-Father, what is that? I-is this what the Demon Lord feels like?"
Glass glanced at Nogo. Apparently it wasn't, since Nogo appeared
just as wary of the odd sensation.
"All troops, ready yourselves!" Nogo commanded his army.
At his words, the clans immediately fell into formation, raising their
weapons. None of the beastfolk retained the relaxed air they'd had before
sensing the pressure beyond the wall.
Nogo motioned to one of the tribes with his chin, ordering them
forward. The beastfolk obeyed and promptly charged the fortress gates. No
arrows rained down as they approached the walls. Instead, the gates simply
opened the moment the beastfolk reached them, as if to invite them inside.
The beastfolk were confused, but if the gates were open, what
option did they have but to hurry in? As they did so, however, the whole
group vanished in an instant.
"What?!"
Glass's eyes widened in shock. His allies had simply disappeared?
That was how it had seemed, but a second later, he smelled blood around
the gate. When he strained his eyes, he saw pieces of the beastfolk who'd
charged the gates scattered around the area. Some of their remains had
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even reached the feet of the rest of the troops.
He had no idea what had just happened; all he saw beyond the open
city gates were the streets of Erle Kingdom...and a lone man. The man
smirked at them, a slender sword resting against his shoulder. Then he
raised his free hand and beckoned in a gesture that said, "Come at me."
Nogo's mane bristled with rage. "You think you can provoke me?!
All troops—charge!"
As the beastfolk surged forward, Glass alone was held back by his
instincts, which told him it was too dangerous to enter the city. He felt
many of the beastfolk likely realized that, but resisted their instincts and
charged forward with the rest, since they knew Nogo would kill them if
they defied his orders.
"Ugh!" Glass was so confused, he hesitated in telling his own clan
to move, and they lagged behind the others.
"Father! Order us forward!" Chino urged, noticing that they were
being left behind. "We have to charge too!"
Despite Chino's insistence, Glass was too terrified of the man
beyond the gates to move. However, Nogo's orders were absolute. If Glass
defied them, Nogo would annihilate his whole clan—even the family
members the warriors had left behind. His face twisted with dismay.
"We charge!" Glass finally ordered.
As the wolves howled and joined their advancing comrades, sweat
poured off Glass. He could not silence his own protesting instincts.
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