The Smoke of Court of Fontaine: The Counterattack of Rose and Red Hare
Autumn was in full bloom in the Court of Fontaine. The phoenix trees along both sides of the canal were dyed golden red, their leaves reflected in the shimmering waves. It should have been the most pleasant season in this water city. Yet at this moment, the whole city was shrouded in oppressive tension—the city gates were tightly closed, the battle flags emblazoned with the character Yuan flew atop the walls, soldiers in clattering armor patrolled the streets, commoners locked their doors and windows tight, and even the air was thick with unease.
For days since Yuan Shao's army had laid siege to the Court of Fontaine, the resistance within had grown weaker by the hour. The defenders had run out of ammunition and had little grain left. Were it not for the city's intricate waterways and sturdy fortifications, the city would have fallen long ago. Though Yuan Shao's forces had failed to take the city despite repeated assaults, they relied on their ample supplies outside the walls to maintain a tight siege, determined to starve the city into submission. This left Navia, leader of the Spina di Rosula, burning with anxiety in the underground shelter.
The Spina di Rosula's underground hideout was a labyrinth of passages, connecting every hidden corner of the Court of Fontaine. Navia wore practical leather armor and gripped her ancestral sword tightly, her brows furrowed as she listened to the faint commotion above. Her bodyguards wore grave expressions; these loyal warriors could barely hold back their rage, waiting only for their leader's order to charge out and fight the enemy to the death.
"Leader! Our men above have sent word—something's happened to Yuan Shao's supply camp!" A scout, covered in dust, scrambled into the hideout, his voice trembling with excitement.
Navia's head shot up. "Speak clearly!"
"Fire! A huge fire is blazing in the direction of the grain depot in the Chenyu Valley! I hear shouts of battle too—could it be… infighting? Or a surprise attack? Either way, they're in complete chaos!"
A sharp glint flashed in Navia's eyes. With Fontaine surrounded, outside reinforcements could hardly break through Yuan Shao's lines. The burning of the grain depot must mean chaos within the enemy ranks… or some unexpected variable. Either way, this was Fontaine's chance!
She made an immediate decision, drawing her sword. Its blade glinted coldly in the dim underground hideout.
"Brothers, the moment has come! Yuan Shao's supplies are burning—their morale will collapse! This is our best chance to take back the Court of Fontaine! On my order: all able fighters assemble at once, charge through Passage Three straight for the central square—one of their command centers! Send word to the remaining defenders inside the city: tell them the Spina di Rosula is counterattacking, and they are to join us, striking from inside and out!"
"Yes!" The bodyguards roared in response. Their long-suppressed morale erupted in an instant. They grabbed their weapons and followed Navia toward the surface.
The end of the underground passage opened into an abandoned wine cellar. Pushing aside the heavy stone slab, they emerged right at the edge of the central square. The square was indeed in utter chaos. Yuan Shao's soldiers huddled in small groups, muttering about the burning supplies, many wearing expressions of panic—for an army dependent on provisions, the loss of grain was a death sentence. Several officers tried to restore order, only to be drowned out by the soldiers' complaints.
"Attack!" Navia whispered sharply, leaping from the shadows first. Her sword struck like lightning, piercing the throat of a stunned enemy soldier in an instant.
The Spina di Rosula bodyguards followed close behind, piercing the enemy formation like a drawn blade. They knew every street, every corner of the Court of Fontaine, launching ambushes using the terrain—leaping from rooftops, bursting from alleyways, throwing the already panicked Yuan Shao army into further disarray. The remaining Fontaine defenders also received the message, charging out from various buildings to join the Spina di Rosula fighters. The shouts of battle instantly echoed across the square.
"Hold steady! All of you, hold steady! It's just some burned supplies—what is there to panic about!" A burly general roared, trying to rally his troops. This was Jiang Qi, one of Yuan Shao's commanders. He swung his great blade, cutting down two charging Fontaine soldiers, only to be blocked by a swift figure.
"Jiang Qi! Your opponent is me!" Navia pointed her sword directly at him, her eyes burning with the fire of vengeance—it was this man who had led his men to ransack a Spina di Rosula outpost and killed several of her brothers.
Seeing that his foe was a woman, Jiang Qi flashed a look of contempt. "A little yellow-haired girl dares to stand in my way?" He swept his great blade toward Navia with a howling wind.
Navia did not clash with him head-on. Her steps were as nimble as a butterfly, weaving between scattered crates in the square, her sword targeting his every opening. For all his brute strength, Jiang Qi could not fight effectively in the cramped terrain. After several rounds, he was panting heavily, several wounds already on his body. Navia seized an opening, twisted her wrist, and drove her sword deep into his armpit, piercing his heart. Jiang Qi's eyes widened in disbelief before he crashed to the ground.
Slaying Jiang Qi greatly boosted the morale of the Fontaine side. Meanwhile, another of Yuan Shao's generals, Han Meng, was leading a squad of soldiers in an attempt to break out. Knowing full well what the loss of supplies meant, he only wanted to escape the Court of Fontaine as quickly as possible to report to Yuan Shao. But as he reached the city gate, he was blocked by several elite Spina di Rosula bodyguards.
"General Han, leaving so soon? You'll have to get past our blades first!" The lead bodyguard sneered, slashing his sword at Han Meng. Though Han Meng fought desperately, his men had already lost the will to fight and scattered one after another. Unable to stand alone, he was eventually hacked to death beneath the city gate.
While the battle raged in the city center, another equally thrilling fight was unfolding on the other side of the Court of Fontaine.
Guan Yu wielded his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, mounted on the Red Hare, his gaze sharp as lightning. He had been staying temporarily in the Court of Fontaine when Yuan Shao's army laid siege, and Xu Rong, a general under Lü Bu, had led an assault on the city. Guan Yu stepped forward to help the defenders. Xu Rong was no weak fighter, holding a long spear and clashing with Guan Yu. His spear moved like blossoming pear blossoms, yet he could never break through Guan Yu's mountain‑heavy blade stance.
"You fool! Dare block my army's path!" Xu Rong grew restless from the prolonged fight, his spear strikes growing fiercer.
Guan Yu snorted coldly. His Crescent Blade sank heavily, knocking Xu Rong's spear aside. In the next moment, he twisted his wrist and swept the blade forth with a piercing sound. Xu Rong failed to dodge, taking a heavy gash to the shoulder. He screamed and fell from his horse. Guan Yu rode forward, decapitating him with one slash, and shouted sternly:
"Xu Rong is dead! Surrender now, all of you!"
Seeing their commander slain, Xu Rong's men scattered at once. Guan Yu led the defenders in pursuit, quickly clearing the area of enemy troops.
When the news reached Lü Bu, he stood inside the temporarily seized City Lord Mansion, his face dark with rage. The supply depot burned, Jiang Qi and Han Meng dead, Xu Rong missing—one blow after another pushed him to the brink of losing control. He slammed his fist on the table and roared:
"Useless! All of you are useless! Order the entire army to counterattack! I will raze this Court of Fontaine to the ground!"
As he turned to put on his armor, soft footsteps sounded behind him. He instinctively looked back to see the servant who had been tending to his daily needs—a blue‑haired woman with heterochromatic eyes, Arlecchino—standing there with a cup of wine, a strange smile on her lips.
"General, why the anger? Have a drink and rest." Arlecchino's voice was gentle, yet it sent an inexplicable chill down Lü Bu's spine.
"You…" Before Lü Bu could finish, a sharp pain exploded in his chest. Looking down, he saw a small dagger in Arlecchino's hand, plunged into his side. The blade was razor‑sharp and poisoned with anesthetic. Agony mixed with numbness spread rapidly through his body.
"You… are you with the Spina di Rosula?" Lü Bu was shocked and furious. He never imagined he would be ambushed by a seemingly harmless servant.
Arlecchino pulled out the dagger, gently wiping the blood from it. She smiled:
"General, the Court of Fontaine does not welcome uninvited guests. You should leave before you lose your life."
Lü Bu was stunned and enraged, but the anesthetic took hold, his strength fading fast—he could barely even lift his halberd. Looking into Arlecchino's calm eyes, he knew all was lost. Stay any longer, and he might truly perish here.
"Fine… fine Spina di Rosula!" Lü Bu gritted his teeth, shoved Arlecchino aside, and stumbled out of the City Lord Mansion. He roared at his personal guards outside:
"Retreat! All troops, retreat!"
Seeing their commander injured, the guards dared not question him and quickly escorted him out of the city. With their leader wounded and ordering a retreat, the already demoralized Yuan Shao army fled the Court of Fontaine in a chaotic tide.
At the city gate, Navia watched the enemy's panicked retreat and let out a long breath. Guan Yu rode up beside her, stroking his long beard, nodding in approval.
"Leader Navia. A masterful plan."
Navia smiled faintly, wiping the blood from her face. "You flatter me, General Guan. Without your aid, and without… our inside agent's effort, we could never have succeeded so easily." She emphasized the words "inside agent," her gaze sweeping toward the distant City Lord Mansion.
The morning sun rose, golden light spilling over the walls of the Court of Fontaine, chasing away days of gloom. Commoners opened their doors and windows, looking at the soldiers and Spina di Rosula members clearing the streets, smiles of survival returning to their faces. The city gates reopened, ships on the canal set sail once more, and the water city regained its former vitality.
Navia stood atop the city wall, gazing into the distance, her sword glinting in the sunlight. Though they had won this battle, she knew the peace of the Court of Fontaine required more protectors. The flag of Spina di Rosula flew once again above the City Lord Mansion, and the story of this water city would continue to be written.