Banished Hero: Episode 24 "One Templar, Two Templars, Three Templars..."

Big thanks to everyone who read my story. I'm sorry if it getting too long.

Enjoy!

------

Flora and Mike found another wolf camp. But it was different than others. The camp was empty. Tents were set and the horses were eating grass. But no single wolf in black armor. The soldiers who were in the swamps for a long time knew what happened to them.

"That's weird," the tigress said, "The wolves are dead but the horses are calm"

"Maybe someone assassinated them at night?"

"The monsters and ferals are attacking with full force. They lost their mind. That was someone else"

The fox's ears detected something, "That someone is close" he whispered to Flora,

Flora stopped moving and listened to her environment. The wind was moving the leaves, frogs and toads were croaking... and the bushes behind them were moving.

When they turned around, something jumped from the bushes and ran away.

"What the fuck was that?" Duke asked,

"Doesn't matter" she started to chase it, "After him!"

The both of them were chasing the bush thing but without results. The creature hid in the swamps and couldn't be found.

Instead, they found a different thing. The enormous flat ground without trees and giant red crystal in the middle. The cursed soldiers were guarding the crystal.

"We have to inform the rest about this"

"You go, stripes. I'll wait here"

Flora went back to the Templar army. The High Templar looked mad.

"Laura! Big news!" the tigress shouted,

"Did you find the deserters?" she asked,

"The what?"

"The guiders from the Vultures Castle gone AWOL. With some of our supplies"

"No, I didn't see them"

"We'll find them eventually. What's your big news?"

"Me and Duke found the giant crystal defended by cursed soldiers"

Raine heard that and jumped into, "What crystal? Describe it!"

"It's a huge red crystal"

The Great Templar turned to High Templar, "This is it! The source of the Curse of Drylands! If we destroy the crystal, the cursed army will die!"

Laura nodded and ordered them to march.

------

An hour later, they arrived at the place. They saw that the cursed army was bigger and more organized than they excepted.

The one cursed soldier noticed them and alarmed the rest with a demonic scream. The infantry made the offensive formation and calvary rushed at Laura's troops. The army that was fighting twenty years ago, attacked their enemies' grandchildren.

The appearance of the human army scared the Miners from Humakan but only them. Keidrans heard the stories about the genocides committed by them. They hated them. They hated them more than wolves. And they wanted revenge.

In the chaos of battle, Raine saw the tall dark skeleton with the damaged grey robes and black cloak close to the crystal. It was Trace Legace or what was left of him.

"Laura!" she shouted, "The one at the back is the commander! We need to kill him!"

"Got it! Flora! Mike!" the High Templar turned to them, "Kill him"

They nodded and rushed to their target. Unfortunately, the damned blocked them.

The white-haired woman was luckier. Her sword cut through the undead army like butter. No power could stop her at that moment. The rage, the fury, and the determination allowed her to make a breakthrough.

When Trace saw that, he raised his rotten hand. His soldiers were passing The Great Templar and were focused on the Keidrans.

There was a brief moment of silence between the two Templars. Finally, Trace broke the silence,

"Well, well, well" his voice was low and didn't some like human at all. The corruption spoke instead him, "The daughter of Silverlock on the animals' side... like a mother, like a daughter"

"Do you have something to say about Mary?" Raine's grip got stronger, "Because it's your last chance to say anything!"

Trace laughed maniacally, "I defeated her so easy. Let's see if you'll die the same"

The battle or the Duel of Two Great Templars was fierce. Both of them were using every skill they learned, every advance they got, and every trick in their sleaves. The swords were hitting and the magic spells were reflected.

But Trace took the initiative. His sword cut through her stomach. Raine unable to endure the pain fell and dropped her sword.

"Now," the skeleton raised his weapon, "say your mother that I say 'hi'-"

Laura's fireball interjected him and made him vulnerable. Raine used the rest of her strength to grab the sword and split the adversary's head in half.

"Why won't you meet her in person?"

As she removed the blade, the old bones change into dust. The damned army did the same. The giant crystal lost its red color and faded.

It was over. The curse had ended.

As the dust was lifted by the wind, Laura swear that she heard the voice saying, "Thank you..."

------

The foxes who stayed in the Vulture Castle had a good time. They have been successfully stopped two assaults. The morale was high which result in singing patriotic songs. One of them was Keith's favorite:

Boys strong as steel, eyes gazing afar,war's conflagration means nothing to us.Hey, at the sight of our falcon, step in a resiliant march,and disdain for death and the enemy.Ready arms, forward march to victory!Keep your heads up! Our Templar lead us to it.Boys strong as steel, eyes gazing afar,hey, to fight, we will not lack the strength.Boys strong as steel, eyes gazing afar,hey, to fight, we will not lack the strength.

Our emblem is an orange fox, the "Four heads" that's our sign,our slogan, an assault song.Among the belts, roar of trebuchets, squad stands like steel,although half the boys've fallen already.Today he, tomorrow I, death doesn't ask...Ready arms! Your blood sounds the call to fight.Boys strong as steel, eyes gazing afar,and on our lips, our assault song.Boys strong as steel, eyes gazing afar,and on our lips, our assault song.

The sound of instruments was drowned out by the battle horns. Wolfgard attacked. Everyone stopped drinking beer or playing and rushed to the fortification. They witnessed an amazing yet terrifying view. The whole of Wolfgard's army was moving towards the island.

"Looks like they lost their patience," Drake said and looked at the sky, "Not a single cloud. It's a beautiful day to die..."

"Everyone! Get ready!" Keith shouted to everyone, "Defend to the last drop of blood!"

It was a massacre. The archers and crossbowmen didn't have to aim to hit the wolf. But they were too many. They reached the shore and were climbing to the walls.

"Go back! To the second circle!" the marshal ordered but it was too late.

Wolves were pouring down like a black tsunami. Foxes couldn't hold the ground and with every minute of the fight, they had to retreat further and further.

They made it to the second line of defense but wolves had already taken their toll.

But the battle got uglier.

Wolf mages used their magic to create the giant fire rain on the castle. The fireballs were killing wolves and foxes. No one was safe. But that didn't weaken foxes' morale. They knew what'll happen if they surrender. They had already given up their lives.

One of the fireballs hit the stone tower. The explosion made giant parts of it fall. Most of the rubbles destroyed the wall and made an opening.

Seeing that the defense is impossible, Drake experienced flashbacks from twenty years ago. But he wasn't scared, only relieved. He understood that his time is now.

"Keith!" He shouted, "Order people to retreat to the governor's house!"

"If we stop keeping the line, they'll kill us all!"

"Only one person needs to keep the line!" and he charged into the enemy, "AAAARGHH!"

"The madman did it..."

The old white fox plunged himself into the fight, slaying everyone, with his sword. He even moved the frontline a few inches. He was fighting as long as he could, not caring about the wounds or exhaustion. He even laughed at enemies.

"Come on, fuckers!" he shouted at the closest wolf, "Kill me! I dare ya!"

And then, the wolf hit him with the mace, knocking the captain down. Another wolf finished the fox with the longsword right in the heart.

The vision's fading. The heart was beating slower with every second. With the last moments of his life, Drake turned around to the stone house. Survivors barricaded themself. He made it. He can die with a smile on his face.

------

The communicator in Laura's pocket activated. The vixen quickly grabbed the magic stone,

"Hello? Keith? Are you there?"

"Your Majesty! Here's Keith Keiser!", the voice was cracking and the quiet static was heard in the background. It was probably by a giant crystal that lost all mana concentrated in it.

Laura was happy to hear his voice, "We will leave Drylands soon. How's the defense of the castle?"

"Listen... I think this will our last call"

It was like the arrow in the chest.

"The wolves, they're too many... about fifty of us left and only ten not injured or wounded...the supplies are gone...We'll be fighting for maybe one hour, max, and then..."

'No no no!' she thought about coming back and saving him. But she knew that even the most loyal soldiers won't follow her.

"Laura..." it was the first time the marshal called her by name, "I'm sorry. I couldn't make the promise...Goodbye"

The communicator stop working. End of the communication.

Everyone was watching as the High Templar dropped the magic stone without moving a hand. The scared eyes with small pupils, the irregular breathing, the whole body was shaking.

Flora put her paw on the vixen, "What happened?"

"Th-The Vulture Castle... the defense fell..."

Laura whispered it but the news was heard by the whole army. Hearing the murmurs among troops, the tigress said, "Their sacrifice won't be in vain. Let's go!"

"Yeah...yeah...Move it!" she was still recovering from the shock. And keeping the tears from everyone didn't help. Despite the recent won battle, soldiers were even in a worse mood. And the paranoia that someone is watching them didn't let them for any moment.

To be continued...

​

The song doesn't rhyme because it was translated.

The chapter will end in the next episode.

First Episode

Previouse Episode

Next Episode