Chapter 7

City of Italica

Cyrus thrust his staff blade through the Dremora. The weapon pierced through the fiend as if he was made of butter. He growled as he burned to death from the inside, his natural magical resistance not enough to protect him.

The one facing Rory wasn't having any more luck. She easily dodged each of his attacks then decapitated him with one swing. Blood flowed on her face yet she strangely wasn't smiling anymore.

The last Daedra roared with rage at the loss of his comrades. Cyrus shut him up with a small fireball. The resulting explosion blew up his head.

The Battlemage turned his gaze back. Piña hadn't woken up from the fighting and was still lying on the ground as if she was sleeping peacefully.

"We need to get the Princess to safety before more come."

Rory didn't answer him, gazing at the Dremora bodies.

"Rory?"

"I don't understand," she started to say. "I am the Apostle of Emroy, the God of Death, Darkness, War and Love. I have lived for nine centuries and traveled across the entire world, seen things most people never even dream of. So why is it I never saw those creatures until today?" She turned her gaze on him. "And why is it I did not sense their deaths when they fell?"

"They didn't die."

She looked at him puzzled. "What do you mean?" She smashed one of the bodies to piece. "They are as dead as one can be."

"We merely destroyed their bodies. Eventually they'll get others."

Her face became serious. "What are you saying? How can you know this? What are these creatures?"

"They are Dremora. They're a member of what is called the Daedra. The Daedra… well they're some sort of immortal creatures who exist outside the cycle of life and death. In fact they existed before it even was a concept. Daedra never die. The most we can do is destroy their body if they have been physically summoned as we did here. Their "souls", if we can call them that, will be sent to the Void or "Waters" of Oblivion, where they will eventually reform on their home plane. Oblivion it's… well to put it simply it's a place far outside this one with numerous planes of existence like the world we are in yet very different."

He wasn't sure if his explanation had been sufficiently clear or if Rory had understood everything but he wasn't much of a teacher. And while what he just said wasn't common knowledge, most children in Tamriel had heard about Oblivion and the Daedra. How does one explain what has been known since before Creation?

Rory had sat on one of the bodies, not caring about staining her dress with blood. "... Until this day I had never heard of anything you just said. Not even Emroy told me about these "Daedra". And he never hid anything from me. Of course I knew about other places not physically here like Heaven, where most of the Gods live, and the Underworld where… Hardy hangs out." She had said the name with such venom Cyrus briefly wondered what was the history between the girl and the Goddess.

"Of course I knew other worlds existed, after all the Gate has the purpose of drawing new beings here…" She shut herself then looked at her companion then to the bodies then back to him. "The Gate… the Gate!" She got up. "By the Underworld! That stupid bitch!" She kicked with rage the body under her, sending it high in the sky.

"Emroy had warned me about something going on with the Gate that Hardy opened. Now I know." She looked him straight in the eyes.

"They came from there. That's the only way I can think of. Yet… you know of things. Way beyond what a mortal should know. Such knowledge would be suppressed by the Gods so there are two possibilities: either you're an Apostle, which I know you're not. Or…" she paused. "You and your friends came through it too, right?"

"Yes"

"That's it? No denying?"

"There is no point in it anymore."

They still hadn't made any hostile move towards each other.

More Dremoras approached. Cyrus cast a Wall of Fire, trapping them. Rory threw her halberd, impaling two of them. The rest burned alive.

She used her telekinesis to get her weapon back. "Then why? Why did you help the villagers? Why did you help defend the city? Why did you go save the Princess?"

"Our quarrel is only with the Saderan Empire, not the people. They came from the Gate with the intention to invade and enslave us for no reason. We fought back and won. All we want now is to end this war they started unprovoked, nothing more."

"So you got beef with the Empire?" Her smile came back. "Can't say I like them either so that's fine with me. But what about the Daedra?"

He shook his head. "Unknown. We were as surprised as everyone to see them here. If they are working with the bandits that means at the very least they have a sorcerer who made some sort of pact and called them. Or it could be worse."

She tipped her head in confusion. "How worse?"

"Anything from Daedra overrunning the entire world by sheer numbers to having it pulled into another plane forcefully. Assuming an angry Daedric God doesn't manifest to destroy the plane or fuse it with his own," he explained without blinking.

"Okay… and you know that because?"

"It happened to us in the past. Several times. We pulled through thanks to Divine intervention."

She had a maniacal laugh. "So basically we need the Gods to act? Hardy couldn't even control where the Gate opened! What is she gonna do now? Ask her Apostle to do something useful for once?"

He loaded Piña on his back, securing her arms around his neck. "We'll deal with those here, then we find out what happened. But first, the Princess. I'm gonna need you to cover me until we secure her."

They walked through the deserted streets, trying to get back on their path.

"Where is everyone?" Rory asked as she looked at the various empty buildings. "You think they all had the time to flee before it started?"

"I hope so."

The girl went to inspect some of them. "No bodies here. Do Daedra take prisoners?"

Before Cyrus could answer her, a towering figure burst through the house, grabbing the Apostle with one hand. The moonlight revealed the beast's crocodilian appearance, a Daedroth. The fiend roared at his prey, crushing her. The girl moaned in pain. She was however able to overpower its grip before impaling it. The creature growled but it was far from dead It breathed fire at Rory, trying to burn her to ashes.

She countered with her telekinesis to reverse the spell on its caster. This only angered the Daedroth further, who charged her with great strength, using his momentum to project her through several buildings.

"Rory!" Cyrus yelled.

Before he could prepare to engage the Oblivion creature, a lightning bolt coming from the sky struck it, disintegrating the Daedroth.

"Thanks for the save, Captain," he said telepathically.

"Just get the girls out of there, you'll thank me later."

He grabbed the halberd from the beast's remains before searching for Rory.

He found her inside a ravaged house, clutching her belly. She was bleeding heavily. He went quickly to her side.

"Here. Let me heal you," he proposed.

"Thanks…" she grunted, "but save it from someone who can't regenerate from deadly wounds. I should be fi… raaargh! Fuck! That… thing got me good." She breathed hard as her wounds were slowly healing. "So, just out of curiosity, what the hell was that one's name?"

"A Daedroth. Much higher on the totem pole than the Churl Dremoras we faced so far."

"Yeah, thanks for telling me. I had no idea," she replied sarcastically. She finally got up, having almost fully recuperated. Cyrus handed her back her weapon before they both left the house.

Suddenly Cyrus felt his "load" moving. Clearly the Princess was finally waking up.

"Where… where am I?" She asked. She blushed out of embarrassment when she realized where she was.

"What are you doing? Let me go!" She ordered.

"You could be a bit more polite. He just saved your life," Rory reprimanded her.

"Don't you remember anything?" Cyrus asked her as he let her down.

"I was… heading towards the main gate. Then… I remember a flash with a great noise and then… nothing?"

"You were hit by a spell, I tried to warn you but it was too late. Your horse didn't survive. The fall made you lose consciousness," he explained.

Piña inspected herself, then looked back at the duo confused. "Shouldn't I be heavily injured? How did I end up only knocking myself?"

"Oh you were," Rory replied with a devious smile. "He just worked his "magic"."

"His "magic"?" She wondered a moment about what the Apostle had meant then shrugged it off, putting it on the account of her very special personality.

Cyrus for his part simply stared at the demigoddess who was sticking out her tongue to mock him. She really is still a child.

He whistled for his mount. The horse arrived minutes after being called. Unbeknownst to both ladies, he had actually used magic.

"Wait, you could have called your horse all along? Then why didn't you do it before instead of just walking?" Rory chastised him.

"I had my reasons," he simply stated.

He helped up the Princess on his mount. Rory followed, putting herself in front of her.

"Are you sure your horse can take three passengers?" Piña asked.

He didn't answer right away. Instead more Dremoras arrived, alongside another Daedroth.

"Emroy preserve us! What are these things? I never saw those kinds of Demihumans before!" she screamed.

Rory snorted. "Well they aren't Demihumans Princess," she turned her head towards him, "Come on! What are you doing? Join us!"

"You're gonna stay with the Princess," he simply said.

"Of course I'm gonna stay with her! Now come with us!"

He didn't answer, instead petting his horse's head. "Go"

The beast launched itself to a gallop, taking with her both girls.

"Wait! What about you?" Piña yelled.

"He intends to fight them alone," Rory deduced. She smiled. "He is absolutely mad. I think I understand why I like his aura."

That was my reason, he thought as he saw them disappearing from his view. He turned back to the approaching Daedra. His body suddenly exploded in fire as his flaming aura took shape.

The dozens of Daedra were now circling him, taunting. "You're all alone, vermin! Once we're done with you it will be their turn!"

The Battlemage didn't answer. Instead he instantly summoned a large brown bear whose first act was tackling one of the Dremora to the ground , before mauling him to death.

Before the rest could engage the "animal" and his master, they were stopped by Cyrus calling his other summons. A flesh atronach towering over even the Daedroth and three well armored and armed skeleton champions in close formation joined the fight. The Atronach smashed through the group of Dremora with his mace-like arm, sending some of them flying, allowing Cyrus and the skeletons to close in on them.

Having lost their morale, some of the surviving Dremora tried to flee, only for the Daedroth to charge them out of anger. The crocodilian Daedra caught one in its mouth before biting him to death. He then focused on Cyrus who was currently engaging two Dremora at once, his flaming aura forcing them to stay at range.

Upon hearing the roar and seeing it starting to charge, the Battlemage concentrated a dark purple sphere of summon in his left hand. I have one last surprise for you. He unleashed the spell between him and the beast.

A portal formed and a female figure clad in a golden armor from head to toe emerged. The summoned Aureal, more commonly known as a Golden Saint, raised its shield to meet the Daedroth's impact. Despite the obvious difference in size, the female Daedra was able to stand her ground. Swift as the wind, she cut the beast's arm, resulting in a pained roar from the Daedroth. Before he could recover, the Golden Saint stabbed it in the knee, forcing it to the ground. She then finished it off with a clean decapitation.

After the first assault, Jing had used her mastery of sorcery to summon a small elite army under her command : two Dremora Lords, three armored Daedroths carrying axes, a Winged Twilight and of course her bodyguard, a hulking male Xivilai. So far the invaders had been outmatched in every capacity, not even groups of Daedroths had been a match.

The allied Daedra had been dispersed alongside the left side of the Walls to make sure the invaders didn't take advantage of unoccupied areas to penetrate the city. The situation had been rather calm so far and the young woman was wondering what the enemy was up to.

She received a telepathic communication. "Jing, come here, it's Cyrus."

"Glad to hear you. How are you doing on your side?" she asked.

"I just got the girls to safety. I'm currently patrolling my area. What about you?"

"Nothing so far. It's almost as if they have given up. My summons have been reporting nothing for the past few minutes," she replied while still checking her mental links.

"Good," her comrade said. "There was something I wanted to discuss with you. We don't need to bother the others for now. It's about those Daedra. Don't you find them strange?"

"Definitely. The Dremora lack any affiliation to a particular Prince, Daedroths can be employed by absolutely anyone… there's no possible way to link them to any one Prince. The two prime suspects, Mehrunes Dagon and Molag Bal, don't act like that. Not to mention I don't see what in this world might interest them."

"Probably nothing. Rory told me she had never seen or heard about Daedra before today. She believes it's linked to the Gate."

"Impossible. The Gate is within Mundus. No Prince could manipulate it to its leisure. The Covenant ensures that," Jing reasoned.

"Perhaps we are looking it the wrong way then. These Daedra may just be minions of the Bandit lord and there are no Princes involved," Cyrus advanced.

The familiar sound of a fireball being cast resonated and Jing raised just in time a ward to protect herself. A hooded figure resembling a Dremora surrounded by Bonelords were facing her. Her Xivilai charged in after summoning his own clannfear and she followed them. The Daedra roared before smashing his warhammer into the undead. The spellcasters switched targets and attempted to fry him alive with a lightning bolt. Fortunately the Xivilai was able to absorb part of the attack into his own magicka reserve, not without harm.

Jing, after cutting down two bonelords, counter-attacked with a lightning spell of her spellcaster was able to counter with a ward. This however distracted him from the clannfear who sent the mage flying with a charge. Upon getting up and his hood having fallen, Jing realized her mistake about the mage's true identity. Although his face was similar to a Dremora, his skin and eyes were that of a Xivilai.

A Xivkyn!

This enraged her Xivilai who attacked the enemy Daedra before his mistress could react. Dropping his weapon, he grabbed the now unfortunate spellcaster's head at two hands before crushing it. The Xivkyn struggled briefly, trying to escape the grip before dying in agonized cries. The Xivilai released his prey before smiling in triumph. Evidently his hate of the hybrid Daedra had been stronger than anything.

Jing approached the body, inspecting it.

"Jing! What happened?" Cyrus asked her.

"A Xivkyn attacked me."

"One of those Dremora-Xivilai hybrids employed only by Molag Bal?"

"The same ones." She looked at his robe. " Yet like the rest, this one isn't wearing any sign of allegiance to Bal. Something that goes against everything we know about their society."

"So he's an outcast," her comrade stated.

"Like the rest probably. Divines I have no idea what's going on. We need to get ahold of that "Bandit lord"."

Their conversation was cut short as several lightning bolts struck.

"Attention everyone! The enemy went around the gates and is now attacking and breaking through from the rear of the city, left and right. I'm trying to hold them off but there are too many. They're heading towards the still populated area!"

Ykalon, Imperial camp

"I'll admit, this Princess seems to be quite something. And you say she might be the heir?" Ivan said.

Livia shook her head. "Only rumors, your Highness, unlike what I have seen from your people, women are rarely in positions of power in Falmart. Only if there is no male heir. And even then, it's likely her position will pass to her husband. Which is why it was strange when the Emperor allowed her to have her own Knightly Order."

The pleasant conversation was suddenly interrupted as Hector teleported inside the tent in a flash of light. "Lady Sartorius, Count Formal," he saluted them before turning towards Ivan. "Your Highness, I'm afraid we have a situation in our hands. I've already warned the Crown Prince."

Ivan got up from his seat, his face becoming serious. " Tell me old friend, what is happening?"

"When Magus-Commander Sejanus Aelius ceased all communications after his last report I thought nothing of it. But it turns out there was a good reason for that, him and several of our parties have been ambushed and are still currently fighting as we speak. Italica is even under siege," the Imperial Battlemage explained.

Colt almost jumped up from his seat, panicked. "My city is under attack? By whom? What about my daughter?"

Livia went at his side to reassure him. "Please my friend, I'm sure Myui is safe as we speak." She turned towards Hector, asking him silently to answer.

"Lady Sartorius is right, your daughter was safe last I spoke with the Commander," the Battlemage confirmed. "The Princess that had taken control of your city, as you may have guessed already, was Piña Co Lada and her Knights. The city had received an ultimatum from a bandit lord when Captain Caranya's team arrived. As a result they were recruited to defend the city. At the same time both the Commander and Captain Alexios Marcius' team came attacked by parties of… Daedra."

"Divines preserve us," Ivan said as he tried to keep his calm.

Hector continued. "It turns out that the bandits attacking Italica have Daedra working with them. How? We don't know for sure. Sejanus annihilated the ones attacking him to be able to establish contact anew. Same with Alexios, as they were in an open field. Italica is more uncertain as our soldiers are trying to limit any damage done to the city and protect its inhabitants. However its garrison has been mostly destroyed and they might be overwhelmed if not supported."

"Then there is no time," Ivan said as he began to walk out from the tent. "We need to send in the Centuries to relieve them immediately. They are already prepared." He turned towards the anxious father. "Do not worry, our soldiers know what they're dealing with. Your city will be saved before the end of the night."

Hector followed him before teleporting them both to the main camp where Basil and the Legates were already waiting for them. They bowed.

One of the Centuries was already assembled, ready to go. A few Knights had been added as auxilia.

"Centurion Marius Aurelius and his men are ready to depart, we're only waiting for a connection to be made," Basil informed them.

"I will contact Sejanus immediately so he will inform Captain Caranya. I'm afraid however it may take some time," Hector said as his eyes started glowing.

"Then in the meantime I will personally see my soldiers to encourage them, Divines know they will need it," Ivan replied as he left, flanked by his two everpresent bodyguards to see the century.

Marius immediately noticed him approaching. "Century! Greet your Emperor!"

Immediately as one man the Legionaries kneeled.

Ivan couldn't help but appreciate the discipline of his troops. "At ease soldiers, this is unofficial after all." He looked at the commanding officer. "How are the troops Centurion?"

"Ready for anything your Highness! My men are motivated to fight like never! Even if we face Daedra! The Knights were only integrated today but they have shown competence as such our cohesion remains unaffected!"

Ivan nodded, satisfied by the answer. "Good, good. Centurion Marius Aurelius was it? As a fellow Colovian, tell me, where are you from?"

"From the Western Jerall Mountains, near the border with Skyrim actually. My father was a Nord veteran from the Great War who settled there after meeting my mother. It's because of him I decided to join the Legion actually," the young officer replied grinning.

"An excellent choice. I've read your records, you quickly ascended through the ranks to centurion by illustrating yourself during the War with the Dominion. I can say without a doubt you made the right career choice. I have complete confidence in you and your men."

"Thank you, your Highness! We will not disappoint you!" Marius said.

"Of course. Now I won't hold you back any further. Divines be with you"

As Ivan rejoined the high ranked officers of the Legion, the Century saluted him.

"See Basil," as he joined his son, "that's one of the most important lessons I've taught you."

The Crown Prince nodded, "getting to know our soldiers personally to show we care about them."

"Indeed, the Empire is built on the back of our Legions. As such we must show respect towards the men and women who make up their numbers."

They turned their heads as the Century was now singing in Cyrodilic, one of the traditional war songs learned in the Legion.

Si vis pacem para bellum

Dulce bellum inexpertis

Casus belli, (ey!) BASILEUS VULT! (ey!)

Inter arma, (ey!) silent leges (ey!)

Bellum omnium contra omnes!

Bellum omnium calcuo est!

Lus ad bello, lus ad belli

Bella horrida!

Non me constringis... cupivisset

Si vis pacem para bellum

Bellum omnium contra omnes!*

Italica, a few moments before

Without the Princess to command them, Grey had taken the leadership of the group. He had assembled them before the City Palace alongside the city watch. Or rather the few stragglers who hadn't left or died.

Bozes was still inconsolable over the loss of the Princess and Norman was thinking the situation hopeless, his fighting spirit shattered. In truth Grey was of the same opinion. The morale of the other troops was barely better, the enemy had magic and who knows what else, most of the watch and the mercenaries were probably dead and no one knew where Rory had gone.

At least they were going to do a last stand here. Better to die than taken as a slave, especially for the girls.

The sound of a horse galloping was suddenly heard. Focusing on the sound (helped by the fact the city was almost entirely silent), Grey could tell it was only one.

"Prepare yourselves! We don't know whether it's friend or foe!" He ordered.

He distantly made out a figure but it was only as it passed under the moonlight he recognized them.

The Apostle and… the Princess! She lives! He rejoiced.

Bozes saw it too and as soon as Piña's feet touched the ground she embraced her, crying. "I thought you were dead!"

As the Princess pulled over from the hug, she spoke in an excited tone. "The mercenary, Cyrus! He saved my life but he stayed behind! There were creatures I've never seen before! We must help him!"

Grey shook his head. "I'm sorry, your Highness." He showed her the rest of the group. "We are all that remains. I'm afraid there is nothing we can do for him save praying to Emroy and Hardy for his soul."

"Well if I were you I wouldn't count on Hardy to lift a finger," Rory said in a mocking tone as she approached them. "As for Emroy, that would require that the madman actually died. Having seen him fight I wouldn't count him or his friends out just yet."

"Does it matter?" Norman replicated, having heard the conversation. "Whether they are dead or not they are just four people! What can they do to turn the tide?"

The Apostle looked at him with a mischievous smile. "Many things. Besides you have me on your side, never forget it."

As to make her right, several lightning bolts punctuated her sentence.

Cyrus was now running alongside the walls to the right of the Main Gate, trying to get as fast as possible to the other side of the city. He had used a scroll of speed prepared to this purpose since he was now without a mount. He had left all of his minions behind in case more Daedra would come, with the exception of the bear he had recalled, and his Golden Saint, who was following him closely. He had given her the same scroll to allow her to keep up.

He was periodically checking the walls for holes, making sure Daedra weren't entering the city through to them as he passed.

He suddenly stopped, realizing his Aureal wasn't following him anymore.

"Mira? Where are you?" As he used their summoner-summon link to telepathically contact her. No answer came.

As he was going back on his footsteps, Mira was launched into him like a cannonball, projecting them both with great force.

Rendered groggy by the impact, he saw his summon lying next to him, knocked out. Considering Mira was the equal of a Dremora Lord, this was bad news.

A roar designated the culprit, a male Xivilai. The Daedra ran towards him. Cyrus got up with difficulty, trying to concentrate as a cloud of smoke began to form around him. The Xivilai suddenly emitted a painful cry and stopped his course. A large gaping wound had been opened where his heart was located. The monster made a few steps before falling dead.

Black-Scales materialized himself before him, the brutish fiend's heart impaled on his sword. "Merciful Stendarr, you okay Cyrus?"

"I think so. I was just groggy from the impact. Thank you by the way."

"Don't mention it." The disguised Argonian pointed to the Aureal. "What about her?"

The Golden Saint groaned in response, regaining consciousness. "Damn that stupid brutish male!" She spat as she got up.

"Do you need help? I can heal you," Cyrus proposed his summon.

"My pride is hurt enough as it is, thank you," she answered sarcastically. "I'll handle myself." She cast a minor healing spell on herself .

Her summoner approached the fallen Xivilai, looking at his body pensively.

"They started deploying the elite it seems," his comrade said. "I think some of the Dremora they sent were Caitiff; I'm not an expert like Jing, but they seemed a bit more resilient. However I would have never thought they had Xivilai."

Cyrus had remained silent the entire conversation, still studying his deceased foe. "That Xivilai… he isn't bald or shaved and he is wearing an armored loincloth rather than a robe. That's the confirmation Jing and I needed. Definitely not affiliated with Molag Bal. The Xivkyn she saw earlier also disqualifies Mehrunes Dagon. Mmm.. still inconclusive."

"So the mystery remains. Anyway we should go back," Black-Scales as he faded, "good luck."

"You too."

Mira had evidently finished healing and was ready to depart which she acknowledged with a nod.

As they were running once again they came across an odd sight. People were sacking houses with no one to stop them. Upon closer inspection Cyrus realized those were probably the bandits they were supposed to stop before the whole mess started.

Well at least I have found a way to recharge my magicka without potion.

"Look at all of this! It belongs to us and we didn't even have to fight for it!" one of them said.

"The chief was right! Those creatures are truly a gift from the Gods! A shame they took everyone here as slaves, I wouldn't have minded one or two women now!"

The Battlemage signaled for his Golden Saint to not move as he approached them. "Stop right there, criminal scum! You've violated the city's law!"

They stopped, surprised someone would actually try to confront them especially alone.

"Guys, we found a hero! I'm so scared right now!" They laughed.

Cyrus' eyes glowed red while an aura of the same color enveloped him. He performed a quick hand gesture towards them.

Suddenly the bandits cried as they found themselves in pain and red tendrils were now connecting them to Cyrus. By combining an absorbed life spell and using another to trade his own life force for magicka he was able to replenish himself fully.

He glanced at the bodies. You'll serve better in death than in life. A pale blue spectral aura surrounded him.

"Captain Caranya, this is Commander Sejanus. How is the situation on your side?"

"Not very well, I'm afraid." She called several strikes on groups getting too close to the location of the refugees.

"I've reestablished the connection with Tamriel. Your Century is ready to be deployed. They only wait for your signal. I wish I could come but alas I have other matters to attend to. Divines be with you."

As she sent a final bolt both her scrying and storm spells cancelled. She was exhausted. She grabbed two magicka potions of high quality and downed them. She then levitated to land before the palace to the Knights' astonishment.

"You!" Piña exclaimed, "how…"

"No time Princess! The enemy is coming from behind! I'm going to face them! Keep her safe!" She ordered, dropping the act. She then left them here, speechless.

"By Emroy… did she just fly?" one of them managed to say.

"I told you we shouldn't have counted them out," Rory said in her usual joyous tone. She immediately went after the disguised Altmer.

Caranya had called her mount to cross through the city faster, hoping to get to the Daedra before they got the villagers.

"Do you mind if I come with you?"

She turned her head, surprised to see Rory sitting behind her. "Sure. Whatever you wish little miss," she said, ignoring the Apostle antics.

She pouted. "What happened to "Lady Rory"?"

It went somewhere else with your maturity apparently.

Cries of panics resonated across the streets near the char arena. Some of the townsfolk had fled their homes after the Daedra opened the breach in the walls. They had joined with the Coda villagers. When the enemy started showing up, Master Cato had been forced to put all of his magic in a magical barrier engulfing everyone including their wagons. The effort had been exhausting and he wasn't sure how long he would last.

Lelei and Tuka had joined him to repel the enemy, one with her explosive spells, the other with her enchanted arrows.

"These creatures! I've never seen them before in any record of the Rondel Academy! What is happening?" the old sage questioned nervously.

Some Dremoras fell after one of the enhanced arrows went through one of his eyes, others from having part of their bodies blown off. Sadly others took far more to defeat and the Daedroths so far had shrugged everything.

"Focus on the barrier!" One of the few Dremora with a helmet said.

The sound of a horse galloping had them stopping to turn around.

Rory and Caranya jumped from their mount in a fighting posture. The Daedra decided to switch targets to them. Caranya cast a shield spell on her and Rory, much to the latter's surprise, before summoning her familiar and her daedric summon. A large tiger from the Niben and a female Mazken emerged from the portals.

"Wait, it's one of them, how is she on our side?" Rory said as she pointed to the Dark Seducer.

"Daedra are loyal to those who summon them, those here might not have acted alone," the Altmer explained.

The Mazken immediately unsheathed her weapon, a whip, before unleashing its lightning enchantment. The tiger was at her side, growling threateningly to the fiends.

"Kill them!" the Dremora leader ordered.

The Daedra charged. Rory decided to target the Daedroths first, she had learned her lesson from before and wouldn't underestimate them again. She began a deadly dance around the crocodilian creatures, evading gracefully every one of their attacks while she replicated by chopping off their limbs and decapitating them. One of them got lucky and landed a blow but the shield spell took the brunt of it. She turned around, smiling as daedric blood flowed on her face. In one swift move the beast lost its head.

Caranya and her summon were no less successful themselves. The tiger was jumping from one Dremora to another tearing their throats, backed by the Mazken. Her lightning whip was dreadfully effective, capitalizing on the enemy Daedra's elemental weakness. She slashed three Churl, disintegrating the weak Dremoras.

The Altmer for her part was facing the Dremora leader. He was obviously of a higher caste considering he sported a helmet and seemed tactically adept. She charged a powerful lightning bolt before throwing it. The Dremora smiled under his helmet. His body glowed purple upon being hit and reflected the spell on its caster. Caranya grunted as she was thrown back from a few steps. Thankfully her shield spell combined with her armor's enchantment and her lightning training had lessened the damage.

Damn reflection spell.

She regained her breath as the Dremora advanced towards her. An arrow hit the fiend with great strength though it had little effect other than him turning around and sending a deadly glare to Tuka behind the bubble. Caranya's eyes glinted as she found the Daedra weakness. She used a telekinesis spell to lift up a stone pillar from a nearby collapsed building before throwing it at her foe. A few nearby Dremoras were hit alongside him, crushed by the telekinetic attack.

The Daedra found himself underneath the pillar, struggling to free himself. Caranya turned into lightning before reforming near him. The Dremora stopped moving as he saw her raising her staff.

He smiled. "We fought bravely. It would be an honor to be defeated by your hand mortal."

She replied with a silent nod as she impaled her blade's staff into his head through his visor, killing him.

Arrows suddenly bounced harmlessly from her armor. She turned to see a few Dremora archers targeting her. They were rewarded for their efforts by a chain lightning spell, turning them to ashes. Yet more fiends still arrived.

A loud roar followed by a Dremora being sent flying past her heralded the arrival of Jing and her Xivilai. Caranya turned once again into lightning to reform near the refugees' bubble. Rory and her summons had mostly secured the area and moved to confront the following waves. Jing went to meet her.

"What is the situation Captain?" she asked.

"I would say stabilized for now," the officer replied as she allowed herself to relax a bit. "Commander Sejanus contacted me. We can establish the connection with Tamriel to bring in the Century. You know what to do."

The Easterner nodded and concentrated herself to send the extra-planar signal.

Cyrus arrived soon after with his Aureal followed by the undead bandits he had raised to hold the Daedra off while his comrade was opening the connection. Boosted by his necromantic magic, they were far more effective and disciplined than before.

Finally an answer came to Jing in the form of a portal. It started to expand to become large enough to allow the reinforcements to pass through.

Upon arriving, Marius ordered his men to unload their crossbows on the surprised Daedra. The Dremoras, Caitiff and Churl alike, fell but the Daedroths survived. Cutting through the undead, they made their way towards the soldiers. The Century had closed its ranks in a tight formation with their spears and shield raised, slowing the beasts charge. The formation suddenly broke apart, allowing fully armored Orcs with two-handed weapons to charge the fiends. The Daedroths, already wounded, were slaughtered to the last one.

The Centurion went to meet the Battlemages. "Magus-Captain Caranya, Battlemages," he saluted.

"Centurion Marius," they answered.

"What is our current status?" the Cyro-Nord asked.

"The enemy has opened several breaches in the city's walls. We've been bleeding them for the past hours, sadly we're only five, barely more than a dozen with our summons and we're fighting in an urban environment ill-suited for powerful spells. Nightblade Black-Scales is still out there doing what he can. The city defenders were reduced to around a dozen of mostly inexperienced young fighters. What about your men?" The Altmer said.

"I have thirty spellswords, not counting my Optio, thirty berserkers, thirty archers, twenty siege engineers with their engine scrolls** and cannons. The rest is fifty regular heavy infantry. All of them outfitted with the best gear available to the Legion." He pointed to a group of horsemen who had emerged last. "We had twenty Breton Knights attached as auxilia as aside from our spellswords we had no cavalry at all."

"Good," the Battlemage officer nodded, "with those numbers we should even the odds. We need to first split up and retake the city, building per building if we must. If my calculations are correct they took heavy losses, enough to push them back and then lead a counter-attack."

"There is something else," Cyrus intervened, "I heard a couple of bandits saying the Daedra captured some of the inhabitants as slaves."

"Then if it's true we must act without waiting. Optio!" the Centurion called.

One of the soldiers advanced. He was wearing armor similar to the Centurion with the exception of the black crested helmet to the red of his superior. As he took off his helmet, his or rather her face revealed that of a blonde tanned woman in her forties compared the much younger Marius. She saluted. "Optio Aviera Mussilius at your command Sir, Ma'am!"

"We are going to split the Century between units. Signal the Sergeants!" He ordered.

"At once Sir!"

"So... what about them?" Rory asked as she pointed to the people still surrounded by the bubble.

Almost everyone jumped up at her unexpected appearance. Before the Centurion or his Optio could speak, Caranya sent them a look with the meaning of it's a long story, I will explain to you later.

"They are safe here for now. We need to pursue the enemy first," the Altmer explained.

The Apostle nodded and clapped her hands. "Oh I see! This is going to be fun. By the way, I think I saw your dark lady talking to a golden one. I don't know what she said but the other looked like she was very angered. Maybe it's important?"

The Captain facepalmed as Cyrus left to resolve the matter. "For the love of Mara."

"They're coming! Brace yourselves!" Grey yelled.

They had built makeshift barriers in haste to protect themselves. Yet the enemy was nothing like they could have predicted.

Nightmarish creatures like he had never seen had flooded the main plaza. Horned-Demon looking fiends, Crocodilian beasts, devilish imp creatures… He noticed a few more traditional demihumans and humans bandits but for some strange reason they kept their distance with their allies. The enemy archers prepared to fire.

"Get down and raise your shield!" He ordered.

The arrows flew. A few of the remaining watchmen fell, for lack of better gear and training. The survivors knew they had no hope of winning after all but still stood their ground.

Bozes clutched her side. She had been hit too but refrained herself from screaming. Her heart was pumping adrenaline in her veins at full speed.

I'm going to die here, she sadly realized as she lied down.

Death never came. Instead the main group of creatures was hit by a glowing projectile, resulting in a tremendous explosion. A rain of arrows and arrow-like missiles hit the fiends, killing several of them.

Bozes tried to get up. A shadow covered her as she realized one of the fiends had made it to her position. He raised his sword.

The blow never came. Instead a man dressed like a Saderan officer interposed his shield, protecting her. Marius had reacted quickly and taken a potion of speed when he had seen the Dremora looming over his victim. The Daedra snarled.

"How about you fight someone capable of defending himself, coward!" the young officer taunted.

The Dremora attacked but the Centurion merely parried thanks to his shield. Immediately after, he countered with a bash to the head, stunning temporarily his enemy. He then thrust his sword through the monster's head, ending the fight. He turned his head towards the girl. She was unconscious but aside her arrow wound, she didn't seem particularly in danger. He cast a small healing spell to rejuvenate her. He looked over to his unit.

They fought admirably. The open plaza had been perfectly suited for Cyrus to unleash a more powerful fireball without fearing for the city. The Daedra didn't bother using formations or tactics at all, they had been picked up one by one easily at range and the few survivors had been finished by a berserker charge.

Enemy groups suddenly turned on each other much to his surprise.

"Glad to see you finally here Centurion," a voice to his right said.

He turned his head to see a Man in Nightblade armor but he had recognized the voice. "Glad to see you too Black-Scales." He pointed to the Daedra and bandits fighting each other. "Your handiwork I take it?"

The disguised Argonian nodded. "Indeed. I've been using this tactic to push them back from my side of the walls. It works perfectly, they stopped coming."

"So how did Daedra end up here?" Marius asked his friend.

Black-Scales shook his head. "No idea. Cyrus or Jing might know but it's not my area of expertise."

"Then I shall concern myself with simply killing them."

The locals were at a loss of words. They hadn't expected reinforcements at the last minute obviously. Let alone such explosive ones.

Piña scrutinized the newcomers. Their armor was similar enough that of the Imperial army yet she noticed some differences like a higher craftsmanship on par with knights equipment. She froze as she recognized someone among them. "You! Mercenary Cyrus! You're alive!"

The Battlemage turned around to see the Princess walking towards him. "I am, indeed, your Highness."

"And you brought… reinforcements." She looked to the other armored men. "I have currently several questions to ask but they can wait."

He nodded. "Indeed. Stay here safe with your knights, we'll be retaking the city. We have experience dealing with these situations."

Piña was unable to form a counter-argument. In truth the events had long surpassed them. She sighed. "May the Gods be with you."

As predicted, the Daedra and now their bandit "allies" had overextended. The Tamrielians pacified them through the use of urban warfare. Upon one of their scouts coming in contact with the fiends, the Daedra would be baited into an ambush, making use of the environment. Survivors, if any, would then find themselves pinned by the infantry and unable to fight back properly. Spellswords were under orders of taking care of the most dangerous foes such as spellcasters or the rare Xivilai or Dremora officers. The handful of summons left behind by the Battlemages had also been quite helpful.

The lack of a proper chain of command for their enemy was also an advantage for the Legion as it ensured no proper counter to their assault. As Caranya said, building per building they were gaining ground.

It took more than two hours of unrelenting fighting but they had successfully pushed them out of the city walls.

Caranya began to relay orders to the other Battlemages. "Tell the engineers to use their scrolls to move their cannons to the holes along the walls. Order the spellswords and knights to move to the Main Gate with their mounts." She summoned her horse.

As she arrived at the main Gate, the mounted force had already been assembled. She joined Marius.

"Some of my men told me they still had numbers on the other side. One of them was even able to discern hundreds, if not more, of people chained together. I guess that's the townsfolk. Strangely they didn't seem too badly hurt," he informed her.

"Probably to sell them as slaves at a high price. Or worse." She shook these thoughts. "An artillery barrage should deplenish their numbers. A cavalry charge will finish them. Their leader remains our top priority. I'll let Cyrus handle him." She turned towards the Heartlander. "I saw him briefly with my scrying spell. He's the only one wearing a robe. You know what to do."

He nodded silently as he climbed on his horse. Rory had of course jumped behind him. The Battlemage seemed to ignore her as he joined the rest of the mounted force.

Clibitius groaned. It had been hours now since his forces had successfully penetrated Italica. His minions had even brought him countless slaves already. Yet it seemed that parts of the city were still putting up a fight. He had been surprised at first of that violent storm, even frightened, fearing it was divine intervention. But the tempest had ceased a long time ago. And still, even after ordering an attack on the rear of the city, still nothing.

He had stopped the assault and was studying his next move. A sudden thunderous noise cut through his thoughts.

Several projectiles from the breach had collided with his "army", resulting in explosions which broke them. As it continued and the bandits began to flee for their lives, he noticed something else. Horsemen were charging from the main Gate, pursuing the routed army.

"Stay and fight back!" he ordered. To no avail as either no one could hear him or no one wanted to follow this command.

"Don't let anyone flee! We can't allow it!" Caranya yelled in the middle of the charge.

The Knights and Spellswords had been augmented with spells, increasing their durability and strength temporarily.

The leader of the Knights took the head of the formation, yelling a famous Bretic warcry. "Montjoie Saint Pelin!"

If there was one thing Bretons were good at, it was definitely their heavy cavalry. The battle of Italica proved it once again as they met the enemy.

To their credit the Daedra stood their ground, awaiting them. Unfortunately they were unable to withstand such Juggernauts and the smaller of them, the scamps, were trampled mercilessly. The bandits for their part found that no matter how fast they ran, they couldn't outrun their horses.

Amidst the chaos, Cyrus caught the view of a lone robed figure surrounded by two Dremoras. He changed direction towards him.

"Thanks for the ride," Rory told him, "I'm dropping here." She jumped like a cannonball onto a nearby Xivilai, tackling him to the ground.

Clibitius was now dearly afraid for his life as he saw the lone horseman and his flaming mount coming in his direction, none of his minions able to stop him. He then jumped from his mount as he got close.

"No! I didn't come this far to leave empty handed! Italica will be mine! Learn what it is to cross my path vermin!" the sorcerer taunted.

He concentrated and cast a powerful blast at Cyrus, creating a powerful explosion. Unbeknownst to him, a cloud of smoke had formed around the Battlemage before the spell connected.

"Fear the wrath of Clibitius!"

As the smoke of the explosion dissipated, his smile turned to horror.

In place of Cyrus was now a creature resembling a human skeleton but far more imposing. Two glowing pale blue eyes were staring at him.

The Dremoras charged the monster. It easily overpowered them both, impaling one with his staff and then cutting the other in two before continuing its advance towards Clibitius.

The sorcerer tried to blast it several times. It barely slowed the creature.

Panicked, he tried to flee. Something suddenly grabbed his ankles. Skeleton arms had burst from the ground and held him in place. He screamed as if Emroy himself was coming for him.

The bone abomination stopped upon facing him, dropping its staff. It then presented the restrained Clibitius with some kind of pink gem in its right hand. The sorcerer was unable to understand its meaning and asked silently an answer from the monster.

A dark purple sphere formed in its left hand. Then the creature spoke. "Vae Victis."

As the spell connected with him, Clibitius screamed.

*If you want peace, prepare for war

War is sweet to those who haven't experienced it

A cause of war, (ey!) the Emperor wills it! (ey!)

In times of war, (ey!) the law falls silent (ey!)

A war of all, against all!

War is for the reckoning of all!

A right to war, the right of war

Horrid war!

You cannot hold me back... even if you tried

If you want peace, prepare for war

A war of all, against all!

(Song is originally from For Honor and called a Knight's resolve, I edited the Deus Vult as it didn't fit the Legion thematically, my thanks to ComparedDread12)

** engine scrolls : magical scrolls to move out siege engines, can only be used if the distance between the caster and the siege engine is not too far

A big thanks to MosAnted for the corrections