After Blirdoth's death at the hands of the fierce Lioness, the thaids' horde had been thrown into disarray as the Heniate controlled the monsters through it.
The soldiers took advantage of this and launched a counterattack, fighting back against the creatures that had threatened their city.
The battle was intense and brutal, with both sides sustaining heavy losses. But the soldiers were determined to protect their home and their people, and they fought with all their might. Many people died in the battle, leaving behind families and loved ones who mourned their loss.
The attack ended once the Fierce Lioness came to the battlefield and made the horde retreat. Five days have passed since that battle.
As the city began to recover from the attack, the people who had fought on the front lines were hailed as heroes—basically, the whole city. General Becker threw a grand celebration to honor the deceased, with parades and feasts in the streets.
But the celebrations were bittersweet. The ones who joined the fight had lost friends and comrades in the battle, even family members. Besides, the army knew that the war against the thaids was far from over, especially considering that the Heniate's problem was far from over. Many dark points about the situation weighed heavily on their minds. Why did it decide to attack Frant? Why New Alexandria? Was there someone behind it?
Despite being exhausted and traumatized by the horrors they had witnessed, the soldiers kept doing their job and patrolled the city.
Over the next few days, New Alexandria was on high alert. The military stationed troops around the city and throughout the forest, and they set up lookout posts to watch for any sign of the thaids' return. The horde dispersed, and with that, Frant started hunting the lone monsters wandering the forest.
In the meantime, life in the city began to return to normal. Shops and businesses reopened, and people went about their daily routines. But there was a sense of unease that hung over the city, a feeling that they were not yet safe. Rumors and speculation spread throughout the city about General Becker, as he was deemed incompetent to stop the horde, and the consensus he gained through the years fell.
Some people even believed that he had somehow allowed the attack to happen, while others thought that he was simply incompetent. The criticism did not, however, deter General Becker. He knew he had done what he could, and now there was something else to do: find the Heniate. However, another problem was on the horizon: many people had been bitten by the parasitized thaids, meaning the injured ones would probably mutate. Luckily, most monsters killed their opponents before they could infect them, but some were not so lucky.
***
After Erik reached the shelter, he waited for the situation to calm down, but he left the building only after the authorities told everyone it was safe and the monsters inside the city had all been killed.
Luckily, the city managed to do that in a single day, as the monsters that entered New Alexandria were not that many compared to the human population.
After that, Erik quickly went to the Red Palace, where he found his friends. Luckily, they were all unharmed, as they were in the Red Palace shelter; of course, Erik told them what happened to the Yellow Palace, how a weird Blirdoth almost killed him, and how the Principal saved him.
Of course, they were glad he managed to escape that situation. They even explained how they heard the fight from the Red Palace's shelter, despite not being very close to the battlefield. Clearly, everyone then contacted their families; Mikey's and Anderson's parents, brothers, and sisters went to fight, but they luckily came out of the fight unscathed.
However, they didn't have any news about Aaron. It was only until the day after that they learned what had happened. Anderson called his friend on the phone, and he told him he was at the hospital, that his father had died, and that her mother had returned from the battlefield alive. He said he would return to the Red Palace only after his father's funeral and after he rested a bit.
The following day, August 7, the funeral was held, and all of Aaron's friends attended it. Even Luca Grimes and his son Allan went; however, that enraged Eddie's son, as he thought it was Luca's, the chief of police, fault for that situation happening.
After the funeral, tensions rose between Aaron and Luca. Eddie's son blamed the chief of police for not being able to protect his father and for having prevented them from reaching the shelter. Luca explained that they did everything possible to protect the city and its citizens, but Aaron wouldn't listen.
The following day, Aaron returned to the Red Palace, but he was no longer the same person. He was quieter and more reserved than before. His friends tried to comfort him, but they didn't know what to say. They could only imagine what he had been through.
On the ninth, everything returned to normal at the Red Palace. With lessons going on, now more than ever, Frant needed soldiers. The authorities made sure that the city was safe from any further monster attacks. However, the incident left a deep scar in everyone's hearts. They would never forget what had happened and how it had affected their lives.
Despite the tragedy, Erik and his friends found solace in each other's company. They had been through a lot together, and they knew they could rely on each other no matter what. That day, Erik was training with Master Nieminen again.
"So, some friends told me you fought the Blirdoth with the Principal. How was it? I heard it was a tough beast…"
Erik nodded, his expression serious as he recalled the battle. "It was definitely tough. The Blirdoth was incredibly fast and strong, and despite the Principal's intervention, we could only run away. But he was amazing. He was so skilled and fearless, and he kept us all safe. I don't think we would have survived without him."
Master Nieminen nodded in understanding. "The principal is a truly remarkable man," she said. "I do not doubt that he saved many lives that day. And you, Erik, showed great courage and skill. I'm proud of you. However, I'm also sorry you had to face that monster; not everyone would have had the courage to fight. What you and the other survivors did was remarkable."
Erik smiled at the compliment. "Thanks, Master. I couldn't have done it without your training." Master Nieminen chuckled. "Well, now, we should go back to our training."
"Yes, Master."
Erik then stepped onto the training mat, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. Master Nieminen stood across from him, her flyssa at the ready.
"Remember, Erik, that being quick and accurate is the best way to use the flyssa and my fighting style. Do not make too wide movements, and aim for the vital spots," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Don't waste any movements, and always keep your guard up."
Erik nodded, his grip tightening on his own weapon. He then lunged forward, his blade flashing in the air as he aimed for his master's throat. But the woman was too quick for him, dodging out of the way and countering with a swift strike to Erik's thigh.
"Good try, but you need to be faster," she said, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Keep your strikes sharp and direct, and don't telegraph your moves that way. I could tell what you wanted to do way before you started moving."
Erik gritted his teeth, determined to do better. He circled around his master, watching her every move. She was like a predator, poised and ready to strike at any moment.
He lunged forward again, this time aiming for her midsection. But once again, she dodged his attack easily, spinning around and delivering a sharp blow to his arm.
"Again," she said, her voice encouraging. "You're getting there."
Erik nodded, feeling the sting of the blow but refusing to let it slow him down. He took a deep breath and launched himself into another attack, this time with more speed and focus than before.
Master Nieminen parried his blow easily again, but she didn't strike back this time. Instead, she stepped back and motioned for Erik to do the same.
"Good job, Erik," she said, her voice softening. "You're making progress."
She walked over to him, her flyssa still at the ready. "However, you are holding your flyssa wrong. You need to angle it better if you want to get the most out of the weapon. Here, let me show you," she said, taking his blade and demonstrating a series of intricate moves.
"See the angle? Now, I will make the same move again, but by making the same mistake you did." She then repeated the move, but the result was much slower than before; even Erik could understand what she would do, and all of that was only because she wielded the sword differently.
"Can you see how precise my blade's movements became? That's what you need to do, too."
Erik watched in awe as his master wielded the weapon; she looked like an immovable mountain. He knew he had a long way to go before he could match her level of expertise, but he was determined to keep practicing until he got there.
"Thank you, Master," he said, taking back his blade. "I'll keep working on it."
Master Nieminen nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "I have no doubt you will, Erik."
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