Alm listened as Isbeil explained her studies of magics which almost put up a bit of a wall he didn't want to be studied almost as much as he thought Ehri wouldn't want to. But for the moment he remained silent and listened. Ehri opened up a bit explaining a bit more about her powers and what she could do. It was all fascinating but it didn't hold the key Alm needed to further his own growth. Furthermore it seemed that his prying into her skills seemed to upset her more than he had wished it to. Isbeil would speak again and take some notes showing she did not mean any real harm so Alm decided he would speak up himself, it wasn't like his abilities were going to be a secret to the two for long.

"[b][color=00aeef]As I said earlier your Clan and my own have similar methods, and I thank you for the bit of incite, But their is one major dividing point in our philosophies.[/color][/b]" Alm started off, "[b][color=00aeef]While your clan melds with your partners on a mental lever my clan does it in a more literal sense,[/color][/b]" He said while closing his eyes. As he did the room itself started to chill a bit, subtle things like Alm's breathing pattern and even stance started to change, and even his sent would start to change. When Alm opened his eyes the color had changed from brown to a silverish color. "[b][color=00aeef]My clan fuses our soulstones with a creature we hunt and deem worthy to be our partner, taking on the properties of the creature as its soul lives on inside our bodies. I personally fused with a Dire Frost Wolf who wasn't much smaller than Isa there.[/color][/b]" He started explaining for a bit before his eyes faded back to brown and the temperature normalized. "[b][color=00aeef]I didn't mean to pry into your Clan to much and I do apologize, but I have seemed to hit a wall in my progression. And being exiled from my Clan I have no one to turn to in this matter, so I had hoped some of the knowledge from your clan could help me past this wall. But I don't think you will have my key, we walk much different paths on our travels.[/color][/b]" He finished his little explanation. "[b][color=00aeef]Although that doesn't mean I don't want to hear more about your Clan. Your methods are much different than my own, but it is still worth hearing, If you want to talk about them that is.[/color][/b]" Alm added before getting up from the hay bail and starting walking to the barn's exit. "[color=00aeef][b]And yes miss Isbeil, I'll be happy to answer your questions as well, but not at this moment, If you will excuse me ladies I have something else to take care of. This was an interesting talk.[/b][/color]" He said before leaving. 

Alm would quickly make his way back to the Tavern and to his room. Once inside his room he fell to his knees and his eyes started to turn silver again. But he fought it, "[i][color=00aeef]Why did I willingly let it out?[/color][/i]" He thought to himself as he tried to remain in control of his body. It had been quite a while since Alm had tapped directly into the Wolf's power within his own Soulstone but even in it's repressed state it had grown stronger. And although it had once submitted to Alm it now wanted out, it wanted to be free once more. Alm would spend most of the remainder of the day in his room battling his own inner "demons" before emerging a bit before dinner in control of his inner self once more, although he would look a bit drained.

---Later that Night---

The rest of the day passed by peacefully allowing most of the irregulars to have a needed relaxing day after the last few weeks of desert heat. But late that night after the Irregulars had settled down for bed that peace would be broken. Bells started sounding at the outer gates which would lead to alarms throughout the entirety of the gatehouse city. Alm woke up as the first bell rang in the distance quickly preparing himself and heading down and out to scout the situation. As the others would come down Jing would gather them in the tavern to give out his orders once Alm returned. It wouldn't take long before Alm would return. "[color=00aeef][b]Orcs,[/b][/color]" Alm opened up with as soon as he returned. "[color=00aeef][b]A lot of them, multiple tribes in a coordinated assault.[/b][/color]" He continued giving his report, "[color=00aeef][b]Looks like the Guards are being deployed to the front gate in order to buy time for civilians to evacuate, but I saw some fires starting in the Western Residential District. I don't know how many if any guards are being dispatched to that location. The Eastern Market District is clear for now from what I gathered.[/b][/color]" Alm finished reporting and Jing took a moment to think the situation over. 



"[color=7bcdc8][b]The guards lines won't hold, this outer city is expendable to the Citadel and only a light force would be sent in its defense. We will supplement the defense for as long as we can hold and let as many civilians escape as possible.[/b][/color]" Jing answered after a bit of thought. "[color=7bcdc8][b]Pox, Selova, Isbeil, and Octavia head to the Eastern Market District, I know there doesn't seem to be anything right now but I have a feeling that there might be something coming, go there and help the evacuation but be on your guard.[/b][/color]" He said giving the first group their orders, "[color=7bcdc8][b]Nanami, Yui, and Ehri, Head to the West, your goal will be to fight back whatever started that fire. Hafrbjǫrn If you are joining us now is the time and I want you to go with them, Please take point your experience will serve them well in the coming battle. As for Myself, Shion, Gwen, Jenramo, and Alm we shall head to the main gate and act as reinforcements to the guard.[/b][/color]" He concluded giving out deployment orders before moving on to a bit of a speech. "[color=7bcdc8][b]I want you all to come out of this safely, do what you can to hold until we give the retreat signal but if you as a collective group feel that you need to fall back before hand. You are all capable, but if this is multiple orc tribes this is not a battle our group can defeat. Survival and holding the Orcs back as long as possible is victory in this battle. Fight hard, but remain safe. Upon your retreat do not get diverted into the citadel every team is to make their way to Blackrock Village, you will have no way of knowing who retreated first and I will not have us waiting in a dangerous area to regroup.[/b][/color]" Jing said tying to comfort his team a bit. "[color=7bcdc8][b]If there aren't any complaints time is short so its time to move out.[/b][/color]" He concluded dismissing the Irregulars and started to make his preparations for battle. The Strike team headed to the main gate would be ready in the next few minutes and be on their way.