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[color=#736AFF][b][h1]Ranbu no Izayoi[/h1][/b][/color]
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[color=#736AFF][b]"Agreed."[/b][/color] Izayoi nodded tersely in response to Galahad, her gaze not leaving the knights' backs. [color=#736AFF][b]"Much as I would like to show them the disparity between us when they aren't benefiting from outside enhancement, two or three against fifty is poor odds."[/b][/color] Even in her prime, she wouldn't have went in alone and without a plan versus four dozen of a nation's elites. 

As Galahad signaled Chisato, Izayoi waited for the party's newest member to appear before nodding to her. 

[color=#736AFF][b]"Judging by the knights' outrage, I would assume Isolde lies dead, then? Good. Let us pursue her followers, and strike when they are distracted. Evidently, they believe you to be Zacharias's agent, Chisato."[/b][/color] 

___

[@Raineh Daze] [@HereComesTheSnow]

Nobody was expecting a flour explosion. That much was evident. Loki and the Valheimr coughed and recoiled, those closest to ground zero blown away by the blast. 

[b]"Damn it!"[/b] The man named Lanius choked, desperately waving away the dust and smoke in the air. [b]"Find the girl! Our half of the operation is finished if word gets out!"[/b] He commanded his men. As the dust cleared, some of the disguised Valheimr caught wind of Miina fleeing while Rudolf appeared, and drew guns. 

[b]"And your men using guns in the middle of the night won't?"[/b] Loki laughed in her partner's direction, mocking. [b]"We've already attracted yet more attention!"[/b] She pointed in Rudolf's direction, drawing her knives. [b]"Deal with the boy, I'll play with the girl."[/b] She moved to vault over Rudolf, clearly intent on chasing after Miina, a brace of blades thrown in at the fleeing mystrel's back. Meanwhile, a trio of Valheimr in mercenary armor charged Rudolf, gunblades raised for melee after hearing Loki's admonishment.

___

[@The Otter] [@Click This] 

Minutes later, the stirrings of conflict could be heard at the edges of Zacharias's grove. His guards werely quickly overwhelmed and slaughtered by the infuriated paladins, and they rushed the clearing, only to be met by magical turrets and mines. Shields were raised, both physical and magical, and the knights began advancing, with a mere one or two having been lost to the initial salvo. 

Within the cottage, Cid nodded at Esben, gesturing for Zacharias to join him. 

[b]"Come, then. I daresay we could make a good accounting of ourselves. Just like old times, no?"[/b]

Zacharias could only respond with a sigh, setting Isolde's staff aside before gripping his own and following after. [b]"Do you intend to take the field in your full strength?"[/b]

[b]"For such as this? It won't be needed, so long as the remainder of his companions arrive to support us."[/b]

[b]"Them? Of all people?"[/b] Zacharias huffed in disgust still, to which Cid could only shake his head childingly.

[b]"You think too little of them, my old, young friend. After all, at this rate, it won't be the Grovemasters saving this land anytime soon."[/b]

Outside, twin pillars of flame and levin arose, visible across the city at large. Ifrit and Ramuh revealed themselves in their full glory, prepared for war.

[@VitaVitaAR] [@vietmyke]

It was at this point that Izayoi, Galahad, and Chisato caught up to the knights' rear guard, undetected. Isolde's men had bigger problems to their front to deal with, after all. Who would dare to strike from the rear at this moment?