by Leona Jarnefeldt 29th November 2019, 12:17 am
-Nebdoui, early afternoon-
Riding on the back of the Winged Lion, Leona touched down just outside of her home village of Nebdoui. Today she was here to help address the issue of the village's dwindling iron ore supplies, hopefully once and for all. Nebdoui had received a resupply of iron ore courtesy of a caravan from the Tri-City Caravan Company, but the resupply had strained the village's budget almost to the breaking point and what was delivered would only last for three weeks at most. The iron ore mine had to be retaken from The Golden Band now rather than later. Leona dispelled her summon ,and straightened her skirt, and readjusted her backpack of supplies, then started walking towards the village to meet with Chief Elijah, the one who had requested that she undertake this desperate mission.
Wearing her green, white and gold outfit with Adaptable Armor, Argent Gloves, and Silver Longsword on her left hip, Leona was loaded for bear. She would have to be fully equipped because her journey was likely going to be a solitary one. Nebdoui's allies were in no shape to assist them and Leonidas could not be spared to go with her this time since he would be needed to craft weapons for Berreb and defend the village should it fall under attack while Leona was absent. Leona heard the sound of hammer meeting metal and knew that Leonidas was hard at work crafting weapons for Berreb, so she left him alone and made a beeline for Chief Elijah's tent. There she hoped to find out if Regudo's scouts had learned anything new about The Golden Band since their last encounter weeks ago.
Leona moved the flap aside and entered Chief Elijah's tent, where the chief and her mother were waiting for her.
-Inside Chief Elijah's tent-
"Hello Leona. As I told you in the letter I sent to your guild hall, the iron ore situation is dire. In fact, it's reached a critical point. We received a resupply from a caravan company based out of the Tri-Council City, but we can't afford to buy another one. We need you to retake the iron mine NOW." Chief Elijah told Leona in no uncertain terms. The chief's facial expression indicated that he knew that he might be sending the Wizard Saint and hometown heroine to her death. Sophia was not happy either.
"Our allies can't send any men to help us. I hate to say this, but there's no choice. You'll have to undertake this mission alone." Chief Elijah confirmed what Leona had suspected. Sophia recoiled like she had just been hit by a hammer to the stomach. Leona simply took a deep breath.
"All right then." Leona answered laconically. Silence filled the tent as the three occupants reached for something to say. After twenty seconds Leona came up with a question.
"Before I go, I have a question. Have Regudo's scouts learned anything new about this Golden Band since last time?" Leona asked him. The chief nodded. Things looked bleak for Nebdoui. With no prospect of help, Leona would be going up against daunting odds with only what she had with her, which was her weapons, her armor, and her magic. At this point the Wizard Saint would take any good news that she could get.
"Yes. Just a couple of weeks ago they learned that another mage had done a lot of damage to their fortifications with explosive weaponry. Since then The Golden Band and the Crimson Sashes have clashed again on at least one occasion. The Golden Band withstood the attack, but without their fortifications they're vulnerable." He answered. Leona gave a small smile. The situation was not completely hopeless, just very difficult. It was time to prove to the world how Leona had earned the title of Wizard Saint of Courage.
"OK, Chief. I'm about to leave for the iron mine now." Leona told him and turned around to leave the tent.
"Good luck Leona." Chief Elijah wished her. Leona strode out of the tent and Sophia followed right behind her.
-Outside Chief Elijah's tent-
Leona strode out of the chief's tent, past most of the tents, and towards the village outskirts. She knew what she had to do. All that remained was to do it.
"Leona, wait!" Sophia called to her daughter just as she passed by Leonidas' tent. Leona could hear the clanging of hammer on metal stop and saw the tent flap open from within. A sweating Leonidas walked towards them clad in blacksmith attire and holding a blacksmith's hammer.
"I don't have long, but I can spare a minute or two. What is it?" Leona asked her mother.
"I know that there's no choice in the matter. I can't stop you from doing this because the village needs you now more than it ever has. I can't stop you because you're a Wizard Saint." Sophia started. She blinked rapidly to fight back tears.
"But do one thing for me, Leona. Just... be careful out there. Please." Sophia requested before turning away, unable to keep from crying any longer. Leonidas approached his younger sister and spoke to her.
"I can't go with you this time, so be careful." Leonidas said simply. He was not one for lengthy speeches, but when he did say something it had meaning behind it.
"OK. I'll be careful out there." Leona assured them before walking to the village outskirts and pausing just short of where she had landed earlier, then summoning the Winged Lion for transport across the desert. Flying on its back would be a lot faster than walking. She needed to save energy for the fight with The Golden Band that would take place once she reached the iron mine.
[Post Word Count: 1,026]
[Total Word Count: 1,026/12,500]