Guardian(Part IV): Revelation

Chapter 23: Ruth

While Morgan and Maddy were sent to Idrasyll, Avanka called Connor and I into Safe Haven's control room. Princess Meridia and her two Paladins were there with her. It must have been important.

"Avanka," I greeted, then I bowed my head to the Princess, saying, "My lady."

"Guardians," the Princess addressed.

"I have a mission for you both," Avanka offered. "If you're willing."

"What kind of mission?" Connor wondered.

"Extraction," Avanka enlightened. "In Camnora."

"Is it safe for us?" I wondered.

"Since they wasted their entire army trying to kill two birds with one stone, I'd say so," Avanka promised.

"Technically, it was three birds," Connor whispered.

"I have sources all over Western Euradon," said Avanka. "And they tell me that there was an entire Camnorish LWM sold on the black market to what they identified as 'masked Shadows'."

"Masked Shadows," I whispered. "Could he have meant ECHOs?"

"Well, as far as we know they have similar powers to them," Connor reminded. "They should carry the same aura."

"Similar powers, including dark aura blades," said Princess Meridia. "Which is why I'm sending Ser Gabriel and Lady Meredith with you. You'll need them to heal wounds from their blades."

"Aren't Maddy and Morgan following a dark matter convoy?" asked Connor, then he looked to Gabriel and Meredith, asking, "Could they use one of you?"

"My lady?" Ser Gabriel offered.

The Princess gave the Knight a nod of her head.

"Alear," Avanka whispered, casting a glyph under Ser Gabriel's feet. He disappeared, leaving Connor and I with Lady Meredith.

"Your target is a Camnorish LWM-445," Avanka informed, as a holographic projection came up above the table. It was a projection of a War Machine, alright. One unlike anything I've ever seen before. Then again, I could say the same thing about the LWM-1000. The 445 was about twice the height as the 821 in Safe Haven's hangar, but it looked completely different. This one almost looked like a person, but with barely a head, and weapons all over it. Machine guns were mounted on both wrists. Missiles were on its shoulders, minelayers were on the bottoms of its feet instead of thruster pads, and what looked like toxic gas sprayers lined its legs. That was unusual for a weapon designed to fight against monsters.

"What are gas sprayers doing on its legs?" Lady Meredith wondered. "War Machines were all built to fight monsters. Poison gas would have no effect on monsters of any kind."

"Maybe King Heinrich intended to use them more after the Third Great War," I guessed. "But they were all destroyed. Thank goodness for that. It would have made defending Eitheim and Bastion a lot harder."

"It's for people and vehicles instead of monsters," Connor concluded. "A weapon of mass destruction. It was declared a war crime to use any LWM in battle against soldiers. Monsters only."

"And other War Machines?" Lady Meredith asked.

"I doubt that was planned for," Avanka guessed. "I told my source to follow it to its destination, leave an Alear rune, and stay away. That's where I'm sending you."

"What are we extracting?" I asked. "We can't bring that entire thing back with us."

"Actually, we're only in need of its legs," Avanka corrected. "We need to find out what kind of gas it's being loaded with, because I'm doubting it's poison. Secure the area, then wait for me to send heavy-lift transport."