As Geordan looked at the man that came from Ser Havard’s back, he saw the general himself as he reaches his hand to him. “I am General Gladios Tullium, commanding officer of the Imperial army here at Skyreach. A pleasure to meet you,”

Geordan then shakes the general’s hand and salutes him. “Geordan Auroran, sir! A knight-errant of Faulterth, I am also affiliated with the Imperial Academy’s Knight order,” he said as he put his fist to his chest. (Imperial knight’s giving honor to a high-ranking official of the Empire.)

“Hmph… So, you’re the knight who declined the army’s offer.” said by the general as he examined Geordan.

“Offer? What kind of offer is that, if I may ask, sir?” asked courteously by Ser Havard.

“It’s mad why I wasn’t able to recognize you when you got dragged here at this mess. Never seen you as well the typical high and mighty attitude of a Skyreacher from you,” comment by the general to the knight.

“Y-You give too much credit, sir…” said by Geordan timidly as he scratches his head.

“On behalf of my men, I give you my sincere apology for the trouble and hardship you have been through because of this false accusation,” said by the general as he bows his head to Geordan.

“N-No, it’s fine, sir! I-I understand, somehow? I never should have guess that the conflict here back home is worse than I thought it would be,” said by Geordan as to set things aside.

“Yes… Jarric made us looked like “invading” the north, our main goal is to bring back the peace and order by the will of the emperor himself. We need a united Empire and for all its worth, the Empire has brought peace to this land for 100 years since the Great War,” said by the general explaining his side or most likely the “Empire’s” propaganda. It’s true that because of the Empire’s rule, Gaedas has been at peace for many years and the current emperor’s line the “Celestias” has been at power since the first emperor.

Even though Geordan truly understands the general’s statement, he feels that there is still something lacking. “Yes, the Empire maintained the peace for a long time now and for all its worth, no one dared to oppose them because it made Gaedas a unified continent. But I know the duke very well that he’s not the kind of man who acts without a proper reasoning. What caused this conflict?” playing on Geordan’s mind as he contemplates and the events that have happened so far.

“For now, we must return to the task at hand. Since most of the civilians have been already evacuated, we can focus ourselves for a counterattack,” said by the general.

“What are your orders, sir?” said by Ser Havard as his composure came back after realizing the current situation.

“We press onwards. That’s the least they expect since they are arrogant that they take us out with just that display. Since that vampire who calls himself “Klauss” left the majority of the forces here are being led by other vampires who conjure such fiends and by the looks of it, you were able to best one of them,” said by the general as he points at Geordan.

“W-Well, yes, I think so. When I last saw him, was under a pile of rubble he made himself,” said by Geordan. “I think I just got lucky, since that vampire is too full of himself,”

“But still it is an amazing feat you have done there, my friend!” praised by Ser Havard to the knight.

“The captain here sure is determined to back you up until death and---” said by Ser Havard as he was interrupted as his foot was stomped on by Amaya.

“WE must focus on the task at-hand, Lieutenant!” said by Amaya to the poor Havard.

“Ouch!” cried by Ser Havard.

As they proceed to their plan, Amaya approaches Geordan.

“Well, this is it…” said by Geordan to the approaching Captain.

“I know it’s been a rough night but right now, we must take it on us so that we ca live to see the day,” he said as to make his resolve clear.

“Yes, I know. I may have not been the soldier here, I still want what is best for my men… yet seeing what happened to them…” she said as she looks down like she’s about to cry. Geordan then taps her shoulder and reached out for her head to give it a comforting pat.

“There’s no shame in admitting one’s own weakness, it takes courage to realize our own shortcoming and I can see that from you, Amaya,” he said while looking directly to her eyes.

“And right now, you have to prove it to yourself and not only to everybody, that you are that strong and courageous,” Geordan said with a smile. The captain remained her head low until Geordan walked past her and towards the front to join the ranks of the general.

“…. My thanks.” whispered by Amaya to Geordan as she pulls herself from the slump.

“Alright people. At me! As I said earlier, the only thing left to do here now is to carve our way out. Since most of the non-combatants have been put to safety, we will charge through them!” said by the general as he rally his Imperial soldiers.

As they form their plan of attack, the remaining dark creatures lead by a group of 10 vampires anxiously observes them, until one of the vampires commanded its pack of death hounds to surge in to the enemy.

“Go, devour them all!” said by the vampire who led the pack.

“ROOAAR!” the hounds savagely lunge towards the Imperial soldiers. Some got wounded especially the ones who are at the front of the formation but somehow the soldiers manage to fend off all the attacking death hounds.

“H-How can this be…?” shocked by vampire who was leading the death hounds as he was overwhelmed by a group of Imperials. The vampire attacked one of the soldiers but as the soldier caught the vampire’s assault, other Imperial soldiers respond swiftly by stabbing and slashing the vampire. The Imperial forces carved their way out of the great hall then into bulk of the fiends in Skyhold’s main entrance. The pattern of their attack stayed the same as they nearing the front gate, every attack of the dark creatures that approaches their advance was being successfully foiled and countered especially when a vampire makes its move as they quickly overwhelm it before it can cause major damage to them.

“Amazing. The general’s plan worked brilliantly. Steadily, we were able to reach this far and the entrance gate is in sight!” thought by Geordan as he commended the general’s strategy. When the dawn came, as the remaining creatures was slain, two out of the ten vampire who was leading the dark creatures and fled with some of the creatures.

“Finally, we are victorious!” cheered by Ser Havard as leads the soldiers.

“For now, we regroup at our main garrison at Fortitude and clear out this place of the remaining threat that was left here,” said by General Tullium. Most of the soldiers are wounded but fortunately, there were no deaths. Captain Amaya spoke to the general about their next move and Ser Havard manages the remaining men as they take a short breather before heading out. Geordan sat on the shade of a nearby tree, he drops his sword and shield that was covered by the gores of the creatures he fought. The sword his using was the standard Imperial sword and its blade is covered with blood and because of the tough skin of the gargoyles he slew, the blade is also a bit dulled. His shield is also damaged and beaten up because of the vicious strikes and gnaws made by death hounds and the vampire he fought at the corridor. He sat down and lean his back on the tree and took a big sigh as he recalls all the events happened to him so far.

“….. A very welcoming homecoming huh…” he said to himself as he breaths hard and closed his eyes while he takes a brief rest.