She’d walked into the trap, knowing what it was. But the bait was too good. She’d carried hope in her heart for too long to resist. “Unzan.” She nodded at the Raen man in an Imperial uniform before her. Three troops on either side of him. He was easy to spot. There weren’t many Raen in the imperial army.
He smiled and shook his head. The sun glinted on half of his right horn, where the broken half had been replaced by metal. “It’s Optio Obinata. You’ve made quite a name for yourself, Honey. You’ve gotten noticed by very powerful men in the Empire... as a thorn that needs to be removed.” He smirked. She shook her own head. She’d been stupid to think he’d broken those old mental chains. Her childhood friend was truly gone, she realized. She looked again at his repaired horn, remembering clearly when she’d accidentally broken it. They’d been roughhousing, and she’d not been yet aware of her own strength.
There was a cliff at her back and seven Imperial soldiers in front of her. She couldn’t help but grin. She’d been in much, much tougher situations. She looked at his handsome face again, and this time felt nothing. All those years of hoping he’d see reason, and now there was just a small void in her heart.
“And you only brought a half-dozen soldiers with you, Unzan?” She now used his name as a taunt. Judging from his face, it worked. He raised one long arm, and immediately there was a rumble. Up the hill on the left came two mechanical giants. Garlean magitek weapons. Her grin only widened.
“Oh, now it’s starting to get interesting.” She chuckled and before he could prepare himself, a bolt of lightning hit his chest, knocking him to the ground.
Immediately his soldiers came at her. She dodged and whirled as elemental magicks surgically picked off the casters, first. Soon it was her slim blade parrying the thrusts of lances, as the magitek monstrosities swiftly closed in. The Colossai opened fire as soon as they were in range, not caring if the soldiers at the Roegadyn’s feet were still alive or not. She quickly dodged; moving faster than someone so big should have a right to. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Unzan. He didn’t join in the fight, just observed. Every time she made a move towards him, both Colossai would converge, protecting him. With magic and blade, she whittled away at the steel giants until they were junk piles at her feet. She was panting lightly, Unzan across the impromptu battlefield. “I’ve quite the report to fill out. I can see why I was advised against this.” He said as he replaced his helm. But instead of attacking her, he walked away. She thought of giving chase… but found she didn’t have the heart for it. She let him go; knowing next time would be different. She mourned her lost friend, but she knew now he was dead. There was simply an Imperial rat wearing his face now.