The day slowly ends with everyone being put on edge. The war sirens in many cities began to rang. The people that barely survive the blood season, were thrown into another chaos. Some were panicking though some were compose, they tried to help out making the evacuation faster.

The first tremor was felt as soon as the night arrived.

By the second, the ground groaned like a wounded beast, and the capital's watchtowers lit their beacons. The barriers spark up, a dome of light formed over.

The citizens were immediately evacuated right under the city, now the capital became a battlefield. One that will soon be engulf in flames.

On the horizon, the black silhouettes of warships emerged an armada of made of iron hulls cutting through the mist and cluster of clouds like predators. From the surface of its reinforced body several objects began to fall. From afar they drop those projectile, and as soon it land on the ground it transform into siege cannons, accompany by homunculus soldiers. The watchtowers protecting the walls trigger, it acted like a spell tower, firing spells while the imperial soldiers aligned their formation, ready to attack upon the given signal.

The smoke created by the spells soon seized revealing the enemy lines being unharm. The soldiers didn't take it negatively, they have expected as much knowing the kingdom they are up against with.

The air was filled with the bone deep thrum of war horns. The aeriel warships of Aileen was repairing to seal the capital though the mages inside were able to a cancellation it.

"What is going, why cant we sealed this place?"

"Commander, there seems to be a powerful spell breaker residing in the capital"

The Aileenian commander narrowed his eyes thinking if they should start the siege.

"Was their any command from the king?"

The lieutenant shook his head, "As of now the initial command stays and haven't been replaced nor added"

The general just nodded, took out his communication device and ordered.

"The command hasn't changed, fire at wil"

The first layer of warships have finally fired at will while the soldier manipulating the ground troops, finally gave his command over the homunculus army.

The capital was surrounded and could only defend while the four cardinal dukes race to aid them.

The armada attack and defend at the same time while the city below tried its best to block the ground troops of the enemy began breaking the gates. Everyone was fighting to protect what they hold dear, they were all on edge, though the fleet was only the beginning.

Attacking the capital wasn't the only plan they had in mind.

Far from the main battle, monstrous roars and the metallic march of homunculus soldiers echoed, their aim is to attack those in close relationship with the emperor. One of them is the Mage Tower, from the four forest that surrounds it. A massive army of homunculus army arrive, accompanying them are cannons and battling ram. From afar it seems they are determined to raid the walls.

"It seem its starting" Apollo mumbled while Alicia stood beside him.

"I need to go now" she said her expression became unreadable even for Apollo.

"Ah.... could it be that you are worried about the capital?"

He realized and Alicia nodded, Apollo couldn't help but understand her, though he wasn't worried knowing its capacity to protect itself. Still he can't ignore his friend acting like that.

"Ask Aaron to teleport you, I will take care of everything here"

He said wanting to reassure her, but it seems that his words didn't help.

"What are you worried about?" He couldn't help but ask not understanding her worried expression.

"If I were to go, would I affect your plan?"

"Ah" the boy thought, "So that was making her worry" he added in his mind. He never thought that Alicia would think in that way. He never anticipated in such dire situation, and with the importance of the imperial family to her, she would still consider his plan. one that selfishly lead the event to this war. Though its something that cant be avoided, Apollo's involvement could have lessen the damages.

However despite knowing the scale of the incoming disaster the main reason why he didn't interfere, was because he doesn't need to.

"Alicia" he smiled, feeling a sudden lightness. "Go, even with your interference my plan wont be affected nor change"

He look on her face remain the same but soon it return to its usual coldness. Apollo couldn't help but smile, satisfied that she finally lossenup.

"Go, if I am needed there I will follow you" he added reassuring her, and with a nod as an answer she left the tower leaving Apollo looking at the window.

"Apollo, what do you plan to do?"

McKenzie appeared from the side, asking as if he wants to be involved to. Apollo shook his head this time, denying his involvement.

"We are not allowed to be involved this time" he answered even though his back is filled with the fulll view of the enemies, his face didn't reflect any kind worry or hesitation.

"This time leave this matter to the adults" he said surprising even Mckenzie.

"If you are confuse since they let us be involved with the blood season despite it being dangerous, its because at that time, the tower's power need to be split up into multiple places. And so we were included just to mak for the lack of man power"

His expression then became gloomy as he remembered something painful.

"As you know the empire's power has weakened due to the breakout in Evaristo so at that time, we were needed. However unlike before they attack when all of our strength are at one place, sure grandpa should be in the capital but that doesn't mean we are losing this battle" from his gloomy expression it turn into a calm and compose one, as if everything is within his palm.

"I know that so far every problem we face we always rely on ourselves to solve it, but now" he smiled as trying to reassure his friend. "Let them handle this, I grandfather reassure me, we have nothing to worry"

Those words was very unexpected for Mckenzie he thought for a moment that Apollo would instruct them with their own task, but contrary to his expectations, he told them to stay down.

His eyes reflected his desired to help, something Apollo was prepared to see. He was ready to convince him to stay down. Until Mckenzie's gaze change causing for his friend to be surprised.

"McKenzie?" He cautiously asked, he was worried that he might have hurt his feelings. For a moment he thought that his secretive nature had cause his friends to feel that he does not rust them. Hurriedly he try to explain..."Hey I know I didn't talk about this with everyone but trust me...I"

"Apollo..." His voice made Apollo shiver as if his friend is about to scold him.

"You know.....I really find the tower really pleasant, the mages here despite being always being busy still found ways to interact with us. Talk with us and have an nonsensical chatter that doesn't have anything to do with magic....this place....despite not being made for children always feel like home to us. And I know you share the same sentiment as we do"

The evening breeze was strangely colder than before and between Apollo and Mckenzie. The atmosphere became serene.

"Apollo, before meeting you we have lost everything with the Monastery...we don't have families to return to... And even the small fraction of people from our past have their own lives as well. This place...is the only place we have right now" Mckenzie's gaze was softened but their was a hint of determination on it as well as pain. Something Apollo knew well where it came from.

"The main reason why we always wish to be involved whenever things like this came up, is because we don't want to feel that same hopelessness we felt when we saw our home burned, when our love ones died one by one....." His expression darkened as he remember those buried memories.

"We couldn't do anything.....we don't....and we can't...but now....your appearance made us feel powerful. We felt like with you always on our side we could protect what as left on us. Apollo you are our strength....please know that you gave us hope more than you could ever imagine. You help us get revenge, and mourn the death of those we once love. And now you gave us a place we could call a home"

His words were true and genuine causing Apollo's emotion to raisen in a different way. He never anticipated those feelings come crashing at him, given the situation they are in, he thought they would only listen to his plan like they usually would. But now, it seems they are being vocal on what they wanted, though its rare for them to do that.

Mckenzie can definitely tell that his friend never thought that he would speak about his inner feelings. But with many things happening they are meant to be said than to be forgotten.