Machinist of Mana Chapter 106 Invasion

I held Kaylee for just a moment as the first screams of panic reached me, then I looked her dead on and spoke.

“Stay here, something is wrong.”

She made a move to grab onto me, to keep me from going, but I was far faster than her and in a moment I was out the door. Nothing in our house was burning or on wrecked, so whatever happened must have done so outside. I wasn't the only one to think this either as our housekeeper Mrs. Rider must have been at the door because she had somehow made it outside already and was looking out in terror on the stoop.

“What's happening?” I questioned as I rushed out to join her.

The screams were audible to both of us now, echoing through the streets as people panicked. Too there was a billowing cloud of smoke coming from nearby. Telling for sure would be neigh impossible, but it looked like it was coming from the direction of the local guardhouse.

Following that I saw something that truly made my hair stand up. A city guard was being harried down the street by three goblins with simple clubs. The man had no weapon to be seen, fighting them with only his fists. Had they been those I was used to dealing with, smarter, bigger, stronger, then he'd have been quickly overtaken, but these were smaller creatures, about child sized, and he was giving a good showing of himself.

I flew to his aid like an arrow loosed, rushing as he fended off the beasts as best he could. As one grabbed his arm, beginning to pull him down I reached his side, the cane I carried everywhere freeing the blade within itself as I joined the fray; the conclusion forgone.

“Quickly, we need to evacuate the people,” I hurriedly yelled at the man as I flicked my blade, trying to get some of the gore off of it.

“There are more coming,” he replied, pointing to several more of the beasts making their way around corners and onto the street nearby.

“I'll hold them, warn the people living here to evacuate.” He looked at me as if I was insulting him for a second, doing his job, then thought better of it.

“Thank you sir, I will.”

As he ran to the nearest home I turned to look back at Mrs. Rider, still frozen on the stairs. “Quickly, get everyone out, now!” I yelled at her, causing her to quickly nod and retreat to the house.

My next few minutes were chaos, dozens of goblins made their way towards us, and I flitted around the street, cutting them down where I could as I struggled to keep them away from the innocents. Behind me I could hear people running about, the sound of horses and carriages being prepped, but there were enough that I didn't want to look back.

It was then that the first variant came to join the fray, neither as big nor as strong looking as the goblin I'd fought to save that little girl, but towering over his fellows. With a smile he charged, only to be met by a bolt of lightning from behind me.

“Now here my boy, can't let you show me up now can I?” a gruff voice said.

One of our neighbors, an older gentleman with a thick mustache strode down the street, arcs of energy dancing around him. Others of the residents too were slowly coming out of their homes to join me in the street. A man or two here or there was coming our way, looking thoroughly displeased at what had come to their neighborhood.

These weren't staff either, not butlers or maid, neither footmen nor drivers, but the owners of these homes. Most of the men would be away during the daytime, but those that were here came to defend their homes, the powerful stepping forward while their people fled. Behind them were the ladies of the house, organizing to get people out as quickly as they could with their own magic or strength. My own mother was there, almost throwing the cooks and maids onto the cart that had been pulled out by our staff.

My family's safe evacuation confirmed I turned back to the battle at hand. There were dozens and dozens of the goblins coming now, with a few odd ones sprinkled in among the group. The plain ones were no issue at all, but the six or so who came and who could throw small spells at us, or were speedy enough that I needed to deal with them were an issue.

If there were dozens here alone there had to be hundreds or thousands throughout the city. Those numbers chilled my bones, for I'd only ever seen a few. How had they grown so much without us noticing? How many were there truly? I didn't know, but it was clear we needed a much more potent response.

A few minutes more and a shimmering barrier lit across the opening to the street. Behind I could see my father approaching, magic flowing around him as he reinforced the wall. He was tucking some papers into his jacket, a bandoleer of potions strung over his shoulder. Well, better late than not at all.

“That will hold for a few minutes, it's time to go,” he informed the gathered fighters.

We ran for the cart full of our people, just as mother helped Mrs. Rider in.

“That everyone?” she asked.

“Yes ma'am, checked the back rooms and quarters myself,” Mrs. Rider assured as father and I jumped on after the two of them.

“Then we best be off,” she called to the driver, trying to keep the panic from her voice.

We sped off as fast as we could, houses passing behind us, streets falling backwards and I looked at the terrified staff, huddled into the small space, and breathed in. It was fine, it was going to be fine. Something was wrong though, among the scared faces one was missing.

“Kaylee? Where's Kaylee?” I asked, loud enough for all to hear. There was no response.

Then it hit me, I'd told her to stay in my workshop. My workroom was in the basement, and while I could hear through the ceiling and walls someone without my senses certainly wouldn't be able to, the measures to keep my noise from bothering others would keep her from hearing the calls to evacuate. Why would anyone check there either? Mrs. Rider herself had seen me run outside, all the staff would see me fighting as they prepared to flee. She was still there, still in my workroom, as those goblins bore down on our homes.

For a moment my whole body went numb, the pain of what I'd done lancing through me. That lasted only a brief second though before resolve hit, I clenched my jaw and the sword in my hand before turning and leaping from the cart. I heard gasps and a yell from behind me as I rocketed back the way we'd come.

Could I leave her there? No, I'd carve my way through every dammed goblin in this city to protect her, and not think twice of it.