The Night Rose

"Captain, the hull is damaged; the shield is almost down! It will take at least half a day to recharge back to maximum!" One of the men on the night rose reported.

"Everyone repair the ship immediately! We are leaving now before we got more hits! Load the motors at maximum and hold on!" Arwin shouted out while trying to get her ship out.

However, before she could do anything, there were wyverns with knights on their backs. They were small and medium-sized airships that managed to get close to them as well.

Suddenly some of the smaller airships crashed on their side, causing another explosion that damaged their hull and shield even more.

"Night Rose, this is your last warning! Surrender now, and we can promise quick and painless death for you! For those who give the Captain and the information about the Bloodied Fang Bandit Group will be spared and has a chance to live as slaves! Otherwise, you will perish at the Royal army of Crego!" The leader of the group said, his voice amplified by magic.

"He's speaking the truth! You will be spared! Do you all remember me, Lars? They spared me to give the information they need! Yes, I might have the brand of a slave, but that is better than death." An average height man with a sly face shouted out. He was Lars, the information giver for Night Rose.

The knights of Crego had captured him, but with his the help they had set, this ambush for night rose.

"Lars, you traitor! I curse you and every last generation of your family! How dare a bastard like you betray us! You should know our punishments! When the Bloodied Fang Gets their hands on you, just wish to be death!" Arwin cursed out loudly and suddenly turned her ship around, aiming at the Royal army of Crego.

"Unload everything we have against them you have permission to shoot everything you find from the ship and its spatial storage," Arwin commanded her troops.

They answered loudly, "Yes. Captain!" The crew then immediately started to load, and the first volley of cannonballs and ammunition began to head towards the royal army.

"Everyone! Battle formation now! Prepare for the coming battle and eradicate the Night Rose today!" The leader of the army commanded while the wyverns tried their best to avoid the ammunition. The airships started to shoot out as well, as they believe that their shields will withstand the incoming cannonballs.

Still, lots of wyverns and some airships were shot down, and were falling down.

The air was full of flying ammunition, and the smell of black powder dominated their noses.

"Shoot them let's show what the night rose are made of!

Let's kill as much as possible before we fall! Let's make here our last stand and let the enemy suffer for making us their targets! Let's make their life a living hell!" Arwin shouted out while waiting for her end.

Arwin's crewmates were smiling around as if no worry could be seen in their face. They were only calmly waiting for it all to end while fighting back.

They all had already welcome death when they had chosen this life. Now, it was their time, and the god of death had their names written on the paper. Their hourglass had no more sand. So they all just smiled and waited for the cannonball to come and destroy their ship.

At this very short moment, Arwin could not help but remember a lot of things. 'Heh. You think of stupid things when you are nearing death…' Arwin mocked silently.

She remembered a girl who was raised in a small city that was known for its repair shops for airships.

The girl's mother passed away when she was young. Because of this, the girl couldn't remember her mother's face, but her father raised her as well as he could.

Because of the father, the girl learned everything that he knew about airships and how to steer them.

The girl was always silently following and helping her father. To the point that others were teasing her for being her father's shadow.

Since the girl's father was not used to take care of girls, the earliest days, the girl started to wear man's clothes, helping her father around the shop. This became a habit that also saved her life.

The girl still remembers the day a band of robbers came to the city looking for parts for their airships and recruits to their camp. At this time, the girl's father had already passed away a few years ago, and she already inherited the shop.

When the bandits saw her, they thought that she was a young boy and a skilled mechanic or so the rumors said in the town, and they kidnapped her and brought her to their Captain. That day her life as a robber started.

The girl was lucky as when the previous Captain of the bandit ship learned of her secret, the Captain adopted her to protect her identity as a female. She was also thought everything about weapons and handling airship.

So one day, the Captain gave her permission to make her own crew. The girl was then given a chance to have her airship while sharing fifty percent of the loot they got with the main camp.

Arwin grinned as she remembered it. That was how her story started as a captain of the infamous Night Rose.

She looked at her crew as they wait for death. The only regret that she has in her life was never telling them her secret. That the Captain and leader of the group of thieves is a girl…