Lily spared Celica little more than a glance, the majority of her attention focused on Sylphide and Morrigan who were talking amongst themselves in front of the entire group of Shifters, both hovering conveniently in the air--undoubtedly to attract as much attention as possible.
"You could say that. It's definitely not looking good." She was silent then for several long moments then, only breaking said silence after at least a full minute. "I guess you could say I'm doing okay. I don't know what to think, but," she turned to Celica, her face an expressionless mask, "you could say that I'm afraid. I don't know what'll happen to me, you, or anyone else here, whom I would consider myself to be at least somewhat friendly with." Her tails fell limb, lying on the ground motionless. "Think what you will of me: That I'm this tough girl who doesn't let anything get in her way and fights through anything, but... I'm scared of losing what friends I have, regardless of the reason." The smile that crept onto her lips was subdued, even a bit strained. "But how abou--"
The voice of a certain winged woman wielding a sword and wearing armour interrupted her. Although it wasn't so much the voice of Alice that stopped Lily in her tracks, but what she said. Is she really that bloodthirsty? She turned around, eyebrows raised, and silently studied the Valkyrie for several long moments. "You do find out today, but... This isn't exactly a happy occasion. We're soldiers and we'll take lives. What you do to them they'll want to do to you... Be careful, Alice."
And it was then that Sindri approached. She would have said something to him, but the voice of Sylphide cut through the din of students and Graduates chatting and shuffling about. She settled for simply waving at him before turning around.
Sylphide and Morrigan were still hovering in the air, however this time they were facing the group. The dark haired Mythic wore a dark expression befitting her legends, and seemed just plain ominous. Sylphide looked as gentle as ever, but the way she held herself as her wings held her aloft gave her a far more serious air than usual.
"Students and Graduates!" She began, casting her eyes across everybody in front of her. "The Endolan Army has seen fit to attack this very establishment. I understand that many of you are not yet Graduates, but know that you are no less powerful than they!" There was a quiet murmur throughout the entire group of Shifters and Graduates. "I also want to make something very clear. We have those among us who are prohibited from using the full extent of their powers against fellow students. When you are fighting today--" her gaze swept across the gathering in front of her, stopping when she found Sindri, her gentle eyes boring into his "--that ban has been lifted, and you are allowed to use the full extent of your powers against the enemy." She broke Sindri's gaze, returning to watching them as a whole. "The same goes for everybody else. There are no limitations today. It is kill or be killed, and you have to use every trick in the book to defeat them this day. It won't be easy, but I--we--know you will succeed. We've seen you grow and seen how powerful you are, and while not yet graduates we see in your an immense potential. You just have to unlock it."
The air seemed saturated with emotions, be it fear or anticipation. Lily could feel it as well, and while she was more than aware that that small speech had been nothing but an attempt to raise morale, she still felt the effects of it. She felt more confident than she had before, a small smile even breaking forth onto her lips.
The smile disappeared when Commander Jones appeared, standing tall in front of them to such a degree that even those in the very back could see him. The size of that guy continues to baffle me.
"SOLDIERS!" He roared. His next words were much more subdued, but still loud. "Form ranks!"
The shuffling began, with those who had not yet fully settled into lines and ranks. Lily could see Alice and Celica standing on either side of her, with Sindri in an entirely different group since he was a Fae rather than Demon.
"The enemy is at our gates!" Jones continued. "You will either die today, or you will emerge as veterans, Graduate or no. The ones you will be fighting are experienced soldiers and will not, I repeat will not, hesitate to take that pretty little head off of your shoulders! But! You will not back down! You are brave and more powerful than any human has ever been before you. You will be the ones to take their heads, and you will be the ones to emerge victorious!"
A cheer rang through the crowd. The speech wasn't really the best to raise their spirits, if Lily had anything to say, but it certainly wasn't the worst either. She waited for the Commander to start again.
"The enemy is still an hour away which will give us time to prepare. Two kilometres out in the Sparring Area there is a valley they have to pass through to get here. They will have to go through there to attack, so we will prepare. Demon Group A through F of the students and Titans will go to the valley and set up an ambush, dividing themselves into two groups of A, B & C on their right, and D, E and F on their left. You will hide until they are past you and have engaged with the main group, which will stay here. Every one else will move out three hundred metres; Fae in the back, Titan in the front, and Demon in-between. We will link every one of you up in a telepathic network, so we can relay orders and share what is happening. I should not have to say this, but you are, after all, still students! You can't know everything quite yet."
He straightened himself, steely eyes staring down anyone who looked straight at him. "Soldiers. MOVE OUT!"
Entire groups broke off, mostly Demons darting off, often carrying others--Unshifted Titans, probably, Lily thought--to their designated area. Lily was among them, although she couldn't spot Alice or Celica, nor even Tsukiko nearby. Whether or not they were part of the Demons staying behind or going in for the ambush she didn't know. Time will show.
Lily stood on the edge of the valley, peering down. Her hands were extended, power coursing through her body as she, and a group of other Kitsune, covered their group in an illusory field, masking their presence and making them invisible. It had been ten minutes since they had moved out, and she could just see the Academy buildings off in the distance; Dragons, Giants, massive Golems towering above the others.
She couldn't yet see the Endolans, but she assumed they weren't far off.
It's only a matter of waiting now, she mused, lips pursing. Tsuki, you had better get through this in one piece, or so god help me I'll find some way to bring you back and slap you for being so reckless.