At first light, the civilians who had fled to Bellchime Town went to the square as usual to collect the day's supplies.
Everyone hurried along. Although the relief station had never let anyone go without food, the refugees felt little security in wartime.
There might still be aid today, but what about tomorrow? If the demons attacked, they might lose everything.
"Daddy, I think there's something in the sky." The little girl froze, fear in her voice, and stopped following her father toward the square.
The middle-aged man dressed as a farmer turned to find his daughter standing motionless. He was about to scold her when he looked up...
Whoosh!
At some point, an enormous steel platform large enough to cover all of Bellchime Town had blotted out the sky.
Giant steel birds launched from the platform one after another, searing flames blasting from their tail sections.
Deafening engine roars, mixed with occasional dragon bellows, echoed throughout Bell-Toll Valley. At the sight, the refugees stopped in their tracks, not daring to take another step.
"Daddy, I wasn't lying," the little girl whispered weakly.
Her father scooped her up and quickly crouched in a corner, shielding her with his body. "Don't be scared. Don't be scared," he murmured.
People always harbored a mysterious fear of the unknown.
Across the square and the streets, this father and daughter were merely two among thousands.
Everyone hid. Terrified screams plunged the entire town into panic.
Perhaps the military had anticipated the unrest in town, for a squad of soldiers soon arrived to maintain order.
To deepen the public's trust in the soldiers, Rowan had specifically asked Aemeth to get up early.
"Don't worry, everyone! Those are Kul Tiras's new weapons. The aircraft are called Liberator Fighters, and that floating steel platform is an aircraft