Aurelius walked through the streets of Alerial, a High Elven squad of warriors at his back, all of them searching the surrounding alleyways and shadows for any lingering remnants of the possessed army.
It had roughly been over an hour since the High Elves had pushed back the main possessed force out of the city. Following the death of the Orc General, the tide of the battle had swung and the High Elves had managed to gain the upper hand in the end. Now, a select few groups of remaining High Elven soldiers swept the streets of the city, attempting to kill any remaining pockets of possessed resistance or rescue any remaining High Elves.
Despite the victory, the atmosphere in the city was gloomy. Their victory had paid a steep cost. From the initial reports Aurelius had received from the headmaster and Lord Gavrel, there were an estimated 2,000 High Elven combatants dead from the battle. Another 3,000 were considered wounded and were currently being treated, leaving less than 2,000 fighting-capable soldiers. In other words, the battle for Alerial had been a pyrrhic victory, with the High Elves managing to overcome the possessed army on their last legs.
The city of Alerial lay in ruins, its once pristine streets now littered with the debris of battle. The fires had been extinguished, but the acrid smell of smoke still hung in the air, mingling with the metallic scent of blood. Aurelius walked through the streets, each step heavy with the weight of their victory. The High Elven squad moved with him in a somber silence, their eyes scanning every shadow, every corner for any lingering threat.
The loss of so many High Elves weighed heavily on everyone. The sense of triumph was overshadowed by the grief of those who would never return and the wounded who lay in makeshift hospitals.
Aurelius glanced at his surroundings, noting the damaged buildings and the hastily constructed barricades that had served as their last line of defense. It was a harsh reminder of the desperation that had gripped them in the final hours of the battle.
"Stay alert," he instructed his squad, his voice steady but firm. "We can't afford any surprises."
The High Elven warriors nodded in response, their expressions grim but resolute. They knew the importance of their task. Despite the apparent victory, there was always the chance that some of the possessed had slipped through the cracks, waiting for an opportunity to strike again. They had already encountered and dealt with a few.
As they rounded a corner, they came upon another group of High Elven soldiers, led by General Farsen. The general's face was lined with fatigue, but his eyes were as sharp and determined as ever.
"Aurelius," Farsen greeted him with a nod. "Good to see you in one piece. How's the sweep going?"
"We've cleared most of the area," Aurelius replied. "But we need to remain cautious. There could still be enemy stragglers."
Farsen nodded. "Agreed. We'll continue the sweep. Keep your eyes open and report any suspicious activity immediately."
Aurelius saluted and led his squad further into the city, their footsteps echoing through the empty streets. As they moved, they encountered more groups of High Elven soldiers, all working to secure the city.
15 minutes later, Aurelius spotted a group of civilians huddled together in a partially collapsed building. Their faces were etched with fear and exhaustion, but when they saw the High Elven squad, a glimmer of hope appeared in their eyes.
"It's safe now," Aurelius said gently, approaching them. "We'll escort you to the main square where it's secure."
The civilians nodded gratefully, and Aurelius motioned for a few of his soldiers to help them. As they guided the civilians out of the ruins, Aurelius couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow for the losses this city had endured. This wasn’t the first group of civilians he had encountered and all of them were clearly scarred by the ravages of war.
Continuing their sweep, Aurelius and his squad encountered a few more scattered groups of survivors, each one a reminder of the lives that had been upended by the conflict. They escorted them to safety, offering words of reassurance and comfort, even as their own hearts were heavy with the knowledge of the cost of their victory.
Hours passed, and the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the city. Finally, as night fell, Aurelius decided to call it a day. He and his squad returned to the central plaza where a defensive plaza had been set up. The once bustling plaza now served as a makeshift triage center and temporary shelter for the wounded and displaced. Tents had been hastily erected to provide shelter, and medics moved among the injured. The few life mages that remained were working overdrive, attempting to do their best to help address some of the worst cases. Despite the chaos of the battle, there was an air of quiet determination among the High Elves as they worked tirelessly to tend to their comrades and rebuild what had been lost. Soon enough, the city of Alerial began to settle into an uneasy calm. The fires had been extinguished, and the streets were illuminated by the soft glow of lanterns.
Aurelius even spotted Valen standing atop a makeshift platform, helping direct the efforts of the remaining soldiers and coordinating the distribution of supplies to the wounded. Before he made his way to Valen, Aurelius turned to his squad. "Help out wherever you're needed. We can't afford to let our guard down." The High Elven warriors nodded in agreement, dispersing to lend their aid wherever it was needed most.
Aurelius made his way towards Valen, weaving through the bustling activity of the plaza. As he approached, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his friend. Valen had risen to the occasion, demonstrating a leadership quality that Aurelius didn’t know he had. Aurelius knew that he could always count on Valen, both as a friend and as a fellow soldier.
"Valen," Aurelius called out as he reached the platform where his friend stood. "You've done an admirable job here."
Valen looked up from his tasks, his expression one of relief at seeing Aurelius unharmed. "Aurelius," he replied, returning the smile with equal weariness. "I'm just doing what needs to be done. We all are." Valen took a long breath out through his nose. "It's been... chaotic, to say the least. And, It's not over yet," he said quietly. "We still have a long road ahead of us."
Aurelius nodded solemnly, wholeheartedly agreeing with the sentiment. “I agree. In fact, I have to head to the leadership tent to see some of what that long road has in store for us.”
Valen gave Aurelius a nod of understanding. "Go on, then. We'll hold down the fort here."
With a grateful smile, Aurelius clasped Valen's shoulder briefly before turning to make his way towards the leadership tent. As he walked, he couldn't shake the weight of responsibility that now rested on his shoulders.
The tent, located at the heart of the plaza, was a hive of activity, with commanders, captains, strategists, lieutenants, and all manners of leadership poring over maps and discussing the next steps in the aftermath of the battle. Aurelius entered quietly, nodding to those he passed as he made his way towards the central table where Lord Gavrel and the other high-ranking officials were gathered.
The air inside was tense, filled with the gravity of the situation they now found themselves in.
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"Ah, Aurelius," Lord Gavrel greeted him, his voice weary but determined. "I'm glad you're here. We have much to discuss."
Aurelius nodded, taking his place among the assembled leaders. Amongst them, he noticed the headmaster, High Mage Sylara, General Farsen, and a couple of others he didn’t recognize. He nodded to each of them, relieved that they had survived the battle.
The maps spread out before them depicted the city of Alerial and its surrounding areas, marked with strategic points and potential areas of concern. Lord Gavrel began to speak, his voice grave as he outlined their current situation and the challenges they faced in the aftermath of the battle. He spoke of the need to secure the city and tend to the wounded, but also of the looming threat posed by the remaining pockets of possessed soldiers and the possibility of further attacks from the enemy.
"Today we have managed to secure a crucial victory and land a crushing blow on our enemy. However, as much as we've achieved today, we cannot afford to become complacent," Lord Gavrel said, his gaze sweeping over the gathered leaders. "We must prepare for the next actions of the possessed"
Lord Gavrel continued to gesture to the maps, his expression grave. "As you can see, the battle has taken its toll on our forces. We've suffered heavy losses, and while we've managed to repel the possessed army for now, we can't afford to defend another attack at that level."
High Mage Sylara spoke up, her voice carrying the weight of authority. "Our priority must be to secure the city and ensure the safety of its inhabitants. We need to fortify our defenses and establish a perimeter to prevent any further incursions."
General Farsen nodded in agreement. "Agreed. We also need to send out scouting parties to assess the extent of the damage and identify any remaining threats. We can't afford to leave any stone unturned."
Lord Gavrel nodded at both High Mage Sylara and General Farsen’s remark. “I agree with both points. However, I have just received orders from the capital. They want us to move as fast as possible and reclaim the city of Silverhaven from the possessed,” Lord Gavrel said, pointing down to the city of Silverhaven which sat northward from Alerial. “Right now, Silverhaven is the only city that has fallen to the forces of the possessed. The capital wants to recapture the city and fully drive the possessed out of the High Elven continent.”
A ripple of disquiet spread throughout the high-ranking leaders as they took in Lord Gavrel’s news. High Mage Sylara was the first to speak up, a hint of anger entering her tone.
"We've just fought a grueling battle here in Alerial, and now they expect us to march straight into another one?" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with frustration. "Do they not understand the toll this has taken on our forces?"
General Farsen quickly nodded in agreement. "She's right, Lord Gavrel. Our troops are exhausted, and our resources are stretched thin. Rushing into another battle so soon would be disastrous."
Despite High Mage Sylara and General Farsen’s outburst, Lord Gavrel continued to nod. “Let me amend my previous statement. They do not want us or the third army to retake the city of Silverhaven. No, they want Aurelius to do so.”
A silence filled the tent as the high-ranking leadership once again reacted to Lord Gavrel’s news.
This time, Aurelius was the first to speak up. “Me?” He asked, his voice incredulous. He pointed a finger into his chest. “Just me?”
“No,” Lord Gavrel said. “They want to send you with the fourth army. The fourth army is about to reach the city of Claim Thel,” Lord Gavrel continued, pointing to the city of Claim Thel which lay east of Silverhaven. “They want you to meet with the fourth army in the city of Claim Thel, and then march northward towards Silverhaven.”
Aurelius let out a deep breath as he absorbed the news. It looked like Aurelius wasn’t going to get the rest he had been hoping for. Although, that fact didn’t bother him that much. He knew that the war against the possessed was far from over and that, as the Chosen, he would likely be always on the move. Plus, he could always use the real life experience and essence. He just needed to know where, when, and what he was up against.
“Ok..” Aurelius said slowly. “What are the numbers that we are dealing with?”
Lord Gavrel nodded, expecting the question. “The fourth army is your typical 5,000-strong force. According to our best scout reports, after the Orc Chosen left the city of Silverhaven and moved southward to attack us at the city of Alerial, only roughly 7,000 possessed remained in the city.”
Aurelius nodded slowly. “So, 5,000 vs 7,000. That’s certainly better odds than our fight here. With a strategic advantage, we should be able to swiftly deal with the possessed in the city.”
"Yes, but we mustn't underestimate them," High Mage Sylara interjected, her tone serious. "The possessed have proven to be resourceful and unpredictable. We need to approach this with caution and careful planning."
Aurelius nodded in agreement. "Agreed. We'll need to gather as much intel as possible before making any moves. Do we have any information on the layout of the city, potential defenses, or the whereabouts of the possessed leaders?"
Lord Gavrel motioned to one of his aides, who stepped forward with a stack of parchment scrolls. "Our scouts have been gathering information on Silverhaven since it fell. We have detailed maps of the city, including key locations such as the central stronghold and any known possessed encampments. As for the leaders, we believe the Orc Chosen was the primary commander, but there may be others we’re unaware of."
Aurelius took the scrolls, quickly scanning the information provided. "We'll need to study these thoroughly and come up with a plan of action," he said, rolling up the scrolls once he was done. "We can't afford any surprises."
Lord Gavrel nodded in agreement. "Agreed. We'll give you some time to strategize with your commanders and finalize your plans. Once you're ready, we'll provide you with whatever resources and support you need."
“Ok,” Aurelius said, bouncing on his feet a little. “When do I leave?”
“Tomorrow at noon.” Lord Gavrel said, a hint of empathy in his tone.
Aurelius’ face lost a bit of color. “That early?” he asked. Aurelius knew that he had just been the one talking about how he was ready to constantly be on the move, but even that seemed a little quick for his standards.
“Yes,” Lord Gavrel continued. “Like I said, the capital wants the recapturing of SIlverhaven to be decisive and swift. As a result, they need you to move as fast as possible.”
Aurelius nodded, agreeing with Lord Gavrel’s sentiment. “I see. However, before I leave I have a couple things that I want you to tell the capital.”
“Yes?” Lord Gavrel said, his eyes turning to Aurelius with a hint of interest.
“Firstly, I need you to tell them to start training some more warriors.” Aurelius grimaced as he ordered this. In many ways, Aurelius’ request was asking for young High Elves to fight in a war that they might eventually die in. However, he continued on, looking at the long term. “Today, nearly the entirety of the Third Army suffered damage that will take it out of commission for a while. The remaining four armies aren't going to be enough to stand up to the raw numbers of the possessed. You all saw the overwhelming tide of the possessed, if we don't want to be overwhelmed, we are going to need to have more fighters.”
Lord Gavrel nodded at Aurelius’ first request, writing something down
Aurelius took a breath, steeling himself for his next request. "Secondly," he continued, "I want them to consider reaching out to other races on other continents. The other races may have forces that could aid us in this war. We are going to be hard-pressed to fight this battle alone, especially if we are to face the possibility of more cities falling to the possessed."
Lord Gavrel nodded thoughtfully, jotting down Aurelius' second request as well.
“Finally, tell them that when I get back from Silverhaven, be ready.”
Lord Gavrel stopped writing and looked up with a confused expression.
"Be ready?" Lord Gavrel repeated, seeking clarification.
Aurelius met Lord Gavrel's gaze. “Actually, scrap that last one. I’ll personally deliver that one,” Aurelius said, a slow grin setting across his face.
Lord Gravel continued to look at Aurelius with a confused expression. Only Aurelius, however, knew what he was thinking. Aurelius knew that if the High Elves wanted to win this war, they needed to be completely united as a race. If that meant getting rid of a few positions of power and perhaps implementing some changes, so be it. Aurelius had seen the cost war during the battle for Alerial, and he was determined to do whatever it took to prevent such losses from happening again, even if that meant shaking up the status quo.
Lord Gavrel regarded Aurelius for a moment before nodding slowly. "Very well," he said, his tone grave. "I'll relay your messages to the capital. And Aurelius, be careful out there. Silverhaven won't be an easy conquest."
Aurelius gave a single nod in acknowledgment, his mind already racing with strategies for the mission ahead. With a final nod to Lord Gavrel, he turned and left the tent, his thoughts consumed by the task that lay before him.