MAIN QUEST

The aftermath of the battle left a bitter taste, even though we had survived. For a force as overwhelming as ours, the result was anything but satisfying. Victory had slipped through our fingers like grains of desert sand.

Sora and I were sitting by a low-burning fire in the corner of our camp, the light from the candle casting long shadows on her face. She seemed unusually pensive, her usual sharp demeanor softened by the weight of reflection.

"Do you know what went wrong?" she asked, breaking the silence.

I looked at her, unsure if it was a rhetorical question. "I thought we had the advantage. Superior numbers, better positioning..." I trailed off, realizing how hollow those words sounded now.

Sora let out a sigh. "It’s not just about numbers, Augustus. It seems like the Valandians didn’t expect Sultan Unquid to respond so quickly. Either they underestimated him or received bad intelligence about our army's position. Marching on the castle near Quyaz was a gamble, and for a while, it looked like they’d lose that gamble."

She paused, her fingers tracing patterns in the sand. "But even with the advantage we had, we were unprepared for a real fight. The lack of coordination among our forces was glaring. The Khuzait mercenaries abandoning their positions to loot the Valandian camp—that alone cost us dearly. If they’d hit the center instead, we could have crushed the Valandian infantry."

I nodded. "And committing the reserves too early didn’t help. The Sultan was desperate to end the battle quickly. That move backfired when the Valandians launched their counterattack."

Sora smiled faintly. "You’re learning. Still, for us, this battle was profitable. The spoils alone made it worthwhile."

The aftermath of the battle had been chaotic, but our foresight paid off. Sora had suggested selling our looted equipment in Sanala rather than Quyaz. Her reasoning was simple: Quyaz’s market would be flooded with surplus armor and weapons from other mercenaries and soldiers. Sanala, farther east, was relatively untouched by the recent events and would offer better prices.

We had barely arrived in Sanala when rumors of Sultan Unquid's defeat began circulating. The local governor, keen to bolster his defenses against any potential Valandian incursion, bought up our weapons and armor at premium prices. The governor’s desperation became our fortune.

I couldn’t help but admire Sora’s tactical mind. "That idea of yours—selling in Sanala instead of Quyaz—was brilliant," I told her as we walked back to our rented quarters.

She shrugged, a small smirk playing on her lips. "You’re too generous with your praise, Augustus. It was just common sense."

"No," I countered. "It was the strategy. And it’s one of the reasons we’re doing so well here."

That evening, I made my rounds through the camp to check on everyone. Nathanos was sitting with his siblings, Alea and Phasos, the three of them sharing a quiet meal. Seeing their smiles warmed my heart. It had been a while since they had a moment of peace.

Silvana and Leon were chatting animatedly with the other recruits, the firelight catching the gleam of their recently cleaned weapons. Despite the losses the Aserai forces had suffered, my group was in great shape due to the fact that for most of the duration, our group was in reserve.

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Satisfied, I slipped away to a quieter corner of the house we had rented. It was a small room, sparsely furnished, but it offered privacy. Sitting on the rough wooden floor, I opened the system menu. New skills and quests awaited me.

The glowing text of the main quest felt like a beacon in the darkness of uncertainty:

Main Quest - Collect and Reforge the Dragon Banner Hint: Talk to Arzagos and Istiana.

The words stirred a faint memory from a game I’d played long ago with my father. I remembered the objective: collect three pieces of a banner to forge it anew. But the locations of these pieces were hazy in my mind.

Battania and the Western Empire. That much I remembered. But going back to those regions now, especially after fleeing to Aserai lands, seemed like a dangerous prospect. For the time being, staying here made the most sense. The demand for mercenaries was high, and our unique position—speaking the Aserai language fluently—put Nova above other groups.

Next, I turned my attention to the new skills I could choose. The system presented me with several options, each more enticing than the last.

TACTICS OPTIONS

* Loose Formations: -10% damage from archers if troops are set in loose formation.

* Tight Formations: +10% damage to cavalry if troops are in tight formation.

Both options had their merits, but I thought back to the battle. The Valandian sharpshooters had caused significant damage with their bolts and the Banner Knights completely shifted the tides of war so both of these options were tempting.

Leadership Options

* Raise the Meek: +4 experience every day to tier 1 and tier 2 troops.

* Combat Tips: +2 experience every day to all troops.

The first option seemed ideal for building a stronger foundation for our newer recruits. Training rookies into capable soldiers quickly was essential.

TRADING OPTIONS

* Wholesaler: Increase profits when buying or selling in bulk.

* Appraiser: Appraises the prices of tradable items.

Sanala’s market experience made the choice clear. Being able to identify profitable trades would be invaluable.

STEWARD OPTIONS

* Frugal: Hiring costs reduced by 20%. Daily wages reduced by 5%.

* Warrior’s Diet: No discontent when serving a single type of food continuously. -10% food consumption for troops.

Given our group's growing size, reducing costs seemed like the better choice. Frugality would ensure our resources lasted longer.

After making my selections, I leaned back against the wall, staring at the flickering flame of the lantern. The events replayed in my mind.

The battle may not have ended in victory for the Aserai, but it had been a success for Nova. Our recruits were safe, we had earned enough to sustain us for weeks, and I also forged a banner accidentaly while trying to loot the fallen troops, although the banner didn’t have a tremendous statistical impact still it filled me with motivation.

Squire’s Banner

+5 increased speed to mounted troops.

The system had opened doors I never could have imagined. But the choices it presented were mine to make. With every skill I selected and every step I took, I was shaping not just my fate but the future of Calradia itself.