It turned out my worries were unfounded. Somehow, the Imperial force made a wide detour around our trap and struck us from the rear. I couldn't tell if they had planned this from the start or adapted their strategy upon discovering the trap, but I suspected it was the former.

This was bad news for our forces as the Imperials' numbers hadn't decreased at all. In fact, meeting them face-to-face at the rear of our camp only lowered our soldiers' morale.

I didn't think the situation could get worse, but it did. Somehow, all the Imperial forces were on horseback, making them a cavalry force instead of regular foot soldiers. We were on a plain, but it was close enough to a forest that the trees hindered the horses' movement. The unbalanced terrain also added to the factor that horses weren’t regularly used. We were completely unprepared for this kind of attack.

Thankfully, the 4th Company was stationed at the rear, so I was safe, but it didn’t spare me from the sound of soldiers fighting in the front line. The fight was a blur, but I didn’t need to see to know we were being pushed back by those cavalry.

“Retreat! Archers, use enchanted arrows to spook their horses!” Brigadier General Lily shouted somewhere at the front. “Do not panic! Form a shield wall and retreat to regroup!”

The chaos of the battle surged around me. The air was thick with the sounds of clashing steel, the whinnies of frightened horses, and the shouts of both orders and cries of pain. Our forces scrambled to follow Lily’s commands, trying to form a coherent line while fending off the relentless cavalry charge.

I watched as our archers, their faces set with determination, nocked their enchanted arrows and aimed at the charging cavalry. The arrows flew, their tips glowing with magic. When they struck the ground or the horses, small bursts of fire startled the animals, causing many to rear and throw their riders. When the riders fell to the ground, they were met with the sight of the kingdom's soldiers readying their weapons. It didn’t take long to finish off the fallen riders, who were already injured from the fall and struggled to get up due to the horses running around them, nearly trampling them to death.

But despite the temporary disruption, the cavalry regrouped quickly. The disciplined Imperial forces pressed their advantage, knowing that our disarray was their opportunity.

“Again!”

Another wave of fire arrows whistled through the air. However, it still wasn’t enough. The cavalry continued their relentless charge, not giving us the time to retreat. When they met the sight of the shield wall, they just burst through it like it was made of paper. Chaos ensued as the walls continued to break apart.

Yet despite the disadvantage, the forces, including the 4th Company, continued to fight with ferocity as the cavalry charged deeper into our ranks, reaching the rear. An Imperial soldier charged up to me, trampling enemies and ground alike as they blocked the path of its charge.

“Die!” The Imperial cavalryman shouted, bringing his spear down at me.

I dodged the spear by moving sideways, but it wasn’t enough to completely evade it, and a deep scratch formed on my left arm. Gritting my teeth to bear the pain, I held my sword tightly in my right hand.

The Imperial cavalryman, relentless in his pursuit, made a wide turn and charged at me again, cutting down my allies as if they were mere training dummies. He must have been a highly skilled soldier to kill so effortlessly.

I readied myself, sword in hand. As the cavalryman neared striking range, I did something unthinkable—I charged straight at him. It was foolish, almost suicidal, for a soldier to face a charging horse head-on. The cavalryman was also caught off guard by my move, too surprised to aim accurately. His spear grazed my right cheek instead of stabbing my head.

Seizing the opportunity, I thrust my sword into one of the horse’s legs. It was a gamble since striking a fast-moving target was nearly impossible, and I had to dodge sideways to avoid being trampled. But fortune favored me, and my sword pierced the horse's leg. The horse whinnied and collapsed, throwing its rider to the ground. The cavalryman fell awkwardly, unable to break his fall in time.

Though injured, the cavalryman wasn’t dead. He stood up, his right arm bent at an unnatural angle. His armor bore scratches, but he was still ready to fight. He glared at me murderously, holding his spear in his left hand.

We stared at each other without a word, and then, we charged at each other. The cavalryman’s attack was unsteady due to his injury, and I managed to block his spear with my sword. Seizing the spear, I pulled it toward me, not to disarm him but to propel myself forward. With a swift motion, I drove my sword into his chest, aiming for his heart.

The cavalryman coughed up blood, his eyes wide with shock as he looked at his own blood. Then, a grim smile spread across his face as he closed his eyes and fell.

I staggered back, exhausted, scanning the battlefield. Amidst the chaos, I caught sight of Brigadier General Lily, her armor gleaming, rallying the troops with fierce determination. Her presence was a beacon of hope and strength. “Stand firm!” she called out. “We can do this!”

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We fought desperately, every second feeling like an eternity. Gradually, our forces managed to regroup, forming a defensive line that began to push back against the cavalry. The enchanted arrows continued to disrupt the enemy’s formations, giving us precious moments to regain our footing.

After what felt like hours, the tide of the battle began to turn. The Imperials, realizing they couldn’t break our resolve, started to pull back. After all, this was supposed to be a night raid, not a prolonged face-to-face battle. The Imperials lacked the numbers for an extended engagement and had relied on the element of surprise and their cavalry’s initial charge.

However, now that the element of surprise was no longer on their side, they were having a hard time dealing with the enemies. Not only that, but the terrain was unbalanced meaning that the horse’s movement was limited.

As the enemy retreated, the relief among our ranks was palpable. I glanced around at my comrades, their faces a mix of exhaustion and triumph. We had survived.

“Stop! Do not pursue them. Tend to our wounds and regroup!” Lily ordered. The forces who had begun their pursuit halted as commanded, though they looked dissatisfied.

They were likely thirsting for revenge against the Imperials for killing their friends. The expressions on their faces showed their frustration and anger, but orders were orders, and they needed to follow them.

Suddenly, a voice shouted, “Lady Lily!”

The voice belonged to an officer who was running toward Lily as fast as he could, clutching a severed head by the hair. The sight was gruesome, and the officer's face was a mix of urgency and horror.

“What is it?” Lily asked, a confused expression on her face.

“The commander of the Third Division, Major General Caelen, is dead!” the officer shouted, presenting the head to Lily.

Lily leaned in to examine the head closely, her face turning pale as she realized the head indeed belonged to Caelen. The distinct scar on his forehead and his unmistakable helmet left no doubt.

However, my face went white as a ghost from sheer surprise. I recognized the face all too well.

It was the soldier I had fought first. The man whose relentless attacks I had barely survived. It turned out, I had killed Major General Caelen, the commander of the Third Division.

The realization hit me like a blow. I had expected him to be a formidable warrior, but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine he was a Major General. The gravity of my actions sank in, mingling with the exhaustion and adrenaline of battle.

Now, how should I explain the whole situation?

[(0)]

YEAR: 1724. AUGUST 11TH. LOCATION: COMMAND TENT OF IMPERIAL THIRD DIVISION SOMEWHERE IN THE SOUTH AND EAST SIDE OF THE PLAIN OF JADE.

“So, not only did you fail to wait for the reinforcements, but you also managed to get Major General Caelen killed in battle. What were you thinking?!” Brigadier General Varian shouted, his voice brimming with anger as he barked at the cowering officers. “Do you realize this puts us in the worst position possible? How could you be so reckless and thoughtless?!”

It was the day after the night raid. When the reinforcements from the Second Division arrived, they were met with the sight of less than 1,000 mens, all wounded or tired. Varian, who had taken a hard turn, gathered all the officers to hear the situation.

The officers, in return, were all visibly shaken, exchanging uneasy glances. Varian’s face was flushed with fury, his eyes blazing as he paced back and forth. The room was thick with tension, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on everyone present. Varian’s own officers, however, looked at ease as they glared at the officers under Third Division.

“You lost Major General Caelen and more than 7,000 men in a single day, and the enemy force only numbered 6,000, including their reinforcements,” Varian continued, his voice now a dangerous, low growl. “You have not only jeopardized this battle but the entire operation.”

He paused, taking a deep breath to steady himself. “Now that the commander's position for the Third Division is vacant, I trust you understand the gravity of the situation?”

“Yes, Lord Varian!” the officers shouted in unison. However, Varian still looked dissatisfied.

“Colonel Aylsia!” Varian called out. At his word, Aylsia stepped forward and saluted.

“You are to receive an emergency promotion under Imperial law, article 104 of the military code. You are hereby given the rank of Major General, effective immediately, and will retain this rank until the end of the current battle. Should you manage to achieve sufficient accomplishments, your promotion will be made permanent.”

Colonel Aylsia’s face remained stoic, but a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. She saluted sharply, acknowledging the weight of the responsibility now placed upon her.

“Thank you, Lord Varian. I will not let you down,” Aylsia responded firmly, her voice steady.

Varian’s gaze softened slightly, though his demeanor remained stern. “See that you don’t. The fate of this division now rests on your shoulders. We cannot afford any more mistakes.”

Aylsia nodded and stepped back into line. The tension in the room was palpable, each officer fully aware of the precarious situation they were in.

Varian looked around at the assembled officers, his expression one of resolve and determination. “We must regroup and reassess our strategy. We cannot allow the enemy to gain any more ground. Dismissed.”

As the officers filed out of the room, the weight of their duty pressing heavily upon them, Aylsia lingered for a moment, her mind racing with the enormity of the task ahead. She knew the challenges would be immense, but failure was not an option. The lives of her soldiers and the future of their campaign depended on her leadership.

Varian, who had stayed in the tent, couldn’t help but put his hand on his forehead as he read reports after reports. ‘Where did we go wrong? Just what is happening?’