YEAR: 1724. AUGUST 24TH. LOCATION: AT THE OUTSKIRT OF PLAIN OF JADE
A week had passed since Major General Remnell ordered a full retreat from the Plain of Jade. Yet, during all that time, the 9th Corps hadn’t made a single move against the withdrawing forces.
The officers, including Remnell himself, were on edge. They were convinced that the 9th Corps was plotting some kind of trap. The eerie silence made them tighten security, preparing for any possible attack.
Communication from their spies had gone silent long ago, leaving them in the dark about what the 9th Corp was up to. All they knew was that they couldn’t let their guard down. Every soldier was on high alert, their eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of movement. The tension was almost unbearable.
However, as the days went by without a single sighting of the 9th Corps, the tension among the Imperials only got worse. A whole week passed, and still nothing—no scouts, no attacks, not even a glimpse of movement. The silence was unnerving, like the calm before a storm.
The Imperials were spiraling into delusion. When they were fighting, they could at least piece together what the enemy was up to based on the battle outcomes and strategies. But this silence? It was maddening. Soldiers who were used to the chaos of war now had nothing to focus on except their growing fears.
The tension got so bad that some soldiers deserted, unable to handle the creeping dread. The Imperial force, which had already been cut down from 50,000 to 25,000, was unraveling even further. The lack of action from the 9th Corps wasn't just unnerving—it was driving everyone to the brink. The soldiers were convinced that the 9th Corps was plotting something massive, something that would wipe them out completely.
The officers did their best to calm down the troops, but it wasn't working. The soldiers were on edge, worn out from all the tension. Without any clear threat, their anxiety just kept building, leaving everyone stressed. The whole camp felt like it was about to break under the pressure.
They continued to march to make a detour from the Plain of Jade, but the force kept falling apart. Nobody suspected that 9th Corp was simply resting and regrouping, hoping for this kind of strategy.
Without knowing they were still dancing in the palm of Cedric’s hand, they continued onward, hoping for a victory.
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YEAR: 1724. AUGUST 25TH LOCATION: MAIN COMMAND TENT OF 9TH CORP SOMEWHERE SOUTH OF PLAIN OF JADE
“Now,” General Cedric said, clearly in a good mood. “What’s the situation?”
“Yes, Lord Cedric,” Brigadier General Devon replied, holding a report. “The Imperial forces are taking a significant detour around the Plain of Jade. They’re clearly stressed out by our lack of movement.”
The officers, including myself, breathed a collective sigh of relief upon hearing the report. It was clear that the plan was working, and the Imperials were growing increasingly anxious even before the battle had begun. This was a good sign, but no one was celebrating just yet. We all knew that the real victory would come in the final showdown, where we’d face the enemy head-on with no more tricks up our sleeves.
I stood to the side, my injuries mostly healed, and my new scabbard with the enchanted sword, Windwhisper, securely strapped to my side. As the Second Lieutenant, I felt a sense of pride, but the tension in the room was palpable. Even with my improved status, the atmosphere was heavy with the weight of what lay ahead.
“Excellent,” General Cedric said with a satisfied smile and a glint of amusement in his eyes. “This gives us a distinct advantage for the upcoming battles.”
“Speaking of which, sir,” Brigadier General Devon interjected with a concerned frown, "Where exactly will the battle take place? Will we be setting up a siege at Fort Kespare?”
“Goodness no,” Cedric answered with a chuckle. “We will be playing at the Plain of Imoras.”
At the mention of the Plain of Imoras, many of the officers grimaced. The memory of Major General Aldraic and his 10,000 troops being defeated by the Imperials was still fresh and painful.
“I must reject,” An officer with an anxious tone began. “Given that our forces and the Imperial forces are both approximately 25,000 strong, the numbers are equal. Despite the Imperials' current state of agitation, engaging them in battle under these conditions could still place us at a significant disadvantage.”
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“I agree.” Major Lyra also agreed as she voiced her own option. “The Imperials still have their calvary with them. If we were to meet them on the plain, we would be massacred.”
Other officers started to voice out their concern and objections, but when they heard what I had to say, they all fell silent.
“Pardon me.” I said, “But I don’t get why we are in the south when the Plain of Imoras is at the north.”
It was a question that puzzled me. If Cedric intended to confront the Imperials at the Plain of Imoras, shouldn't we be heading there in advance to set up traps or devise strategies to improve our chances of victory? Instead, we were moving south, which suggested Cedric had something else in mind.
“You’re a sharp one, Aria.” Cedric answered with a playful tone. “I said we should avoid battles, but I never said we would never leave them alone.”
At the moment, the officers looked at each other and sighed. Something told them that they were in for a long ride. I also looked at Cedric with a grim look because he was staring at me creepily like he had found a new toy to play with. Something told me he wanted me in whatever plan he had which I found unpleasant.
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YEAR: 1724. AUGUST 26TH. LOCATION: OUTSKIRT OF PLAIN OF JADE
“Enemies!” A voice echoed through the camp, sending a jolt of alarm through the ranks of the Second and Third Divisions. “Enemies are approaching!”
The Imperial soldiers scrambled out of their tents, quickly forming defensive lines as they braced for an imminent night raid. While some felt a small sense of relief knowing what the 9th Corp might be planning, it did little to ease the chaos of their disarrayed positions.
“Form a line, quickly!” Several officers barked orders, their voices cutting through the confusion as soldiers rushed to their posts.
The ground seemed to tremble under the weight of the approaching force. It was clear that a large army was advancing, but something was off. The footsteps were too loud and big to belong to just 25,000 troops. It felt like the sound came from all directions, increasing the sense of dread among the Imperials.
Were the 9th Corp’s reinforcements already here? Was this the trap they had been waiting for—to lure them into a false sense of security before a massive assault?
As the soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons and peered into the darkness, their nerves were frayed. The footsteps around them continued, but no enemy soldiers emerged from the gloom. It was still dark outside, making it nearly impossible to see clearly. All they could do was listen to the nerve wracking noise that echoed around them, heightening their anxiety.
As dawn broke, the eerie sounds suddenly stopped, leaving the Imperial soldiers in stunned silence. Scouts were sent out to check, but they found nothing—just the imprints of countless footsteps around the camp.
It dawned on them: it was a clever trick. The noise was meant to keep them on edge and wear them down mentally. The 9th Corps hadn’t actually attacked; they’d just used noise to keep everyone unsettled.
The effect was clear. Some soldiers, already stressed from the situation, were now dealing with worsening mental strain. Medics were busy attending to those who needed help, as the fake attack had really gotten under their skin.
“Should we go and attack the 9th Corp?” Colonel Alysia suggested, her voice tired.
“No, we keep marching.” Major General Remnell replied with a strained face. “If we attack, they might plan some traps for us. We can’t risk it.”
Thus, the Second and Third Division kept marching forth.
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YEAR: 1724. AUGUST 30TH. LOCATION: OUTSKIRT OF PLAIN OF JADE.
Four days have passed ever since the 9th Corp started to disturb the Second and Third Division. Every time there was a sign of an attack, Remnell immediately ordered the soldiers to stand guard, only to meet nothing but empty air.
The psychological game continued for four days, with the relentless noise keeping the Imperials on edge. By the fourth day, Major General Remnell, seeing the state of his troops, decided to send half of the force on guard duty to give the others a break. The soldiers were mentally and physically exhausted, having been deprived of rest after their grueling march.
Unfortunately, this decision backfired. Just as the troops were beginning to relax, arrows rained down on their camp. The surprise attack caused chaos, and with the camp in disarray, there was no quick response to chase after the attackers.
It was back to square one. Remnell, frazzled by the lack of sleep and the ongoing disturbances, didn’t think to station a cavalry force or a smaller unit to track down the attackers. He and his fellow officers were also struggling with fatigue, which only compounded their frustration.
After a week of this endless cycle, the Imperials finally completed their detour around the Plain of Jade. Arriving in the Plain of Imoras, they were met with the imposing sight of 25,000 well-prepared enemy soldiers waiting for them. The tension was palpable, and it was clear that the real challenge was just beginning.
“Ready the troops.” Remnell ordered. “We go right in after we get some rest.”
However, the 9th Corp marched on to them first, thus forcing them to go into fight immediately. The battle between Remnell’s 25,000 soldiers and General Cedric’s force of 25,000 began.