After we calmed down, I guided Lydia to the small couch and coffee table she had in her room and opened the window to let some fresh, cool air into the stifling room. I sat across from her and steepled my fingers over the table. She returned my gaze with one of her own. Neither of us said anything for the longest time. Then I sighed and leaned back.
There was a harsh truth with what she said: Lydia was my wife, not my daughter.
Marriage was built on equality, trust, honesty, commitment, and compromise. I’d forgotten that after being divorced for so long. I couldn’t just tell Lydia what I wanted her to do and expect her to follow.
“You already know I don’t want you to go.”
“Levin, it is one of my duties. My mother and all of my ancestors have done so. As dragonkin, it falls to us to protect our land.”
She leaned forward and folded her arms on the table. “What do I need to do to convince you?”
“Defeat me in single-combat?”
“We both know that’s not a fair bar of assessment, Levin,” Lydia rolled her eyes. Then she exhaled through her nose. “You’ve never truly assessed my recent gains since I retook my throne. I have attained 4th Level, Levin. I am the third strongest person in the entire kingdom, save for you and Idyia. My Class is geared toward combat and wide-scale destruction. It would be foolish for you not to take me. Denying my power is to deny the reality of your situation: you are outnumbered. You need more men.”
I ground my teeth. Objectively speaking, she was right. 300 was not enough to march on the Rift. I was gambling on the wholesale slaughter of lesser demons to power-level all of my soldiers to at least 4th or even 5th Level. Our small roster meant the Experience distribution would be more concentrated. The first dozen or so battles would, theoretically, be the most dangerous due to our low levels and our low numbers. However, there was one key detail I never mentioned to Lydia.
“10,000 Beur demons are about to invade Pherae,” I revealed. “This entire crusade is doomed from the start. Avalon will be assaulting from the opposite side of the continent while Pherae, Arasthai, Thaysil, and Renalis rally our armies together to contend with Beur’s horde.”
Lydia’s jaw set and she looked as if she bit into something particularly bitter.
“By every normal metric, we have almost no chance of survival, Lydia. I am going to try my damnest to win, anyway. But I need to be honest with you.”
“I can provide great assistance, Levin. Surely you see that!”
I knew she could. She really was the third most powerful person in the entire kingdom.
“I just don’t want to see my wife die.”
“If I asked you to stay here and let me go, would you?” Her words punched me in the gut and my lips twisted into a scowl.
“That’s not fair. You aren’t a soldier. I have no issues with fighting to the death for a cause I believe in. I’ve been trained for it.” I took a deep breath and looked out the window, to the capital city below the citadel. “Renalis. I’ve only been here for eight months at most, so I am not too attached to this country, but you, Anna, Idyia, Renala, and Rebecca? You are my family. I fight for you all, not just for the kingdom. If you come with me and die, then there was no point in the first place.”
“But I am a dragonkin. As you say, I have no issues with fighting to the death for my country. Who are you to deny me that choice?”
Lydia was using the same arguments I said to my ex-wife when I told her I wanted to enlist as an infantryman in the US Army. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph being on the receiving end of this conversation fucking sucked.
“Levin,” she reached for my hands, unclenched my fingers, and laced hers with mine. “Let’s fight, live, and die together. I am not Rebecca. I am Lydumillia. It’s time you saw me as such.”
I squeezed her hand, a bit tighter than I intended, then relaxed my grip before her HP could drop. “If I agree, then you have to compromise with me. Swear it on the foundation of our relationship, Lydia. I need to trust you.”
“Do you want me to put a geas on myself?”
“N-no. I want you, of your own free will, to maintain this promise.”
Lydia nodded once. I hung my head. I didn’t want to bring her along, but I couldn’t deny the facts or her autonomy. If I loved her, if I thought of her as my partner in our relationship, then I’d support the decision, especially when I knew it was the right one. I had to set aside my emotional baggage.
“You will obey every order I say, without hesitation. You may wear your rank, but it will have none of the power.”
Lydia flinched but I leaned forward and continued relentlessly.
“I am in full command of this operation. You will have a personal retinue posted to you at all times, even when you shit and piss.”
“Levin-”
“Lydia!” I roared to a stand, barely able to contain myself. “This is where I draw the line. I mean it. If you can’t bend on this, then I’m leaving you behind. End of story.”
Lydia looked up at me for a few seconds. I didn’t know what she saw but her face broke into a small grin. “I acquiesce to your demands.”
I deflated in my chair, grateful for the conversation to be over. I wanted a cold, stiff drink. Lydia glided over to me and sat on my lap. I raised a brow and gave her a half-grin.
“Instead of a drink, you have me, my love.”
The remainder of my week was spent preparing for war. I was tempted to add Lydia to my Party, but after learning more about the gods and the System, I chose not to involve Lydia in whatever madness the Primaries truly had in store. I went over the logistics with Captain Rhodes for several hours every day. Because the Alliance would force us to make do with scraps, we had to improve our self-sufficiency and come up with our own method of resupply.
“We’ll use Renala,” I announced to my Captains and Archbishop Balin. This would be our last meeting before deploying. “I need the dwarves of Akeroyd to construct a pack large enough for her to wear. She will fly our supplies from the Peak directly to the frontlines. If she travels at full speed, she can make a round-trip in four days.”
“R-Ranger Levin, using Dragon-King Bahamut and Goldfire Renala’s final offspring as a glorified pack mule is sacrilege.”
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“10,000 demons, Archbishop. I need every edge I can get.” I’d already resolved myself to take Lydia. At this point, I was willing to do almost anything. “I’ll make sure she understands.”
“So be it,” Balin slumped in his chair.
“General,” came Captain Victor. “If what you say is true, then how will we defeat 10,000 demons?”
My eyes slid across the entire room. The same question was on all their minds.
“Until now, I have never fully utilized my Class on an open battlefield,” I recalled Arthur’s supersonic attacks. His overwhelming might. “I’m going to show all of you what a Hero is capable of.”
Lydia’s addition to the roster took the rank-and-file by surprise, but their motivation skyrocketed if the cheers were any measure to judge by. She wore her newly made battle dress like a second skin and showcased her draconic wings while she strode in front of the formation then entered a fortified carriage. She was joined by Idyia and four guards, hand-selected after she tested them in single-combat.
The army orderly boarded a fleet of large wagons pulled by equally enormous, bison-like beasts of burden provided by Arasthai. The sole cavalry unit, led by Captain Victor, would serve as our primary means of security and escort. I chose to march alongside the head of the formation until we left the city. The wagon covers were pulled down as we rolled through Veles’ main street. Flower petals and well-wishes rained down upon us, Lydia smiled and waved at her subjects through an open window with practiced grace.
When we finally cleared the gates, I ordered the beasts to be whipped to full speed. Renala gilded overhead. Our journey was surprisingly swift thanks to Arasthai’s support. I now understood why they were in charge of logistical transportation. On the Altanovan coastline, two battleships from the Pheraen navy were docked and ready for us to board. I had the Captains continue the army’s general fitness training in the meantime; any additional Attribute Points would tip the scales in our favor. We also added water, rescue, and underwater combat drills to our regime. Overall, the trip to Pherae lasted only three weeks.
“Lady Morgan has informed us of your arrival, General Levin,” said Archmagus Zubar. He was the one coordinating the teleportation gates from the Pherae shoreline to the frontlines. “She boasted your addition to the Alliance will be worth the effort of teleporting your entire force directly to the rally point. Your men are extraordinarily well-equipped, but have they been bloodied in battle?” Zubar’s tone was severe, but he obviously held Morgan’s word in high regard. It made sense. Morgan was probably the greatest spellcaster in the entire world.
“Tell Lady Morgan I owe her a favor.” I didn’t answer his inquiry.
Zubar snorted but guided my army atop a large, empty area. Upon closer inspection, it was a huge platform of solid marble. It fit all of my men and our logistical supply chain and still had room for more. It was empty, except for a huge, magical array carved into the stone.
Over 100 mages surrounded the elevated slab and began chanting in unison. Their words and tone were almost perfectly symmetrical. The array began to glow a bright blue until it consumed my vision. A wave of vertigo assailed me. It felt as though I was being stretched through a tiny straw and twisted around.
Then, as quickly as it came, the sensation ended and my vision cleared. The noise assaulted me first. As I refocused my sight, I saw hundreds of encampments, all bearing different flags and regalia. This was the Alliance war camp.
I was handed a map by one of the mages on standby. They all wore the same uniform, so it was easy to pick them out.
“General Levin of Renalis, you are assigned to section E12. Archmagus Aegean has called all appointed Generals to meet in the command tent in five hours. Please settle your army in your section with haste.”
I commanded my men off the platform and we set up camp quickly. Much to Balin’s chagrin, I demanded he craft a set of shovels, hatchets, and pickaxes out of Goldfire Renala’s scales for each of my soldiers so they could build quick fortifications even in the austere of environments. I assisted with putting up our tentage while Captain Rhodes double-checked our supplies. My other Captains continued maintaining the training regime. Art of War suppressed my soldier’s fear and nerves and kept discipline among the ranks.
“How are you two doing?” I asked Lydia when I entered her carriage. There was no need to set up a tent when her carriage was better protected and more comfortable. Idyia sat across from her, watching the camp being built through the window.
“Quite bored, actually,” Lydia stroked her forehead. “Never in my life did I think I would miss the mountain of bureaucratic nonsense on my desk. Thank the gods for Annabell. If she weren’t giving me hourly updates on the kingdom, I would die of malaise.”
“War is spent watching and waiting,” I chided. “I have a meeting with the other Generals in about 30 minutes. We should get a better idea of what we’re dealing with after. Things will move very fast from here on out. Get some rest and enjoy the calm before the storm. Once it starts, this war starts, it won’t stop until we win or we’re dead.”
Lydia pecked me on the cheek and I did the same to Idyia since she made no move to join us on one side of the carriage. She was completely focused on observing the war effort, but she spared both of us a slight smile.
“I love you both.” I kissed their hands and made for the command tent.
The other nation’s Generals were easy to pick out. A Beastman with wolven features from Arasthai that towered over the rest of us, his muscles and black fur bulged from beneath his ill-fitting armor. A greatsword hung from his back. A female Elf from Thaysil was armed with a longsword, a quiver, and a bow. Her armor was some kind of segmented, bronzed metal. Archmagus Aegean was the only other human in the room. I expected an old man with a beard down to his knees, but he was surprisingly young and wore full armor like the rest of us, although he had a cane and a shortsword strapped to his hip.
“General’s Blackfang, Lythienne. It is good to draw swords with you again. May we survive another year.” Both Blackfang and Lythienne nodded once, then all eyes were on me. Unlike the others, I painted my armor in full camouflage, so my appearance was closer to that of a brigand than any General. The only thing of true note was Failnaught across my back, alongside my curved longsword. Laevatain remained hidden in my utility belt.
“General Levin of Renalis. It is good to see the kingdom of dragons return to the battlefield.”
“It’s been 25 years, what can we really expect? Didn’t your best and brightest leave for Arcadia?” Blackfang snorted.
“General Levin single-handedly razed Calais to the ground,” Lythienne interjected. “His people have delivered many Elves from demonic slavery. He has my vote of confidence.”
“Which one of you is the better archer?” Blackfang pressed, arms folded. Both Lythienne and I exchanged glances.
“We’ll find out soon enough,” I answered with a nod. “Renalis stands ready to serve.”
“Good,” Aegean took control of the conversation and with a wave of his hand, a holographic image of the region rose from a large magitech device in the center of the tent. It bathed us all in blue light. “As we speak, a horde of over 10,000 demons spawned from Beur’s realm is about to stampede from the Blighted Lands into southern Pherae. There are very few ways for them to invade. The mountain range acts as a natural barrier. There are three key passages we must hold.”
The hologram zoomed into each one. I narrowed my eyes at the smallest pass. I spent too much of my free time analyzing this part of my World Map in anticipation of this moment. Renalis could hold this area. I wasn’t entirely sure until after Balin armed my soldiers with Mythical weapons and armor, but with our superior equipment, we could reenact the Battle of Thermopylae.
I immediately thrust my finger at the smallest pass, Caraetous Pass.
“Renalis will take this pass, to the south. We do not have the manpower to hold a larger position,” I freely admitted. Lying now would just cost lives. Even if it made us look weak, I had to think about preserving as many of my soldiers as possible.
“I will allow that, General. But Pherae will offer you no reinforcements until the other two areas are secure.” Aegean said.
“That’s fine. We’ll hold it.”
“Well at least you talk big,” Blackfang chuckled.
“Are you certain, General Levin? Your troops have not joined a crusade in 25 years. While it is true you have the numbers to hold, you may not have the strength or the stamina. The average level of your army must be below 3rd.” Lythienne looked to Aegean. “Allow me to send a battalion of archers to reinforce General Levin’s lines.”
Aegean shook his head. “Denied. We need every elven arrow pointed against the majority of the horde. Even if General Levin and Renalian army falls, the pass is small enough to act as a temporary bottleneck. We can reinforce our flanks after we eliminate the main force.”
“The Renalian lines will hold.”
“What makes you so certain?” Lythienne was still apprehensive, although Blackfang looked just as curious.
“Because I’m a goddamn Ranger.”