HOORAH!

The tankards filled with beer clashed together in a cheer. Music and conversation filled the room, with one man in the center. 

"Congratulations, Rook!" a man said, reaching his arm around the one in the center, "For his promotion to General!"

The room erupted once more into cheer as they all gulped their drinks. The bar was lively, everyone partying their hearts out. Rook took very small sips and conversed with everyone around him. That night he was given many congratulations and even more praise. He turned after finishing a conversation with one of his colleagues, bumping into a man getting beer all over him. 

The man was about to apologize when Rook interrupted, "Don't even worry; I'm going to step out to wash up." Rook walked out of the tavern to the nearby well. Standing by the well, Rook poured a bucket of cool water over his head, washing away the stickiness of the beer from his tousled brown hair.  As he stood there, gazing at his reflection mirrored in the calm water of the well, he felt a presence behind him. Another man placed a comforting hand on Rook's back.

"Did you also get drenched in beer, buddy?" he asked, reaching for the bucket and taking over the task of pouring water over his own head. Rook chuckled softly, turning to lean against the stone rim of the well

"It seems to happen every time," Rook admitted.

"I know the feeling,"

They stood there without words for a moment. The only sound in the area was the dripping of water, crickets, and the other man pouring water on his head. Turning to lean as well, he looked at Rook. A slight grin grew; he pointed his face toward the ground and violently shook his head. Water came flying off in every direction, showering Rook in water. 

"Are you serious, Ald?" Rook looked at him very displeased. Just giving a wide smile back, Ald stood staring at him. Unable to hold back a smile, Rook retaliated, snatching the bucket from Ald's hands and playfully splashing him with the remaining water.

"Alright, you win," Ald put his hands up in surrender. 

"Good."

"You doing okay?" 

"Just nervous."

"Makes sense; you are the general of the strongest army in the world."

"That doesn't help."

"Listen, I know being a leader," Ald stopped momentarily to mull over his words, "I know it's hard to do it again."

"I wanted this."

"That doesn't mean it can't be hard."

Another bout of silence enveloped them, accompanied by the gentle dripping of water, the symphony of crickets, and the fading sounds of revelry from the tavern. Ald straightened up from his leaning position and turned to face Rook. With a reassuring pat on Rook's shoulder, Ald began to walk back towards the bar."It'll be okay; there's a reason you became general." 

Rook watched Ald's departure, contemplating his words. He looked once more at his reflection in the well as if seeking guidance. With a firm resolve, Rook playfully slapped his cheek and returned to the lively tavern, ready to embrace his newfound role as general.

A week passed; Rook was fulfilling his duties by training some soldiers in sword combat. While training, the sound of a loud horn blared throughout the capital. 

"General, we need you in the war room!" a young woman ran out to the training field to grab Rook. Her face was dripping with sweat, and her arm had a large wound. Rook ordered the soldiers to get geared up and ran to the war room. Running into the room, the conversation was filled with many different ideas and yelling. 

"Someone explain the situation," Rook took his place at the table. 

"Orcs. Around 80,000 of them are approaching the city," one of them drew a little marking on the map spread across the table, "They'll arrive within the next two hours." 

"80,000?" Rook slammed his fist on the table, "How did we not notice until now?"

"We aren't exactly sure."

Rook took a pause and looked around the room. Everyone's faces were drenched in sweat, and the room fell so silent for a moment you could almost hear their rapid heartbeats. Rook's heart rate also increased, and he began biting his nails. 

"Get troops on the wall; we'll start this battle with a volley of arrows and ballista bolts," Rook grabbed the hilt of his sword, "Get the front line combatants ready as well; once they reach the wall, we'll take them on head-on."

Two people nodded and left the room; Rook looked at the other person and sighed, "Get a hold of the mage kingdom; ask them for their aid." 

"Sir, we can't do that without the king's permission."

"Do you want this country to fall?" 

"No, sir," the man said, rushing out of the room. 

Rook stood up as well, running toward the front gate of the capital. Upon his arrival, he was greeted by an army of knights ready to fight. They looked at him and stood there waiting for him to say something. Rook sighed heavily, stepping back to look out toward the knights. Ald stood in front of the army, giving Rook a wide smile. 

General Rook stood before his weary knights, their armor dented, their spirits tested by the impending battle against the overwhelming horde of orcs. The weight of the odds bore down upon them, threatening to shatter their resolve. With a deep breath, Rook raised his sword and spoke, "Knights of valor, hear me now! We stand on the precipice of an extraordinary challenge. An army of orcs may encircle us, but know this: it is not the size of the foe that defines our destiny, but the strength of our hearts and the indomitable spirit that courses through our veins! We are the defenders of righteousness, the embodiment of courage, and the last bastion of hope against the encroaching darkness!"

Rook paced back and forth, his voice resonating with unwavering determination. "Look around you, my brothers and sisters in arms. Each one of us carries a legacy of honor passed down through generations of brave knights who faced insurmountable odds with unwavering resolve. We are the torchbearers of their valor, and today, we shall shine brighter than ever before!"

Rook's eyes gleamed with fiery conviction as he continued to rally his warriors. "True strength does not lie in numbers alone. It lies in the hearts of those who refuse to surrender, who fight for justice and protect those who cannot defend themselves. We are that strength! In the face of adversity, we shall not falter. We shall not break. For we are bound by an unbreakable oath to protect the innocent, to defend the realm we hold dear!"

Rook extended his arm, pointing toward the distant enemy horde, emphasizing his next words. "Those orcs may boast their numbers, but they know not the strength that resides within our ranks. They know not the power of a united front, forged through hardships and tempered in the fires of countless battles. Today, we shall show them the might of true warriors whose courage knows no bounds!"

His voice thundered across the ranks, instilling a renewed sense of purpose and hope. "We fight not only for ourselves but for the generations yet unborn. Today's sacrifice shall be etched into the annals of history, inspiring tales of our bravery for ages to come. In the face of overwhelming odds, the Knights of Valor stood tall and fought with unwavering resolve!"

General Rook's voice grew softer yet carried an unmistakable intensity. "And remember, my comrades, it is not death that defines a warrior, but how they lived and fought. Let us march forward with heads held high, for we embody courage, the guardians of justice. Today, we shall make our mark upon the tapestry of this world as legends of valor!"

The knights let out an incredible roar of cheers. As they all marched toward their positions, Ald walked up to Rook. 

"Good job, General; I assume I'll see you on the front lines."

Rook held his sword by his side, gripping it tightly as the blade crackled in lightning, "We live together, we fight together, we die together." 

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

They walked out toward the front gate and held their positions. 

The ground quivered beneath their feet as the thunderous sound of charging footsteps reverberated. The approaching horde of orcs was vast, their numbers sending shivers down their defenders' spines.

"Fire!" 

The command was bellowed, arrows erupted from the fortress walls, raining down upon the onslaught. Ballistas were unleashed, yet the arrows and bolts barely dented the massive army. Relentless, the orcs pressed on, undeterred by the constant barrage.

"Open the gate!" Rook's voice pierced the chaos, urging the knights into action. Slowly, the imposing gates creaked open, and the warriors unsheathed their swords and raised their shields. With fierce determination, Rook and his comrades flooded the battlefield, ready to face the approaching doom. Amidst the chaos, a voice reached Rook's ears.

"General!" a man called urgently, "The mage army refuses to send reinforcements!"

Gritting his teeth, Rook acknowledged the information with a solemn nod. As he cleaved through an orc with a surge of lightning, his voice thundered above the clash of steel.

"Fight as if your lives depend on it!" Rook's command resonated, his words carrying a weight of resignation. "We cannot rely on reinforcements!"

Amidst the spreading pools of blood, orcs and knights alike succumbed to the clutches of death. Rook fought alongside his comrade, Ald, their blades dancing in a deadly symphony. Arrows soared through the air, piercing the ranks of the orc army, but the knights could only take down a few orcs before falling prey to the overwhelming force.

In the frenzy of battle, Rook found himself separated from Ald, surrounded by bloodthirsty orcs. Swiftly surveying his surroundings, he drove his sword into the ground, unleashing a surge of electricity that crackled through the orcs, felling those who crept upon him. As he lunged forward to slay another foe, a blinding flash of light erupted, engulfing the battlefield in searing heat. A woman with jet-black hair stood before him; staff raised defiantly.

"I thought you could use some assistance," she said, a smirk gracing her lips.

A spark of recognition ignited in Rook's eyes. "Aledra, it's about time you returned!"

"Did you miss me that much?" she teased, conjuring a pillar of flames that engulfed a portion of the orc army.

"In times like these? Absolutely!" Rook retorted, slashing his blade and unleashing bursts of lightning upon a group of orcs.

"Don't leave me out of all the fun!" he howled in excitement, his skin hardening as he leaped into the midst of the orc horde.

"Oh, younger brother, do you have to be so reckless?" Aledra's sigh carried a hint of exasperation as she pointed her staff at Ald, enveloping him in a protective green aura.

"Younger? Who are you kidding!" Ald roared, his greatsword sweeping through the air, sending orcs flying.

As the tides of battle began to turn in their favor, cloaked figures emerged from the shadows behind the orc ranks. Rook's eyes widened as he recognized the crest of the mage kingdom adorning their cloaks.

"Mages!" he bellowed to his comrades, his voice laced with urgency. "The mage kingdom has turned against us!"

Before the echoes of his warning could fade, a fireball hurtled toward the knights. Panic surged through Rook as he scanned the area, witnessing the devastation wrought upon his fallen comrades. 

"Retreat to the safety of the capital's walls!" Rook commanded, urgency driving his every step. The remaining knights followed suit, scrambling toward the gate, which slowly began to close. Rook glanced back at the relentless orc army, only to see fireballs hurtling toward them. Before he could shout a warning, disaster struck. The walls crumbled, trapping them inside, and as they desperately sought an escape route, the exit collapsed, sealing their fate.

Without a moment's respite, the sounds of more fireballs impacting the crumbling walls resonated through the air. The walls were falling fast. Ald's hardened skin softened, his gaze fixed upon the gate.

"Sister, force open the gate." 

Aledra nodded, murmuring a chant under her breath. Invisible forces surged forth from her staff, compelling the gate to swing open, allowing them a sliver of hope amidst the impending doom.

The knights shuffled out from inside the walls into the horde of remaining orcs. Rook, Ald, and Aledra fought valiantly, carving a path through the enemy ranks toward the mages. The orcs still outnumbered them, and the trio suffered numerous injuries as they pressed forward. Ald led the charge, his determination unwavering, until they finally broke free from the relentless orc offense. But as they escaped the fray, the mages completed their incantations. Before Ald could react, a barrage of stone bullets rained upon him.

"Brother!" Aledra rushed to his side, offering herself as a shield. The projectiles struck her back, blood pouring from her mouth as she defiantly stood before Ald, her defensive guard faltering. "The older sibling should protect the other," she whispered, collapsing into Ald's arms. His anguished scream echoed through the battlefield. 

Fury ignited within Rook, his eyes crackling with electricity. Ald gently laid his sister on the ground, and without a word or gesture, he turned to Rook and spoke through gritted teeth, "Slay those cursed mage bastards."

Driven by a maelstrom of rage, they charged towards the mages. Rook's sword cleaved through every mage he encountered, cauterizing the wounds as he severed their bodies in twain. Ald displayed no mercy, unleashing brutal onslaughts upon his foes, wasting no precious moments. Together, they reached the end of the mage line, leaving a trail of fallen enemies in their wake. But as they turned back to face the orc army, a chilling chant began, unnoticed by their weary senses. Rook and Ald lacked the energy to react swiftly enough as a fireball exploded into their unprotected backs. They plummeted to the ground, their flesh seared by the flames, the agony overwhelming their senses.

"Did you foolishly believe victory was within your grasp?" A voice pierced the air, drawing their attention. A man adorned in regal, golden-lined attire towered over them.

"Darian..." Rook's eyes flickered with recognition as the man grabbed a handful of his hair, forcing his gaze upward. 

"Oh, my dear friends, how I've longed for this reunion," Darian sneered, mockingly glancing at Ald. "Ald, my apologies for your sister's untimely demise. Such beauty deserved a more fitting end."

Ald weakened and speechless, could only seethe with silent rage. Rook attempted to rise but was mercilessly pushed back to the ground by Darian's callous grip.

"Rook, I'm sure you recall," Darian began, a hint of sadistic pleasure in his voice. He held Rook's gaze steady while a short chant escaped his lips. A small flaming arrow darted toward Ald's face. Rook's protests were feeble, drowned in the helplessness of the moment. Darian's laughter reverberated through the air, gradually subsiding. 

"You were always the superior fighter, Ald, a fact that remains true even now," Darian taunted, releasing a barrage of spells upon him: fireballs, flaming arrows, stone bullets—a relentless cycle of torment. Then, with a cruel twist, Darian cast a healing spell, only to repeat the vicious cycle. Ald writhed in agony as the spells ravaged his broken body. Rook could only watch, tears streaming down his face, his heart breaking with each passing moment.

Minutes of unspeakable torture elapsed until Darian finally ended Ald's suffering, severing his head with a single swing of his axe. Rook's throat choked with anguish, his futile attempts to rise rendered futile by his wounds. "No hard feelings, my dear Rook?" Darian's voice dripped with sadistic glee as he swung the axe, severing Rook's head from his body.