As theo watches the sky, he sees a man dismount from a horse, it's Sancho, and he bears news.
"Sir, I have a report on the battle of cumeria, and its results after your withdrawal."
Theo, still lying on the bed, turns his attention to Baron Sancho, his eyes reflecting a mix of anticipation and concern. "Tell me, Sancho. What happened after our withdrawal? How did the battle unfold?"
Baron Sancho takes a deep breath before delivering the news. "The battle raged on, Your Majesty. Despite our initial success, the sheer size of the Imperial force proved overwhelming. Our men fought valiantly, but the enemy's reinforcements were too numerous. We were forced to retreat, and Castle Rostomia is now under siege."
Theo's face tightens with a mixture of regret and frustration. "And our casualties? How many lives have we lost?"
Baron Sancho hesitates before answering, "The toll has been heavy, Your Majesty. Many brave soldiers fell on the battlefield. Our forces are weary, and the siege has taken its toll on our defenses. The situation is dire. But we have defeated many more the number that we sent"
Theo clenches his fists, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. "I should have listened to your counsel, Sancho. I pushed too hard, and now our people suffer for it."
Baron Sancho places a reassuring hand on Theo's shoulder. "Your heart was in the right place, Your Majesty. We all strive to protect our home and honor. But sometimes, the cost of victory is too high. We must regroup, strategize, and return to your father's land."
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Theo nods solemnly, a determination flickering in his eyes. "You're right, Sancho. We cannot let despair consume us. Send word to our remaining forces. We will gather allies, plan our next move, and reclaim what is rightfully ours. Castle Rostomia will not fall."
Baron Sancho salutes theo, but with a hesitant face
"What is it Sancho, why so hesitant"
"Sir, Rostamia has already fallen"
----------------------------------------
*Arriving at a field, sits ruins, ashes of a former glorious castle, corpses litter the ruins, their blood staining the once magnificent stone bricks, now tumbled all over the ground*
Theo hears one of his men-at-arms whisper to another "This can't be true, Rostamia wouldn't fall so easily"
"Sir, The Empire is on route to the capital, when they arrive, Vistralia will fall, the king will die, we must intercept them. They are currently at Burmast, if we rush fast enough we can intercept them at Liconda"
"Then we must move quickly, if they plan to take the capital, the emperor must be leading them, That illegitimate bastard of an emperor must be commanding it personally, i'll kill him, he'll pay, i'll take his head personally "
"Sir, are you sure? he happens to have a weapon of the workshop"
"workshop?" Theo's rage is temporarily interrupted by confusion, what could this supposed workshop be
"Yes, it's a category of weaponry so outlandishly powerful, it is said that one skilled user of one could destroy entire cities with one swing."
"That's Impossible, if that was true then the Emperor would've destroyed us centuries ago"
"Well sir, Not all of the Workshop's weapons are capable of world destroying feats, but they are all very powerful in some way, i can assure you, such as the weapon used by the Church of Luminescentia in the war against the demon king kalgram. I think it was called Luminar."
"I thought Luminar was a myth?"
"Thats what we say, but recently the workshop has been proven to be true, since the appearance of the Knight of Blood and Chivalry"
"No matter, let us end this conversation, Even with such a weapon, he will fall, He definitely will."