The morning fog was beginning to lighten, but it would be a while before the sun chased it away completely. Leonard took a last sip of his cooling tea before turning to the tree beside his tent, where he sensed one of Amelia’s get.
One of the more elusive spirits emerged from behind the tree. It was a round, jolly-looking humanoid, its chubby head swiveling to ensure no one but the intended recipient of the message was present.
Leonard allowed it the time. It was still too early to rouse the men, and if something had gone wrong, Amelia would have sent a different summon. Or razed the town to the ground.
“Lightbringer, this one brings the words of its mistress!” The spirit declared. Leonard acknowledged the message, gesturing for it to continue.
“This one’s mistress assures you that everything has gone according to plan. She plotted and executed the death of three humans and organized the slaves. The mistress says it took a demonstration of power for the humans to accept her rule. Once they were suitably awed by the mistress, they fell to their knees in awe!” The spirit relayed proudly.
Leonard was always amused by how differently the creatures saw the world. For them, the only things of importance were their summoner and themselves. If there were beings of significant power nearby like he was in this case, they showed due respect but cared for nothing else beyond their task. His old earth only had humans, but Leonard liked to imagine the spirits were likely the closest things to an alien intelligence around.
“Very well. Thank your mistress for her hard work. With this, taking Thelma is all but assured,” He said, humoring the creature, which again puffed up. It disappeared quickly, jumping into a nearby shadow as soon as the tent flapped open, revealing Gerard.
“Grand Marshal!” The man greeted, and Leonard sighed. He didn’t particularly like the formality, but he had consented that while they were on the campaign, it was better to respect the ranks. It wouldn’t do for the common soldier to think they could call the shots, after all.
“General, good morning. I have good news.” Leonard quickly relayed Amelia’s accomplishment, and his minister grunted in satisfaction.
“We should be able to keep up with the schedule then. Are we still set to attack today?” Gerard asked.
“We are. The night guard reported everything looks calm on the walls, and our forces are well rested. We should be ready to come out of the forest within the hour, but I’ll leave the fine-tuning to you. Send someone to call me when everything’s ready.” Leonard ordered and left.
While I don’t like overly deferential people, I enjoy having competent subordinates I can trust to handle simple tasks. If I had to micromanage every aspect of this war, I’d go insane. No, it is much better to concentrate on the important things.
Things like ensuring the burgeoning elite division was off to a good start and not simply a waste of resources.
Walking through the waking camp, Leonard allowed the light to cloak his presence. His soldiers had learned not to stop working just because he was passing by, but he would still disrupt the preparations if noticed.
In short order, he reached the end of the camp. There, a simple ward had been raised to prevent sound from escaping the clearing the man in command of the “Special Units” had commandeered.
Given the skepticism Gareth had faced after bringing his idea forward, Leonard wasn’t surprised the man was keeping his proteges away from prying eyes. He wanted to make an excellent first show, which wouldn’t happen anytime soon if what he was sensing was true.
A series of teenagers, both male and female, were in various stages of exhaustion. Some were on all fours, panting desperately, while others still stood, trying to gather together to face the demon that had been chasing them for the whole night.
Gareth looked as fresh as a rose. He advanced on his students with a wooden sword in hand, but given the flinches the kids made when they laid eyes on it, it wasn’t much of a kindness.
Still, he dutifully stopped when Leonard allowed his concealment to drop.
“Grand Marshal!” The man saluted. It took a few seconds before the teenagers realized what had happened, but they soon scrambled up in position, giving their own greetings.
Their enthusiasm was completely genuine, too, as they likely saw him as a savior for granting them a reprieve.
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“Sir Gareth, we are about to leave for Thelma, so make your preparations,” Leonard said.
The knight grinned back, “Then the infiltration was successful?”
“Of course,” Leonard replied.
With that, he turned to why he had come all the way over here rather than send a runner. “Let’s go,” He told his squire, one of the few people not to be soaking with sweat.
Considering that he had granted Gareth’s little project a chest full of potions, Leonard didn’t doubt that the teenagers would soon be in fighting form.
Abuse of stamina potions was not to be taken lightly, but Gareth was a skilled fighter who knew how much he could push his charges.
“We’re attacking then?” Oliver asked him once he had said his goodbyes.
As the squire of the highest-ranking person, he wouldn’t fight next to his training companions, which meant this could be the last time they saw each other.
That wasn’t likely to happen. Thelma wasn’t a fortress protected by countless wards. It didn’t have a paladin order to defend it. Its mages were neutered, and the garrison had already been taken care of. But that didn’t mean accidents couldn’t happen.
Leonard had drilled into his student that while he would do his absolute best to achieve victory with the least amount of losses possible, some were still inevitable.
A stray arrow could pierce a knight’s defenses if they didn’t have a skill active. Even more likely, a cannon shot could land nearby, and even a tank would have trouble surviving.
War was not a clean business. Leonard wanted to win but also had to ensure his people earned that victory. That the beliefs he was fighting for would enter the public consciousness as something they earned for themselves and not something imposed from above.
“Gerard is completing the preparations. We’ll march as soon as the men are ready, and I will cast [Halo of the Righteous].” Leonard finally answered.
Oliver nodded, knowing it would mean another speech. It wasn’t that Leonard enjoyed hearing himself talk, but wide area spells, specifically higher tier ones, had stringent requirements to be used. Sure, he could circumvent them with more power, but there was no need to be so wasteful.
Leonard had gotten in the habit, during the campaign against the Void, of keeping two-thirds of his mana ready to be unleashed at all times. It had saved his hide more than once when a powerful enemy appeared unexpectedly, and he wouldn’t break it if it weren’t necessary.
And taking Thelma is not a good enough reason. I’m sure I’ll have to become more involved once we start fighting against more professional forces, but a simple Fourth Tier spell will have to do for now.
However much Leonard might like to think the righteousness of his cause would be enough to see him win, he knew that power had a way of making the victor look correct.
When Haylich’s champions started taking the field, when the great weapons he knew the kingdom could call upon started being used, he’d be ready.
But if he used more of his power now, he’d rob his men of the chance of growing stronger in a relatively safe environment. Which they would need if things went according to plan.
Half an hour later, which Leonard had used to don his armor and give Oliver a few more specific instructions, a runner came to find him.
“Sir! The general sent me to find you, sir! The men are ready and waiting for your orders, sir!” The young man relayed, looking to be quivering with excitement.
Leonard smiled. It was time.
He crossed the camp swiftly and reached the main army, which was standing in neat lines half a mile away from the end of the Darkwood. There, the forest was thin, and the hiding spots were few. Even simple Journeymen rangers would have been able to notice them from the walls, which meant the defenders would know exactly when the attack would come.
Not that Leonard intended for the assault to be a traditional one, but it was best to give them the impression that they knew what to expect.
More than a thousand men and women stood at attention, waiting for him. Leonard slowed his gait and allowed his gaze to grow heavier, letting every soldier feel his presence.
The majority of the men were from the two Corps he had absorbed, which meant they were mostly humans, but some hobgoblins could be seen around the formations on the sides. Those groups made of ex-adventurers often worked as auxiliary troops in training. More rare were orcs, and only two elves were present. They came from the freed slaves and were among the few with fighting-related Blessings. They were also the most bloodthirsty of the soldiers.
Leonard hoped that with time, the Revolutionary army would absorb more races of people, becoming a true example of union and harmony. It would serve as the first building block of the new society that would rise from Haylich’s ashes. But that was a thought best reserved for the future.
Finally, he reached his commanders. The two Generals, Gerard and Gareth, waited for him, dressed in resplendent armor. They cut intimidating figures and served well as the leaders of the force, working as a team to unify the soldiers into one.
They, too, would need to grow if they wanted to keep being useful, and Leonard had ensured they knew of his expectations. He’d always reserve a place for them, but he knew they wouldn’t be content with being relegated to counselors.
He greeted them with a short nod, which they responded to with a salute, and took his place before them. Leonard watched his soldiers, allowing a brief moment of eye contact with all of them.
They waited for him in silence. Their discipline might not have been as that of the vaunted First twenty-three Corps who guarded Mellessoria, but it was much better than they had started with.
“Today is a day that historians will remember for a long time,” He began, his voice enhanced to reach even those who stood furthest. “They will debate whether our defense of Alpar or our actions today will be the start of Haylich's future. They will try to understand the motivations that brought us here.”
The men stood straight, focused on him, even as he started calling upon the Light to cast his spell. They could all tell something was happening, and Leonard took advantage of that, punctuating his words with the rise and fall of his power.
“They will see the death we’ll bring to Thelma’s masters. They will see the Revolution expanding its territory. But there is something they will never understand.”
By now, it was apparent to all that magic was being cast. Holy Light began coalescing around Leonard and every soldier before him, if in a lesser manner. Their limbs became stronger, their footing surer, and their minds clearer.
“They will never feel the beating of your hearts. They will never taste the sweet flavor of victory. They won’t see the light return to the hundreds, to the thousands of slaves that are being kept in chains behind those walls!”
The spell reached its apex. The soldiers' eyes were fixed upon Leonard.
“Today, we’ll take Thelma. Today, we’ll win.” Dyeus, the sky blade, was lifted high.
A roar shook the Darkwood, and Thelma’s defenders knew fear.
image [https://i.postimg.cc/W3Lm5Ttf/persimmon0-blonde-hero-male-handsome-short-hair-silver-armor-bu-8b997375-c859-4386-8c2b-9da2e4b98642.png]