In front of me is an iron gate made by the ancient some thousand years ago. Some plant can be seen taking root by slipping between the gap of the gate indicating its age yet not a single sign of rust can be seen. I’m always fascinated by the ancient knowledge and had already ordered my best scholar to analyze this gate property to sate my curiosity. Currently none of the scholar have yield satisfying result but I’m always hoping the day will come when the ancient knowledge is no longer incomprehensible cryptic message and when that day come, I’m sure by just having the knowledge of the iron property of this gate, I can increase the quality of armament for my army thereby insuring our complete victory on this war.

To make the analysis easier and to make myself happy, back then I decided to move the gate and used it as a replacement for door in my privy chamber. Of course since the gate is impregnable, it’s impossible to put normal door contraption such as spring to make it easier to open.

I understand why this gate fascinate me. It reminds me of why I’m chosen as a king, yes my ability to make tactic is one of the factor but the main factor is that I possessed strength that eclipse even the most hardened veteran elite on my army. I raised my pointing finger then thrust it forward into the gate. With how ease I push the gate into opening, I would think this gate is not heavy at all yet the loud creaking sound push me back into reality of how much power I hold inside this body.

As the gate is opening, lining up on my right and left side, inside the room, are my personal servant and advisor bowing their head upon my presence. “Lift your head up” I said and so they stand up with a big smile. “Welcome back Your Majesty.”

My privy chamber is a place for relaxation, a place where I can be cool headed, as such I commissioned the group of designers that attend this room to only use two light colors for painting this room. The color they choose are light blue and white, a good color choice, but I can’t be seen jumping in joy, because of it back then what I did was merely saying “Good job” with grumpy voice while giving a considerable tip on their payment. The servant that assisted me take further initiative and make a particular dress code for my room that apply to all except me. The dress code merely says that all who enter the room must wear formal uniform in white and light blue color, when I inquire about the reasoning, the head servant said “It’s so we can be reminded that just like this room, we are no more than a tool of you to use as effectively as you will.” That’s a bit much and I do want to scold the head servant for having such a low view of my worker, but punishing someone for being loyal is a sure way to cause rebellion within the structure, as such I only said “good job” which the head servant answered with a big smile.

After a few steps into the room, one or two servants take off my current uniform, and another two will come to put nightwear on me. After I finished changing, I sit on my sofa where in front of it is a marble table that have beautiful engraved wood leg that have shapes resembling dragon. I clapped my hand twice signalling I’m in the mood to discuss our war stratagem.

In an instant my servant put a bunch of war relating book as well as a map that shows the development of the war on top of the marble table. “Excuse me Your Majesty but do you want us to call Sir Minos and Sir Deteros for your assistance?” one of my servant asked. “No need for Minos, tell him and his troops to take a rest instead, I will do campaign in a short time so having a feast in tavern is the least I can do for them. All I need for this discussion session is Deteros and two advisor, one that specialize in urban history and one that specialize in environment.”

“Your wish is my command.”

Within a few minutes which I spend by reading the summary of this book called “War of Eden”, Deteros come wearing his snow camouflage military uniform which conveniently have only light blue and white color. He is one of few I could call friend but always with the formality if its with him

Deteros is the supreme general of my army. Coming from the werewolf race, he naturally have good instinct and sense that is sharper than others. Those that comes from his race is usually not good at strategizing as their impulsive brain behaviour made them prone to jump at the sight of enemy. Deteros took this race trait not as a part of him but as a challenge that he can overcome. With meditation and harsh training, he broke the weakness of his race, making him able to think rationally while retaining his incredible sense.

After Deteros coming in, two female lamians are coming with him. Those two must be the advisor I was asking for.

“Deteros and my advisors, I ordered you both to sit across me.” In an instant my servant bring three polished brass chair with comfy pillow on it, they put it across mine. Without me ordering anything, a cup of hot tea is served to each of us and a plate of soft biscuits is placed on the centre of the edge of the table.

The map on the centre of the table shows the entirety of the continent. Some locations are marked with either red or blue. Blue indicates the location of troops from Adronich side which is my enemy and red indicates the location of troops from Lufferia side which is my ally.

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This war that has been going on was caused so far away, older than ancient civilization, during the time of world conception. It was said that Adronich and Lufferia are twin brother, the primordial, the first creature ever made along with their wife. The God Typhon during that time ask the twin on what quality makes one qualified to lead others, Adronich answered that one who lead others must be admired and being accepted by others while Lufferia answered that one who lead others must have absolute power to impose order among others. This disagreement will persist century even millennium later. Their descendant which have branched into many kind of race while advancing in their knowledge will not be able to do anything to resist their primal desires to wage war among others. It can be nation, wealth, political figure, or even something low like sex, but all of that desire is just facade, when you dig deeper into the motive, almost all of it can be derived from the disagreement that our ancestor did during the world conception. Now as communication become easier, we gather races that is compatible with our ideal and purge the one who don’t. Eventually as we gather ally among different races, this whole continent has divided into two, red and blue, not even a trace of neutrality remained.

“If I may voice my opinion. I think the enemy is planning to thin out our forces then attack our weaker formation while they gathered up in one critical spot” Deteros said as he pointed at the map. Indeed, I can see our force have become a bit decentralized and while my troop formation is becoming more spread out, some question of enemy strategy still remained.

“Deteros, supposed your prediction is true, how could the Adronich able to forced our formation into decentralized one while keeping themselves centralized, surely they could not do that with their amount of troop that is roughly equal to us.”

“The enemy probably used an elite troop of cavalry to make chaos in our camp then taunt our troops into following their trails. With the right trick, I’m sure those cavalry troop can even fool our side into thinking that they are coming with a squad of 100 or so warrior.”

“Interesting, so they employ deception into frontal war. I’m sure you have told all of our general about this and our troop too must have known about this tactic.”

“That’s the thing your majesty. As you know our way of communication is better than the previous age. However, for this information to reach all of the general and the troops they lead, it will take at most 3 days. I’m afraid during that lag of time, the enemy could potentially destroy one of our main infrastructure. Honestly it’s a shame of me as supreme general to not have seen this coming.” Deteros sighed deeply while looking down disappointed in himself.

“Lift your heads up Deteros,” the werewolf lifted his head although reluctantly “What are you even disappointed of? You have foresee the enemy tactic and the enemy haven’t made the move you mentioned about attacking our main infrastructure.”

“But the sign is there. You can even see yourself that our unit have become more decentralized.”

“You see there is a solution to our situation which is why I request the help of these two advisors.” As I proudly pointed my finger to the two lamians. One of them can be seen blushing

“Now my advisors, I need you to find a location that meet these criteria:

1. The location must be a small town or a village

2. The location must be where the Adronich troop will be predicted to take a rest before doing their assault

3. The location must have many natural coverages that our troop can used as camouflage

You have 30 minutes to find that location, while Deteros and I will enjoy this cup of tea and the biscuit.”

I closed my eyes and silently take a sip at the cup of tea, the fragrance aroma and slightly sweet taste always calm my mind without fail. I can hear those two lamian opening and flipping a bunch of book, the sounds of sketching on map, and the sounds of their intense discussion. After a while I was engrossed in eavesdropping their effort, that I haven’t even take a bite of the biscuit before the lamian said “Your majesty we’ve finished our job.”

I put down the cup of tea I’m holding. “Very good, now let’s see the location we will work on. Hmmm.... what do you think about this Deteros?” I remarked as I put the mini map, that I received from my advisors, on the central of the table, overlapping the continent map. In the mni map that only shows a province, there is a mini black circle.

“Troys Village, that’s not too far from here. Some 2 days distance. If this map is true then the enemy must have an intention to attack our crystal mine.”

“Seems so. Then Deteros I need you to tell Minos to prepared his troops and contact one other general to guard the crystal mine.”

“I see Your Majesty. Are you planning to ordered Minos to ambush the Adronich troop in Troys Village while simultaneously guarding the crystal mine with another general while you observe and make plan from afar?”

“Close enough but that strategy is not good. If we follow that then there is a chance that considerable amount of Minos troop might have die fighting the united force of the enemy and in turn it will make our most talented general lost his moral, that won’t do for me, heck there is even a chance that Minos himself might perish.”

“Then what are you suggesting?”

“I want Minos to instead attack our enemy main infrastructure. We will do counter offensive while defending.”

“A splendid idea. Then I’ll send another general to take care of the Adronich in Troys Village.”

“There is no need for that.”

“Pardon me but whatever do you mean by that your majesty.”

“I’ll be the one who fight the enemy in Troys Village. After all I have the highest chance of survival and victory when it comes to direct combat situation.”

Deteros wanted to protest but he know he doesn’t have a counter argument. And so he just nod then run away to the communication section to inform the troops of our newly made strategy.

Excellent, it has been a long time since I, Velasquez, able to enjoy the thrill of battle once more.