The Beginning After the End: Book 7: Divergence

by TurtleMe

  The basic premise of his plan was to slay as many of the corrupted beasts as possible before they reached the Wall. This meant that there would be several units sent out as cannon fodder, out of range from the mages stationed on the Wall.

  Trodius moved pieces around the map to indicate four units that would take a more roundabout path in their approach to the beast horde.

  “Our main advantage against the approaching enemy is that they do not appear to have a strategy beyond fielding overwhelming numbers, with only a few Alacryan mages to herd them in place,” the senior captain stated, moving two large pieces on either side of the Wall. “Thus, while we send in a steady stream of soldiers and augmenters from the Bulwark Division to impede enemy movement, two units of the Trailblazer Division will move out early and get in position to flank from either side.”

  The senior captain paused for a moment before speaking again. “With concentrated attacks coming from three directions, by the time the beast horde is in range of the mages at the Wall, the conjurers—with the help of General Arthur—should be enough to finish it off.”

  Captain Albanth looked blatantly dissatisfied with the plan to send his soldiers to certain death, and Captain Jesmiya thoroughly studied the map for a better alternative.

  Something feels off, I thought, puzzling over the map.

  ‘While the lives of the soldiers sent outside the Wall aren’t cheap, this plan seems fairly reasonable,’ Sylvie rebutted, staring at the map as well.

  No, not that.

  “General Arthur? Is something the matter?” Trodius asked.

  “Huh?” I looked up to see all three of the captains, as well as Callum and Gavik, staring at me.

  The senior captain pointed at my right hand. I had been tapping my finger unconsciously on the table.

  “My apologies. I was just thinking.”

  Trodius’s brow twitched. “If you are dissatisfied with the plan that I have suggested—”

  “No, it’s not that,” I interrupted, raising my hand. “Whether this is a good or bad strategy, I’m not quite sure yet. However, I feel like this attack will most likely be their last on this front.”

  “What do you mean?” Captain Albanth asked.

  “The Alacryans have been sending a steady stream of corrupted beasts to the Wall, herded along by their mages, and, while effective—thinking from a strategic standpoint—that isn’t a feasible long-term strategy,” I answered. “Captain Jesmiya, you’ve stated that your troops have cleared out most of the dungeons that the Alacryans used to hide their teleportation gates, correct?”

  She nodded slowly. “Yes. The few gates that my troops have found recently have already broken.”

  It was common knowledge that the Alacryan teleportation gates in the Beast Glades were rather limited in the number of times they could be used. Even some of the more stable ones that the Trailblazer Division had found were deemed too unstable to safely cross. The fact that the Alacryans had to take a gamble each time they wanted to send their troops to Dicathen spoke volumes about their leaders’ ruthlessness.

  “Having very few gates available for the Alacryans to slip into Dicathen, it’ll be nearly impossible for those that have already made it through into the Beast Glades to receive supplies,” I continued.

  “With how untamed the lands are there, they’d be busy just trying to survive once they run out of supplies,” Gavik added.

  “Which is why I feel they might be devoting everything they have into this last attack,” I finished, studying the map with furrowed brows.

  “Not that I don’t agree with you, General Arthur, but how does that change our current predicament?” Trodius asked impatiently.

  I circled our current location on the map with my finger. “It means that we might have to rethink our plan of sacrificing soldiers to keep the Wall fully intact.”

  Albanth spoke up. “If it means not having to send my soldiers in a single-file line to their deaths, I’m all ears, General Arthur.”

  “As am I,” Jesmiya agreed.

  “A moment, please,” Trodius cut in. “While I am all for preserving as many of our men as possible, I’d like a plan that isn’t based on a feeling.”

  “Fair.” I eyed the senior captain for a moment before continuing. “This is speculation on my part as well, but my stance is that keeping our men alive is imperative. In this phase of the war, we need to be flexible, and having living soldiers we can divide and reallocate in future battles will be of greater use than an immovable wall.”

  Trodius’s eyes narrowed. “We would be risking a vital structure in the defense of both Sapin and Elenoir, one which took over a year to fully complete, General. If the Wall is in shambles, what happens when an Alacryan army attacks shortly after the beast horde?”

  “Would a fortified wall hold off mages better than mages themselves?” I retorted. “Captain, I’m not saying we should just forfeit the Wall. I’m suggesting we sacrifice parts of our fortress as opposed to our men.”

  After a moment of silence, Trodius slid the silver rake he had been using to maneuver the pieces on the map over to me. “Please continue.”

  Accepting the gesture, I stood up and began moving the pieces around while everyone else looked on curiously. “So here is what I had in mind...”

  211

  Awaiting the Horde II

  I drove the pommel of my practice sword into my opponent’s wrist, and his longsword clattered to the ground at my feet. “Your movements are too stiff. You need to loosen your shoulders and wrists until the last moments of your swing. If you can’t do that, the sword you’re using is too heavy for you.”

  The young soldier shook his armored hand, grimacing. “Thank you for the advice.”

  “Next!” I called out, looking over the few dozen soldiers standing in line, waiting for a chance to spar with me.

  A burly woman clad fully in plate armor, holding a buckler in one hand and a shortsword in the other, walked up and dipped her head to me before stepping back into an open stance, her buckler held out and shortsword behind her right foot.

  A dense layer of mana enveloped her body while tendrils of wind swirled around her blade.

  “Same rules apply,” I said, raising my thin, saber-like sword. “Attack me with the intent to kill; I need to see what you can do.”

  With a determined nod, she dashed forward, displaying tremendous speed for someone weighed down by a full set of armor. She attacked with a simple horizontal swing, the reach of her blade extended by the wind-attribute mana imbued within the weapon.

  I deflected her sword upwards and thrust my palm at her sternum, but the woman was quick enough to raise her buckler in time to block my strike. The force of the shove threw her off balance and she stumbled back a few steps.

  “If you’re already hesitating, this match is over,” I said with a sigh.

  “I’m not sure what you mean, General. I was able to block your counter successfully!” the woman responded, her brows knit in confusion.

  “It doesn’t matter. Even if you had landed that initial slash, it would barely have made a scratch on an augmenter or a mana beast.” Anticipating her question, I went on. “Why? Because your weight was already on your back leg before you even swung.” Her eyes turned toward the ground, but I beckoned her forward.

  “Again,” I ordered.

  She approached me once more, positioning herself carefully. Just when I thought she had perhaps gotten cold feet, she lunged forward with a wind-enhanced thrust of her shortsword.

  I turned my head slightly to the left, letting her blade pass within an inch of my cheek. It was a feint, I realized, intended to put me off balance so she could bash me with the buckler.

  I let the full force of her buckler hit my arm and spin me to the right, opening up my left side for another attack. Rather than continue her assault, however, the soldier stepped back and raised her guard.

  “Why did you stop?” I asked, dusting off my mantle. “You knocked me off bal
ance, had me in a vulnerable position. You have your armor and buckler to make up for small mistakes, you need to attack aggressively.”

  The soldier was quiet for a moment, but when she answered, her voice was confident. “I was wary that you were preparing for a counterattack.”

  “If I wanted to counterattack, I would’ve done so before you hit me with your shield, not after,” I retorted. “Your equipment and your fighting style are total opposites of each other. Your footwork, attacks, movements, and feints all point to a speed-type augmenter, but your armor, shield, and even sword are made for a heavy-hitter, an augmenter who will throw themselves into the middle of the fray and shrug off the damage. I’m not sure if you’re doing this to confuse your enemies or confuse yourself, but pick a style, because you’re going to get tired real fast out in battle if you try to fight like a skirmisher in all that armor. Next!”

  Quite a few soldiers—those who had been relieved of their posts to take a break, mostly—had lined up to spar against me. A few of the merchants and tradesmen not currently preparing for evacuation had gathered as well and were chatting animatedly about the show I was putting on.

  So far, I had exchanged only two or three moves with each opponent before landing what would be a fatal blow, then provided a few pieces of advice to each soldier about their performance.

  As a new soldier stepped forward into the stone ring I had conjured, Sylvie’s voice rang in my head. ‘I thought you said you were going to try and get some rest before setting out?’

  I looked around to see her descending the nearby stairs, Gavik and Callum on either side of her. I couldn’t fall asleep, so I figured I’d warm up my body and train a few soldiers while I’m at it. How was your trip up to the top of the Wall? Is Ellie doing okay?

  My bond grinned as she walked up to me. “Ellie is adjusting pretty well. When I went to see how she was doing, she was busy practicing how to shoot from the edge of the Wall with a few other soldiers. One looked around her age too.”

  I looked up at the towering wall, surveying the bustling activity. “That’s good.”

  Gavik approached the stone ring. “Captain Albanth and his troops are busy tearing down most of the support beams holding up the underground passages. Captain Jesmiya is relocating her troops around the ends of the Wall, but”—the burly adventurer paused, shifting from foot to foot—“is it really necessary for you and Lady Sylvie to go by yourselves?”

  “No offense to you or Callum,” I said consolingly, “but are you confident in fighting alongside us, keeping up with a Lance and a…” I paused, having almost said the word dragon out loud, “and Sylvie? I don’t want to have to worry about accidentally killing you.”

  Gavik looked back at the curly-haired conjurer behind him. Both mages wore stoic expressions when they turned back to me. “Yes.”

  “Listen, I know Commander Virion sent you out here to assist me in the Wall’s defense, but I doubt he meant for you to go into battle next to me. Just stay here.” I dismissed them with a wave of my hand.

  I could hear Gavik grind his teeth even from where I was standing, but he turned on his heel and led Callum away, weaving in between a throng of workers filing past, undoubtedly headed to the underground passages.

  “We could’ve used their help,” Sylvie said, watching the two adventurers disappear into the crowd. “And they seemed really determined to go with us.”

  I motioned for the soldier waiting on the other edge of the ring to approach and fell into a ready stance.

  Gavik has a daughter that looked to be about my age—or even younger, if the picture on that pendant is recent. I saw him sneak in a kiss after the meeting, I explained to Sylvie while redirecting a wild thrust from my opponent.

  Sylvie burst out with a surprised, half-stifled laugh from behind me. ‘And here I was, thinking how cold my bond has been to these poor soldiers. It seems like you’re getting better at keeping your thoughts from leaking into mine.’

  A man’s got to be able to keep a few secrets, I joked, my saber pressed against my opponent’s nape.

  “If I’m not wrong, you’ve had a significant injury on your right side in the past, which is why you favor that side of your body. You fall for every feint to the right, leaving your left side open. Next.”

  “Mind if I have a go?” a familiar voice called out from my left.

  Sylvie and I both turned towards the source of the voice; a flood of elation poured through our mental link as she dashed off.

  “Tessia!” Sylvie cried, throwing her arms around the elven princess.

  I smiled at the sight of the two of them. Tess hadn’t changed much since the last time we met. Her gunmetal-gray hair was dark and heavy with lingering moisture, and her turquoise eyes seemed to shine with their own inner light. I could tell at a glance that she had matured as a soldier though. Time down in the dungeons was sure to harden any adventurer.

  The surprised princess looked from me to the child currently wrapped around her waist. It wasn’t until her eyes focused on the horns protruding out of the girl’s head that she made the connection. “Sylvie?”

  “No more sparring for today!” I called out. The disappointed crowd of soldiers and adventurers sheathed their weapons and dispersed, though I did notice a few jealous glances thrown at Tessia.

  For a while, I stayed silent and listened as Tess and Sylvie talked. My bond had always had a deep fondness for Tess, even calling her “Mama” at one point in her life. I could tell Tess was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that the little fox she used to cuddle with like a pet was now standing in front of her as a human.

  Tess and her team had reached the Wall an hour ago, having been pulled out of the Beast Glades ahead of the approaching horde. They had been sent straight to the inn to wash up and rest for the next leg of their journey, but, much like myself, my childhood friend couldn’t sleep, instead deciding to walk around the market area, which, of course, led her to me.

  I was walking a few paces behind them when Tess looked back over her shoulder, eyeing me suspiciously. “What’s so funny?”

  “Huh?” I replied stupidly, pressing my fingers to my lips. “Oh, I didn’t even realize I was smiling. “I guess Sylvie’s emotions are influencing mine.”

  “You know, if I chose to take that the wrong way, it almost sounds as if you’re saying that you’re not happy to see me,” Tess teased.

  “Unlike Arthur, I will wholeheartedly admit that I’m happy to see you,” my bond replied. “I just wish it was under better conditions,” she added, a twinge of unease growing in her mind.

  “I agree, but I’m glad I was able to see the two of you before I head back out. I can’t get over how cute and pretty you look in this form!” Tess said, trying to comfort my bond.

  The compliment had the desired effect, as Sylvie practically glowed as she replied. “Back when we were in Epheotus, my grandmother did tell me that I would grow up to be a very pretty dragon.”

  “I’m not sure most people would describe a pitch black, twenty-foot dragon with gleaming yellow daggers for eyes as ‘pretty,’” I interjected.

  “Is this how you two always talk inside your heads?” Tessia asked, her turquoise eyes glinting.

  “We’d been getting along fairly maturely until you showed up, Tessia,” my bond replied. “Your presence must be affecting Arthur.”

  I rolled my eyes. “And there’s that snide little attitude I’ve missed so much.”

  Sylvie simply shrugged, and the three of us continued to walk aimlessly around the lower levels of the Wall. Workers, blacksmiths, artificers, and soldiers alike went out of their way to greet Tess as we passed by them.

  “You’re looking prettier than ever, Princess! A sight for sore eyes in these parts!” a bald blacksmith shouted as he waved a pair of tongs he had been holding in our direction.

  “I’m going to tell your wife you said that,” Tess replied with a mischievous grin. Sylvie and I chuckled as the old blacksmith snorted with
laughter and turned back to his work.

  A young girl covered in soot sprinted toward us, shouting, “Head Tessia! Head Tessia!” She had to pause for a moment to catch her breath, then said, “My master has a new set of armor for you that she’s been working on in—” The girl seemed to catch herself, moved closer to Tessia, and said very quietly, “in secret…”

  Tess’s face lit up at the girl’s words. “Oh! Tell Senyir that I’ll be by to visit her later tonight! Thank you for the message, Nat.”

  “Anytime!” The little girl beamed, her white teeth radiant against her soot-stained face. Seeming to notice me and Sylvie for the first time, she tilted her head in a slight nod, then scurried off.

  “As expected of Tessia,” Sylvie said with adoration.

  “Since I’m part of the Trailblazer Division, I don’t get to spend as much time here as I’d like, but I’ve still got to know a few people here and there,” Tess explained as we continued on.

  “Still, they treat you so kindly,” Sylvie said thoughtfully. “Most of the people we meet regard Arthur with either awe or fear.”

  “Well, seeing the head of a unit is one thing. Seeing a Lance as young as Arthur would elicit a different sort of feeling,” Tess said, glancing back at me. “I have to say, he does look more like a real Lance with his sleek new outfit.”

  “Still,” Sylvie sighed. “He could make do with some improvements to his interpersonal skills.”

  “You know I’m walking right behind you, right?” I cut in.

  Tess giggled, and by the warm fuzziness growing inside me, I could tell that Sylvie was really enjoying herself.

  When we reached the steep set of stairs leading all the way to the top of the Wall, Tess stopped. Stealing a glance at me before turning to my bond, she asked, “Hey, Sylvie. Do you mind if I steal Arthur away from you for a bit?”

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