Dry wind swept across the barren land. Hades and Hecate stood upon a low mountain, looking down at an army of a thousand soldiers standing aligned in disciplined ranks.
They were clad in sleek obsidian armour adorned with golden accents in sharp, ornamental patterns. Their black obsidian helmets featured a golden stripe and long red ponytails flowing from the back. Red capes fluttered in the dry wind, each bearing a black sigil of a rising phoenix with wings spread wide, its flowing tail aligned with an embedded crescent moon.
Among the thousand soldiers stood a hundred-strong archer unit led by Harley, fifty fire mages led by Efir, fifty water mages led by Sia, fifty wind mages led by Sylphy, fifty earth mages led by Geo, fifty light mages led by Amar, fifty dark mages led by Dire, fifty plant mages led by Aniya, and fifty mixed-type mages led by Mia. A hundred-fifty-strong cavalry unit with spectral horses was led by Ars, a fifty-strong scout unit by Julie, and a hundred-fifty-strong vanguard unit by Tylon. Another hundred-fifty-strong vanguard unit led by Gobuka.
Hades stepped forward, his gaze sweeping across the army. "I see an army of a thousand soldiers…and I hear a silence that screams. Look around you. See the empty space where you once stood. Hear the silence where once your loving ones' laughter echoed." With his words, glimpses of the faces of their friends, lovers, parents and relatives come. Everyone has sorrowful emotions on their faces.
"Duke gave us that silence, that emptiness."
Everyone clenched their fists and teeth, their eyes flaring with rage and a desire for the blood of the dukes who had caused the loss of their loved ones.
"Today, this silence gave us the reason for why we are here. We answer them, not for me, not for the throne…for them."
His words ignited their rage, and in a surge of emotion, everyone roared and stamped their spears on the ground.
Hades raised his hand, and all noise ceased. "You are all led by Druvak and Amazel as your legion generals. You will obey their every command."
A floating parchment drifted toward them. "This contains your legion assignments and unit allocations. Druvak, you will attack Armaror. Amazel, you will attack Sebath."
Both bowed slightly and unrolled the parchment. Druvak recited what was written "My legion will include the dark, earth, water, plant, and mixed mage units, the archer unit, and the cavalry unit."
Amazel announced, "My legion will consist of the fire, light, and air mage units, both vanguard units, and the scout unit."
Hades' voice echoed once more across the barren land "As for the remaining dukes, we will deal with them. Now go and fill this silence with their reckoning."
The army marched north toward the duke's territories. Druvak's forces moved north-east, while Amazel's army advanced toward the north-west.
On the first day, Druvak's army crossed a swamp where a giant anaconda attacked them, but Dire easily killed it with his dark magic.
On the second day, they crossed barren lands and dealt with a skeleton army.
On the third day, they climbed the steep northern mountains.
On the fourth day, they reached Armaror's territory, only 10 km from his fort. The Red Fort was already visible at that distance.
Everyone's steps become heavy and slow. Whole body drenched in sweat. A dull and tired look in their faces. They breathe heavily.
Druvak noticed this.'Everyone is tired from long-distance marching and steep mountain climbing.'
He examines the ground and surroundings.
"Everyone, set up camp here and prepare your body and mind. Tomorrow, we go to war."
As per general order, the soldiers quickly set up camp and lit fires.
"Twenty soldiers will scout the surroundings. These scouts will change every hour."
Rations are used to make a bland but nutritious soup, along with bars of dry meat jerky that are so hard and chewy.
By the campfire, the legion commanders and general sat together on a log and ate their meal.
Dire chewed meat jerky, many times, his jaw became sore. He stood up rubbing his jaw. He threw the jerk into the dirt"I'd rather fight the skeleton army again than eat this. What is it even made up of?"
Harley and Aniya nodded in agreement. But others felt differently.
Ars stood and offered his opinion: "No, this is to discipline us." He raised his fist and looked upward, lost in imagination. "A great knight should thrive with less comfort and overcome all obstacles with sheer will and strength."
Sia stares at him while hovering her spoon. "Did you just quote the knight's manual at us? Seriously?"
Aniya mustered "He's been reading it before bed daily"
Dire makes his pupil large with little tears on the corner and a little hopeless face, he looks like a hopeless puppy. He pointed at Ars while addressing Druvak, who was quietly eating. "See, Master? Look what your ridiculous training schedule and this so-called warm meal have done to him. He used to be so cheerful and innocent boy. Now he's become a discipline fanatic, even in sleep, he's mumbling rules."
*Creeeek!!!
Druvak, annoyed by his remark, simply flexed his rusted sword. Dire broke into a cold sweat and quickly hid behind Geo.
Geo giant hand-picked up Dire like a kitten and put it in front. But Dire again hide behind his back.
"Hahah!!" Everyone laughed at Dire, due to his playful nature, which broke the tension of war.
He peeked out from Geo's back, "Bro, what do you think about this food?"
Geo grumbled, slightly annoyed. "Doesn't. Matter."
Not expecting much, Dire turned to Mia, who, like Druvak, was quietly eating and observing everyone. "Mia, what's your opinion?"
Mia stared at Dire while stirring the soup"If we ate lavish meals or hunted local creatures, we could face many issues like transport issues, poisoning, nutritional imbalances, enemy ambush and other problems. This simple food solves all those issues at once."
Her thoughtful answer left everyone dumbfounded. Silence fell around the campfire.
Aniya lift her meat jerky and observes it 'Does it really solve all this? Wow!'
But soon, Mia broke the silence. She looked at Druvak "Master, may I ask a question?"
Druvak simply nods, "Hmm…"
"Master, Lord Hades and Lady Hecate are immensely powerful. Lord Hades had slain Miramar. Lady Hecate once clashed equally with Cronus, the world's most powerful being. These dukes are nothing to them. So why haven't they killed them? Why send an army? Why?"
Her question stirred everyone's curiosity. They all turned to Druvak with longing eyes.
This time, Druvak could not remain silent. "You're right. To them, these bastards are nothing. They could exterminate them anytime they want. But they don't."
He paused, looking at each of them. "Tell me, if mom carries a child and takes him to where the child desires for a lifetime. Does that child learn to walk?"
Harley answered it "No."
"Exactly, this kingdom also likes this. If the King and Queen solved every problem, then people would become dependent on them for each and every problem. Their growth is stagnant, and their minds become closed and rigid. That's why they left the dukes as obstacles, for you to overcome, for you to grow."
Everyone's eyes widened. Their mouths hung open like goldfish, like they wanted to say something, but nothing came out.
Mia fell deep into thought, connecting all the information with past events. The conclusion shocked her to the core.
'Now all the puzzle pieces fit. The sudden encouragement and scolding, the imbalanced soldier distribution, every obstacle during training, tasks targeting my weaknesses, none of it was luck or fate. It was all deliberate...'
She looked at her friends chatting and resting, then at Druvak, who sat resting like a sensible old man. Sensing her gaze, he met her eyes and gave a small smile.
'Everyone in this world is like a wooden puppet bound by strings. These puppet thinks they have full control of their thoughts and actions, but they're not. They're all being manipulated by...' She looked up at the earth's ceiling and smiled.
After an hour of rest, Druvak clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
He took a stick and drew a small fort on the ground. "From what I know, Armaror is simple-minded. For him, only strength matters. He hates tricks and strategies. If Sebath doesn't intervene, his army will charge straight ahead."
He drew three squares in front of the fort.
He looked at his commanders. "The problem is we lack vanguards who can hold or stall the enemy's advance, but we have an abundance of rearguards. Does anyone have a plan?"
Everyone fell silent, murmuring among themselves. Mia looked at the map.'This is definitely a test. This is my chance to break free from being a puppet.'
She raised her hand. "I have one."
Druvak handed her the stick. "Go on."
She began drawing as she explained. "Place fifty archers on each side, mages in the centre, and seventy-five cavalry in front of the archers—"
Dire interrupted, "But that would leave us completely exposed to enemy waves!"
She glared at him. "I haven't finished." She paused for a little while, took deep breaths, swallowed her anger and then continued, "Our mages excel at support. If we turn the solid ground into muddy marshland, we can restrict their mobility. While they're slowed, we attack with arrows and spells. Once their numbers are reduced, we solidify the ground, plant mages will bind their limbs and finish them with cavalry."
Druvak clapped. "Excellent plan. Does anyone have any issues or opinions on it?"
No one said anything, "Dire, do you have anything to say?"
"No sir, I totally agree with her plan."
"Good, then tomorrow we will use this plan, and Mia, you will execute this plan."