The alehouse by the barracks was abuzz with the soft buzz of talk, the ring of cups, and the savory smell of broiled meat. Beyond the walls, the city reared in the weak light of dusk, turreted and bristled, but beneath the facade, tension seethed like a tangled spring. Two days left until the monster waves hit, and this night, the first and possibly last, all units were going to meet in one place—not to receive orders or strategize, but to share one moment of peace.
The commanders' council sat at the long oak table: Draevor, over the demon cadets; Lyraen over the elves; Raugor and Korra over the Beastmen; Grumli and Sir Rolan over the dwarves; Lady Mira and Sylvara over academy cadets; and the five A-rank adventurer party leaders. Each carried the responsibility for 1,000 men per commander, a total of 87 parties of adventurers with 6–8 members each, and all the personal troops of the captains and city knights.
Kael mentally counted: 50 cadets per faction (250 cadets in total) had now matured into platoons who could command 5–man squads, multiplied in the capital's defense forces. The city's standing knights consisted of 10,000, mercenaries comprised 3,456, and another 7,000 men were drafted from surrounding villages. The combined force, including cadets, adventurer groups, and city soldiers, consisted of more than hundreds of thousands easily, but numbers were still overshadowed by the sheer magnitude of the approaching monsters: 100,000,000 F-rank monsters, 4,367,484 E-rank, and dozens of S-rank monstrosities. Worst of all, intelligence confirmed humanic farms, clandestine operations in which monsters raised or bred people—a chilling warning of what lay in store for them.
Commander dialogue was whispered but effective. Draevor explained the cadet assignments: "Each platoon will command ten men, with diverse races to facilitate flexibility. Elves as scouts, demons as attackers, dwarves as defenders, Beastmen as ambushers, and academy cadets as stabilizers. Coordinate every step; failure is not acceptable."
Raugor, leader of the lion tribe, said, "We have to think about speed. Wolf and tiger units will take strategic chokepoints, but we can't discount pure numbers. The E- and F-rank masses will put our defenses to the test."
Lady Mira mentioned magical reinforcements, "We have set up barriers and traps on all the major paths into the city. Cadets are instructed to keep them under stress. The adventurer groups have to coordinate with city knights to take positions.
Amidst the debate, Kael saw the looks shared among commanders—the flash of fear, the burden of obligation, but also the tiniest degree of brotherhood. They all knew: tonight was the final drink prior to chaos.
Glasses were lifted in a silent, reverent toast. Draevor's red-eyed stare swept the room, unblinking but approving. "For our city. For those who are unable to defend themselves. For tomorrow." No one said a word after that; words seemed weak. Only the muted clinking of cups and the constant hum of the tavern disturbed the tension.
Kael permitted himself a sip. The cadets chuckled among themselves, speaking of training misfires, acts of bravery, and brief recollections home. The A-ranked adventurers relaxed, jibing each other good-naturedly, their competitive edges blunted by the temporary respite. Even commanders Raugor and Korra exchanged a brief, uncommon laugh at the incongruity of attempting relaxation when the horizon was filled with the dying.
Plans had been made, emergencies outlined, and the city's entire might taken into consideration. Each soldier, each cadet, each adventurer had a job. Each S-rank commander understood the risks. And yet, in this instant, they all sat and drank together, one shared moment of human warmth on the face of an impending sea of terror.
Kael looked around once more, gazes resting on the cadets, adventurers, and commanders of the city. Tomorrow, this evening would be over, a peaceful prelude to the storm. Tonight, though, they stood together—not as soldiers or cadets, not as demons, elves, dwarves, or Beastmen—but as individuals, united by the fact that their courage, their strength, and their bonds would be the only things between the city and destruction.
The candlelight flickered over exhausted but determined faces. The final sip, a moment of camaraderie and heat, resounded in silent hearts. And in that brief instant, Kael permitted himself to believe, though the rising sun offered blood and darkness.