"It really is an amazing new world we live in, isn't it?" Arin asked as he stared at the ramp filled with carts. His gaze gradually moved beyond the wagons and towards the surrounding landscape, taking in the enormous changes that had taken place across the planet. Nature had reclaimed much of the beauty that humanity had once lost, and nearly everything seemed to have become larger, more impressive, and more vibrant than before. Even after everything he had already witnessed, he still found himself wondering what the world would look like once the changes had continued for another thousand years.
The thought was particularly exciting when he considered what might happen to their own forest over the next ten thousand years. Earth had promised to expand further, and the current transformation was only part of a much larger process that would continue shaping the planet. If the world was already becoming this extraordinary, imagining what it might look like after several more expansions was almost impossible. The possibilities were so far beyond anything humanity had previously experienced that even the most imaginative people would struggle to picture them properly.
Just imagining the beauty of that future was enough to make Arin excited. Sky islands might become a reality, with enormous pieces of land suspended high above the ground and entire ecosystems developing upon them. Forests could eventually contain every climate known to exist on Earth, each with its own distinctive environment, plants, and creatures. There might also be countless other natural wonders that humanity had not even begun to imagine, let alone understand. Honestly, Arin could hardly wait to see even a fraction of that future become reality before his own eyes.
"Yes, it is, and it will only get better," Bertho replied confidently. "But for that to happen, we need to grow considerably stronger if we want to live long enough to see it." Their family was rather special, something that had become increasingly clear over the last few years. They possessed opportunities and advantages that most people could only dream of, and Bertho was confident that they could eventually reach the heights required to witness the world that awaited them. Whether they would survive the battles necessary to achieve that strength, however, was an entirely different question.
Even their family history contained plenty of stories about ancestors who had died while fighting for their survival. Their strength and experience had certainly helped them overcome situations that would have destroyed ordinary people, but those advantages had never made them invincible. There had been numerous occasions when even the strongest members of the family had found themselves overwhelmed by circumstances beyond their control. Sometimes, surviving a battle was not a matter of being stronger than the enemy, but of avoiding a situation in which strength alone could no longer make a difference.
One particularly grim example came from the family's history during the resistance against the Nazis. They had lost nearly all their adult men during that period, as the Nazis had frequently resorted to simply shooting at people without caring about individual fighting ability. A person could possess considerable strength or experience and still die because a single bullet found its target. Hiding was not necessarily enough to protect someone, either, especially when the enemy had the manpower and willingness to search through an area until they found their opponents. It was a brutal reminder that individual ability could only accomplish so much when facing overwhelming numbers and weapons.
There were plenty of other stories in their family history that demonstrated the same lesson. Again and again, sheer numbers had been the most commonly cited reason for an ancestor's death, because there were very few people capable of fighting large groups of opponents on equal terms. Their ancestors might have been stronger than the average person, but their enemies had rarely been interested in fighting fair. They used whatever advantages they possessed, whether that meant superior numbers, ambushes, or simply overwhelming their opponents before they could respond. It was not particularly glorious, but it was the reality their family had repeatedly encountered.
Nevertheless, that history also gave them a certain confidence about their ability to survive in the new world. They understood that fighting fairly was not always an option, and they had learned to account for the possibility of facing opponents who were stronger or more numerous than themselves. Their family had survived for generations by adapting to circumstances rather than assuming that strength would solve every problem. That experience would undoubtedly become even more important now that humanity was no longer the dominant species on Earth. If anything, the changing world made their old lessons more relevant than ever.
"Right, then. Let's take a walk along the roads and see what we can fix," Arin said, deciding that there was little point in continuing to stare at the wagons. He hopped down from the tree and began walking towards the forest, heading directly into the almost complete darkness beneath the canopy. The thick foliage blocked most of the light, making the path difficult to see for anyone unfamiliar with the area. However, Arin and his cousins had spent enough time in the forest that they did not need to hesitate or question where they were going.
One after another, the others followed him beneath the trees. None of them needed to ask for directions or wait for someone to point out the safest route, since they were all familiar with the forest and its surroundings. Their movements were natural, almost as though the darkness itself was no obstacle at all. Soon, the group disappeared beneath the dense canopy, leaving the busy road and its wagons behind as they continued towards the areas that needed their attention.
"Sir, your granddaughter has returned from the UN," an aide reported to Herman. The Marshal was currently sitting in his office, studying old military strategies and comparing them with the lessons that could be learned from more recent warfare. He had been examining everything from ancient battles to modern military games and simulations, hoping to identify methods that could prove useful in the current circumstances. The changes to the world had forced the military to reconsider many of its established practices, and Herman was determined to make sure they did not overlook useful knowledge simply because it came from an unexpected source.
The Castle game had also proven surprisingly useful for this purpose. Although it was originally a game, its mechanics and strategic possibilities made it an excellent tool for running battle simulations. The military had therefore been using it extensively, allowing commanders to test different formations, tactics, and responses without having to organize expensive exercises in the field. It was not a perfect replacement for actual combat experience, but it provided a convenient way to examine situations that would otherwise be difficult to reproduce. Herman had become particularly interested in how such simulations could help prepare the military for the challenges of the new world.
"Excellent. Then she can take control of the cavalry training again," Herman replied with obvious satisfaction. He was genuinely pleased to hear that his granddaughter had returned, since her presence meant that he could finally cross one of the largest problems on his list off his responsibilities. The reconstruction of the European cavalry had been weighing heavily on his mind, and he had been looking for someone capable of taking charge of the project for quite some time. Having her back meant that he no longer needed to worry about finding another candidate who might be able to handle the responsibility.
His granddaughter was a competent commander in her own right, and Herman had considerable confidence in her abilities. However, being a capable commander was not necessarily the same thing as being qualified to rebuild an entire cavalry force across Europe. The task was enormous, and the amount of money required to accomplish it was almost absurd. The project would consume resources continuously, not only during the initial training period but also throughout the years required to maintain the riders, their equipment, and the supporting infrastructure. Whoever took charge would need to be capable of defending the project against constant financial pressure.
Everyone at headquarters understood that cavalry was necessary, even if they had not made the best possible use of it during the previous trial. Herman did not consider the disappointing aspects of that engagement to be proof that cavalry itself was ineffective. Instead, he believed the problems had largely come from inexperience and the delays in communication that had affected the operation. The cavalry had performed the task assigned to it remarkably well, and its contribution had inflicted considerable damage on the goblins. Unfortunately, another route had allowed the enemy to bypass their defences, eventually creating an opportunity to trap the cavalry.
Even after considering that failure, Herman maintained that the cavalry had performed brilliantly. The damage inflicted on the goblins had gone far beyond what their commanders had initially expected, with the enemy suffering casualties that exceeded one in ten. That was an impressive result, especially considering the circumstances and the limited experience of the newly organized force. However, the scale of the goblin numbers had ultimately made a prolonged conflict impossible to win through those methods alone. The cavalry could inflict severe losses, but it could not remain engaged indefinitely against an enemy with such a considerable numerical advantage.
Returning his attention to the problem of rebuilding the force, Herman stared out of the window as he organized his thoughts. The need for cavalry was obvious to everyone at headquarters, but recognizing that need and accepting the responsibility for creating a permanent force were two very different things. A standing cavalry force was extraordinarily expensive, and each individual rider required a substantial investment in training and maintenance. It was not enough to recruit people and put them on horses; they needed to develop the necessary skills, maintain their equipment, and receive continuous support. Every additional rider increased the long-term financial burden placed on the military.
That was precisely why no general had been particularly eager to take responsibility for the project. Whoever accepted the position would be expected to deliver the results everyone wanted while constantly fighting against the military's accounting department. The budget allocated to the cavalry would never be sufficient for everything the commanders believed was necessary, and there would always be someone looking for opportunities to reduce the expenditure. The accounting department would almost certainly attempt to cut the budget even further whenever it found an opportunity, regardless of how much those reductions might damage the project. A commander who could not resist that pressure would eventually find the entire cavalry force undermined by financial decisions.
The person in charge therefore needed more than military experience and organizational ability. They had to possess enough authority and determination to stand against the constant demands for cost reductions, while still producing results that justified the enormous investment. It was a difficult balance, because the cavalry needed substantial funding before it could become effective, but the people controlling the budget wanted to see convincing results before approving additional spending. Whoever took responsibility would have to withstand that pressure without allowing the project to be slowly dismantled. Herman knew that very few commanders possessed the necessary combination of qualities.
After considering the available candidates, the conclusion had become rather obvious: Sofie, the Marshal's granddaughter, was the most logical choice. She already possessed considerable military experience and had earned the respect of the people under her command. As the head of one of the toughest special forces units in Europe, she had demonstrated that she could manage demanding operations and make people follow her orders. She had even managed to make her unit obey her without revealing her identity, which was an achievement that spoke volumes about her command abilities. Her reputation and experience gave her far more credibility than someone who had merely been appointed because of their position.
There was also the matter of her family connections, which were particularly useful for a project of this scale. Being the Marshal's granddaughter meant she could confront the financial department with considerably more confidence than most commanders would dare to show. If the accounting officials tried to impose unreasonable restrictions or cut the budget to the point where the project could no longer function, she could simply take the matter to her grandfather. That did not mean the cavalry would receive unlimited funding, but it did mean that the accounting department could not easily push her aside or force her to accept every proposed reduction.
In the end, Sofie had been handed a responsibility that nobody else particularly wanted. She had the military experience to command the training, the authority to manage the people involved, and the family connections needed to defend the project financially. It was hardly a small assignment, and Herman knew that she would have plenty of difficulties ahead of her. Nevertheless, he was relieved that someone capable of handling the task had finally returned. With Sofie back from the UN, he could leave the reconstruction of the European cavalry in her hands and turn his attention towards the many other problems waiting for him.