18 What Can You Learn from a Spark? (Part 3)

"Are you some kind of monster?" Mia asked after Ethan had explained to her his trick with the delayed spark and showed her how he narrowed down the date of the Western Empire's planned invasion.

[Does he not realize how dangerous this use for this spell is?] thought Mia.

"Where is this coming from?" Ethan asked.

"You turned one of the most basic beginner level spells that is normally just used to start fires into the most useful of military spells that can accurately predict enemy movements down to the exact time." Said Mia.

"It's not like your Sun Knights haven't modified spells to find a new use for them." Said Ethan.

"This goes a little beyond that. Let me put it this way: if this spell were discovered by someone else in the Vorbei Kingdom, it would be the kind of military secret that I wouldn't even know about. It would be reserved for the King, the heir apparent, and maybe a few top level advisors. I mean, could you imagine if this use for this spell fell into the hands of the Western Empire?" Said Mia.

"Sure, that would be bad, but you guys would still also have it. If that were the case you would still be on equal ground, both being able to predict each other's movements. Anyway, you had a stalemate in the last war, so you must be of relatively equal military power." Said Ethan.

[Does he not understand that there is more to warfare than just fighting on an open field?] thought Mia.

"Do you not understand how we were able to end that war in a stalemate? It wasn't because we had an equal number of soldiers, or because our magic users were powerful enough to match theirs. It was because of deception. We were able to make the enemy think that we were weak in places where we were strong, and make them think that we were strong in places where we were weak. We were able to mobilize our own military, while cutting off enemy communication lines so that the enemy couldn't mobilize as quickly. Our spies were able to accurately gather the enemy plans, while we had the enemy's spies, turned double agents secretly working for us, send back to the enemy false or misleading information. We had our saboteurs in the enemy camps spread false information about the results of certain battles and sieges to make their soldiers think that they were losing more battles and sieges than they actually were, causing their morale to plummet, and causing mass desertions within the enemy's ranks. Even with all of this deception, we were still only able to end the war in an indecisive way with no territory gained or lost. That is how much stronger the Western Empire's military is compared with our own, that at such a huge information disadvantage they still drove use to sue for peace with 'status quo ante bellum'. Simply put, if deception becomes impossible, the Vorbei Kingdom will be destroyed." Said Mia.

"Huh… I guess it would really be bad if the Western Empire got this use for this spell." Said Ethan.

[He finally gets it, but he's not nearly scared enough of this power. If he had told a less honorable person about this use for this spell, they might have killed him him at once and then had a total monopoly on predicting the future. He's lucky that it wasn't some other order of knights that found him. If the captain of the Moon Knights had picked him up in that clearing he would have been dead after he told him about this use for the 'delayed spark'. That is if he weren't killed in the initial clearing where the dragon was fought. He's far too naive to survive in this world.]

"Ethan, you told no one but me about this use of the 'delayed spark' spell, right?" Asked Mia.

[If he told someone else, it could be a big deal. We would have to make sure that whoever he told would not divulge the secret. Johan could just be executed early if he learned it, as he is probably going to be executed anyway for treason against humanity and, while I would technically be overstepping my bounds by executing him without the King first passing judgment, I doubt that Karl X would say anything about it especially after I explain why I did it, and the Sun Knights are generally pretty trustworthy and would likely keep the secret of the new use for the 'delayed spark' spell to their graves if they learned about it, but all the same, I would rather that as few people know this information as possible. Please Ethan, tell me that you told no one else except for me.] Thought Mia.

"Correct. As soon as I figured it out, I came straight to you." Answered Ethan honestly.

[Thank goodness] thought Mia, relieved to hear that answer.

"I will tell the King when the enemy invasion will be, and how I got this information when we reach the capital. At that point it will be his decision what he does with that information. After that, I will never mention this use of this spell again for as long as I live, nor will use it myself. There are some powers that a human just shouldn't mess with and predicting the future is one of them. Ethan, I want you to swear to me that you will never mention this use of this spell again for as long as you live." Said Mia.

"What? Of course I won't mention-" Said Ethan.

"Swear it." Interrupted Mia.

[I need him to understand just a little bit of the gravity of the situation. I must get him to swear rather than just affirm. If he is made to swear that he will not reveal this information, then he will think twice before revealing it to someone else who might take his life, and perhaps sell the information to the Western Empire] thought Mia.

"I swear it. For as long as I live, I will never tell another living soul other than you about this particular use of the 'delayed spark' spell." said Ethan.

"Good. Now let us resume our journey west. I think that everyone is finished eating and the sooner we get back to the capital, the better." Said Mia.

The group then packed up their stuff and left the hilltop continuing west for the rest of the day without incident.