23 23.
{3rd PoV}
10 years after the war between the Blackwood Dukedom and the Western Coalition. Charles, a retired commander from the Blackwood Dukedom, was invited by a historian for an interview.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Charles. My name is Naiya. I'm one of the historians who wanted to have a discussion with you." The gorgeous Naiya greeted Charles.
"Thank you. May I know what is it you want to ask?" As a retired soldier, he was used to being direct during his time when he was serving the army of Duke Blackwood.
"You are one of the commanders who once served for Duke Blackwood, correct?" Naiya asked and Charles nodded.
"Can you tell us the exact details of what happened in the war between the Hebrion Empire and the Western Coalition of Kingdoms 10 years ago? We all know that Duke Blackwood managed to fend off the invasion, but may I know what exactly happened?" Naiya asked in curiosity. As historians, their job was important because keeping track of such events could help them create a simulated shadow world that they can use as teaching materials.
"Ah. That battle. It was a horrifying battle. Flesh and blood were flying everywhere, screams of despair could be heard everywhere, they were asking for help but their bodies were exploded to bits with magic from mages. There's no time to look at your comrades beside you because if you looked away, even for a second, your head will be lopped off. We were severely outnumbered that time..." Charles started narrating the events that happened on that war. Naiya's expression changed from time to time, from horror, to sadness, to worry, and finally, joy, when Charles finished his story.
"Wow, I never knew that such events happened that time. Mr. Charles, can you answer a few personal questions of mine? Don't worry, I won't record it." Naiya said with an apologetic expression.
"What is it young lady?" Charles asked her.
"How and why did you think you would won that battle." Naiya asked in curiosity.
"It was all thanks to Duke Blackwood." Charles said as if reminiscing about the old days.
"Why did you think it was all thanks to the Duke when you all did the hard work?" Naiya continued asking.
"You don't know how much preparation Duke Blackwood put into that war. Those magic cannons that you can commonly see in the walls of the Royal Capital? It was the Duke who restored them and gave it to the Royal family for research and mass production." Charles said and Naiya was surprised about that revelation.
She only knew that the Royal family introduced the magic cannons to the public. She never knew that the magic cannons came from the Duke himself.
"Many also didn't know that Duke Blackwood managed to stall the Western coalition's invasion for 2 years by causing troubles for the enemies. As for who they are, I don't know as well. Rumors say that they are a secret regiment that only Duke Blackwood and his trusted aide, Sir Wilhelm knows about." Charles paused for a bit as if thinking and spoke.
"And lastly, Duke Blackwood is a weird nobleman. Before the war started, usually the head commanders says something to boost our morale but Duke Blackwood is an odd person. Would you believe me if I said that Duke Blackwood told us not to die so that he won't have to send our corpse to our family because its a hassle? Normally, nobles wouldn't even care about those who died in a war but Duke Blackwood said he would send our corpse if we died? He's a weird noble, that's for sure." Charles chuckled as that order saved his life a lot when he fought in the battle.
Naiya laughed when she heard Duke Blackwood's orders towards his soldiers.
Charles continued to answer her questions until she was satisfied.
"Thank you, Mr. Charles for your time. We'll be sure to make a perfect simulation for it." Naiya said while Charles just waved it off and left the place.
*
{Back to 1st PoV}
I stood in front of the walls of my territory. Staring at the incoming troops from the western coalition that looks like a wave of tsunami from afar, their menacing aura tried to pressure us but to no avail, the soldiers that are with me at the top of the walls just looked forward without fear. They might be nervous but that's about it. They will never hesitate to strike down upon their enemies but the same can't be said to those inside the walls who had never experienced war.
When the waves of soldiers are just outside the range of archers and magicians, they stopped their march. And a lone figure rising a war chariot charged in front and stopped when he got near the walls.
"Duke of Blackwood, I will not bother talking to a brat. I'm here to deliver my demands!Surrender or die!" The man riding the chariot shouted.
"Return to your camp, there's no need to discuss any further. If you want war, we'll give you war! Do be careful, if I find you in the battlefield, I will cut off your head personally." I shouted at the messenger. Killing a messenger before a war is a taboo but after the armies clashed with each other, anything is possible.
My voice still sounded childish but my subordinates didn't even flinch nor laugh about it. They were looking at the pitiful messenger who didn't have an ounce of respect for their ruler and made a mockery of pre-war talks. They were looking at him with pity because they knew, they knew that I will do just as I said. Even if that messenger is deep behind enemy lines, I would tear off his head and skewer it on the walls.
"Fine then! We, a coalition of Kingdoms, declares war on Hebrion Empire!" The messenger said and left the place. He was confused as to why they were looking at him with pity. When he returned, he told the commander of the result of the talks. He then had the army prepare for attack.
"Men! I know that some of you have never fought in any war before!" I said and looked at those the soldiers inside the walls.
"No matter what happens, don't hesitate! Strike the enemies that will come for your life! I don't want to go to your family to deliver your corpse! Its a hassle, and so, I want you all to live for as long as possible! Dirty tactics? Use them! Honor?! Ha! What use is honor if you are dead! Honor is something you enjoy when you're alive! Those fools from the west wants to take your home and your life. We'll show those fools that those who want to take our home will bleed and run with their tails between their legs!" I shouted at them.
"Archers! Mages! and Magic cannons! Wait for my signal to attack!" I said and stared at the enemy preparing to march ahead. I am the head commander of this siege followed by Wilhelm. Under Wilhelm are the commanders of the different regiments. The ranks goes on until it reached the bottom of the ranks, a foot soldier.
The enemy soldiers in the front stomped their feet on the ground with their weapons and cause vibrations in the ground. And after a war horn was blown, they started their steady march towards our walls.
"First row archers!!" I shouted and the archers nocked their arrows.
"Fire!" The first row of archers released their arrows.
Swarms of arrows flew in the air. It is a horrifying sight to behold but the Western Coalition's army was not a pushover. The shieldbearers raised their shield to block the onslaught of arrows as they steadily moved forward. No one died in the initial assault and some arrows managed to get past their defense but their armors blocked it off.
"Second row, cover them while they reload!" I ordered and they covered for their comrades and raised their bows to fire the second volley.
Seeing no apparent damage done, the morale of the enemy army was raised because they were confident that some flimsy arrow won't be able to hurt them.
As for our army, no one was disheartened to see that no damage was done on the enemy army.
"Now that they are confident that our archers can't do anything, how about shaking them up?! Third row! You know what to do!" I ordered.
In the eve before the battle, I had soldiers pour something special in the lands. It would surely startle the enemies and break their formation.
Hearing my orders, the third row of archers doused their arrows in oil and the mages lit their arrows with fire magic. The archers then nocked the fire arrows and fired at the same time.
The arrows quickly flew and the shieldbearers blocked the arrows with ease. But what they didn't know was that the land that they were stepping on was doused in oil as well.
A lucky arrow managed to get past the shieldbearers and fell into the land, the fire from the arrow touched the ground and the fire spread so fast that they didn't have time to react at all. The great fire tormented the frontline soldiers.
They were so confident that they can overpower us with numbers and strength that they didn't even notice the smell of oil lingering in the land.
The commanders from the western coalition immediately reacted by having mages to cast water spells to kill the fire and save some of their soldiers but a fire made by chemicals can't just be snuffed out if you spray water on it.
The water spells did nothing and a great wall of fire now stood between my territory and the army from the enemy army. The enemy commander immediately had the soldiers retreat temporarily so that they could think of a way of snuffing out the wall of fire separating us to reach their target.
Of course I won't let them retreat peacefully, I had the range regiments attack except for the magic cannons. Spells and arrows flew and slaughtered enemy soldiers left and right.
'This fire, if not solved correctly, will be able to buy us 12 hours of time before they get snuffed out naturally. If we're able to hold out for half a day, the reinforcements will arrive one after another.' I thought as I stared at the wall of fire.
