""Basically, it focuses on defense," explained Alfonso to the other elders while drawing on a piece of paper.
"We can't make a frontline attack. That will be stupid and we would be doing exactly what the enemy wants. As I said, this terrain is flat so we can't send our troops on a sneak attack mission, so, our only choice is to use defense tactics. We will use the cavalry and the infantry as a 'barrier' encircling the archer. Meanwhile, the archers will attack. The first step is to destroy the enemy's frontline in one go, retreat, and we repeat. The key point in this formation is to NOT break the formation. The moment the enemy destroys our formation, that is the time we lose our advantage," explained Alfonso while drawing the tactics in the piece of paper.
The elders where stunned, however, the most stunned was Felio.
"What… what an excellent plan! It uses our little advantage to the max while grabbing the only hole in the enemy attacks and exploits it to the most! This fallen prince is a genius military tactician!" thought Felio while looking at Alfonso as if he was looking at some kind of monster.
The other elders where also in deep thought.
"This tactic could… no… it will definitely work!" thought the elders.
"Splendid! It's an excellent plant, my lord. This is the best plan for our current situation!" said one of the elders.
"Definitely!"
"I also agree!"
All the other elders also expressed their agreement. Felio only smiled and give a hand gesture. Everyone knew what Felio meant and they smiled.
Sometime afterwards, Alfonso and Felio were the only ones in the room. the other elders were on their way to prepare everything.
"Alfonso, I must say that I am astonished. Even in Dragon City, the people who can come with a formation given the current circumstances, and in a short period of time, can be counted with one hand. If you show this potential maybe His Majesty William will accept you once again," said Felio.
"I don't plan to go back to the Lockheart family. It's not ingratitude or hate. I just don't want to be entangled in the incoming bloodshed for the throne," said Alfonso with a calm face.
"Fight for the throne? But His Majesty already said that his inherit is His Highness Fernando and your brothers and sister didn't think to argue about that…"
"Well, maybe I am being paranoid," said Alfonso with a small smile.
Felio looked at Alfonso. He knew that Alfonso wouldn't say anything more about his family, however, he could notice that Alfonso had something else in mind.
"The Lockheart family has always been united and protected each other a lot…. They won't start a massacre just for the throne… right?" wondered Felio.
"Anyway, I also have something else for you… or to be more specific, for your soldiers," said Alfonso while taking out a small bottle.
Felio immediately recognized this bottle.
"Isn't this the small juice that little girl sold you yesterday?"
"That's right…. This juice has a good effect on wound. Give each one to your frontline soldiers. This will help them to resist more on the battlefield. I suggest you take 2 for yourself. I will do the same." Alfonso gave Felio 80 bottles.
Felio was skeptical. After all, it was impossible for such a miraculous elixir to exist!
"Believe me or not, it is your choice." After that, Alfonso stood up to leave.
As Alfonso was leaving, Felio took another look at the bottle and called all the squad leaders.
"Squad Four, Five and Six, this will be your instructions for the incoming battle: Take these juices and give them to the best of your warriors."
Felio began the discussion with his soldiers.
........................
Alfonso was bleeding- or that how he felt after giving the bottles to Felio.
As to why he gave him the bottles? Well the answer was simple.
"Maintaining the formation is the most crucial factor in this battle, if the soldiers die too fast, then the little girls will be in danger.… Nevertheless… I wanted to conceal the secret of the juices just a bit more. Enough time is needed to have sufficient stock…" Alfonso sighed.
Alfonso wasn't a saint, he didn't give the bottles just to save the lives of the soldiers in Tulip. He was just doing it for himself and his people. Maybe someone will say that he had a narrow mind.
"However, I don't care, I made a promise to myself that I will do everything in my power to survive. I will only care about me and the people at my side. As for the rest? Well, that will depend on the situation."
Alfonso sat on his bed but he didn't sleep. He was just looking at the ceiling of the room. He thought about the incoming fight of tomorrow and couldn't help but look at his hand. It was trembling.
Alfonso made a bitter smile.
"Since coming to this world I have the feeling that my state of mind has changed. Maybe it's because my mind was always worked out by something that I didn't notice but… seeing this… its reminds me that I am still a normal human with human emotions. I am not a hero nor am I a fierce sovereign…. I am just a normal human that does everything he needs to survive…. Maybe this is wrong…. Maybe this is right…. I don't know, however, this is my way, and that is enough," thought Alfonso.
He fell sleep after that.
The next day.
This day, the jubilant streets of Tulip were empty. The commercial zone, which usually was bustling with people, was a dead zone.
In front of the gates 800-something soldiers were encircling a group of archers. Inside the archer's zone were Okeanos' daughters plus the squad of Furio.
Each squad leader was in front of the formation except for Furio. Felio and Alfonso were in front of all the soldiers with Artemis beside Alfonso and Leonardo beside Felio.
Funny enough, each of them had a small flower in their pockets.
"I didn't know that Miss Demeter had such an amazing and convenient ability. It is no wonder you insisted on bringing her," said Felio while looking at his flower.
Alfonso didn't say anything. He just nodded.
"Artemis, you know what to do, right?" asked Alfonso.
"Yes, my lord."
They stood there… waiting with tensed emotions.
The air felt heavy.
They knew that many of them would not see tomorrow.
However, they choose to stay.
For their beloved ones.
For their land.
"WELL, WELL… FELIO, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, HASN'T IT?!" A sound suddenly woke up everyone from their thoughts.
Felio looked up and saw a fat and tall man with two swords on his back smiling at him.
"TITIO!"