-- POV Freya --
As I left the tent with Gaya to find Shiro, for the first time I looked around more carefully. It was dark and the light from the many campfires was perfectly illuminating while the sound of crackling flames brought a warm atmosphere. People were chatting while eating in a serene and unbarred atmosphere.
There were tents, smaller than the one where I slept with Gaya and Shiro but just as practical. Everything was very basic but with the extra hands and the many things taken after the battle, the camp was starting to look like something. There were many wooden tables, benches by the fire and even beds like ours all over the place. Kitchen utensils, tools, clothes, food, there was everything. The weapons were stored a little further away so that no one would get hurt with them.
I didn't want to start building the Kingdom on the mountain, and the recovery of the newcomers was the priority. We had to get everyone healthy again before we could think about moving anywhere. Once that was done, we would go near the ocean that was on the map to the west of the forest and look for the 100 people who were missing. We now had enough to transport everyone without worrying and where I wanted to go there was apparently a large expanse devoid of trees. It was more convenient to be in such a place for several reasons but for the moment it was not the most important.
*Where could Shiro be ?*
As I looked around for my daughter, a worry that was not known to me began to arise in my heart. I suddenly felt a pang in my stomach at the thought of not seeing her. The camp wasn't huge, but there were a lot of people and Shiro could have wandered off without anyone knowing.
The girls were still with the soldiers and even if I had to talk to them I had no thought for anything else. Crossing the camp without a glance at those who were bowing to me, I finally found Shiro near a fire with another child. Gaya was still next to me and looked at her also full of questions.
"Shiro, come here !"
Relieved, I called her to give her some instructions.
"Shiro, when you go out to play, make sure you always stay in front of the tent or close enough so that Gaya and I can see you okay ? And when you play by the fire be careful, you are still too young so don't get too close !"
My little moon nodded her head in understanding which made me breathe a long sigh of relief. As I looked up, I could see the other child who was a little girl of the same age as Shiro. She seemed to be a hybrid because she had leopard ears and tail but also small black feathered wings on the back. Her hair was black with golden spots as was her tail and ears reminiscent of a leopard's fur.
"Hello young lady, what's your name ?"
I could obviously see her name but I had decided not to analyze people if it wasn't necessary. The little hybrid girl had her head down looking at the ground and was shaking as she stammered her name.
"Ka..kate...ma'am. Excuse me...your highness !"
Kate was really very shy, quiet and really introverted but she was cute and seemed to get along well with Shiro delighted. She must have been through quite a bit of horrible stuff and I hadn't seen any leopard hybrids like her in the camp, so Kate was an orphan.
"Mommy, this is...this is my first friend. Kate, this is my mom, her name is...uh...mommy. And then right behind her is my second mom, mom Gaya !"
It was reassuring to see her act more naturally with someone other than Gaya and me. Apart from us, Shiro too was very shy and not very talkative, it was this personality trait that must have brought them together. Stroking my little moon's head, I smiled back at her.
"We're proud of you !"
"That's great ! Nice to meet you." Replied my wife at the same time.
Then I turned to Kate smiling as I spoke.
"I am delighted to meet you Kate, I hope you will continue to get along well with my daughter. You can call me Freya since you are her friend."
It was her turn to get a pat on the head as I winked at her. Kate had stopped shaking a bit and smiled shyly at me in response, nodding her head.
[You're getting good with kids !]
*Pfff, you can tell me that when I will stop making them shake with a simple look. And she's Shiro's very first friend, that's important.*
[Okay, whatever you say, mama hen hehe~]
Turning to the two little girls ignoring Kira's words I stood up to leave, not without making sure my little moon hadn't forgotten my instructions.
"Both of you, don't play too far away and you Shiro when you get tired, go back to the tent okay ? We still have work to do unfortunately. Don't get lost, always stay where there are people and especially remember to play well in front of the tent or I'll worry !"
"I promise !"
"Goodbye your high...Lady Freya."
I didn't even have time to answer that they were already running towards the tent as I sighed.
"You take your role seriously it seems haha~"
Gaya was giggling after witnessing the scene but I didn't know why. I had only talked to Shiro to make sure nothing would happen to her.
*Did I overdo it ?*
[Mmh well...after all you are her mother but considering your usual personality, the contrast is quite incredible, even I was shocked by you].
I never really had a role model so I couldn't tell if my reaction was normal or not, it just came from the heart. Either way I didn't care and my wife and daughter's happiness came first.
"Let's go !"
Motioning for the dragoness to follow me, I headed this time to where the 10 girls were still who must have groupes the new soldiers. Crossing the camp in the opposite direction, I took this time the trouble to greet the crowd of people who were bowing to me again as I passed. It was actually the whole camp, no matter where I passed I was treated like the Empress...it was better for me not to see them kneel anymore outside of shall we say, solemn moments.
"Here we are."
The female warriors and the 160 new recruits had been gathering a bit away from the camp all day and had finished eating. When they saw me coming they all stood up and bowed before taking a very military stance, straight, staring at the horizon.
"Good evening your Highness, good evening Gaya-sama."
Despite the fact that they were men and women still ignorant of combat, I could see that they had already been trained very well by my 10 female warriors. They were all very skinny with little muscle but that burning desire to protect was still evident in them. Despite their still fragile physiques, they looked like real soldiers, standing and saluting the leader. The girls had done a very good job so far.
"Good evening."
"Good evening, did you have time to do what I asked ?"
As I asked the question, Thorunn spoke up while the others nodded.
"We took the liberty of dividing them up based on our own skills and specialties in combat."
The 10 girls did indeed have combat skills that were not entirely similar, so I had planned to create sections with them in charge. Without knowing it, they had really made my job easier.
"Fine, join me in the tent for a meeting with all 10 of you. The rest of you can go rest."
"Hai !"
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We were all gathered around the table in the tent with Gaya to finally talk about the organization of the army.
*If I understood correctly, they have already taken care of separating the volunteers based on themselves...let's see how it goes.*
Seeing that I was ready to listen to them, Luna took the floor to explain what they had done during the day.
"Your Highness, as Thorunn told you earlier we have taken the liberty of separating the soldiers into groups. This way it will be easier for you to get an idea of the talents each soldier has."
I pondered these words as I crossed my legs, staring at each one with my squinting, violet, piercing eyes. Every time my gaze landed on one of them, she flinched and looked down. In my mind their work was perfect and I even thought they were very competent despite never having been in an army.
"This is perfect ! I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised by your decision making regarding my order. It further confirms the choice I made."
The 10 in front of me smiled before wondering about my choice. I had promised a reward on the battlefield and I hadn't forgotten it but before I made my announcement I needed to know the details.
"Before I do, I would like you to take turns telling me who you think has the same fighting abilities and specialties. Emilia you start."
I already had my little idea but nothing prevented me from checking. The woman cat rose to make me hear what I had asked.
"On my side I have 36 volunteers who just like me can't use elements but can fight with a weapon or without since there also are intelligent beasts. In the number mentioned above, there are centaurs, ogres, kobolds, minotaurs as beastmen or half-humans. Regarding intelligent beasts, there are tigers, bears and wolves your highness."
I had noticed that there were in this world, many more people unable to master magic because they had no element. I had been lucky to run into the girls, but there were so few of them protecting the camp because they were the only ones. Ralph rose in her turn while Emilia sat down.
"I was able to gather 30 volunteers gifted in hand-to-hand combat and knowing how to do magic for some. They will be able with training to acquire pure and raw strength. As races there are centaurs, half-tigers, half-wolves, ogres, kobolds, minotaurs and half-bears. Although low level, 13 are mages and 17 are non-mages."
*Mmh, if like Ralph they focus on hand-to-hand combat relying on their rages and elements even if some are mages, that would be a huge amount of firepower !!*
[That's for sure ! And then as a half-human, claws and fangs are just as important as a weapon].
For the moment everything was as I had imagined, so it was Trioa's turn to stand up and speak.
"Your Highness, those who come close to my abilities are all races capable of flying. There are 17 volunteers : harpies, half-wyverns like me, half-dragons and as intelligent beasts, griffins. 7 can use magic and 10 are unable to."
"Ooh half-dragons ? Are they stronger than the other races ?"
After hearing Trioa I couldn't help but turn to Gaya and ask her the question quietly.
"No more than half-wolves or half-tigers. They are not dragons, they were only born with our wings but their strengths are no different from others."
I was not yet familiar with this world but in my old one, dragons were considered in fantasy as one of the strongest creatures. So it was impossible for me not to think that half-dragons would have an advantage over other half-humans of "fierce" types.
While I was thinking, Trioa had sat down and Nixia had stood up.
"In my group there are 28 volunteers who specialize more in ranged combat whether with magic or with weapons. There are elves, ogres, kobolds and minotaurs. 10 are mages and 18 are non-mages who have opted for weapons such as bows or crossbows."
The lamia was indeed a very strong half-human and her magic could attack from near and far. However, in hand-to-hand combat she was much less strong despite her strength, so it was normal that she specialized in ranged combat.
Only Caipy, Persea, Luna, Ynir and Naïa were left, but before one of them could stand up, I took the floor.
"Naia, I want you to join Nixia's group. You are strong but you still need to learn to master your element and evolve it, combat experience is also very important"
She was only 16 and I couldn't have her alone for the job I was going to give the other 9. Once they were all done talking, I could finally tell them what I had planned to reward them with.
[N/A: Table with details in the next chapter. But you can find the details of the different races mentioned here. I work hard for you hehe~ And don't worry I haven't forgotten the dwarves. Everything happens for a reason, I always plan everything (well almost but this is planned)].
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FULL STATUS
Name : Freya
Age : 0 years / Mentally : 25 years
Sex : Female
Course : Ice Demon Wolf of chaos - Adult
Race : Major Demon
Titles : Blessed by Titania, Goddess of endless Chaos and eternal frozen Hell.
Dragon tamer
Ruthless slayer
Level : 32/70
Exp needed for next level: 22 100 / 33 000
HP : 90 000 / 90 000 MP : 45 000 / 45 000
Strength : 340
Defense : 336
Agility : 350
Stamina : 353
Speed : 342
Intelligence : 340
Charisma : 410 (imperial she-wolf)
Attribute points to allocate : 300
Married to: Gaya
Daughter : Shiro
Kingdom (menu)
Subordinates : 385
Humans killed : 148
Elements: Ice / Chaos
Skills (all):
Attack - Demon Claws (Lvl 5)
- Bite of hell (Lvl 5)
- Infernal ice spikes (Lvl 5)
- Fighting techniques (lvl max)
- Mastery of the katana (lvl max)
- Demonic aura of the empress (lvl 3)
Defense - Ice demon wall (lvl 4)
- Demonic cloak (lvl 5)
Pain Resistance (lvl 3)
Attack/Defense - Domain of the Ice Empress "frozen wrath" (lvl 1) - (under condition)
Others - Humanoid form
- Ice creation (Lvl 4)
- Storage of chaos (Lvl 3)
- Devouring chaos (Lvl 4)
- Analysis
- Second soul (Lvl max) - unique
- Telepathy
Passives - Commander (lvl max)
- Natural Aura of the Ice Empress ]