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Despite what they had initially said, it took the resistance group three days to prepare and travel to where we were camping. And once they arrived, it took another half day to organize everything needed before leaving.
The reason was that it was necessary to divide the army into groups of 20 or 30 people and assign resistance members to act as guides for each group. Since we are all going to march together, there are too many of us to be confident that the information being said at the front of the line will effectively reach the back of the mass of people.
As we march, we encounter various setbacks. All because, despite the warnings of the guides, many skeptical soldiers fell prey to the various dangers of the jungle. None of the encounters were fatal, fortunately for them, but they did slow down our march.
The worst part was taken by a group of five men. They wandered a bit away from the group to urinate and were attacked by the trees they were spraying.
We are currently about 15 kilometers from the city. We stopped to rest and make final preparations before launching the attack. It is getting dusk, and we are supposed to attack after dark, so we still have plenty of time to prepare.
From where we are, we can see the high concrete walls of the city and the large metal gates that serve to access the city.
From what Lilian told me as we marched, the plan is for Gell and I to travel to where the city governor is and try to get the command center down as quickly as possible.
Apparently, if we accomplish this, the rest of the city's armed forces will surrender. It doesn't make much sense to me, but I guess I don't know much about orc culture.
While we head towards where the governor is, the rest of the army has to attack different points of the city wall and try to draw the attention of most of the armed forces of Krag-an in order to clear our way.
In this way, we will not have to bring the whole army to the center of the city to take control, and thus we will avoid the chaos that would be generated if we forced the entrances. Since surely the civilians would attack the army in an attempt to defend their homes.
Although I do not understand how we could, if necessary, force our way into the city. The walls and gates seem to be incredibly sturdy. And, while we could try to open a breach with a succession of mana bombs, I don't think the defending forces are going to let us do so.
'But that's not my problem, and Lilian seemed pretty convinced of our success when she explained what I had to do.'
The only problem I see is that the city's forces will be armed with those sticks that fire metal bullets, which I've heard Charity call rifles, and which generate damage similar to mana bullets, while our forces only have bows and crossbows since almost no mages from the magic academies have come on the expedition.
'But our forces only have to serve as bait... I suppose they can stay out of range of the orcs' weapons and simply threaten them with their presence.'
However, despite Lilian's orders, Deirdre wants to come with Gell and me. So, having moved us away from the group for a bit, I've been trying to convince her for five minutes now that it's better if she doesn't follow me this time.
"...I'm sick of you always treating me like a little girl! This is what I've been training for all this time! I want to help you, master!" She exclaims as her body trembles with frustration.
"And you will, Deirdre, but it will be from a different position. I need you to stay here with Azur, Charity, and the rest to distract the enemy soldiers while Gell and I do our parts," I say, trying not to lose my patience.
I need her to understand that she can't come with me this time.
"This plan is stupid!.... I should never have asked you to come with me here..." she says, distressed, as she looks down at the ground. "At least take Azur with you."
"I would have come even if you hadn't asked me. I'm the champion of the tournament, remember?" I say as I stroke her head to try to calm her down, "And the answer is no. Azur will stay with you, as there is nothing like seeing a dragon at the gates of the city to get the attention of the orcs"
"Agh, okay! Just... Please, master, promise me you'll come back safely." she says, looking up with eyes wet from unshed tears of frustration.
"I promise. I have no intention of sacrificing myself" I say, as I dry with my thumb a single tear sliding down her cheek. "And you promise me you won't do anything crazy. Stay close to Azur and Charity at all times."
"That's easy to promise. We just have to simulate an attack on the city. As soon as the orcs notice our intent, we can retreat to a safe distance," she says, and a smile escapes her. "It's you I'm worried about."
"Well, don't worry, I'll only face a small number of enemies, and besides, I'll have the wolf to help me..." I say, smiling to try to comfort her. "Think about this. Have you ever seen me lose a fight?"
"No..." says Deirdre, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand to dry them.
"Well, there you go," I say, giving her right forearm a light squeeze before walking away from her.
Before I leave with Gell, I tell Azur, who still prefers to rest on Deirdre's shoulders even though he's no longer upset with me, to protect her.... At all costs.
"I'm done talking to Deirdre. I think I convinced her, but keep an eye on her," I say quietly to Charity as I approach the table where she and other important figures of the resistance and the expedition are finalizing the last details of the attack plans while analyzing a detailed map of the city on a makeshift table.
"Okay, I'll take care of her. Don't worry about it. You should go to my husband's side and make sure you have a good understanding of your entire role in this. I think you understand the importance of what we are about to attempt, but please think about the pressure that those primarily responsible for the plan of attack must be feeling. Young Estella became very nervous when she saw you suddenly leaving the group," she answers me in a low voice.
"Alright, I'm going to his side," I tell her, a bit annoyed by the criticism, and go to where the only orc in our group is.
'I don't understand what Charity intended for me to do. After all, someone had to talk to Deirdre to convince her? I get the impression that Charity doesn't quite understand the little therian.'
As I approach Gell, I see that Lilian is looking at me and smiling while talking to Tomás Protego and Angnir. But I see that the girl has a nervous twitch in her right eye, and her hands are shaking slightly.
Seeing this, I can't help but remember the conversation with Joaquin about the lack of preparation and experience that the leaders of this expedition have.
In any case, Lilian is not the only one who is nervous. There is an air of tension in the army that seems to need only the slightest trigger to unleash chaos among the ranks of soldiers.
'But I feel pretty confident. I mean, I already faced the orcs in the battle on the beach, and I know I can take care of them without any problems... Although it's also true that this time I'll be facing the chief of the city and not just soldiers... Haa, anyway. I guess, in the worst-case scenario, we can always escape.'