With our battle with Kotesh's archers and mages coming to a close, with what little remained of them routing or fighting to the last, we'd met up with Nelwynn's force. of our 250 combined forces, we'd lost about 60, with 10 additional troops being sent of with Cordell. I then began reorganizing our forces, and having Nelwynn begin treating any seriously injured on our side with her healing magics. Upon finalizing all her uses, I had her and the wounded troops make a long trip back to the main camp, while the remaining 180 troops reassembled into formation.
I then ordered the conscripts to begin the march on the remains of the Kotesh army that was still engaged with our forces. As we'd marched I opened up with a marching song, one that was similar to the one used by the soviet army during their victory parades.
Landyn: "We stand at our posts, by brigade and commander. As immortal as fire, as firm as granite. We are the army of the nation, the army of the people, our deeds through history will transcend time! With our destiny, in the hand of our banner, it's no wonder our country has hope in us!
[chorus] With the sacred phrase, "the capital is behind us!" we remember the battle of Alturia! With the sacred phrase, "the capital is behind us!" we remember the battle of Alturia!
Our fathers handed down, an almighty weapon, as we swore an oath to our native land. With this we have one duty, to shield our land from encroaching death!
[chorus]
Despite their bragging, we are void of all fear. If the foe threatens us, they'll be met with fire again! If the foe tests our might again, we'll annihalate them with our overwhelming might!
[chorus]"
I'd sung our song as we marched in formation, ordering a spear wall as we'd begun slowly moving on the Kotesh infantry. The rear of their lines turning to see us marching on them, panicked upon seeing the archers, cavalry, and mages who were to their rear now decimated. Seeing us marching on, the Sarellian cavalry had begun charging to engage in into both flanks of the now hopeless infantry.
Those that heard our march, ally and foe alike, were shaken upon seeing our march, though our allies morale recovered quickly, they were in total disbelief that a bunch of peasants managed to beat so many mages, archersn and cavalry. That those same peasants, were now marching with discipline upon the infantry they'd been engaged with for the last hour and a half.
With morale high, we'd began crashing into the rear line of the Kotesh infantry. Though I'd wished to offer them terms of surreneder, promises of fair treatment and such. I knew full well that such would be false promises, as prisoners of war were oft taken as slaves, if not outright executed, regardless of their class. Such was the prize granted by the victors of combat in this world.
As the battle died down, with the last of the Kotesh military either being routed, captured, or killed, we'd began to make our way back to camp. It was here that I was hailed by the other captains, not only for the defeat of the archers, cavalry, and mages, but also for redirecting my forces to engage with the remaining infantry and conscripts.
Becket: "Landyn, that was most excellent work! I'll be quite honest, I truly expected you and your troop to be wiped out, we all did! Haha, you're a barrel of surprises my young lad!"
Atkin: "Much as I disagreed with lightening your sentence, Becket's plan for what most considered a suicide attack was quite the interesting one, though yes we most certainly anticipated your loss."
Becket: "Oi lad, what was it you were saying before you'd assembled your force into that wall formation? It sounded like a battle song!"
Landyn: "Ah, yes, it was something I'd thought up to further raise our troops morale before engaging Kotesh's remaining forces."
Becket: "Think you could sing it again for our troops as we march back home lad?"
Landyn: "Is that an order, or a request, captain?"
Glabados: "Haha, lad thinks he's tough shit after that battle! It's an order whelp!"
Landyn: "sigh, very well, but only on our march home."
Becket: "Good lad! I'm sure Oswin will be quite pleased to hear it as our victory march! it will echo for years to come!"
Indeed Landyn's song would echo through time for years, but not under the banner of the Kingdom of Sarellia, but rather under the unified reign of the Union of Free Peoples. This victory against Kotesh, while great, would be the final victory that the kingdom would ever be greeted with.
Landyn's name had already begun echoing through the ranks of the Royal Army and the conscripts, with news even reaching Sarellia's villages. News of a young conscript leading many other conscripts within the Lord's Army to annihalate Kotesh's forces. At the camps, Landyn was hailed by the troops as a hero, while the commanders all kept close eyes on him, fearing what may result from a disobedient conscript proving to be a more effective commander than any of them. They could not openly call for his execution nor make any moves however, they were stuck in a game of waiting for Landyn's next move.
When news of the victory had reached the Grand Duchy's royal capital, the lords of the nation began opening peace talks with Sarellia, offering land conessions as well as their nation's wealth, in order to prevent Sarellia from advancing any further. This would result in Kotesh's loss of Port City Revel, as well as the outlying villages, along with a few additional losses to land, upon facing total defeat.
Nobles within Sarellia were quite happy with the result, seeing an expanse onto their territory, as well as the potential of expanding their own domains. News of Landyn's feats reached Lord Oswin, though as Landyn had predicted, such feats were claimed undee name of the captains who'd ordered him to accomplish them. The conscripts saw no increase in their rewards for the suicide attack, receiving the same compensation provided to all other conscripts. Such did not sit right with many who'd followed Landyn.
The mages Cordell and Nelwynn had now returned to the capital to continue their studies, however Nelwynn had departed the Sarellian Magic Institute, instead opting to journey back to her hometown, under growing pressure from her peers. Cordell followed soon after, though not before being severely wounded in a duel with other mages.
Both mages ended up passing through Lodroestein, whereupon they'd met once again with Landyn.
Nelwynn: "Landyn?"
Landyn: "Nelwynn? I'd thought you and Cordell were returning to the Magic Institute?"
Nelwynn was silent for a moment, before inforning me of the furthering harassment, even after the war, harassment towards her did not end.
Landyn: "I see, Cordell is here too it seems... Cordell, are you injured?"
Cordell: "Don't be ridiculous, it's only a scratch!"
Cordell held his arm tightly, there was no blood, so it could obly be assumed that it was an internal injury, presumably a fracture. I was no dictor, nor was I capable of using any healing arts, so there was little I could do.
Nelwynn: "I tried healing him on our way, though it doesn't seem to affected anything at all. He'd told me he got into a fight with other mages after I'd left and that this was the result."
Cordell: "It's fine. Just makes casting my magics a bit more tedious, that's all. Naught to be worried of!"
Landyn: "I see... if you two would like, you could come in for dinner, I'd managed to catch some extra animals so we've been left with more food than we need."
Nelwynn: "Landyn, we couldn't! Your family is of the merchant class aren't they? Surely you can't spare us kuch? I'm sure there's an inn nearby we could take lodging on, we wouldn't want to burden you."
Landyn: "I told you we have more than we need. And the next in is another half day's travel, do you two have enough supplies to make it there?"
Cordell's stomach began to growl upon smelling mother's cooking.
Cordell: "Nelwynn, surely a small rest couldn't trouble us? Besides, merchant or no, it's rather rude to turn away a meal offered, no?"
Nelwynn's stomach followed Cordell's, and she quickly came to agreeance. I'd proceeded to bring them inside our small home, where my father and mother introduced themselves.
Arnold: "Landyn, are these friends of yours?"
Landyn: "Ahn yes, we'd served in the Lord's army in the war together. They're on their way back to their hometowns but don't have any lodging and are running low on provisions. I'd thought it fair to offer them our extra food so as not to waste it, father."
Ornelle: "Oh my, is that why that young man is injured, Landyn? And who is the charming young lady? I'd thought only the men were permitted to serve in the army?"
Nelwynn: "Actually- mmmph!"
Cordell civered Nelwynn's mouth, knowing the panic that would ring should they announce that they're mages.
Landyn: "Ah, yes, Cordell here took a painful bliw in combat during the war, and the mages were left unable to treat his wounds given the nature of it. Nelwynn here is actually a mage proficient in healing magic. She'd actually ended up treating us when we received minor injuries during combat."
Arnold: "Hmm? A mage? Landyn, you have an exceptional talent for being full of surprises. Not many merchants are acquanted with mages."
Ornelle: "My, I don't suppose that you and Nelwy here are starstruck with each other, are you?"
Nelwynn's eyes turned wide and her face beet red. Meanwhile I'd spit out my food in shock from mother's way of thinking.
Landyn: "M-mother! No, she's someone who aided us during the war! Why must you jump to such strange conclusions?"
Nelwynn's face was still beet red, Cordell was in shock as well, but he'd begun laughing at such an outburst.
Cordell: "Haha, Landyn, your mother is certainly a funny one!"
Ornelle: "Am I misunderstanding though? Nelwy seemed to be quite happy when you'd invited her in?"
By this point, Nelwynne was embarrased beyond belief, to a point where she'd ran out of our house, with her face still beet red.
Landyn: "Mother! Sigh, Cordell will she be alright?"
Cordell: "Not sure, you should find out for yourself, loverboy."
Landyn: "Please don't encourage her."
With that I'd made my way in search of Nelwynn. Bringing some of our food with, as she'd barely eaten any before she'd stormed out.