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It is the first time I can concentrate so much on someone's words. And not only concentrate, but become a part of them. I can completely imagine all the situations named, and feel them in my own flesh as if I were the one experiencing them.
'It's the first time in my life that so many emotions and feelings collide.'
Emir: "!!!!"
'I-I need to take a deep breath, and come out of this trance.'
I had heard about the influence he has on the masses, but I never thought I would completely fall into the trap. Phew… Right now I feel like I'm free of it, but that thought of wanting to take back what belongs to me still lingers.
'The Lucia River doesn't belong to you, for goodness sakes. From where do you get so much patriotism, Emir? You must be the only one who cheats; you can't be fooled by others!'
Although my blood boils with patriotism, my rational thinking took control again. I won't fall for his words so easily anymore.
"... Everyone will have their time! we must not leave this decision in the hands of others but shape it ourselves..."
Their brainwashing continued for about 20 more minutes, during which time we all managed to see the dust appear in the distance.
The army of the Drial Cenit kingdom is behind the dividing river.
"... Now! I need you to take a deep breath and feel the moment with me."
*Inhale* *Exhale*
The whole army breathed at the same time, making such small sounds increase several times due to the synchrony of hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
Emir: "..."
'My Holy God Solus... He has them eating out of his hand! His gift of gab defies the heavens! What an envy-...! Ehem… what a professional I mean, as expected of the admiral general.'
With a big smile on his face, he shouted "Now wake up! Raise your weapons and make the enemy tremble with your roar!"
"OOOOOOOHHHHH!"
There were 200 thousand soldiers shouting at the same time, a roar that crossed borders and reached the ears of the Drial Cenit kingdom's army.
"OOOOOOHHHH!"
Unaffected by this, the enemy returned the same roar to us.
"Divide!!!!"
The admiral general's shout was the trigger for dozens of orders coming from different generals and colonels.
With the orders given, the army, which had arrived in orderly rows of soldiers, completely changed. Seen from the air, now the vanguard possesses the shape of an arrowhead.
The fact that the army can be configured in dozens of formations gives it incredible versatility, capable of being modified at will by its leaders. The admiral general's orders are practically a mystery for common soldiers; only the superiors are able to hear them and carry them out in their respective military divisions.
"Archers! Phoenix Formation!" shouted Armand Teninse.
The military division to which I belong moved orderly and swiftly, forming two large wings with dozens of rows of archers in each. From the air, they must resemble a bird with infinite feathered wings, with the exception of two points on its head.
Of course, those dots are me and General Hernan.
I feel left out, as if all my classmates dare not speak to me because I am in the crosshairs of the class bully.
***
In a few minutes, all the formations were over, and then a gallop was heard. It was the admiral general riding through the center of the army to assess the soldiers and their formations. Occasionally he spoke to a general, but this talk did not continue for more than 5 seconds.
Until he arrived in front of the military division of archers.
'- Wait. Did this formation have two people at the front? It's illogical. They will die.'
Emir and General Hernan watched calmly as Dorian Aranis approached them.
No, actually, their bodily expressions indicated that they were suffering from injustice. All because of the corrupt Magic Archer who put them in front.
Dorian was about to do justice for them when he realized their identities.
'- My Holy God Solus... This guy is still alive!'
Although he doesn't fully remember the man in front of him, he remembers how he sent him to the recon group so that, when he died, the Saint were furious with them. He later found out that the man got the nickname of the 'Golden Archer'.
He was sure he would die. Many talents have died at the hands of the Drial Cenit Kingdom assassins. These ones specialize in concealment, so he just thought his corpse hadn't been discovered yet, that's all.
'- Ah, I see. It's because of that magic item that it has been difficult for the assassins to recognize him.'
It is difficult to distinguish the effect of the Perception inhibitor; only those who have seen it once are able to recognize that their perception is being influenced.
'- Hernan is also with him… Ha, it really was a good move to recruit him.'
It is at this very moment that Dorian Aranis stops in front of Emir and Hernan.
"Keep it up" With a slight smile on his face, Dorian nods.
Emir: "..."
Hernán: "...."
'- Don't tell me...' They both understood the hidden meaning in Dorian's words.
With a big smile, Dorian Aranis looked towards the military division of archers and then fixed his gaze on a certain person.
"You did a great job with the Golden Archer. Well done" said Dorian, but a fierce wind passed over him in the middle of his words, causing some of his words to go unheard.
"Thank you, Admiral General. I hope I don't let you down" Something Armand Teninse didn't mind as he understood the main message.
After nodding, Dorian Aranis continued his cavalcade throughout the army.
Hernan: "..."
'- I agreed to be in this place because I knew that the admiral general would perform a ride before giving the final order; but I never thought that the Golden Archer had offended him too! Shit! What do I do now?' Hernan immediately grasped Dorian Aranis' intention and that... He allied himself with the wrong person.
Every word the Admiral General says will be remembered by everyone; he is the leader of this army, after all. His words are worth their weight in gold. That is why his message was transmitted to all the military divisions; and even the small squadrons managed to listen...
[You've done a great job, Golden Archer. Well done]
''So he's the Golden Archer, huh? He's got an effeminate appearance...''
"Well, he surely is the one of the rumors. If the admiral general says he's the Golden Archer, no one would dare say otherwise!''
''Hmm. Wasn't that the general of the archers? Perhaps... is Golden Archer his pseudonym?''
''Some time after Dorian left the place, the rumors reached Emir and Armand's ears.''
'- Well, whatever. I created this identity so that I wouldn't be recognized. I don't mind if General Armand takes all of my crimes.'
'- This scoundrel! Not content with taking away my right to be the best archer, now he wants to take away my achievements too!' On the other hand, Armand was completely furious.
If people think he's the Golden Archer, then everything he does will end up benefiting Emir! So, he must prove that they're both different people before it's too late!
'- Patience, patience. I mustn't get worked up; that's what this guy is after. For now I have to keep a low profile; once he shoots his golden arrows, then the truth will come out' Armand tried to reassure himself.
To avoid further finger pointing, Armand pulled up his hood and covered part of his face. While those with high rankings can easily recognize each other, this does not happen with those belonging to the lower stratum. Few are the times when the generals come out of their tents, and the possibility of seeing them and being able to recognize them is low. And for that reason, the present problem has arisen.
'- I'll make sure to demonstrate my presence more often so that this doesn't happen again!'
Once Dorian Aranis verified his own army, he rode at a slow pace towards the front.
''Are you there? How'd it go?'' Dorian whispered.
At first glance, he would appear to be talking to himself, but then... Someone appears at his back. To say 'appears' is a bit misleading actually. He's been there for quite some time now! But no one has been able to notice him!
The most remarkable thing about this person is his nose piercing, and his hair extensions made of different colored feathers. If Emir were on the spot, he would immediately recognize him, as this man is none other than... Commander Cael!
Scratching his ear, Cael said, ''I killed around 40 spies, but I can't assure you that there aren't more. I even took the lives of possible suspects. They may have been innocent, but well... they brought it on themselves.''
'-It's their fault that there are mysteries surrounding them.' Cael lifted his shoulders slightly.
Despite being visible to Dorian, no one else noticed Cael's presence. Even the horse didn't feel anything strange on its back!
''That's enough. Now our young talents will live," Dorian said, nodding.
''Ha! Let's see for how long''
After mocking Dorian, Commander Cael jumped off the horse, and his existence... disappeared again.
'- He's right... Let's see how long you'll live, Golden Archer. I'll be anxiously awaiting your death! That way the stupid King will have to give me an early retirement to lessen the anger of the Saint!'
Dorian Aranis felt his retirement was closer than ever. At last, he will be able to pay the child support to his ex-wives and have some money for himself.
'- Having children has been my worst misfortune.'