The March will take about a month, so there is not much going on there. I spend most days mingling with the soldiers and getting to know my men. Some of my advisors are against this, of course, but I ignore it as I have Gretta; yes Gretta, you know, the scout I saved from the bandits. She is the leader of the Orders Scout regiment. As for Adam, remember the guard captain when I first went to Ankier? Yeah, it turned out he was very compatible with my sword style, so he is like super strong now, and his magic isn't bad either. He is the head of my guard. Both are loyal to me; I trust them as friends and war companions. Though I was forced to have them come along while I mingle, they are a welcomed addition to the soldiers.
They find it awkward to talk to the lord as an equal, but I insist while we are in camp unless we are in a fight or in front of another noble. Because you know Etiquette, but that aside, the days fly by, and then we are moving after than planned initially almost a week ahead of schedule, I order a slight detour. To my old home, the land of the Gatsbys, as we approached, we apparently scared the shit out of my family's militia. That is stationed in the hometown. I order camp and approach the Gates. I'm let in and proceed to a place that I call home.
My mom is waiting for me at the manor entrance and giving me a very menacing smile. I feel a sense of dread wash over me as I get within range. She begins to scold me for bringing an army to the gates without sending a messenger to inform me beforehand. As she gets done, my sister rolls up.
"Hey, lil bro." Hey, sis, I replied
So what did you do this time? Nothing much but being my army to camp in front of the city."
This earns me more of a talking-to from Mom after she is done, and my bodyguards finish holding back laughter, which makes my mom's ire as she turns to them and lectures them.
"Now that that's over!" my sister chimes in
"You might want to sit for this. The wedding is official. It's happening come next fall, so in a year and a half." she says, all bubbly
I'll take his head! I won't give you to him! She gives me a chop to the head.
"I'm not yours to give! And I won't let you. He's been good to me, brother. I love him, and you will respect my decision." She looks into my eyes at my level.
"Fine, but if he hurts you, he's dead."
You and what army!" she replies
"Did you really say that?" I retort
Oh, you forgot, how long you here for?
A day or two, we are a week ahead of schedule,
"makes sense. Your dad left three days ago."
"How long ago did you leave?"
"About a week and a half ago. My troops were motivated."
My sister says, "Usually, it takes two weeks and a few days, impressive speed."
"Well, enough of the war talk. Let's eat. We were about to eat before you scared us half to death!"
"So come on inside, and Zeus, welcome home!" my mom says with a smile.
I tell Gretta to return, tell the officers we take a two-day break, and inform the troops of this as well. And so the night passes peacefully, and I wake to a simi-familiar ceiling. A wave of nostalgia hits me. I was here briefly, but it meant a lot to me and changed me even. In my past life, I ran from my family; it is why I was alone in Japan. The loss of my sister on earth drove my parents borderline mad, so I left and never looked back. Still, here I've been shown love in this world and been cared for, and then I remembered the vow I took to protect those who show me kindness and those I am inclined to help. This oath I took at one or two, I can't remember it was after my sister saved me from the wild dogs. But the event still echoes in my heart.
I'm knocked out of my nostalgia by knocking at the door
, sir, Breakfast is ready. I'll be down.
"Is Adam up?" I ask
"Yes, my lord.
"Good, well, I'll be down as soon as I hop out of bed and change into casual clothes. I say to the butler on the other side of the door.
As I come down, I head to the dining hall and eat. I then head to the training field and spar with Adam for a couple of hours. As I leave, a courier from my army approaches rapidly.
"Believe his name is Hector," I say under my breath
I call out to him, and he replies instantly
" It's urgent, My lord. The king has sent a messenger. The enemy army has broken through the front and has decimated the elven city of clearance. They have the city of Reids, then they will reach Grímnir within a week and a few days."
"Prepare the troops for immediate departure, four hours max. We resume march!"
"sir. Time will it! As he departs, I reply Fate wills it."
I see my mother standing on the edge of the field. I walk over to her and tell her what I've just heard. She seems shaky but stands tall and proud.
"All will be fine; I'm going there after all!" I state
Foolish boy! You should not know war, but here you stand, a warrior. Have I failed as a mother?
I quickly rejected her words.
"Due to you and my father's love and care, I have grown faster and stronger than I need to be. Mom, You have not failed but made a boy who can protect what his love desires and intrigues him. You are the best mom I know, and that is the truth. I love you. I will be back for my sister's wedding, and I'll be sure Dad lives to see it too, I promise."
"You shouldn't raise death flags for your father," she says teasingly.
"Worry about yourself first, him second, okay?"
Yes, Mother!" I reply with a smile.
"Now I have to go." As she holds me for too long, she reluctantly lets me go, and I wave to her as I teleport to the head of the camp. My field marshal approaches me, and I nod to him.
"My lord, the camp is packed, and the men are ready to march. Marshall Jackson, when we are three days out, the shock troops will teleport to the front. With me at the helm, you will lead the men to the halfway point between Grímnir and Reids and wait. Blue fireworks will signal when to charge. This is an order! No complaints, got it!"
Sir! he salutes with his fist over his heart and gets the troops moving. Meanwhile, I don my armor and prepare for the fight ahead as I inform the men of the order of my plan, which is to defend the walled city of Reids with all we have, all one hundred of us! Plus, whatever troops are stationed there. As we approach the four-day mark, a messenger comes to us from my father. He informs me that Reids is under siege. That's ahead of schedule. Well, no biggie, we are close enough. I halt the March and give a final speech today.
"The scale tips but towards us. March on, my soldiers, for the time has come. March and wait for the flame of blue and charge the enemy. Let none stand for Fate wills it no. The flow of time wills it.
"Time wills it!"
"fate commands it!" the order knights shout.
Now March is double time! My solder towards Grímnir as for you, my troop, my scales of the timeless. We attack the enemy camp! For the scales for the timeless, As I open a portal near the enemy camp, they march through, me at the rear, armed to the teeth, ready to kill. My men all cast boost simultaneously, as do I
"Time wills it; fate commands it!" I shout as we all dash as fast as calvery back on earth
"Time wills it! Fate commands it!" they roar as we approach the camp in seconds. The enemy is late to react. As we broke their formation as quickly as we entered, we ended it. The forces below were not the wiser to the surprise attack.
Report! I shout
"No wounded, no injured, all enemies dead, estimated 200 at least in the camp." Adam gave me the report
good. Well, quickly get those siege engines targeting the enemy in the front! Before they notice something is wrong.
"Sir!" As he leaves, Gretta comes up with a report! The enemy numbers 2,000 scouts, and I agree it's probably just their vanguard. We think this because of the number of empty tents. There is at least enough room for 8,000 troops here. She gives a salute as the first trebuchet launches a mass of fire-charged mana crystals at the enemy lines courtesy of their own. As it makes contact, about five hundred are wiped out as the second and third make contact, and only about 300 remain. I order my men to charge as I store the trebuchet ammo and the two trebuchets themselves. I take two and burn the other as I hear my men's warcry.
"Fate commands it!" time wills it."
I teleport to the front, and the outcome is much the same: all enemies dead, two wounded. I heal the wounded and approach the gates.
"In the name of the emperor and the name of Zeus, Lightless Gatsby opens the gates. We are friends, not foes. As the gates squeal open, a middle-aged elven man stands as the gates open; he rushes towards me. My guard, Adam, reacts, but I stop him. He grabs my hand and says
Thank Luxus!