(Chapter 34)
Kaelion Arvasyn took matters into his own hands, bringing along a battalion of elite knights—an action no one had ever anticipated. With a thin smile, Lorcan Frostborne watched Kaelion's arrival with keen interest, finding this move a daring one that piqued his curiosity.
"What could the Emperor be thinking, sending the crown prince here?" muttered one of the commanders, his voice laced with quiet frustration. Lorcan overheard the complaint but chose to remain silent. His thoughts briefly drifted to Clarisse Faeloria, but he quickly refocused on the pressing situation.
"When will the crown prince arrive?" asked a soldier, turning to the commander.
"In four days," the commander replied gravely.
The initial attack from the barbarian forces had forced them to hold their ground more fiercely than before. The minor losses suffered had begun to add up, causing significant damage to their side. Lorcan, who had momentarily withdrawn to reorganize, realized that surprise attacks were no longer effective. He began devising a new strategy that would capitalize on the moment when the enemy grew overconfident.
"Could they really have been hiding their true strength all along?" murmured a soldier anxiously. "Are we going to keep getting pushed back like this?"
Lorcan answered calmly, "Don't rely too much on direct confrontation. We need to work together. Relying solely on brute force will only result in more losses."
Everyone who heard his words nodded, agreeing with his new strategy.
Meanwhile, Khan, the barbarian king, was satisfied with the progress of his forces, now able to mount a counteroffensive. However, Khan wasn't one to be lulled by small victories. He remained vigilant, reminding his troops not to make even the smallest mistake.
"We're going to make history and conquer the North!" he shouted with unwavering confidence.
"Yaaa!" his soldiers responded with fiery enthusiasm. Khan laughed heartily, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction. As a leader, he was not afraid to join the battlefield himself, proving his resolve to lead from the front.
Kaelion arrived at the border, heading straight for the battlefield. Though his initial intention had been to meet with Clarisse, he decided to delay that wish until the war situation was resolved. Upon encountering Lorcan, he was greeted with a respectful salute.
"I didn't expect His Highness, the Crown Prince, to take matters into his own hands in this situation," said Lorcan with a neutral tone.
Kaelion smiled. "I cannot stand idly by. This is a major assault, and we must win—completely eradicating the threat they pose."
Although the past relationship between Kaelion and Clarisse made Lorcan uncomfortable, he remained professional, masking his feelings.
"How is the situation here? It seems more complicated than you anticipated," Kaelion asked.
Lorcan closed his eyes for a moment before responding, "Their strength is greater than expected."
He then explained how the barbarian forces had grown with remarkable fervor. Kaelion listened attentively, realizing that the threat was far more serious than he had imagined.
Lorcan pointed to a spot on the map marked with a circle. "The Barbarian King is here, to the south. We've fought there, but I decided to pull back to avoid greater losses."
Kaelion examined the map carefully, noticing the tension on Lorcan's face. It was clear that Lorcan was eager to conquer the Barbarian King.
"I've brought someone who's an expert in strategy," Kaelion said, his tone laced with hope.
Lorcan raised an eyebrow, curious about who this could be.
Kaelion introduced Rowan Evandril, a genius known for his intellect. Though they had graduated from the academy together, Rowan had proven his abilities time and time again. Lorcan, still showing signs of skepticism on his face, knew that Rowan's help could be the key to turning the situation around.