11 Years Ago

"Sister, is this really necessary?" Janai folded her arms

Khessa turned away from the other palace bureaucrats to face her sister. "It is, they will not see the significance of our new mechanical bow and siege throwers until they try it out."

"And how does that require them to bring their armies here?"

"It will show them that we are capable of handling such a situation with ease." The queen articulated

Janai rolled her eyes, "Just admit it, you just want to show off in front of everyone."

"Like you're any different." Khessa retorted smiling

"I won't deny it but are the war games really necessary," she asked

Khessa nodded as the smile on her face grew.

Janai groaned as her shoulders slumped and hands fell to her sides almost dangling, "Fine, but when this turns into a fist fight, I'm blaming you for it all" she went back to check the status of the security detail. She hoped she could get the dragon guard to help her keep the peace. They were planning this event for months, ensuring they had enough for accommodations, food, etc. The Sunfire kingdom hadn't mobilized resources on such a scale since the last war they had with Moonshadow elves "I hope those reflections can keep their daggers to themselves for once." she muttered under her breath.

Meanwhile, near the Veil.

Men were quietly digging trenches and building multiple bunkers in key areas under the safety of illusion magic.

Cartographers were busy in their tents trying to create an accurate map to use. They regularly sent small groups of flight mages to conduct reconnaissance, which gave them invaluable data.

"Henry, please repeat that, I think I misheard you" General Cornelius was staring in disbelief at what his protege had just said, "Are you sure this ain't your old platoon pulling your leg or something?"

"We had our scouts triple check everything, they have almost nothing in the way of technology." Henry had read the report multiple times on his way to meet the general just to make sure he wasn't imagining all this, he hoped.

"And here I was hoping I might find a worthy opponent to match wits with." The general sighed in disappointment, "I really wanted to beat them on an equal playing field. Any indication as to why they have stagnated for more than a thousand years?" He was honestly expecting them to have firearms or some other form of weaponry they couldn't have imagined, but this was just... sad.

Henry shook his head "As of right now, we have nothing to make even an educated guess."

"Tell the scouts I want detailed reports on their geopolitics, economy and everything else, this takes precedence over intelligence gathering on their military capabilities.."

"sir, is that really necessary? I mean..."

The general cut him off "Lt. Henry Bernard. If you want to easily defeat an enemy, you must study them in their entirety. That includes their history, arts, cultures, philosophy, traditions, economy, all of which plays a crucial role in influencing their military doctrines and ability to respond to situations."

"Is that why you keep winning every war game held?"

"Yes but I have no recollection of ever winning every single match," Cornelius corrected him.

As Henry was about to say something, another man came in. "Sir, the tanks have arrived and our men have finished installing the dual purpose guns as you instructed them."

"good, whats the status on the additional flight mages I requested?"

"They won't arrive for another week, however the scholas magus's are getting impatient and suggest that they head out..."

Cornelius facepalmed so hard it was audible outside the tent. "Tell them that they will stay where they are or I will order a firing squad." His voice was strained.

Both men gulped at their superior's words.

Coral Vault Institute, Tidebound Archipelago.

In the Dean's office, the Chancellor's face was covered by his dark cloak, while he held his hands in a steeple
"I trust you're curious as to the reasons for which I have summoned you here"

Vaeril was sitting opposite side facing him with a deadpan expression.
"You need me to advise you on the costume designs for your next theatre performance again?"

"No, not this time." he cheerfully dismissed that notion.

"Then why do you look like you just escaped from rehearsal?" Vaeril folded his arms, his expression was unchanged.

"We just got a message from the capital, The sunfire elves are hosting an event and want many people from everywhere to show up alogn with an army of ten thousand, something about a new bow."

"I doubt its just a simple bow if their going to invite a large foreign force to their territory." His curiosity was piqued. "I'm guessing you want me to go with the group we're sending their"

The dean nodded "After the event, you may take sometime to study the archives in the golden city if you wish."

Vaeril smiled "I would've done that even if you told me not to."

"I'm telling you because I want to avoid an international incident." he glared at the scholar in front of him, Vaeril returned the glare with equal ferocity.

The Storm Spire

Lain and Tiadrin were kneeling before the Dragon Monarchs

"You summoned us, your Majesty's," they said in unison

"Yes, formal invitations have been sent from Lux Aurea, you are to attend it as my representatives." Avizandum said, "If any of the other races try to provoke another massive conflict then you are to ensure they don't get out of hand."

Queen Zubeia moved forward "After the event is over you may return to the Silvergrove for two months before returning to the sanctuary. I'm sure your daughter misses you."

"We do, Your majesty." Lain said "and we are grateful"

"Your majesty if I may, is it wise to leave the sanctuary so lightly guarded?" Tiadrin interjected

"I understand your concern but since its establishment no one has ever attempted to enter the sanctuary. I'm certain the next two months will be no different." The king said to reassure them "No one would be foolish enough to risk angering all of dragonkind by entering that region."

"Very well, We shall leave at once." They said in unison, they bowed then left.

-

Three months later. North of the midnight Desert.

A Sunfire elf was looking at the distance through his spyglass "Humans!" They were hidden by the trees and vegetation so the humans didn't notice tem. The area was somewhat elevated giving a good vantage point.

"What? but thats impossible" his squad mate said, he took the spyglass to see. He looked down scanning for them, he found them quick enough, just 400 meters in the distance, as he paid closer attention he could make out that they had no horns and had five fingers.

"I'll get the squad and capture them,"

"They look like regular soldiers to me." He remembered the stories about how weak humans were he was taught back in school. He always wondered how they managed to work with those extra fingers and thought he could ask them after they were captured, he then wondered if they even spoke the same language after a millennia had passed. "I wish kazi was here"

"I'm not taking chances which is why you're staying here to observe just in case." Having one person stay behind when facing an unknown quantity was a basic rule for them, a lesson they had learned painfully when hey fought with the reflections decades ago.

the other man nodded as his squad leader went to gather his men who were resting nearby.

An hour later, he had assembled his entire squad add had mounted their horses with their spears and swords drawn.
They began a charge towards the humans intending to catch them off guard as he'd assume the cavalry charge would be too quick for them to mount any meaningful counter. They broke through the trees and the humans finally took notice of them. The elves noticed the humans were looking at them yet showed no signs of panic, he wondered if perhaps they had mistook them for their own kind which he though might make this easier. He shouted his orders to take them alive if possible. In that instance his ears were overcome by a thunderclap, he was worried they might be mages and intending to call lightning down on them, but instead he saw small fireballs erupt for an instant around him and he suddenly felt an intense pain in his body, his thoughts came to an abrupt end as his consciousness faded to darkness for good.

In the distance, the lone elf was observing, wondering how humans had managed to breach the veil, He was suddenly pulled from his thoughts as the beating of hooves on the ground was replaced by what sounded like a sudden yet distant thunderclap as he saw his squad-mates were swallowed by several explosions and toppled to the ground lifeless with their horses. He was visibly shaken by the sudden turn of events as his face started to contort with fear. He saw as the humans approach his fallen comrades but he decided to mount his horse and rush back to Lux Aurea before they noticed him, thinking "Dark mages, I have to inform the capital."

-

An hour later.

"Oho, the Sunfire elves have developed the crossbow and siege equipment." His curiosity was piqued "... At least they're finally making some progress. "

"Yes, they are planning to hold a massive demonstration and have invited the other kingdoms to observe and take part in war games." Henry added.

"It makes our job ea..."

"GENERAL!" a man rushed in, his face dripping with sweat as he was bent forward, his hands on his knees as he tried to explain the intel that just came in "The scholas magus and their.. escort.. had run into the enemy,... they enemy was a small cavalry unit, all wiped out." His words interrupted only by his heavy panting

"I should've known better than to let them go exploring" the general sighed

"Still the enemy was wiped out so if we hide the bodies then.."

"Then they will still notice that their men have failed to return and send more to investigate unless they had one stay behind as a precaution, in which case we can expect a large response."

Cornelius closed his eyes in concentration, trying to think of likely scenarios and ways to leverage this situation. "My guess is the enemy will be at our doorstep within two weeks. Tell the engineers I want those thermal cameras operational yesterday,"
His lips slowly curved upwards. "we may be able to use this to our advantage." His lips slowly curved upwards.

"Also call the 1st and 2nd combat flight mage platoons leaders, tell them I have special orders for them."

he grinned almost menacingly

"Sir?" Henry asked.

"The large oasis," the general said, Henry's eyes widen and he straightens up as he understands what his mentor is going for. He wished he was fly on the wall too see when the Xadians realize what had happened when this was all over.

Lux Aurea, One Week later

The Golden City was abuzz with activity as there was an increase in the number of guests from the other Xadian kingdoms. Over Ten thousand of each elven species had arrived along with over thirty dragons upon invitation from the Queen herself.

The grand hall was filled with scholars, royalty, dignitaries, military & political leaders, along with the dragons. The entire hall was supported by massive pillars and exuded opulence especially in the form of golden decorations and exquisite foods. The place overlooked a wide-open area where the demonstration would take place

"Are you of the Dragon Guard?" A tidebound elf asked.

"We are, and you are?" the moon shadow elf asked

"Ah, forgive my lack of decorum, My name is Vaeril, a scholar from the Coral Vaults" he introduced himself

"My name is Lain and this is my wife Taidrin" he introduced them. "So what do you study?"

"Everything, I study anything I can get my hands on. I take it you're here to represent the Dragon Monarchs?"

Tiadrin nodded "The chimney heads in their eternal arrogance wants to show off their shiny new toys while sitting atop their gold plates chairs."

They all broke into a laugh. "I certainly can't deny such well established facts," Vaeril nodded in agreement. If this event was proof of their pride then he didn't know what would qualify.

"So what do you think about their new toys?" Tiadrin asked

"without seeing it I can't make any statements," Vaeril said but then remembered something he'd been curious about, "By the way, is it true that you used seized sunforged blades to heat your public bath houses?"

Tiadrin's expression glowed like a child "We do, serves those chimney heads right for using our weapons as gardening tools." She happily answered while Lain looked at her hoping Rayla wouldn't pick up after her mother.

"Can you elaborate the event?"

Tiadrin happily obliged, Vaeril had planned to visit the bathhouses in the future to study the aftermath of the previous war, now he was getting information on one of those events, attending this event seemed to be the height of his academic life.

"Ah, there you two are" Janai approached them "I must thank you again, with your help we can keep the most chaotic elements in line during this event."

Suddenly the room was filled with a loud voice announcing that the demonstration would begin shortly, everyone made their way to get a good view of it.

They saw formations of Sunfire elves marching towards the area with many armor plates were set up as targets representing enemy soldiers, each of them was carrying these new so-called mechanical bows. Vaeril watched as they were spinning some kind of handle then place an arrow, they took aim then let loose then fell back to reload and the line behind them came up and let loose their arrows. Their range was far shorter than a war bow but most of them had penetrated the armor plates. Many of the guests and high-ranking military leaders looked on with disinterest.

Then they began bringing a large version of it, it needed wheels to move. It took much longer to be ready but when it let loose an arrow the size of a spear, it penetrated an armor plate and kept going.

Soon a young dragon moved forward, curious to see how well its scales could handle such a weapon, the elves agreed on the condition that they remove the arrow head. The wooden projectile managed to knock the wind out of the dragon but was completely unharmed.

Next, they had brought on something else, a strange contraption that used weights to throw large stones a great distance away. This display caused many guests to gasp.

"I don't see whats the big deal, regular archers can shoot further can't they?" Tiadrin said the only thing she found impressive was the large bow.

Janai wanted to interject explaining how wrong she was but the tidebound elf that was with them beat her to it.

"You misunderstand, they may have a shorter range than an archer and fire slower but this bow allows for melee-focused infantry to function as short-range archers. An enemy charge can be more easily broken up using them in large numbers."

"You are an informed one" Janai was impressed at the tidebound elf's knowledge "Are you a military leader for your kingdom?"

"I am merely a passionate scholar. I was told at an early age by everyone
I hadn't the stomach for war"

"whoever said that were fools," Janai scoffed, she found it unbelievable that someone who could understand such details and implications of a weapon so easily in such a short time wasn't in charge of his own army. She wondered if the flippers would last long if all their brightest were discouraged from the military, an army lead by fools is just a disaster waiting to happen considering many of the people here only cared about the trebuchet.

"Couldn't you just train more archers for that?" Tiadrin argued

"No, an elite archer requires a lifetime of training whereas this bow can be mastered in a week at most. Untrained civilians can now more easily be converted into soldiers effectively increasing the number of people that can be recruited during a crisis.

Tiadrin tried to think of a counter-argument but couldn't. Lain and Janai were impressed with Vaeril's knowledge.

"If you ever want give up the ways of the book and join our military then let me know, I'm sure I can convince my sister to approve of you," Janai knew talent when she saw it, this elf had it in abundance and she wanted to recruit him, it would take time to train him but what a commander he would become. She wondered if she could offer access to their entire archives in exchange for his services.

The event continued well into the evening, by then all had retired to their rooms