"Captain? Sir?"
"Gene."
"All the men are accounted for. Whatever's left is back at the Fortress."
"Thank you. Go on."
Our guard would be on station, and I, Captain Hans, would be the one to defend them and the Northern Fortress. The only event so far was Princess Weiss bringing back prisoners.
It's been nearly twelve years since she decided to take up the sword and become a soldier, when she found the Royal Advisor's studies boring by itself. I'd like to think that me, the Old Man, and that Royal Advisor learned a lot from training her, and it also changed how we train the others here.
As her Captain, I'm impressed with her progress. With the prisoners she had going to the fortress, she made sure to have a guard with her while it was going on. Admittingly, she was already ready to become Lieutenant a fortnight ago, but events beyond the Northern Fortress delayed the promotion.
"Captain Hans."
Lieutenant Gunter interrupted the thought. "Old Man." I nodded in acknowledgement.
"You're smiling, Captain. Is something the matter?"
I smirked. "You taught me how to smile, Old Man. I'm only thinking of the Princess. She's grown well."
"She has," Gunter agreed. "It's sad that we have to let her go."
I nodded grimly. I was surprised at the news, but it was expected, given her "inherent nobility". "Do you think we've done enough, former Captain Gunter?"
He laughed. "She reminds me of you, in a way."
"Huh."
"When you first came here, you were bound with the other prisoners, and this Northern Fortress was a crueler image than the one that Weiss is used to. It was King Garon who spared you from the Crown Prince's blade, the idea that you could be reformed."
I smirked. "She and the advisor are what helped, but you started it."
"C-Captain! The Forest!"
Even though Old Man was a lieutenant, both our eyes turned to the forest. A soldier was pointing to it-a strange darkness started engulfing the ground. The skies around the area started turning dark, as if they were following a cue from the ground doing the same. Then, strange monsters started rising from that dark. They were demented and strangely masked.
They were far away, and walking slowly. We had the high ground on three levels. It was the advantage for what we had as a force here.
But the confidence of my men was in trouble.
"My army." I prepared my battle axe.
"Your army." Gunter had his lance readied and his reins gripped.
I raised my hand. "Soldiers! Stand firm! Archers! Ready arrows!"
"Ready arrows!" "Ready arrows!" "Ready arrows!"
Archers on our level were readying arrows. The soldiers prepared lances.
The monsters moved slowly. From where were standing, no doubt did they stand taller than all of us, even with Gunter on horseback.
"Hold!"
Some were beginning to pick up speed. There were at least a dozen, and a dozen more coming towards the castle. Once they hit the second level of high ground-"Fire All!"
"Fire!" "Fire!" "Fire!"
Lines of red and brown shot through the sky. Some would hit their targets. But the sheer force only took a handful of them down.
"Ready!"
Readied.
"On my mark!"
Aiming.
"Loose arrows!"
More arrows to the monsters. This time, more of their force was repulsed, but they were at the second level.
"Continue firing! Pikemen! Shields up! Ready javelins!"
"Shield and Spears!" "Shields and Spears Ready!" "Shields! Spears!"
A line of spears and shields came in front of us. We were few, but our strength was many.
The arrows continued firing. With a lack of basic artillery, I made sure that we were stocked for the seasons to come.
And it was working. The monsters were dying off. I raised my right hand up.
"Hold fire!"
The arrow storm stopped.
All the monsters were defeated or badly damaged by the sheer force of the arrows. Unable to continue, victory-
rumble* *rumble* *rumble*
Earthquake! "Hold fast! Take a knee!"
Everyone took a knee to stay upright. Some would stab their shields into the ground for support. The Old Man seized his horse from bucking him off.
More enemies were coming from the ground. Even more numerous than the last wave. And they were running, despite the tremors!
"Hold ground! Spears forwards!"
crack* *crack* *crack* *crack* *crack*
Roots started bursting from the ground and starting grabbing the enemy reinforcements from rising up.
"Look!"
A pair of riders-horseback and wyvern back, respectively-were charging in. The archers stopped firing. I know those two-
"It's Prince Xander! And Princess Camilla!" one of the soldiers shouted.
The soldiers started cheering. And it wasn't just them that was here-the roots from the ground were a magical force from Prince Leo. And it wasn't just them-a banner was here to assist us. We would defend the town as they attacked the monsters. It was an assured victory for all of us-
kon* *kongbong* *bongbingkon* *konbingong* *gonbong* *bikon*