NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17: Visiting The War Front.
While Alexander spent time with his mother and friends, Camilla was growing closer towards the border between the Western Empire and the Fallen Kingdom.
The closer she got to the border, the louder the sounds of distant artillery became. The ground began to turn muddy and ruined, trains filled with military equipment and soldiers rolled by, rumbling and shaking the ground.
Soon she began to spot makeshift wooden buildings and tents littered the surrounding area, soldiers dressed in the blue uniforms of the Fallen kingdom rushed about, carrying supplies or orders back and forth.
The sounds of roaring artillery shells grew louder, as she spotted Ambur war Zeppelins in the sky, a far distance away. A few of them were crashing to the ground in flames, while others continued to drop bombs.
Camilla's face grew cold as her carriage rolled to a halt.
She quickly stepped out and hopped down from her carriage, dropping down into the broken and muddy dirt. The smell of gunpowder and rotten flesh filled her nostrils, leaving a disgusting taste in her mouth.
"Lady Camilla, thank the goddess you're here." A pathfinder, dressed in an Ambur uniform approached her with a relieved expression. "I assume your journey was well?" He asked.
Camilla studied the pathfinder for a moment, examining his torn and dirty uniform. His face was covered in mud and blood, while his eyes showed the exhaustion of countless sleepless nights.
"My journey was fine Sir…"
"Joseph, my lady." The pathfinder- Joseph, said with a quick bow.
Camilla nodded. "Sir Joseph, where is my father, Commander Napoleon?"
Joseph pointed further up the front. "He's on the second line, with his lieutenant's ma'am, he's preparing an incursion into the western empire, but–"
"Is he mad?!" Camilla asked in astonishment, "They outnumber us six to one, it'll be a massacre."
Joseph nodded. "Yea ma'am, but he's got good reason."
Camilla narrowed her eyes skeptically. She then sighed, "Take me to my father." She ordered him.
"Yes ma'am, just follow me." Joseph then turned towards the front and began to jog.
Camilla followed after him, looking around the bustling area with a concerned gaze.
As she followed Joseph, the growing sense of urgency she felt became palpable.
The soldiers rushed past her with weary faces, the countless men who littered the ground in various states of disarray as medics rushed from one wounded soldier to another.
The sight of such dire conditions sent a shiver down her spine, and it only grew worse the further she followed Joseph.
Though Camilla had seen countless battles, she had little experience with a stagnant front. Most battles fought by Ambur were with a significant technological advantage and overwhelming force.
But the Western Empire was something different. It wasn't a collective of poorly equipped soldiers who had more brawn than brains.
No, they had armies that regularly crossed into the hundreds of thousands. Mages that could bring down zeppelins with powerful blasts of world energy, and military leaders that led them to conquer a massive portion of the continent.
Even though Ambur and by extension the Fallen Kingdom had the technological advantage, the Western empire still was a force to be reckoned with, especially since their guns were now quickly advancing past the stage of shoddy muskets into proper rifles.
Eventually, they reached the command tent. It was a large dark green tent that was guarded by both Ambur and Fallen pathfinders.
Stepping past the guards, who gave Camilla a quick nod, she entered the tent and was greeted with a calmer but no less tense atmosphere.
"Dammit Napoleon are you mad?!?" Lord Lance- Alexander's father, slammed his fist onto the table. "My pathfinders have taken far too many missions, for this grand plan of yours, and now you want them to assault a weapons factory?"
Napoleon, a man dressed in the red and gray uniform of the Ambur armed forces, sighed deeply.
He radiated an air of authority and might.
His hair was long and blonde, while his eyes were a deep red.
He stood tall, towering over most other officers and Pathfinders in the tent. "I know I've asked a lot of your people, but in truth, your pathfinders are the ones best trained for these hit-and-run maneuvers."
His voice was deep, exuding power and strength.
Lance frowned as he looked up to Napoleon. "No, I refuse, when this war started I had twenty pathfinders in my house, now that number has dropped to eight, and that's including the three I left to protect my family, I refused to let you throw my remaining people out for some stupid grand plan!"
Napoleon dropped his head as he closed his eyes. "I see…"
"Father," Camilla said as she stepped further into the tent.
Napoleon's eyes snapped open as he quickly turned to see his daughter. Laying his eyes upon her a weary yet warm smile crossed his lips. "Camilla, it's so good to see you."
"Father, what is this I hear about you planning an incursion?" Camilla asked, stepping to her father's side.
Napoleon sighed. "Yesterday at 06:00, scouts on the zeppelin Marie returned with the news of a massive army formation deep within enemy territory." He explained. "A formation of 50,000 infantry, 400 mages, and 6,000 artillery pieces."
Napoleon then pointed to a map on the table, showing the front between both nations.
Most of the border was covered by a massive mountain range, but there was a 148-kilometer (92 miles) long stretch of land from the end of the mountain range to the sea.
The Fallen Kingdom was significantly smaller than the Western Empire, with it being more than quadruple its size.
If it wasn't for the mountain range, chances are the Fallen Kingdom would have lost the war a long time ago.
"That formation is speculated to be around here," Napoleon said, pointing to a location not too deep into the Western Empire. "We suspect that they're waiting for this formation to be fully equipped by an ammunition factory here."
Napoleon glanced at Lance, before sighing. "If we could take out that factory, that's another formation we don't have to deal with for a long time." He explained, "But it's risky, and not just any Pathfinder squad can do it."
Camilla nodded as she looked at Lance. "And you think the Daname family have the best shot at pulling it off?" She asked her father while continuing to eye Lance.
"Yes, that's exactly right."
Lance frowned. "No, I'm not doing it, find another house to bleed dry, because I'm done." He said with a determined expression.
"Lance, surely you understand the Commander doesn't ask this lightly. "
A fellow lord of the Fallen Kingdom, Lord Claus Von Statem, said in a reassuring tone.
Lance looked to Claus with disdain. "You're one to talk, while my house has been depleted of what little I had your house still stands strong with 100 pathfinders, if anything we should be sending your men on this mission."
Claus sighed. "If I could, I'd have volunteered for this mission many times over, but my men aren't trained for such hit-and-run tactics."
He then placed a hand on Lance's shoulder, "Only you had the foresight to train your pathfinders in such a fashion."
"Tch." Lance pushed Claus off his shoulder. "No, you will not force my men to die because they're 'better', that's final."
Camilla found herself frowning at Lance. "You'd rather let thousands die than risk the lives of five people?" She asked, "Your kingdom is at stake, how narrow-minded can you be?"
Lance remained silent.
"Answer the question, Lance!" Camilla said in a demeaning tone. "Because if you want to talk about lives and unfairness, then it is our kingdom that should be up in arms about helping you!" She said angrily, "Thousands of Ambur souls are stationed in these trenches right along with the soldiers of your kingdom, yet we don't grow angry or become selfish."
"You don't understand," Lance replied. "Unlike House Nova or House Statem, I picked my pathfinders by hand and trained them myself." He then looked up to Camilla with pain in his eyes. "I knew each and every one of my pathfinders who died, from the moment they graduated." He then tightened his fist.
"Do you know how hard it is to watch someone you know for that long die?" He asked.
Camilla remained silent.
"No clearly you don't, so let me clue you in Ms Camilla," Lance said in an angered tone.
"I have watched my pathfinders grow into the warriors they are today, I know their fears, their dislikes, their history."
He then shook his head as tears welled in his eyes. "To watch them die, the countless memories I had with them flashing through my mind as I watch their lifeless corpse drop to the ground."
"This happened to me!" Lance shouted as he pointed a finger to his chest. "12 times!" He shouted. "I've watched it 12 times!"
Lance then pointed to Napoleon. "and you ask me to do it again?" He asked, his voice raising as it began to crack. "Imagine if it was your daughter, imagine if you watched her head pop like a bad melon, would you still be willing to sacrifice?"
The tent grew silent as the atmosphere grew heavy with tension and emotion.
Napoleon pulled his lips back in a frown as he looked toward Camilla, who quietly stared at Lance. Her expression was of understanding and regret.
Napoleon looked back to Lance and sighed. "I can't begin to understand the complexity of your situation." He began with a tone full of reverence and regret. "However, war is a burden that we all must endure in these uncertain times, it affects some more than others, no doubt." He said with a nod of his head.
"But in the end, war doesn't care about our emotions, feelings, or desires." He then narrowed his eyes with determination. "War demands sacrifice, courage, and resolve. If we aren't willing make the tough calls, then who will?" He asked.
Lance fell silent, yet his frown remained.
"The empire will not rest until it crushes your kingdom, or until its boundless manpower dwindles." Napoleon continued. "Our enemies are many, and our resources are scarce, but we have something that will put us on top."
"Like?" Lance asked, his tone full of skepticism.
"Hope," Napoleon answered. "Hope for a future that doesn't require sacrifice, hope of peace, of prosperity." Napoleon then reached a hand towards Lance. "But in order to see that hope come to fruition, we must endure the troubles that lead us there, so I ask, will you help that future become a reality?"
The tent fell silent as all eyes looked to Lance, who looked around the tent with a skeptical expression.
He then took a long breath as he as he turned to look up. "I won't ask my men to sacrifice themselves."
Napoleon's expression fell as he retracted his hand.
"But, if you're willing to send your daughter along with any of my pathfinders who volunteer for this mission, then you have my support."
Napoleon paused, turning to look at Camilla and then Lance. "My daughter has many capabilities." He replied. "But…"
Lance narrowed his eyes as he stared at Napoleon.
The tent was silent, all waiting for the next words that came from the commander's mouth. The tension rising to new heights.
Camilla looked to her father with a curious gaze, knowing that whatever he said would greatly affect the outcome of Lance's decision.
"…she's stubborn, are you sure you can lead her into this mission?" Napoleon asked with a grin, extending his hand back out.
A small smile played on Lance's lips as he reached for Napoleon's hand. "I've dealt with worse, Elise's twin sister Sophia, now she was a handful." He joked.