Chapter 344: The Preparation
The preparations for the war were well underway, but Lyan knew that every detail had to be meticulously checked. Grafen was his stronghold, and while his army of 5000 soldiers was formidable, it was the forces beyond the mortal realm—the living statues, the undead skeletons, the summonable creatures, and the insect armies—that would truly turn the tide of battle. He had to ensure that everything was in place and that each of his allies was executing their role flawlessly.
Lyan walked through the grand courtyard of Grafen Castle, his boots crunching on the gravel as he headed towards the training grounds where his soldiers were drilling. The early morning light cast a warm glow on the scene, but the tension in the air was palpable. This wasn’t just a routine training exercise—every soldier knew they were preparing for war.
He stopped at the edge of the training field, his sharp eyes scanning the ranks of soldiers as they practiced formations, archery, and close combat techniques. Their movements were disciplined, precise, but Lyan could see the underlying nervousness in some of them. War was no small thing, and for many of them, this would be their first true battle.
A voice cut through the air, clear and commanding. "Hold your formation! Tighten those lines!"
It was Alina. She moved through the ranks like a storm, her dark eyes critical as she assessed the soldiers’ stances and techniques. Lyan couldn’t help but admire her. She was small in stature, but her presence commanded respect. As the leader of his troops, she had proven time and time again that her tactical mind and her dark magic made her a force to be reckoned with.
Lyan approached her, his voice low as he spoke. "How are they progressing?"
Alina turned to him, wiping the sweat from her brow. "They’re improving, but some of them are still too green. They lack the experience of a real battle. But with the living statues and the undead skeletons backing them up, I think they’ll hold their own. It’s just a matter of ensuring they don’t break formation when the chaos hits."
Lyan nodded thoughtfully. "You’re right. The undead will be crucial in holding the lines, especially if we want to outlast Hektor’s forces. Keep drilling them. I want their movements to be instinctual by the time the battle starts."
Alina gave him a sharp nod and returned to the training, barking orders at the soldiers once more. Lyan watched for a moment longer before turning to make his way to the next location.