Chapter 452: One Weakness
The city of Liceria loomed before us, its towers piercing the dawn sky like weathered sentinels. The sun, cresting the eastern wall, painted the hills in long, somber shadows. The familiar hum of city life was absent, leaving only the distant rush of the river to fill the silence.
Bethiv halted the Last Light Company half a mile from the city walls. A low rumble of chants rose from the ranks, and hundreds of magic circles bloomed around our soldiers. Our army was divided into squads, each a tight-knit unit of a mage or two and a dozen soldiers. They received orders from their officers but operated with a degree of independence, a merit-based system honed during the company’s monster-hunting days. It allowed for greater autonomy but was only truly practical when we held the advantage in power and skill.
As soon as we broke camp, the Church and Brithlite armies had sprung into action, forming a formidable defensive line on the city’s western flank, barring our path. Their numbers were overwhelming—nearly forty thousand, almost four times the size of the Last Light Company. Our approach had been no secret, and their occupation of the city had been anything but passive. Their mages had sculpted forts and bunkers into the very landscape, transforming the scattered copses of trees, hills, and crags into fortified positions.
But unlike the Last Light Company, who stood in disciplined ranks calmly awaiting orders, a palpable unease rippled through the enemy lines. Even though they held the numerical advantage and had prepared meticulously, they knew the legends of the Last Light Company. I stood among the famed adventuring team turned military unit that had slain dragons and single-handedly held off the demon onslaught while Brithlite mustered its defenses. Only the zealous fervor impressed on them by the Heart Crest held them fast, eagerly awaiting our assault.
I took a deep breath, absently stroking Fable’s shoulder as I surveyed the two armies. My wolf had carried me to a large outcropping of rock just ahead of our troops. We were a mere thousand yards from the first Brithlitian defenses, within easy reach of sixth or seventh-circle spells.
Behind me stood my guard and escort, the Star Guard and the demons the Lord of Ash gifted to me. Only Wisp was absent, but I preferred he remain behind with Sari anyway. It was strange that I hadn’t even needed to ask, but he seemed more than willing to do so. Perhaps the little foxkin was growing on him.
But he was a demon. Was something like that even possible? I shook my head, dismissing the thought. I’d have to keep a close eye on him in the future, but now wasn’t the time to worry.
"Look at them, lined up like cattle dressed for slaughter," Kahlen’s smooth, steely voice cut through the tension.
"My lady, do you know why we are waiting?" Luxxa asked, fingering her sword hilt. "Are you planning on asking for a surrender first?"