Chapter 114: The Speech
Lined outside the gates were sixteen thousand soldiers, divided into two groups. To the left were fifteen thousand soldiers directly under Varic, who was supported by a field arcanist I knew little of. Meanwhile, on my side were a thousand soldiers, and I was supported by Field Arcanist Luthor and his disciples—Robert and Kylie.
While our soldiers had different leaders, they all gathered outside the gates with tens of thousands of civilians packed behind, waiting to hear my big speech.
The soldiers on the ground and on the walls all had their eyes on me. Everyone knew the stakes were high in this fight, and their survival rested on my shoulders.
Should I fail to live up to their outrageous expectations, it was game over for all of them—because this was practically all the soldiers the capital had left.
More than ever, they needed a Messiah.
I looked toward the crowd behind the soldiers and could see several cloaked figures among them. To the normal people who were focused on me, it could be just another civilian—but I knew who they were.
It was the royal family, the High Inquisitor, and Madam Mira. They were here as well.
"FOR CENTURIES, SOLINTHAR HAS SUFFERED TERRIBLE LOSSES, NOT BECAUSE WE ARE WEAK, BUT BECAUSE THE ENEMY CANNOT FACE US ALONE—SO THEY JOINED HANDS AND RELIED ON DIRTY TACTICS TO BEST US!"
"PROPAGANDA, LIES, DECEIT, AND EVEN SABOTAGE!" I paused and watched them digest my message.
Their faces twisted with pain as memories flashed through their eyes. Many clenched their shields tight, and others gripped their spears so hard, their palms turned white.
"BUT NOW, I’M HERE!"