"You’ve done too well, Lyan. Even I’m shocked at how smoothly everything is," Erich said, his tone a mix of admiration and relief.
Lyan shrugged, his expression impassive. "You underestimated your own forces. They were more than capable; they just needed proper direction."
The reason for Lyan’s versatile movent is that he’s still no one. Even if he’s already promised a great thing by Erich, the fact that he’s no one with no obligation is a great advantage. Killing the nobles and other sorts of actions, with his great stealth skills, and his ability to make the right calls, there is no single proof that could lead to the death of the prince. It’s a totally advantageous position for the royal family and royal faction.
Erich nodded, acknowledging the truth in Lyan’s words. "I suppose you’re right. Your leadership and decisiveness made all the difference. The noble faction is in disarray, and the military is firmly under loyal control. Astellia is finally starting to stabilize."
Lyan remained silent, his thoughts already drifting to Arkansas. The information Erich had provided weighed heavily on his mind. Increased bandit activity, a larger, more organized force moving toward the region—his people needed him now more than ever.
Erich seed to sense Lyan’s preoccupation. "I know your heart is in Arkansas, Lyan. You’ve more than fulfilled your end of the bargain here. As promised, I’ll provide you with n to assist you on your journey."
"Thank you," Lyan replied, his tone sincere. "I appreciate your support, Will."
Erich chuckled. "You still call Will. I suppose I should be grateful for the familiarity."
Lyan smirked. "Don’t get too comfortable. I’m still not bowing to you."
Erich’s laughter filled the room. "I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, Lyan."
The two n spent the next few hours finalizing plans for Lyan’s departure. Erich arranged for a contingent of his best soldiers to accompany Lyan to Arkansas, ensuring they were well-supplied and equipped for the journey.
The following morning, Lyan and his small band of 11 warriors set out from Astellia, the winter wolves trotting alongside them in their disguises as Siberian dogs. The road ahead was long and fraught with danger, but Lyan felt a renewed sense of purpose. He had allies now, and together, they would face whatever threats awaited them.
As they traveled, Lyan found himself reflecting on his new role as a noble of Astellia. It was a position he had never sought, yet it provided him with the ans to protect those he cared about. The high spirits within the grimoire had been right—having a place to call ho, a domain to defend, gave him a sense of grounding he hadn’t realized he needed.
Their journey was uneventful for the first few days, the landscape gradually changing as they moved closer to the border of Arkansas. The soldiers accompanying Lyan were seasoned and disciplined, their respect for him evident in their actions and words as they are also the ones that followed him at the tasks given by Erich at the capital.
One evening, as they set up camp, Lyan gathered the n for a briefing. "We’re getting closer to Arkansas. The situation there is volatile, there will be bandits, or rather, an army of rcenaries disguised in the distance. They cut off the trading routes, with the greedy council on their side, there is no information and surveillance report regarding their sighting. Our primary goal is to secure the region, team up with the rcenary guild and the rcenary guildmaster, and protect the people. Any questions?"
One of the soldiers, a grizzled veteran nad Marcus, spoke up. "Do we have any specific targets, sir?"
Lyan nodded. "Yes. Our intelligence points to several key bandit leaders coordinating the attacks. We’ll take them out first to destabilize their operations. Once we’ve dealt with the imdiate threat, we’ll assess the situation regarding the larger force.If it’s possible to eliminate them, we’ll do it. But if it’s too difficult, we’ll avoid them,"
The n nodded, their expressions resolute. They trusted Lyan’s judgnt, knowing that his strategic mind and combat prowess would guide them through the challenges ahead.
As they continued their journey, Lyan took the ti to get to know the n under his command. He found that many of them had personal reasons for joining the mission, loved ones in Arkansas or a deep-seated sense of duty to follow the royal decree. Their stories resonated with him, reinforcing his determination to succeed.
As dawn broke the next day, the group continued their march. They soon reached the outskirts of Arkansas, the familiar landscape bringing a sense of urgency to Lyan’s steps. But going to Arkansas is not their primary goal.
The first thing is the surveillance of the several key bandit leaders.
"Let’s move," Lyan uttered, brandishing his huge magic glaive on his hand that brought amazent to his 11 n.
The morning light filtered through the trees as Lyan and his contingent moved silently through the dense forest. Each soldier, seasoned and disciplined, followed Lyan’s lead with a quiet determination. The winter wolves, still disguised as Siberian dogs, padded alongside them, their keen senses alert to any danger.
Lyan’s thoughts were focused on their mission. They had to identify and eliminate the key bandit leaders who were coordinating the attacks in Arkansas. These leaders were cunning and ruthless, using the chaos to their advantage. Lyan knew that swift and decisive action was necessary to destabilize their operations.
As they approached a small clearing, Lyan signaled for his n to halt. He crouched low, scanning the area ahead. A bandit camp lay nestled within the trees, smoke rising from a few scattered campfires. The bandits moved about, unaware of the impending threat.
"Marcus," Lyan whispered, gesturing to the veteran soldier. "Take three n and circle around to the east. Create a distraction when I give the signal. The rest of you, follow . We’re going to hit them hard and fast."
Marcus nodded, motioning for three soldiers to follow him. They lted into the forest, moving with practiced stealth. Lyan watched them go, then turned to the remaining soldiers.
"We take out the leaders first," he said, his voice low but firm. "No rcy. These n are responsible for countless deaths and suffering. Let’s put an end to it."
The soldiers nodded, their expressions grim. Lyan hefted his magic glaive, its blade glinting in the morning light. With a silent signal, they moved forward, creeping closer to the unsuspecting bandits.
Lyan’s keen eyes quickly identified the leaders. They stood apart from the others, barking orders and examining maps. These n were the brains behind the operation, and their elimination would send the bandit ranks into disarray.
With a sudden, explosive movent, Lyan charged into the camp, his glaive cutting through the air with deadly precision. The bandits were caught off guard, scrambling to respond. Lyan’s soldiers followed, their swords and axes striking down any who dared to resist.
In the chaos, Lyan made his way to the leaders. One of them, a burly man with a scarred face, raised his sword to defend himself, but Lyan was faster. His glaive sliced through the man’s defenses, cutting him down with a single, powerful blow.
Another leader tried to flee, but Lyan’s winter wolves intercepted him, their powerful jaws snapping shut around his legs. He scread in pain, but it was short-lived as Lyan ended his misery with a swift strike.
Within minutes, the camp was a scene of utter carnage. The remaining bandits, leaderless and panicked, either surrendered or fled into the forest. Lyan’s n rounded up the survivors, securing them with makeshift bindings.
"Good work," Lyan said, surveying the aftermath. "We’ve sent a strong ssage. But this is just the beginning. We need to keep the pressure on and disrupt their operations completely."
Marcus approached, wiping blood from his sword. "What’s next, sir?"
"We move to the next camp," Lyan replied. "We don’t give them a chance to regroup. And we need to gather as much intelligence as we can about their larger force."
The soldiers nodded, their resolve unwavering. They moved swiftly, leaving the smoldering ruins of the bandit camp behind. Lyan felt a sense of grim satisfaction. This was a small victory, but it was a crucial step in reclaiming Arkansas from the chaos that had engulfed it.
As they journeyed deeper into Arkansas, Lyan’s thoughts occasionally drifted to the people he cared about. His determination to protect them fueled his every action. He knew that their safety depended on the success of this mission, and he was prepared to do whatever it took.
After days of relentless pursuit, Lyan and his n had dismantled several more bandit camps. Each victory brought them closer to their ultimate goal, but it also revealed the true scale of the threat they faced. The bandits were well-funded and organized, their ranks bolstered by rcenaries and deserters.
One evening, as they set up camp by a river, Lyan gathered his n for another briefing. "We’ve made significant progress, but the real fight is still ahead of us. The larger force we’ve been hearing about is not just a rumor. They’re real, and they’re moving towards Arkansas with a purpose."
"Do we know their numbers?" Marcus asked, his brow furrowed.
"Not exactly," Lyan admitted. "But they’re well-equipped and trained. We need to be prepared for a tough battle. Our best chance is to weaken them before they reach the heart of Arkansas. We’ll continue our hit-and-run tactics, disrupting their supply lines and picking off their leaders."
The soldiers nodded, their expressions determined. They knew the stakes were high, but they also knew they had a leader they could trust. Lyan’s strategic mind and unwavering resolve gave them the confidence they needed to face the coming storm.
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