Chapter 194: Chapter 194 - An Offer
PoV: Aurea
Has the battle ended? Why did they set up one, and only one, tent?
"Your Highness, what are your orders?"
"For now we wait, Yaci. Lovelace, keep the magic up. We don’t know what they are thinking, and they might get back on the offensive without any notice."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"That said, it looks like they are about to fold, but we mustn’t set our hopes too high."
Defeating them here would be the best possible outcome. Not only would it save our people much suffering, but it would also send a message throughout the human realms.
Wesgoth is not a nation to be trifled with. We have a literal goddess and a practically demigodly being in our ranks. Mom and Lovelace are amazing.
And the hidden army won’t need to be hidden anymore. Our whole army will become trained in systemless combat.
The Adventuring System is still a huge advantage, though. For the simple reason that it boosts the base stats greatly and for the skills it gives.
We only managed to turn the tables on it because of the buffs given by Lovelace and the constant supply of healing and mana regeneration that Mom was providing.
If it were to be a war with more than one front, we would be in dire straits. Like, if their army had chosen to go around these mountains instead of trying to come through the fort.
Clausewitz and Sun Tzu couldn’t predict a war in which literal gods take the field and in which magic exists. But their words about logistics, resource management, timing of strikes, and morale hold true no matter the circumstances.
’Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak’ is one of the best quotes ever written by any writer in any world ever.
I loved to take those classes on the Anthropology of War in my Master’s, but I would have never guessed that those lessons would come in so handy.
"If the war ends now, my only regret will be to not have taken the opportunity to make minced meat out of Urraca."
"Oh, Ingela. I didn’t see that you were back."
"Yeah, I woke up some time later, and Saint Lily recharged my mana, so I came back to the front a bit before the wall’s collapse. You were completely focused on the flow of the battle, so I didn’t want to interrupt you."
"It’s good to see that you’re well and in high spirits. But, well, you at least did give her a nice dance in there. It was funny to watch her going after you as you teleported to and fro."
"Hehe. Yeah, that was fun. And yet, she managed to pierce my spatial barrier."
"It just means that we need to find new ways of fighting so we can best her next time. Though, to be honest, I would rather we don’t have a next time."
Ingela looked at me, startled.
"Why? I want to give her a nice beating."
"Because if there is a next time, it will mean that the country will be at war. And I would rather have everyone back at their homes, living their lives in peace."
"Oh. I was thinking something more like a personal thing. Not another battle like this one."
Hehe. Such a hot-headed girl. A perfect fit for Yaci, if you ask me.
"Yaci, make sure to make her forget all about that princess when we get back home, okay?"
Yaci bursts out laughing, while Ingela protests. Even Lovelace and my mother giggle a bit.
:::
"They have been like that for over an hour now. What do we do?"
Indeed. The tent is still closed off, with all their commanders inside. All our attempts at deep hearing into it were futile.
Even their soldiers have grown restless from the wait. Several of them have already sat down, and some are even lighting campfires. I doubt that the battle will be resumed tonight.
"We do nothing, Ingela. Just wait. Lovelace, you might end your boost spell now. Even if they decide to attack again, it will take some time for them to put their troops in formation again. And their morale must have hit rock bottom now."
This battle is as good as won at this moment. What’s yet to be seen is if that will mean an end to the war or not.
"Oh, they’re getting out."
"Finally!"
"Everyone, applaud them. VERY GOOD!!! WOOO HOOO!!!!!"
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Just do it. Trust me."
The troops around me started cheering and applauding as the enemy’s commanders kept getting out of the tent.
I could see from here how that cheer was not only making them embarrassed but also putting their whole army uneasy as well.
It’s like at school, when someone makes a blunder and everyone cheers and applauds ironically. It feels even worse for the person than if they had insulted or pointed out their blunder.
They talk to officers and give orders. Soon a single horseback rider is riding towards us. In the meanwhile, their troops start to slowly walk towards their camp.
The horseback rider is holding a truce flag. Okay. Works for us.
:::
The rider dismounts and announces.
"I bring a message from Princess Urraca of Castro to Princess Aurea of Wesgoth."
"I’m Aurea Annes, Princess of Wesgoth and Duchess of Altenfeld."
I step forward, giving my full name and title. Time to get formal.
The messenger gets down on one knee and hands me a scroll with the seal of the royal family of Castro, which I recognize from my times at the Academy.
I unseal it and read it. After a few moments I give my answer to the messenger.
"Tell Princess Urraca that I accept her proposal. We’ll meet for negotiations tomorrow at the ruins of the gate at noon. Each of us can only bring three people with us."
The rider nods and repeats my message to make sure he didn’t miss any detail. Then he gets back onto his horse and rides back to the camp.