CHAPTER 251: A ONE DAY WAR [1]

[Two days later.]

[Western borders, Krivos Kingdom.]

Akamir stood at the enormous wall as he looked on the other side.

Beyond the walls, the Aure army stretched endlessly.

Rows upon rows of soldiers glinted in the fading sunlight, their banners snapping in the wind.

Cavalry units dotted the flanks, and siege engines loomed like dark beasts in the distance.

The scale of the force was intimidating, even for someone who had seen wars that few could imagine.

The Aure kingdom didn’t shy away from sending their finest soldiers.

Not only that but they made sure they sent a large number of them.

The Aure Kingdom wasn’t holding back—they wanted a decisive victory, and they intended to overwhelm Krivos from the start.

’They really are going all out in the first battle, huh?’

Akamir mused, looking at the army.

He turned around to look at the Krivos Kingdom’s army stationed inside of the walls.

The soldiers here were fewer, their armor scratched and worn from previous skirmishes.

Yet there was a spark in their eyes, a mixture of fear and resolve.

Drummers beat out the march of preparation, and officers shouted commands as men adjusted their formations.

Akamir stepped closer to the edge, letting his hand brush against the stone. From this height.

He could see the tension in every corner of the courtyard—the way soldiers clutched their weapons a little tighter, the way banners fluttered with anxious pride.

’They’re scared,’ he thought. ’But they’re not broken.’

He straightened, shoulders squared, and began pacing along the wall, assessing the defenses.

Ballistae were loaded and ready, and archer units had taken their positions along the parapets.

Even the advisers were adjusting the trebuchets, checking ropes and counterweights with careful precision.

Akamir’s gaze flicked back to the enemy lines.

The Aure soldiers were confident, almost arrogantly so, but he could see their vulnerabilities.

A well-placed strike could collapse their front lines before they even reached the walls.

Turning, he faced the Krivos commanders, his expression calm but commanding.

"Remember," he said, his voice carrying over the clamor of preparation,

"we hold this wall, we hold our kingdom. Don’t underestimate them, but don’t let fear control you."

A murmur of acknowledgment ran through the ranks.

Most weren’t happy with Akamir being in the command of the army.

But Akamir didn’t care about their views.

He was here to get a clean and fast victory for his kingdom.

That way he could start his plans for the Aure kingdom.

’...But for now, I need to keep the soldiers in check.’

He was well aware of his image in their eyes.

Even though he did try to clean his image as much as he could.

Some things can’t be written off as nothing.

He let out a sigh as he rubbed his face. ’Well, whatever.’

Akamir turned his attention back to the horizon, where the Aure army had begun to shift, preparing their initial assault.

The ground trembled faintly as cavalry units pranced and stamped, and the hum of hundreds of soldiers’ voices rose in a tense chorus.

He narrowed his eyes.

"They’ll test the walls first," he muttered under his breath. "Archers, siege, then infantry. Standard tactics."

Beside him, one of the Krivos captains—a tall, gaunt man with a scar across his cheek—spoke. "Commander Akamir... are you sure we can hold them?"

Akamir’s amber gaze met his, steady and unyielding.

"We will hold. Don’t waste your fear on me. Focus it on your men and your aim."

They nodded their head and Akamir turned around.

He began to walk away from the place, his mind still thinking of the best way to win.

’The mimickers will be more than enough to win.’

He thought, glancing back at the army.

Quite a lot of those present there are led by a mimicker.

If push comes to shove, the mimickers will not hold back.

’...I don’t think, there will be any need for that.’

Akamir thought as he let out a sigh.

His gaze turned slightly as he glanced at the woman floating just beside him.

Nayomi gave him a weird look on her face as she kept on staring at him.

"What?" Akamir asked, frowning as he did.

"I still can’t believe it." She said, shaking her head. "How did you turn down Zaina’s offer."

Akamir shrugged. "The time is not right." He said. "And I don’t like how things have turned out between us."

Nayomi gave him a look. "You say it like you don’t like her."

Akamir let out a sigh, rubbing his temples. "It’s not that I don’t like her." He said softly. "....She is just young."

Nayomi tilted her head, her long hair drifting in the air as if carried by some unseen current.

"Young, yes," she said slowly, her eyes narrowing, "but not foolish. She sees things...and she clearly chose you as her partner."

Akamir gave her a sideways glance. "Clarity doesn’t always mean readiness." He said. "I am pretty sure, she isn’t ready for anything sexual."

"Unsurprisingly I doubt that." Nayomi said with a scoff. "The brightest king yet can’t see through a woman’s feelings."

Akamir opened his mouth to reply but chose against it.

’...I think I did the right thing.’ he thought. ’And that’s all that matters.’

There was still the whole thing about the tournament and things with the church.

Akamir was sure he could sort out his feelings for her by then.

For now, he chose to focus on the task at hand.

After walking down the wall Akamir moved towards the main tent.

As soon as he entered he was greeted by Inara who sat on the main chair.

When she saw him she smiled. "How are things going?"

"Not too good nor too bad." Akamir replied as he walked and sat down beside her. "The war will start anytime now."

The queen of Krivos Kingdom nodded her head. "....Yeah." she whispered. "I just hope things go accordingly."

Akamir grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently.

"Don’t worry." He said firmly. "As long as I am here, nothing will happen."

Inara’s eyes softened at his words, but the worry in them didn’t disappear.

She held his hand a little tighter, her thumb brushing against his knuckles.

"I trust you," she said quietly, though her voice wavered at the edges. "But even you can’t predict everything."

Akamir leaned back in his chair, studying her face.

"No," he admitted. "But I can prepare for it. And that’s enough."

She let out a sigh as her eyes remained on the maps spread on the table.

"What do you think about the stance of Zagroth Household in the war?" She asked, looking at him. "...Do you think they are supporting this war?"

Akamir nodded his head in response.

"Well, from what I can see...." He mumbled. "They are definitely going to support it if they know what’s going on."

Inara looked at him. "Why do you think that?"

"Simple." He said. "The more area in their control the more bloodlines they can extract."

He raised his hand before placing it around her shoulder.

"In the end they want nothing but profit." He spoke. "And war, my dear, always brings rich profits."

Inara’s lips pressed into a thin line.

She seemed to hate that he was right, but she couldn’t deny the truth in his words.

"The Zagroths are way too dangerous," she muttered, almost to herself. "How come there is no one to stop them?"

Akamir let out a sigh. "....That I don’t know—."

Dum! Dum!

A sudden sound of the war drums stopped Akamir in his track.

He looked at her face and she looked equally serious.

Akamir stood up as he stretched his body. "Stay here." He said, his voice firm. "If you get out, you can become a sole target."

Inara nodded as she knew well enough what he meant. "...What about you?"

Akamir smiled. "We need a clean victory." He spoke firmly. "And a fast one."

Inara quickly got his words as she slowly stood up. "You don’t mean..."

"I will be back in a while." Akamir said, stretching his body. "Don’t worry too much."

Inara wanted to stop him but knowing his power well enough she was sure nothing could stop him.

"Be careful." She spoke softly. "You can’t die and leave me to deal with this shitty life alone."

Akamir chuckled. "I will not."

He walked out of the tent, as his eyes moved around the place.

The army was in shambles as all of them were ready for a counterattack.

Akamir moved towards the tall walls to assess the situation.

The Aure army was at the other end of the wall, readying themselves to break through.

Akamir let out a sigh as he looked to his side where Nayomi stood.

"What do you think?" He asked. "Is it unfair to them if I join the war?"

Nayomi looked at him. "No." She spoke. "Anything is possible in a war, they should account for an unstoppable force as well."

Akamir chuckled softly. "You are right."

He took out his mask and wore it.

Akamir turned around and let his body fall down on the side of the Aure army.