43 Danger Close (2/2)

The opposing Magesong army was similarly lined up against our side. They were split into three armies with a fourth army in the rear. However, that was as far as similarities go. For while our side had humans, elves, dwarves, pixies, centaurs, and the occasional elemental, the enemy force also included hobgoblins, trolls, and pegasi in their ranks. They had trebuchets and ballista too.

Above the fourth army was a grey flag with an outward-facing open palm as its symbol. From what I heard, this was the standard of the enemy commander, Great General Spellweaver.

I closed my eyes and disengaged Fool's Insight.

”Geez, they've come prepared,” I said while blinking the dryness away.

”Yeah,” Luca agreed. ”And we're supposed to wade into all that without any backup...”

”I wonder which fool thought this idea up,” Edo was giving me a pointed look like it was my fault we were at war.

To be fair, I had help thinking up our plan which was inline with Darah's requirements for my unit. I felt a swell of pride in my chest just thinking about the mornings Ty, Arah, and I spent to increase our strategy's chances of success.

”Well, Great General Darah thinks it's a good plan,” Aura's voice sounded a bit hesitant to my ears.

I turned around to look at them. ”Come on, guys... it'll work. Trust me. Believe in me.”

I glanced at each of them and held their gazes.

”Because I believe in you,” I said.

”You are so corny, Dean,” Luca shook his head.

”I liked it... exudes confidence,” a commanding female voice said from behind me.

I turned around and found Great General Darah looking down at me from atop a creature that had the head, antlers, and forelegs of a brown stag, combined with the hindquarters, plumage, and wings of a large white bird.

The creature landed beside me and knelt on its forelegs like a horse sometimes did so its rider could get off. And next thing I knew, Darah was standing before me resplendent in her gleaming golden armor, with her midnight blue cloak billowing in the wind.

”Are you ready to accomplish your task, Dean?” she asked.

”Y-yes, General,” I stammered.

I couldn't help get flustered. There was a moment where the picture of a golden-haired superhero surrounded by golden light flashed before my eyes while I gazed at Darah. She was that impressive tonight.

”Whether the battle turns well for us on this first clash is dependent on the success of your mission,” she said.

”But... general,” Aura addressed her aunt in a formal manner. Even in this situation, she continued to keep up appearances. ”Surely our task, no matter how important, isn't so vital as to decide tonight's battle?”

Unlike her niece who was working hard to keep up the act, Darah smiled at her like the doting, obsessed aunt she was.

”You're right and wrong, Lieutenant,” Darah answered her.

The general pointed to the grey army on our right.

”They haven't revealed their positions yet but the enemy definitely has their trump card ready,” Darah said.

”You're talking about the spell canons, ma'am?” Luca asked.

It was rare for him to speak in front of a higher-up like Darah, and I knew it was because he didn't trust the elders. Just the thought of that old fairy, Kairon, pissed me off. Luca's feelings must have been far more confusing. So, it made me happy to see him speak up now.

Darah gave Luca an appraising look before she answered him.

”Manners... how unlike your brother you are, Luca Dapper,” Darah said with a smile.

Luca bowed his head to her in an apologetic gesture. ”I'm sorry for his rudeness, great General Darah... I will lecture him about this later.”

Darah's smile widened. She turned to me with a this-is-how-you-should-act look that really grated on my nerves. It's not like I wasn't at least a little respectful to her, after all.

After she was done having fun at my expense, Darah answered Luca's question, ”Despite their small size, the Magesong have survived wars with other clans because of the devastation caused by their spell canons.”

She walked away from us and remounted her steed. But before she flew off, she gave us one final command.

”We cannot allow these weapons to stay on the field,” Darah insisted. ”It'll be your job to ensure they are thrown off the board.”

Then she was gone, soaring back up the sky and in the direction of the command hill.

I looked over to my team. Luca, Aura, and even Edo gazed determinedly back at me. They were ready and able. Now, we just had to round up the rest of the Foolhardies and cause some mischief danger-close style like we usually did.

”You heard her,” I grinned. ”Time to work for a living.”