28 Rolger Forests 2 (2/2)

Many broke out their whetstones and leather oils while some headed off towards the cook fires with a gleam in their eyes as the variety of food was least amongst their concerns due to their recent hunting.

The officers huddled together with Edward and some were whetting their blades while the rest were oiling their armor. One officer strangely had an entirely polished look about him- from his armor to his boots. Edward wondered did that officer get up before dawn to do all his polishing but decided that holding his tongue would be a far better course of action.

The officers weighed in on the readiness of the troops and the chances of success on the attack on the demon spider tribes. Predictably, the concerns revolved around the monarch and king class beasts and how if they were formed into a team, the difficulty of the operation would then rise.

Edward directed the flow of conversation to holding down the rank and file of the demon spiders. The officers all assured that if all they were required to do were to hold down the grunts, there would be no issues.

Edward ordered food and drinks to be brought into the meeting tent as he asked about stories about the various officers. In particular, during their campaign to the inner realm fighting for the scattered kingdoms.

Many of the officers had enthusiastic stories to share, in particular about the final battle upon the inner plains. Some of the officers had participated in the cordon of the duel between prince Aureus and prince Rogen Gaia. Many officers agreed that prince Rogen lived up to his reputation. His command of the battlefield and his personal valor and skills was indeed that of a prodigy. It was unfortunate he met prince Aureus and decided to continue onto a duel to the death with him.

Edward asked why would Prince Rogen make such a choice as there was no death feuds between Astrea Empire and the Three Syndicates as far as he knew.

The officers said both princes used their divine gem barriers at the same time and did not choose to teleport out of the battlefield. In retrospect, it could be said that prince Aureus felt he had the advantage and it will be a win for him. For prince Rogen, it was not as if he had low chances. Were he able to slay prince Aureus then and there, it would have ensured that he would be the head of Gaia syndicate and vault the Gaia syndicate into primacy amongst the three syndicates for a substantial period of time.

One of the officer said he remembered how prince Rogen's troops fell into a killing frenzy as prince Aureus slew prince Rogen. He had to coordinate a hard fighting retreat getting prince Aureus with no divine barrier back to friendly lines with the surrounding friendly forces.

Another officer said that it was known in the camps that prince Aureus returned prince Rogen's body and all his equipment with a grand procession to the Gaia syndicate in the aftermath of the battle. Some of the more aggressive officers in the Triem army did not approve and wanted to exact a greater price from the syndicates but Consul Triem silenced those officers and threw his full weight behind Aureus's gesture.

Unfortunately, High Prince Gaia still swore a blood feud with prince Aureus. It was only the interventions of the other two High Princes that prevented High Prince Gaia from indulging in further acts of war. While it did not stop High Prince Gaia from sending assassins after prince Aureus, those assassins could not even make it pass the perimeter of the right wing's camp hence it became a running joke to keep sentries alert in the camp.

As the conversation ran around topics such as eliminating key threats before they could grow, Edward felt a sense of pity growing for prince Rogen as he learned more about this figure.

(There are many great figures in the Three Realms but how many will grow to their full potential?) Edward thought as he raised a glass in response to a toast for Aureus by the officers.

—

In an empty yard like space, nine golems were standing in attention while Caine moved amongst them with his magical tools in hand. As Caine sanded down the arm of a golem, Tiffany approached.

”Nervous?” Tiffany asked.

”Yes, and excited,” Caine replied. ”We will be attacking the demon spiders any time now. I may obtain a grade 5 demon spider core. Ahead by near a decade. How can I not be nervous?”

”The King class will be no easy prey,” Tiffany said as she tossed her scarlet hair.

”I will act according to Edward's decisions on the field that day. He appears well capable of the role of Warmaster and I have no questions to his abilities to lead on the field.” Caine returned as he summoned a wrench like magic tool.

Tiffany nodded as she sat at the side and watched Caine tinker with his golems.