40 Edward Williams 5 (1/2)
While the barbarian observers were impressed by Aureus, Aureus was far less so at the state the battle was heading. The creases on his forehead furrowed deeper as the battle approached its end.
Tarin was in a similar state as the battle reached its apex.
Only when the Aureus army reached a tipping point and started slaughtering the demon beasts on the field as they achieved better position did Aureus give out the final commands.
Aureus shot a look at Tarin who was attending him. Tarin voiced his discomfort at how the demon beasts appeared to be probing the strength of the army throughout the entire attack.
Aureus's expression took on a grim cast as he agreed with Tarin's assessment.
”If it was not clear before, the beasts are far more dangerous than the previous iterations. At least then, they only had numbers and mindless frenzy.” Aureus said as cast a look over the battlefield once more.
”Highness, compounding the issue would be how we have no idea which are the demon beast leaders. This will be an enemy we will be fighting without being able to identify it's leadership core.” Tarin replied.
Aureus nodded and ventured that nothing is as disarming as an unknown enemy.
—
During the night, Aureus's war council reassembled in the tribal chief's house with the tribe leaders.
As they went over the after battle reports, it was clear that the beasts launched probing attacks at all four walls. The only place where they attacked in full was the southern wall manned by the Blue River tribe.
Even the tribe leaders could put two and two together and surmise the demon beast's intentions of going after the weakest in the pack.
Aureus suggested embedding his archer corps with the southern wall to provide further support in the coming battles.
Ranar was stoic but he bowed his head towards Aureus after his suggestion.
Going through the reports on the north wall's battle, the observers were struck by an anomaly. A young barbarian youth was surrounded by the Grey Rock Tribe's elites as he wrecked havoc by summoning large aether blasts and hurling them onto the demon beasts. The observers all agreed that the youth had a minimum of 10 in aether rating.
As Boulder prepared to move off after the council, Aureus asked to be introduced to the valiant warrior who held the northern wall with a single unit. Boulder flashed a wide grin and said that was his son, Wolfe. The atmosphere amongst the Aureus army officer shifted a little as they learned the identity of the mysterious valiant warrior.
Aureus smiled in return and asked how old was Wolfe and his aether rating. Boulder replied that Wolfe was fourteen this year and that they never had the means to test his aether rating hence it is an unknown. This caused many brows to be raised in the tent.
As Boulder was exiting the tent, he said that he would send the order for Wolfe to meet with Aureus. Aureus in turn beckoned to a messenger for it to be dispatched back to the Aureus army to bring back a measuring set for aether core rating.
Both Wolfe and the messenger entered the tent at roughly the same time. Aureus grinned and introduced himself to Wolfe. Wolfe simply bowed in return and maintained a stoic and taciturn manner.
Tarin , Johan and Denter had been sizing Wolfe as he entered and all three were generating tension in their poise whenever Wolfe stood near to Aureus.
Calvus, the weakest in terms of martial ability amongst the four, asked what was going on. Denter simply replied ”A heavy scent of danger surrounds that child, he is strong enough to pose a danger even to me.” As Calvus heard the answer, his brows scrunched as he reviewed the distance between Wolfe and Aureus.
However, Aureus gave no sign at all of being concerned. He even continued treating the stoic Wolfe in a very friendly manner and inviting him to partake of drinks with him.