II
The First Legion under Marshal Cornelius and the Helios Knights under Marshal Gladden—eighty thousand soldiers in all—faced off across the Plains of Nobis. For the Royal Army, this was the site of the demise of the Fifth Legion. For the Imperial Army, it marked the beginning of the empire’s ascendancy.
Marshal Cornelius gave responsibility for the center lines, where the fiercest fighting was expected, to Brigadier General Neinhardt. The brigadier general assembled his forces in an omnidirectional formation so that he could immediately respond to any contingent events on the left flank, under the command of Major General Thaddeus, or the right, under Major General Travis. Neinhardt’s assignment to command the higher-ranked generals spoke to Cornelius’s confidence in him after he demonstrated his aptitude for seeing the bigger picture at the Battle of Ilys.
Cornelius himself planned to hang back with a small force of a thousand soldiers. That would give him a better grasp of the overall progression of the battle. Several of Fernest’s Ten Swords were assigned to his defense, including Aurelian the Third Sword and Cattleya the Seventh Sword. Although they were both masterful warriors, not one person considered it sufficient protection for the field marshal—especially the supreme commander of their army. No one raised any objection, however. Cornelius’s spirit burned so brightly that his officers hesitated to voice their doubts.
As Cornelius took to the battlefield, he transformed into the Invincible General of eld. He delivered his commands with a glint in his eyes that made his fellow warriors tremble.
On the other side of the plains, the Helios Knights arranged themselves in an echelon formation with units staggered diagonally. Each unit assumed a defensive high tower formation, great shields at the ready to meet the First Legion. Gladden planned to employ strong defenses to repel the First Legion’s attacks while drawing them into a defense-in-depth strategy. Once behind the Helios Knights’ front lines, the First Legion would become bogged down and lose momentum. Then, his forces would surround and exterminate them. He also took the Knights’ specialized offensive heavy unit known as the Caelestis Wolves, divided them into eight battalions, and positioned them at key points around the battlefield. The Wolves were an elite unit only deployed at critical moments. They wielded partisans, polearms with a wide blade that could stab and slash, and charged their enemies with terrifying force in a formation known as Heaven’s Wrath. That Gladden was deploying the Wolves from the outset in this battle showed just how far he would go to win.
The year was Tempus Fugit 999. Winter was drawing to a close. Under the limitless expanse of the azure sky, the two armies charged at each other, shouting fearlessly. In generations to come, the Battle of the Plains of Nobis would be known as a turning point in history. Now, it had begun.
General Headquarters of the Helios Knights
“They’ve gone for a very bold choice in positioning their troops the way they have,” Oscar remarked. Gladden looked out over the forces spread out before them and nodded.
“That’s the Invincible General for you,” he said. “As far as I can tell, their formation is seamless.” And that’s what makes this tragic, he thought to himself. So much rides upon the lord one serves. Compared to Ramza the Good, Fernest’s King Alfonse was building himself a reputation throughout the continent as a royal fool. It was all he deserved, of course, for bringing a proud kingdom that had continued for six hundred years so low. In the beginning, the idea of waging war upon the Kingdom of Lions had inspired an extraordinary fervor in Gladden that, when he looked back on it now, he could only think of with scorn.
“There’s no point in dwelling on what might have been, but if the First Legion had fought actively in the war from the beginning, I imagine we’d still be in a stalemate,” he mused. “Perhaps it was written in the stars. Fate hasn’t smiled on Fernest much at all.”
Oscar’s mouth curved up slightly. Gladden assumed the other man’s thoughts had followed a similar path to his own. Just then, another matter he’d been considering floated to the front of his mind.
“On another note, have you looked over Colonel Guyel’s report, Oscar?”
Oscar thought for a moment, then replied, “The so-called Death God Journals, ser?”
“That’s right. The Death God Journals.”
“I read them, of course...” Oscar said doubtfully. “But why the sudden interest?”
“Oh, nothing. I was just thinking that, by rights, Fernest ought to have long since met its end.”
Since the arrival of the girl they called Death God, a great many soldiers had met their end on the battlefield. Osvannes, Georg, Listenburg—all strong and seasoned warriors, and all no longer of this world. It was, of course, irrational to think that this Death God was directly responsible for all of them, but Gladden couldn’t shake the sense that the unification of Duvedirica was slipping further and further away from them since her arrival. Gladden was the highest ranking officer in the imperial army, and so thought nothing of the criticisms of incompetent fools. It didn’t escape his notice, though, that all the bureaucrats who, away from the battlefield, would usually have been first in line to attack him had held their tongues. Their reticence was only because Chancellor Darmés, the empire’s second most important man and head of the bureaucrats, had ceased interfering with him. He knew that. Military officers and bureaucrats had always gotten on like oil and water, and their leaders were no different. But that thought, if anything, only cast an unsettling light on Darmés’s recent silence.
“It’s no good getting hung up on the Death God right now,” Oscar said. “We’re fighting the First Legion and the Invincible General. We should focus on winning that battle first.” It was a justified reproach, and Gladden nodded his wholehearted agreement.
“You’re right. It’s not only the Death God we can’t afford to underestimate, but the Invincible General, as well. A single moment’s lapse in judgment could be fatal.”
Oscar nodded, but they could not rightly postpone the matter of the Death God entirely. He suggested that Gladden dispatch Felix to remove her from the field. The suggestion itself did not come unexpectedly—Gladden had been thinking along those lines himself. Now that Rosenmarie could not take the field, only Felix could kill Fernest’s strongest soldier as the singular strongest man in the Imperial Army—her only counterpart.
Gladden had just considered giving the order for the Death God’s removal after defeating the Second Legion when the surprise attack had hit Fort Astora. In the spirit of caution, he had sent Felix there. The attacker, it had emerged, was not the Seventh Legion, but an army of unknown origin. Gladden hadn’t seen that one coming. On top of that, the army’s commander had wielded the godlike power possessed only by the mages. While thanking the heavens that he had been cautious, Gladden also felt a chill in his marrow at the thought of what might have happened if Felix had arrived any later. After much consideration, he had decided that Felix would remain stationed at the fort. He didn’t expect another attack, but he couldn’t rule out the Seventh Legion seizing the opportunity to go on the offensive. If they did march on the fort, Gladden was sure Felix was more than capable of handling them and the Death God to boot. It was imperative that he didn’t lose here, lest still more fools emerged with delusions that they could challenge the empire.
“Enemy infantry emerging on the left flank!” a soldier shouted. Gladden picked up his commander’s staff, his face grim.
The Right Flank of the First Legion
Half a day had passed since the fighting began. The right flank had advanced first and was met by the Helios Knights’ strong defenses. Though they found themselves fighting against heavy odds, they were slowly pushing the enemy back. At a glance, it appeared that the Royal Army had the upper hand...
“This isn’t going well...” muttered the white-haired, wiry Major General Travis. He wore a red cloak emblazoned with a two-headed silver eagle that marked him as a member of the House of Meyer. This family was one of the Six Flowers, the most celebrated warrior houses in Fernest.
Lieutenant Bram, his aide, paused in issuing orders to soldiers and turned to him with a dubious look on his face. Travis realized his voice must have carried farther than he’d thought.
“What isn’t going well?” Bram asked.
“Everything. Even as we speak, we’re getting closer to being surrounded and annihilated.”
“Surrounded and annihilated?” Bram repeated in a tone of disbelief. Lowering his voice, he went on. “Excuse my impertinence, ser, but I only see our forces pushing the enemy back. I really have no idea what you’re talking about...”
“So not even you see it, Lieutenant. The Helios Knights are a formidable opponent, indeed...”
The Helios Knights were fending off the First Legion’s attacks and responding with an occasional counterattack of their own, all the while cleverly luring them deep behind enemy lines. Even Travis had only noticed it after detecting a few subtle warning signs. He doubted any of those fighting on the front lines, commanding officers included, had noticed anything amiss. The reason Travis called the Helios Knights formidable was thus: they were successfully carrying out a performance that required exceptional coordination between divisions.
All right, what next? Travis thought, folding his arms. Even withdrawal didn’t seem like a feasible option. As soon as the enemy commander knew the First Legion was on to the plan, he would, like as not, immediately tighten the noose around them. But if they fought on, all that waited for them in the end was eventual annihilation. There was only one option left: throw the Helios Knights off-balance from the outside, then wait for an opening to begin withdrawing their forces.
Which means I have no choice but to turn to him... Travis thought grumpily, then explained their predicament to the still incredulous Bram. Bram’s expression slowly changed until he looked like he’d swallowed something unpleasant.
“But Lord Neinhardt is engaging the enemy now too, isn’t he? Can he even send us reinforcements?”
“If he can’t, we’re finished,” Travis said matter-of-factly. “We might as well just lie down on the Plains of Nobis and wait to die.” When Bram looked aghast, he added, “But don’t worry yourself. He might have everyone fooled with that pretty face of his, but Neinhardt’s a crafty one. I reckon he could give Lieutenant General Blood of the Second Legion a run for his money. Not to mention,” he went on, a hint of sarcasm in his tone, “his illustrious position as aide in the elite First Legion.” With that, he told Bram to call a messenger.
The Central Force of the First Legion
The blazing sun was beginning to sink in the western sky and Neinhardt was engaged in a fierce battle with the Helios Knights when the messenger arrived bearing the banner of Major General Travis.
Neinhardt heard him out. “Lord Travis wants reinforcements?”
“Yes, ser. Right now, the enemy is threatening to surround us and wipe out our army. Their real plan was a defense-in-depth. The General begs you to make haste.”
“What do you mean, surround you?” Katerina asked, looking through her spyglass at the right flank. Eventually, she turned back to them, puzzled. “It looks like we’re pushing them back.”
“Yes ser, I actually thought the same thing,” the messenger admitted. “But Lord Travis said that when I told Lord Neinhardt, he would understand.”
They both looked at Neinhardt. He told the messenger he would do as Travis requested, ordering Katerina to dispatch Major Dirk’s regiment, the fastest under his command.
After the messenger ran off looking confused, Katerina rounded on Neinhardt. “And are you going to explain what that was all about, ser?”
“The enemy made it look like they’d meet us with an echelon formation—that’s how I read it too—but in reality, they planned a trap. They’re trying to draw us in. Lord Travis, in other words, fell for it, hook, line, and sinker.”
“Did you know from the start?” Katerina said, her eyes accusing.
“No.”
“But you gave orders expressly forbidding our forces from venturing too far behind enemy lines.”
“From the start, something seemed off about the enemy’s movements for an echelon formation. I wanted to see what they’d do. This kind of situation rewards a bit of cowardice.”
Neinhardt also suspected that a difference in personality played a large role in why Travis had been ensnared. Travis tended to go on the offensive from the outset, while Neinhardt preferred to wait for his opponent to move and then counter accordingly. Travis was therefore at a disadvantage against an enemy looking to trap him. Neinhardt did have to credit the man’s perception in seeing through the enemy plan before the snare snapped shut.
“Very well. I understand that, ser, but we’re stretched thin here too. In all honesty, I don’t think we can afford to lose Major Dirk’s cavalry regiment.”
With the brunt of the Helios Knights’ force directed at the First Legion’s center, Katerina’s response was extremely rational. They could beat this opponent with tactics alone. Too late to do anything about it, Neinhardt thought. Cornelius had shouldered him with one hell of a job.
“Even so, just knowing what the enemy is planning gives us an advantage. Katerina, tell all the commanding officers and send a messenger to Lord Thaddeus on the left flank.”
“Right away, ser!”
Afterward, with the arrival of Major Dirk’s reinforcements, Travis was able to withdraw his forces, though not without some casualties. He regrouped into a defensive formation and repelled the enemy’s pursuing attack.
Meanwhile, the left flank under Major General Thaddeus made it through with only scattered skirmishes. It wasn’t that he’d seen through the enemy’s plan; Thaddeus was by nature a painfully cautious man and on this occasion, it had worked to his advantage. When the Helios Knights’ machinations were exposed, his caution became even more pronounced. Anyone who advanced without leave, even when they brought news of success, was severely reprimanded. When the imperial commander lost patience and sent a reserve force against him, he at last ordered a retreat, demonstrating a strong defense on par with the Helios Knights.
Thus the first day of battle came to an end, with neither army able to snatch the advantage.
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