Chapter 27: Past Memories (8) - Regroup

Sariria and Tarilia both told their stories enthusiastically while Lireesa and Sena sat down to listen to their side of the events. They were tasked with the same mission as them to scout the area before the main force arrived. But different from Lireesa's group, they noticed the changes happening in the backline as soon as it occurred. It was one day earlier than Lireesa's. They were fortunate to order decisive retreat. The withdrawal encountered no problem at the beginning. Later on, they met waves after waves of trolls. As the number of attacks piled up, they started to suffer casualties. As time goes on the number of injured rangers rose to the point the whole group couldn't even have combat effectiveness.

Perhaps because the troll saw them as soft persimmons, they didn't bother to send high-level personnels to fight these elves. The sheer masses of cannon fodder seemed sufficient to defeat them. It did to the point the whole troops except for very few were paralyzed. But fate seemed to mock Lireesa and Sena as they listened, because these two sisters found a place where it was extremely easy to defend and hard to attack. As long as they placed early warning traps and a few concentrated rangers to fend off enemies' attack they were safe.

After some skirmishes, the trolls appeared they forgot the elves existed in this place and the whole group was relatively peaceful. As the two sisters continued talking, they couldn't help notice the expressions of Lireesa and Sena who would always look at each other from time to time. So they asked in doubt, "Is there any problem with what we described? But I feel we're the unluckiest, unlike your group who seem to be doing well."

Both Lireesa and Sena had blacklines over their forehead. When did they say they were lucky. They were actually trailing on the edge of the cliff.

Lireesa was able to control herself but Sena couldn't help exploded, "What in the world. We believe your group is the luckiest in spite of so many injured elves, but they'll recover soon. Do you even realize what our group went through. If not for this monster beside us, we're screwed."

Lireesa had her eyebrows wrinkled when she heard what Sena just called her, but she didn't interject, and regarded as compliment. She'd repay back Sena during training.

Two sisters looked disapproving as if they had suffered the worst nightmare, wave after wave of deadly enemy. Lireesa never denied the risks involved, but if they were to think Lireesa's group was fortunate, the whole view changed. So, Sena described every event meticulously from Lireesa's heroic deeds and their fight against trolls despite being outnumbered in addition to several high-level powerhouses on the troll's side.

Sariria and Tarilia now had to admit, their whole group would be annihilated if the same occurred to them. Because their troops were too weak, to fend off the cannon fodder, it appeared their group wasn't even considered as a threat. To prevent Sena from further demoralizing the two sisters, Lireesa had to interrupt and said her main objective, "As far as it concerns to my knowledge, the whole area around yours is indeed safe and there is no existence, which can threaten your group. I suggest instead of waiting for us to send people to carry you girls, how about you slowly march. In the meantime, Sena besides me will go ahead and informed my friend, who can also bring people out to help you on the way."

The two sisters couldn't agree more, as Lireesa's advice was the most optimal methods. Now that they knew, Lireesa had personally killed six high-level; they felt really safe to follow her commands. Not to mention, Lireesa was also the heir to the Windrunner family and their future lord who they would be serving in the future.

Sena left along with the same girl who guided them the paths. Lireesa even felt pity for her to run back and forth. The preparation to depart actually took them one hour and couldn't expect more for the travel to be longer. There were many wounded, portraying how much hard the fight was. If Lireesa's group was outnumbered 10 to 1, their group frankly faced the estimation of 40 to 1. Trolls used war also to consume their population, as their food availability decreased. They could also bring demise to their enemies. So, their leader was happy enough to hit two birds with one stone. Sariria and Tarilia probably met the condition for the trolls as an executioner. Not too strong, not too weak.

The journey began worrying about the whole line from troubles and dangers, Lireesa only had one word in her mind, gruesome. She assumed the duty of early scout by detecting auras around their formation. It was also because of Sena's mouth, Sariria requested her to serve as a radar and protective mechanism toward high-level threats. Lireesa's mouth twitched uncontrollably as if she should even be worried about her prestige. She said to herself, am I even a leader in this group.

She suspected she was even deprived from her duty. Of course, she wasn't that narrow-minded. The only one capable enough to complete this task thoroughly was only Lireesa. The whole time, in spite of tedious atmosphere, every elf in this group was very vigilant. It might be they still hadn't gotten out from their nightmares, where waves of trolls drowning them. Perhaps to alleviate Lireesa from being bored, Tarilia walked alongside her, pestering non-stop ranging from various topics and finally asking her how she singled out the high-level opponents. Helpless, Lireesa regurgitated her tales, mentioned the importance of knowledge, self-controlled and several different plans.

On some points during the whole journey, addition support from Lireesa's group came, helping where was required and this smoothed the speed of their movement. It was around 4 hours before midnight, they arrived their destination. Every one of them instantly relaxed when they discovered their comrades full of energy. This rally point was now shaped into temporary base. As much as Lireesa wanted to move the whole unit in order to confuse their enemies and not get encircled, after learning how much damages Sariria's and Tarilia's group had experienced, decided to fortify this location. Because the trolls who attacked Lireesa's group had no survivors, there existed a time gap, which Lireesa could exploit.

Ella wasn't surprised of the situation of her two fellow officers, because Sena after returning had described everything in details. But she couldn't help lament this particular group whether they were lucky or unlucky. Lucky because they didn't attract high-level personnels. Unlucky, because they were treated as sharpeners. Now, their Windrunner scout unit couldn't move easily and these casualties had become a burden, but no one was prepared to give up their comrades. So, she asked Lireesa, "What are your plans, now? Cleary, we cannot move until they are healed. I've already sent someone to investigate the perimeter for defense and encampment. Based on their reports later, we can design the whole base."

Lireesa nodded and was relieved to have Ella resolving issues on her own initiative without requiring her instruction. It allowed her to possess enough time to consider other problems. The night passed safely and there was no disturbance. Early morning, all rangers did their own routines, water was never a problem since they had fresh waterfall near their location. Today, Lireesa first called upon a meeting with her friends. All officers gathered around to discuss defensive strategy and evacuation strategy if emergency situation occurred. They summoned the scouts who investigated the surrounding yesterday and listened to her point of views. They added some details and drew a plan consisting of traps and patrols which appeared effective for their current situation.

The other healthy rangers were tasked to find some fruits nearby and herbs useful for medical applications. There were also fish near them, so meat was already available. Therefore, it was concluded by Lireesa and her friends, there was no danger to their survival apart from those trolls, except the corpses outside. Luckily, the battle took place at a considerable distance from their camp and diseases weren't likely to occur during their stay, which could last at most 5 days. That was the maximum Lireesa could continue staying here. Otherwise, chances of other trolls discovering the situation became higher.

They also brought healing potions, which could ensure the wounded recovered quickly, but they were too few in proportion to the casualties and were prioritized to be applied only for serious fatal cases. Besides diluting the potion could also achieve the same effect albeit at a slower pace and this was also one of the reasons for their encampment.

5 days passed in a blink of an eye and now it was their last moment staying near this waterfall. During these days, they encountered 4 trolls' scout and annihilated them all, leaving no one alive to report back their existence. As time passed, trolls would notice anomalies in their areas and narrowed down the search circle. 5 days was the best time limit Lireesa could utilize and she was indeed satisfied with current situations.

Lireesa called for a meeting to discuss their withdrawal plan with everyone. She planned to evacuate at night where the elves had advantages. The initial stage was always the most dangerous and must be thoroughly orchestrated before implementing in reality. They would simulate the whole retreat from the encampment including every worst-case scenario so that everything was thought of and well prepared.

There was a slight disappointment in Lireesa's eyes where she wasn't satisfied with the arrows, particular self-made one. She feared the lethality of these arrows dropped when used against the trolls. She had asked all her subordinates if anyone knew how to make a poison. Poison was the oldest and most conventional methods but still successful to counter their physiques. Because their usages were highly reliable, poison was an indispensable factor in raising their chances of survival. Unfortunately, no one had any prior knowledge.

Whenever the thought crossed into her mind, Lireesa would always sign to herself. Ella besides her asked knowingly, "Why do you still cannot relinquish this thought? I know it's very valuable, but we aren't capable in it. We should actually focus on other things which we can easily attain pertinent to our endeavor."

"I'm just being regretful," Lireesa replied. "It isn't just a small percentage, you know. It raises up to 70 percent. That's very huge development. And I can't help myself thinking how to obtain it."

Sena, Sariria and Tarilia joined in the discussion and the whole space became lively. Arguing with each other was the only entertainment they could enjoy during the expeditions. Presumably, refuting their future lord would make into their records and became something to brag about. Lireesa didn't care what they had in mind. Frankly, she had regarded all the windrunners in her camp as her confidantes. There were around 100 rangers plus her current four friends. They were her futures too. With such experience together plus her courageous action had already received their loyalties and their combat effectiveness would no longer be the same as other Quel'Thalas units.