Chapter 71: Swift Turn (Part 3)

The barbarians reduced the prosperous commercial and industrial city of Whistledale to ruins in just one day. All the workshops were destroyed, and gold coins, jewels, equipment stripped from corpses, fabrics, and other valuables were gathered and loaded onto stolen carts, pulled by livestock and lizards, to be transported back to Tatalia.

Though many civilians of Whistledale failed to escape in time, the barbarians didn't massacre them. Instead, they herded them toward the royal city. Slaughtering unarmed civilians was considered a disgraceful act to these self-proclaimed warriors. However, they did search carefully for nobles hiding among the populace, binding them tightly and tossing them into the supply carts as valuable hostages that could fetch hefty ransoms.

The streets were littered with corpses, remnants of the battle. Large lizards feasted on the dead while swarms of dragonflies gathered around rotting bodies. After the battle, the barbarians frantically searched for taverns, breaking into cellars to haul out barrels of wine, howling in celebration as they drank.

Outside the city, in the military camp, King Tazir of Tatalia listened to the report of two barbarian chieftains responsible for the attack. It was Tazir's leadership, along with his skilled beastmasters and lizardmen forces, that had thwarted reinforcements rushing to Whistledale, defeating even dozens of griffin riders. Without his extraordinary military prowess, Tatalia could never have advanced this far, much less achieved such a decisive victory.

Beside the king stood not only the lizardman chieftain but also several young advisors, not dressed as barbarians, and a middle-aged man who looked like an unassuming shopkeeper. These individuals were allies sent by Orford, and in a short time, they had earned the king's trust and remained by his side.

"Your Majesty, the warriors of the swamplands have completely conquered this city. Before the courage and fury of the northern warriors, no enemy can stand. This is the greatest victory Tatalia has ever achieved against Alrasia. Your bravery and leadership now eclipse the sun in the sky and are unmatched, like the fierce winds atop Mount Saundfest. We are less than 300 miles from Alrasia's royal city. With our full strength, we could reach it in a few days. You will become the first Tatalian king to conquer Alrasia."

The barbarian chieftain, his face flushed—perhaps from drink—gesticulated wildly as he delivered his fervent report. For these warriors, accustomed to the desolate swamps and wastelands, the bounty and conquest of Alrasia's fertile plains were overwhelming.

"The royal city of Alrasia lies ahead, and the culprits who have humiliated us for years cower in fear. Your Majesty, give the order to attack. The axes and bloodlust of the northern warriors will bring them down. We will stand atop their churches and burn those pigs of the clergy. Let Queen Catherine herself grovel beneath your might!" Another chieftain, his eyes bloodshot and voice hoarse, shouted as if the queen of Alrasia were already at his mercy. "Every warrior is eager for the enemy's blood. I promise you their valor will not disappoint."

The young barbarian king nodded, his expression one of approval. He addressed the two chieftains: "Very well. You are dismissed. Tell the warriors to rest well today. As for our next move, I will deliberate with my advisors before making a decision."

As the chieftains left, a golden blur shot into the tent and stopped abruptly beside the middle-aged man. It was an adult dragonfly, about a foot long with transparent wings spanning two feet. Resembling an oversized dragonfly, its speed and agility surpassed those of any bird.

The middle-aged man carefully retrieved a small folded note from the dragonfly and, after reading it, said to King Tazir, "The cavalry from the highlands has begun their retreat and are riding hard toward us. They've reached Pingsburg and should arrive within two days."

King Tazir smiled at the man and said, "Thanks to Mr. Anderson and his student companions, we've been able to clearly grasp the battlefield situation and stay ahead of our enemies. Who would have thought that dragonflies, bred for centuries, could only reach their true potential in the hands of druids? I promise the druidic faith will flourish in the swamplands in the future."

Anderson, the druid, remained expressionless. Neither pleased nor moved by the king's praise, he simply nodded woodenly.

This was the third message delivered by dragonflies that day. These creatures, faster than most birds and excellent at long-distance travel, could cover over a thousand miles in half a day. Although Tatalians had bred dragonflies for centuries, they had never thought to use them as messengers due to their limited intelligence. However, with the aid of druidic magic, communication with these insects had greatly improved, allowing them to serve effectively in battle.

Anderson had been introduced to Tatalia through Orford. Druids were considered heretics in Alrasia and other religious nations, and a series of incidents had entangled Anderson in Orford's schemes. After completing a mission for Asa, Anderson had no intention of joining Orford's war with the alliance. Instead, he and his fellow druids sought refuge in Tatalia. Under the arrangements of Theodorus, Anderson and his companions quickly became invaluable to King Tazir.

After the deaths of the previous court mage and shadow sage, the druids were the only remaining spellcasters in Tatalia. Though their magical prowess didn't match their predecessors, their contributions far surpassed them. In addition to rapidly increasing the breeding of dragonflies and swamp lizards, they used arcane techniques to enhance the toughness of swamp vines, providing the barbarians—long accustomed to fighting bare-chested—with armor comparable to that of Alrasia's regular army.

The druids, long suppressed by the church, finally found a place to showcase their abilities. While Anderson himself cared little for fame or fortune, the younger druids reveled in their newfound recognition and devoted themselves wholeheartedly to supporting Tatalia's efforts.

With dragonflies deftly delivering intelligence, the barbarians held a strategic advantage, allowing them to defeat Alrasia's forces piecemeal before they could consolidate. The three reports received that day painted a clear picture of the current situation.

In addition to the most recent message, two earlier reports confirmed that forces from the west were also converging on their position. King Tazir turned to his young advisors and asked, "You've heard the chieftains. Our swamp warriors are eager to continue the attack. What do you think we should do?"

One young advisor immediately stepped forward. "Your Majesty, we must not act rashly. Taking Whistledale was already a stroke of luck, as Alrasia's forces were caught unprepared and scattered. The royal city, however, is fortified with the kingdom's most elite knights. If the situation becomes dire, reinforcements from Celeste will certainly arrive."

"Even just two archmages could turn the tide. Our dragonflies, though effective against ordinary soldiers, are vulnerable to high-level area magic. Without any spellcasters in our ranks, our warriors, despite their valor, will be at a severe disadvantage against Alrasia's elite. Moreover, the royal knights' delayed response to Whistledale indicates they're waiting for reinforcements from the eastern highlands and the western borders. Once these forces arrive and join with the royal knights, we'll face encirclement on three fronts."

"In terms of numbers, we are also at a disadvantage. If Alrasia's forces fully assemble, they'll number over sixty thousand. Now is our last chance to retreat. The reinforcements from the east and west are traveling long distances and won't be able to pursue us immediately. Once we withdraw to the swamps, their cavalry will be unable to follow."

The advisors' anxious tone revealed their concern, knowing how eager the barbarian warriors were to continue the assault. Yet they recognized that retreat was the only viable option.

King Tazir nodded, acknowledging their reasoning. He stood and addressed them with a commanding presence that radiated true leadership: "I agree—we must retreat. This war has already brought Tatalia unprecedented gains. But do you know what our greatest achievement is?"

"The wealth we've looted. The plundered goods are equivalent to ten years of Tatalia's national income."

"The blow to Alrasia's economy is also unprecedented. Their agriculture and trade have been devastated, and the resources they've wasted on this conflict will take years to recover."

"Our beastmaster units have gained invaluable combat experience, honing the effectiveness of dragonflies and lizards for future battles."

King Tazir shook his head. "No, you're all mistaken. These are indeed historic accomplishments for Tatalia, but they're not our greatest gain." His gaze swept over the young advisors and Druid Anderson before he declared solemnly, "Our greatest gain is all of you. You are the future of Tatalia."

The young advisors, flustered by King Tazir's praise, replied modestly, "Your Majesty flatters us. We are merely fulfilling our duties."

"It is not flattery," King Tazir replied firmly. "Without your strategic planning and careful tactics, this decisive victory would have been impossible. Most importantly, you've made me truly understand that while fearless warriors are valuable on the battlefield, the most crucial assets lie beyond it—in intellect, not muscle or bravery. This, I believe, is why Tatalia has been unable to rise against Alrasia's dominance all these years. But now, with your assistance, give me just ten years, and Tatalia will rise as a nation capable of standing on equal footing with Alrasia."

Though King Tazir's appearance might be comical, the charisma and determination radiating from his expression and voice were undeniably those of a true leader.

"You are the hope for Tatalia's resurgence. I know all of you were nurtured and recommended by Mr. Theodorus, but I assure you, Tatalia will be the best stage for you to showcase your talents. The rewards you receive will not disappoint you."

"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty." The young advisors were visibly moved. The barbarians of Tatalia, known for their extreme xenophobia, had already shown resentment toward these outsiders who had earned the king's trust so quickly. Yet, they were merely following Theodorus' instructions to assist King Tazir with military strategies. Among the barbarians, who prided themselves on physical prowess, few valued intellectual strength. King Tazir's acknowledgment of their importance and his validation of their roles marked a significant shift in Tatalian perspectives.

"Relay my orders: Rest for today. Tomorrow, we retreat with the entire army. And make sure to prepare plenty of forage—we leave Alrasia with nothing but ruins."

At the Same Time, in Celeste

Pope Magnus listened calmly to the report of a priest who had rushed back from the highlands. When the priest mentioned that a unit of elite heavy cavalry had been obliterated by a single forbidden curse, the pope merely frowned and gave a brief "Oh."

"Your Holiness, after consulting with several archmages, we suspect that the forbidden curse scroll may have originated from Dehya Valley. Furthermore, the necromantic mage who is a wanted fugitive appears to be allied with Orford's faction. If necromancers are indeed supporting Orford, the consequences could be unpredictable. Therefore, I have come to seek your decision…"

"It seems unlikely," the pope said indifferently, his voice soft yet commanding. "Orford would not be backed by Dehya Valley. As for the forbidden curse scroll…" He turned his gaze toward Archbishop Adra, who stood nearby. "What do you think?"

Caught off guard, Archbishop Adra's expression faltered. He hesitated and responded nervously, "Perhaps… perhaps they… acquired it by chance?"

Pope Magnus nodded subtly, his expression inscrutable. "Oh? It seems Theodorus and his allies are quite fortunate to stumble upon such an item by coincidence."

A few beads of cold sweat appeared on Adra's forehead, but he quickly composed himself and added, "Your Holiness, based on their description of the forbidden curse, I can identify it as a shadow spell from Tatalia's Shadow Grand Sage, Nimbras. It's a necromantic derivative. Rumor has it that Orford's general, Grutt, assisted Prince Tazir in overthrowing Nimbras, during which they might have obtained this forbidden curse scroll."

"I see. So Dehya Valley likely has no connection to Orford?"

"Correct. Just as Your Holiness suspected, Orford is unlikely to be associated with Dehya Valley."

"Then this forbidden curse scroll must be the only one Orford possesses?"

"Perhaps…"

"Perhaps?" The pope's tone remained calm, but his gaze sent a chill down Adra's spine.

"Err… perhaps… there may be more," Adra stammered, his face pale. After a brief pause, he continued, "I have heard rumors that Aisri, the master of the Flame Tower—one of the Five Tooth Towers—has been missing for some time. Some say he was last seen near the Kalendor Basin, where Orford's General Grutt was also present. It's said that Aisri often carried a forbidden curse scroll, likely the fire-earth spell Meteor Shower."

At the mention of Meteor Shower, the pope's expression finally changed. He sighed heavily, muttering to himself, "These fools… If they lack the power to control such magic, why create it recklessly? A true master has no need for these things."

Archbishop Adra quickly added, "This must be Orford's final trump card. While the forbidden curse is powerful, its prolonged casting time makes it ill-suited for targeting mobile troops."

"Their final trump card? If even you can think of that, then it's no longer a true trump card. A skilled strategist would never reveal their ultimate move so easily. Do you think Theodorus wouldn't understand this principle?" The pope sighed deeply, lost in thought.

Neither Adra nor the kneeling priest dared to interrupt the pope's contemplation.

Finally, Pope Magnus raised his head, letting out another long sigh. For the first time, his face revealed the weariness of an aging man. He addressed the priest, "Alrasia sent an envoy this morning to request reinforcements, so it seems the situation there is also dire. When you return, inform the allied commanders to temporarily withdraw their forces."

"Understood." The priest bowed and exited. Though he sensed something unusual in the pope and archbishop's conversation, he dared not speculate. A man in his position knew the limits of what he should or shouldn't know.

After the priest's departure, Pope Magnus stared into the distance in silence before addressing Adra. "Summon the holy warrior who saved Welleskay and submitted those tactical suggestions last time."