Chronicles of the Regressor - Chapter 8

 Chapter 8 - The Cost of Foresight

The journey back to the capital was a mix of exhaustion and quiet triumph. The chill of the northern valleys still clung to them, but the success of their mission warmed their spirits. They had averted a catastrophe, buying Eldoria precious time. Kaelen felt a grim satisfaction, a flicker of hope that this time, the future could truly be different.

As they rode through the capital gates, the city was a hive of activity, transformed by the impending war. Soldiers marched in disciplined formations, blacksmiths hammered late into the night, and mages practiced their spells in open squares, their auras shimmering. The populace, though aware of the danger, seemed to draw strength from the visible preparations.

Their return to the Academy was met with a heroes' welcome. Students and instructors alike cheered, their faces alight with admiration. Gareth and Lyra (his sister) were there, their relief palpable. Gareth clapped Kaelen on the back, a genuine, proud grin on his face. "You did it, little brother! Father received your report. The King is calling you to the palace immediately. They're hailing you as a tactical genius!"

Lyra, his sister, hugged him tightly. "I knew you could do it, Kaelen! My research team is already working on refining the mana-nullification field. Your intel on their circles was invaluable."

Seraphina, Borin, and Lyra Whisperwind were likewise celebrated, their names now synonymous with the daring disruption in the north. For a brief moment, Kaelen allowed himself to bask in the warmth of their camaraderie, a stark contrast to the solitary existence of his past life.

The summons to the King's personal chambers came swiftly. Kaelen found King Theron II, General Valerius, and Princess Aurelia gathered, their expressions a mix of relief and renewed urgency.

"Kaelen Valerius," the King began, his voice deep with approval. "Your mission was a resounding success. The disruption of Vorlag's mana circles has bought us invaluable time. Their northern flanking force is in disarray. You have proven yourself an invaluable asset to the Crown."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Kaelen replied, bowing respectfully. "My team performed flawlessly. They are the true strength."

Princess Aurelia stepped forward, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Indeed, Kaelen. Your leadership was exceptional. But this is only the beginning. Vorlag will adapt. They will not give up easily."

"Precisely, Your Highness," Kaelen agreed, his gaze hardening. "Their commander is cunning. He will learn from this setback."

General Valerius, Kaelen's father, cleared his throat. "Which brings us to your next assignment, Kaelen. One of even greater importance, and far greater risk."

Kaelen felt a familiar chill. This was it. The true test.

"Vorlag's primary assault will still come from the east," the King explained, gesturing to a new holographic map that appeared on the table, showing the eastern border. "But their commander, General Varkos, is known for his brutal efficiency. He will seek to demoralize us, to break our will before the main battle."

"Our intelligence indicates," Princess Aurelia continued, her voice grave, "that General Varkos is planning a series of targeted strikes against our supply convoys, specifically those carrying vital siege equipment and magical reagents to the eastern front. If these convoys are destroyed, our main army will be severely hampered."

"We need to protect them," General Valerius stated. "But Varkos is using smaller, highly mobile raiding parties, striking deep and vanishing before our regular patrols can respond. He uses the cover of the dense eastern forests, terrain that favors his tactics."

"Your mission, Kaelen," the King concluded, his gaze piercing, "is to intercept and eliminate these raiding parties. You and 'The Silent Blades' will operate as a rapid response unit in the eastern forests. You will be given priority on all intelligence regarding convoy movements and enemy sightings. This is not about disruption; it is about elimination. You must stop them."

Kaelen nodded, his mind already calculating. This was a classic Vorlag tactic, one he remembered well from his past life. It was designed to bleed Eldoria dry before the decisive engagement. "We accept, Your Majesty. We will stop them."

He returned to his team, relaying the new mission. Seraphina's eyes gleamed. "More action! Perfect! I've been wanting to test some new lightning spells."

Borin slammed his fist into his palm. "Supply convoys? Those cowards! We'll make them regret crossing our path!"

Lyra Whisperwind, however, looked more thoughtful. "The eastern forests are vast, Kaelen. And their magic is different there. More focused on concealment and swift strikes. This will be challenging."

"Indeed," Kaelen agreed. "And more dangerous. This isn't a dungeon. The enemy will be fighting for their lives, and they know the terrain."

Over the next few weeks, "The Silent Blades" were deployed repeatedly to the eastern forests. Their initial successes were swift and decisive. Kaelen's foresight, combined with his team's honed skills, allowed them to ambush Vorlag raiding parties, turning the hunters into the hunted. Seraphina's lightning spells tore through enemy ranks, Borin's shield held firm against overwhelming odds, and Lyra Whisperwind's arrows found their mark with deadly precision, often before the enemy even knew they were under attack. Kaelen, moving like a phantom, disarmed and neutralized key targets, his Aura-infused blade a silent, lethal force.

They saved three major convoys, their reputation growing with each victory. The King sent personal commendations. General Valerius expressed his pride. Princess Aurelia sent a private message, a simple "Well done, Kaelen. Stay safe."

But the enemy commander, General Varkos, was not one to be easily defeated. He was a master of adaptation, a ruthless strategist who learned from every setback. Kaelen knew this from bitter experience. He felt a growing unease, a prickling sensation on the back of his neck that whispered of an impending trap.

"He's changing his patterns," Kaelen observed one evening, poring over recent intelligence reports with his team. They were in a makeshift camp deep in the eastern forests, the scent of pine needles and damp earth filling the air. "His attacks are becoming less predictable. He's using smaller groups, but they're more heavily armored, and their mages are more cunning. He's learning our tactics."

"So, what do we do?" Seraphina asked, tracing a line on the map with a glowing finger. "Do we change ours?"

"We anticipate his next move," Kaelen replied, his eyes narrowed in thought. "He knows we're targeting convoys. He'll use that against us. He'll bait us."

His premonition, though often fragmented, was screaming at him. He remembered a particular ambush, a devastating one, from his past life. It involved a decoy convoy, a hidden force, and a brutal trap. He couldn't remember the exact location, but the feeling of dread was overwhelming.

"The next convoy," Kaelen stated, tapping a point on the map. "The one heading through the Whispering Pines. It's too obvious. It's a trap. Varkos will use it to draw us out."

"Then we don't go?" Borin asked, confused.

"No, we go," Kaelen countered, his voice grim. "But we turn the trap on him. We make him the hunted."

He outlined his plan. They would approach the convoy from a different direction, using Lyra Whisperwind's tracking skills to find the hidden ambush force. Seraphina would prepare a massive area-of-effect spell, held in reserve. Borin would be their anchor, ready to engage the moment the trap was sprung. Kaelen would target Varkos himself, if he was there.

"It's risky," Lyra Whisperwind murmured, her eyes scanning the map. "The terrain in Whispering Pines is treacherous. And if he has a larger force than we anticipate..."

"We prepare for the worst," Kaelen said, his gaze resolute. "But we act. This is our chance to strike a decisive blow, to eliminate Varkos before he can cause more damage."

The next morning, the convoy moved out, a long line of wagons rumbling through the ancient forest. Kaelen and his team, however, were not with them. They were flanking, moving silently through the dense undergrowth, far from the main road. Lyra Whisperwind led the way, her senses attuned to the subtle disturbances in the forest.

"I feel them, Kaelen," Lyra Whisperwind whispered, her voice tight with tension. "A large concentration of Vorlag soldiers, hidden in the ravines to the west of the convoy's path. And… a powerful mage. His aura is dark, oppressive. It's him. Varkos."

Kaelen's heart pounded. This was it. The moment of truth. He remembered the agony of his past, the utter defeat. This time, he would be ready.

"Prepare for engagement," Kaelen commanded, his voice low and steady. "Borin, get ready to charge. Sera, hold your spell until my signal. Lyra, target the mages first, especially Varkos's personal guards."

They moved into position, concealed by the dense foliage. The convoy rumbled past, oblivious, a perfect bait. Then, from the ravines, the Vorlag ambush sprung. Hundreds of soldiers, led by a detachment of their elite mages, burst from cover, aiming to overwhelm the convoy.

"Now!" Kaelen roared.

Borin, a thunderous war cry tearing from his throat, charged into the flank of the Vorlag ambush, his shield a blur, slamming into their formation, disrupting their attack. Seraphina, her red hair blazing, unleashed a torrent of lightning, not at the main force, but at the hidden mages in the ravines, disrupting their spellcasting. Lyra Whisperwind's arrows sang, finding their marks with impossible precision, silencing Vorlag archers and spellcasters before they could react.

Kaelen, however, moved directly towards Varkos. The commander, recognizing Kaelen, snarled, his dark aura flaring. "You again, Valerius! You meddlesome boy! You will not interfere this time!" He unleashed a powerful, focused dark energy spell, the same one Kaelen had dodged before.

Kaelen dodged again, but this time, Varkos was ready. The spell was a feint. As Kaelen moved, a second, wider blast of dark energy erupted from Varkos's free hand, catching Kaelen on his exposed side.

A searing pain, far more intense than any training injury, exploded through Kaelen. He gasped, stumbling, his Aura flickering wildly. The dark magic burned, not just his flesh, but his very spirit, a corrosive agony that threatened to overwhelm him. He felt his strength drain, his vision blurring at the edges.

"Kaelen!" Seraphina screamed, seeing him stagger.

Varkos pressed his advantage, his dark sword whistling as it descended. Kaelen, his body screaming in protest, managed to raise his own blade, parrying the blow with a desperate, last-ditch effort. The impact sent a jarring shockwave up his arm, making his teeth rattle.

"You're not so clever now, are you, boy?" Varkos sneered, his voice chillingly triumphant. "Your foresight won't save you from a true Aura Master!"

Kaelen fought through the pain, through the burning agony. He had to. He couldn't fail. Not now. He remembered the desecrated bodies of his family, the cold despair of his past. He pushed his Aura, forcing it to respond, to fight back against the corrosive dark magic.

Meanwhile, the battle raged around them. Borin was a force of nature, but the Vorlag soldiers, realizing they were ambushed, fought with renewed desperation. Seraphina's lightning spells were devastating, but she was being overwhelmed by a surge of heavily armored Vorlag knights, their shields deflecting her attacks. Lyra Whisperwind was a whirlwind of arrows, but even her precision couldn't stop every enemy.

Suddenly, a powerful, dark spell, clearly from one of Varkos's elite mages, slammed into Borin's shield, shattering it with a deafening crack. Borin roared in pain, clutching his arm, his massive frame staggering.

"Borin!" Seraphina cried, momentarily distracted, unleashing a wild, unfocused burst of magic that missed its target.

Seeing their opening, the Vorlag knights surged forward, overwhelming Borin, their blades flashing.

Kaelen's vision swam. He was hurt, badly. Borin was down. Seraphina was exposed. Lyra Whisperwind was fighting desperately. The mission was crumbling. His foresight, his preparations, his very presence, hadn't been enough. He had underestimated Varkos. He had underestimated the cost.

"Retreat!" Kaelen roared, his voice raw with pain and desperation, a command that tore through the chaos. "Fall back! Now!"

He knew he couldn't win this. Not here. Not now. The cost was too high. He had to save his team.

He unleashed a desperate, unfocused burst of his own Aura, a raw, untamed wave of energy that slammed into Varkos, momentarily staggering the commander. It was a crude, desperate attack, but it bought him a precious second.

"Go! Get out of here!" Kaelen screamed at Seraphina and Lyra Whisperwind, who were trying to reach Borin.

Seraphina, tears streaming down her face, hesitated. "But Borin!"

"He's a tank! He can hold!" Kaelen yelled, though he knew it was a lie. Borin was hurt, exposed. "Go! Report! Eldoria needs you alive!"

Lyra Whisperwind, her face pale, made a quick, agonizing decision. She loosed a volley of arrows, covering Seraphina, then grabbed Seraphina's arm. "We have to go, Sera! Kaelen's right! We can't lose all of us!" She dragged a protesting Seraphina away, retreating into the dense forest, their forms vanishing into the shadows.

Kaelen stood alone, bleeding, facing Varkos and a surging wave of Vorlag soldiers. He gritted his teeth, raising his sword, preparing for his last stand. He had to buy them time. He had to ensure their escape.

Varkos advanced, his dark sword gleaming, his eyes filled with cold triumph. "A valiant effort, Valerius. But futile. You cannot escape fate."

Kaelen didn't answer. He simply charged, a desperate, wounded animal, his Aura flaring in a final, defiant surge. He would fight until his last breath. He would make this bastard pay for every inch of pain, every drop of blood. This was the cost of foresight, the brutal reality of trying to change destiny.