City of Desire [Kingdom Building]

Proofread by Thomas F

Aya Bandstone

"Ulo!" I shouted as my friend stepped out of the carriage in the parking lot of the large cavern.

"My God, you've changed so much!" she replied before hugging me. Once more, I could feel gentleness before she hugged me tightly.

Before, she couldn't hug tightly; she always needed to be careful in hugging me, not to break any of my bones, but now, she didn't have to worry.

"Not that much," I replied as I let go.

I have been in the Panar for half a year; I shifted here within months after the battle in Nakar.

It was when I saw her on the way here. Since then, both of us have been busy; she with her job in the Mage Guild, while I am here.

I had been promoted to Lt. Colonel after the battle, and that signifies leading a company.

"There is so much security here? Are the monsters that dangerous?" she asked. She had been sent here as part of the reinforcement from the Mage Guild.

She will be stationed here at the cavern, not deep in the mine. It made me glad. "They didn't tell us details, but asked us to expect that they would be," I replied.

Since I have come here, I have been part of four battles, and I have to say, Shardmaws are one of the most dangerous monsters I have come across.

I do not say that lightly. I have fought many monsters both in Baxzar and Nakar.

The shardmaws are something else. Their power is unsurprising, but their extreme aggression is not, which is both their weakness and their strength.

"How are you?" I asked.

"Great, I love my job and the city. You know, I have changed apartments. My new apartment has a beautiful view of a small garden," she replied.

She seemed to sense something on my face as her expression became serious.

"You know, I am happy here," she added. "I feel guilty dragging you thousands of miles away, and we didn't even see each other for months."

"Stop it. I told you I love it here, more than I thought I would. Speaking of which, my parents are coming next month, and I plan to convince them to move here."

"There are a lot of good jobs in the city, and they are better than home," she replied.

Hearing that, a smile appeared on my face. Her parents are the kindest people I have met; it would be great if they decided to stay.

Greltheaven is a good place to live. Especially for people like her parents, who are tribeless.

Things are for such people in Baxzar.

"It's great," I said when a bell rang out, and my expression turned serious.

"I would have liked to stay, but I have to go." I feel guilty, but I had to take special permission from Colonel Uram to come to meet her.

For the past week, General Azalia had ordered us to stay in our positions, believing monsters might attack at any time.

"Don't worry, after you have dealt with the monster problem, we will have enough time to catch up!" she said, and I smiled, hearing the confidence she had in me.

"You are the best, and be careful." I hugged my friend for the last time and walked away.

A minute later, I was riding toward my destination.

It's a deep mine, and there is heavy security at every turn. There was security before, but not this tight. The General didn't seem to want to let even a single monster escape.

"Lt. Colonel!"

Greeted Holr as I dismounted from my horse.

"Any new orders?" I asked. "No, but they asked us to be ready at any moment," he replied. They told us the same thing yesterday and the day before that.

It's because of that that I paused the training. I have been training my men to the same standards as Colonel Orok does.

A few months ago, when I had asked for resources to support it, they gave it to me without cutting a single thing. It really shocked me, as I thought that even getting a fraction would be a victory.

I nodded and sat down on the stone bench.

They have created quarters in the mine, and for the past two weeks, we have been eating and sleeping here; before that, we had been working here in shifts while living in barracks outside.

It might be a bad place to live, but it is a very good place to train people.

It's such a regret that aside from usual exercise, I am forbidden from ordering any additional exercise for my men. Nor would I do that personally. The general had even asked me not to push myself with aura.

So, there is nothing to do but wait.

"Waiting is terrible, but at least someone didn't mind it," he said, looking at Pollin. She has books in front of her with a quill in her hand, which she is furiously scribbling with.

She is working on the new spell.

I talked with my officers for a while before picking up my sword and shield and starting to practice.

…

Mage Aldridge

"It's confirmed, they are digging toward us," I said as I looked at the data, projecting from the tops of the sensors. "They are," replied Kyldzale, staring at the data.

"How long will they take to reach us?" I asked. The half-elf is the expert.

"An hour at minimum, two and a half at max." My expression changed drastically.

"That is too fast," I said.

There is still a considerable distance between us and the monsters, a distance that is filled with Drelthar, but now those monsters are coming through it.

"Any idea about the level?" asked General Azalia, speaking finally. "At least two Grade V monsters," he replied.

There was no change in her expression, but I could tell her eyes were turning somber.

"Numbers?" she asked. "It's very hard to guess, but at least a hundred, and they are powerful," he replied, and the man looked scared and likely wanted to get out.

His team and every non-combatant had already left the moment we sensed the monsters' movements.

"Thank you, Mr. Kyldzale," she said. "Aner, escort Mr. Kyldzale and Mage Aldridge to safety."

"I am staying," I said, and her eyes turned to me. They seemed to shine and project heat, despite no change in them. It is said that artifacts affect one physically and mentally.

Her artifact is an even trickier one for that.

"Mage Aldridge, it is not safe." This brought a smile to my face, hearing the note of concern in her voice. "I know, and I can protect myself," I replied.

I don't like to fight, but these monsters are very dangerous. I want to stay and help.

"You will stay in the back," she finally said, turning to the woman beside her. "Sound the horn," she ordered before walking away.

…

Aya Bandstone

I was practicing when a loud horn rang out.

Immediately, I stopped and turned to my men. Immediately, Pollin cast her spells on my other officers' skills.

It's embarrassing, but I didn't have any command skills, despite being an officer.

"Gather up!" I commanded.

They were already moving in response to my shouts; they moved faster. In less than a minute, a company of two hundred and eight soldiers gathered in front of me.

I looked at them and could see their fear, but also their resolve.

This is not their first time fighting the monsters here. This will be the first time, and it will be different. I have been told to expect them to be different, more powerful.

"The monsters are coming again, and we will fight them, but keep in mind, these monsters won't be like the ones we had fought before."

"They will be different. Faster, stronger, and more aggressive. So, I want all of you to leave behind everything you know and fight them as if you are fighting completely new monsters."

"Understood?" I asked, and the moment later, their feet thumped across the stony ground.

"Good. Now let's move," I ordered and led them out of the large stone hall.

A few minutes later, we had reached the large cavern; it's huge. It wasn't this huge when I first saw it. No, all the mining of Drelthar, they have explained it even further.

They have brought special earth mages to do the job fast and well.

"Colonel Uram!" I saluted the albino orc.

"At ease, Lt. Colonel," he replied. His men had already arrived; I could see the two companies of them.

The cavern may be big, but not big enough for all our numbers. So, we will fight with three companies, two of his and one of mine.

I had trained my people hard so they wouldn't fall too far behind against his elites.

Our first battle had shown the difference between the two. Things improved in the next three battles. Still, my people will catch up to him with a lot of work.

Thankfully, we are not at embarrassing levels as we had been.

I looked at my company taking positions within Colonel Orok's men. We have trained together and refined our strategy to fight monsters.

A few minutes passed, and I saw the movement coming from behind us.

"General!"

I saluted General Azalia as she walked forward, and she wasn't alone; there was also Lt. General Jarvis with her, and Jon Sands, Lord Silver's personal bodyguard.

Saying, I am surprised to see them would be an understatement. Especially, seeing them all armored up.

In all the battles in the mines General Azalia had never fought, she stayed away. 

General Jarvis, on the other hand, rarely came to the mines. I have only seen him once, but he is here with General Azalia now. Then there is Jon Sands.

He never reveals himself before the battle. We don't know whether he is with us until he pops up to deal with Grade V monsters.

Once he finishes, he disappears.

Now, all three are here, and they are going to fight. It made me understand that I might have underestimated the threat.

"We will fight with a tested strategy, but be flexible. We don't know what abilities the monsters will have when they attack. So be ready for everything," she instructed the officers.

I had told my people to be flexible.

My company is defensive; each of my members fights with swords and shields, aside from the mages.

I have changed the weapons of my company; gone are the small shields. Now, each of my people is holding a medium- or large-sized shield.

I am forging my company for control, durability, and steadiness.

We are not speed or hit-and-run warriors; we are those who dominate the ground and refuse to break. At least, that's what I want my company to be.

Minutes passed and turned into an hour, but no signs of monsters appeared.

The army is standing steady, waiting for the enemy.

It was when I heard the faint quake, and a projection appeared before General Azalia. We are close to the place where monsters would break through.

The place where they are going to break through the wall is not big enough. So the General positioned us in a cavern a distance away.

This place will give us the greatest strategic advantage against the monsters, and given the strength they have predicted, we will need every advantage we can get.

I was lost in my thoughts when I heard the explosion and monsters burst out.

Looking at them, my eyes widened; they are Shardmaws, but different. I didn't get more than a second of a look as the screen glitched.

That brought a frown to the General's face.

Though a few seconds later, loud explosions rang out, and the whole cavern shook from them. The monsters had come out, but not without a price.

The explosions grew louder and closer with each passing second.

We have laid the whole path with magical traps and mines. These landmines and traps, specifically made for mines, make it very dangerous.

"Get ready, they are coming!" General Azalia commanded; her voice ringing clearly across our ears despite the deafening explosions.

…

Remus Silver

"Don't worry, we are prepared," said Valentina, sitting across from me. The monsters have finally breached; we just received the news.

I nodded, but I am still worried.

Everybody is experienced, and I have brought those expensive landmines and ammunition, especially for the mine monsters. There are also Azalia, Jon, and Jarvis fighting this time.

All three are very capable, and also Orok and Bandstone.

I am keeping a special eye on Bandstone. I have given her everything she wanted, and her company hasn't disappointed me, but now, this will be the ultimate test.

If she succeeds, I will proceed with the plan I have for her.

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