The land still smelled of war.
Alex stepped forward, boots sinking slightly into darkened soil.
Burn marks stretched across the ground.
Broken weapons lay scattered.
Armor pieces… abandoned.
And bodies.
Some buried.
Some not.
"…This was all done by the Duke?" Alex asked quietly.
Theo walked beside him, hands behind his head—but his usual grin was gone.
"…Yeah," he said.
"And this is what it looks like after he's finished."
Alex's eyes scanned the field again.
Not just destruction.
Precision.
He didn't just win… he crushed them.
Ahead—
Sir Vald stood at the center of the newly secured territory.
Half-built defenses surrounded him.
Wooden barricades.
Rough watchtowers.
Unfinished.
Temporary.
Vulnerable.
"Move faster!"
Orders rang out.
Soldiers rushed.
Lifting wood.
Reinforcing walls.
Dragging supplies.
Vald didn't raise his voice often—
But when he did—
People moved.
"We don't have the luxury of time," he said.
"Reinforce the eastern flank. Double the watch."
A soldier hesitated.
"…Sir, the enemy was already driven back—"
"They will return," Vald cut in.
Silence.
"They always do."
Alex watched closely.
No panic.
No wasted motion.
Just preparation.
Hours passed.
Work continued.
But something didn't feel right.
Alex stood near the outer edge of the defenses, staring into the distance.
The land stretched far.
Too far.
Open.
Exposed.
"…Something's off," he muttered.
Theo appeared beside him.
"…You feel it too?"
Alex nodded slightly.
"There's too much space," he said.
"No natural barriers. No choke points."
Theo scratched his chin.
"…Yeah. If I were attacking…"
A pause.
"I'd hit from multiple sides."
Alex's eyes narrowed.
Exactly.
👀 The Blind Spot
Later—
Alex walked along the outer defenses.
Watching.
Counting.
Measuring.
Then—
He stopped.
"…There."
A slight dip in the terrain.
Barely noticeable.
But enough.
If enemies moved through it—
They could get close…
Without being seen.
Alex stared at it.
That's where I'd go.
He hesitated.
Then turned—
Walking toward the command area.
Sir Vald stood over a rough map.
Officers gathered around him.
"…If they push from the north, we—"
"Sir."
The word cut in.
All eyes turned.
Alex stood there.
A nobody.
A soldier.
Holding a spear.
Silence followed.
"…What is it?" Vald asked.
Alex stepped forward slightly.
"There's a blind spot," he said.
"On the outer perimeter."
Murmurs spread.
"A what?"
"Who is this guy?"
Vald didn't react.
"Explain."
Alex pointed.
"There's a dip in the land. If the enemy scouts properly… they can approach unseen."
One of the soldiers scoffed.
"And you know this how?"
Alex didn't look at him.
"…Because that's where I'd attack."
Silence.
Heavy.
Vald studied him.
Then—
He turned to one of his men.
"Send scouts."
The soldier hesitated—
"…Now."
"Yes, Sir!"
Time passed.
Tension built.
Then—
Footsteps.
Fast.
"Report!"
A scout dropped to one knee.
Breathing hard.
"Sir… movement confirmed."
Silence.
"Enemy scouts were seen… near the dip."
The air shifted instantly.
Theo let out a low whistle.
"…Well, I'll be."
All eyes turned to Alex.
Different now.
No longer mocking.
Watching.
Vald didn't praise him.
Didn't smile.
But—
"…Reinforce that position," he ordered.
Immediate action followed.
More soldiers.
More eyes.
More weapons.
Alex stood still.
Spear in hand.
His heart steady.
Not fear.
Focus.
From afar—
Vald glanced at him briefly.
"…He sees the battlefield," he murmured.
Theo smirked.
"Told you."
Vald didn't respond.
But he didn't disagree.
The sun began to fall.
Shadows stretched.
Silence grew heavier.
Then—
A horn echoed in the distance.
Low.
Distant.
But unmistakable.
Enemy.
Another horn answered.
Closer.
Then—
Drums.
Slow.
Steady.
Advancing.
Theo's grin returned—
But this time, it wasn't playful.
"…They're here."
Alex tightened his grip on the spear.
Eyes forward.
This time…
No hesitation.