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33.53% Out of Space / Chapter 225: Year One + 4 months

Chapter 225: Year One + 4 months

The entire city was decorated with banners and flags of reds, blues, whites, and gold. Music and processions of dancers and performers filled up almost every street as the city inhabitants danced and celebrated in the snow.

Bursts of fireworks rocketed off here and there and the whole city was celebrating Founding Day. Work at all the outposts had stopped and everyone that could make it to the city gathered in the streets except for a few critical personnel.

Princess Sherene stood hand in hand with Captain Blake at the City Hall's balcony and waved madly at the thousands gathered at the plaza before the municipal building. Several Cobras flew pass in diamond formations overhead and peeled off into aerobatic stunts that wowed the crowd.

"Look at the sea of people!" Sherene laughed as she waved at the masses. "Thank you!"

"Why the thanks?" Blake asked from her side as he too gave a wave once in a while.

"If it wasn't for you saving my people," Sherene replied. "We would not have this day today..."

"Technically, it was the Marines who saved your people..." Blake grinned. "I just reaped the rewards!"

"Hey! So you want me to marry some Marine?" Sherene smiled dangerously. "Well... I can do that..."

Blake broke out in cold sweat, "No no no, I was just joking!"

"Hmph!" Sherene eyed Blake with a sly smile. "I got options now!"

"Wh- what?" Blake was speechless and he stared at Sherene who was giggling away. "So you want to play? Huh?"

Blake activated the microphone and cleared his throat. The roaring crowd and music slowly died down as they waited for him to make a speech. "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls!"

"Today marks a new chapter in our lives, for we celebrate one year since this city which every one of you had helped built." Blake addressed the eager crowd while projections of his image and speech were broadcasted to other temporary displays all over the city.

"We found long and hard, worked with sweat and blood to get to this day where we have a safe place to live and grow in. Our children can play in the streets without a care in the world and we all have a proper roof over our heads and food in our bellies because of what we had put in our sacrifices and efforts into!"

"This city isn't built for me, or the Princess. It is a city for you, even if you are an Elf, Orc, Beastman, Goblin, Troll, Dragon, or even the Wind Wolves!"

"Everyone has contributed and we live in harmony among all the different races because why?" Blake paused as he looked at the crowd. "We care about this city!"

"Today is the day the city was officially founded one year ago, yet it still bears no name," Blake said. "We had run a poll for everyone to vote which name is best suitable for the city and now we will officially unveil the results!"

"Now the most voted name with 8,000 over votes, I declare this city as Haven!" Blake yelled over the roar of the crowd as they cheered wildly.

Blake smiled and gestured for the crowd to quiet down before he continued. "I have another news for everyone, the Princess has accepted my marriage proposal and we will be wedded next autumn!"

Sherene gasped when she heard his announcement to the city about their marriage. Blake gave a wink and pulled her into his embrace and kissed her in front of the crowd.

The crowd went crazy as they cheered and applauded madly. Bands beat their drums and music blared again throughout the city while a cluster of fireworks erupted over the City Hall.

"I declare the opening of Founding Day!"

-----

Dijon, Megan, and Akron looked around in wonder and felt their hearts beating wildly as they were dragged into the celebratory mood of the crowd even thou they were seated at the VIP viewing platform.

They haven't seen such a large scaled procession before as most parties or even public announcements of nobles and royalty would the most have a thousand or two thousand people gathered the most. But here, it clearly could be seen that the whole city was in celebration and out in force in the streets.

They watched in awe at the aerobatic displays of the strange flying machines as they danced in the air with the dragons. Columns of soldiers marching with such precision that made them wonder if they were illusions made by magic.

The next thing they saw made they gawked in surprised as two massive armored looking monster bearing six legs waltzed it way behind the marching troops. The crowd gasped in astonishment as they too have not seen such creatures before while the hoomans seemed to whooped in joy and excitement.

"What are those monsters?" Megan leaned over to the side and asked a hooman dressed in a strange light grey coat with bits of colorful metal lining his chest.

"Monsters?" The hooman looked surprised at the question before he excitedly replied, "Mecha! Those are freaking spider tanks!"

-----

Liz Regnar held onto the arm of Evelyn excitedly as they stood watching the processions of bands, dancers, performers, and even soldiers passing by the stand. She had seen and attended many balls and festivities of nobility due to her social status and popularity in the Captial and she was secretly impressed by the sheer scale of it all.

Even the normally unresponsive Evelyn gave a small smile and swayed along to the music which made Liz happy as she found out from the Magister that Evelyn's soul had suffered some damage. Her initial hostility to the hoomans and the rebels faded as she was later shown evidence regarding the nature of the Hero that she worshipped.

She did not believe at the start but slowly she slowly came to accept the truth as she recalls several incidents where the hero did something that she can't match it up like sudden disappearance or strange female dried up corpses found in every town, village, or city they had been through.

She wondered why she did not pick up these disturbing signs at the same, but Magister Thorn consulted her told her it might be a Glamor spell the Hero had projected around him, making people trust or naturally feel good near him.

This news struck her mind deeply and she felt she can't trust anyone anymore and instead, she sought Evelyn out to try to help her to recover her damaged soul and uncover the truth.

Today she granted leave by her probation officer to come to view the parade and enjoy some time off. Seeing the cheering and happy crowd, she felt herself being swayed and even started to join in the cheering.

-----

Irisval wore a wide-brimmed straw hat and clapped enthusiastically as she watched the parade passing by her stand. She smiled with pride when she saw the two prototype MAWs marched past to the amazement of the people around as children clung to their parents and pointed and asked questions.

A sudden gush of wind blew against the stand as two Dragons swooped over the stand, their powerful wings kicking up a storm as they flew past over the cheering crowd. Irisval's hat flew off and her silvery hair whipped in the sudden wind.

She flinched and tried to grab her hat only to find someone had already helped her recover hat from flying away. She stood up and thanked the stranger for his help only to freeze as she recognized the hooman holding her hat out to her.

"You...!"

-----

Drake climbed up the steps of the view stand to reach the top where he was supposed to relieve Kont over his security duty when suddenly a gust of wind kicked up by flapping wings of a dragon hit him.

He looked up and frowned at the underbellies of Blue Thunder and Rastraz as the duo flew off somewhere over the stands and out the corner of his eye, he saw a straw hat flying towards him.

He quickly snatched the hat and turned to return to its owner and froze as he stared into the clear golden eyes.

"You...!"

-----

City Hall

"Well, the naming of the city is settled," Blake raised a toast to the senior officers and ministers gathered.

"To be honest, we, humans have come to this place for over a year," Blake said as the gathered men and women listened.

"It's one year and four months to be exact since you crashed the ship!" Someone yelled in a joking manner.

"Hahahaha," All the humans laughed, while the elves looked confused as they did not know the full story, only knowing that these hoomans came from somewhere and were stranded here.

"Alright my fault, my fault!" Blake raised his hands up in mock surrender. "Well, I am glad that we all made it till now, and I hope that we can continue to survive!"

"CHEERS!"

-----

The Kingdom of Foral, Border to The Great Ocean Plains

A battered company of soldiers and their families toiled against the snow as they made their way to the border to the Great Ocean Plains. Dozens and dozens of wagons pulled by land dragons or muffalos left streak marks and paw prints on the knee deep snow.

Wrapped in several threadbare blankets, Captain Borse leaned into his spear shaft as he plowed through the snow, his breath turning white in the cold.

He stopped and looked at the rear, where hundreds of soldiers slogged on. His company had increased almost tenfold ever since coming to the Two Nation Alliance. It had grown larger than company size, more like a small army as dozens of Meccan and Foral soldiers attached themselves to him after getting lost in the retreat.

They had made used of the heavy snow to pull back from the lines, only to get harassed by Imperial Dragons Corps which the Two Nation Alliance could barely counter with their weaker dragon species.

Knowing that it will be safer to head to outlying regions of the Foral Kingdom, as the Imperial Army will very likely aim the cities and larger towns while pushing towards the Capital. Hence, Borse made the decision to head southwards towards the Great Ocean Plains, where the Oerkin ruled.

The border towns and villages were mostly abandoned due to constant raids from the Oerkin or due to conscription to the Foral Army. Borse was thinking to take over one of the abandoned village or town and have their men and families rest up for the winter before making their next plans.

Even the Oerkins wouldn't risk a raid during the winter months, which will give Borse's Last Company the time it needed to recover its strength.

Taris strolled up next to Borse with Captain Lanser in tow and they shared a wineskin among themselves, warming them bodies with the burning sensation of alcohol down their throats.

"How far more?" Borse asked as he looked at the struggling troops. "The men are flagging, and their families are barely able to keep up with the pace!"

Lanser unrolled a map from the scroll case he had on his side and frowned as he did some calculations of their position. "I say half a day or more before we reach one of the towns."

Borse nodded, "Tell the company to halt. We rest for the day and continue tomorrow."

Taris nodded back and returned to the troops calling the leaders to halt the company and setup camp.

"Captain," Lanser asked. "Do you think we... will survive?"

Borse sighed inwardly as he looked at the hopeful expression on Lanser's young face. "Of course, we will survive!"

"Send out riders to scout ahead of our path," Borse said. "I don't want any surprises along the way."

"Yes Captain," Lanser smiled, his spirits lifted after hearing Borse assurance and he left to see to his orders.

Borse looked at the number of dependants lagging behind the troops and wondered how will he feed everyone over the rest of the winter and how many will die tonight.

"Damn Imperials!"


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Neobear Neobear

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Its friday!!! wooo

Chapter 226: Dead Frontier

Haven, City Hall Ballroom

Laughter and music filled the Ballroom of the City Hall while fireworks and other performances continued throughout the night of the city.

Commander Ford took a glass of sparkling wine from a passing waitress and joined Captain Blake and Princess Sherene. "Congrats on the engagement!"

He raised a toast to the smiling couple. "Finally you announced it officially, I think the people were gonna tear you apart for dragging your relationship for so long!"

Blake rolled his eyes while Sherene poked him in the chest. "Hmmm, I did wonder was I supposed to propose to you in your culture!"

"Ha!" Blake snorted, "Very funny!"

Sherene and Ford laughed at Blake's expression and they continued to make small talk while the party was in full swing.

"Greetings!" Megan suddenly appeared before them with Dijon and Akron in tow. "And best wishes to the Captain and the Princess for their ceremonial bond."

Blake and Ford raised their brows at the unknown term but mentally translated it as a marriage while Sherene smiled prettily and thanked her.

"This is Commander Ford, my second in command and Chief of Naval Operations," Blake introduced Ford to Megan and Akron whom they have not met before. "Fleet Master Megan and Fleet Master Akron of the Isles."

Ford gave a short bow as he was introduced and said in Common greeting, "Well met."

"Hmmm..." Megan gave a flirty smile and looped her arm into Ford's who smiled back uncertainly. "Tell me, Commander, what do you do as Chief of Naval Operations?"

Blake and Sherene laughed as they watched Ford getting led away by Megan. Dijon and Akron gave their congratulations and left to find their own entertainment.

Blake grinned as he watched Dijon walked away, "Well at least he took it well."

"You are so bad!" Sherene scolded. "He's not a bad guy!"

"Wow? Defending another guy now in front of your husband?" Blake teased.

"What husband!" Sherene snorted. "We are not married yet!"

"Hahaha," Blake hugged Sherene before asking, "Will my lady care for a dance?"

"Hmph! That's more like it!"

-----

Drake sat down to the silver haired girl and felt lost for words. The sense of feeling he got from her ever since he spotted her through his scope was something he couldn't put to words.

She was his only live target that he missed deliberately and the feeling he got from her confused him. She was someone that he was trying to kill at that time.

The girl sat watching him silently while he tried to put together words to break the awkward silence. Earlier in the day when they both met, she told him she will wait for him here till he come and they need to talk.

After his duty was over, he hurried over and saw her still sitting in the same stand while most of the crowd had left to celebrate in other places or gone for dinner.

Now sitting next to her, he felt uncomfortable in his combat gear and unsure what to say when she broke the silence.

"I have been trying to find you for some time," she said. "I wanted to thank you."

Drake turned and looked at the girl who stared back at him. The girl he remembered in his sights looked vastly different from what he could remember.

She no longer had that haunted look that he remembered and she was dressed casually in a human fashion, a large coat for the cold over sweaters and jeans.

"You saved me that day," She continued.

"B- But..." Drake stuttered. "I... I was aiming to kill you!"

"I know..." She leaned back on the bench and kicked her feet. "I was actually wanting to die."

"But... why?" Drake asked in confusion. "Why did you want to die?"

"Because the Empire enslaved me," She explained. "I was tired of all the dirty deeds the Empire used me for and how many lives were sacrificed each time they used my powers."

"There is always a cost of using large scale magic formations," She looked up at the blossoming displays of fireworks in the night sky. "Using the life force of hundreds and thousands of people, magic can be strengthened or super charged, which increases the potency of the spell."

"I lost count of how many people that were sacrificed over the years for my magic," She turned and gave a sad smile at Drake. "Until I sense the killing intent from you, and in my mind's eye, I saw you."

She reached out a hand a cupped Drake's cheek, "You were my Angel of Death, the one who could finally release me from the pain of living."

Drake was startled as he felt her cold hands on his cheek and realized that she must have been sitting here the whole time in the cold waiting for him! He quickly took her hand into his gloved palms and rubbed her cold hand. "Come!"

He pulled her up and led her towards one of the stalls selling hot beverages and snacks. He ordered a couple of hot drinks and hotdogs and sat her down next to an outdoor heater. "Eat and drink!"

She looked surprised but followed his words, sipping the hot drink and ate the hotdogs. Drake watched her face slowly regain a rosy flush before he introduced himself.

"By the way, my name is Drake, nice to meet you."

-----

The Kingdom of Foral, Border to The Great Ocean Plains

The morning sun brought some warmth to the half frozen men and women of the Last Company as they prepared to set out from their camp. Borse sipped the hot weak tea and felt better as the hot liquid warmed his belly.

"Captain," Taris looked tired and his appearance unkept, which is quite unusual. He was normally explicitly groomed even in a battle. This journey must be taking its toll on him.

"We got a dozen frozen to death over the night," Taris sighed as he gave his report. "Two of them were children and five were the more critically wounded."

"Also, there are more reports of people getting sick from the cold," Taris took the offered tea from Borse and disregarded the scalding hot tea and just finished it all in one go.

Borse nodded in silence as he expected the news. "We have to push harder to reach the abandoned village. The sooner we get to shelter, the better our chances of survival."

Taris nodded just as Lanser joined them. "The scouts are back. They report the way is clear but the snowfall last night might slow us down more."

"Good, take all the available mounts and send an advance party ahead to clear the way for the weak and ill," Borse replied. "Move all the weak and ill on the wagons."

Both Taris and Lanser nodded before they returned to the men, giving out Borse's orders.

It was nearly evening when the Company reached the outskirts of the village. The men and women cheered up visibility as they the village. As they entered the broken down palisade and gates, they saw dilapidated buildings and skeletons of burnt down houses.

At the village square, a ramshackle well sat forlornly while dozens of cook fires were raging, made by the advance party as they had come in earlier to scout and prepare for the arrival of the rest of the Company.

Borse watched the men and women enter the village and gratefully accepted bowls of hot soup and gave a sigh of relief, knowing that tonight, at least they have some sort of shelter.

"Divide the men up, have one party gather firewood, another party to fix some of those buildings up," Borse told Taris and Lanser.

He picked up a sign covered in snow from the roadside and brushed off the dirt and snow, revealing the name of the village <Dead Froniter>.

-----

UNS Singapore, Captain's Quarters

Blake gestured the Intelligence Officer to start his report as he sat down on his chair. Lieutenant Tavor removed a paper report from his briefcase and handed it over to Blake who skimmed through it quickly.

"Our operation to insert agents into the Adventurer's Guild in the City of Falledge has borne us some fruit," Tavor reported. "We have two agents working inside the Guild and also managed to contact the merchant, Otoro to help us facilitate the transportation of freed slaves."

"In return for his services, we are providing him with several trade goods that can't be traced back to us," Tavor said. "With his connections, we are able to form a more comprehensive picture of the Empire."

"So what's the latest update on the Empire side?" Blake asked, his eyes still reading the documents.

"As of current intel, Falledge currently has a garrison of four thousand regular and auxiliary troops," Ford recited from memory. "Also one dragon corps remained stationed at the city."

Blake raised his eyebrows at the numbers. "Isn't it a bit low?"

"It's winter season, so it is normal for the local lords to stand down their troops since they can't afford or unwilling to feed or support them over the winter," Tavor explained. "And rarely any army fights a winter campaign due to increases supply difficulties and higher demand of resources at home."

Blake nodded in understanding and gestured for Tavor to continue.

"Other reports state that the Empire top commander, The Rock, has successfully pushed all the way into the interior of the Foral Kingdom and the Meccan Kingdom," Tavor said. "We do not have an exact location on the outdated maps that were provided to us by Magister Thorn, but reports say that they are suspected to be within 200 kilometers away from both the two kingdom's Capitals."

"They are now waiting for the winter to end and the roads to open up before taking the final battle. After which it will just a mop-up operation for the Imperials."

Blake put down the documents in his hands and asked, "So what is the estimated time we have before the Empire turns its eyes over to us again?"

"We estimate that if they are successful in conquering both the Capitals within half a year by early summer," Tavor said. "After that another three to four months to pacify the area and mop up remnants of the two Kingdoms. Following that another three months to move their troops back and retrain, recover, and resupply."

"Counting all that, the fastest time they can raise their armies against us is in a year," Tavor said. "But we also have the advantage of a natural barrier of heavily forested terrain which houses deadly monsters and creature. That would give us a buffer of another month or so."

Blake nodded, "One year. A lot can be done in one year."

"Good work," Blake praised Tavor for his efforts. "Keep expanding the spy network. In terms of funding, I will have Accounts to approve the funds you need to expand."

"Thank you, Sir," Tavor replied. "Also another thing, Sir. If you look at the last part of the report."

Blake picked back up the document and skimmed to the last portion. "Operation Freedom?"

"Yes Sir," Tavor started to explain the operation. "We gathered enough information to identify a major slave trade hub that supplies the entire south region with slaves."

"It's based on this city called Orwell's Point," Tavor displayed a map with the city's location next to the inland sea. "Slaves gets transported to the city via river ships and get distributed all over the southern region including Falledge. It is also located at the border of what they call the Great Ocean Plains and is also a major trade hub for the Orcs."

"Hmm," Blake read the details of Operation Freedom. "You want to gather intelligence and have the Marines liberate the city and free the slaves?"

"Yes, Sir," Tavor replied. "On the success of this operation, we can deal damage to the Empire."

"The lost of the slaves will affect the economics of the Empire while we can increase our manpower with the freed slaves."


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Neobear Neobear

Advance chapters are available on Pat-reon

https://www.*******.com/neobear

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Join the discussion in Discord

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Donate/Support me via Paypal now!

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