I never really explained certain things.

  One such thing was training for soldiers.

  Before the inevitable second battle for the capitál, lemme tell you a lil bit.

  Adrian, ever the great home guard leader, watches alongside a few others whose names I didn’t bother searching their memories for.

  Since it’s home defense and the next skirmish is conveniently siege-like, well the results speak of what warfare it’s being treated as.

  However, with my ever loving lust for… great me was saddled with one thing.

  Use and practice with weaponry.

  Just the one I mass produced.

  Prithee a sad thing.

  “I think those years of sitting in the castle made me a couch potato again…”

  Very simple to use.

  Do what I did.

  Now quicker. Faster.

  As for tactics?

  What do you take me for? Some kinda genius? I ain’t touchin that map till I feel it.

  Besides the cramming of knowledge into the ten fleet regiments, I’ve been churning out more judges.

  Pokey sticks.

  Yeeeeeeeees.

  As I watched them go about, it reminded me of something. I can’t remember which race it was.

  Similar to this? Might be getting it mixed up. Fading. So long ago it’s fuzzy and blurry on the details.

  Yet I can still remember when I was a wee child and poopie my pants.

  I curse god for this.

  Reminder to cry like a lil wuss me.

  The sky remains a clouded blue.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  The yells fizzle out with semblance to whispers.

  Taking that hand, they have arrived at this point.

  On the outskirts, the same hostile gaze looms evermore. If it was only indifference before, then now it was perceiving a small threat.

  Despite that, the world saw even a scratch on the beast. A sign of vulnerability.

  That hunger cannot be quelled unless stopped forcefully.

  Suspicious of even it’s food.

  Nevertheless, it must consume. It must devour.

  For the greater good.

  For the people.

  For the righteousness.

  For itself.

  The monarch watched.

  And lo and behold!

  “A week later!”

  From some distance they just stare.

  And I see some wood being used to build stuff.

  “Where do you get this?”

  My arse that’s what.

  The binoculars disappeared and I turned my body.

  “I dunno.”

  Adrian didn’t take my words at face value. Shocker.

  “How will you guys deal with it?”

  “With what?”

  “Siege weapons.” I sat down and let my legs dangle.

  “...”

  I may not be the most informed on such a thing on how to deal with it, but there are ways.

  I gave up and just let myself flop on the brick rock floor and put my arm over my eyes. Curse ye sun. Curse ye.

  “Considering they are far-ish from the entrance, are you considering a night raid? Or cavalry?”

  “...Somewhat.”

  There’s not exactly much cover up ahead besides some lone trees.

  As for horseys… do they even have that? Or any?

  There's sport ones, war ones, supply ones, other ones I forgot the name for ones.

  Well it’s made of wood.

  Gun it down!

  Yeah that won’t work.

  “S’pose when they get close enough, just shoot the operators…”

  I could get something for them.

  But.

  If they can’t overcome this?

  Wehell…

  “Reliance on what we have at all?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I see.”

  “Not much you can do if it’s far. But we can try.”

  “Try.”

  Will it be longer or shorter?

  Who’s to say.

  Of course.

  I’m lying.

  One way or another the flow of time will continue.