"Here?" Anderson asked, pointing to a marked location on the table map.

"Yes, Sir. At least that's the area we last saw them near." Vance replied.

Anderson let out a puff of smoke from between her parted lips, her pipe hanging precariously between dry, chapped lips. "Hrmm~ I was wondering why it was taking you so long to report to me, Colonel. I'd thought a unit that could fly could scour the area more effectively than a troop of horse." She commented with a slight smirk.

Vance sighed, "Sadly, the enemy proved more adept at moving than previously anticipated. My guess? Someone there knows about us and has already begun moving around trying to screen for the main army that's camped there."

The general studied Vance's face, appearing as though she were looking for something, "Seems they failed then. If you've managed to find their main camp, that means their little operation failed." She breathed.

Vance shook his head, "I'm not so sure. It was by pure chance we happened upon that group of orcs, and even that bit of luck feels like it'll pass soon."

"Hmm? Really? What makes you so concerned, Colonel?" She asked.

"Just the speed at which they've been moving. It's not right. It took us two days of near-constant flying and moving just to find their main camp, and even then, there's the chance they're packing up and moving already." He started, letting out another sigh as he hung his head, "I think whoever they have in command is smarter than we initially gave them credit for. I'd even wager a guess the man in command is already preparing anti-air measures to combat my wyvern riders." Vance suggested.

Anderson nodded silently, turning to look absently towards the banner hanging near the far tent wall. Vance looked over, curious to know what it was she was staring at, but only saw the old Hussar banner. Was she thinking back to her past? He couldn't tell with her. She put up a mask that not even he could see through, and in the past couple of days he'd known her, she'd all but shattered his perceived notions on Kendirewen's generalship. If he came to fight her, army to army, he'd likely lose if not adequately prepared or equipped. That fact alone raised more questions like how Kendirewen was even losing all these battles if they had leaders like her in command? He couldn't fully comprehend the reasoning there but decided it was best not to dwell on the subject or brooch it until they had the freedom and peace to do so.

"General?" Vance asked.

"Hmm?"

"What're you thinking? I doubt you're just looking at the flag for the sake of recalling your past." He noted.

Anderson chuckled, pulling her pipe free from her lips as she turned to face Vance, "I'm thinking we're facing someone like you."

"Someone like me?"

"Yes, someone with an actual brain in their head that's already coming up with counters to our most advanced technologies and units-- that is to say, you." She stated.

Resting her pipe down on the map table, she turned around to scan the diorama, "Either way, we have little choice but to act on your intel. Whether I like it or not, we've got to strike while the iron's hot, and it's quickly cooling." She said.

Vance nodded; he could understand the logic in that, "You're going to split the army, aren't you?" He hazard a guess.

"Good guess," She grinned, "I can't leave the main southern road leading into the Kendirewen heartlands undefended, and nor can I afford to sit idle while our enemy raids our farmlands. So, I'm going to split the army in two. I'm hoping that the smaller force will also make for a faster one. Thus, keeping the attacking force made up of light units while the defenders retain the heavy hitters."

"Huh. That makes sense. Force the enemy out into the open, and hit them with quick rapid assaults, only to pull back to safety. It'll certainly weaken them." Vance said.

"Exactly."

"Well then, I guess that means my Dragon Marines will remain here then?" Vance queried.

"Not all of them, no. I'll keep your wyverns and a few companies here, but the bulk of your regiment will go with the group two," Anderson replied.

"Alright, and who'll command the second half?" Vance asked, curious to know which one of her generals would be taking command in this operation.

It was then that she turned to face him, a toothy wolf's grin spread across her face, "You."

"You mean I'm to assist the general in command? Right?" Vance tried to clarify.

The general just stared at Vance, her grin telling him all he needed to know. He was being given a job he had no want to do yet, nor did he feel prepared to lead a small army into hostile territory suddenly. It felt gross how quickly he was seemingly getting more responsibilities thrown onto his shoulders without any real merit behind them.

"Sir, are you sure that's a wise choice?" Voiced one of her staff officers from behind.

Anderson cast a glare over her shoulder towards the man, letting a sigh out, "And why do you think it's not, Major?"

The Major froze in place, and from what Vance could guess, the man was likely ready to buckle under the pressure of that glare. But, it seemed he was able to endure, quickly coughing into his hand.

"He's a mere Colonel of two days, and even before that, he was barely even an officer in command of a regiment. I can hardly find the logic in deploying an inexperienced officer to lead the assault force." He said.

Vance looked at him quizzically, "Forgive my boldness here, but he's right, general. You only just promoted me, and I hardly have the necessary skills to lead anything larger than a regiment, I--"

Anderson promptly silenced Vance as she brought her hand up for silence, "then consider this a test of your skills," she started, pausing only to pack the bowl of her pipe with fresh tobacco, "We've had strings of losses for dozens of years now, and finally, after just one battle you've managed to do what other experienced Generals and I have failed to do in all that time. So, humour me, Wolfram. I want to see what you're capable of and to know whether or not the Battle of Myths was a fluke or divine providence."

Vance didn't feel comfortable with this at all but knew there was no point in arguing with the general. She seemed the stubborn type that refused to take no for an answer when she set her mind at something. So with a sigh, he relented.

"I shall endeavour to give us another win then," Vance said.

"Then it's settled! I'll expect you to deploy your forces by the end of tomorrow. Take what you can from the supply wagons, then set off. If the enemy should come here and seek another pitched battle, I'll despatch a few of your wyverns to send for you." She said.

Vance nodded; it was good to know his troopers would be put to good use, and should there be such an event that the enemy would attack again, he'd be able to get the message fast enough to redeploy against the enemy rear. It was a sound strategy and one that put his mind at ease.

"If nothing else then, I suppose I should send riders out to alert the regiments?" The Major spoke up.

The general nodded in response, "Give him a couple of divisions and ensure at least two regiments of cavalry are deployed along with the Colonel's forces."

"As you wish." The Major replied, quickly jotting down a few general orders.

All of which amounted to three infantry divisions, two artillery batteries, and one sharpshooter regiment each. Almost as an afterthought, he recalled the two cavalry regiments that were to be tasked to Vance. In addition, one Hussar and one lancer regiment were assigned to his command. Peering over, Vance couldn't find any faults with the listed units and found that it would be more than enough to get the job done if he could utilize a series of hit and run campaigns across the south. Though the Askalians were likely prepared for such a thing, there was a good chance; however, he was a little too wary of them. While it was true, they had eluded his flying troops for two days, that wasn't enough to fully justify his worry. No, if anything, he was just nervous he'd run into someone like him over there-- someone the rival pantheon had likely summoned to destroy Julia and her pantheon. The thought made him shiver. Another High Human running around with all his skills and abilities? Such a thing would likely devastate the entire landmass.

After getting his orders and a temporary brevet brigadier general rank to better speak with authority over the others who would be his senior as a Colonel, Vance made a quick mad dash to his camp. Each step he made was almost on autopilot as his mind was inundated with worries, strategies, and other such problems that now presented themselves. In his mind, he couldn't help but feel he was still not fully prepared to command an army. His original plan was to gain command experience via the battles he'd fight as a regimental commander or even lower, and yet here he was a brevet brigadier general about to command a force of twenty thousand men and women. All of them would be looking to him for orders. It was a scary and daunting thought.

Seemingly unaware of his arrival in his part of the camp, Estrid rested a hand on his shoulder, snapping him back to reality.

"Huh?" Vance muttered as he shook his head, bringing himself back to the here and now.

"Vance. Are you okay?" She asked, looking a little puzzled by this rare moment.

Vance nodded, taking a breath to steady his nerves, "Yeah, just... distracted." He replied.

Taking a quick look around the camp, he pursed his lips in thought, a tad surprised to see he had somehow found himself back at his regiment's camp. Squinting his eyes, he began to open his mind trying to see if Julia had been guiding his steps. No sense of divine magic or anything that might indicate such.

"Hmm..."

"Sir?"

"Ah, sorry," Turning back to Estrid, "I'm glad you're here actually; I wanted to talk to you and let you know that we'll be moving out in a day."

"We just got back, and she's already sending us back out there?" Estrid commented.

"Not quite. The wyverns are staying back here with two companies to act as support, while the rest are to march down south with the second army." Vance corrected, motioning for Estrid to follow.

"Second army?" She queried.

"Mhm, General Anderson had the same thought I did in splitting up the Southern Army into two separate armies. The main body will remain here while a smaller force is deployed to harass and beat back the Askalian army before they have a chance to dig in." He said.

Estrid nodded in agreement, "sounds like a sound strategy. So who's leading the second army?" She asked.

"Me."

"What? Sorry, but I think all the gunfire's been causing me hearing problems because I could've sworn you said you were in command." She chuckled, thinking what he said was a joke.

"Should get that looked at then, 'cause that was no joke. Anderson gave me a brevet to brigadier general and assigned me command of the offensive." Vance replied.

"How? Or rather, why? Why'd she make you the general in command? You've only been a full colonel for a few days, and even that hasn't fully been confirmed since you've yet to get all the necessary items to cement the rank." She explained.

"I know. Believe me-- I know," He sighed, "Another one of her staff and I tried to argue the same fact as well-- didn't work." He said, running a hand through his hair, trying to rid himself of the discomfort he felt from wearing a helmet all day.

"Well, that certainly explains why you looked so distracted, at least." She smiled.

Vance rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah, come on; I'll need your help to get the army up and moving."

Smiling, she nodded proudly, following her Colonel and friend closely as they made their way into the centre of the camp, her previous worries seemingly vanishing the more she was around Vance.

After a day of preparation and running around trying to get things all in order before they deployed, Vance rode at the head of twenty thousand men and women, riding atop his wyvern, Magic, whose powerful limbs efficiently carried the total weight of his rider. To any civilians or traders passing by, the sight of Vance striding down the dirt roads was both an imposing and inspiring sight to see, with many even going so far as to shadow the army, Hoping to catch a glimpse of the mythical creature and his rider. Even as the hours turned to days, the baggage train grew, as more people felt drawn to follow. Whatsmore, the army itself seemed to march more proudly and confident; their morale raised by the sight of a legend leading them into battle. To many, it was like the first Emperor had returned and was leading them to reunite the Tavaria once more. Vance, for his part, paid little heed to such rumours and thoughts, merely keep himself occupied with the daily administrative requirements an army of twenty thousand required, which made him all the happier to have Captain Xen at his side to help.

However, such thoughts faded the moment Vance crested a small hill leading to an open plain nearby where the enemy army was located, as there, at the far end, was the Askalian army, standing ready for war. Vance reigned in Magic, quickly snapping around to extend his hand outward to bark an order.

"Quickly! Start forming a line here down along through the plains! And get those guns set up on that hill nearby!" He ordered, trying his best to get the army ready for battle.

Shifting to face his foe, Vance saw off the corner of his eyes a single lone individual who appeared different from the rest. A human with short black cropped hair and sharp brown eyes. The man with the height of six feet, and from what he could see, was a slim individual with broad shoulders and seemed to look almost Japanese. He stood at the front of the assembled force, wearing what appeared to be a floral kimono with a single steel Dō-maru cuirass from a set of Kurata samurai armour. It seemed to Vance that there was likely a culture that mirrored Japan given the figure's outerwear and the iconic curved blade that rested ever so comfortably at his left side hip. Leaning forward, he could tell this individual also had a fair bit of confidence exuding from him, which said a lot about his character.

It seemed the man just waited for Kendirewen to set up, giving them the time to spread out and take formation. A stupid blunder on their part by Vance's assumption, given how there was no way his forces would be able to quickly set up in time to defend themselves should the enemy attacked. Hell, looking out, he even saw his outriders on their knees in front, hands bound in front of them.

"Hostages?" Vance thought aloud, peering through his telescope.

Estrid came rushing up to meet him, "Vance! What the hell happened? How'd they know we were coming?!"

Vance shrugged, "I don't know. It's odd; everything about this is odd," He replied.

"What? Why?"

"That man... there's something about him-- something almost familiar," Vance observed aloud, his eyes drawn to the Japanese Samurai-esque man, "Heh, he's even wearing a light blue haori with white mountain strips," Vance paused, lowering his scope, "Almost like they're trying to mirror the Shinsengumi?"

"Shinsen-- what?" Estrid asked, looking towards the same individual.

"Uh, it doesn't matter; for now, focus on getting skirmishers up to set pikes up to defend against possible cavalry attacks to the flanks. The centre we'll keep open to lure them in before opening up with our Luna Rifles." Vance ordered.

Estrid nodded, rushing off to issue the orders to the other officers.

"Who is that guy?" Vance whispered under his breath.

Looking through his spyglass again, this time, he saw the black-haired man wave in his direction before pointing to his scouts. Vance thought they'd be executed, but instead, their hands were cut free, and they were shoved forward towards their side.

"What the hell?" Vance thought, completely puzzled.

It was odd to see soldiers just released and allowed back to their side, with nothing in return. Vance couldn't understand what was going on here, and he was starting to get a little annoyed at how he was feeling right now. That nagging feeling in the back of his head began to cause him to grimace-- Vance wanted answers; he needed to know who that man was and why he was giving off such a familiar feeling and why he dressed like a samurai from Earth. Peering through the scope once more, he saw the man walk out towards the centre of the field, motioning for Vance to do the same. He was being called out, and from where the man stood, he was standing out of range of his army's muskets, telling him he genuinely wanted a meeting.

"Fuck." He cursed.

He knew he'd have to honour this man's request, whether he wanted to or not because something was telling him to. Without warning or alerting his officers, Vance undid his harness, jumped off Magic, and quickly made for the centre. Every step closer, the feeling grew more potent, more precise, until finally, it dawned on him.

"Another champion."