The preparations for the great battle were becoming more refined, but it was precisely here that tension began to creep into their ranks. The barracks had been set up, the weapons prepared, and the weary soldiers waited for orders. However, like embers that appear calm on the surface, a hidden fire slowly ignited, ready to burn everything.
Azfaran looked at the map spread out on the wooden table, his finger tracing the route that had been planned for their advance. Everything looked orderly, as if everything would go smoothly. But beneath it all, cracks in the leadership of the forces had begun to show. Even before the real battle had begun, doubt and personal ambition were demanding to be reckoned with.
Maeron, with a sharp gaze that couldn't be hidden, stood by the table, her eyes focused on the same map. She studied every detail of the terrain and made sharp calculations. "A gradual siege," she said, her voice low but firm. "That is the only way. We can't fight with just enthusiasm and hope. We must reduce the enemy's strength little by little, destroy them from within."
Kael, the field commander standing at the end of the table, couldn't contain his frustration. His lips curled upward, showing his disapproval. "A siege?" he said, almost sounding like mockery. "That's too slow. We need to strike, hit them hard. Do it fast, before they have time to build stronger defenses. If we wait too long, they'll build a higher wall. We need to act now."
Maeron turned her gaze toward Kael, tension in her eyes. "Kael, this war is not that simple. Our united strength may be superior, but we don't know how many forces they have. We'll be trapped in a longer war if we choose a frontal assault. A siege is a wiser way to pressure them bit by bit."
Kael tilted his head, his gaze growing sharper. "Wiser? Or too cautious? We're on the brink of war, Maeron! If we don't act fast, they'll move first, and we'll lose our chance."
The atmosphere in the room grew tenser. Some officers present could only remain silent, trying to assess the debate. They knew who was more senior, who had more experience, but before them stood two very different viewpoints.
Azfaran, who had remained quiet until then, finally lifted his gaze from the map. He looked at both of them with a hard-to-read expression. "Enough," he said, his voice not too loud but enough to calm the growing noise. "We can't keep getting stuck in this debate. Our time is limited."
All eyes turned to him. Kael, who usually spoke more, was now silent. Maeron, who tended to reflect before speaking, waited patiently, waiting for Azfaran's decision.
Azfaran stood up from his chair and walked to the window, looking outside. "If we continue to maintain these cracks, not only will we lose our opportunity, but our strength as well. Each commander here brings their own ambition and beliefs, but we must remember, we move not as individuals. We move as one unit."
He paused for a moment, his eyes gazing at the hazy horizon. "War is not just about strategy or tactics. It's about how we can overcome our own fears and how we can reconcile these differences to achieve one goal."
Kael snorted, stepping forward, approaching Azfaran with a challenging look in his eyes. "And what do you expect, King Azfaran? That all these differences will vanish just like that? You think we can settle this just by talking?"
Azfaran did not turn. "No," he answered quietly. "But we can learn to work together, even with our differences."
Between them, Maeron took a deep breath, trying to calm her turbulent mind. "Azfaran is right," she said, her voice now softer. "This war is more than just strategy. It's about how we can heal old wounds and how we can unite an army scattered in a battlefield full of hatred."
Kael raised an eyebrow, not fully agreeing, but he knew Maeron had a viewpoint that was not easily broken. He stared at Azfaran with a challenging gaze, as though waiting for a further answer.
Azfaran turned around, his face showing exhaustion. "We don't have the luxury of time to keep debating, Kael. All of this will determine our fate. But I choose to look beyond. We not only need to win this war, but we must also ensure that after the war, we can rebuild what has been destroyed."
Kael lowered his gaze, as if starting to understand Azfaran's words. Though still doubtful, a part of him was touched by that statement. Yet, the burning resentment inside him could not be fully hidden. "If we don't strike now," he said in a low voice but with strong emphasis, "we'll lose more than just an opportunity. We'll lose our honor."
Azfaran looked at Kael with a serious expression. "Honor is not something we earn simply by winning battles. Sometimes, to preserve honor, we must know when to act wisely."
There was a prolonged silence in the room. Maeron looked at Kael with eyes full of understanding, though she knew the path they chose would not be easy.
"War is not just about strength," Azfaran continued, his voice now filled with determination. "Victory is not just about a fast assault or a slow siege. It's about how we can bring this entire army toward one greater goal. It's about how we can overcome our differences and move together."
Kael nodded slowly, though his expression remained tense. "I understand," he said, though his voice sounded a little reluctant. "But I still believe a frontal assault is the right way."
"And I believe the siege is the better way," Maeron replied, staring at Kael with unwavering confidence.
Azfaran smiled faintly, as if knowing there was no perfect solution. But as he had said before, it wasn't just about strategy. It was about how they overcame their differences and learned to work together.
He stepped back from the map table and looked at both commanders. "We'll take parts from both approaches. We'll do a siege, but with fast and precise steps. No single way will solve everything. We'll find the balance between the two."
Maeron and Kael looked at each other. Though their debate was not over, they knew that Azfaran's decision was the best they could hope for in this increasingly difficult situation.
"Alright," Kael said, finally accepting the decision. "If that's what you choose, King, then we'll do it our way."
Maeron nodded, though there was still doubt in her eyes. "We'll prepare a more detailed plan."
Azfaran looked at both of them with eyes full of hope. "Remember, we're not just fighting against the enemy. We're fighting against our own fears."
The three of them stood there, inside the simple tent, yet filled with unspoken burdens. No one knew what would happen after this, but one thing was certain: this war would not only test their skills but also test the strength of their unity.
**
Mental Preparation of the Troops
A day after the heated meeting, Azfaran called all the military commanders into the main meeting room. His face was serious, but there was a firmness that couldn't be hidden behind his eyes. The commanders present immediately stood at attention when Azfaran entered the room.
"By the end of this week," Azfaran said in a commanding voice, "all the forces must gather in Annvled. There, we will receive supplies from the elders, king, and military commanders. Prepare your troops for that. I want you to ensure that every soldier is ready mentally, not just physically."
The commanders nodded in respect, including Maeron and Kael, who still felt the tension of their unresolved debate.
Kael turned to his troops. They had been waiting outside the meeting room, ready to hear his orders. With swift steps, Kael faced them. His voice was firm and full of spirit, "We will gather in Annvled. This is not just a meeting, this is the moment when we strengthen our resolve for what is to come. Do not let fear take over us. We are an army ready to face anything that comes."
He looked into the eyes of each of his soldiers, and with full confidence, continued, "Remember, every step we take is part of a greater victory. We fight together, we stand together."
Maeron stood before another group of troops, her voice calmer but full of meaning, "Annvled is not just a meeting place. It is where we strengthen our hearts. Do not only bring your bodies, bring your souls for this nation. We will face every challenge together."
As the commanders went to their respective troops, Azfaran stood alone for a moment. His eyes gazed far ahead, feeling the weight of the responsibility that was fast approaching. But one thing he knew for sure — they could not retreat now.
Azfaran looked at the soldiers beginning to march, realizing that every step they took was a test of unity that went beyond just battlefield tactics. Amidst the doubts and tensions that still lingered, he knew that there was no other choice but to move forward together. In silence, he realized that, though their steps were heavy, they would not retreat. This war was not just about defending the land, but about the unity that would determine their fate.