"Aaaaaah!"
"Kill the Empire's dogs!"
"Leave our home!"
The foreign tribal forces seemed anything but disciplined, which was hardly surprising.
Living in separate tribes, some friendly, some hostile, they couldn't possibly share the same training, tactics, or chain of command.
Even gathered as an army, they resembled little more than a scattered mess.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have been held back for so many years by the Empire's corrupt and feeble military, only able to flaunt their numbers with occasional raids or concentrated attacks on single points.
To Eblana, their charge looked like a pack of toothless hyenas, not even worth a proper glance.
She couldn't let her own men be whittled down by this unexpected turn, though in a way, their timing was almost convenient.
Her original plan would have left both her forces and Crott's with casualties, maybe even deaths. Now, it seemed she could take this city in a more... peaceful manner.
It would also save the trouble of rebuilding the walls later.
"Don't mind those undisciplined, noisy shouts," she said. "That racket does nothing but bite at your eardrums."
Eblana glanced back at Crott on the wall, a playful glint in her eye that left him momentarily confused.
She offered no explanation. Instead, she rode from the base of the wall to the rear of her soldiers.
"My soldiers, watch carefully. Burn this next scene into your eyes."
Eblana raised her left hand, the flame at the tip of her tail flaring brighter.
An unnatural heat suddenly rose from the wide plains. Purple flames erupted along the path of the tribal charge, and where nothing should burn, walls of fire began to rise, forming barriers of searing violet.
"So that's the Dragon Duke's Teigu..."
Crott swallowed hard. Even from the wall, he felt a wave of scorching heat. Watching the foreign soldiers trapped within those fiery rings, his eyes widened in shock.
To surround two thousand men in an instant?
The sight made him think of one of the Empire's Great Generals, the one said to be an army unto herself: Esdeath.
"On our path, there are no enemies,"Eblana's voice, low and drifting, reached every ear. "Only kindling, to light our way to a new world."
"Wait... wait... what is that?!"
Under Crott's disbelieving gaze, the tribesmen touched by the flames showed no signs of screaming or writhing. They stood rigid, like stone statues.
Those still untouched were terrified, but soon rallied at their commander's panicked shouts, huddling together.
Then, the next moment, the previously immobile 'statues' suddenly moved. One by one, they raised their weapons and stabbed the person nearest to them.
And the soldiers pierced by those blades also burst into flame, soon turning to attack those still untouched.
"Our road will never lack for fellow travelers," Eblana said, already turning her horse back toward the wall, her eyes fixed on the sweating Viscount Crott.
Behind her, the servants consumed by the death-flames fell into obedient, silent ranks, standing at the rear of her procession.
An army of one thousand had now, inexplicably, swelled to three thousand.
"Viscount Crott, open the gates."
The smile on Eblana's face seemed gentle, yet held an unshakeable coldness. "My troops need rest. And you and I have much to discuss."
Viscount Crott could not refuse.
What he had just seen made it clear: if she wished, she could ignite a fire on these very walls, turning them all into 'kindling to light the path.'
Clenching his fists, Crott spoke wearily to a soldier beside him, scared out of his wits. "Open the gates..."
The soldier stared blankly before processing the order.
He wanted to say this woman below wasn't coming in just to rest; her words alone marked her as trouble. But... he too could not refuse.
He wasn't the only one afraid. Even the soldiers of Eastridge City, now positioned behind Eblana, watched her with deep dread.
Yet... what grew stronger within them was awe, and swelling ambition.
Though these men knew of Teigu users, they had no real grasp of their power. Eblana's god-like display of holding off an army alone had genuinely shaken them—and inspired worship.
Admiring strength was universal in these times. And being called 'fellow travelers' by Eblana, counted among the first to follow her... surely that meant greater favor, a better life.
The hefty increase in pay she'd already given them was a taste of that.
Following an invincible leader, their fortunes were bound to rise.
Yes, under the Empire's crushing taxes, even Eastridge City, under Chouri's rule, was no land of peace. Starvation and hardship were common.
This was one reason Chouri had been forced to go to the capital.
It wasn't just that he could no longer stand aside, nor that he was tired of seclusion. His seclusion had become impossible—the people were starving.
The grain and funds currently motivating the army were, in fact, a one-time provision.
Once this month's share was gone, next month would bring not just hardship, but famine.
But this fact needed only be known to Eblana and Chouri. As long as Eblana could replenish supplies fast enough, it wouldn't be a problem.
And in the worst case, wasn't Amber supporting from the rear? If truly necessary, Eblana really could conjure funds from thin air.
Two minutes later, the city gates swung open. Eblana rode in with over a thousand soldiers.
The death-flame revenants she left stationed on and within the walls, citing the polite excuse that "the Viscount is short-handed; my soldiers can assist."
This domineering attitude—securing advantage while still pressing forward—left Crott feeling utterly stifled, but he said nothing.
Already knowing the dragoness before him was not to be crossed, he now felt a growing fear of her control.
After ordering his men to quarter the soldiers, Crott led Eblana to his office. He brewed tea and personally poured a cup for her.
This was not just from fear, but because she was a Count's daughter. She commanded respect.
"Thank you for your aid, my lady," he said, the pressure mounting as she merely sipped her tea in silence. "Everyone in Meca City is deeply grateful."
"There's no need for anxiety, Viscount."
Eblana finally set down her cup, offering a seemingly gentle smile. "You sense my purpose here. But you should understand, we are not adversaries."
She was referring to Crott's wavering stance.
Crott merely forced a weak smile.
Right. The adversaries became kindling. How could we possibly oppose you?
He took it entirely as a threat.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.