Hundreds of soldiers stood silently in the pouring rain, the raindrops on the dark tower shields creating a misty fog, the long spears reflecting a cold metallic sheen as they extended forward side by side, forming a silent steel forest atop Evergreen Tree Square.
Sir Marloes, the Swordsman Captain of the Seventh Swordsman Battalion of Ampezel's Harbor Guard, finally breathed a sigh of relief; he did his best not to think about the pale faces beneath the steel helmets and the crooked formations. Regardless, they had managed to complete the defensive deployment within the expected time.
He turned and saluted the young man behind him: "General, it is done."
Owen stared at the gloomy sky over the port—the Black Blade Legion and the Holy Temple stationed at Ampezel didn't gain the upper hand against the powerful lineup above them. The Southern Army had long possessed Erune's strongest Flying Dragon Cavalry, yet such a force was cast aside by the Kingdom in another period of history.
