Chapter 1320 — Urgency
Blade of Dawn · Page 2 of 4
In the winter night, that lush and ancient forest lay quietly beneath the starlight. Though this region was not as cold as the far north of the continent, in the depths of winter much of the forest sea was still covered in snow; white drifts dotted the black backdrop, and when the mountain wind blew through, a fine rustling sound came drifting on the night—a scene so tranquil and serene that it could make one briefly forget the bitter reality on the other side of the mountains, forget the war still underway.
Were it not for the present situation, Camilla would right now have been enjoying the pleasures of the hunt in that dense forest. The winter Sea of Red Jade had always been her second favorite place—like many Augurey, her first favorite was of course Mount Mingcen in summer.
"If those monsters cross Wolfsback Mountain again, their next target will without question be the Sea of Red Jade..." Morak's voice came from beside her, low and hoarse. "I fear the Warden troops are not numerous enough to intercept the monsters crossing the mountains... and from past experience, the forest itself does little to hinder those creatures. Once the Wardens are broken through, Red Jade City is next..."
The old orc shook his head, and the "war-marks" of black down around his cheeks and neck trembled faintly with the twitching of his muscles. He restrained his feelings, yet his tone still held an anger and sorrow he could not conceal: "The mountains and the forest are gifts from our ancestors, and now those unbridled freaks trample our homeland at will..."
"Great Chieftain... General..." A somewhat nervous voice came from nearby. A patrolling soldier happened to be passing, and this young orc warrior spoke up cautiously: "Will the spirits in the Sea of Red Jade continue to protect our Red Jade City?"
Camilla glanced at the young warrior. Her sharp gaze softened a little, though her hoarse voice carried an indisputable tone: "We will protect ourselves."
"Do your duty, soldier," General Morak said gravely from the side.
The orc soldier departed, and Morak turned to his Great Chieftain with a trace of apology: "Forgive me, Great Chieftain. Young warriors are always a little too impetuous..."
"I was just as impetuous once—we have all been impetuous," Camilla said with a slight shake of her head. Then she seemed to sink into thought. Those pale-gold, feline eyes grew still, and within her restrained gaze something like a fierce conflict of thought seemed to surge. Seeing this, Morak did not speak, but stood in silence beside the Mistress of Mountain and Forest. The pungent scent drifting from afar stung his nostrils, mingled with the distinctive stench of those aberrant monsters, and the old orc's nostrils twitched involuntarily.
"Those monsters are gathering again. They're searching for a path up the mountain," Morak said with a frown. "The traps we set on the slopes can only slow their assault a little. The next bitter battle will likely break out at dawn. Great Chieftain, your wounds are not yet healed. It would be best if—"
"General Morak," Camilla cut the old orc off, "these monsters fear fire, do they not?"
"...Strictly speaking, they can withstand flame better than the beasts of the forest, but most of them are still creatures of flesh and blood. Given fire on a large enough scale, they too will burn," Morak said with a nod. "Moreover, although their primary means of perception is not sight but a 'mana-sight,' the heat and elemental turbulence of fire can still profoundly disrupt their judgment. We have seen with our own eyes those monsters thrown into chaos amid a sea of flame..."
Camilla mused in silence. She turned to look toward the Sea of Red Jade, and only after a long hush did she suddenly speak: "Can we contact the Warden troops now?"