Chapter 138: The First Day
As night fell, Archbishop Sarrier led the exhausted priests to dine in the cathedral. Although Philip's trebuchets in the afternoon had been just a probing attack, the casualties they caused left the hundreds of priests nearly crippled with fatigue. Inside the cathedral, one by one, the priests ate their ham and white bread with glum expressions. Their concern was whether they could endure the grueling days of war ahead without succumbing to exhaustion.
The grim reality of what lay ahead weighed heavily on their minds, and their appetites waned. Forks and knives were laid down one after another as they reached for wine to ease their discomfort. However, Paladin, who had feigned fatigue, only took a small bite of ham before making a show of expressing his weariness, excusing himself from the meal. He ignored the curious glances of those around him and, once he left the cathedral's doors, promptly spat out the ham he had tried to eat.
Eating in public was what he feared the most. Whenever he attempted to consume food, his unparalleled nausea and disgust would inevitably manifest, leading to an uncontrollable vomiting. He had no intention of being regarded as a monster by these priests, and besides, wasting food could lead to accusations of violating church regulations.
Leaving the troubled original behind, the doppelganger had managed to escape the meal by pretending to be gravely injured. With bandages wrapped around his knee and arm, he refused Orinna's invitation to dine after their reunion, claiming exhaustion. He lay silently on his bed, waiting for Orinna to arrive. As expected, not long after, a worried Orinna walked in. She expressed her concerns, and with a flushed face, she embraced the doppelganger from behind, fulfilling her wish. The doppelganger, in turn, made Orinna experience her desires to her heart's content.
Outside the city, a massive enemy camp, located more than ten miles from the fortress, displayed an unusual calmness. Donald Javier, appearing serene despite his typical demeanor, was quietly drinking with a group of generals and nobles at the same table. Philip, on one hand, discussed tomorrow's battle plan with the generals while secretly observing Donald. He couldn't help but be surprised by Donald's unusual behavior.
"What's wrong with this guy? He used to decline such gatherings! Today, he actually attended, and even when some nobles covertly ridiculed him, he remained unshaken with a calm demeanor!" Philip thought, puzzled.
What Philip didn't know was that the doppelganger, Donald Javier, was contemplating a coup. Although his status was despised by the major nobles, and King Philip held no affection for him, what if the generals and officers under his command were to die one after another, leaving his forces devoid of capable leaders? Wouldn't military authority have to fall into his lap? The doppelganger, Donald, firmly believed that King Philip would never personally lead the troops into battle, as it would be a matter of pride. The same applied to King Lex of the neighboring kingdom. The two monarchs would not want to concede to each other. This rivalry afforded him significant convenience given his current identity.
So, that night passed quietly, with a blend of serenity and intrigue.
The following morning, the soldiers took their positions, ready for the day. However, when these soldiers, who had already prepared themselves for the brutal war, were suddenly faced with massive siege towers that had sprung up overnight on the opposite side, it nearly frightened them out of their wits. The doppelganger, clad in full armor, watched this unfold with a calm expression, showing no surprise. He had known beforehand, thanks to the position of Donald Javier, that Philip and Lex had cooperated the previous night, ordering all the militia to abandon their tasks and vigorously cut down nearby forests. In just one night, they had built four towers taller than the city walls!
These towers are hollow inside with three levels of stairs. The front of the tower is protected by a tower body to shield against arrows and rolling stones, deliberately adorned with iron sheets to withstand fire. Inside, three levels of stairs lead directly to the top of the tower. At the top, there's a part that can be lowered close to the city wall, allowing prepared soldiers to charge onto the city wall for close combat. The base of the tower consists of the thickest wooden planks, supported by four massive wheels, used to push the tower forward.
These towers are formidable; they have special platforms on both sides for archers to attack the defenders on the city wall while advancing. Moreover, they are impervious to arrows and fire. Once these towers are hoisted onto the city wall, unless they are miraculously hit by trebuchets or bed crossbows, it is terrible news for the defending side. Of course, magicians are not considered for such situations. According to the Magician Covenant, magicians are not allowed to participate in battles involving more than five hundred people. To avoid public outrage, even in the face of national destruction, magicians stand aside.
At this moment, seeing the four towers erected overnight on the opposite side, Count Carmon, in full armor, immediately shouted, "All bed crossbows and trebuchets, get ready!" The soldiers, having gone through real combat the day before, quickly adjusted the angles of the trebuchets and bed crossbows. Due to the presence of the towers, the archers also took out torches, lit them, and placed them in the ground in front. Then they replaced their quivers with another bag of arrows wrapped in oil-soaked cloth, ready to fire incendiary arrows.
/p>At this moment, seeing the four towers suddenly rising overnight, Count Carmon's expression became serious, and he shouted, "All bed crossbows and trebuchets, get ready!" His command was swiftly obeyed by the new recruits who had gained experience from the previous day's battle. They skillfully adjusted the angles of the trebuchets and bed crossbows. To account for the towers, archers pulled out torches, lit them, and planted them in the ground in front of them. They then replaced their quivers with bags of arrows tipped with oil-soaked cloth, ready to fire incendiary arrows.
Seeing these preparations, Philip and Lex locked eyes and, in unison, dismounted from their horses. They knelt down, followed by all the noble generals, knights, and the endless sea of fifty thousand soldiers. At this moment, a group of priests threaded their way through the ranks to the front. Leading them was an obvious Archbishop, who sighed deeply as he glanced at the fortress. With a solemn and devout tone, he raised the Holy Bible and the cross, saying, "Pray, pray to the mighty Father, in the name of Enos. He will bless you to return safely, to be delivered from sin and vengeance, to be shielded from bloodshed and death. May your sword and soul find redemption in this war and ascend to the supreme kingdom of the gods."
Over a hundred priests, standing at a considerable distance, were positioned at the forefront of the fifty thousand-strong army. As Philip and Lex, along with the nobles and generals behind them, dropped to their knees, they drew their swords from their belts and planted them in front of them. With both hands gripping the sword hilts, they listened to the priests recite from the Holy Bible. When the priests finished their recitation and said, "Amen," the subdued murmurs of "Amen" echoed softly. The kings then kissed their own sword hilts, brimming with the intention to kill, as they stood up.
At the same time, Paladin and Sarrier, among others, ascended to the city wall, and all the soldiers, including the doppelganger, knelt down to listen to the priests recite from the Holy Bible. When the priests reached the final "Amen," they withdrew, and the soldiers were filled with determination.
This custom originated long ago. When a war commenced and the commanders of both sides held equivalent statuses, it was necessary for the priests accompanying the army to recite a requiem. Firstly, it assured the soldiers that they would ascend to the divine realm even in such a glorious battle, saving them from being captured by the darkness of Belair. Secondly, it acknowledged that this was an honorable and legitimate war, and the church accepted the consequences that would result from it. Over time, it evolved into a mere formality, offering some self-comfort. Nevertheless, the most significant significance was that it marked the official beginning of the war under the watchful gaze of Father Enos.
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