Chapter 63 – Fractures and Fire
The camp at Fort Yingshan buzzed with the uneasy energy of victory. The recent skirmish had been won, but the cost lingered like smoke over the battered trees. Soldiers nursed wounds, repaired armor, and exchanged wary glances. The arrival of Jinhai and his strange, rune-etched weapon was a beacon of hope — yet beneath the surface, tensions began to simmer.
In the commanders' tent, Empress Yanyue, General Zhao, Lady Siran, Lin Xue, and Jinhai gathered around a weathered map strewn with markers and notes.
"The alliance is fragile," Lady Siran observed quietly. "The clans and imperial soldiers come from different worlds. Trust is not easily earned."
Lin Xue nodded. "There are whispers among the clans — some doubt the empire's willingness to share power. Others resent the sorcerers' influence."
Jinhai leaned forward, his dark eyes sharp. "I've seen such fractures before. Old rivalries die hard, especially when survival is at stake. But if we do not stand united, the Veiled Commander will tear us apart."
General Zhao's voice was firm. "We must enforce discipline. The alliance must hold — for the sake of all."
Suddenly, a scout burst into the tent, breathless. "Empress, enemy forces are moving fast — a counterstrike near the eastern supply routes. They're using scorched earth tactics. The roads are burning."
Yanyue's eyes hardened. "Prepare the defenses. We cannot lose the lifelines that sustain us."
That night, the camp was alight with urgency. Fires blazed along the supply roads, where imperial engineers and clan warriors worked side by side to rebuild and fortify.
Meanwhile, the Veiled Commander watched from his command tent, his veil shifting in the flickering torchlight.
"Let them believe their fragile bonds will hold," he murmured. "Tonight, we strike not only with fire but with fear."
The next day, the enemy's assault came swift and merciless.
Black-clad raiders swept through the forests, setting ablaze supply wagons and burning crops. Villages loyal to the empire were razed, their inhabitants driven before the flames.
General Zhao led a desperate defense, rallying his men against overwhelming odds. Sorcerers summoned walls of wind and flame, but the enemy's ferocity pushed them back.
Amid the chaos, Lin Xue darted through the battlefield, rescuing trapped soldiers and gathering intelligence. Her heart pounded — the Veiled Commander's forces were more brutal and cunning than ever.
Back at camp, Yanyue received grim reports. "Their goal is clear — to starve us, to break our will."
Lady Siran's voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed concern. "We must strengthen the bonds within the alliance. Only unity can withstand this fire."
Jinhai approached Yanyue privately. "I have an idea. A weapon of greater power — but it requires resources and secrecy."
Yanyue considered this. "Do what you must. The empire's survival depends on it."
As the flames consumed the eastern roads, the alliance faced its greatest test. Fractures threatened to become chasms, while the Veiled Commander's shadow grew darker.
In the depths of night, the air thick with smoke and ash, Yanyue whispered a vow to the stars.
"We will endure. We will fight. And we will not fall."