In the king's study on the third floor of Illingburn Fort's main tower.

"What happened yesterday? Why was there a fire all of a sudden?" King Cameron asked while reading through a report that he was holding in his hands. He had naturally also heard about the fire that had started in the barracks the night before. Thankfully, at the time, the fire was spotted as soon as it began, so it was snuffed out before it could spread, and no one was hurt during the incident. The only damage that was caused was that half a cart of supplies had been ruined. As a result, Cameron didn't pay much heed to the incident, and Count Friar, who was responsible for overseeing the military affairs, wasn't immediately summoned to see him. Only on the day following the incident, as Count Friar was coming to visit him, did he decide to ask about the incident. The last thing that he wanted to do was to create an atmosphere of tension in the army at a time like this.

"A few of the cavaliers from the Royal Cavalier Brigade got into an argument, which escalated into a physical altercation," Count Friar replied.

"What? Since when did our Royal Cavalier Brigade become such an ill-disciplined and lackadaisical unit? Tomorrow is the day of the final showdown, yet they still dare to cause trouble at a time like this? Have the offenders been punished?" King Cameron asked in a cold voice.

"They've all been expelled from the Royal Cavalier Brigade," Count Friar replied. "However, a couple of military officials were injured while trying to break up the fight."

"So you're saying they injured their higher-ups as well?" King Cameron was starting to become a little angry. "In that case, they're fortunate they've only been expelled from the Royal Cavalier Brigade. If I still had my temper from my younger days, I would've executed them on the spot!"

"It's understandable that our troops are getting frustrated. After all, we haven't had a single battle since we arrived at the front lines," Count Friar explained.

"An opportunity for battle will come tomorrow," King Cameron replied. "Also, why is it that our royal cavaliers are so ill-disciplined, yet I've never seen any problems arise among the soldiers of Burmen? Lazaar's troops have been here even longer than ours, so why hasn't the frustration gotten to them?"

"Your Majesty, you have to remember that it's been close to 20 years since our Royal Guard and Royal Cavalier Brigade have last gone into battle. During that time, the troops in the two military branches have already changed countless times, so they naturally can't compare with the troops that we're used to leading. Among our entire army, the only ones with any experience in real battles are a select few high-ranking military officials," Count Friar replied in a resigned manner.

"That's true. Standards can slip very easily, but it's very difficult to raise the standards again," King Cameron sighed. "However, that doesn't mean that we're just going to accept mediocrity. I don't have any plans to return from Burmen empty-handed this time."

"I'm no longer the young man I once was, but I'm still fit enough to ride into battle by your side, Your Majesty," Count Friar said with a smile.

"In the crucial moments, you're the only one I can count on," King Cameron said as he set aside the scroll in his hands, then placed a small sand table onto his desk.

"Come and take a look. This is the plan that I've just set out for the showdown tomorrow."

King Cameron's talk of planning and strategy didn't keep Count Friar's attention for very long. Instead, his attention was drawn to the sand table. As he inspected the sand table, he discovered that its frame was crafted from top-grade gold jade ore from Fooz, and it was occasionally giving off a subtle grey gleam. Among the royal and noble women of Sarus, gold jade ore was the most prized material for accessories. It was clear that this had to be a gift from Governor Jenkins. 

For him to be using such a precious material to craft for such a menial purpose, his penchant for opulence is truly unmatched, Count Friar thought to himself.

Of course, Governor Jenkins would be inclined to disagree. In his eyes, the king deserved the absolute best of everything, so it was only right that his personal sand table be crafted from such a precious material.

If Jenkins could see the plan unfolding on this sand table right now, I wonder if he'd be ecstatic, or if he would fall to his knees to beg His Majesty for mercy, Count Friar thought to himself in a derisive manner.

"What do you think?" King Cameron asked as he cast his gaze toward Count Friar.

"Seeing as you've already made up your mind, I would be happy to follow this plan, Your Majesty," Count Friar replied.

...

After emerging from the king's study, Count Friar returned straight to his own room on the second floor, where Professor Hawk was already waiting for him inside.

"Would you like some water?" Count Friar asked as he cast his gaze toward Professor Hawk while pouring a glass of water for himself.

Professor Hawk shook his head in response. 

"Did we make a mistake by giving him that book?" Professor Hawk suddenly asked as he looked out the window. "Wouldn't it have been much better for him to lead a stable and peaceful life?"

"These were his mother's wishes, and I'm sure she made this request for a reason," Count Friar replied as he set down the glass in his hand.

"That's true," Professor Hawk sighed. "I'm just worried that if something were to happen to the two of us tomorrow, there would be no one around to look after the child."

"He has to grow up eventually. No one can look after him his entire life."

"That may be correct, but I feel like he requires extra guidance and protection given how dangerous the branch of magic he's practicing is," Professor Hawk sighed.

Count Friar offered no response to this. Instead, he changed the subject as he said, "It's been a while since we've received any news about that mercenary legion of his. Ever since they passed Windmetal Fort, the department of military affairs hasn't received any reports about their whereabouts. I can only presume that they've traveled to the south coast."

"He hasn't gone to Xeto, has he? I heard that Xeto has been surrounded by the Skycourt Kingdom's mercenaries," Professor Hawk said in an alarmed voice.

"Reinforcements were already sent to Xeto a few days ago. The troops are led by Nandoon and Shreesan, both of whom are seasoned generals, so they should have no issues overcoming those Skycourt Kingdom mercenaries," Count Friar said.

"It's a good thing that he's not here," Professor Hawk said with a faint sigh of relief.

"Why? Do you also feel like the battle tomorrow is going to be an extremely perilous one?" Count Friar asked as he cast his gaze toward Professor Hawk.

"Do you feel the same way?" Professor Hawk was rather taken aback to hear this. Ever since his meeting with Faye the day before, he had been unable to get her parting words off his mind.

"I'm not sure how I feel. Perhaps I'm a little afraid because I haven't gone into battle for so many years," Count Friar replied with a shake of his head.

"Surely not. Back then, you were an extremely fierce warrior on the battlefield," Professor Hawk chuckled.

"Have you not heard of the concept of old age?" Count Friar asked as he turned to Professor Hawk with an amused smile.

Professor Hawk could only nod in response with a wry smile of his own.

"I'm actually quite curious. Has Erwin never suspected that the book was left behind by his mother?" Professor Hawk suddenly asked after a brief span of silence.

"I think he's most likely already at least somewhat made that realization. It's just that he likes to bottle everything up and doesn't like to open up to others. In fact, he's barely ever asked about his own mother."

"Why is that?" Professor Hawk couldn't help but ask.

"Why not? I never mentioned her to him, and he didn't seem inclined to ask," Count Friar replied with a justified expression.

Professor Hawk didn't speak any further on the matter.

Following Professor Hawk's departure, Count Friar sat down alone onto his sofa, staring absentmindedly at a pendant in his hand.

After a long while, he heaved a forlorn sigh. "You said you had no need for staves, so you removed the gemstone from your staff and made it into this pendant. I've worn this thing for many years already without having to use it. Hopefully, I won't have to use it this time, either."

Memories of his past began to resurface in his mind as he sat by himself. He thought back to the wilful woman who he had been enamored with in the past, and he suddenly discovered that his memories of the time he had spent with her and even her voice and appearance had begun to blur.

Memories were very interesting things. Even if one were to think back on the same memories every single day, they would still gradually fade over time.

...

At Mecer County on the coast of the Joffan Sea.

This was the area that was plundered the most by the Skycourt Kingdom's forces. The county was home to around a dozen citadels, all of which had been looted by the Skycourt Kingdom's mercenaries. What was even more infuriating was that after the mercenaries were driven away, they burned all of the major bridges in the county, and also destroyed many of the important roads.

At the moment, the royal cavaliers and the Four Winds mercenary legion were slowly repairing the damaged roads. On the way here, the mercenary legion's magicians had already erected three temporary bridges, so they had to be given a rest. Thankfully, Onean allowed everyone to rest for the entirety of the previous night out of the kindness of her heart, rather than force everyone to travel through the night. As a result, everyone had recovered sufficient energy to carry out the road repairs.

"We're traveling way too slowly. At this rate, we might not even get to the Marrod Plain by tomorrow morning," Kaiba said with a concerned look on his face.

"What's going on with you today? You're acting very strange," Erwin said as he turned to Kaiba with an amused expression. Among their group of four friends, Kaiba had always been the most calm and composed one, yet for some reason, he seemed to be very stressed today. On top of that, whenever there was work to be done, he always liked to slack off and try to avoid working as much as possible, but on this day, he was eagerly participating in the road repair works, much to Erwin's perplexity and amusement.

"We worked so hard to come all the way here. It would be nothing short of a tragedy if we get this far, only to miss the final showdown tomorrow," Kaiba explained, then rushed over to help the royal cavaliers with the road repairs again.

"I bet you're regretting not following the provincial road now, right? Even though we're not fighting them directly, those Skycourt Kingdom mercenaries are still finding a way to annoy us," Erwin chuckled as Onean approached him.

"If we travel without rest tonight, will we be able to get to the Marrod Plain by tomorrow morning?" Onean asked as she spread open the sheepskin map that she was holding.

"The problem is that we don't know how many of the roads and bridges up ahead have been destroyed. If it's all like this, then I doubt we'll be able to make it by tomorrow morning," Erwin replied.

"Those Skycourt Kingdom mercenaries better pray that they don't run into me again," Onean said as a murderous look flashed through her eyes.

Judging from her expression, Erwin felt it wise not to say anything for now.

"By the way, there was something that I was meaning to ask you. Why is it that I feel like you're not very concerned about the outcome of the war?" Onean asked as she looked carefully at Erwin. "Ever since we set off from Sarus, I haven't seen you display any interest in the situation on the front lines."

"How am I not concerned about the outcome of the war? You do know that my father is fighting on the front lines, right?" Erwin countered.

Onean nodded in an unconvinced manner, clearly still not satisfied with Erwin's answer.

The situation on the front lines is outside of my control, so what would be the use in worrying? Erwin thought to himself as he heaved an internal sigh.