Scenario:The Art of Mercy - Chapter 6: Fight to the Death - Episode 2
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The Art of Mercy - Chapter 6: Fight to the Death - Episode 2
With both sides suffering losses, the battle between Erdeni and Zilantos reaches a stalemate. Altair and the others hear of Luhua's coup d'etat. Seeing this as the perfect opportunity, the Silver Strategist instructs the others to ready themselves for a final battle.
The Nuph Moors grow strangely silent as the battle comes to a stalemate.
The Zilantos troops ceased their attacks all of a sudden and switched to a defensive position.
It is plain to see that the enemy is stalling for time, although the reason is unclear to the Erdeni soldiers.
Erdeni decides to stay on the offensive while a number of their soldiers head back to the headquarters to recuperate.
Shura: ...
Shura: Sigh... O-oh, yes... I'm fine. I'm not hurt.
Shura: ...!
I'm sorry, I was just lost in thought...
I'm sorry, I was just lost in thought...
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Vyrn: You sure you're okay? We kept callin' your name, but you didn't seem to hear us.
Shura: My apologies. I shouldn't be spacing out when we still have the last spurt of this battle to get through.
The deaths of Polaris and Zawra have cast a shadow over the Erdeni troops, including Shura.
Tired and frustrated at their situation, Shura looks out at the huddled soldiers.
Shura: Can we really... win this battle?
Seeing the others' pained expressions and realizing what she has just said, Shura gasps and lowers her head in apology.
Shura: F-forgive me! I said something that a military strategist should never be allowed to say...
Vyrn: Well... I don't blame ya for thinkin' that after everything that's happened...
Altair: I heard that. A strategist grumbling on the battlefield is absolutely preposterous.
Shura: Altair!
Altair: I understand wanting to take the time to lament the deaths of Polaris and Zawra. However, the war is not over yet.
Altair: How do you expect to lead an army when your heart is weak?
Shura: I have no excuse. I realize that I simply do not have enough willpower, intellect, or experience...
Shura: Sometimes, I wonder whether I am really fit to be a military strategist...
Shura: Was my judgment correct? Were my orders appropriate?
Shura: I always lack confidence in my own judgment...
Shura folds her arms tightly over her chest, her expression pained as if on the verge of tears.
Altair: It is only natural to feel that way. That is true for me as well—I am always doubting my own decisions.
Shura: Huh?
Altair: The title of strategist is simply a role and duty. When it comes to making a decision for someone else, mistakes are inevitable.
Altair: Still, it is our job to use whatever means necessary and apply our knowledge and wisdom to direct others down the path that we see as the most appropriate.
Altair: To do your best and let nature take its course—this is much easier said than done.
Altair: There were times when I was not patient enough to wait, and resorted to praying instead.
Shura: There were?
At Shura's disbelieving tone, Altair turns his head to look at the white wings on his back, his expression softening.
Altair: For example... these wings began as a superstition.
The first war Altair experienced had been one so hopeless that there was no chance for Altair's side to win without anything short of a miracle.
Altair: At the time, I remembered something from an old book that I had read before.
Altair: The archangels who governed the four elements in these skies...
Altair: Perhaps with their divine protection, I could turn the situation around.
Altair: That is what I thought to myself when I donned these archangel-like wings, in hopes of drawing on their power by doing so.
(Captain) and the others widen their eyes at this unexpected insight into their silver-haired friend.
Altair: Back then, I, too, was young and inexperienced.
Shura: Did... a miracle happen in that battle?
Despite Shura's hopeful tone, Altair shakes his head almost immediately.
Altair: Miracles do not happen no matter how much you pray, and they are certainly not something that strategists should hope for.
Shura: Then your first battle...
Altair: We won. Pushed to our very limits in our desperate situation, we shed blood and tears to come up with a plan that led us to victory.
Vyrn: So much for a miracle...
Altair: Exactly. A miracle is not something that happens when you want it to.
Altair: The moment you pray for a miracle, you lose your worth as a strategist. That is what I learned in my very first battle.
Altair: I put on these wings even now to remind myself of what I learned from that battle.
Vyrn: Wow, and here I was thinkin' you just had 'em on for fashion or something...
Altair: Well, it has become rather like a trademark for me now.
Altair gives a small shrug before turning back to Shura.
Altair: Shura. You must believe in yourself.
Altair: If you believe in yourself and use all the means available to you, even if miracles and angels fail to appear, you will find a way.
Altair: Learning, sympathy, faith, prayer... Taking these and paving a way to victory is the job of a strategist.
Shura: Believe in... myself.
Shura reflects on Altair's firm yet kind words. Her nails dig into her arms as she hugs herself tighter.
Shura: Polaris told me time and time again as well... that I should have more confidence in myself.
Drawing strength from her lost friend's words, Shura lifts her gaze and fixes it on the path ahead of them.
Despite reaching a stalemate, the Erdeni troops wait for their next opportunity as they continue moving in on the enemy.
Hearing about the situation from a messenger, Leonis and Lyria join them at the headquarters to give their support as well.
It is then that another messenger arrives with more unexpected news.
Erdeni Messenger: We have a report from our intelligence unit regarding their investigation of the Zilantos capital.
Erdeni Messenger: It appears Luhua has started a coup d'etat and killed both the king and the strategist Vitali.
Leonis: Luhua... I guess some things will never change.
Shura: The lack of activity among the Zilantos troops must be because of this as well.
Lyria: Th-then... what's going to happen with this war?
Erdeni Messenger: With the sudden death of their king, the anti-monarchy faction took advantage of the situation and started a riot.
Erdeni Messenger: With the possible outbreak of a civil conflict, it is likely that Zilantos is no longer in a position to be at war with Erdeni.
Altair: But the Zilantos army present in the Nuph Moors has not made any moves to retreat.
Altair: The revolution is another reason for them to hold onto an important asset like Zaha.
Altair: However, they do not have enough people to make an aggressive attack on Erdeni from their end.
Altair: Not to mention, the commander of their troops is Luhua himself.
Altair: Under these circumstances, the best they can do is to maintain the current situation.
An understanding dawns on (Captain) and the others upon hearing Altair's interpretation of the situation.
Shura: That means the likelihood of Zilantos support troops coming in is fairly low.
Leonis: In other words... this is the perfect opportunity for us.
Altair: An opportunity that we cannot afford to miss. Even if the enemy predicts our movements, there will be nothing they can do about it.
The others nod, an excitement growing inside them. Altair raises his voice.
Altair: We will leave immediately. All of our troops will come together to make one final advance.
Altair: The war is at its final stage. Begin the preparations and don't let your guard down.
At Altair's command, the army flies into a commotion as they prepare for their last showdown against Zilantos.
As Leonis is busy ensuring the soldiers are ready for battle, Altair quietly pulls him aside.
Leonis: What's the matter? Is something bothering you?
Altair: Yes, just one thing. I would like to hear your thoughts not as the king of Erdeni, but as an individual.
Leonis: The fact that you're choosing to ask this now... must mean that it's not simply a personal matter.
At last, the Erdeni army is ready to face battle once again and makes its departure.
Pushing back the tall grasses as they march, the troops steadily move toward the Zilantos headquarters.
They soon receive notice that a single enemy unit is heading toward them.
The enemy unit is led by none other than Renfa, Shura's sister and Luhua's only ally.
Shura: Altair. Will you let my unit take care of this?
Altair: I was expecting you to ask...
Altair: Do you remember what I told you earlier, Shura?
Shura: Yes. Still, this is my responsibility. If my sister is to fall, I would like it to be by my hand.
Hearing the conviction behind Shura's words, Altair sighs softly before nodding at her.
Altair: All right. However, you must not kill her. I need you to capture her and bring her back alive.
Altair: She is Luhua's sole weakness and, most likely, his only attachment to reason now.
Altair: If she dies, it is difficult to predict what kind of actions Luhua will take as a last resort.
Altair: On the other hand, if she stays alive, we will be able to use her as a trump card if the situation calls for it.
Shura: Understood...
A vortex of emotions churning inside her, Shura closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, steadying herself.
She opens them again and breaks into a run, not a trace of doubt in her rhythmic steps.