Descending Into A Novel-Chapter 81:Rayleigh Von Mez (11)

The two of them continued this charade over the next few weeks.

By day, the two were mortal enemies. Unable to properly kill or harm the other.

By night, the two would frequently sneak out. Going on dates at some of the most popular destinations on Erde.

Rayleigh could feel a comforting weight resting on his shoulder, their fingers intertwined together. The occasional soft winds blowing a few strands of her silky golden hair into his face. A pleasant smell filling his nostrils.

The two leaned even closer into each other, despite their eyes being on the full moon—their attention was completely on the other.

"...This can’t go on for much longer."

Rayleigh broke the silence between them. Only for her to put a finger to his lips.

"I know."

He turned to face her, a complicated expression on both of their faces.

"I don’t want this to end."

"Me neither."

Rayleigh clenched his fist.

The Virex Empire had made astounding progress in the war. Despite the war not even being two years old, the vampires and beastkin in the north were on their last straws—still actively resisting. But their defeat was clear for anyone to see. The dwarves in the south had already started negotiations, they too were badly losing.

Despite the several races forming a coalition to resist humanity’s invasion. It was futile, they were too spread out, weak against the overwhelming force that was the Virex Empire.

Only the elves in the east, and the merfolk were still in decent condition. But with the inevitable fall of the others, they too would soon follow. If not now, then in another decade.

"They’re getting suspicious."

"I know."

He didn’t want this. He hated it. This war was so pointless. So useless. So worthless.

Why? Why?!

Because of Rayleigh’s position. Rayleigh was privy to many matters about the war, how it was currently going, the logistics and most importantly.

The casualties.

There was already a confirmed death count of 58 million, this was only human soldiers. Not even including civilian deaths or other races.

What a waste. So many deaths all for nothing. Innocent, guilty, he didn’t care anymore. He just wanted this war to end already. Even if his only escape was through his death.

But he knew it wouldn’t end. Not until his father had conquered every last inch of land, even if he did. He would simply set his sights on the other continents.

At least Anna was safe, the beastkin settlements in hiding were safe as well. The emperor had kept his word. So Rayleigh couldn’t renege on his.

Sophia tightened their intertwined hands. Bringing him back to reality.

"Rayleigh."

"I...I don’t want this war. I-I-I

He choked on his own words, unable to even form a proper sentence. He felt sick, nauseated. He couldn’t sleep properly these past few years. His head constantly hurt, he felt tired. So damn tired, all the time.

"Rayleigh, look at me."

He lifted his head slightly, only making eye contact with Sophia for a moment before she pulled him towards her.

Unexpectedly, he found himself buried in her shoulder. Her arms wrapped around him in a hug. Her pulse was so clear to him, her floral scent invading his nostrils.

Quietly pulling away slightly, he too did the same thing. Causing her to release a small squeal of surprise.

He called out her name, not before she put her finger to his lips again.

"Sophia..."

"Shhh. Let’s just enjoy tonight."

He let out a small, shaky breath. Some of the tension that had built up in him releasing as he allowed himself to relax. Finding comfort in her presence.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

***

Rayleigh sat up from his bed in his tent, casting a spell to clean himself as he did so.

Exiting the tent, he saw that the usual bustling camp was unusually quiet. A few hushed whispers as the soldiers paced back and forth from their positions.

He frowned, was there a change made by the commander which he was unaware of?

There shouldn’t be, Rayleigh never attended the meetings. But he was quite aware of what went down in those meetings.

Constant pleads and shouts with the commander, followed by firm refusals as he incessantly demanded the troops to follow his orders.

Orders that only got thousands more killed.

He was completely unfit to be a commander, he didn’t listen to the soldiers under him, he never took into account several factors, even the soldiers themselves were losing faith in him. The only thing he had going for him, was his birthright as a noble.

Rayleigh sometimes overheard, his high level caused him to be much stronger and have better senses then the average man. Included with his race as a perfect human, despite the fact he was a mage. He could hear just fine if he wanted to.

He quietly adjusted his senses, enhancing his hearing towards where the source of the current sounds were. Pausing once he did so.

"-tings your Imperial Majesty!"

There was only one person in the empire who was referred to by that title.

The emperor. Rayleigh’s father.

His gaze hardened, but he continued making his way towards him nonetheless. As the high level power located here, he would have to answer to why the situation here had stalled so much.

As he walked, a crowd of soldiers appeared before him. Moving out of his way once they noticed him pushing through.

Entering the clearing, he found his father. Seated upon a warhorse, the golden crown and red cape giving him a regal, dominating aura. A long spear slung across his back. In his right hand, a longsword. Blood still dripping onto the ground from its tip.

He could feel his own hatred and rage for his father flare up again, the time spent in his tower had caused it to quietly go dormant. But seeing his father for the first time in centuries had brought it back alive more then ever before.

Rayleigh could see a headless body, kneeling on the ground before him. The corpse a familiar sight to him.

Seems like the noble finally received karma. Knowing his father however, he likely only did such a thing to raise morale within the troops.

"I greet his Imperial Majesty."

He knelt down on one knee, greeting his father. Who only gave a small hum in acknowledgement.

"Why has this battlefront stalled for so long?"

"The average level of the elven soldiers is significantly higher then ours. Their warriors, mages all outrank our own by nearly two levels. Three to four if certain elites step in. Our soldiers can’t keep up."

The average level of a human soldier was only the first tempering, or first circle (for the rare few human mages.) In contrast, the average level of their elven counterparts was often at the third tempering.

The human army could only keep up by throwing more and more men to the point the elven battlefront was often called the meat mortar. Due to the fact that most bodies couldn’t even be recovered. Damaged to the point it resembled meat in a mortar and pestle.

This war of attrition was taking its toll on both sides. Morale was low on the human side, most soldiers not even surviving to make it to their second battle. While the elves were unable to replenish soldiers as fast.

The elves strength came from their accumulation. With their long lives, and lots of time. They had gathered an army strong enough to match the Virex Empire’s Army.

Not that the Virex Empire’s strength came from its soldiers. It’s main strength lay in its high level powers. Rayleigh, the countless knights and most crucially, his father.

Currently, his father was one of only three humans who had reached the fifteenth tempering. Right now, there was only one other individual alive who could match him.

Right now however, his father was still only around 650 something. He was still in his peak, if not near peak condition.

In contrast, the elven queen who was his equal. Was over 2000 years old. She may have been stronger, but age had worn her down. Even now, she had seldom shown her face except for occasionally appearing to block him.

In other words, unless a new figure managed to reach the same level. The war was essentially won for humanity. The emperor could simply visit each battlefront in turns and conquer there before moving on to the next.

"Where are the squires? The knights? Why have they not come forward to restrain them?"

"Whenever the squires or knights intervene, the elites on the elven side also step in. Right now, they can only serve to stall the enemy’s middle level power."

His father’s face remained unchanged throughout the whole exchange. Causing Rayleigh to scoff internally.

What was the point of asking him? The emperor definitely already knew such a thing. He just needed to put on a show for the soldiers.

Rayleigh hated his father, but even he had to admit. His father was amazing when it came to leadership. Even now, most citizens of the empire still saw him as a savior and hero. Leading them on their destiny to conquer the continent.

"What is the current headcount that can still fight?"

"Currently, we have 648,500 soldiers who are in good condition. 620,000 of which are at the first tempering. 27,000 at the second tempering. 1200 at the third and the rest are at the fourth tempering. "

"21 squires currently at the fifth tempering, 12 knights at the sixth. Finally, we have a mage battalion of 401. Largely consisting of white magic mages."

There was also an extra thirty something thousand members of the army located here. However, they were mainly for logistics and had little to no fighting capability.

Upon hearing the numbers Rayleigh listed. His father simply nodded. Sheathing his longsword back after flicking the blood off of it.

"That is enough. We shall set foot at dawn tomorrow. I will lead."

Rayleigh could hear the shouts of thousands and thousands of men and women around him. Excited at the thought of the situation finally turning in their favor. But right now, his head was filled with only one thought.

He had to get this information to Sophia.