Black History (3)
The final exam proceeded without a hitch. Each team moved in what could only be called textbook fashion. First, they scouted the surroundings to fill in their maps, then secured supplies from the nearest occupied outpost to the main force.
With supplies in hand, they made full preparations and began their assault on the castle. It was exactly two days into the exam.
"Whew, retreat! Fall back!"
"Give up the castle and run! We can't win like this!"
And the first team to seize the castle was Kara's. Balance-wise, the teams were roughly even—but only roughly. Kara's side held the clear advantage.
It was partly because Sivar was treated like their ultimate weapon and strategic nuke, but if you broke it down, Kara herself was no slouch. She'd fought on the front lines alongside Hector during the Tatar tribal unification wars, boasting combat experience that rivaled any veteran.
Even in the world's premier academy, where talents gathered from every corner, the first-years were still green. They lacked both strategy and tactics—not to mention the execution to pull them off properly, no matter how well-laid the plans.
Kara exploited that weakness to the hilt.
"They're definitely holding the castle's role properly. Station archers here and bring up some water."
"Water for what?"
"To pour on anyone who tries climbing up later. I'd love to dump boiling water on them, but we can't, right?"
Even after capturing the castle, Kara's command remained steady and methodical. Antonio didn't even need to draw up separate plans. The students followed her orders without complaint, utterly captivated by the raw power she'd just demonstrated. And with her overwhelming charisma on top, no one dared raise an objection.
Thanks to that, things were proceeding relatively smoothly.
"Three people on the walls for watch should be enough... We need to set up rotating shifts right away."
"Not just the castle—the outposts behind us need watches too. We're short-staffed as hell."
"Ugh, this is why defending isn't always advantageous."
The castle was middling in size—too substantial for a mere barricade, yet not quite grand enough to call a proper fortress. It offered a huge edge on its own, but manpower was the issue. They essentially had to guard two sites, which spelled trouble.
"In about three days, everyone'll be exhausted and collapsing. Combat effectiveness drops naturally from there."
"No way around it?"
"Sleep in the mornings. We have to hole up in the castle no matter what."
With manpower so thin, castle-holding teams could only focus on the fortress itself. Their options were severely limited. Sleep was non-negotiable for humans—no desire could override it.
Kara knew that better than anyone, having once nearly died from sleep deprivation. Enemies charging with spears and swords all around, fighting off drowsiness—Hector had saved her hide back then.
'And they'll definitely come looking for Sivar.'
With the castle lost, the enemy had few moves left: hunt siege weapons or track down Sivar. Obvious strategies, but the problem was stopping them even knowing it. Manpower shortage again.
Chasing Sivar here risked a devastating ambush. The castle wasn't the only worry—the supply outposts demanded attention too.
'Hold the castle perfectly, but no supplies? Pointless. At least we have the communicator...'
Kara pulled a small orb from her pocket. A communicator from the supply outpost. In any war, intel was king—you needed to know what happened to plan ahead.
In ancient times, without communicators, they relied on messengers, which took forever. Tatar had done the same before becoming a nation.
Zzt-crackle—
Right as she took out the orb, a call came in. Kara pressed it to her ear the moment she heard the sound.
Communicators were a recent invention from Santia, still rough around the edges. But it worked. Kara focused on the voice from the other end.
[Uh... uh, can you hear me?]
"Yeah. Loud and clear."
[Enemy scouting parties are on the move. Two teams of four each.]
They were finally making a move. Probably scouting for siege weapons and Sivar's position. Time for Kara's side to act.
She nodded and relayed everything to Antonio.
"Two options. Hunker down and bolster defenses, or send out our own scouts."
"First one's safest, but pointless with Sivar coming. We send scouts too."
"But finding Sivar's a problem. What do we offer him? We've got nothing tempting."
"Haa. Exactly."
Kara sighed. Antonio was right—they had zilch to lure Sivar with. Gloria had advised not to give up before, but faced with reality, nothing fit. Using familiarity felt off too.
Kara had no clue what stake to put up.
'...Gotta go full Ellie on him?'
That was the only thing that came to mind. Luna's dumb comment kept echoing. Sivar would love it, but the rumors afterward? His to bear.
'I don't care. Sivar would.'
She didn't mind rumors about herself. Already branded a barbarian—what worse could come? But Sivar? Rumors swirled around him already; this would add fuel. He might not care, but weird looks were guaranteed. Especially since maternal love tied deep to sex—prejudices could form.
'No, wait. He saved Grace—might change things?'
Her head already ached. What condition to offer? But dithering was pointless. Action first.
They needed siege weapons gathered and Sivar's location pinpointed, like the enemy.
"Where's paper and pen? Need to draft a contract."
"Conditions set? FYI, food supplies mean taking their outpost too."
"If Sivar joins, easy. Hand over their whole outpost."
"Ah, right. Got it."
It all circled back to Sivar. Kara took paper and pen from Antonio and wrote up the contract: basics first, key terms last. Left the condition slot blank.
'Decide based on their offer.'
She'd have to go herself. Left enemy scouts to their shadows, planned to move solo. Castle could hold without her; stealthy movement avoided tails.
'Camel would be nice.'
She lamented the lack of transport while prepping. Other nations used horses; Tatar, camels for deserts. Higher years got mounts, so endure for now.
"Hold the defense. Back before sunset."
"Got it. Spot any siege gear on the way, let us know—we'll fetch it."
With that, Kara stepped out. Planned to circle the outskirts slowly. Malboro had hinted better weapons farther out—Sivar likely there too.
"Hm..."
How long had she walked? Kara paused, glancing back. Nothing there, but she knew: someone tailing her.
She had a guess who, but ignored it. Strike when they slipped later.
'If they have the map, perfect.'
Whatever their play, securing Sivar ended it. Heading outward slowly, something caught her eye.
'Why's there a forest?'
A forest—dense one. Entrance might be natural, but it screamed hidden. Before it: barren rocky plain. Suspicious as hell.
'No way he's here. Right?'
As suspicion hit—
[Gonna run~]
A weird noise(?) echoed from the forest. Someone shouting loud.
Kara flinched, then tilted her head. Eerily familiar voice—but jubilant, like singing.
'Sivar singing? Nah, no way.'
Doubting inwardly, she entered. Voice grew louder the deeper she went. Following it led to a bizarre sight.
"Your eyes—I'm falling right in~"
"..."
"Hug me tight. So I can feel all of you."
Sivar. Sivar was dancing and singing.
In an unbelievable scene, Kara rubbed her eyes, rubbed again. Even checked her ears. Undeniable: Sivar prancing there.
Headphones on, knife in one hand, wood block in the other—carving to kill time, apparently.
'...And it's not even the common tongue?'
While Kara gaped, Sivar hummed away. The wood now resembled a weapon—Ragnarok, from the look.
"Come closer to me~"
"..."
Too awkward to approach. As Kara debated—
"I was like... uh..."
Sivar turned—eyes met. Heavy silence crashed down.
Had it ever been this awkward? Like getting caught in a solo hobby.
Even Sivar froze stiff, unprepared.
"Puhahaha!"
Laughter from somewhere. Tail probably saw too. Sounded familiar—whatever. Priority: defuse.
"...Ahem."
Kara cleared her throat, eyeing petrified Sivar. She was embarrassed too, but had to speak.
"That... song was good? Who taught you?"
Aim: break ice. Backfired.
"..."
Shff—shff—
Sivar shuffled backward—knees forward, body reversed. Looked like a new foot technique.
Backing to his shelter, he... click— timidly shut the door.
'...Cute.'
Kara smirked.
Fuck.
Don't rise. I'm gonna cry.
Stop, please!!
"Aaaargh!!"