Chapter 445: Attacks
Chapter 445: Attacks
Translator: TransN Editor: TransN
Cacusim arrived at the dock as the first rays of sunlight started to peep through the clouds.
Unlike the usual, the dock was packed with silent soldiers. They stood erect, with their sacks and long-barrelled guns on their backs, looking like a thick forest in a storm. Although the dock was crowded, everyone was moving in an organized manner. Watching the soldiers board the paddle steamer one by one, Cacusim was filled with an indescribable sense of power and strength.
He swallowed hard while thinking,
These are the soldiers trained by His Highness.
"How incredible!" The old man had traveled from Seawindshire to the Port of Clearwater as a youth. This distance was over half the Kingdom of Graycastle, and he had also led the commercial fleet to the Fjords and nearby islands. So, he had personally witnessed the arrogant demeanor of the armored knights, as well as the fierce demeanor of the barbarians who killed beasts bare-handed. To him, these soldiers were undeniable fighters that could exercise extreme power. However, he had not expected to feel that power once again, but while standing with the group of ordinary people he could feel it and it was stronger than ever.
"No doubt these are just ordinary people..." He thought. It had been about four months since Cacusim arrived at Border Town, and each day he understood the town a little better. He knew that the First Army consisted mostly of locals and that many of them were miners, hunters, furnace labors, and masons before they joined the army. Because of this, they had never received any professional combat training.
Nevertheless, in just a few months, these people had become as brave and disciplined as any knight. "What magic did his Highness use on them?"
"Are you... really going?" Cacusim heard Wade whisper from behind him. He could tell from his lowered voice, that he too was silenced by the presence of the army.
"Why did I apply for the captain position if I wasn't going?" Cacusim answered while taking a deep breath.
"But they are off to fight." Wade continued.
"They all offer their services to His Highness." The old man corrected. Without turning his head he added, "And so do I."
Following the momentary silence, Wade then implored, "Stay alive."
Cacusim waved in response.
...
Cacusim boarded the sixth paddle steamer as it arrived with the swirling snow. According to the tradition, a captain can name their own ship, and even though this boat belonged to His Highness, he was still allowed to decide its name.
Yet, he still had not made up his mind.
This was the second time he had assumed the position of captain since his retirement ten years ago. So, he wished to come up with a name dedicated to his memory.
"Captain, there you are!" As soon as Cacusim stepped into the cabin at the helm, the first mate came up to greet him. "We are now preheating the boiler, and I promise it will soon be ready to go"
The young man was called Pike and he was from the Southern Territory. He had a few years experience fishing on the sea. If he was a part of another fleet, he wouldn't even pass as a sailor but on this boat, everyone was a newbie.
"Everyone's here?"
"All are on board. You were the last one," Pike replied with a wink.
"If you don't know how to respect your captain, I'll be happy to teach you through a full day of deck cleaning."
"Yes, captain." The young man shouted, erecting himself immediately, "Of course I do!"