*If you enjoyed reading the Immortal General, please join the official discord: https://discord.gg/DdWKGegv7g

One week had passed since Arlan’s venture out into Galdo City. Duke Louis and Count Emile were informed of the exchange between Arlan and Ralph Pennington at the tavern. They both applauded Arlan for his response in defending JD, loyalty to the soldiers was important to the Reeves. A privilege of being in one of the most powerful houses.

A more powerful house could overrule the smaller houses, which had it’s pros and cons. If exercised right, it would keep the other houses in check. If wrongly used, it could lead to corruption and abuse of power.

For the last several days, Arlan had been training with the Duke and following lessons with his uncle. The young baron was able to improve his core from orange to yellow. A familiar voice announced that he advanced to level 6. Arlan figured there was some kind of correlation between his core and his “levels” but it seems like he was the only one aware of these levels. Arlan was starting to adjust to this cycle as he only had two months before he had to head to Lancel High Academy.

Another week had passed and Arlan was summoned to accompany the Duke. They were to remove the bandits in the Dolaga Fields. The young baron donned full steel armor. In the courtyard, Arlan was introduced to his dark stygian by his father. The Duke said to Arlan, “He’ll respond to your essence that you channel. Dark stygians are not easy creatures to tame. But with your abilities, you’re already more powerful than the average knight. Give it a name. He’s yours.”

Arlan leaned in and whispered into its ear as he channeled his essence. He named his new partner, Kage. Arlan could feel Kage responding to his essence welcoming Arlan to climb on the saddle. As the young baron mounted the horse, the servants, guards, and other knights were greatly impressed at the feat.

As the gate of Highmane opened for the morning, Duke Louis and his son left the city while accompanied by a hundred Heracul Knights. They rode out west for a few hours and stopped at a small creek. The area was a vast grassy plain with a handful of trees. A clear blue sky blessed them on their journey. The sight would’ve been more enjoyable if it weren’t for the promise of violence to come.

Arlan led Kage to the river to drink water as the rest of the knights were doing. Arlan joined the Duke as he was sitting on a nearby log overwatching the creek. “My boy, you amaze me by the day. You can now ride a dark stygian. You’re the youngest rider I’ve seen.” exclaimed the Duke proudly.

“I hope I can continue living up to your expectations.” replied Arlan.

“The bandits we’re after, have a hideout nearby that borders the Dolaga Fields. We’re close. I know your abilities are far greater than even some of my knights. The way you killed the goblins when we met, I know that you’ve taken lives before that day. Something tells me that there’s more to you than I know. So I brought you along to fight the bandits as well.”

“I will fulfill my duty as a Reeve. But I have one request, I wish to lead my own small banner.”

“Twenty Heracul Knights will be assigned to you from my banner. They will form your detachment. I was going to assign a few as a personal guard but I can see the fire in you. You’ll assist on the flank of the battle formation. I’ll send them to you before we head out.” responded the Duke as he patted Arlan on the head. The son saluted his father with respect and left for his steed.

Arlan returned to Kage and mounted his steed. The young baron turned around to see twenty knights awaiting him. When Arlan was back on Terra as Rove, meeting new soldiers or being assigned to lead entirely new units was normal.

“Our lives are yours to command!”

The Warband continued its journey with Arlan and his twenty knights on the right flank in a column formation. They rode for another hour before they spotted smoke in the distance. The smoke was too dark and too heavy for campfires.

Duke Louis Reeve sent a few knights to scout the smoke. These knights were veterans in all manners related to war, even reconnaissance. After ten minutes, a scout returned and kneeled before the Duke.

“My liege, not a single bandit remained. Their bodies have been ravaged. We found traces of orc prints and weapons. An orc war party must’ve raided the bandits.”

“I see. Return to your unit.” replied the Duke with a puzzled look. Arlan overheard the report and rode up to the Duke to inquire about the strange report.

“Father, your orders?” asked the young baron.

“We will ride out in search of the orcs. We need to find out how many have come to Dolaga Fields. Whoever spots them first, will fire an illumination spell into the air.” ordered the Duke confidently.

The hundred strong war party split into four groups. The Duke led the main group of forty Heracul Knights to search further west. Arlan’s troop was tasked with heading north. Another twenty knights led by a senior Heracul Knight headed south to search the meadows. The remaining twenty held their ground as a reserve to assist in the event of an ambush.

Arlan began by leading his knights north through meadows and patches of trees. All of the knights under his command were veterans of multiple wars. They showed no signs of weakness or cowardice. This gave Arlan a confident feeling that they would not falter at the first sign of battle.

Any soldier who's a virgin to battle may freeze at the start. This was extremely dangerous to that soldier and his troop. Soldiers rely on each other to cover their responsibilities and sectors. Without this sense of duty to their brethren, that unit is at risk of falling apart.

Arlan was also quite impressed that these knights dare not question that they were being led by a fourteen-year-old. The Duke’s commands were absolute, they were to obey Arlan in battle. To attribute to this confidence from his unit, every Heracul Knight has heard of the young baron’s ruthlessness against the goblins when he first met the Duke. He was no ordinary fourteen-year-old. He was a soldier in his past life and now he’s a Reeve. His subordinates understood that quite well.

The twenty knights and the noble rounded a path revealing a meadow. Arlan’s eyes immediately widened at what was in the green clearing. A merchant’s caravan of ten wagons was under attack by at least fifty orcs. There were at least a hundred elves but only half of them were alive.

Orcs were at least a foot taller than most humans. They were muscular, spoke their own dialect, wore janky armor, and wielded heavy weapons. Orcs were powerful with essence but could control little mana. Some orcs were gifted with vast control of mana and were tribal seers. But these kinds of orcs were rare. This raiding party in particular did not seem equipped well enough to be considered from the Rhota Tribe. They were likely a nomadic bandit tribe.

The survivors were trying to regroup on the west side of Arlan as his group was on the southside. The caravan was still at least a good two hundred meters away. The east end of the caravan was where the orc raiders attacked from.

“Knight Jocko, send the signal to the others. Knights, prepare for battle!” ordered Arlan as he drew his mithril sword. Jocko was the appointed knight who was to signal his illumination spell. Arlan had gone over contingencies and formations prior to moving out. This allowed Arlan faster response and movements instead of having to plan on the go.

Arlan needed to act fast to save as many elves as he could. But charging in without a plan could end in his own death or others. One of the contingencies Arlan went over with his unit capabilities. While they were among the best, they could only each fight two orcs at a time. Three orcs could easily kill a Heracul Knight.

I just need to stall long enough for reinforcements. The reserves should be here in seven minutes but the rest should be here in around fifteen minutes. Alright, this is doable.