The plan against the first group was simple but effective. Aria would cast a powerful spell that would force the enemies to spread out, attempting to reduce their numbers in the process. Lord Kadian would go to the front to exterminate as many people as possible, while I would stay in the middle to protect my wife from those who would try to go after her. 

"But my Lord, there's something I don't understand. Will we have enough time to finish them before the Semi-God ranks arrive?" I asked, doubtful of Lord Kadian's plan. 

"No, that's why our job is to take down the strongest of the first group, to leave Aria to finish off the rest." He said, looking at my wife. "While the two of us will fight the three Semi-God ranks here." He said, pointing to a part of the map.

"Alright…" I nodded, another doubt in my mind upon hearing his words. "Then, for the second group, the strategy will be as follows. Kurt, in the middle of the battle, you'll take one of them to a distant place, so that I can fight the other two alone."

Damn it! I feared he'd ask me something like that. "It will be necessary if we want to win, because if we both fight them together, I won't be able to protect you properly, and if you die, I will die too." He said, looking me in the eyes.

"But my Lord, me fighting one of them alone would be…" I said nervously at the mere thought of fighting such an enemy.

"Don't worry, Kurt, I'm not asking you to win the fight, I'm just asking you to hold out until I finish killing the other two and come to support you." He said, placing his hand on my shoulder.

"Alright, Lord Kadian, I will hold off one of them until you finish your fight." I said after a couple of seconds in silence.

"Good, then, by the time that happens, Aria will already be done, so, assuming I'm very tired or maybe injured, she'll support us from a distance."

What? He wants Aria to join that fight? I thought, worried. If she comes, she'll be in great dange— "Don't worry about me, Kurt, seriously, I've improved a lot since the last time you saw me fight, it won't be a problem for me to come support you." She said upon seeing my face full of doubt.

"But even if you say that, if you go… all this will be very dangerous for you!" I said, letting my final words come out louder than I wanted. "I'm sorry, Kurt and Aria, because of me, you'll have to go through all of this..." Said Lady Irisha, looking down, ashamed of the whole situation.

Sh*t! I cursed inside upon seeing how her expression changed to one of sadness.

"It's not your fault, Lady Irisha, our family is here to serve you under any circumstance, even if it leads to our death." My wife responded with a smile.

"Yes, I know… thank you both very much for all your help." She said, returning the smile to my wife.

— COUGH—

Lord Kadian coughed, bringing us back to the conversation. "If there's nothing else to clarify, we leave in 10 minutes. By the way, it would be good if you spoke with your daughter." Said Lord Kadian, rolling up and storing the map.

He's right, it's best to talk to her, after all, we might not see her again. I thought, being realistic in this difficult situation.

After a final bow, I left the tent with my wife. "Love, I want to talk to her first." I said outside the tent. "I understand, in that case I'll check if we're missing anything." Said Aria as she returned to our tent.

After looking for Zoe for a minute, I found her sitting near the Helkar Family's dragons. Seeing her from afar, I noticed she was sad and thoughtful, moving the sand side to side with her finger while staring down at the ground.

"Are you okay, daughter?" I said being a few meters away from her. Upon hearing my voice, she turned for an instant before returning to her previous position.

"You know I'm not." She responded in a very dull voice. "Listen, daughter, I know you don't like the idea of being hunted, but you have to understand tha—"

"If we were only being hunted and no one got hurt, everything would be fine!" She said quickly as tears started to flood her face. "But… but now Mom and you could die."

Zoe… I thought as I looked at her face full of helplessness. She, realizing I wouldn't say anything, looked to the side to wipe her tears while calming her breath.

"Father," She said firmly after a while. "I want to go with yo—" "No." I replied immediately, cutting off any chance she had of finishing that sentence.

"I know I won't be of muc—" "No." "But Father! I wan—" "No!"

The idea of my daughter being in a near-suicidal mission was something I absolutely wouldn't allow to happen.

Damn it! I can't let her go… I thought, searching for an excuse.

"Listen, daughter." I said, kneeling down. "Promise me that no matter what happens, you won't follow us. Today will be Lady Irisha's labor and if we don't make it back in time from the battle, you'll have to help her with the delivery."

"But Dad…" "If you want to help us in some way, do what I ask, you'll see that everything will turn out fine." I said, giving her a warm hug.

"...I understand." She replied with disappointment and frustration in her voice.

It bothers me a little to lie to her, but it's for the best. Although what I told her may actually come true, and if it does, there won't be a problem either way. After all, Aria educated her for a situation like Lady Irisha's.

"Daughter," I said, caressing her head. "You don't have to be anxious about your mother's and my wellbeing, I swear on my life that I will do everything I can so that we both make it out alive from that battle."

Zoe, upon hearing my words, turned her face to look at me again. "Do you really mean it?" She asked hopefully.

"That's right, my beloved daughter, and on top of that I promise you that in five years, everything will be as it was before." I replied with a smile on my face. "Alright Dad, if that's the case, good luck out there!"

Her expression is starting to change, that makes me happy. I thought, feeling calmer. But even so, from her tone of voice and expression, it was clear she still had doubts.

As we parted, I started to feel Aria approaching, bringing my thoughts back to the battle.

"Here comes your mother, so please talk to her as well." I said before Zoe nodded with a smile.

Then, I smiled at my wife to let her know everything had gone well with our daughter, helping her relax. I'd better go to Lord Kadian to see if I can help him with anything.

After a few minutes, we both went out ready, and when I went to call my wife, I found her giving a kiss on the forehead to our daughter.

Upon seeing me, she spoke a bit more with Zoe and both quickly came to meet me.

"Good luck!" Zoe finally shouted to say goodbye as the three of us moved further and further away from the camp.

I hope this was the best decision I could've made. I thought nervously, as I felt our enemies in the distance.