The Ash Plains were restless under the pale dawn, the tall grasses trembling in the western wind. Scouts returned with hurried reports: Pyronis had advanced farther than expected, their banners and siege engines spreading across the horizon like molten fire crawling across stone.
Bao Bao stood atop a rise overlooking the plains, Lyrin Thorne at his side, the map laid across a flat rock. Generals of Firelonia clustered around, each commanding their independent divisions. Golden, Silver, and Bronze armies had taken their assigned positions, while the Terragon Legion and Ironclad Vanguard readied defensive lines on the flanks. Veylara's archers were already hidden among ridges, their movements precise, their tension palpable.
"Pyronis is testing our western passes," Bao Bao said, pointing to smoke rising in thin columns on the horizon. "Small squads, but enough to probe for weak points. They want to see our coordination."
Veylara's voice was firm, carrying across the generals. "No gaps. Archers on the ridges, cavalry in reserve behind the southern hill, and patrols out front. Any incursion, no matter how small, will be noticed and countered."
Lyrin added, "Reports indicate their main corps will advance at midday. They're timing this so that their scouts clash first. If we react too strongly, it may signal our lines are divided. We must feign restraint until the moment we strike decisively."
Bao Bao's glowing hands hovered over the map. "Generals, listen carefully. We hold the passes and protect the plains. If Pyronis presses too hard, coordinate with neighboring divisions before committing fully. Trust in each other, and trust in the kingdom's defense."
From the palace terrace above, Saku clutched Naelith's hand, his wide eyes tracing the activity below. "Father is… controlling all of them?" he whispered.
Naelith nodded, her gaze steady on the plains. "Yes, Saku. Every general, every soldier, every order flows through him. Bao Bao sees the battlefield as a whole, and every move is part of a larger plan. Watch carefully—you will learn more than by fighting yourself."
The first clash came as a ripple of dust and flame. Pyronis scouts moved quickly toward the western ridges, testing Firelonia's archers and cavalry. Veylara's arrows sang through the air, striking with precision. Cavalry countered small flanking parties, and smoke from the horizon marked Pyronis soldiers falling back, assessing their enemy.
Bao Bao remained on the rise, speaking quietly to Lytin. "Let them probe. Every move tells us their strategy, their strength, their weaknesses."
Lyrin nodded. "They underestimate the smaller divisions—they'll think we rely only on the Golden, Silver, and Bronze armies. That will be their first mistake."
Veylara's voice rang out across the field. "Hold formation! Watch every ridge! Do not let a single soldier slip past!"
Saku's small hand clenched Naelith's. "They're… they're really trying to hurt us," he murmured, eyes wide at the smoke and dust below.
Naelith bent, brushing his hair back. "Yes, but see how carefully your father and the generals respond. Courage is not always charging forward—it is knowing when to act, and when to wait. That is why we will hold this land."
As the sun climbed higher, Pyronis's main corps began to emerge, their banners flaring brighter in the light. Bao Bao signaled to the generals. The lines of Firelonia shifted with fluid precision—archers on the ridges, infantry holding ground, cavalry moving to cover weak points, all under Bao Bao's quiet command.
The first real battle for the Ash Plains had begun, and Saku watched from the safety of the palace, learning the weight of strategy, courage, and leadership in a world suddenly at war.