Lean

XVIII

WARNING: Major character death ahead

TAEHYUN

As King's Coast loomed on the horizon, it wasn't the majestic city Taehyun had once visited. King's Coast was his goal destination and taking it was his final step to killing Choi Minjun and finishing this war. Now, it served as a living nightmare. Storm clouds swarmed them from above with heavy raindrops pouring down on them. The storm had slowed them down with the muddy terrain, causing some of his bannermen to fall victim to the fiery arrows the Choi forces rained down on them from the border walls.

In the midst of the chaos, Taehyun stood helpless, witnessing his men fall as they tried to breach the large, stone city walls. The storm provides some relief with the loud thunderclaps to block out the cries from some of his bannermen who meet their demise to the Choi forces. His careful and thorough planning was out of the window. This was not the challenge he expected in capturing the city, and the reality surpassed his darkest expectations.

"My lord, we should retreat to the beach," Song Mingi warns next to him, his voice full of hesitation, "We can't breach the walls without our other forces."

Taehyun blinks back the raindrops splattering onto his face as he gazes up at the large stone walls where the Choi forces were firing arrows down on them. His other half of the force commanded by Huening Kai and Junhui was still fighting on the beach. The original plan was for Huening Kai and Junhui's forces to meet them here, creating a united front to breach the walls. However, circumstances led Taehyun's forces to arrive earlier, facing the full brunt of the Chois without their anticipated reinforcement. Now, they were trapped between the Choi's bannermen, anxiously anticipating the second force's arrival.

"It's too late, we can't retreat," Taehyun states, his voice breaking slightly as he watches more of his bannermen fall to the ground.

Despite an undefeated record in battles, this encounter with the Chois threatened to shatter his streak. The commanding presence he usually exuded was erased in the face of his most challenging battle yet. What kind of leader was he? One who cowarded away while the men who faithfully served him faced their demise? His father would be shaming him right now for his lack of leadership.

A small rush of confidence washed over him as he watched one group of his bannermen begin to make their ascent up the ladder to fight the Chois on the stone walls. If they could make it to the top and fight the Chois on the walls, it would limit the men he was losing from their fiery arrows and they could establish an advantage. He scans the wall, noticing that more archers are positioned at the left and right flanks compared to the middle of the stone walls. It would be harder to attack from the flanks, but they would be hit easier if they climbed toward the edges due to the angle.

"Divide the men to attack the flanks," Taehyun commands Mingi, "Have them use the ladders as shields."

"Yes, my lord," Mingi nods before scurrying off to the units to announce his message.

Taehyun scans his surroundings, drawing his sword with a firm grip. The royal blue gem on the hilt stands out in the darkness. Closing his eyes briefly, concentration takes over, and the world seems to fade away. He needed to assess how Huening Kai and Junhui were faring with their unit of forces. They should have arrived by now, or at least that's what Taehyun anticipated. Nothing about this battle was what he anticipated, though.

He steals one last glance at his forces attempting to breach the stone walls before turning sharply and sprinting toward the beach. Bright lightning flashes dangerously close, rain splashing against his steel armor and face. In the distance, fire flickers, and bannermen he can't quite place are scattered across the sandy terrain. The torn remnants of the Choi's royal red banners wave violently in the wind.