The Elementalists: Dawn of Shady Schemes

Chapter 27

  I walked down to the training area, confidence striving through me, as if I was a pane of glass and my confidence was shining through as a beam of sunlight. As I got closer to the training camp, I heard the shouts of many soldiers in the area, and the demanding, strict yelling of Trent.

Hey loud mouth, I said to him as I was almost there. Can you quiet your troops and your yammering? I'm coming in a few minutes.

Sure thing, Scarlet. I heard him say. Although, another kiss perhaps would quiet me down.

I smiled and felt myself blush as I heard this. Well, if anything, yesterday it made you louder.

I heard him chuckle, and then I heard him yell and the troops quieted down.

"Scarlet is coming, and has some stuff to tell us!" I heard him shout as I made my way in. "So don't be a space cadet and just stand there, actually listen and then you'll understand."

I walked up onto the platform, and said, "Alright ladies!" I looked over the crowd and caught them all slick with sweat. "I see that Trent has made you work pretty hard, from the looks of it."

Many, if not all, of the men-at-arms nodded.

"Ok!" I said. "So, here's the plan..." I projected a holographic image of the city layout, and started to create figures. "Those dozen groups closing in, are the Shades." I began. "The three lines and scattered dots both in and out of the camp, are you guys. There's going to be three lines guarding the perimeter, and the front two will be invisible. As they make their way in and stop, they'll surely ask us to surrender. While we conversate, I need the front two lines-still invisible-to form a two dozen line surrounding them. At my signal-once we got the group leaders figured out-you'll appear and start attacking them right away. There is enough people to circle this camp five times, so we'll try to figure out how many people are in a single line, and then take two lines and scatter them outside the camp, and then put the other line in positions. You all got it?"

They all nodded.

"After that," I said. "We'll march in a single, rectangular formation and clash with the approaching army-depending on whether or not they decide to surrender first. Anyway we'll work our way into the fight, by surrounding them and not let them attack us from the outside. We'll have winged forces, too, so beware of the attacks from there. After I inform the community in the camp, we'll set up traps in the camp- typically, sink holes. I will create a map of battle formations, and where the traps will be. There may be other traps as well- we have imaginations, so we'll think of something. Anyway, this will be for the battle at the camp. If we defeat the army, we'll march down to the Shade kingdom, and we'll ask the kingdom for surrender. If they don't, we'll fight our way into the castle and demand the king for his surrender. If he refuses, we will take him, dead or alive, and show the kingdom we have him in our grasp."

I took a deep breath, and then finished, "After we capture the Shade kingdom, we will bring all of the shades to a Purification ceremony in the middle of their own kingdom, and then we shall give them the option to break free of the treacherous soul that had captivated them, and then they will turn into Elementalists. They will then be evenly distributed among the camps, in order to make it fair, and then they will get a teaching about the elements. If they choose to remain the way they are, they will be put into the Atrocious Abyss, where they can continue to practice their ways without causing harm to the Elementalists above...or any race at that. The Abyss is very deep underground, and will be carefully surveyed and watched. This deep pit fits their nocturnal needs, and they'll never see the light of day again. No more maroon or indigo slits shall haunt our children's nightmares, no more dark magic to thrive and scare us, or call us to their seemingly disastrous deeds, and no more evil shall try to overrule the good-natured and kind-hearted!"

The crowd roared, and applauded as if it were intended as a standing ovation.

"But of course," I warned them. "With yang comes yin, and we will eventually have another enemy to fight off, but for the meantime, if we win, let us prosper the peace that follows, and let us embrace the end of a race that worships the wrong, praises the pernicious, and welcome the beginning of a new age where the only shadows that stalk the land are our very own!"

Instead of manly, hearty cheers, there was cheers of happiness and determination. Fist pumps pumped, hands clapped loudly, and shouts of the many men and women roared. I smiled as I thought of how mature and professional this speech was... and yet, I had made it up the entire time I talked.

"Well," I said. "Trent knows you all better than I do, so he'll start setting you guys up in your positions. You all have memories, so make sure you use them so that way we don't waste any time reminding you, and use that time to warm up."

They all nodded, and Trent went to ask me how I should order them, and I replied before he even spoke a word, "Divide them into five even lines. Take your strongest up in front. Make leaders for every twenty four people there, and then make them lead their group to the groups. Tell them what group number they have. I'll have a layout of the plan tomorrow and then you can assign each line of two dozen to the dozen different groups. Make sure you get a good mix of powerful warriors and sorcerers. Have one solid line of defense around the camp, and then, have the rest of the warriors scattered around the perimeter so they can replace fallen members from the groups. Have the remaining line in positions around the actual camp. Be careful though, we haven't set up the trap positions yet, so get a good idea of where you want to base your troops."

As I said this, Trent continuously nodded and said, "Ok." When I finished, he said, "That was a good speech. You sounded just like the Grand Master."

Speaking of which, I better go down there and check on him

"Good luck planning," I told him as I walked out.

"I'm gonna need it..." I heard him mutter under his breath, and then, he began to shout orders.