Chapter 396 War Movements
Vera opened her eyes within her office in Duskbloom hideout. She looked around her office and nodded. She was not actually present with her real body, but rather, through a clone that was made of her mana.
"We need to move quickly. The war council has already decided." Vera breathed before leaving the office. It was late at night and her true body was supposedly at sleep. Meanwhile, her soul was inhabiting the clone that she had left behind.
As she stepped out of the office, she passed by many guards that were on night duty. She received many greetings as she made her way to the doorway to the dimension where the fleet of airships was being kept.
Soon, she felt the cool breeze waft over her face. Bright stars lit up the night sky within the separate dimension. It was something that soothed Vera\'s heart.
"Vera?" She turned to nod at Leon and the others that were seated around a small fire on the ground. They could not enjoy the night sky outside because of the need for secrecy, so they chose to do so inside here.
"Hello, Leon. I have come bearing urgent news." Vera quickly made her way forward. Most of the important people that were needed to make decision in her absence were gathered around the fire.
"Urgent news?" Eyes turned to the princess.
"By the time I returned to the royal palace, my father had just finished from a war council. Full blown war will begin any moment. He intends to carry out the first strike against us, but we must not let him. We must move first. That way, we can keep the initiative firmly within our grasp." Vera gave a short explanation on what had happened in her time in the palace.
Many faces carried sour expressions while others carried excited ones. What Vera was trying to say was that it was time for war. However this war went would make or break them.
"We will strike in a day\'s time. We must not give my father the time he needs to gather his armies. The sooner we strike, the easier it will be to maintain our advantage over my father. With the airships, we will be unstoppable!" Vera gestured at the grounded airships that littered the area. They stretched out into the distance.
.
.
With Vera\'s orders, the people of Duskbloom began to move. All the airships, fifty five to be exact, had been kept within the separate dimension that belonged to Mordred. They had not been moved to ensure that everything was kept as secretive as possible. In fact, most people in the peripheral bases did not even know that there was such a powerful secret weapon. If not, when Dyson captured them, then news of this whole project would have been leaked out.
Now that they were finally ready to begin their offensive, it was time to move the airships to the various points and bases that would serve as the point of attacks that the war would begin from.
To do this, the entire door that had served as the easiest route to connect the real world and the separate dimension was finally dislodged from the wall that it had been affixed to.
Vera left this job in the hands of Leon, Mordred and the others before returning her soul to her true body.
Upon returning to the palace, it was already morning. The planning had taken a lot of time and she had not gotten any rest. However, a sleepless night was nothing to a powerhouse of her level.
"Milady, good morning." A young maid was kneeling by the bed when Vera stood up. She was Vera\'s personal handmaiden, Nadya.
"Good morning, Nadya." Vera nodded her head and strode to the bathroom. Nadya followed her to assist Vera with preparing for the morning.
"Milady, the people you asked me to tell the guards to keep an eye out for have arrived at Magair. Before they could leave and head deeper into Elven territory, His Majesty passed the order for martial law on all of Rivera." Nadya reported to Vera as she scrubbed Vera\'s back.
"Oh? I see." Vera rubbed her chin. She recalled the man that she had kept in mind ever since their first and last meeting, Andrew Aurelius. Andrew had left an unforgettable impression on her mind and she had asked her informants to keep track of them ever since. Nadya was one of such informants, and was also someone who supported the rebels. Almost everyone that Vera kept within her personal circle was on her side. She ensured of that.
"I want you to tell the informants to guide them secretly through the city and to one of the underground bases. I will handle it when they get there." Vera said quietly as she descended into her thoughts. She planned to recruit the team of highly skilled and powerful adventurers into her cause. She had already tested them thoroughly.
She had set up some scenarios where half breed Elves or other races that were usually put into slavery were being badly mistreated. She made sure that the team ran into them. Each and every time, they had gone out of their way to do something about it. Sometimes, they even bought the slave\'s freedom if they were sure that the person had the means to protect themselves and lead a fruitful life.
"I understand, Milady. I will do as you have said." Nadya nodded dutifully and continued to help Vera. Soon, they were done and Vera had dressed up in a regal, but very comfortable dress. She strode out of her room with Nadya by her side and made her way to her father\'s study. That was the most likely place for him to be at a time like this.
Knock knock!
Two firm knocks sounded against the door before Alvar answered from the inside.
"Enter."
Vera turned to Nadya and nodded, signaling for Nadya to go and carry out the task that she had been assigned before turning back and entering the study.