Outside the palace, the guards of Silverveil were arranged in orderly lines, and the air was heavy with the smell of rain-soaked earth. The sound of their heavy boots hitting the damp ground in perfect harmony reverberated through the stone courtyards and down the streets that were soaked with rain.
They marched forward with a furious determination, their wits sharpened for fight, spears in one hand and shields in the other.
They moved deeper into the depths of battle with every stride, away from the comfort of their hearths.
The troops were divided into two groups, one prepared to charge on foot with weapons and the other prepared to transform into wolves and let out their untamed rage.
Both groups, however, were united in their loyalty to their Alpha, their will steeled by the pride of Silverveil. The anxious tolling of the palace's bells echoed throughout the city from high above. The town was chilled by the solemn clang of bronze on bronze.
As the locals fled to their homes, doors were slammed shut, shutters were closed, and women hurried their children inside while muttering prayers to the moon. With their sights set on the dark horizon where the enemy would soon approach, the men moved on.
Alpha Lucian, ruler of the Silverveil kingdom, rode his battle-hardened horse at the head of the Silverveil army. He looked proudly at the marching warriors in steel armor that gleamed in the dim morning light. Philus, the chief commander, stood tall and solemn behind him, every inch of a warrior.
As his forces pushed toward the border, where the enemy troops were getting closer by the second, Lucian's piercing gaze swept across them.
The battlefield, covered in a thick fog and with muddy, churned dirt from earlier storms, lay ahead. The opposing werewolf kingdom's ominous shapes emerged, the soldiers of Nyrax. The cloud was broken by their war cries, and the Silverveil forces were terrified when they saw their soldiers transformed into wolves. But Silverveil was a land of the fierce and the unafraid, and their victory record was undisputed. Today, they would not yield to the savagery of the enemy.
As the armies approached one another, the ground shook, and the battle broke out with a loud roar. Philus took the lead, and when the first wave of wolf-soldiers charged forward, his roar blended with theirs. Wolves clashed in midair, their fangs and claws ripping at one another with unparalleled ferocity. The foot soldiers trailed closely after, pushing past enemy lines with their shields locked.
Swords and spears clashed, metal sung and clashed, and the air was filled with the cries of the injured. Holding back, Alpha Lucian watched his army charge forward. He had faith in Philus to give orders with vigor and accuracy. His army fought relentlessly and uncompromisingly, like a tidal wave smashing into a coast. Lucian's skilled eyes watched his soldiers' moves, seeing their flawless coordination as they switched between attack and defense.
With their bodies a flurry of fury and rage, snarling wolves ripped through the lines. With years of training, the Silverveil warriors' skill with spears and shields allowed them to fight with unparalleled accuracy when in human form. As the conflict between the two kingdoms intensified, the ground was covered in blood. Each hit was made with deadly intent, and both sides battled as if their lives depended on it, because it did.
The strength of Silverveil's wolves was unmatched. Their movements were synced, and their attacks were timed to have a devastating effect on the opposing forces. As they ripped down enemy wolves, their eyes glowed eerily, leaving crimson streaks all across the battlefield.
They fought just as fiercely in their human bodies. Swords clashed, shields clanged, and the smell of wet dirt and iron filled the air. The warriors of Silverveil maintained the upper hand despite the strength of the enemy. Philus's intensity and his well-planned attacks tore through the enemy's defenses like a spearhead.
His blade was quick and ruthless, and he moved with unrelenting rage, eliminating anyone who tried to stand in his way, he didn't hesitate to use the fractured weapon as a lethal club that cracked into both armor and bone when his sword broke against an opposing spear.
The war continued, with every second that went by shifting the balance even further in Silverveil's favor. The men of Nyrax started to falter one by one, the relentless force of the Silverveil forces caused their lines to shrink and their morale to collapse. When the commander of the enemy forces noticed the change, he attempted to rally his men, but their sense of purpose was destroyed. Their cries of retreat echoed over the field as they started to retreat one by one, leaving their posts.
As he inspected the remaining soldiers of the opposing kingdom, Alpha Lucian narrowed his eyes and watched the enemies retreat with satisfaction. Fear and desperation visible in their receding bodies, many had fallen, and those who were left quickly fled. But unfortunately, some weren't quick enough. Those who fell behind were seized by Philus and his soldiers and held as prisoners of war in chains,
"Move it, you dogs!" Philus barked, his voice filled with disdain as he herded the captured soldiers. Their heads slumped in defeat, their faces covered with blood. Knowing that the ruthless Alpha of Silverveil held the key to their destiny, they trudged on, hands chained,
Alpha Lucian got down from his horse, his boots dug a little into the blood-stained ground, and he walked confidently forward to speak to the prisoners. Before him they stood in a line, injured and exhausted, some had their spirit down, some rebellious,
Philus approached him, bowing his head,
"Alpha" he said, voice firm,
"What shall we do with the captives?"
Lucian's eyes remained unblinking as he surveyed the hostile forces. Their execution would be an appropriate retribution for anyone who dared to enter his land, and he could easily order it. He had a notion, though, as he observed the defeated men, one that may help Silverveil more than simple slaughter would.
"Today, I grant you a choice" he declared, his voice carrying across the field,
"You may choose to renounce your kingdom and swear loyalty to me, pledge yourselves to fight as my soldiers, and I shall grant you mercy"
"I will not see you as traitors or slaves, but as warriors of Silverveil . Those who are willing, rise to your feet"
Silence fell for a minute as the prisoners looked at one another uncertainly. One of them got to his feet slowly, his face fixed on will, after that, one more stood, and another, until over half of them were standing, staring at Lucian with a renewed sense of devotion.
But not everybody was convinced. Some continued to kneel with defiant expressions, unwilling to sacrifice themselves for the sake of betraying their kingdom. Alpha Lucian gave a nod of approval, having made up his mind. He gestured to Philus, who instantly pulled out his blade with a coldly determined concentration.
As a warning to anyone who tried to resist Silverveil, he killed one by one those who knelt in resistance, their bodies dropping to the ground dead. Philus turned to the surviving prisoners who had opted for allegiance after the final body had fallen,
"You will be tested, tried, and trained" he informed them coldly, his gaze sweeping over their wary faces,
"Loyalty to Silverveil is not taken lightly, prove yourselves worthy, and you shall be treated as soldiers of this kingdom"
The newly sworn warriors understood the gravity of their decision and nodded solemnly. Although they were aware that the road ahead would be difficult, they would not take for granted the opportunity to live as warriors instead of dying as prisoners.
Alpha Lucian got back on his horse after winning the battle and having his ranks strengthened by those who had sworn allegiance and life. His realm triumphant again, he proudly led the march back to Silverveil .
For a moment, he looked at the remaining prisoners who had become his men. The decision he had made for them was a planned move as much as a gesture of generosity. It was also a strategic choice that would enable Silverveil to get stronger with each step, even though some could see it as mercy.
Weary but triumphant, they made their way back to the royal gates, the prisoners no longer in chains, now marching with the troops. The citizens of Silverveil gathered throughout the streets, waving and cheering as they entered the palace.
They were aware that the kingdom was safe for the time being and that their Alpha had once again protected them.
Alpha Lucian, however, did not think much about the risks he had made. He was aware that showing mercy has two sides, and that some of the people he had spared today might have been bitter and would have waited for a chance to get even. Would his gambit strengthen Silverveil or plant the seeds for its demise?
The answer, however, was but a matter of time.