Amaya PoV
I closed my eyes and watched as our allies looked at one another after I gave my command to retreat. Their eyes betrayed their hesitation. To them, falling back meant abandoning the capital we had just bled into the mud to defend. It meant handing the city gates to Setsugen without forcing him to pay for every inch in northern blood. But looking at the tactical view feeding into my mind through the castle's sensory array, I knew the bitter truth: staying was suicide.
Our forces were tired from the battles against the Abyss. Fighting another battle right after was madness. We had poured our souls, our blood, and our mana into holding back Bulgae's nightmare, only for Setsugen to sweep in like the vulture he was, picking at exhausted lions. If we engaged his fresh northern legions now, the royal guard wouldn't just lose; they would be wiped out to the last man.
Down on the lower ramparts, Chief Alexos was the first to act on my command.
