The air was thick with dust and soot as sunlight filtered through the wooden windows of Rosa's manor. A soft ticking from a newly installed clock echoed across the room where Kylia sat — now in bandages — at an antique desk strewn with opened folders, half-drunk tea, and piles of paperwork.
Zirka, now quiet, leaned against the wall within arm's reach, the dark blade propped carefully as if observing her work.
Scanning through the After Action Reports from the battle, Kylia eyebrows rose in shock.
The 2nd Kylian Brigade had sustained 100 fatalities during this battle, the most fatalities the Kylian Military had experienced in its founding. Yet that pales in comparison to the fact that the Hylians had sustained 3,000 fatalities during the battle. Three out of four Hylians had died in this battle or 30 Hylian deaths for one Kylian death.
A resounding victory.
If you ignored that the Rosians had lost 250 out of their original 500 troops — half their force gone.
She was still sorting through the pile of reports when a knock came at the door.
Kylia didn't look up. "Enter."
The door creaked open, revealing a young officer in a blue field uniform. He wore a nervous expression — a squad leader who was garrisoned back home.
"Your Majesty," he said, stepping forward with a thick folder in hand. "Census report, year twenty-six. Direct from the Capitol."
Kylia took the folder and waved him off without a word. The door closed quietly behind him.
She leaned back in her chair, exhaled, and cracked open the folder.
"Lift me up! I want to see this!"
"Sigh…" Kylia grabbed the meddlesome sword, propping it on some unopened folders.
"Uhh… I only learned how to read Hylian. Mind if you read this outloud? Pretty Please?"
"Fine. Only because you are now my sword." Kylia took out a file from the folder and started reading out loud.
"Kingdom of Kylia – Year 26 Census and Economic Report (Wartime Summary)
---
1. Population Statistics
Total Population (Year 26): 107,139
Previous Year (Year 25): 102,037
Annual Growth Rate: +5%
The population of the Kingdom increased by 5%, despite ongoing conflict. Primary contributors include:
"Furlough babies" Children conceived during soldier leave periods prior to major offensives.
Refugee influx: Populations displaced from frontline regions, notably Sovi, Pavo and New Rosa.
---
2. Economic Overview
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): 294,390,371 Kon
Previous Year's GDP): 267,627,610 Kon
Annual GDP Growth: +10%
The wartime economy has seen significant stimulation due to:
Expanded military production, now employing a major portion of the workforce.
Growth in steel output, from 233 tonnes to 245 tonnes over the year.
---
3. National Debt
Debt-to-GDP Ratio (Year 26): 128%
Previous Year: 104%
Change: +24 percentage points
The sharp rise in debt is directly linked to military expenditures, which have increased:
From 18,773,933 Kon (Year 25)
To 103,236,630 Kon (Year 26)
An increase of nearly 5.5 times.
---
4. Agricultural Production & Food Security
Total Food Production (Year 26): 173,565 tonnes
Previous Year: 251,011 tonnes
Decline:−30.9%
The decrease is attributed to the mobilization of 10% of the population, reducing available agricultural labor.
However:
Self-Sufficiency Rate: 162%
Including Granary Stores: 224%
The Kingdom remains food secure, capable of feeding multiple nations, even under wartime strain.
---
5. Military Casualty Report (Year 26)
Alliance Forces Killed in Action (KIA): 2,600
Axis Forces KIA: 500
Estimated Civilian and Unlisted Military Fatalities: Several thousand (exact figures unavailable)
---
6. Notes and Projections
The demographic uptick during wartime is unusual but explained by both internal birth rates and external population movement.
Economic growth is heavily dependent on wartime industries, which may not be sustainable in peacetime.
The debt burden may require post-war restructuring or international assistance.
Despite the fall in production, food security remains robust, positioning the Kingdom as an exporter and a humanitarian supplier."
Slightly breathless Kylia put the file back in the folder. "You good?"
"Hmm… That was just a summary. Can you read me the entire Year 26 Census. In fact, can you also read out loud the AAR that you were reading this morning?"
Kylia gave the sword a long, withering look. "And why?"
"I need to know more! We are going to be best buds for a very very long time! I only know stuff from your memories! I know what you know, but I don't know recent things that you know!"
"Are you trying to kill me?!" A vein near Kylia's left eye began to throb.
"What! Of course not! You won't die from reading! Now, chop chop, and get to work!"
Grumbling under her breath, Kylia spent the next two hours reading through a mountain of files, her throat dry and her patience thin.
When she finally slammed the last folder shut, she turned to Zirka.
"Are. You. Happy?!"
There was a long pause.
"Hmm…" Zirka made a thoughtful humming noise. "You know what?"
Kylia barked. "What!?"
"I suddenly don't regret not possessing you. I mean, you've been running a country for twenty-six years and you still haven't invented cars? Or airplanes?! Ailenhill formed a star-spanning empire in the time it's taken you to invent airships. What do you do all day? Just paperwork?"
Silence.
Two black sideways K's appeared in each of Kylia's irises as her face contorted in rage.
"Hey Kylia? You're looking a bit ugly right now. Are you okay?"
"HAHAHAHAHA! DIE!" Kylia roared as a 10 cm wide, 100,000 degree celsius, blue plasma ball formed in her hand.
"Wait! Let's talk this through! Put down the plasma ball! No! Not on me-!"
"BOOM!"
Right on cue, Rosa slammed the office door open.
"HEY KYLIA-NO! Not that desk! That thing's four hundred years old—!"
…
The Hylian war camp sprawled across the snowy forest clearing at the foot of the Viskov Mountain Range, just several dozen kilometers northeast of Viskov City. Snow blanketed the ground in uneven layers, crushed beneath the movement of thousands of boots, wheels, and hooves. The scent of pine resin and smoke from cooking fires filled the cold air, mingling with the low hum of distant wind gusts sweeping down from the icy peaks above.
With the death of Rito Lord Ryakudatsu, leadership had passed to Lord Hairiahito, now commander of the remnants of the 4,000-strong Hylian force.
Now, seated within a makeshift command tent reinforced with thick canvas and a warming fire, he and his surviving officers pored over maps and half-smudged dispatches.
"Rito scouts confirm that Viskov City was attacked by monsters earlier this year," a young Rito officer reported, his feathers ruffled from the cold. "Details are scarce, but their defenses must have taken significant damage."
A second officer—Hylian, older, with a long scar running from his temple to his jaw—tapped a figure on the map. "Viskov City garrison numbers are estimated around 1,600 at best. If Kylian reinforcements are present, that may rise to roughly 4,100."
"True. However the combat effectiveness of the alliance is worrisome at best. The battle of Pavo is a great example of how poorly equipped and trained alliance soldiers are." Lord Hairiahito calmly replied.
Despite the Alliance, Kylians and Hylians being separated by thousands of kilometers from the Battle of Pavo, all sides are able to get information quickly using either Lavovy, Nihovy, Valor or Rito relays.
Even then there is a delay of days to weeks for important information to be received. The battle of Pavo happened almost a year ago so everyone knows what happened then.
Unfortunately for the clueless Hylians, the battle of New Rosa occurred just yesterday.
Even worse, Kylian reinforcements in Viskov now numbered 4,000, bringing the total defending force to 5,400—far stronger than Hairiahito believed.
But he didn't know that yet.
"Men, I have a great plan to announce."
Lord Hairiahito tapped the map decisively.
"As discussed, Viskov's defenses are still reeling from the monster assault earlier this year. The city's walls are likely cracked; their garrison weakened."
A murmur of confidence rippled through the room.
"Let us remember the Coalition of City States— poorly trained, disorganized, and even worse than the Pavonians. The Kingdom of Kylia has absorbed those city-states, and their soldiers have done nothing but demonstrate weakness. We have no reason to fear their troops, even if they fight under a new banner."
"This will be a siege, designed to minimize our losses and shatter their morale. We cannot afford the direct confrontation in the last battle. My plan will use every advantage at our disposal: our mobility and our strength."
"You just don't want to follow Ryankakudastu's fate!" A random officer interrupted.
He raised a hand to silence any dissent then swept his hand across the map again.
"Rito scouts will fly constant patrols over Viskov, disrupting enemy rest with night raids using bomb arrows and small hit-and-run squads."
"Zoras will attempt sabotage of their water supplies if possible. No city can withstand thirst for long."
"Leaflets will be dropped by Rito, sowing doubt and encouraging surrender. They will know resistance is futile."
"Gerudo will block all known roads to prevent reinforcements or escape."
"Our Gorons will establish forward siege camps and prepare tunnels beneath the walls to breach weak points."
"Catapults will rain destruction upon their walls and key buildings—especially the command posts."
"Once breaches are made, Gorons and infantry will storm the walls."
"Gerudo will simultaneously assault the main gate to divide their attention."
"Rito archers will rain bomb arrows from above, targeting enemy officers and communications."
"Zora teams will infiltrate sewers and waterways to open secondary fronts and disrupt internal defenses."
"We will conduct systematic clearing of the city, with Gerudo and Hylians securing streets block by block."
"Gorons will create firebreaks to isolate resistance and protect our troops."
"Once secured, we will install a loyal administration to govern Viskov and prepare for the inevitable counterattacks."
The room erupted in cheers.
"Bravo! What a great plan!"
"Much better than Lord Ryankakudastu!"
"You've outdone yourself, Lord Hairiahito!"
"We love you Lord Hairiahito!"
"You're weird!"
Hairiahito's waved for silence.
"We know the Kingdom of Kylia is desperate, but their soldiers are weak. We will crush their resistance swiftly and claim the city with minimal loss. Let no Hylian die in vain."
He paused, then added with resolve:
"Prepare your troops. We will begin the plan in three days."