Things were turning out as expected. Still, I doubted that the enemy would go all out on us today. If their first two plans had succeeded, then we probably would have fallen today. With enough magicians they'd create a barrier large enough to allow them to place enough gunpowder at the walls, and then simply force their way through, rather than climbing the walls.

This would've been devastating to us. However, because we had removed those barrels, their odds were considerably worse. Down to about 60 percent if they played fair. I'm here taking the fact some of our men are peasants into mind. Should I add in my magic it would probably make it around 50 again, since they still have mage superiority.

Furthermore, even if they took the castle they had to prepare for father to arrive home. In other words, they wanted to take it with as few losses as possible and as fast as possible, and this was the tricky part.

There is one thing hindering a good plan to make us lose quickly. Our morale. Because we had gained victory twice in the last day, our morale was quite high. I bet the morale of their troops had fallen a bit as well from having those two battles fail.

I believe I told you before. To make a charge you must not hesitate. The Zocrian soldiers have to make that charge today. They would get the order to charge right ahead at someone that had slaughtered the last two armies.

Still we were fated to have losses today, and by morning our people would be anxious, after all, no one would want another day of slaughter. Our morale would have fallen quite a bit compared to what it is right now.

As it was, everyone expected Father and the army to save us, as such... when the enemy presents the head of the messenger and tells us 'you are alone' fear will spread. With that fear, a promise to let us go if we surrender would be too big of a temptation for most to resist.

At least, that was one of the worst case scenarios. I'd need to think something up before then to mitigate the loss of faith.

---*---

I glanced to the knights to get an impression of their reaction to the news. As expected they weren't happy. Their lips pressed into tense lines and their eyes had a bitter look in them. It was bad news. Their hopes to have this resolved without battle until Father arrived had been ripped from them. Their hopes had likely been something along the line of joining a cavalry charge with Father's troops.

Still they were changing gears. I am sure you expected them to be irritated that I was right, but they're likely just considering a creepy coincidence, and I have no intention of bragging. They have to protect their status as knights, and so I must not overwhelm them or ignore their wants or needs. If I do they'll turn to enemies. As such:

"Then, We will count on you to do what is needed. We trust you with this." I glance to the knights and then head for the door.

"Eric! We will be providing support at the front line, as well as make preparations for tomorrow. The knights have got this, so you need to provide morale for the men as the lord of the castle!"

You win over those that want to prove themselves, by giving them the opportunity. I can imagine a lesser and more inexperienced person going 'fools!' or 'I told you so' at them, but it would be counter productive. With this, at worst they ignored me.

The knights went by the book, and prepared for a standard by the book siege. They were blinded by the book and forgot about adaptability and observing the moves of the enemy. It is an error brought by inexperience.

Since the knights were now on the right page of the book, I could leave it in their hands. That my warning came a few seconds earlier than the messenger seems to have lessened the impact of the news as well.

---*---

I stepped out of the door of the war room with determined steps.

Now, how would I do this? I needed to do something bold... mitigating is one thing... could I nullify the loss?... I knew only two prayers of wind... but one of them should help perfectly. Even better, it wouldn't drain one of my 7 prayers of water. But... I needed a target first... someone outside the city and headed north.

Eric was quickly behind me with a hesitant expression.

"Where are we going?"

I glanced to him briefly.

"The infirmary. It'll take a little while before they get close enough to reach the walls. Until that I have some things I need to do to prepare for the morning."

Eric's brows furrowed as he heard the location of our destination. Perhaps he disregarded the infirmary as a place where your efforts in raising morale would have an effect.

"What happened to the barrels we found?" I needed to confirm their position. Wherever they were there was a danger of death.

"...We moved them to the storage room as we didn't know what else to do with them... what is it?"

"Gunpowder."

I could see he wanted to ask more questions, but my mind was already being pulled in ten directions. I had too much I needed to do before the siege itself started. I needed to be at the front line and center of the castle at the same time, and I needed to relieve fatigue as well as give them the courage needed. I want a horse.

---*---

The infirmary already had a few of the guards from yesterday laying in their with gloomy expression. The smell of blood permeated the air, along with the smell of dust and alcohol used to dim the pain. It was horrendous. The room wasn't aired out enough and the infirmary beds would be soaked with blood, which would only make their situations worse as time passed.

I send a furious gaze to the medics.

"Get the injured outside! I'll be casting healing magic throughout the day, and if they're in here they won't be affected by it!" I roar out the order at them a little angrier than I intend to, but the view, along with the pressure on my shoulders, put me in a fiery mood.

"Celeste-sama!" The injured guys perk up at my voice and life fills their once gloomy eyes. They were likely facing death in this gloomy place. At least let them face it in fresh air. Not that I'd let them face it. Some may be crippled, but they could still support the hearts of those on the front lines. Yesterday I had run out of magic so I couldn't finish healing them. Those that weren't crippled for life would be able to rejoin the front line for a while.

"How are you holding up?! You all look terrible." I switch modes and show them a look of life and courage. I can't pity them or they'll be afraid.

They light up a bit more and their faces turn to vibrant grins.

"And Celeste-sama looks just fine, even though you were so beaten up yesterday."

I cross my arms.

"I can't lead you guys to the battlefield if I am all beat up, now can I?"

Unexpectedly they go quiet.

"Are you going back on the front lines?"

Their eyes gleam with worry. Why?

"Of course."

"...Even though you might die...?"

Getting a soldier back into battle once they'd been crippled to this point was difficult. After all, they were raised to value their life. Being in constant pain as they were now, making the decision to go through the same pain once more was harder than the first time you did it... before you knew the pain and the fear of a slow death.

"Yes. I am strong, and with that strength comes the responsibility to keep those weaker than me safe. No matter how hurt I get. No matter how close to death I brush. No matter how scary things I have to do, I will do it because it is my duty to do so."

At those words they stare at me, and I can feel Eric's eyes as well. Their eyes move to Eric, and then back to me. I didn't plan for the conversation to go this way. I'd planned to let Eric take over part way, but at this point they didn't see him there.

One of the guards shifted on his bed and stood up with a stubborn expression. His eyes filled with fire and determination, even if his wounds ripped open and his legs were shaking.

"Please bring me along with you! I can still fight!"

No, at this point you really couldn't.

Another one got up. This a guy that had lost his arm but was otherwise fine.

"Me too!"

Then another... and another... they got up without caring a bit for their wounds, but the same fire in their eyes that had been in them yesterday. They'd decided they would die on the field of battle rather than an infirmary bed. What reckless young men. But I don't dislike it.

"You better keep up, I have a busy day in front of me."

I could have said a lot at that point... but I felt like putting expectations on them would accept their burning feelings the best.

---*---

Once we'd gone out to the courtyard I checked them over with first aid while making my requests.

"Since you are free from guarding the walls I have some important things I need for tomorrow. Once that is done I'll join the front line. I need to know if anyone fled north instead of the castle, and their names. This will be interviewing the civilians, so you should be able to keep up just fine after I get through the first healing wave... also..."

I hesitated for a bit. It was a childish plan, and it might not work... but it was just about stupid enough that it might actually work, though only because of my current body.

"I need a barrel covered in flowers and filled with several layers of colored paint or glue... each layer of color should be separated though..."

They looked at me like I'd said something they never expected to hear.

"Eehhh, so Celeste-sama likes to paint?" Their expressions turned to amused smiles. Ignore them. I quieted a grumble.

To my relief they agreed to follow my plans, and they'd start as soon as I'd completed the first healing wave. Once done, those who could would join me on the wall.

Honestly I was relieved. I couldn't order around the men at arms from the castle, so that the guards would listen to my unconventional requests was... really relieving. I didn't have much to do with for now, but with this done I could focus my effort on defending the castle for the day and reducing our losses.

I looked to Eric who was gazing at the guards with a distant look, and then dragged him with me towards the front lines. The yells coming from there meant the assault had started.

[AN: How many of you have an idea what Lily's plan for boosting morale is?]