Foundation of Smoke and Steel

Chapter 159

SophieSophie couldn’t believe that the Li household had saved them so completely and so thoroughly. It was actually one of the most impressive things she had seen in… she couldn’t even say how long. And she had a clear understanding of her own weaknesses now.

She needed to train. She needed to think tactically. She was quickly realizing that mastery over theory wasn't going to help in the months to come.

If she was going to save the world with Ethan, she was going to have to figure out how to apply things practically and prepare for them.

The fact that the Li carriages had arrived aerially, and that Gavin Li had dropped massive firebombs onto the orc army while Lucas Li led cultivators acting like Serans—but with greater flexibility and a sort of shared mana capacity—was something she would never, ever forget.

And then Ethan had entered the fortress, calling out orders like it was completely natural, acting as competently as any military man in her family's army.

She knew the man was a genius. She knew the man was theoretically capable. She knew the man was handsome. But she didn’t know—until just now—that he had such command of what was going on around him, that he could understand things so tactically, direct with such competence, and get those around him to instinctively follow him.

It was incredibly sexy.

She had retreated to the quarters that had been provided for her and decided to get cleaned up. She hadn’t done a lot of active fighting, but she had fired some of the ballistae and helped coordinate orders with the Serans, Vivian, the Bowcasters, and the militia members who were doing their best to repel the invaders—despite limited weapons that could handle mana, and limited mana reserves themselves.

After their desperate journey north and all the fighting, she was itching to get cleaned up. And then, seeing Ethan again, she almost ran for the opportunity.

After she finished cleaning up, she looked at herself in the mirror.

Golden hair and eyes—good. The dress she was wearing was flattering, just a bit of cleavage, and it held her curves very well. She wasn’t as busty or hippy as someone like Anmei or Marissa, but she did have more curves than, say, Vivian—though Vivian was quite a bit taller than her.

Yep, still a mysterious beauty, and she had the distinct advantage of having a bloodline from outside the Empire that made her appearance even more striking.

Satisfied with her appearance, she looked at her backside and gave a small nod.

She was just getting ready to leave when—

“You’re trying too hard,” Elizabeth said with a grin.

“What?” Sophie asked. “What do you mean I’m trying too hard?”

“Don’t pretend like I don’t know exactly what you’re thinking. You’re trying too hard. Now is not the time to be worrying about stuff like that—not with another army about to knock down our door.”

“I assure you, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I’m sure you don’t,” Elizabeth said dryly. “Ethan’s here—the guy you keep saying you want to marry. And he’s taking command like a seasoned general, having the heirs of the Li household listen to his words like it’s gospel, and watching the fruits of his labors as lower-level cultivators act like Serans with magic you’ve probably never seen and don’t understand. And that doesn’t get you all worked up at all, right?”

Sophie rolled her eyes.

“I am an Imperial Princess and a professional, and I do not get things like duty and attraction mixed up with a man who—admittedly—is very impressive. I do not need to impress him. Our marriage is politically necessary.”

“Sure. Sure. Whatever you say, Your Highness.”

Sophie glared at her handmaiden and best friend. Elizabeth really pissed her off sometimes.

No matter.

They left together, falling into step beside one another as they walked toward the main plaza. The hall where they had met earlier to plan their defense against the Red Orc army was where everyone had decided to congregate afterward.

They continued to move through the fortress.

The sheer thoroughness with which they had decimated the enemy was still sinking in. The signs of battle were everywhere, but the people looked optimistic, as if—since they survived the last war—maybe they could survive this one.

The hall was open and bustling; several people were already gathered when they entered.

Without being asked, one of the Zhou family retainers—Chiron, she thought—announced her.

“Here among us is Princess Sophie Virelyn, representing the Imperial Family.”

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Everyone stood, including Ethan, who was positioned at the end of the table looking over maps and reports detailing spacing and progress on filling the gap in the western wall.

“I think we should do something similar,” Gavin said, studying the map. “The surprise against the demon-touched was probably what ultimately held it. The Serans are going to need additional time to recover. The Resonance forms they’re using are taking the brunt of it, and the effect of demon corruption is more substantial than I think they’d like to admit.”

“How’s that dispel array working?” Ethan asked.

Sophie thought.

“It’s actually pretty impressive,” Lucas Li said. “Between that and the medicines we’re providing, most of the people are recovering much faster. Another couple of hours and they should be ready to fight.”

“Do we know how aggressively the Iron Tide is coming in?” Ethan asked. “We know the demon-touched are associated with the demons, but what do we know about the overall goals of the Iron Tide?”

For a moment, it was clear that no one had a real answer.

The question hung over the table, unanswered, maps and projections flickering softly in the dim light of the assembly hall.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t Ethan who broke the silence.

It was Nathan.

“Well,” Nathan said, scratching the back of his head, “I mean… everyone knows the Iron Tide just wants to attack the Murai, right?”

Several heads turned toward him.

“They always attack the Murai,” he continued, warming to the thought. “Like, it’s their whole thing. Iron Tide and Murai are basically oil and water. Or fire and… other fire? No, wait. Bad example. But you know what I mean. They hate each other. A lot.”

There was a pause.

Nathan gestured vaguely, as if the conclusion should be obvious.

“So the fact that they’re here at all kind of means something big must’ve happened on their end. Because they don’t usually do… this.”

Ethan didn’t interrupt him.

Instead, he leaned back slightly, eyes distant in a way that focused not on the maps or even Nathan, but inward. Something sharp flickered across his expression—the look of a man slotting pieces together.

Sophie thought,

“Master Zhou?” she asked carefully. “What is it that you’re considering?”

Ethan blinked, the moment passing.

“Nothing that helps us immediately,” he said honestly. “But Nathan’s right about one thing. There’s no historical precedent for the Iron Tide operating like this unless the Murai are involved somehow.”

He folded his hands on the table.

“That said, I don’t think we have any solid reason to believe the Iron Tide and the demon-touched are allied.”

Gavin frowned.

“You’re saying they just… happen to be in the same place?”

“I’m saying,” Ethan replied evenly, “that we should assume either independent objectives—or a relationship we don’t yet understand.”

Gavin’s voice dropped.

“And if we’re wrong?”

Ethan closed his eyes for a brief moment.

It was strange—almost as if he were listening to something no one else could hear.

“Even if we are, it doesn’t change our position. But I don’t think they’re allies,” he said at last. “Just in case, though, we’re going to prepare to hit them with maximum effect and deny them the chance to get settled.”

He straightened, and the room shifted with him.

“This is what we do,” Ethan continued. “We use the flying carriages to give ourselves mobility without committing them all at once. Serans form the forward anchor—primary line holders. I want two caster-focused cultivator units positioned with them on the wall to reinforce the position and provide fire support. We aren't going to let them assault the walls. They are going to meet our soldiers before then.”

Kaelus nodded immediately.

“Gavin,” Ethan said, turning, “you’ll take overwatch with one carriage—but not right away. You drop tactical firepower when you can, but on the back lines. We have to assume the Tide has casters capable of siege-level spells. I want you watching for them. You make that call when you think it's appropriate. I want the other carriages to pull back to a distance where they can’t be easily engaged—flanks or back lines, not tethered.”

Gavin nodded. “How do we coordinate at range?”

“I’ve taken the liberty of building a short-term communication array,” Ethan said. “It’ll piggyback off everyone’s messaging crystals. It won’t be elegant, but it’ll work well enough for command signals and updates for the cultivator units that already have communication devices. I am simply patching everyone else in.”

That earned a few impressed looks.

“Anmei. Vivian,” Ethan said, without looking at them. “You’ll back up the Bowcasters and stay ready for rapid response with the other CCU units. You’re our riposte.”

Both women nodded.

Anmei did it with a lazy, confident grin, clearly enjoying herself. She’d taken the time to clean up—to present. Her red hair hung loose and vivid against her shoulders, and her clothes were chosen to flatter rather than conceal, every line of her posture advertising the luxury of her own skin.

Her outfit wouldn’t have been out of place at a brothel. This very much annoyed Sophie.

Vivian inclined her head more subtly at Ethan. Her dark hair fell neatly down her back, and the deep violet dress she wore hugged her frame with elegance and femininity. It wasn’t ostentatious, but it was unmistakably deliberate.

She looked composed and stunning in a way that demanded attention without asking for it.

Which was probably the point.

The little vixen.

Sophie noticed something else then.

Neither of them was looking at the map.

Both of them were looking at Ethan—openly, with affection.

Anmei with open interest, heat in her gaze. Vivian with cool intensity, but just as focused—though more contemplative.

Sophie narrowed her eyes slightly.

They hadn’t just dressed up for the council.

They had dressed up for him.

And of course Ethan didn’t seem to notice.

“I’ll take the lead with Nathan,” Ethan went on. “He’ll cover me in case we need to engage any heavy hitters directly.”

Nathan straightened. “I’ve got you.”

“Good,” Ethan said. “Anmei and Vivian stay flexible. If something breaks through, you counter.”

He turned toward Sophie.

“Princess.”

Sophie lifted her head. “Yes?”

“Keep an eye on patterns,” Ethan said. “Watch for stress points in the line, and coordinate reinforcement requests with Gavin. If anything starts to buckle, I want to know before it fails.”

She nodded, already mentally shifting into the role.

“Understood.”

Ethan looked around the table, meeting each gaze in turn.

“Get food. Get water. Get rest,” he said. “We have about four hours before contact at their current rate. Scouts are watching their progress. I want everyone in position within two hours.”

No one argued.

The meeting dissolved into motion, people already moving as the plan took shape.

Sophie lingered just long enough to watch Ethan turn back to the maps, Nathan leaning in beside him and already asking questions.

She wanted to go over there and talk to him. Question him. Ask how his brain worked. What he thought about everything—from battle plans to pillow talk.

That last thought made her blush, and she waved it away.

she thought.