Prayer

An army of seven thousand men, along with nearly a thousand vehicles of various kinds, spread out across the not-so-wide road, forming an extremely spectacular sight.

The column stretched for miles. The light cavalry scouts of the vanguard had long since vanished into the dust along the northern horizon, while the supply carts of the rear guard were still slowly moving across the fields outside Carnford City. From a distance, they looked like a colossal iron serpent inching forward.

The marching order had been carefully arranged. At the very front was a reconnaissance screen made up of elite light cavalry sent by Lyon. They spread out like feelers, covering an area extending more than ten miles ahead and to either side of the army's main force as they vigilantly searched for any signs of the enemy or possible ambush sites.

Next came the main body of the Fran City Cavalry, led by Sir Kylan, galloping across the wasteland on both sides of the road.

The warhorses thundered forward, kicking up clouds of yellow dust. This both shielded the flanks and allowed them to quickly move ahead to support the scouts or encircle the enemy upon receiving orders.

Slightly behind the cavalry was the Carnford Main Corps. They advanced in two columns, maintaining relatively orderly steps under the guidance of their officers. The heavy thudding of their feet and the scrape of metal blended into a deep rumble.

At the very rear, and also the largest and longest section, was the supply train.

It was a chaotic mix. There were two thousand refugees conscripted by Carnford as supply troops, pushing wheelbarrows and driving packhorses. There were also fifty heavy four-wheeled wagons provided by Grimm's caravan and driven by three hundred hired workers. These wagons carried the army's most important supply: food.