Elden Ring:After the end

The light that enters through the window only serves to accentuate how utilitarian this whole place is, from the stone walls to the lack of any luxury furniture. 

If one were to consider anything luxurious, this would only be the fireplace that sits unlit and the shelves filled with books, papyrus, scrolls, etc.

"The situation here is worse than expected, if we consider only the low-level forces."

Looking at the map spread out on the central table, Aldrich who has momentarily returned to his true form, speaks aloud without any sense of oppression from the current situation. 

"Does it really matter, Aldrich? With just one pass, I can easily reduce that entire village to a pile of smoldering rubble."

Giving her opinion in a tone of voice that doesn't seem to understand why to hesitate on this subject, Lansseax attempts to strike the wooden figures positioned on the map, though a gloved hand stops her. 

"We can use your power today, tomorrow and the day after. But that doesn't eliminate the root problem affecting us, especially the lack of troops and their lack of instruction in the art of battle."

Removing the grip he had on Lansseax's hand, Lhutel acknowledges his strength, but also points out the problem that must be addressed if or if. 

...Aldrich pov...

"To have a great weapon and not use it is stupid, but even a lion can be devoured by enough ants."

Speaking loud enough for both of them to hear, but not so loud that they notice that they are my thoughts and must not be interrupted, I begin to consider my options.

Clearly the plan was always to take over the entire grain production area as quickly as possible, but letting the large swath of the army be a bunch of cannon fodder is stupid, it should be something quick and the soldiers can gain experience. 

"A big battle. One where we wipe out their entire army, the soldiers gain experience and we take control of the whole place."

It was a dangerous strategy, of course if I couldn't pump my allied troops full of upgrades and make them killing machines.

"And how are we going to draw them out of hiding? They have the terrain advantage in that enclosed village."

"You're a dragon, set fire to the houses and everyone who stays in there. Get the rats out of the burrow and take them to open ground."

Lansseax's point was fair. Who is going to leave favorable ground in a battle? But if the favorable ground no longer exists, that's another story.

"I'm sorry to say it my lord, but the troops are outnumbered by 35% and if we consider that they outnumber us 4 to 1, after they joined with the arrivals from the first village... It will be a difficult battle."

I am still amazed at the amount of gestural language Lhutel has, but that is not what is important, but his words. 

"You have forgotten Lhutel, I am a master of enchantments. As long as I am here, the soldiers can keep fighting as long as they still have a breath of life in their body."

"Forget, no, I don't forget anything about you... I know EVERYTHING about you my lord, EVERYTHING, but in those days the one who followed you was Tiche."

For a few seconds it gave me a shudder to look into his brown eyes, added to the gnashing of teeth as he said Tiche name, it was obvious there was trouble in there. 

Slightly understandable, Lhutel had been the first one I had encountered in my adventures, my trusty shield in the worst situations... But Fetishes was an animal in the damage he did, even more so after they nerfed the Mimetic Tear. 

"Ahem. Lhutel gather the wounded in one place, I'll take care of healing them all. Lansseax I want a new aerial reconnaissance of the village and their numbers."

"Yes sir!"

"Sure, I'll be on my way."

Accepting the two affirmative answers, I watch as they both leave the room and I rest my body on the chair, while looking out through the window. 

...Lansseax pov....

Finishing walking out of the room in which we just spoke with Aldrich, I turn around to try to give him one last look, but before I can do so, the door slams shut and a commanding voice speaks in front of me. 

"You have your orders, you may leave."

Watching as he waves his hand, almost as if he is chasing a dog away, my pride that has been kept in check these past few days rears its head again and makes me blurt out a few words out of pure instinct. 

"No one likes jealous women, besides from what I understand, Aldrich is already married, was it to Queen Marika or Ranni the witch?"

"And also no one likes those who stick their nose into other people's business."

Despite attacking the place where it should hurt him the most, he only gives me a small response and no reaction.That's the weirdness! He hasn't made any gestures with his hands. 

Noticing that the oddity in the whole situation is his lack of gesturing while speaking, I watch as Lhutel finishes his words and starts walking towards somewhere in the fortress, but not before saying goodbye. 

"Goodbye Lansseax."

"Courtesy of being a gentleman? Whatever, goodbye Lhutel."

Waving goodbye to her, but noting that I obviously noticed she only said goodbye out of politeness, I started walking towards the exit. The fortress was a group of narrow corridors for better defense, though it only served to make me feel overwhelmed... I want to fly. 

My wish came true when I finally managed to escape from that maze of corridors, now being in the courtyard of the fortress, it was just a matter of returning to my real form and completing Aldrich's request. 

"How did a great dragon like me manage to end up like this?"

Flying above the clouds and at a slow speed for all I can, I begin to consider my situation. Aldrich has defeated me... Well, that's the usual. No, that's not the point, the important thing is that now I work for him and he talks too. 

Working for him can be considered normal for dragons, when Fortissax defeated Granssax, a good part of the dragon collective followed him in the attack on Leyndell, a sign that the fist is law among us. 

But that talking is strange, whenever we fought he only let his voice out only when he was hit or rolled, it was scary to fight someone so irrational. Shaking my draconic head, out of the corner of my eye I see my target and certainly making another turn was the right choice. 

"Are those trolls, where would they have gotten them from? No, the question would be where had they hidden them previously?"

I'm not at all worried about those crude attempts at giants, who have given the sword to their god, but this unforeseen event lets me see that there is someone not so crazy behind them and that may be a bit of a problem.

Laughing at my cautious thoughts, which seem to be an effect of being with Aldrich for so long, I take another turn to note all the changes and return to the fortress.