The Extra is a Genius!? Chapter 604: Thorne Before the Storm

From the elevated balcony of Thorne manor, Noel observed the extensive preparations that had extended outward.

It extended beyond merely the estate.

The whole practical expanse of Thorne Territory surrounding it was transformed into a preparatory battleground. Soldiers were erecting protective barriers and embedding sturdy stakes into the soil at narrower sections of the terrain.

Teams of mages were inscribing protective arrays along pathways, inclines, and exposed entry points rather than squandering them on one building alone.

Dwarves were fortifying critical bottlenecks, observation spots, and storage zones with their typical unyielding productivity.

Elves had ventured deeper into the peripheral areas, fine-tuning vantage points, visibility paths, and aid trails.

Trees were felled solely when necessary. Trails were broadened. Safe havens for retreat were designated. Aid stations and armory caches were already being set up beyond the primary defenses.

This setup resembled not the safeguarding of a lordly home but the onset of a conflict that could determine the continent's destiny.

Steps sounded from his left side.

Albrecht halted next to him, maintaining sufficient space to avoid any awkwardness in the exchange.

"We’ll position the mansion at the heart," he declared, his gaze fixed on the activity underneath. "I don’t believe your acquaintance targets the residence specifically. And if we can avoid it, I’d hate to see it destroyed. Thus, I’d like to deploy these forces over the broadest usable portion of the territory."

Noel offered a slight acknowledgment with his head.

"That approach suits me well. I’d prefer the family spared from direct harm if possible. Losing it would be devastating." His eyes stayed on the bustle below. "Yet if it occurs, please don’t hold me accountable."

Albrecht paused briefly before replying.

"We’re wagering the entire world here, not merely a dwelling. The home can be reconstructed. But if the world falls, everything I’ve achieved vanishes with it." His voice stayed steady. "I’d rather it doesn’t reach that point."

Silence ensued.

Noel broke it soon after.

"I truly hope it all succeeds."

Albrecht shot him a quick look.

"You fret excessively, Noel." He allowed the statement to linger before proceeding. "I wish I could urge you to unwind, but that’s impossible. Not given your crucial part in this."

A brief interlude passed.

"Incidentally," he mentioned, "your sibling has given birth too."

Noel’s face showed little reaction.

"...Understood. That’s positive." His tone stayed neutral. "Convey my happiness to her."

Having spoken, Albrecht inclined his head slightly and departed, exiting prior to the quiet between them becoming even more strained.

Within the strategy chamber, an expansive chart of Thorne Territory dominated almost the whole surface of the table. Various colored tokens and icons were already arrayed in multiple layers upon it. The densest markings encircled the manor, yet the peripheral regions were equally vital. Tharvaldur’s fighters were allocated to the most fortified narrows, the spellcasters Redna had summoned were dispersed among array maintenance, distant control, and bolstering stations. The troops from the Holy Capital were stationed where restoration and cleansing would prove essential. No units were held back idly. Each part of the domain received assignments since any could turn into a warzone.

Noel positioned himself along one edge of the table, shifting his view from the diagram to the ladies before him. "Everyone clear on your placements?"

Elyra responded promptly, her focus still on the layout. "Affirmative. I’ll oversee the core facility and auxiliary defenses. That’s ideal for my skills. Among us four, I’m the least adept in close fighting, so pushing into an unsuitable spot would just hinder everyone. This leverages my true strengths."

Charlotte nodded faintly. "I’ll join the Holy Capital front, emphasizing recovery and cleansing aid." She met Noel’s eyes afterward. "And no, I won’t exhaust my divine gifts, so ease up."

Selene’s reply was direct, her voice brooking no debate. "I’ll remain by your side. Should your position falter or require aid prior to diverging from the primary zone, I’ll step in."

Elena concluded. "I’ll bolster the vanguard alongside Marcus and the rest. If intensity builds there, I can sustain fighters longer."

Noel met each of their stares momentarily, then affirmed with a single nod. "Fine," he murmured. "Just stay vigilant. Every one of you."

Beyond the walls, adjacent to a rapid reaction setup, the atmosphere shifted. Armament stands were positioned near an incomplete shield outpost as troops, dwarves, and elves streamed by ceaselessly, hauling boxes, verifying communications, and refining indicators across the broad area from the woodland border to the core barrier. The magnitude was vast, yet being there with Clara, Garron, and Laziel rendered it momentarily more intimate. Less overwhelming.

Marcus had lingered in silence overly long. Clara spotted it immediately, as she invariably did. She positioned herself near him with an arm across her chest, observing the laborers briefly before tilting her head toward his features. "You’ve acted this way since the peaks," she noted. "That often signals you’re overthinking or on the verge of a foolish move."

"Possibly a combination," Marcus replied.

She held her patience. He scratched behind his ear and directed his sight toward the remote bulwark. "Whenever I feel I’m closing the gap, Noel surges to a whole new level. Initially he led. Then he became outrageous. Now he’s reached Manacode."

Garron chuckled derisively. "Then quit fixating on the horizon and focus on your duties. Today’s not for indulging doubts as a pastime."

Laziel folded his limbs. "I despise when Garron utters wisdom. It somehow worsens the entire affair."

A subtle grin graced Clara’s lips. "That could be the most unsettling remark today."

Marcus emitted a subdued chuckle, though it lasted only an instant. "I’m not envious. Truly. I simply don’t wish to linger afterward, amid the chaos, regretting untapped efforts when opportunity lingered."

Clara’s look gentled slightly, without veering into mushiness. "Then exert more effort presently. Maintain your sector. Preserve lives. Return intact to me and our boy. That matters greatly, Marcus."

Garron assented with a nod. "Precisely. Strive fiercer once we endure. For now, Noel requires reliable allies who won’t shatter ranks at the first sign of peril, not brooding introspection."

Darkness enveloped Thorne Territory, yet the labors persisted. From the external veranda, Noel still discerned flickering torches traversing lanes, rises, trimmed treelines, and partial fortification rows. Thousands of individuals toiled below—humans, elves, dwarves, mages, warriors, menders, laborers—constructing, transporting, strengthening, readying. Some would perish on the morrow. He accepted that truth. Self-deception held no value at this stage.

A subtle panel materialized in his vision.

[1 day remaining]

Noir perched next to him in her young wolf guise, compact and subdued, her violet gaze mirroring the remote glows beneath. For some time, words eluded them both.

Then Noel breathed out gently. "I truly loathe this phase."

Noir raised her head to him. "The anticipation?"

"The certainty."

Her ears flicked briefly. "You’ll prevail, dad."

He released a soft sigh verging on amusement. "You declare that so simply."

"Because it is fact." She leaned subtly against his thigh. "And because any hint of doubt from me would set your mind racing excessively."

Noel peered downward at her. "That evident?"

"Indeed."

He extended his arm and placed his palm atop her crown, digits gliding through her ebony coat. "Remain nearby tomorrow."

"Without fail," Noir affirmed.