Arknights : Final Rebirth - Gladius Belii

[E] Chapter 18 - A quaint exchange...

"Mono/Dialogue"

'Inner thoughts'

Narration

[Message/communication apparatus]

Date: 25th December 1080

Location: County of Toron, Victoria

POV: Narrator

The night is full of merriment, the air is thick with a sense of jubilation, the coldness of winter, the dread white ghost who had centuries ago whisked away the unfortunate, was converted into the fuel for furthering the needs of warmth.

But this time of rest also had its darker side, a most natural aspect upon living and dying, of rejuvenation and decay, and of glory and vanity.

Victoria's winter is a beast of its own. It is not the harsh and lethal specter of death from Ursus and Sami, it is not a muddy and unrelenting swamp of a bygone era from Kazimierz, and it is not the coldness amidst the glittering skies that is Lungmen.

Victoria's winter is that of silent yet ever-scorching blood and iron, so ancient with the thirst that they have even forgotten what the purpose of this all is. To subjugate? To thrive? To hate and destroy? Or to rebuild the new order with Victoria at the helm?

Fitting, right, correct, true, and all those fanfare' answers are as numerous as there are intrigues between Victorians, uncountable. Not to mention that reality can be very cruel and unforgiving, even more so when the future is uncertain and mired with strife and division.

But blessed be with the legacies forged by the blazing flame of Draco and supported by the vigorous tenacity of Aslan, Victoria keeps marching forward, as if the winter cowered from the thumping sounds of boots and banging of the drums...

Was the cold embrace a form of warning?

Was the cold wind that brought forth death a sign?

Was the cold nothing more than a reminder of how small a man is?

The answer is... Nay.

It was but a mere messenger of the civilized world that the war machines would sharpen their fangs and continue on... Factories all over the nation keep pumping out artillery shells, military academies producing capable officers and soldiers, and with their granaries full of cornucopia of blessing...

In a twisted meaning and form that signifies the changing of seasons...

Victoria's spring brought forth death and destruction...

But the horrors of war were now turned inward, towards Victoria itself. An empty throne is an enticing morsel for the dukes to wrestle for themselves.

In spite of all those opportunities, not everyone wished for war and no country can sustain itself on war alone. The needs of people are many, and even though the method to enforce their obedience is always available, it is not always viable.

From an economic and social standpoint, it would be extremely counterproductive to enforce your will when cheaper and less harmful methods are available, notwithstanding the more rabid rabble of groups of course.

Thus winter is also the time to gather for resources necessary for the upcoming conflict of interest, not everything has to be bloody... yet ironically, a bloody affair might be the better choice in the lottery of fateful boon and misfortune.

5 core principles on why winter is the best time to prepare.

First, it is the time when the farmers and other backbone of local productions are not tilling the land. This signaled a chance for an army to bolster their ranks easier, winter left people with more leeway, so conscription might be an option for those who wished to see beyond the confines of their crops.