***Evening.It was getting quieter than it had been during the day. Tobias arrived at the village chief's residence, greeted by Elisa, who seemed awake since a few hours before sunset.Tobias took off his black coat, sat down on the sofa, and sighed. The events he had experienced this afternoon at the White Palace had exhausted him physically.Elisa took good initiative. She came out of the kitchen, walking with both hands carrying a tray filled with a teapot and two glasses. The inside of the clay pot was her homemade orange juice.The young man opened his eyes, seeing Elisa coming to the long sofa he was sitting on. She placed the tray on the wooden table, pouring orange juice into a glass for Tobias."What did they discuss at the palace?" asked Elisa, curious that Tobias had been gone for so long.Tobias turned his head slowly, his tired eyes looking at the woman beside him. What happened in the palace shouldn't be known to the pu

"Why? You have the highest authority in all of Equestria. You are as powerful as King Constantine," Tobias explained.Elena sighed. She knew very well that her power was so great in all of Equestria. However, Elena thought of the risk Equestria would take if she mobilized a large army from each region.Every region would be short of soldiers, causing the defense to be so fragile. Elena was worried that Valcke would use the opportunity to start a new invasion of regions other than Atrea."Your request could cause the stability of security to be threatened in Equestria. The deployment of a large army will be followed by other kingdoms, resulting in a major war in the Atrea region," Elena replied.Tobias listened carefully. What the woman before him said was true. The other regions wouldn't have enough defenses if another attack from kingdoms outside Equestria occurred.The young man nodded, understanding the risk Elena was referring to. Tobias took a

"Wait? Troop mobilization? Isn't it too early to do that right now?" asked Elisa."I can't wait any longer, Elisa. I'm afraid that if we don't use this opportunity, it will put a stop to my plans," Tobias explained."But war must be a drawn-out affair; it could take months. If you insist on fighting now, your troops will starve in the middle of winter," said Elisa.Tobias stopped what he was doing, setting up wooden bows in several eastern regions. He raised his head, looking at Elisa, who was standing next to Liam.It was indeed fall this month, the leaves falling from the trees. Farming was in full swing, storing up food supplies for the three months of winter."What's wrong, Tobias?" asked Liam."Her words stopped me in my tracks. What she said could be an issue in the assault on Atrea's territory," Tobias explained."That's why I asked you not to mobilize the troops to the east. Do it when winter is over," Elisa pleaded.To

Tobias chose to go to the first village, which was located in a forest. Before they arrived, Tobias and Liam would meet at an intersection after entering the dense forest.Both of them continued to spur their horses on at a steady pace. They didn't want to be in a hurry to arrive, of course, while both of them scanned the surroundings.The forest was an unpredictable area. It could be used by people to commit robberies or other crimes without being detected.Not only evil-hearted humans but many wild animals roamed the forest. Given that this place was their habitat, there was no fear whatsoever for the animals to defend their habitat or territory.The first intersection Tobias encountered was the same as when he rode in from the west with Giselle, Theo, and Mira. Tobias stopped his horse, looking right and left.Liam did the same, "Where's the road to one of those villages?"Tobias pointed to the dirt roads on two sides, north and south, "T

The villagers' steps began to stop near a cliff. Tobias and Liam watched with expressions of admiration for the beautiful landscape of the Atrea region.Because of its high location, Tobias and Liam could see the landscape of the urban areas and forests in the western region. He could see Hooktown and several other towns under Valcke's control."You can watch the war from here," Tobias said."It's something we've been doing for a long time, ever since the war against Valcke in Stratham happened," the villager said.He stood with his head slightly bowed. Liam was focused on watching the man while wanting to know what the man was doing. However, it was different with Tobias, who was still standing near the cliff secured by the fence, staring at the landscape of the Atrea region, which was now filled with farm fields."It looks like Valcke's purpose for capturing that territory is to use it as their farm," Tobias said."If I can seize this terr