"It seems you've held out despite everything, Commander Edric. That alone is worthy of respect," Arthur spoke in a calm voice, but with a tone that carried clear appreciation, attempting to ease the tension surrounding the situation.
Edric did not respond to the praise; instead, he cast a scrutinizing glance at the soldiers who had entered behind Arthur.
His tired eyes scanned the men's faces, their tidy uniforms, and their evident discipline. He knew these troops hadn't come to reinforce his defenses—but to replace him.
As Arthur and Edric exchanged silent, assessing gazes, the sound of more footsteps echoed across the ground before a man appeared, wearing a lighter armor adorned with the kingdom's emblem.
The man stopped a few paces away, then bowed in a formal gesture before speaking in a businesslike tone, "I am Sir Albert Maugmere, overseer of the Royal Garrison, assigned to supervise the leadership transition at the Iron Fortress."
Edric cast a brief glance at the man before returning his gaze to the horizon.
Arthur showed no sign of irritation, simply nodding and saying, "Then you'll make sure everything proceeds according to protocol."
"Exactly," Albert replied, his tone devoid of pleasantries.
"I have specific orders to oversee the formal handover of the fortress, assess the state of the defenses, and ensure the leadership transition occurs smoothly, without any hidden issues that could affect the fortress's combat readiness for the next battle."
Edric looked at Arthur for a moment, then back at the fortress, as if trying to commit its final details to memory.
At last, he spoke in a quiet but firm voice, "I'll leave the fortress as the orders demand—but don't think that means I agree with everything."
Albert made no comment. Instead, he produced a sealed official scroll and said, "We need to complete the formal procedures in the main hall. I expect your cooperation, Baron Edric."
After a moment of silence, Edric crossed his arms over his chest and said in a measured voice, lacking any enthusiasm, "Let the rest of your forces enter."
Then, turning his gaze toward the castle, he added, "Let's finish this conversation in the proper place."
Arthur nodded without hesitation, while Victor, standing beside him, turned to guide the troops to their positions within the fortress, ensuring their entry was orderly.
The ranks advanced with steady steps, without noise or confusion, stirring conflicting emotions within Edric.
He had spent months fighting in this fortress with men worn down by endless battles, and now he watched fresh troops enter smoothly, as if replacing a legacy built on blood and endurance.
Edric moved with steady steps across the courtyard of the fortress, heading toward one of the sturdier stone buildings that seemed less affected by the scars of past battles.
Arthur walked beside him in silence, matching his pace, while a limited number of guards from both sides followed them.
Meanwhile, Arthur's forces continued to flow into the fortress in a well-organized fashion. Armed and armored, the soldiers spread out quietly through the main courtyard.
Under Victor's command, some moved directly to specific positions along the walls and towers, while others began inspecting the supplies and equipment available in the fortress.
...
Inside the stone building, Edric pushed open a heavy wooden door with his hand. It creaked softly as it opened, revealing a spacious room with a low ceiling and simple yet practical furnishings. At the center stood a large wooden table surrounded by several sturdy chairs.
On its surface lay old maps, marked by frequent use, with ink notes scribbled on their edges—some ancient, others more recent.
Edric entered first, heading straight for the table, followed by Arthur and Albert, who shut the door firmly behind them before quietly taking a seat to the side, observing the scene intently.
Without a word, Edric pulled out one of the chairs and sat down, resting one arm on the table. With his other hand, he gestured for Arthur to take the seat across from him.
Arthur sat without hesitation, his gaze steady on Edric, devoid of any expression that might reveal his intentions.
Albert, seated between them, placed the official scroll on the table and adjusted his posture, ready to record whatever would be agreed upon.
On the table, a single candle burned, casting soft shadows across the men's faces, while the room remained silent except for the flicker of the flame and the distant sounds of soldiers outside.
Edric looked directly at Arthur, then reached out to pick up one of the maps, spreading it before him. A few quiet moments passed before he spoke, his voice devoid of pleasantries:
"Then, let's begin."
Albert shifted slightly, glancing between the two men, then reached for the sealed scroll he had placed on the table.
He broke the red wax seal bearing the garrison's emblem, unrolled the parchment calmly, and laid it before him, running a finger along the written lines to confirm the details.
"By the authority granted to me by the military command, I hereby announce the execution of the leadership replacement order in accordance with the official decree issued by the garrison. Baron Edric, your authority will be transferred to Commander Arthur, effective immediately. All official seals, records, and military keys must be handed over without delay."
A moment of silence followed as the two men exchanged brief glances. Arthur looked up at Edric for a moment before speaking, his tone calm but firm:
"I'll need to verify a few things before the full handover. Some documents haven't been reviewed yet, and there are logistical issues regarding the storerooms. I won't accept the fortress being handed over in a haphazard manner."
Arthur's request wasn't surprising.
He had discovered that in this world—despite its clear resemblance to medieval Europe in terms of the social structure—the methods of administration were different and, in some aspects, even more advanced.
Perhaps this was because the world had not experienced an intellectual renaissance or an industrial revolution like in human history, but rather due to the accumulation of civilization over the ages, which had contributed to the development of certain organizational and administrative systems.
Among these improvements was the process of troop replacement, which was conducted in an orderly fashion according to a pre-planned procedure.
This procedure took into account the nature of the aristocratic society and other various factors.
Arthur knew that following this system wouldn't just bring him greater stability in power—it would also ensure a smooth transition.
He didn't want to leave behind any loopholes that could be exploited against him in the future.
Though he had learned that Baron Edric was loyal to the kingdom, had fought orcs for decades, and was a man of integrity, he wasn't ready to place his full trust just yet.
He believed trust should be built on solid ground, and there was no room for error at such a critical moment.
Albert nodded slowly, having expected such a request from Arthur, then spoke in a composed tone: "Of course, Commander Arthur. I assure you that the handover will be carried out exactly as you requested. There will be sufficient time to review the documents and ensure that all logistical matters are in order."
"You will have the time necessary to verify everything, but the procedures must not be delayed. The official seals and records must be handed over immediately, while other matters can be settled within the next few hours."
He then added, addressing Edric: "Baron Edric, we kindly ask for your cooperation in handing over the official records and maps. We need to organize everything precisely. Although the process might take some time, this is essential to prevent any instability or problems following the transition."
Edric cast a long look directly at Arthur, signaling his understanding of the unspoken meaning behind his words.
"You are right to want to verify things. But let me assure you, I won't leave the fortress in chaos. I'll help you organize all the details, as requested."
He gave a slight nod, then turned to Albert and said: "Alright, let's finish this procedure quickly. I don't want this to drag on longer than necessary."
Arthur looked at Edric for a moment, then calmly said: "Nor do we. But we must ensure everything is done properly."
Edric reached into his inner pocket and pulled out a silver ring bearing the fortress's emblem, placing it on the table next to the open document.
"This is the official command seal."
Albert picked up the ring and examined it for a moment before carefully placing it into a small leather pouch he carried.
Then, he signaled to one of the guards waiting outside. The soldier entered immediately, assuming a strict, attentive posture.
"The records are stored in the inner hall. I will guide you there myself."
Arthur and Albert rose from their seats, following Edric as he led them through a long stone corridor.
The old walls were dimly lit by torches, casting flickering shadows across the passage.
The air carried the scent of old paper and the leather used in record binding, suggesting just how ancient the documents they were about to review truly were.
When they arrived at the records hall, Edric pushed open another wooden door, revealing a spacious room filled with wooden shelves lined with both ancient and more recent records. Some were bound with leather straps, others left open, showing signs of recent reviews.
"These are all the castle's records," Edric said.
"They include available resources, military reports, and statistics related to the troops. Nothing leaves this place without being documented here."
Albert stepped toward one of the shelves packed with files and pulled out a tightly bound record.
He opened it quickly and began scanning its contents, while Arthur examined the room with sharp eyes, as if assessing the administrative precision of the castle.
It seemed like he was evaluating every detail, looking for any gap that might reveal a weakness in the system.
…
While Albert was busy inspecting the records, Edric and Arthur returned to the previous room and sat again at the wooden table.
This time, Edric pulled out an old map from a compartment in the table and spread it out in the center.
He began running his eyes over the carefully drawn lines on the map. Though worn by time, with frayed edges and scattered ink stains, its details were still clear.
Arthur, seated across from Edric, glanced quickly at the map before raising his eyes toward Edric, who appeared deep in thought, as though evaluating the situation on the ground.
"The area where Iron Fortress is located is here," Edric said, pointing to a dark line on the map.
"This region has seen several attacks over the past months. The last one was just three days ago."
He moved his hand to another point on the map where symbols representing fortifications could be seen. "Here, on the eastern side, we had to retreat after the last battle. We lost fifty men and had to redistribute our forces to cover the gaps."
Arthur lifted his gaze from the map and looked at Edric intently.
"Do you still have enough supplies to hold out long-term if we don't come?"
Edric let out a bitter laugh and turned his head slightly, as if finding the question pointless. "Supplies? Barely enough for a month if we ration carefully. The truth is, we lost a lot of provisions with every attack. The situation was dire, and it was clear it was only a matter of time before we lost the fortress entirely."
Silence returned to the room for a moment, broken only by the soft crackling of the candle flame.
The atmosphere was heavy, as if everyone present understood that the next moment would be critical.
Edric looked once more at the map, then exhaled slowly before raising his head and speaking in a calm but thoughtful voice:"It's true that once I formally hand over the castle, I will no longer be responsible for it. But after the lives of hundreds of loyal soldiers who defended it… I can't help but ask… How do you plan to defend this fortress? Will you continue to follow the same methods we used, or do you intend to bring a different strategy?"
َArthur leaned back in his chair and rotated the map slightly to view it from his angle.
Then he spoke in a calm yet firm tone:"I respect your dedication, Baron, and the sacrifices of your soldiers. That's why all I can say is this—the fortress will not fall."
Edric didn't move, but kept his eyes locked on Arthur.
He slowly nodded, resting both hands on the table."You speak with confidence, but this fortress didn't endure the past months by mere luck. We fought fiercely. We lost men. The only ones left here are those who understand just how dire the situation is."
He lifted his head to look Arthur directly in the eyes, the fatigue of sleepless nights spent defending the castle etched deep into his gaze."Don't get me wrong. As I said, whether the fortress stands or falls no longer affects my record directly. But I need to know what you intend to do. What will become of the sacrifice made by the men who died here?"
Arthur replied with a resolute voice, placing his hands firmly on the table:"Your soldiers have fought enough. It's time to pull them back—to let them recover their strength. They'll stay here during the transition period, but command and defensive duties will gradually be handed over to me and my men."
Edric didn't look entirely surprised, as if he had anticipated such a decision.
He stared at Arthur for a long moment before slowly rising from his chair, running a hand through his unkempt beard, though he couldn't hide the frown spreading across his face.
With a weary voice, he finally said:"So… this is how it ends, then."