Although the demonic army had lost ground, the war remained at a stalemate after both enemy forces eventually sent in battalions composed of cannon fodder.

The main demonic forces did not attack because they were determined to defend as they had done throughout the centuries, sacrificing a portion of territory in exchange for the survival of the Republic.

The humans, on the other hand, were just waiting for the signal from Commander-in-Chief Olbert Venzick, after which the attack would begin.

••••

The main reason why humans never launched a definitive attack over the centuries was because of the powerful Republican Council.

The Republican Council, located in the capital of the Argaris Republic, was always powerful, especially in its early days when it took control of the declining Argaris Empire and turned it into a republic. However, ambition, corruption, and poisonous stratagems are everywhere, especially in places where power is found. Over the centuries, some members of the council changed and were replaced by greedy demons and others willing to conspire against the republic in favor of the remnants of the Cudernic. The greatness of the Republican Council was such that, despite all these flaws, it remained standing and with most of its forces intact, because it rarely participated in wars against humans, which prevented humans from accurately assessing the power of the Republican Council.

...

Just like the capital of the Venrac Empire, the capital of the Republic was the most colorful and developed place in the entire Republic.

The demons in the capital of the Republic feared less, because they still trusted in the power that the Republican Council had preserved.

Despite the beautifully cobbled streets with black and white stones, and the buildings of different sizes dedicated to different commercial or residential purposes, nothing in the republican capital could compare to the brilliance and majesty of the beautiful White Castle and the surrounding territories, which included: gardens with flowers that would be difficult to find elsewhere; training grounds with demonic technology ideal for making training more efficient, libraries dedicated to specific topics, and much more. But everything the White Castle possessed was something that the Republican Council had preserved, but whose creation and merit were due to Acad I.

...

White Castle

In a spacious area, there were 28 private boxes at the same height and two private boxes at a higher level.

All the boxes had translucent curtains that prevented the council members from being seen. In the two sumptuous and imposing boxes at the top, the two Senior Councilors sat in silence.

The presence of the two Senior Councilors was imposing; they were feared and respected by the rest of the councilors.

Even so, the Senior Councilors were a neutral force that served as a guide for the Republican Council to maintain order throughout the centuries. To guarantee their position, they took a demonic oath by which they swore neutrality to be the guide that would maintain order in the Republican Council during the sessions held. The only exception to that neutrality that could render such an oath ineffective was the emergence of a crisis that directly threatened to destroy the Republican Council.

...

During that day's session, proposals and discussions came and went according to each council member's turn to speak, no one dared to interrupt anyone else, because some time ago a councilor had dared to abruptly interrupt the participation of the councilor whose turn it was to speak, and the result of that interruption was a grotesque punishment that made it clear that order in the Republican Council was an immutable law.

Some members of the Republican Council requested to send a third of the powerful Baratrense army; they had always requested the same thing over the centuries, initially requesting to send the Baratrense army, then two-thirds, then half; but as they were in the minority, their proposals were always refuted and disappeared among the multiple proposals of those who sought to preserve their positions or bring about the fall of the Republic.

At the end of that long day of session in the Republican Council, they decided to send the demons that had been recruited in recent weeks. And they opened up the option of recruiting demons aged 15 to 20 who had reached the first rank and above; the nobility was exempt, although they still received requests that they could refuse if they wished.

••••

A week later, news spread throughout the Demon Republic that thousands upon thousands of demons over the age of 20 and in the second rank or higher had been recruited and sent to the borders.

...

In a garden filled with flowers of different colors, red flowers stood out, emitting a faint smell of blood.

Both were sitting on a blanket on the ground, Mart's arms wrapped around Selenia's waist. She wasn't using her cutting spells because they were both wearing their uniforms.

Selenia leaned her back against Mart's chest as she finished reading aloud a report Mart had asked her for.

"It's amazing what information you can gather with money," Mart said without letting go of Selenia.

She closed the report.

"It looks like we're going to lose again."

Mart kissed Selenia on the cheek and then felt a slight taste of blood on his lips. A faint crimson mark remained on Selenia's cheek.

"No, we won't lose. The republic will lose, but as long as we stay healthy and grow stronger, we will be the real winners in the end. But to seize the opportunity, we must stay informed so we can act with precision. That way, we'll get rid of several pests and make an indisputable profit.

"I'm fine with whatever you decide; I'll always be on your side," Selenia said as she placed the report on the tablecloth and then turned to kiss Mart, a long, deep kiss.

••••

On the border between humans and demons.

The demons' military camps welcomed with open arms the reinforcements that would be sent to the front lines in the coming battles.

When they arrived, the newly arrived reinforcements were assigned inexperienced leaders to guide them on how to act when in the midst of battle.

Among the recruits, emotions ran high: excitement, enthusiasm, bloodlust, anxiety, fear, insecurity, courage, among others. Emotions depended mostly on each recruit's place of origin and life experiences, but in the end, their emotions mattered little. They just had to cast spells or wield a weapon to buy time and ensure that the Republic lost as little territory as possible.

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