The finale approaches

The commander wiped his perspiration off his forehead. He can't help but feel a lack of confidence for the upcoming siege. Even as he sat here, planning his defense and counter-attack, the enemy approaches.

His lack of confidence was not unexpected. He had already retreated to his very last fortress, his final stronghold, ever since the onslaught of his enemies began. Over the past week, fortress after fortress had fallen, some hardly putting up a proper fight. His lack of planning for the defense had been obvious. Even as the enemy laid siege upon the fortress walls, the defense troops were scrambling all over the place.

But what had caused his lack of confidence was not just the fact that he was losing battle after battle. It was the fact that a day ago, yesterday, one of his strongest fortresses had been torn apart, leaving ruins in the aftermath. One of his strongest fortresses, his mighty bastion of invincibility, and yet it had been overran like that. That citadel had hardly put up at least a tough fight, as he was expecting. His opponents had made a swift attack, and he had no time at all to defend. Losing his powerful citadel like that had gave him a huge blow to his confidence.

Even as another one of his fortresses fell today, he hadn't been bothered much by it. His confidence was so low that he had just let it fall, half-heartedly preparing a defense for it. But now, as he sat here, he know he must prepare a good strategy for tomorrow. For tomorrow was the finale, the final siege his opponents will lay on him. This was his last fortress, and one of his strongest as well. He must not let this infallible fortress fall like the previous one did. He must be prepared, more than prepared. His enemies will arrive tomorrow morning, at about 8.15am, his scouts had informed him.

The commander wiped his perspiration off his forehead yet again. He is almost ready.