Demon soldiers watched them pass through their lines - civilians carrying possessions, children confused about why they were leaving, elderly who'd lived in Valengard their entire lives departing because demon army was preferable to staying in combat zone.

"Some of them look at us like we're monsters," Koth observed as refugees passed his position.

"To them, we are monsters," Liam replied. He'd been walking through positions, ensuring soldiers were prepared. "We're invading their homeland. Attacking their city. From their perspective, we're exactly what their propaganda claims demons are."

"Does that bother you, my lord?"

"It bothers me that it's necessary. Doesn't change that it's necessary." Liam watched an elderly human woman struggle with bags that looked too heavy. One of the demon soldiers moved to help her, was waved off with glare that mixed fear and defiance. "We can't change their perception. Can only hope that destroying Sanctum Lux prevents the extinction that justifies this invasion."

The night before assault, Liam couldn't sleep.

He stood outside his tent, watching the city in the distance. Lights still burned in windows. Defensive positions were illuminated by torches that marked walls and gates. It looked almost peaceful—just city preparing for night, unaware that dawn would bring violence.

Except everyone inside those walls knew violence was coming. They'd had days to prepare.

Days to say goodbyes and make peace with whatever gods they prayed to. Days to convince themselves they could hold against force that mathematics said was overwhelming.

"Calculating casualties?" Lilith's voice came from behind him.

He hadn't heard her approach. Wasn't sure if that was because she moved silently or because he'd been too distracted.

"Calculating whether fifteen hundred to two thousand dead taking the city is acceptable cost." He didn't turn. "We've lost approximately fifteen hundred already during campaign. Valengard doubles that. Assuming we survive to reach Sanctum Lux, we'll have lost four or five thousand before the real siege begins."

"Four or five thousand out of two hundred thousand." Lilith moved to stand beside him. "That's better ratio than any campaign I've commanded."

"Does that make the deaths acceptable?"

"Acceptable or not, they were necessary. Different thing." She was close enough that he could feel heat radiating from her demon physiology. "You're not going to lead the assault personally this time. We agreed. You command from position where you can coordinate four simultaneous attacks. Not from front where you can get killed doing dramatic heroics."

"I wasn't planning to."

"You were considering it. I can tell." Her voice carried knowledge that came from weeks of working closely together. "You've been calculating whether your presence at gates would reduce casualties or just create risk of losing supreme commander."

She wasn't wrong. Part of him wanted to be at the walls, leading assault personally, sharing the risk soldiers faced.

Another part recognized that coordination was more valuable than individual heroics when managing four-pronged attack.

"I'll command from eastern position with Legion Three," he decided. "Close enough to reach the fighting quickly if needed. Far enough to maintain operational oversight."

"That's compromise between heroics and practicality. I'll accept it." Lilith's voice held approval. "Though I'll be coordinating from central reserve position, which means I won't be able to stop you if you decide compromise isn't satisfying enough."

"You're not my handler."

"No, Im your pather remember? Who's invested in keeping you alive through the campaign." Her correction was pointed. "Also someone who's noticed you have tendency toward tactical risks that serve morale over survival."

They stood in silence for moment, watching the city that would burn tomorrow. The comfortable proximity was becoming familiar—standing close, not touching, both aware of the space between them without acknowledging it directly.

"Valengard is just preliminary," Liam said quietly. "Real siege comes at Sanctum Lux. This is practice assault to test army's remaining strength."

"Practice assault that costs two thousand lives seems expensive rehearsal." But Lilith's voice wasn't arguing, just observing. "Though you're right that Sanctum Lux will be worse. Much worse."

"Sometimes I seriously doubt we can do it. Take the most fortified city in existence with army that's already degraded from three weeks of campaign."

"I think mathematical probability is low. But I also think impossible situations are my specialty." She finally looked at him directly. "And yours, apparently. We've both spent considerable time succeeding at things that should have failed."

"That's optimistic assessment of likely suicide mission."

"No, just assessment of pattern we've established." Her golden eyes reflected the distant city lights. "Tomorrow we take Valengard. Probably lose two thousand demons doing it. Then we march toward Sanctum Lux and discover if accumulated casualties have broken our offensive or if desperate momentum carries us through."

"And if it doesn't? If Valengard breaks the army?"

"Then we fail here instead of there. Better to know army's limits against five thousand defenders than discover them against fifty thousand." She turned toward her tent. "Get some sleep, Liam. Tomorrow's assault begins early. You'll need energy for coordinating four simultaneous attacks while resisting urge to lead charges personally."

She left before he could point out any more observations he had.

Liam remained outside, watching Valengard's lights gradually diminish as the city settled into restless sleep.

Tomorrow those lights would be replaced by fire.

Tomorrow the beautiful white stone buildings would be stained with blood and ash.

Tomorrow approximately two thousand demons would die taking city that was just intermediate objective toward actual target.

The mathematics were clear.

The necessity was absolute.

And somewhere in the synthesis he'd become, Liam had stopped questioning whether commanding deaths made him monster and started accepting that monsters were what survival required.

[Day 21 of March: Complete]

[Distance to Valengard: Surrounding positions established]

[Garrison Strength: 5,000+ (possibly 7,000-8,000 with conscripts)]

[Civilian Population: ~27,000 remaining in city]

[Assault Begins: Dawn, Day 22]

[Projected Casualties: 1,500-2,000 dead]

[Total Campaign Casualties: 1,510 dead current]

Dawn approached.

Valengard waited.

And two hundred thousand demons prepared to discover what taking fortified city cost when army was already exhausted, supply-critical, and operating at compromised effectiveness.

The real test was hours away.

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