Chapter 50: The New Commander

　　Demidat issued a royal decree to reward every soldier and laborer who had participated in the struggle, and to provide solace and support to the families of the fallen. Morrad, the cousin of the Lady of Nor and the Commander-in-Chief of the Nor army, stood before his sovereign with humility. He expressed that the victory belonged not to him, but to the Lord’s strategic vision, the bravery of the rank-and-file, and the tactical advantages provided by the rugged forest terrain.　　Nevertheless, in accordance with the laws of Nor, Morrad was bestowed with titles of great prestige and honor. He shed his modest military uniform for a magnificent robe embroidered with ancient sigils. Consequently, his direct military command was relinquished and transferred to Remor and Winmisit.　　Morrad had been raised under a strict education, holding the principles of integrity and prudence above all else. Having entered the military at a young age and served in various regions, he possessed an intimate knowledge of Nor’s defenses. His rise to the supreme command was the result of the Lord’s trust in his early, insightful proposals regarding the Forest Line. On the battlefield, Morrad lived and bled alongside his men, earning the fierce loyalty of his subordinates and the deep affection of his soldiers.　　His faithful lieutenant, Remor Bliss, had held a high-ranking post within his great army. Born into a prosperous farming family in Lidis, Remor was the youngest son and a favorite of his family, yet his parents had pinned all their hopes on his elder brother, Davine.　　However, the widely favored Davine achieved nothing. Instead, he squandered his inheritance and ended up in a tavern, relying on crude wit and banter to earn the laughter and tips of patrons. His most "respectable" work involved using his imagination to pen stories for the local theater or occasionally serving as a musician.　　Their parents neither discouraged nor promoted Remor’s passion for learning. When the Lord’s call to war came, the father and the eldest son donned their armor to face Worksmile, though they were assigned to different units.