I came back to the Dragoon Platoon headquarters. Maybe it was also a good time to know who I will be within the last day of the war. I made sure to observe very well my surroundings because I may be attacked again.
A messenger came along with different soldiers and asked everyone to gather around him. He announced, "By order of Lieutenant Samson of the Wallflower Company, the 16 remaining soldiers of Dragoon, 5 of Griffin, 2 of Lotus and 1 of Thorn will merge with the Lion Platoon, a representative will arrive here shortly to orient you of the plans tomorrow."
In this world, platoons were composed of around 50-70 troops. For their comrades to be annihilated, it must be depressing to them. I, on the other hand, did not develop any relationship with my comrades so I was generally fine. Is it still a good thing to know these people if they will be dying tomorrow?
I noticed some similarities in Gaia and Earth. The names of the platoons were based on creatures from my world that were also in our myths and the military unit rankings were also the same with ours on Earth. Was the system derived from someone in my world and educated them with this. If so, there may be other people here from my world.
After the announcement, a sign of relief was seen in the eyes of the soldiers, some even smiled as if they were saved, except for one.
"Father... father... father... father said that to be truly a man...one must enter 100 battles. Today is my first battle and I almost died."
100 battles. What is so special about 100 battles? I heard that last time from the man who assaulted me.
"Are you okay?" I asked the young man.
"Everyone who I came here with, died."
Psychological trauma is normal during wars and this man has been greatly affected by it. More so, after this war, he may become crazy.
In my world, there are different ways of counseling these kinds of people. The same as him, my mental health is also greatly affected. But I also fought different wars in my world, not just an actual one. It may have strengthened me somehow to survive this situation.
As a doctor, psychiatry was not my specialization, but I know that just by having people talk to those affected, it may lessen the stress in their mind. I know I promised myself to stay on the sidelines but maybe I can help this man by speaking to him. Some of us here may also be suffering quietly so I've thought of gathering the other soldiers by the campfire.
'I really don't know how to start this... but here it goes,'
"Hey guys, tomorrow will most likely be our last day."
'Oops! I think I used the wrong words. What I meant was of the war'
"Last day... last day in this war. Maybe we can chill and talk about things just to lessen the stress. It will be regretful if we don't get to know each other after winning this war. Come over the campfire."
"Huh! What's the point if we will be dying tomorrow?"
One uninterested fellow said and entered his tent, but his comrade stayed behind.
'Definitely same idea as I had a while ago'
"That is, if we are going to die. But we will not die."
'The optimist in me was getting guilty'
"Yes! We will not die!" said smilingly by a tall guy which already looked like a veteran.
'Thank you for supporting me in this.'
Thirteen people including me gathered by the campfire, others left, and some waited inside their tents for the representative to arrive.
"To start with, maybe you can start with your name, from where you are and your..."
'Hobby? No... those are only done in classrooms'
"Reason why you are here," I quickly followed.
Everyone was quiet. I have already initiated this segment, so I hope someone starts by introducing themselves. Somehow, I feel the group leader of a certain project that will be responsible for every task. When I felt I really needed to initiate as a last effort...
"I'm Horo. I came with Lancer who just entered the tent. We are the only ones left from Lotus platoon. We are a cavalry unit from Tesma, the village blessed by the Lord of the Tesma Mountain, the chief of Horses. "
Chiefs. I've heard about it from the dinner with the Lion Platoon. A certain species may be ruled by an evolved member who possess an intelligence that is able to communicate with humans. Aside from this, there are also Unique Species who also possess superior intelligence but do not band with others. I do not know anything about the Lord of the Mountain, but Sonny told me that there are a lot of Goblin Kings south of Leodorn, the capital of Hearthwood.
"Ooohh.. I definitely would want a horse blessed by that chief..." said by a young soldier just around the age of Lucas.
"The Lord only comes out to those who have a deep connection with their steeds."
Just when I thought everything was going smoothly, with others talking about things more than what was required, it again turned quiet.
"To have an organized flow... let us do it a clockwise manner."
I was also able to have a glimpse of one of the strategists holding a pocket watch, thus derived that a measurement of time exists. I still need to confirm it but time seems to be longer here in this world. It's just a hunch based on how my body feels and my somewhat longer sleep last night.
There was no confusion from my words and the next one stepped forward with trembling hands. It was the young soldier who was already murmuring before the campfire discussion started.
"I am from the family Clover! I am Arthur, Clover. All my 20 retainers have now perished. Please protect me and my family shall reward you!"
"Tsk! Nobles, thinking you can buy everything and always get away with money," a spiked haired guy just beside Arthur said, who introduced himself as Rico along with his other 2 comrades, Marcus and Dennis. They were mercenaries who joined the army. I thought mercenaries accepted anything as long as the coin was right? His hatred was deeply rooted based on how he looked at Arthur.
This made Arthur further tremble.
"Well, if I shall be rewarded, then you have just to stay by my side," said smilingly by the same guy that supported me awhile back by saying that 'we won't die.' The guy although not yet his turn, introduced himself as Caesar, the only survivor from his platoon (Thorn), just like me. While everyone was wearing leather armor, he was fully equipped in iron that one can mistake him as a knight. Even with his comrades wiped out, this guy still has good energy in him, surprisingly a happy one. He may be in the stage that does not recognize the deaths of his comrades for now or maybe he was not able to make deep connections with them. In wars, there was no time for mourning, anyway. If he is in this state, then he is just in the same or worse situation than Arthur.
Depression is a disease that is hard to recognize. There are those who mask their loneliness by acting normally, sometimes, too much of the opposite of their feelings, that no one notices it. But when they hit their threshold, they can end everything.
Caesar stepped near the campfire...
"We may be leftovers of our previous platoons but still, they say that you are special if you become part of the Lion Platoon. Although we are temporary, just being in this platoon makes me feel secured."
If not for the emphasis of Caesar, I wouldn't be able to know that the Lion Platoon's fame is spread all over the army.
The next ones to talk were the two patrol soldiers from the capital, Livid and Beowulf. Based on their faces and speaking, they have a positive outlook.
The three who joined from Griffin were the triplets, Falon, Ghana and Hisu from the Iba Village.
Triplets were delivered through caesarian operation in Earth as it reduces morbidity and mortality. These triplets here in front of me are a manifestation that the health system is not that outdated. But with the presence of magic here, I cannot conclude that the technique was simply a pure surgical one.
"To have twins born is already considered a miracle, much more if it were triplets. We are regarded as a blessing from Luna in our village." (Falon)
"They say that the man returned to the capital after delivering us. After a year of exploration, we were told that no one knows his residency and that he only appears as a doctor in different skirmishes, sometimes, not even involving Heartwood." (Ghanu)
As triplets, I thought Hisu will be the one to speak up next, but he remained quiet.
Falon continued, "Tomorrow will be the fifth day and we still haven't seen him."
I saw someone in white clothes treating the soldiers last night. Given that they are from Griffin, they just arrived in this area, so I told them to check it out. Hisu excused himself to check the tent I told them.
The next that spoke was a young man, also around the age of Lucas who identified himself as a farmer from Telan.
"Unfortunately, I cannot tell my name. If you proved yourselves to me after the war, I may be able to tell you."
"Such arrogance from someone who came in a farming village!" said Dennis.
What is with these mercenaries? They keep destroying the good vibes that was already created.
"If you have not heard of our village, then you are ignorant."
Arthur explained that the village of Telan is regularly attacked by monsters. Because of its abundant land, there is also abundance in monsters because of the different plants it produces. The farmers were also warriors. In their place, warriors only give their names to fellow warriors whose strength they recognize.
Lastly, I introduced myself as Lucas. It was the better choice for now because I may be bombarded with questions. Truth is, I do not have all his memories. Most likely, just a few and to remember them, I needed to process it like translating a language. Still, I was able to answer them somehow. Maybe someday, I may introduce myself as Alab.
The conversation continued with everyone sharing their sentiments about the war. The two patrol soldiers, Livid and Beowolf shared their love for strategies. Hisu arrived shaking his head saying that he did not find the doctor. Lancer, Horo's acquaintance went out of his tent, telling he was bored and joined us. The mercenaries, except for the jolly young Marcus, clashed with Caesar because of his ideas of helping the weak and with Lancer because of his claiming that he was the strongest. The triplets, the patrol soldiers and I helped in mitigating the situation. Generally, more than half of us have a positive outlook and think that we will win the war. This has influenced the others to think the same, too.
During the conversation, a representative from the Lion platoon arrived.
"To the temporary troop members of the Lion platoon: The enemies' numbers are few. We stay in the right side of the army and hit their left flank. You will be divided in 4 squads of 6 members. Your sergeants will be Lucas and Lancer. Respond to banner calls as needed in the battle. To the Sergeants, come tomorrow at 3 am for further orientation. Lastly, no bannerman in Lion. The Lions do not ask for help, we come for help."
The representative's last line made me smile because I can hear Marshal's prideful voice saying it but my heart pounded from the same words. I was expected to kill. I was thinking I will be just on standby and will not be directly facing the enemies because I was a bannerman. Now that it has come to this, I am not sure if my mind can bear to witness a man's face after I stab or slashed him...
'Why was I even made sergeant? I have no experience in becoming one?'
The man's arrival also signaled the end of our campfire session. Everyone returned to their tents. I still needed to do one more thing though.
There are different ways of people sharing their thoughts. Some can open in groups but there are also ones who are more comfortable sharing to only one or a few.
It was time to rest but Hisu was playing with a stone outside their tent staring at the sky. I really intended to speak to him, but I made it to look that I was just passing by.
"You did not speak there a while ago. How do you think this will go?"
"Maybe we will win and survive," he replied.
I was glad he spoke. I thought he had some kind of complication. Those few words were enough for me to come back to my tent. I agreed and walked on.
I saw Arthur waiting near my tent.
Before I could speak, he said, "Lucas, I may really die tomorrow, so before that happens, I want to tell you a secret..."