I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. When I arrived to Wargon castle, it felt more like I had entered a rowdy pub. The so called Serenitatem soldiers lazed around the castle barley able to hold onto their jugs of beer. They laughed and sang obnoxiously loud, as if we weren't currently in a war.
"Oh shit there's a women here!" one of them finally spotted me.
"Women, where?"
A man with a scruffy appearance stepped towards me, trying not to trip on his own feet.
After what felt like hours, he finally managed to stand in front of me.
"Hey young lady ye lost, or perhaps ye came to play." a disgusting grin formed on his mouth.
"Where is your captain?" I disregarded his comment.
"You're looking at him." He pointed a thumbs up towards him.
This oaf is the captain?
"You are Gauvain?" I asked.
For some reason my question erupted laughter around the hall.
"That stuck up prick, me? Now that's a joke!" the man bellowed.
What's going on, wasn't I supposed to meet with a man named Gauvain? I don't have time for this tomfoolery!
"Now stop looking so serious and let this big brother comfort you."
I winced at the pressure as he grabbed onto my arm.
"L-Let go."
I can't use my mana here, there was no telling who I could expose myself to. The more he aggressively pulled at me, the more my resolve began to break.
"Just stop resisting alrea-"
Out of no where the man was suddenly kicked forward until he was face flat on the ground.
A man two times smaller than him, even shorter than me, stood in place of the kick. I could see a vein visibly throbbing on his forehead.
"What do you think you are doing you ass."
There was no reply as he was knocked out cold.
"Are you alright miss?" the shorter man asked, with a now gentle expression.
His mannerisms seemed familiar. I nodded and rubbed the part of my arm that ached.
"Thank you."
"Bruis is at it again." one of the other men hollered but was quickly silenced by a raise of said Bruis' fist.
He directed his attention back to me.
"You are here to speak with lieutenant Gauvain?"
I nodded.
"Alright let me take you to him." he said without further questioning.
So he is here.
I followed the man up the stairs.
"Name's Bruis by the way."
"Laemise." I responded with my own.
"It's nice to meetcha Laemise."
I would have a never guessed the cheery man in front of me capable of knocking another grown man out.
We entered a room that looked to be for strategizing. Except, it was empty.
Was this a trap?
"Knock on it three times."
I focused back on Bruis.
"Excuse me?"
He pointed to a mirror oddly placed on the wall.
"The mirror knock on it three times."
I followed his instructions and soon my reflection began to swirl around until the appearance of a stern looking man appeared.
"Didn't I tell you to only call when-" he stopped mid-sentence.
We stared at each other, neither saying anything at first. His appearance was more of what I had in mind when I thought Serenitatem solider. Not only that, but he was also a paladin. The class of magic users of Serenitatem who used a more offensive type of holy and light magic compared to the clerics. He wore silver and gold armor with angel wings insignia over his body.
"You must be the girl Duke Dior sent in." he spoke once more.
"Yes, I was told to report to you, my findings. Regarding the druid forces-"
"Hold it." he held up a hand.
"No need to continue unless it is reports of victory. Everything else relay to the captain of the group."
Was this guy for real.
"Now if that is all, I have more pressing matters to attend to."
"Wait what do you mea-"
I didn't to get finish my sentence as I looked back at my own face.
I was in utter disbelief. This whole situation was completely outrageous.
That sneaky duke set me up for failure didn't he.
There was no way I was going to accept this. I didn't want to repeat the same mistakes as the past me.
Fine, it seems like I'll have to take things into my own hands.
"Bruis, sober everyone up. We've got a battle to prepare for."
Bruis blinked at me a couple times.
"Well what are you waiting for, the whole villages' lives are at stake here!" I got louder.
At mention of the village, Bruis became more alert.
"R-Right! You got it miss."
He ran out the room leaving me alone with that damn mirror. I yanked the table clothe from the table that held maps and little strategy pieces. I looked one more time at the women in front me. She was starting to change. I covered her up and started setting up for the next move.
~
Several hours passed before Bruis finally managed to gather everyone outside around a newly formed fire pit. I kicked everyone out the castle and locked the door, forcing them to relocate outside with newly set up tents. They were a group of twenty-four men, and from the soot on their hands I assumed that they all had been miners pulled from the village. Not even one had a trace of mana. Anyone else would have called this scenario hopeless.
"Listen up, we don't have much time left so everyone needs to get their act together."
Bruis stood nearby me, ready to strike at any disruptive behavior.
"Who exactly are you telling us what to do?" the drunkard from earlier asked in annoyance.
"Melker." Bruis warned.
"But he is right Bruis, what's a teeny girl like that going to do for us?" another man spoke up.
"At least this teeny girl is standing right in front of you." I retorted, not giving up my resolve.
"If we want to stand a chance against the druids then we need to get along!" I continued.
"So what." Melker responded.
"What do you mean?" I narrowed my gaze.
"Do you think we don't already know why we were sent here?"
I stared at him in disbelief, could it be they already-
"Even if we by some lick of luck survive, we will just be sent to our next deathbed. We might as well enjoy ourselves instead of dreading a certain future."
I could feel my blood begin to boil. I walked up to Melker a landed a slap across his face.
"The fuck you-" he stopped.
I clenched tightly onto his shirt, no longer able to hold back my rage burning inside my chest.
"Certain future, who exactly decided that. You? And you call yourself a captain. Is that the future you want? Fine, then go ahead a die alone you coward, but don't you dare decide the future of others!"
I didn't even realize I was shouting; everyone was shocked by my sudden outburst. I pointed in the direction of what would be the village.
"Every single one of you who wants to die then go right ahead, but those people, who really can't do a thing, they don't deserve to die! I am not strong, not at all in fact I am quite weak. Yet knowing this, I still am going to do everything I can until my last breath to fight for their future!"
Everyone held their breaths; it was so dead silent that you could hear the wind whistle. I released my grip of his shirt and relaxed my tense muscles. I looked around at every single man who sat before me.
"The druids are planning to blow up the coal mine in five days' time. If that happens not a single person in this vicinity is going to survive the blast."
I threw the key I had used to lock up the castle earlier to the ground.
"Those of you who want to live "the rest of your days" enjoyably then by all means."
I wasn't expecting my words to have much of an effect, but there they still were. Not one person moved a single inch.
"I-Is it really true? They are really going to blow up the mine?" a new man finally broke the silence.
"That's right. Their aim is to hit the kingdom's main source of functioning machinery. And they don't care if that means involving innocent civilians."
The men began to mumble amongst themselves, some appearing distraught.
"We can't let that happen, right?"
"That's right my wife and kid are there!"
"My parents are there too."
"But do you think we can stop them?"
They glanced back at me. The longer they stared the more embarrassed I started to feel from my earlier preaching.
"Who exactly are you?"
I wasn't sure who asked but it seemed almost all were curious. I pondered over how to reply.
"Just like you, I am solider. And I am here to join the winning side.
~
In the days before the planned attack, the guys spent it training and working on their offensive techniques as I supervised. At the estate, I sometimes observed the Dior soldier's training from affair, so although I was not very skilled in combat I am good at analyzing and breaking down techniques.
"Miss Laemise, Jerry finished the final product of the explosive!"
"Really that's great!" I exclaimed.
Panting could be heard below me, as Melker continued performing pushups with me sitting on his back.
The plan was simple, we were going to use the enemies' tricks against them. First, we will strike a day earlier then they had planned. Jerry, a solider who often brought coal to weapon developing plants, managed to put together a timed bomb big enough to destroy Wargon castle, but also wouldn't cause any backfire. He would stay behind to activate the bomb before fleeing to meet the rest of us who would be lying in wait at the druids hide out ready to attack at their response to the explosion. I had my butterflies monitoring the druids and the location of the mines for any unexpected movements.
The sun began to set as everyone socialized over dinner.
"Miss, are you going to ahead in early again." Bruis handed me a bowl of deer stew.
"Yes, it's best I get plenty of rest."
In truth even if I wanted to, I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep. The real reason I couldn't join them at night was because I was too afraid of the lightened fire.
"You know you can always rely on me miss."
I looked over at the smiling man who had my back from the start, even without had knowing me. I couldn't help but mimic that smile, it was a nice feeling.
"Woah no way miss Laemise is actually smiling!"
The sudden appearance of more faces startled me.
"H-Hey, give me some space won't you." I leaned back
They laughed in response.
I wonder when I started becoming prude like my grandmother.
I headed back into my tent sneaking one last glance at the rowdy bunch who in spite of all the laughter, I could sense a hint of nervousness. No matter how strong one is, uncertainty is always terrifying. In very little time I had become close to these guys. I wanted us all to live to see another day. I knew it was useless to believe in that naivety just as it was to trust in this temporary truce.
~
December fifth, year XX36, the battle of Wargon Castle was waged. Just has we had hoped, the element of surprise worked in our favor. We were able to take out a good number of the druids with one attack. The remaining few proved to be a challenge. Even having them outnumbered, they triumphed over us in strength. I stayed hidden in the trees giving out commands through my butterflies. Several of our guys were stricken down, but the rest continued to push forward with resolve as tough as steal.
"He's getting away!" one of our troops yelled.
Only two druids remained. As one continued fighting back in combat, the other break away as trying to flee.
"Shit!" Melker shouted as he struggled against the force of the other druid.
Shit was right. Whether he was planning to escape or head towards the mines, we couldn't afford to lose him.
I jumped down from my post and rushed in his direction, having faith the others would pull through. Once I caught up to the druid I saw that someone had beat me to him. I looked on in horror as Bruis continued to hold back the druid that had pierced his chest with his branch like arm.
"Release me you useless thing!" the druid screamed with no avail.
He served strong blows with his free fist struggling to break through. Bruis put everything in him to make sure the druid had no room to escape.
"L-Let me tell y-you something about u-us miners," Bruis struggled to form words.
"No m-matter, no matter what, w-we have each other's backs."
I watched as Jerry swung his mallet to decapitate the druid, his eyes overflowing with tears.
Bruis finally let go of the limp body and collapsed to the ground.
"Bruis!" I screamed and rushed to his side.
I applied pressure to the wound at his chest, blood splattering all over me.
"B-Bruis hang in there! We'll find someone to help you!"
Deep down I already knew it was useless. There was no coming back from a wound like this. I never wished more to have healing magic.
Why, why can't I do anything right?!
I suddenly felt a hand weakly grip my own. As if sensing my self-destructiveness, Bruis smiled. Even as his body went limp, he remained smiling.