The time was here and we set off unlike in movies and video games where a long journey on foot passes in a few minutes this walk would be a painful test to see if working out for a few months paid off.
At times people had to help move the carriages or cut down trees since there were no roads and infact there wouldn't be roads since we are travelling in no man's land literally unclaimed territory acting as a buffer between countries.
We hadn't left sight of Serothor so far but that is fine we are leaving earlier than needed to make it in time I looked over at kyle and asked him a question.
"Kyle you are 17 right? are you married?"
He appeared shocked and answered
"No your highness my parents met later in life at 21 so they didn't want to rush me I am expected to start courting soon why?"
I replied.
"Oh nothing just curious Elise isn't courting or married either that means both of Serothor's commanders are hopeless at relationships"
Kyle was blushing and almost yelled back at me.
"I am not hopeless I'm waiting for the right person!"
I chuckled and spoke.
"Yes yes me too hahahaha I just like messing with people"
Kyle scoffed and spoke.
"Aren't you a prince?"
I replied.
"Can't a prince joke around with a friend?"
Everything went silent for a second and Kyle looked as if he had a epiphany and muttered a question to himself.
"I'm a friend of a prince?"
I shook my head and spoke.
"Uhh duh?! obviously you think a normal soldier speaks casually to me? why do you think you're a commander? that was grade A nepotism right there"
Kyle spoke back.
"But I always call you your highness and I thought I got selected based on my skill?"
I replied.
"Yeah I never asked anyone to call me highness people just do that since I'm a prince you were never told not to call me by my name and you're a 17 year old with like 6 months of sparring why would I pick you based on skill? you are pretty strong though"
Kyle was deep in thought so I looked behind us to make sure everyone and everything was okay which is was we were almost out of sight of Serothor and I almost cried as I turned my head and faced the horizon.
All that effort to keep it safe and return only to leave a a few weeks later is quite a emotional confusing situation.
We still had a lot of ground to cover as in A LOT of ground to cover but nevertheless I still made sure to include breaks every hour or two for people to catch their breath especially since we are carrying our weapons and other equipment on us.
I know full well that we are walking into the fray of a bloody battle but first we have to actually arrive the imperial army should be held in a makeshift hill fort an hour walk from the city of fire.
We set up camp in a clearing at twilight and made a simple soup for dinner other meals would just be things like apples or a carrot but I would never by choice send soldiers to be hungry after a hard day of walking.
Good thing is almost every soldier of Serothor is nearly at an aura breakthrough or has already broken through to the red stage so walking all day doesn't bother them especially after their training.
But the imperial soldiers are showing signs of exhaustion they actually slowed us down at several points but I am fine with that it will make them regret not training for a few weeks and take Serothor's army seriously.
At one of many camp fires I sat with kyle and the sergeant's and for a moment I lamented that I had no marshmallows that I could perfectly roast I remember roasting marshmallows over a candle with my dad since he refused to go camping.
I looked around and despite being out in the open in a world where literal monsters lurk I felt at ease under the stars and near the softly crackling fire.
I decided to enjoy the journey to the battlefield after all on the journey back to Serothor it will probably be one of mourning and fatigue.
Returning to my tent I got into the sleeping bag I had made made for myself the tent looked like all the others so I wouldn't be specifically targeted because of my tent if someone were to attack.
I was able to sleep soundly since I made sure to have a night patrol roster set up no one is on watch two nights in a row and no one is allowed to go off alone even for toilet breaks.
After sleeping I woke up just before dawn and had everyone get up then pack up and started marching a little bit after sunrise.
The carriages would slow us down a lot now since we were in a forested area we had people clearing paths ahead of us but it was still a finicky and slow process.
Today would be another long day of walking and luckily for me I had my own personal entertainment machine.
I looked over to my left and started speaking.
"Hey Kyle how was your night?"
He looked at me and spoke.
"Good why?"
I replied.
"Oh nothing just checking if you had someone to warm your bed"
He scoffed and replied.
"Yeah right haha as if someone would ever sleep with you at night... Zeth"
I actually did sleep with someone very annoying every night but I smiled and spoke.
"Well you never know maybe someday"