Chereads / Before F.R.O.N.D.E.R: Epilogue / Chapter 25 - C209: War Day

Chapter 25 - C209: War Day

Chapter 209: War Day

Sarah's perspective

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Alright, another day had passed since the trip from yesterday. This time was December 12 (Day 12 of the second Winter, 1173), my birthday. According to my watch, it was now 8:37 AM.  After finishing my breakfast, I'd like to go to school to visit the kids and share with them the birthday cakes... it must be very fun, hehe.

By the way... last night, my sis was very weird, which to me was impossible to explain about her. She "invited" me to her castle in Spera, later locked me and herself in her private room, and started "kissing and touching", eww!

"What's wrong with you sis?! Please return the sis that I always used to love!". - That was what I said in my mind every time she kissed me. Sisters kissing was normal to me but instead of kissing on the cheek, she chose to kiss my lip. More strangely, my sis even touched my body... she was very perverted right now, should I ask John to help me?

"My Lord...". - Maybe I should, even he and I could not predict her but I believe he knows how to put my sis on discipline than any others

"My... Lord...".  "Flinches!". - I was startled when someone called me, that was Paula... sigh!

"Hey, Paula". - I later looked at her to greet her, this time I was in my workroom, sitting on the worktable to have breakfast, recently prepared

I meant... Paula sounded to notice me, letting me know that my breakfast had been finished cooking and now was in front of me. Seeing in front of me was a big bowl of meal, I smiled at Paula and pointed to a chair, asking her to sit on. Honestly, this maid seemed very loved at sitting beside me so I allowed her. She just cutely and shyly sat down on the chair, tilting her head to my shoulder and then silent.

"Pip! General... remember that you have a meeting this late at 3:00 PM, don't be late". - I know I know, SA!

"Alright, I'm so hungry here".  "Itadakimasu (Good meal)". - Before eating, I prayed for a good meal and then started grabbing eating tools to enjoy my breakfast

Today was my birthday but seemed like I was now alone to celebrate it now. John and others were busy, today my sis was with him in Veta to do the military exercise on the streets. With the purpose to get used to the environment, terrain and structure of the area to fight better and more tactically in case the warfare comes out in the streets.

My castle's backyard was now having a bunch of Warsaw Peacekeeper policemen and the Warsaw Corps Army soldiers co-cooperating on the exercise. 'Cause I didn't want to disturb the residential areas so the military exercise only occurs in the rural areas or my castle. For ex: The flower fields nearby my house.

And for a private reason, I didn't use much the military but used the police force to be the combatants of the war. Military funding was very costly so I changed to train the police instead: Fast trained but intense trained, cheap but well qualified. Except for the Special Forces like the WGMC (Warsaw Green Marine Corps), I'd not fund much money to train the WCA soldiers but the WP police, to win-win the price.

"Chews! Chews! Chews! Chews!".  "Swallows...". - Maybe that was because of me or something, Paula was so silent every time tilting to my shoulder, so cute hehe!

"Chews! Chews! Chews!". - This time, Litra was supposed to be home, maybe she was still at school to take the submitted papers from the kids - by the way, I'd like to read about their pure dreams

"Swallows!".  "Chews! Chews!".  "Swallows!".  "Chews! Chews! Chews!".  "Swallows! Swallows!". - I wondered how the kids were feeling by now, 'cause they were having a tour around their school, later would have a day studying in there

"Chews! Chews! Too much...".  "Swallows!".  "Chews! Chews! Chews! Chews!".  "Swallows!". - All of sudden, I was eating then the castle's front doors suddenly opened... wait, Litra had gone home, oh my God!

"Morning, Litra".  "Welcome! Chews! Chews! Home!".  "Swallows!". - I woke up without seeing her this early, 'cause she was in the school waiting for the kids

"I hope you're having a fine day, my Lord...".  "That's a great honor for me to be presented on your birthday...".  "And...". - Litra was wearing a handbag stuffed with lots of papers inside, but wait a minute... why did she go silent?

"May I...?". - Again... sigh!

"Okay okay, you can join". - She also wanted to join to sit with me like Paula

As I finished my line, Litra grabbed a mini chair on the left side and then placed it beside me, sat on casually. I felt it was strange tho, 'cause I was between two women, just felt like someone was missing...

"By the way, here's the submitted papers from the students, my Lord".  "They wrote out quite much here, maybe will take this morning to read all". - My Advisor put down her handbag and opened it widely to expose the papers out

"Then I have to disturb you this time once again, sorry". - Well, 'cause I'd have to read the students' dreams so Litra would take my place to solve the paperwork, poor her, heh!

"I'd like to read these papers later, have to visit them first to share the cakes". - I said to her while putting the handbag on the right side of the table, just 'cause to be easier to reach my hand to

"No, my Lord... serving you... is a very honored duty...".  "... please come here". - Suddenly, I was about to return to eat but Litra leaned her hand over my armpit and pulled me closer to her

My servants were behaving more strangely than ever... they did behave like this in the previous months. But not this much regularly as nowadays... what was wrong with them?

"Happy birthday, my Lord".

"Hey... thanks". - Please let me eat, I must visit the kids!

"Are you sure you won't be regretted giving your cakes to those children, my Lord?".

"Well, to cut a cake for 100 of them is not enough so I... order her to buy more". - While replying to Litra, I glanced at Paula, whose face was now still on my shoulder, as if she was napping

"Should I wake her up to tell her to prepare for you before going out, my Lord?".

"Yeah... sounds cool".

"I will wake her up right now".  "After visiting the children and going back here to work, what time would you like us to celebrate?".

"My birthday?".

"Yes".

"Well... I will have to be away from here in 3rd-afternoon bell, so uhh... maybe our dinner, alright?".

"Can't we celebrate it in noon, my Lord?".

"Today's their day off, only volunteers are here so don't force them to work too much, Litra... you know?".

"Then?".

"I'd like to celebrate my birthday when dinner comes".

"Understood, my Lord... then I'll wake her up right away". - After hearing my words, Litra got off the chair, intending to wake Paula up

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"We're about to get there, my Lord".  "The school's on our sight, we'll be there soon". - Now was 9:03 AM, the kids must be studying in the school right now, we were coming there to celebrate with them

"Though this time is winter but it's not so cold, isn't it?".  "The wind is so cool, I love walking in this weather". - While walking between my servants, I chillingly walked in happiness, 'cause the wind in the winter was so cool!

This time was winter but I hadn't seen any snowfall, maybe today's year winter would go late than the previous year. While walking between my servants, I was walking peacefully while they were holding the wrapped boxes in their hands.

To say in short, those boxes were holding the cakes, we would go to school to visit the kids, later gift them these things to eat. Now the way to the school was not so far, just less than 100 meters (328 feet), it had already been in our sight, cannot wait to come in.

"Do you two need help?". - Well, Litra and Paula were both carrying the wrapped boxes but I just walked with them with my empty hands, felt so guilty

"No, my Lord... we're fine".

"My Lord... I'm... I'm...". - Yeah, I know you would say it, Paula

"Oh my! Isn't this the Lord?". - All of sudden, while walking with my servants, a woman's voice calling me

The three of us later stopped and looked around to find out the source of the voice. After a few seconds of looking, we saw 2 people walking on the trail with us, but on the opposite side, they were approaching us from dozens of meters.

"Ohhh! Aren't you Milia?".  "Hello there, hehe!". - I realized that was Milia - Ms. Eli's mother, she was walking beside a... green cloak man?

I didn't move but stopped till the two of them approached us completely. Both sides greeted each other by waving or just basically smiling at each other, didn't sound a word. Strangely that the two of them got here and accidentally encountered us, must have come out from the school recently, I guessed so.

"Hey, Litra, Paula".  "This one is Ms. Milia, Ms. Eli's mom".  "And this one is... uhhhhh? Hold up... a tod?". - This one looks stinky, as if hadn't bathed for days

"I'm a fox, not a tod! Rap, Raptu! Raptu, Ms. Sarah".  "Just had defected recently".  "Giggles...". - Raptu? Then she must be Princess's old friend

"Bows...". - The two of my servants later bowed toward the two people deeply

"I heard from my daughter that you were coming to celebrate, my Lord".  "She's inside, seems very happy with the children". - Milia said to me

"Why did you come here today, Milia?".  "You don't work at John's place anymore?".

"I just got there to visit my daughter, my Lord... also giving her lunch box".  "Honestly I've been dismissed by the Lord but he's kind to introduce me to another job".

"But the school's meal system is available, ma'am, why?".

"Well, I just want to be caring about my daughter more... her childhood... was not so happy so I...". - Milia later went silent as if it was hard for her to say out

"I understood, Ms. Milia".  "What about you, Ms. Fox?".

"I just... well, just like her mother but visited her 'cause I was able to do it".  "My troops are camping in Tod forest, so it was easy for me to... never mind...".  "All of us will surely report back to y'all if we see anything suspicious".  "I'm going now, bye y'all". - After speaking to us for a short time, Raptu walked away from us... but wait... she was part of our allies?

"Huh...? What did she mean by talking "my troops are camping in Tod forest", my Lord?".

"Nothing, Litra... nothing".

"Have a good day, my Lord".  "I'm going home now... please enjoy the party at the school, the kids and my daughter are waiting for your arrival". - Instead of spending her time talking more with me, Eli's mom also said goodbye

"I will surely make the kids enjoy, Ms. Milia!".

"Happy birthday, my Lord!". - Before going out of my sight, she even greeted me about my birthday, thank you!

"Thank you, Ms. Milia!". - I waved at her to say goodbye

"Hey, Brown-haired Princess!". - All of sudden, that stinky fox girl returned and called my "nickname"... wait a minute, how did she know it?

"Happy birthday you too!".  "Send Her Highness my regards if you meet her!".  "Her husband too, Ms. Sarah!". - She was waving at me so I also waved at her

"Yeah, I will!". - Honestly, this time I was losing my concentration, I must visit the kids instead of chilling around here to greet people

"General, stop wasting your ti-".

"Booooooommmmmmmm!".  "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!". - All of sudden, a big sound like an explosion came out and almost shattered my ears, all of us were shocked

"Huhhhh...?". - 'Cause I was so shocked so I crouched down while covering my ears, later was surprised when everything was so silent

"Booooooommmmmmmm!".  "Ahhhh! Hold on, people!". - Three seconds after the first explosion or something, strangely that it occurred once again and made all of us terrified!

After the second explosion, all of us were scared of the unidentified thing which made the explosion. I kept covering my ears for safety while glancing at the people around me to make sure they were fine. I noticed Paula and Litra were very fine... just a pity that they dropped the cake boxes because of shock.

"Huhhhh...? Huhhh?". - Everything seemed to be fine until I glanced at Milia and Raptu, they were looking at something behind me, but their eyes showed me as if they had broken down

"General! Emergency, quick!".  "I spotted dots in the school vanished significantly!".  "The explosions caused it!". - What?! Say again, SA! Say it again! Say it again!

"No! No! No! No! No! Nooooooooooooooo!". - Raptu yelled like a crazy, she was tearing non-stop while running past me, seemed to be very serious

"My daughter! My daughter!".  "Eris! Eris!".  "Ughhhhhhh!". - Milia later ran past me and bumped into me on the run, she fell but got up to run madly to the school's location

"It's serious, my Lord!".  "I will be back soon! I must gather more men to save them!". - Litra later ran back to the route which led to the castle

"On your feet, Sarah! We are going to save the children!". - Wait for me, please let me take a second to know what was truly happening, SA!

"Paula...?". - While bewildered by the things happening around me, Paula gently pointed her hand in the school's direction with her nervous face

I looked in that direction and noticed something terrible had happened at the elementary school. Despite looking from the distance, my eyes could still realize the destruction the school had to take, its roof... fell and crushed the beneath sides!

"Run Sarah run!".

"Don't follow me, Paula!".  "Return to the castle, you will be safe there!". - I shouted at Paula and ran straight to school without taking momentum, but strangely that she was still running to follow me

"That's an order, follow the order, goddammit!".

After yelling at her to tell her to return to the castle, I sprinted to the school, using all of my energy to go. Just in a blink of an eye, the school's gate was now in my sight, I ran straight inside the schoolyard to see the situation... oh my God!

The school was completely destroyed by something that had massive destruction like a bomb. Its left above side had been hit by something like a missile, shattered to a big piece, while the roof crashed and crushed the beneath side.

"Ma'am! Ma'am! Please calm down! Calm down!".  "We're sending men inside, they're going to be saved, please calm down, please calm down!". - Many WP policemen guarding the school came out to block Ms. Milia's way since she intended to get inside the bombed school to save her daughter

"Please calm down, Sir! Calm down, please! Calm down!". - Raptu was also being blocked, she kept shaking, resisting the police, attempting to get inside the bombed school

"Get the fuck out!!!!". - She was so mad that she threw two policemen who were blocking her way aside, later ran inside the school like a madman

I felt panicked in this situation, I kneeled down on the ground in shock while looking around. Shortly after that, I glanced at a scene beside me just about 10 meters (33 feet), a man who looked like a civilian was being crushed down by the policemen for no reason.

"Arrrrrggghhhhhhhhh! Arrrrghhh! Arrrrrggghhh!". - The man kept yelling while being crushed down by the police, those cops were very serious about crushing the man for no reason, who was he?

"Chop his hands off! Chop his hands off! Don't let him cast any more spells!". - Five policemen were crushing down the man while a cop who seemed to be their commander was ordering his men to chop the man's hands

"Shit! I'll do that part!".  "Hold him tight, don't let him get away!". - That policeman was Lerer - Princess's old uncle, he later drew out a sword from his scabbard while pointing his look at the crushed man

"No no no no no no! Keep his palms above! Keep his palms above!". - Lerer later panicked when the bomber kept rotating his right palm to his chest despite being crushed down heavily by the cops

"Shit! Help me! Men! We need you, come here now!". - Lerer only had one hand, he threw his sword away while grabbing the bomber's wrist, as if not to let him point his palm to his chest

"Long live Attentaaaaaaaa!".  "Booooooommmmmmmm!". - The suicidal bomber yelled out his last words and then his palm pointed to his chest, an explosion occurred and he was blower up among the WP policemen

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!". - People around me were terrified, as the explosion came out, limbs of the dead people flying around, Lerer's bloody hand flew before me, please tell me this is just a dream! It's not true!

My mind was snapping in chaos and anxiousness, I kneeled while seeing the scene but could not do anything to save those innocent people. After seeing the scene, my eyes sadly pointed at the school's front door, the WP cops were forming their formation before breaching inside to save the teachers and kids.

"Breaching! Breaching! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!". - Unfortunately, while the WP cops were breaching inside, the floor above the ground floor, right at the door suddenly collapsed and crushed to death more cops

"Medic! Medic! Medic! Medic!".  "Breach inside, now!". - After seeing their teammates get crushed to death, the remaining cops stopped forming formation but breached inside to save the people without having any tactic to protect themselves

"Breaching! Breaching!".  "Breaching! Breaching!". - More and more policemen sprinting inside the school's gate, they immediately joined the local units to breach inside the school

"My Lord! My Lord! My Lord!". - I realized that voice was Litra's, she had come here and now was assisting me to make me stand up

After standing up, I looked at Litra with my disappointed eyes, I was a bad leader for not seeing this coming. This must be the attack from Attenta Kingdom... I was so careless and irresponsible to let this tragedy happen.

"Litra... that was my fault!".  "That was my fault!". - Besides Litra also had Paula, in the first place, I should have not been appointed to be Stansa's Lord, someone could have been more worthy than me!

"That's not your fault, my Lord! You have done your best!".  "That's not your fault! That's not your fault!". - Please stop making those excuses, Litra! I was truly a bad leader for letting it happen! I wish I could save all of them! I wish I could have!

"Please calm down, my Lord!".  "Please calm down! Calm down, please! Calm down!".  "All of them will be saved! All of them will be saved! Trust me, my Lord! Trust me!". - Seeing I was about to cry, both of them hugged me tightly to comfort me, I hope the WP police could save all the students and teachers!

"We need some help here! We need help!".  "Medic! Call me the medic! We have people to save, quick!". - A short moment later, the cops who breached inside the school came out

"My Lord, wait!". - I was so surprised that I got off my servants' hugs to run straight to the policemen

"She's dead, save others!". - Before I could reach the place, a voice sounded out and made my heart feel like to be stabbed 1000 times!

"This one is helpless too!".  "These kids! Save them first!". - Running while hearing those sad voices, I managed to reach the schoolyard's left side at the end of the corner - where they were saving people

As I could see as I reached the place, there were... so many bodies on the ground. The ground which was picked to be the saving area had been covered by many cloths to put the wounded down the area.

While walking and glancing at the ground, I saw many kid students and teachers lying there without moving an inch. Their uniforms were all battered and dirty, meaning they were all crushed by the school's structures when the explosion came out. Sadly, no one I saw on the ground was truly breathing... as if they had died after getting crushed... that was my fault!

"Teacher! Teacher! Sobbing! Sobbing! Sobbing! Sobbing!". - While my mind was snapping, the screams of the children from behind made me wake up, some ones were still alive! I was so glad!

I immediately turned my head in the screams' direction, later seeing two kids kneeling before a corpse. These poor children were crying loud to mourn their teacher's death... wait, was that corpse... Cily's?

I approached the kid students silently while lowering my face before the corpse to pay respect. I was about to cry now, cannot take it anymore. After that, I held my tears while looking around to see if there was something else that I missed. I could see many WP cops were saving people by using physical treatment, while some people who had non-attribute magic were using healing magic to save the people.

"Heal! Heal! Heal! Heal!". - Suddenly, I heard a dying hope voice sounding from a child below me... that was Sala, she was using her basic healing magic, hoping to save her late older sister

"Cries! Cries! Cries! Cries!". - After many times trying to save Cily without a positive result, Sala cried out loud while hugging her classmates

"Teacher! Teacher! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs!". - I was startled when some kids' voices sounded to me from behind, so I looked back and saw the wounded kids running toward me

"Cries! Cries! Cries! Cries!". - These angels cried out loud while grabbing my feet, they could not stand to see their classmates and teachers dying without a way to save them

"Teacher! They saved me!".  "Teacher! Teacher! Teacher!". - Those kids kept screaming and crying, they pulled my sleeves, attempting to pull me to see the tragic scenes

After that, those kid students led me to an arena that had many corpses on the ground, dozens of students and teachers there. They kept crying while leading me to go past every dead body, I just knew to hold my tears but could not do anything else.

Wait a minute... while going past the dead bodies, I realized that some of them had been seen earlier but I didn't notice. Why? When I ran straight to the area and watched many dead bodies, these corpses were familiar to me but why I didn't notice them till the kids led me here.

"Tessa... Ryan... Sally... Ms. Eli... and...".  "Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs!". - I tried to hold my tears but could not, why I could not remember all the names of the passed away?! I was so irresponsible! I'm sorry for letting this happen! Ahhhh!

"She covered all of us when she heard the loud noise, teacher!".  "Please save her! You can save her, right?!". - Sorry, I wish I was a God to save these poor souls... I'm sorry, I'm so useless!

"Teacher! Teacher!".  "You said to us the police would save us from any time, right?".  "Then why they didn't show up right away when it happened?".  "Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs!". - Those children asked me painfully while sobbing to mourn their dead classmates and teachers... I'm sorry!

"Eris! Eris! Eris! Eris! Eris!!!".  "Wake up, my daughter! Please wake up, wake up!". - Later I saw Eli's mom and Raptu running to her corpse, they picked her up and cried, hugging her in tears

"Teacher! Please save them... you can save them, right?".  "Please save them, teacher!". - Those kids kept pulling my sleeves, asking me if I could save those innocent people

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I cannot do anything...".  "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!".  "Sobs! Sobs! Sobs!".  "......". - Didn't know what to say to comfort the kids, I kept apologizing to them while fleeing, running back to my castle! I'm very sorry!

"Teacher! Teacher!".  "Please come back, teacher! Come back!". - That was so difficult for me to hold my tears, but somehow I managed to do that, so I ran home!

"My Lord!". - While fleeing, Litra and Paula could be seen following me

"Don't follow me!".

I ordered them not to follow me and then ran away from the school to return to my castle to have more time to think. While running home, my eyes caught up with a lot of people who seemed to be the parents of the kids... they must have come here to save their children. All I hope they their kids survived!

Seeing so ashamed to look at the parents directly, I lowered my face and somehow ran back to the castle just in a blink of an eye. The WCA women soldiers saw my sad face, they also expressed the same while opening the front doors for me to come in.

After coming in, I approached the worktable and sat on it depressingly, those people died because of me. Sitting on the table while looking above, I wished the Goddess above would save them... but... nothing happened. Not even a light!

"Please... give me some space...". - I ordered the women soldiers who were guarding the workroom to stay outside... to let me alone for a while

After receiving the order, those soldiers nodded and silently walked outside to let me alone in the room. I sat with my pose lowering, feeling I was so helpless, powerless to the bones... could not save the people.

My body was now so sullen while my eyes looked so dull, I lowered my face while pointing it to my SA's screen. Ordering SA to open her data, I managed to find the last photo which was last snapped yesterday. That was when I was joining the national museum alongside the kids and the teachers.

This pic was supposed to be left there, it was just accidentally snapped... but now this photo was so memorable. One hundred students alongside the teachers, full people were snapped into a photo... their curious eyes were so happy.

But now... they died...

"Sobs! Sobs! Sobs!".  "....". - No, I must not cry! Crying would not help me anything! But I couldn't do anything more than put my SA in the middle of the worktable

I'd like to put her there... looking at her screen which had that memorable snapped photo made me feel like those people were still alive. But that way could not fool myself long... I felt so dull right now.

That was the time I accidentally glanced at Litra's black leather handbag on the right side table. Inside there were the submitted papers of the kids, they wrote out their dreams... I'd like to read them.

My hand reached for the handbag and pulled it closer to me, later took out some papers to look at. Though I didn't read all the details of the papers... but every time my eyes touched the words, they made me cry out...

Actually... I want to become a teacher! Like you, teacher!

I want to be a builder! I want to buy houses for everyone!

Teacher, I want to drive you to all the places in this world! I want to drive you to places we've never seen!

I want to get on the moon!

Teacher! I know you love food! I want to make food for you! I love you!

Teacher... I want to become kind like you! I want to be like you, I love you!

I want to be as hero as my dad! I want to be the police!

I want to be a teacher! I want to build schools for everyone!

Still... many papers which hadn't been read, but I could not read more since I was sobbing non-stop. I couldn't read 'cause I was too emotional by now... I wish I could save all of them! I wished I could go back in time! I wish I could save them all! I want to save them all!

I cried for a while until my tears seemed to be drained out all, I hadn't felt better at all, I was still very sad. My eyes had now stopped crying but still had some drops remaining in them... I should not cry, it wouldn't help me.

"Pip!".  "Krieg 1 to Krieg 3! Immediately gather troops and assist Veta, over!".  "Enemies disguising civilians, watch out from your side!".  "They're now attacking the soldiers and the refugees! Those suicidal bastards are using everything they got to get rid of us!".  "Veta is about to be overrun! In the situation when cannot know who are civilians who are enemies, we'll eliminate both!". - All of sudden, my SA's screen changed from the photo background to the calling screen, my Commander suddenly made a video call

"Commander... sobs! Sobs!".  "Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs!".

"What happened?!".

"They bombed the school!".  "Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Many died!".

"What the fuck?!".  "Sarah, you take care of your side!".  "I'll deal with it myself! Evacuate the Stansa civilians to the border of Nalta to refugee!".  "I'm sending letters to the King for the assist".  "After the evac, we'll regroup! Assist me to defend Veta!".

"Heard it, Sarah?!".

"Sobs... yes, roger".

"Pip!".

"Pip!".  "Sarah...". - As John hung up, my sis called me

"Sis... that was my fault... the school got bombed... those innocent kids... died".  "Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs!".

"I know it... John's side also got... attacked...".

"That was my fault, sis! I should not be in this chair at the beginning!".  "From the first place, I was not capable! Someone else could have saved those kids!".  "Sobs! Sobs! Sobs! Sobs!".  "Those children! I wish I could go back in time and obeyed John instead of doing things like I wanted to!".  "If I heard him, people could have been saved!".  "Sobs! Sobs! Sobs!".

"Sarah... remember what I'm about to say, my little sister".

"Yes... sobs! Sobs!".

"John was very cautious on this... but his place still got hit... that was not your fault...".  "But my fault... I work on the intelligence collection... I failed...".  "That's my fault... not yours...". 

"No one wants to feel pain... but do your best to fight it... force it to make you grow... don't let it pull you down...".  "History never repeats...".

"But I want to save those children and teachers!".

"You cannot save the passed away... but can save the living...".  "Still... many living children and people waiting for you... to save them...".  "When you're crying here... their door to the death... is closer... go get 'em...".

"Sarah... you cannot save all... but that doesn't mean you cannot save one...".  "Save many as you can... they're waiting for you to save 'em".

"I believe in you, Sarah...".  "You can save all of them...".  "Pip!".

After comforting me for a short time, my sis shut off the call to assist John. Meanwhile, I was still trying to not cry, now I must keep going... I could not save those who passed away, but can save the living.

Suddenly, a bunch of soldiers ran inside from outside of the castle, they were acting like they were gathering force to do something. Seconds later, I glanced at the front doors and noticed that Litra and Paula had returned to me, they slowly approached me.

"My Lord, we're in trouble".  "Parents of the kids are gathering outside to riot, they are blaming you for the deaths of their children".  "Please hide in the basement, we'll get rid of them shortly, and we'll find the way to deal with the previous attack".

"Litra, no need for it...".  "Government... is founded to protect people... not pointing weapons at them...".  "People don't serve us... we serve the people, they believe us... so they make us... their ruler".  "Sobs... sobs... sobs...".  "...". - Somehow I managed to hold my tears, I put my forearm to my eyes to wipe the tears, and got off the chair

"Please... take care of these papers... I want to read all...". - I put my hand on her shoulder for a short time and then left, slowly approaching the front doors

"Understood, my Lord...".  "But what are you doing?".

"Talk to the people".

"No no no no no! You sho-".

"I'll be fine... do not follow me... I have to be responsible for what I have made...".

"Hugs!". - All of sudden, when I was about to reach the door, Paula from behind hugged me as if to calm me down

"Thanks, Paula... I've felt much better, when having people like you trust me...".  "I'll return to y'all soon". - After taking her hug, I got her hands off me gently and opened the front doors, stepping outside slowly

"You fucking kill 'em! You fucking kill my kids!".  "Die! Fucking die! Fucking die you motherfucker! Die! Die!".  "How did you let it happen?! My fucking daughter! Give me back my daughter! Arrggh!".  "Kill that woman! That bitch finally showed up! She killed our children, kill her!".  "Get off me you fucking bitches!". - In front of me was now the angry crowd who lost their children, they were hustling, trying to reach me... to harm me and other women soldiers

"Protect our Lord, people!".  "Keng! Keng! Keng! Keng!". - After trying to reach me with no positive results, the angry crowd started throwing rocks and everything which could be picked up from the soil at me

"Keng! Keng! Keng! Keng!". - The soldiers were all armed with metal shields, they used them to block the throwing rocks so no one got hurt, even myself

Luckily, those WCA soldiers had formed two lines of human waves, one right at the castle's front doors while another at the castle's gate. The angry crowd could not go in but was blocked by a dense wave of shields and soldiers at the gate. So they were powerless, could only swear and throw rocks at me from the castle's entrance.

"Let me pass, let me pass, soldiers...". - I asked the soldiers to move away to let me pass, all of them were surprised but obeyed to let me pass, although it was quite dangerous

"There she is! Kill her!". - Those people were all armed with household tools, or just simply with sticks and stones, but were very aggressive

"People, please calm down and listen t-".  "Ahh!". - When I was speaking, a rock suddenly hit my right shoulder

"We hear nothing from you! Now fucking die!".

"Protect our Lord!".  "My Lord, you need t-".  "Understood...". - Some soldiers behind me charged up to protect me but I raised my hand, telling them that I was alright, no need for help

"People, listen to me!".  "Ugh!".  "That's my fault for not being capable enough to save your children and your families!".  "I did not know the attack would come to us!".  "Urrghhhh! Ugh!".  " Please calm down, let me finish it!".

"I honestly apologize for making you people lose your lives and your children... I don't ask for forgiveness...".  "But please listen to me...". - Seemed like those angry people had calmed down a bit

"We're now at war!".  "Attenta and its allies are marching here, your families will be harmed if you keep hating me without noticing them".  "When they come here, your families will be harmed, the pain you people have to go through will be larger than the previous one".  "So please... now we need to evac to Nalta first, all of you will be safe in there, all will be safe...".

"From now on till when we get there... please cooperate with me".  "Instead of hurting me here, we can save our living relatives by evacuating with them...".  "Otherwise, a bigger threat will come and make y'all more hurt...".

"We'll evacuate even the passed away... so no one will be left behind, all of us will go to Nalta and be safe there".

After hearing my speech, those people were still very angry but later lowered their weapons and rocks. Everything was now so silent... I was so glad when I had ended the conflict witho-

"Shut the fuck off! Die!".

"Ahhhh! Urrghhhh! Ahhhhh!". - Surprisingly, many rocks were thrown at me so I felt so hurt, I almost lost my balance but managed to stand still

"Arrrrrggghhhhhhhhh!". - After taking those attacks, a rock from nowhere suddenly hit my right forehead, so I fell on the ground, so painful!

"No no no no no! Please stop!".  "Stop! Please stop! Please don't hurt the teacher!".  "Please don't hurt her, papa! Mama! Please!". - All of sudden, I saw some kids running toward me, later they stood in a circle to protect me from getting thrown by the rocks

The angry crowd strangely stopped rioting as their children protected me. These kids were the real heroes for saving me, I owed them a lot.

"Teacher, teacher...". - The children later lifted me up, helping me a lot so I managed to sit after having a lifted

"You're bleeding, teacher!". - One of the kids who saved me was Sala - poor her when she was now alone when losing her older sister

"I'm ok".  "Thanks, students...". - I touched my right side forehead and noticed some blood was marked on my fingers, to me it was just a little scratch after all the faults I made to these parents and children

Later I stood up, head patting the kids while looking at their parents. Both sides stared at each other for a short time, the soldiers and the parents also lowered their weapons. Meanwhile, I looked outside and realized some units of the Peacekeeper police had now gathered. Those people would also join the evacuation.

"Listen up, people!". - I made a  speech, later closed my mouth to take momentum to say louder, to inspire the people

"...".  "No one will be left behind, even the passed away!".  "All will survive!".  "Let's move! To Nalta!".