I woke up to the sound of singing birds, and the deafening silence of the tent.
To say I slept well would be a terrible lie. Multiple times at night I would wake up, with sweat dripping from my entire body. It seems like no matter what, those images of death won't leave me be. Even if it didn't affect me that much when I was awake.
Still, It was better than nothing, and to be bale to rest for more than a week was refreshing enough for me.
I stood up from the bed and enjoyed the feeling of the cold soil and grass under my feet. Looking at the bed opposite of mine, I didn't see Ana sleeping there. I was confused for a second, but I guess I wouldn't be able to sleep next to the man responsible for my friend's death.
There was nothing I could do about that.
''...Ah, right, I have to talk to that guy.''
Yesterday, Lucas told me he wished to talk to me as soon as I recover from my injuries. I wasn't too sure about what exactly he wanted to talk about, but I didn't want it to hang over my head too much so I decided to contact him today.
He was staying in the largest tent in the camp if I remember correctly.
Coming out of my tent, I saw that some of the knights had already awakened and were walking around the camp. It seems none of the survivors have recovered enough to come out of their tents.
As far as my group goes, Iroh and Elisa apparently died during the first few minutes of the battle, and I'm guessing it wasn't that pretty a death as Ana was still in shock, although it could also just be the fact that she wasn't used to seeing people die.
''...Now that I think about it, weren't Elisa and Iroh royalty?''
It was probably the fact that I didn't think too much of them, but it completely slipped my mind. Wouldn't that mean I'm gonna have to deal with their families? I might even get killed for causing their deaths.
''Haha..."
A dry laugh escaped my lips. I can't believe I forgot about that, this is gonna come back to bite my ass, isn't it?
I shook my head and tried to get rid of those thoughts. It's not gonna help me to think so negatively as of now.
I arrived in front of the largest tent in the camp. I brushed away the hair from my face to the side to look a bit more presentable and entered.
Inside the tent I found the man, Lucas Lundberg, sitting behind a large wooden desk. To his left was the elven woman from that day, and to his right stood a tall man wearing a bulky armor. They seemed to be discussing something, and I didn't feel like interrupting them, so I just waited until they noticed me.
Looking at Lucas, I remembered that he was someone from another world just like me. However, I refrained from speaking to him about it. I didn't even know if we came from the same world or time period, and I didn't have many chances to speak with him
I also didn't wanna get involved with him anyways.
''...Oh, you've come.''
Lucas said and looked up at me. He turned in my direction and sat upright in his chair.
''Well, I didn't wanna postpone it too much.''
''That's just fine with me, we urgently needed to talk to you too.''
Lucas pointed at the empty chair in front of the desk and urged me to sit down, so I did.
Raising his hand he pointed at the man to his right.
''Before we begin, let me present you this man. He's Commander Carlos Beltran, and according to the survivors, he was the one to order all of you to gather just outside of the outerwalls, right?"
I nodded and looked at Beltran. He was staring at me with a stern expression, his small, wrinkled eyes and the large scar running across his face gave the man a threatening look.
''...Well then, we do have quite a large problem then.''
''Huh? Why?''
''Because that should be impossible, as Mr. Beltran has only recently arrived to Belica, after being away for months.''
My eyes widened and my jaw hung open. That can't possibly be right, after all, we received orders from him to gather at that field that day.
There was a possibility that he was lying, but since he's an official of high-ranking, there's a very small chance of that.
''Despite that, all of you say that it was he who sent the order. Not only that, but it was coincidentally 20 minutes before we arrived there. What do you make out of that?''
I found myself at a loss for words. I wasn't sure as to why he would ask such a thing to me, a mere foot soldier.
''You acted as the commander when Sacrada's cavalry arrived, right? Didn't you think it was weird that you were such a small battalion?''
I paused, carefully thinking about his words thoroughly, and answered:
''I led them into battle because I thought that was the correct choice. And since we were supposed to meet with Beltran and his own troops, I didn't think too much of how little people we were.''
''I see...''
He leaned back on his chair and took a moment of silence before speaking again.
''Well, that's that then. We'll investigate on our own whether this was an inside job by Sacrada or not. We should return to the main topic of today, which is you.''
I sighed and let my shoulders fall. I thought I was gonna be involved in some diplomatic bullshit but I'm relieved that it's not the case. I would've blown my head off if it was. Or cut my throat, most likely, since guns didn't exist here.
''...It's regarding your punishment.''
''Huh? Punishment? For what?''
''Haah...''
Lucas leaned back on his chair and crossed his arms.
''While it does sound ridiculous, it seems there are people who didn't like the consequences of your actions and decisions, specifically certain families of noble status. They wanted you to be publicly hanged, and considering their influence, it certainly might've been possible.''
Ugh, I guess their families did end up holding a grudge against me. I knew it was gonna come back to bite my ass, didn't expect it to be so soon.
''But due to the nature of your situation, I tried to negotiate with them to lessen your punishment and, well, they did... but, I believe you may have preferred to spend the rest of your days in jail.''
''...So, what is my 'punishment'?
I asked with a bitter smile. He sighed and looked at the wooden desk with a grim expression.
''...You will be sent to Erilis as infantry to help the siege of the territory.''
My heart fell to my stomach hearing those words and I felt my face distort into a frown.
''It seems I don't need to tell you what's going on over there. As of late, it has become quite a hellish place, and the queen doesn't seem to want the troops to retreat, so they're forced to stay there.''
Shit, he was completely right, I would've rather preferred to be thrown in some random dungeon than go there! That place was nothing short of a hellhole.
A hopeless siege of an unimportant territory, that's what that was. It was proof of the queen's tyrannical stubbornness.
''You will be going there in a few days, along with Mr. Beltran here.''
The bulky man to his right, Carlos Beltran, stepped forward and extended his hand toward me.
''More help is always welcome. It's very nice to meet you, Isaac Brenton.''
''H-Huh, yeah, nice to meet you too, haha....''
Shit!
----------
I lay down on the harsh bed inside my tent. I had quite a lot to think about, but it was mostly useless thoughts like what was I going to write to my family or how I was going to send them money in that situation.
Because honestly, I couldn't care less about my possible death there. I accepted that I was eventually going to die, I was more worried about my family than anything, especially my sister.
The Siege of Erilis. it's been a fruitless operation that's been going for about a year with no progress, and I don't expect that to change anytime soon.
Snapping me out of my thoughts was the rustle of the tent's entrance. I didn't bother to lift my head up and only moved my eyes towards the sound and met with the ghoulish-looking Ana.
It seems she still hasn't been able to sleep well, as her previously beautiful round eyes had gained a slightly sunken appearance and the black circles around her eyes had grown.
Noticing me, she turned her head to the side and clicked her tongue. I'd prefer it if you insulted me instead of being so passive-aggressive.
Her eyes looked back at me and she spoke with a cold and stern tone.
''You're going away, aren't you?''
It seems she wasn't as shy as before, which was good, even if she was just aggressive now.
''Ah, yeah, I'm going to Erilis in a few days. How do you know this, anyways?''
''I heard your conversation with the hero. Good for you, by the way, I hope you die.''
...That's rude. It's pretty grim to wish for someone's death like that.
She laid down on her bed and faced away from me.
''...Well, goodnight, and I'm really sorry.''
''...Tsk''
I closed my eyes and let myself fall asleep. Hopefully, tonight won't be another sleepless night.
-----------
''Let's get moving, quickly!''
Isaac opened his eyes slowly and turned his head to the side, looking outside the carriage's entrance.
A week already passed, and they were finally departing toward Erilis. The injured of the first charge, including Ana, were taken away to the capital by another carriage a few days ago to receive proper treatment for their injuries.
Isaac, on the other hand, had to stay behind at the camp, as he was going to be departing to Erilis to fight. He was told to grab his weapon and enter the carriage as soon as it arrives, and so he did.
Multiple knights entered the carriage until all of the seats were taken. As always, he sat right next to the entrance. It was one of the few things he kept from his past life. Just like he used to always sit on the window seat in the bus or train, he sat next to the entrance of the carriage to look at the landscape.
''Alright, let's go!''
The burly man, Carlos Beltran, jumped in the carriage as well, right next to the driver who clicked his tongue in annoyance. Since Beltran was such a huge man, he took up most of the seat's space.
The carriage started moving and Isaac leaned back on the seat.
Minutes passed by and none of the knights made a single sound, he could only hear the rattling of their swords and spears as they brushed each other from time to time. He liked it that way.
''---Hey, you're Isaac, right?''
What snapped him from his thoughts, was the voice of the man sitting in front of him. Looking toward the voice, he saw the pale and wrinkly face of a man in his 40s. His hairline was heavily receded and his blue eyes were covered by what looked like a thick fog.
''Yes? How do you know my name?''
''Haha, It hurts me a bit that you don't recognize me, but I can't blame you, I look very different from before.''
The man brushed his extremely short hair and leaned back.
''I used to have a bakery in the slums of the capital. It was a run-down building in a back alley. I was a close friend of your parents, remember?''
''...Ah''
Revisiting his memories, Isaac did remember a person similar to the man in front of him. He would always visit his family and give them some food. He wasn't able to recognize him due to how different he looked now, but it was definitely him.
''I didn't expect to meet you here, after all those years. How low we've fallen, haven't we....''
The man's voice trembled as he said those words, and Isaac felt that there was a sense of longing in them. He sympathized with him, as he, too, wished he wasn't in this situation.
''....How long has it been since you've been drafted?''
The man asked Isaac as they both looked at the moving road.
''Around two years. My parents were notified as soon as I turned 16. They tried to beg the guards to not take me away, but, well, you know how it is.''
''Of course, what a pity....''
There was a brief silence between the two, as neither knew exactly what to say.
''What about your older brother, did he not get drafted?''
''No, he escaped the country. My sister is studying at Belica's Magic Academy, my younger brothers are too young and my parents are too old, so I ended up having to come.''
The man didn't say anything back and just sighed deeply. He knew just how hard Isaac has been working all these years to feed his family, and for him to end up as a foot soldier so far away from his family, was a sad sight for him.
The man patted Isaac on the shoulder and smiled.
''Well, don't worry, everything comes to an end eventually, this war included.''
''I guess so.''
Isaac leaned back into his seat again.
''...Hey, have you ever gone to Erilis?''
He asked the man, who furrowed his brows.
''Yes, and sadly, I am returning.''
''How bad is it down there?''
Although he had a general idea of it, he still asked. It was better to ask someone who experienced it first-hand, after all.
The man didn't answer instantly, as if recalling bad memories the edge of his eyes twitched. And answering in a cold voice, he said:
''That place is hell incarnate.''