The beasts fell back quickly as light began to completely light up the choke point the legion was fighting in, "Dawn has arrived!" The horns bellowed once more and the men cheered and formations broke off, "1st Shock, with me," Ilbert called as the other units went to their own commander's, "Who broke the lines to fill the breach?" No one spoke and Reynold didn't know if he should talk and claim the role, was it a bad thing or a good thing? He couldn't tell, "George, tell me, you were lead reservist, who did it?"
"I don't like praising, Ilbert."
"Someone better talk!" Ilbert shouted before two men put their hands up, one of the men he recognized as the man who had praised him the night before, "Trevor and Killian? You filled the breach, very good I was going to say with such timing it had to be a."
"It wasn't us, Ilbert," They spoke up, interrupting the commander.
"Reynold did it."
"Veteran…" Reynold made eye contact with the field commander of the most prestigious unit of the Dawn Legion, "You?"
"Y-Yes, Ilbert."
"You broke the lines and charged into a breach without needing an order to get your fear locked feet to move?" Ilbert repeated his question.
"Yes, Ilbert."
"Why?" The question stunned the young man as he stood in front of his commander with the black blood of the beasts decorating his uniform as it dried on him, "Why would a young man throw himself into the jaws of the beast? Duty? Stupidity? Bravery? Why?" Reynold had not thought of that question, why he charged and why he threw himself into battle.
"Instinct."
"Your instinct is to charge at danger?"
"Perhaps," Ilbert smiled and laughed before regaining his composure.
"You are dismissed, clean and maintain your weapons, sleep and get ready for another fight when dusk arrives," Reynold looked at the commander blankly, "I see why the Dawn Lady put you here, you are a gifted legionnaire."
"Thank you, Ilbert."
"You remind me of a young man who came through my ranks a year ago," Ilbert sighed, "A brave and talented young man, no doubt the best swordsman to walk this battlefield until that point," He gestured behind the camp, "Back when we were trying to push into this small valley, back on the hills."
"What happened to that man?" The commander sighed once more as Reynold asked the question.
"We were forced back, the breach from last night but at several points without enough reserves to hold off every break in our lines."
"Oh."
"Every man has a decision to make, fall back and hope that you don't get cut down or stand and fight to hope others can fall back."
"What if everyone stood to fight?"
"Everyone died," Reynold's mind stopped, he had not really looked at the fight against the beasts in such a way. The breach last night was actually dangerous, actually something that could have ended the glorious dream that was his time in the battle for light, "He stood strong, picking up a fallen man's blade and rushing into the fight."
"I see," Reynold walked with his field commander as the older man's arms crossed behind him, "He gave his life for the rest of you?"
"Yes, exactly that, Reynold."
"Would you not do that for your brothers in arms?" Ilbert stopped and turned completely to face the younger man, "I don't know what I would do until I would possibly get to that point in my life."
"I have been there, I have thought my way to my position, Reynold."
"What?"
"Stand and hold, for the legion," He replied, "I was a legionnaire like you a few years ago, I threw myself into the fight as a young man when I was your age and then rose through the ranks."
"You were a rear guard."
"Two years of hell, stress and sleepless days."
"I see," The young man was confused more than anything at the end of the conversation as the commander left the young man to his devices. Was he stupid? Was he doing his duty? Was he a brave man? He didn't know, he had just acted as the drill sergeants had always told them to, "Always meet the beasts with cold steel and a fire in your heart, swinging your blade and thrusting your spear," He mumbled to himself as he headed to his quarters. He had spilled the blood of the beasts and he had gained the praise of his commander, it was a promising start.
The barracks were simple tents that were kept back as the men moved their lines forwards and the walls were built to hold off the beasts. The issue with this part of the front was the large distance from the wall materials, forcing the Dawn Legion to fight night after night for the ground they earned the night before with the bright lamps being moved forwards and installed each day, "Would you look at that," A resting veteran shock troop smirked as the younger man walked into the tent, "The young one had the talk with the commander," The other men chuckled, "But, I have to give praise where it is due, those were some serious fucking balls to charge at the breach like that," He slid off of his bunk and held out his hand, "Jeriko."
"Reynold," He shook hands with the older man, "Thanks, it was, well, I don't know what I was thinking."
"On your feet, that's how you were thinking," He climbed back onto his bunk, "Get some rest, tomorrow night, we go again."
"And the night after that," Another veteran added, "Unless we choose to hold the line and the trenches are dug during the hold."
"What?"
"Trenches, pretty good against the beasts if you have enough crossbow bolts for them," Another man added, "That is how we got into the valley to begin with, but the kingdom is having to build fortifications everywhere and this is the only goddamn active and unprotected frontline, without us, this whole kingdom is overrun," Reynold sat on his bunk and removed his headgear and his gauntlets, "How was it to hack at the darkness with your sword?"
"I don't know yet," The older man scoffed and rolled his eyes as he lay on his back with his hand under his head and his legs crossed, "It is something, that is for sure."
"There is more to come, Reynold," Another veteran added, "Every night those creatures rise from some hell hole and throw themselves at our lines."
"What is the backup to this frontline?"
"2nd cavaliers."
"That's it?"
"And 2nd shock, they work together."
"How is that?" The older men chuckled at the lack of knowledge the younger man had, "Do they ride 2 men on one horse?"
"You are exactly right, rookie."
"Oh, will you all shut up? He'll be dead in a week," A grumpy veteran trying to get some sleep commented, "We won't get that wall and the first time he is thrown into the Advancing Volley he'll fold like a sapling under my boot."
"Hector, give the lad a bit of a chance, aye?" Another veteran piped in, "You are a pessimist."
"I am realistic," He replied before turning his back to the rest of them and trying to get some more sleep. Reynold lay down in his bed and looked up at the bed above him, he had dreamed of this but now he was here, was it still a dream? He couldn't quite put his finger on an answer to that question.