Because the group arrived hours later than the original timeframe, they received advice from the higher-ups to stay at the border for the night. It wasn't safe to travel back to the city in the dark.
Goblins in daylight were troublesome, but they were nothing compared to the goblins at night. Unlike humans, goblins could see clearly in the darkness, making them even more dangerous under the cover of night.
The warriors gathered around the campfire, chatting and sharing stories to pass the time.
Bennet noticed that Captain Igor had been unusually quiet since the earlier insult, so he decided to approach him.
"Captain, are you okay?" Bennet asked, concern in his voice.
Igor managed a smile and replied, "I'm fine, just a lot on my mind."
Bennet wasn't convinced. "What he said wasn't fair. You're a great leader, and you did your best to save your squad members," he said sincerely.
Captain Igor chuckled, touched by Bennet's attempt to console him. "I appreciate your kind words, Bennet. But Captain Donovan does have a point. There are injustices in this country."
Bennet countered, "Name a country that is perfect."
"You make a wise point for someone so young. Your father must have been a smart man. I'd like to meet him after this mission," Captain Igor said.
"That would be great, but he passed away three weeks ago," Bennet replied.
Captain Igor was at a loss for words upon hearing about Bennet's recent loss. The young warrior's father had passed away just three weeks ago, and it weighed heavily on his heart. Bennet noticed the captain's silence and decided to offer some reassurance.
"It's alright, Captain," Bennet said with a faint smile. "I still have my mother and my younger brother, Hugo. We'll get through this together."
Captain Igor nodded in understanding. "Hugo? Is that the kid over there?" He gestured towards a young boy who had been chatting with other young warriors around the campfire.
Bennet chuckled and nodded. "Yes, that's him. Hugo and I may not look alike, but we're brothers through and through."
"You got a monster of a brother there, he will be a fierce warrior one day," Captain Igor said in amazement remembering how Hugo fought against the Goblins.
"He is indeed a beast, Captain. We may face challenges, but as long as we have each other, we'll find a way." Bennet said.
"You know," Igor began, his voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia, "I used to have an elder brother too."
Igor's gaze seemed distant for a moment as he reminisced. "It was more than ten years ago when he was assigned here, and he got killed on a mission. My father, a high-ranking official in the city, almost went mad with grief. My brother was his pride and honor."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Captain," Bennet said that losing a sibling, especially in such circumstances, must have been incredibly tough.
Since I'm the remaining heir in our family, it was mandated that I could never go beyond that wall." He pointed towards the imposing Aegis wall that surrounded their border outpost.
"The Aegis Wall, it protects the monsters outside from me" Captain Igor chuckled.
"Most warriors here don't know that story, so I can't blame them for thinking that I'm a coward," he admitted. "It's true that I live in the safety of the wall, and my responsibilities are different from those who venture beyond."
Bennet was about to respond to Captain Igor's remark, but their conversation was interrupted by a warrior who informed them that it was time for dinner and they would be joining Captain Donovan's squad.
Captain Igor couldn't help but let out a frustrated sigh. The prospect of facing Captain Donovan again and potentially enduring more disrespect clearly didn't sit well with him. Nevertheless, he gathered himself and rose from his seat.
Upon entering a small stone building, Bennet and Captain Igor found themselves surrounded by Captain Donovan and his squad, consisting of around thirty warriors, with eleven women and nineteen men among them. The atmosphere inside was surprisingly lively, filled with chatter and camaraderie.
Captain Donovan acknowledged Captain Igor's presence with a nod, which was returned in kind. The welcoming atmosphere was somewhat unexpected, given the earlier encounter with Donovan.
"Welcome, young warriors!" one of Donovan's men called out, raising a hand in greeting.
"Thank you for bringing us food," a friendly lady added, her smile warm and inviting.
Bennet and Captain Igor exchanged glances, a bit taken aback by the warm reception. It seemed that perhaps not all the warriors stationed here shared Captain Donovan's initial attitude. Grateful for the hospitality, they joined the gathering and looked forward to sharing a meal with their fellow warriors.
Amidst their meal, one of the warriors at the table couldn't help but bring up the earlier interaction.
"I heard our captain was being an asshole a while ago, sorry about that. He just hates doing paperwork," the warrior admitted, a sheepish grin on their face.
Another chimed in with a laugh, adding, "Yeah, he's fantastic in a fight, but when it comes to writing, he's as good as a toddler!"
Laughter rippled through the group, and even though Captain Donovan appeared annoyed, he held back his anger, recognizing that it was all in good spirits.
Captain Igor, displaying his usual humility, chimed in, "Captain Donovan was just imparting his wisdom to me as my senior."
A playful voice piped up, "You mean, like a senior citizen?" The comment triggered another wave of laughter among the group.
Captain Donovan couldn't help but join in on the banter with a mock grumble. "Ha-ha, now stop it!"
"Seems like our grumpy senior could use a nap," teased one of the women, eliciting yet another round of laughter. The jovial atmosphere continued, with the warriors enjoying their meal together and lightening the mood after a long day.
The dinner had gone surprisingly well. The young warriors had listened to the seasoned veterans, realizing that their experiences and insights were far different from what they had initially expected. As the meal came to an end, the warriors began to disperse.
Bennet, however, couldn't let go of the earlier incident and approached Captain Donovan.
"Have you apologized to Captain Igor yet?" Bennet asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Captain Donovan, seeming a bit exasperated, replied, "I've already addressed it, so stop bothering me."
Bennet persisted, still puzzled. "When did you apologize? I was with Captain Igor the whole time."
Captain Donovan, with a hint of irritation, clarified, "Are you blind? I nodded at him, and he nodded back. In our own way, that means everything is settled and forgiven."
Bennet, still baffled by Captain Donovan's approach, took a moment to gather his thoughts. Then, he spoke with a hint of playfulness.
"I don't think that's how a Captain should act," Bennet remarked, trying to convey his point without offending.
Captain Donovan, clearly taken aback, exclaimed, "What the—my warriors are already mocking me, and now you're joining in?"
Bennet chuckled and continued, "Who knows, Captain? Maybe I'll join your team in the future."
Captain Donovan rolled his eyes. "Please, no. I don't want another troublemaker on my hands."
At the exact moment, Captain Igor was about to step out, Captain Donovan blocked his way.
"You did okay," Captain Donovan said, surprising Igor.
"What's that?" Captain Igor asked, clearly perplexed.
"I said, you did okay," Donovan responded, making his words clearer this time.
Igor's confusion grew, but before he could respond, Donovan quickly moved to step out of the building. In his haste, he blurted out, "I said, I was wrong."
Unbeknownst to them, a group of their fellow warriors was waiting just outside, and they overheard Captain Donovan's unexpected apology. The eavesdropping warriors burst into laughter, the last thing they heard was Captain Donovan shouting at the top of his lungs that they would be punished.
"I am so confused, why is he apologizing to me suddenly?" Captain Igor asked, a puzzled expression on his face.
"Perhaps, he isn't as bad as we think he is and he realized he was wrong," Bennet answered, trying to make sense of the situation.
"I know that. I noticed when his own warriors are laughing and making fun of him, he is loved by his people, I could tell," Captain Igor said, reflecting on the evening's events.
The night went by quickly as they chatted and shared stories around the campfire. Bennet found himself intrigued by the camaraderie and sense of honor among these warriors. He began to respect the traditions and values that they held dear.
Bennet couldn't help but wonder if being a warrior, or even a general, could truly make a difference in this world. The stories he had heard of wars and conflicts weighed heavily on his mind. Could he, as a young warrior, find a way to bring about change and ensure a better future for his family and his people?
Bennet felt a sense of determination and purpose rising within him. With a solemn vow, Bennet made a commitment to himself that he would strive to become more powerful, following a path even more challenging than that of the warriors he had met. He aspired to be someone who could influence the world not just through physical strength but also through the power of his words alone.
"To be like Shanks, Whitebeard or maybe Sengoku, yeah like a real badass fighter" he told himself quietly.
With that thought in mind, he closed his eyes, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead on his journey, which path? He doesn't know yet.