"Finally" I muttered with a heavy sigh.
The end of my shift at the gate was the most relieving moment of the day.
Hours of standing in rigid silence, guns at the ready, staring into the vast unknown beyond the walls.
It wore on me.
The forest out there was endless, with threats that plague fear on people.
I descended through the elevator leading down from the wall.
My head ached, and I was already thinking about the food I was going to order and how sweet it is going to taste as i devour it and go straight to my room and collapse straight onto the bed.
"Ah, good dreams"
But it just wouldn't come easily.
Suddenly a harsh, static buzz of the speaker overhead cut through the air.
"All personnel report to the main base compound immediately. Repeat, all personnel report to the main base compound immediately."
I froze mid-step, the fatigue in my body momentarily forgotten.
An announcement like that wasn't routine.
Something big was happening.
I quicken my pace not wanting to be late and having to struggle through soldiers to find a spot.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about today"
***
The compound was massive, a sprawling expanse of reinforced concrete and steel.
Soldiers were already gathering when I arrived, forming neat rows in the open yard.
The murmur of voices filled the air, uneasy and speculative.
I joined the crowd, slipping into the back of one of the lines, scanning the faces around me.
Everyone looked confused.
The banners of the military fluttered above us, the insignias stark against the gray sky.
Generals stood in front of the crowd, their presence commanding and severe.
One of them, a tall man with a square jaw and a chest covered in gleaming medals, stepped forward.
"Attention!" his voice boomed, and the yard fell silent instantly.
He paced in front of us, his boots striking the ground with rhythmic precision.
His gaze swept across the crowd, sharp and heavy, like he was measuring each of us.
"As you all know, the situation outside the walls has escalated," he began. "The goblin ambushes are no longer isolated incidents. They've grown in number and strategy, and it's clear they are being led by a more formidable force, the Orc Lord."
You mean to say one of the orc lord, right?
A ripple of unease spread through the crowd.
The stories of the Orc Lord had already reached everyone's ears, whispered in hushed tones in barracks and mess halls.
"Their attacks have cost us dearly," the general continued. "Thirty soldiers lost. Five awakened killed. Countless injuries that have stretched our healers thin. These are not minor skirmishes. This is a coordinated assault, and it threatens the very foundation of our defenses."
He stopped, letting the weight of his words sink in.
Around me, soldiers shifted uncomfortably, the tension palpable.
"We have a plan," he said, his voice firm. "From this point forward, our forces will be divided. Some of you will remain here, guarding the gates and ensuring the safety of the city. The rest will be deployed outside the walls, patrolling the forest and engaging the enemy where they gather. This is not a choice. It is a duty."
When the announcement ended, the generals dismissed us, and the crowd began to disperse, breaking into smaller groups as soldiers talked among themselves.
I moved with the flow of people into the base, heading for the assignment boards.
Inside, the atmosphere was heavy.
The walls were lined with screens displaying tactical maps, glowing red markers indicating areas of recent activity.
Soldiers clustered around the boards, scanning the lists for their names.
The boards were organized by duty, with separate sections to prevent overcrowding.
I made my way to the one labeled Outside Gate Duty, though my gut twisted as I approached.
I skimmed through the list of names, recognizing a few.
The further down I read, the more I pitied the people listed.
Outside duty wasn't just dangerous, it was a death sentence for some.
Just as many has already tasted how dangerous it is.
And then I saw it.
My name.
Sky.
Plain as day, right there among the others.
For a moment, the world seemed to tilt.
My chest tightened as I stared at the letters, willing them to disappear.
But they didn't.
I was on outside gate duty.
"Come on, give me a break"
The pity I'd felt for others now turned inward.
But there was no room for complaints.
This was the life I had to live with.