A short distance away, Andrew leaned on his sword, exhaling as the last bit of tension left his body. Crimzo approached, slinging his bow over his shoulder.
Andrew glanced at him. "You got them just in time."
Crimzo smirked, rolling his shoulders. "What, did you think I'd miss?"
Andrew let out a short laugh. "No. Just wouldn't have minded if you were a little faster."
Crimzo raised an eyebrow. "Next time, maybe don't get yourself into a storm of arrows, then. Let's check out Roy".
Andrew shook his head, chuckling. "Noted. And let's go"
Sophia crouched beside Roy, carefully examining the wounds on his arm and shoulder. The bandages she had brought were already in her hands.
"This doesn't look like (nothing) to me" she muttered, pressing a cloth against one of the deeper wounds.
Roy didn't react to the pain. "It doesn't hurt much; the pain is tolerable."
The princess was standing nearby while Elena stands silently behind her.
Lily's arms crossed, worry filled her face, watching him closely. "You're still bleeding."
Roy met her gaze but didn't answer.
Sophia sighed. "Two of these cuts are deep. You need proper treatment. We might have to burn the wound."
Lily flinched slightly. "Is that necessary?"
"If we don't, it could get infected," Sophia replied, tightening the bandage around Roy's arm.
Sophia set a small fire, while Roy arm resting on his knee as Sophia prepared what was needed.
At that time, Andrew and Crimzo walked over, Crimzo's bow still in hand, eyes scanning Roy's bandaged arm. "You good?".
Before Roy could answer, Andrew scoffed. "He's fine. Took a few arrows, not his first time."
Crimzo raised an eyebrow. "Does he ever react to pain?"
Andrew smirked. "I don't know let's ask him."
Roy adjusted his coat and said flatly, "Are we done here?"
Before anyone could reply, Yuri approached, his gaze passing over Roy before settling on Crimzo and Andrew. "Roy will live," he said, as if that settled the matter. Then his tone shifted, more authoritative. "Come with me. We need to count our losses and take care of the prisoners."
Andrew straightened, his smirk fading. "The trade?"
Yuri nodded. "We finish it here. Both sides will exchange the rest of the prisoners at the same time. No delays, no risks. We need this handled properly."
Crimzo slung his bow over his shoulder. "Let's finish this fast. I'm starving."
Yuri exhaled, shaking his head. "Then move. The sooner we're done, the sooner you eat."
Without another word, they moved, leaving no room for mistakes. The battlefield was stained with blood, but order was being restored.
In this time, the fire got strong, Sophia heated the tip of a dagger over the flames until it glowed red. The princess stood nearby, watching with an uneasy expression.
"This is going to hurt," Sophia warned, holding the blade steady.
Roy didn't react. "Just do it."
Without hesitation, she pressed the hot metal against his wound. The air was filled with the smell of burning flesh, and the smell of burnt skin immediately rose.
Lily flinched at the sight, but Roy didn't flinch, didn't make a sound. His expression didn't even change.
Sophia worked quickly, sealing the worst of the wounds. When she finally pulled back, she exhaled, wiping sweat from her forehead.
Lily shook her head slightly, watching Roy as if he were something unreal. "How can you not feel that?"
Roy rolled his shoulder, testing the arm. "I've felt worse."
Sophia sighed, wrapping fresh bandages over the burned area. "Try not to get shot again for a while."
Roy didn't respond, only adjusting his coat before standing up.
The princess hesitated before speaking again. "You didn't have to do that."
Roy finally looked at her. "It was instinct."
She held his gaze for a moment, something unreadable in her eyes.
Sophia tied the last bandage firmly and said worriedly. "Stay here, we will finish this, get some rest for now."
Roy exhaled, rolling his shoulder slightly despite the pain. "No promises."
Sophia sighed but didn't argue, stepping away.
Nearby, Lily turned to Elena. "Give us a moment."
Elena hesitated but nodded, stepping back before walking away, leaving only the two of them. The battlefield around them was still filled with movement—soldiers tending to the wounded, commanders making their final preparations—but for a moment, it felt like none of it existed.
Lily took a step closer, her eyes locked onto Roy's. Her gaze lowered slightly, settling on the necklace resting against his chest.
"That necklace," she said softly. "Where did you get it?"
Roy glanced down at it, his fingers brushing against it. He was silent for a moment before answering. "I don't know. I don't remember."
Lily's expression didn't change, but there was something in her eye; something deeper, almost hesitant. "Then why do you still wear it?"
Roy looked at her then. "Because it feels important." His voice was calm, as if he had thought about this before. "Even if I never remember why… I'll still keep it."
Lily's lips opened slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out.
The silence between them was heavy but not uncomfortable
She breathed slowly, her hands tightening slightly at her sides. "Then... don't lose it, keep it up and I'm sure you'll remember one day."
Roy nodded slightly, his expression a little surprised.
For a brief moment, it felt like there was more to say. But instead, Lily turned, taking a step back toward her people.
Roy didn't stop her. He just watched as she walked away.
And just like that, she was gone, leaving some unanswered questions.
-Roy
Lily was gone.
I watched as she disappeared into the sea of Drayton soldiers, her hesitation lingering in my mind. The way she looked at me. The way she reacted to my necklace.
Questions surfaced, but I pushed them aside. Now wasn't the time.
The battlefield was still alive with movement, soldiers obeying orders, doctors tending to the wounded. The stench of blood mixed with smoke, heavy in the cold air.
Both armies stood ready, tense.
The last group of prisoners was freed, their faces weary but relieved. A soldier, barely standing, looked at Andrew. "We made it…" His voice was hoarse. "Thank you."
Another turned to me, silent gratitude in his eyes. I only nodded.
Then...
Keven approached, his voice steady. "I won't forget what you did."
I met his gaze, unreadable. "I didn't do anything special."
Keven exhaled through his nose, shaking his head slightly. "You saved her."
I shrugged. "Letting her die wasn't an option."
Keven studied me for a moment, as if measuring my words. Then, he gave a small nod. "I see."
There was something in his expression—something familiar. A silent understanding.
We weren't the same. But we saw the world in a similar way.
That was enough.
With that, the trade was done.
But before the armies could part ways, Keven and Yuri stood face to face once more.
Keven exhaled, glancing at the soldiers gathering their fallen. "We'll take our dead with us," he said, his voice calm but heavy. "I assume you'll do the same."
Yuri nodded. "We don't leave our own behind."
Keven crossed his arms. "This trade was meant to prevent war."
Yuri met his gaze. "And yet, it's only pushed us closer to it."
Keven's jaw tightened slightly, but he didn't deny it. "I don't know how long I can hold my father back."
Yuri said. "Then prepare for the worst… and hope you never have to see it."
Keven let out a slow breath, then finally gave a small nod. "We'll see."
Without another word, they turned away.
The two armies finished collecting their wounded and dead. And with that, they began their march home.