"So..." Louis cleared his throat. "You didn't answer me. If the whole battalion was defeated, then who we should meet at the 2nd camp?"

"The reserves, my battalion concluded 10,000 men as a backseat to cover our back and to reinforce us when in need, but the invaders attacked us with tremendous speed and encircled us. The messenger I sent had probably been intercepted somewhere in this forest, cutting our communication with the back" Joseph answered.

The walk to the camp was peaceful to a point until it came to Louis and he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Wait, what if your men recognized me?" Louis realized.

"Nah, don't worry. We have a more important issue at hand right now than your identity, young prince. The men's morale is deteriorating. They probably think I am dead as we speak, If I don't reach that camp in time, another defeat will take place and they will flee in front of our common enemy". Joseph said. Worried about the current situation of war he tried to figure out how to press on over his wounds.

After a lot of walking while bitting the pain, The two found themselves climbing a low steep hogback.

"This is it, the camp should be on the other side"

Each one with his personal goal in mind started climbing. Joseph however was still groaning in pain. He began to feel dizzy with every step to the top. At a point, his leg slid, and was about to have another injury if not for Louis who supported him.

"You, ok?"

"No, I think my wounds are open again. W-We need to hurry"

The two pressed on and it felt like forever reaching that summit with a stop every 10 minutes due to Joseph's deteriorating condition. On the other hand, the closer Louis reached the top, the more human noises met his ears.

After so much struggle, Louis reached the top and then turned around to help Joseph up.

"Boy, phew. we made it!". He said when he looked forward

Louis turned around to try to see what Joseph was looking at.

"My Oh My..."

The sight of thousands of tents and massive gatherings of soldiers was everywhere. Across hundreds of feet of smooth terrain. Men were shouting, horsemen were running around. Louis had never seen that amount of soldiers in one place before.

"Good job, kid," Joseph said with a sigh of small relief. "Now Stick to my side and leave the speaking to me," Joseph addressed Louis before moving to descend down the hill and approaching the camp, tired and out of energy.

At first sight of the soldiers to their commander. They couldn't believe their eyes, as some ran to aid their commander, while others kept watching trying to make sure if this was some kind of a trap from the enemy.

More than fifty soldiers rushed to support the man from both sides. While the whole camp was busy with their leader, None noticed Louis at first glance. "THE COMMANDER IS ALIVE! Call for a medic at once!" One of the soldiers shouted as the men comforted their commander that he was safe once again.

Louis took some steps to follow the group when a sword was drawn an inch away from his face. "Hey, you. Where the hell do you think you're going?" Said a man in shiny armour. Suspicious look on his face

Louis was stopped in his tracks. He knew they wouldn't let a citizen in or otherwise, they would doubt him for being a spy.

"Let him in, he is the one who saved me in that forest, he made that banda- Arghh!". He said before he collapsed from pain, unconscious.

"Don't worry, my lord. We got you" The soldiers quickly carried him away. With tremendous concern from all the camp. The loyal guards escorted him to his tent, where numerous doctors were already waiting there.

Time passed... the tension was everywhere. the soldiers gathered at the square, speaking to Louis. Telling them how he met him, unintentionally. While they awaited the fateful statement of the doctors.

"Those invaders! They were hunting us in that forest! There must be a way to stop them from setting their foot on our lands!"

"They will pay for each one they killed!"

Louis watched as the raging men exchanged threats and promises with each other. The news of returning Joseph safely began to spread. Every single man of the 10,000 was praying that they wouldn't have to dig a grave for him that night.

However...

Louis's mind couldn't help himself thinking over and over again about how he left his adorable girl just like that. Her pretty facial expressions are stuck in his head. Pinching him. His eyes dropped to the ground. Life became unbearable without her.

When she gave him that kiss...

Those feelings...

The promise of never leaving her side...

"Dammit, what have I done ?!" He closed his eyes, punished by the feeling of shameful disgrace and regret.

During his thinking. A beautiful young lady got out of the tent. She Had a childish face and mesmerizing eyes. Along with a Slim body. She was either in her mid-20s or in the rise of 30s.

She went out of the tent. Looking around. A bunch of high-ranking soldiers with Louis rushed to the woman, to talk to her about the situation

She appeared more like a princess than a doctor, with that light blue cloak that goes with her eyes. She had her golden hair rolled in an arranged haircut. With a blue stone that had the shape of rhombus wrapped around her head in an out of ordinary fashion.

"How is he?" Said Louis forwarding the soldiers to her.

The lady shifted her bright eyes to Louis, her face was tensed that she could snap at him any moment.

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"Are you Louis, the hunter?" She said with narrowing eyes. Completely ignoring what the prince just asked.

"I...Yes, That's me. How is__!"

The next thing Louis knew, the little lady rushed and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Young hunter" She said squeezing the boy between her arms. The men looked surprised as did the boy. Yet they took it with a grateful smile, as far as they heard that hunter did actually save Joseph. He deserved some credit.

The boy's cheeks burned red, like really red, and was kept in amazement for a while. Kinda embarrassed by how many eyes are watching him right now, maybe envying him too. He didn't see the events to be turned out this way. He didn't know how he should act.

"Wow wow wow! , slow down madam! I can't be seen like this. I have my own girl, you know" Louis tried to regain himself from the lady's arms, gently separating himself from hers.

Although it was tempting to leave such a hug from such an attractive woman, but Louis deep down was loyal to only one girl. The girl he desired the most.

"Oh! I am sorry. I am so sorry. Please forgive overstepping out of my boundaries" She lowered her head a little in apology. "I am just too happy that you saved him," she said with a wide faint smile. Her soft voice speaks of great gratitude.

"Too much gratitude," Louis thought.

"You're...welcome. I guess. How is he by the way?"

Her expression changed from happiness to seriousness.

She cleared her throat. "Bad, the wound which I assumed came from a longsword luckily didn't breach his heart or his lungs. On the other hand, his stomach wall was slashed. If you did come one hour later..." Aroura's eyes began to collect tears she quickly regained herself so as not to shed them. The men gave her a seat to soften things a bit on her "I don't know if I- ahem- we could handle his death. You must have heard of what happened in Nale. It was a carnage beyond the description"

Louis eyed her with a dilemma of his own. He was too late that was sure. But now what?

"Sorry, I am sort of an emotional person myself" She excused herself with a chuckle.

"Well, he should be ready to fight soon, right?" One of the soldiers suggested.

"Are you boys out of your brain juice or something?! Did you just hear what I just said!?" HE NEEDS REST, at least 3 days in bed before he can carry his sword again. not to mention leading an army of thousands behind him!"

The men and Louis stood there with astonishment. Three days...

Louis screamed within himself. "MY DARLING COULD BE IN DANGER IN THE HANDS OF THOSE RUTHLESS MEN AND I HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER THREE FUCK'N DAYS!"

"I gave him some herbs, that should give him some good night sleeping," She said looking at the tent.

Louis nodded in understanding, Despite of his blood boiling inside. He couldn't think of any way to set things in motion again. He wondered. Three whole days were more than enough for Diana to face the madness of being a war trophy. He could lose Diana forever during this period.

"Fine, at least he is breathing, heard that people! That bastard lives" Louis yelled. The men all over the camp cheered, for their desperate hopes and prayers were finally accepted, except for him. His prayers will be left unanswered for quite some time.

She clapped her hand "Ok, Everyone it's getting late. Get to your tents now, we can sleep at last!" With that said, the crowd dispersed. Leaving behind only grateful smiles and some kind words for Louis. The hunter that saved the commander.

"As for you, Hunter. How about I gave you appropriate hospitality, in my tent" She winked.

Louis's eyebrows jumped.

She chuckled "Don't worry you silly, my brother is there too" She knew what Louis was thinking about.

"It's quite an attractive offer. But as a matter of fact, I just want to talk to Joseph about ...a personal matter, it's urgent. Mademoiselle__"

"Aroura, name's Aurora. And no. He is too fragile right now, dear. He really needs to rest. And so are you. As a matter of fact, I don't think leaving right now is a good idea, given the current situation"

"Fine" he gasped. The annoyance in his voice was visible.

but if Aurora's offer stood, he wouldn't sleep on hard grass tonight...

"As you wish, Miss Aurora, please lead the way".

After that first impression, Louis was introduced to her younger brother who was 15 years old boy who had rough orange hair and apparently was also a good cook.

The two made a hearty meal for the hungry prince, Which to their surprise, Louis dived into the plate they made as if he had never seen food before.

Her cheekbone flowered as she witnessed him diving into his plate, eating like a vulgar gorilla.

Louis knew how he was eating right now violated the royal etiquette way of eating back at the palace. Now, he is eating just to sate his hunger, nothing less and nothing more. He doesn't have to be a hypocrite anymore and obey foolish rules just to keep the image of the royal family clean from the piercing eyes of the envying public.

No more.

Despite that, he felt the embarrassment of being watched by Aurora's eyes. How he inappropriately was eating, not respecting that he is not his country anymore, maybe that's why she is so tolerant.

He smiled sheepishly. Mouth filled right and left, his facial expression was a disaster.

After swallowing the concerning amount of food, he tried to break the goofy moment with a conversation.

"Pardon me, I...really loved your recipe"

"Glad you adored it, You deserve even more". She smiled, She was a very cute and generous person which made Louis question how a clean soul like her got herself a role in this war.

"So, um... About that blue stone wrapped around your head?"

"Oh, that? That's just the symbol of my family. The blue rhombus"

Louis's eyebrow narrowed. "Wait. I heard about this family. Hold on. You are a descendant of magican's heritage!"

"Aha, my parents were experts in magic, I wish they taught me some more before their death." Aroura lost some of her happy face when the subject came. Louis swallowed hard what was in his mouth.

"But enough about me, Tell me about you, young hunter . Would care to explain why you are helping the enemy of your homeland!?" She said quietly, and the atmosphere picked up the tension of the question. Yet, her features were calm.

The moment the question hit his eardrums, Louis freezed, the good night dinner turned into an interrogation. "The commander told you already, ha?". The food became suddenly unbearable in his mouth, and he swallowed it with a big glup.

"No, your accent got you. I am not a native of this land, but your martizian tongue can be still be noticed even if you tried to hide it"

"That means_"

"A fugitive, my parents escaped through the borders 5 years ago. Best decision they ever made, if you asked me. I feared that one of the men noticed your language, so I brought you to my tent"

"I..see". Louis eased up a bit seeing that he is not the only stranger in this land.

"So? Why the help?". She pressed on the question.

"Well, it began when I saw one beautiful maid...". He told her everything. Excluding the part of the Red Castle.

Aroura blinked in admiration but still clung to another question. "What about your people, do you not care about them, I mean more will die after you gladly rescued my...I mean...our commanding general ?". Her tone began to stutter out of the blue, yet still keeping her wits.

"I can't help them, King wain always uses mandatory recruiting for poor farmers to fuel his war under the command of monsters in the shape of generals. Believe me, My heart bleeds for them but there is nothing I can personally do..."

She stared at him for a while. Her eyes were caring and understanding, considering it all...She smiled at last. Her cheeks were full of blood.

"You have a good heart, Louis. Forgive me, for being serious with you now. But a war is a war. I can't help it when I see so many souls around falling to the grasp of the abyss and I can't save them all. That's why I wanted to make sure you have not any ill intention to any of the sleeping men outside " Her sweet character returned. "...I really hope you find her safe and sound"

He smiled back. "Thanks, Miss Aurora". Despite him being off the hook. He couldn't shake off the fright he got. Two people now know who he really is in the camp. But that didn't stop his sworn enemy from handing him a feast inside the heart of a war camp and nonetheless treated with rather an off sense of hospitality, like a normal habitat of the same land as if the war had never flared. But now. He is just another lone wolf outcasted by his tribe.

After some other side talks, The night ended with an assumed good sleep for both of them. Yet. For the defeated (reserve) army of the Gartizian empire. It was a grieving day for the thousands of souls who died at Nale and other towns along the long borders, Burning inside to avenge them.

Great courage lacking power and numbers. An inspiring raging spirit lacks consistent motivation and tactics. They couldn't do anything now. Still, the whole camp was put at ease, knowing their commander was still clinging to life somehow.

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