The day after...

The Sunset comes with its familiar orange rays upon the horizon, breaking the intensity of the hot sun temperature, Bringing the winds of change with it.

Followed by a sheering welcome.

The second army with spirits stronger than a thousand walls, marched proudly to the camp. With their iron boots shaking the ground below their feet. They stomp the earth with their disciplined march and their Sharp killing eyes, Thirsty for blood and War.

The reserve army looked up to them, as their salvation. A force by which they will crush their enemy and librate their lands or at least will give them a chance

The situation was levelled again, with 20,000 men total, formed by combined arms of calvaries, archers and footsoldiers.

Another battle awaits...

.....

While Louis was having lunch with the promised future bride Aurora. Exchanging smiles and hearty meals. A strange-looking shouting man came running to the camp. "Sir, sir!"

He screamed, having difficulty breathing from running. His clothes tell that he is no military person. He was a civilian or...a spy.

"Commander, we have a situation at Nale!" He continued shouting.

Joseph on the other side, was busy with his tacticians discussing the last steps of his battle approach on a map put on a table. When he saw the man, his eyes jumped with attention.

"Hey, hey Take a breath, Walice," he said halting him

"The enemy...the blood drinker...his army...I heard them. They will move on Tagia, tomorrow at Dawn!!"

"Hold on, you told me yesterday that they won't make a move until the next week. What changed?"

"Their supplies came faster than we anticipated sir, they managed to harass the nearby farms and small villages, and I overheard some soldiers saying that logistics support would come to aid them sooner than we expected"

Joseph took the words with absolute calmness while his men swallowed hard, Nevertheless, they trusted their superior commander to act properly, and so did Louis and Aurora as they looked up to him, seeking guidance for their next move.

Silence struck for a while. Joseph bowed his head slightly on a table, staring with focus, his eyes shifting nervously at the map. His fingers are hitting the table in sequence. Thousands of eyes were watching him, waiting for his call.

One order and over 30,000 souls will follow his lead.

"That settles it, then," Joseph said with a strange smile, facing his men.

"TONIGHT, WE LIBERATE NALE !" [https://img.wattpad.com/439e063176c35ec3063be1e87fe58e1b58b433f0/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f6947415477746b496d66693451413d3d2d313230303332313634362e313763613533653735633165326562373437323931373435373133352e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

"TONIGHT, WE LIBERATE NALE !"

He shouted. Raising his fist.

That shout had a profound effect on the soldiers, it brought out their courage and determination, and they couldn't hide it anymore. Fists flew high with an incredible wave of shouts among the 30,000 men, breaching the heavens. The outcries were so powerful that Louis's ears couldn't handle them, and he used his hands to protect his eardrums from popping out. But that couldn't prevent his proud smile. It turns out that the men trusted Joseph with their lives, even if they were forced to march with him to hell itself.

...

The whole day was full of tension. The officers were gathering the men everywhere, putting them in their planned formation. Channelling orders down the lines.

During that, Louis reached for Joseph at the command tent. The biggest and largest tent in the whole camp. It was like a portable castle in the wild.

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"Sorry, fellow hunter. No entry allowed unless requested personally" said one of the guards, stopping Louis at his tracks.

Louis was disappointed. Each person in the camp had a role. Either a tactician, a fighter or a doctor. Only he. The turncoat. Didn't have a certain duty to perform. He wanted to participate in the battle. Any role just to give him a chance to enter the city.

"Let him in, boys" Joseph yelled from inside the tent.

The guards opened a path for the happy Louis to enter.

"Sir". He saluted.

"Right on time, son, come on in". Joseph said. Still looking at a bunch of maps.

"Allow me to participate, I can help Lady Aurora if you want", he said, knowing very well that his qualifications do not match the task at hand.

A big smile was drawn on Jospeh's face.

"From now on, You will address her as a madam. My madam" he smiled

Louis's eyes jumped with fake reaction."So she accepted your offer?!"

"Yep, turns out, we were made for each other at the end"

"Congratulations!" He chuckled with hesitated joy, "but as far I would love to tell you 'I told you so', we are running out of it-"

"Yeah, I know" he paused. He looked into Louis's eyes with strange-looking eyes.

"You will go with 'The Backstabbers'. A group of volunteered skilled civilian fighters put in independent squads, Their role is to infiltrate and quickly camouflage themselves among the enemy back lines during the main attack and free the hostages, before the core units arrive.

Once that is done, those independent squads should retreat immediately before the army reaches thier position at the town. Any question?"

"No, sir. Just appoint me to my squad, and I am ready" he said pretending a confident vibe.

"I admire your enthusiasm, young prince. But my decision is final, you won't go with any squad"

Louis stared confused. Silently requesting more briefing.

"Listen very carefully, kid," said Joseph with a leading breath, "You will be assigned as one man squad, in other words, you are on your own. Once the horns of battle cry loud. You and others will infiltrate the houses for which they keep the women. Free any women you meet in your way until you find your girl.

Once you unite with her. You must find a way to cross the border during the fog of war. The river of Baria should have some boats where the enemy used to cross. Use one of them to leave this land. Mind you again. You are on your own, understood?"

"SOo I am not welcome in the camp anymore?" said Louis with dropped eyes.

"We don't know if there will be 'a camp' after tonight's clash, as far as this goes we could all perish on the battlefield tonight. It might be a one-way trip, son"

Louis took the harsh truthful words with a gulp and simply nodded.

"You scared, ha, kid?"

"Of course, I am! I wasn't a born soldier, Commander. I am a prince! I am used to hearty dinners. Beautiful women. And hypocritical friends. It is not easy to cast all those away. And just rush and kill people as if they were a harmful swarm of locusts.

I didn't go to war before. I don't know how this should go, the last time I killed a human soul. I had a traumatic dream for years. " said Louis with a heavy breath. "I want to save my girl but not by killing my own people"

Joseph looked at him, with a calm face, at the lost-minded prince.

"Hey," said Joseph, taking a knee. "You taught me how to be a lover and how to fight for and pursue the woman that beholds the key of my heart, let me tell you something or two about being a soldier"

Louis heeded.

"A soldier means a person who can fight. Not Necessary to spill blood. Some Fight for their reputation. Folks Fight for their honour and some for physical winnings like land and wealth. However, not all fight with swords and steel. There are those who fight with words and intelligence.

You are a prince that once belonged to the confronting land. You know how they think and that's how you will fight. Harness that to your advantage.

From the way I look at things here, the fact that you fought all those hardships and are still willing to fight more for your girl. Makes you a better soldier than those men outside

You don't need to kill. Find an opportunity, and use your mind. Only kill when you need to kill. This is war, nothing is prohibited"

Louis smiled. Happy with the encouraging, guiding and kind words.

"Ready for war, Hunter?" he stood up, his helmet by his left hand and his iron gauntlet fist extended for a fist pump. Louis raised his hand to go for the pump when someone shoved the tent doors with force.

Aurora.

"Tell me you are not stupid enough to go to this wicked town while you are still injured!" she protested.

"I have no choice, I will have to endure. my love" he said defending.

"wha- this is ridiculous! Louis, beat some sense to this man!" she pointed her finger towards Joseph.

Louis raised his eyebrows. Thinking about he got himself into.

Oh hell no, I am not going further into this relationship mender profession. My hands are full as it is. Solve your own goddamn problems, Lady.

Joseph took some steps towards his woman, placing his hands on her arms, and narrowing his eyes. "If I know you very well, honey. I would say it's not an injury that paranoy you, it's the war itself. You think that I won't come back, don't you?" he said with a foxy smile.

"I...y-you can't blame me for it, Joseph!" she tried to avoid his eyes.

Smiling, he held her small chin with one hand slowly shifting her head towards him to meet his brown eyes again.

"I am not, all I ask is to trust me. This is not my first battle and I promise you it won't be the last. Just have faith in me and my men as you always did in the past"

She looked at him with watery eyes. Before receiving a tight comforting hug.

"I will stick you to these words!" She hugged him back. Tears flowed from her eyes.

He chuckled and smiled back. At least he has a purpose to come back now.

Feeling heavy weighting with his presence, Louis took some steps backwards to slip away.

"...and Louis" Joseph's voice trailed.

"After this shitshow of war end. You are most welcomed to visit"

Louis smiled proudly and shoved the tent door away. Thanking the circumstances that led him to become acquainted with those past two.