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Fun fact 1: Women feel twice the pain a man feels. But they have a higher tolerance. Girls! you rock.

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Rustling and crunching of the leaves on foot. Leaves filtering the Sun light from above. It was getting warmer with winter passing. It was a great feeling. The snow was also thinning with every step further from the Mountain.

"We're soon reaching Loganth." Spar said. His young-wrinkled face showed no emotion. Nudging Loganth who sat on the same horse as him. Loganth was fully awake. Heart beating and hands sweating. His face slowly healing. Spar just liked to disturb Loganth. 

Not answering. He got of the horse. Food rations and water just enough for the trip slung over his shoulder in a leather bag. Clothed in enough to fit in and withstand the cold. Loganth was scared. It was his first time leaving the Mountain. No one left the Mountain, it was rare for one to leave unless on order from the King, which in this case he was.. Though not for a mission or a letter to the King over the Walls. 

Looking up to face Spar, he smiled for the last time. "Thanks. For everything." he said.

"Don't be all teary now boy. We'll see you soon too. Just remember that no human can know everything. Strive to be better!" With a loud voice he said and laughed.

Loganth ignored his craziness. "Here." Queth said. He was so quiet no one would have realized he was there at all. Throughout the whole trip he said nothing. Only now when he was offering a dagger to Loganth. Loganth had his own sword, but it was a half and a half sword. They knew it was a nuisance when travelling with it. Especially when he was going past the Walls. Queth came prepared.

It was hard holding a conversation with Queth. But he liked the man nonetheless. Since a young age he's been cared by these two men. Despite their weird and awkward character, they were great company. The dagger was Queth's own. Taking the dagger out of its leather sheath. It has dulled over the years but it was looted from a soldier. It was simple but it was made by men past the Walls. Everything of theirs were better and sharper, stronger and sturdier. The weapon had a symbol engraved into its blade. It was clean but crudely engraved. Probably no effort was put into its symbol. 

He thanked Queth and left without a second glance. It was a new life, and he wasn't ready. But he had to go. The main reason Queth and Spar came along was to make sure Loganth didn't have second thoughts, disobeying his father. Otherwise they had to force him or kill him. Which none of them wanted to do, but orders are orders. Kill or be killed was the rule. 

After walking a day and a half, a fair way from the foot of the mountain. He heard a voice. It was shouting but quiet. excited but sturdy. Going closer, he hid behind a bush. Quietly he edged closer for a better look. These were not Mountain men. They looked clean and clumsy. Though not much could be said considering Loganth looking quite the same as them. But he knew, they were not of the Mountain. Five of them they sat around, dressed in the same clothing as Loganth.

"Hahah. We finally got that rabbit!" A man twice Loganth's size said. "Man oh man, you little bugger." Cutting into the rabbit he slowly and painfully skinned it while still breathing. It writhed and squirmed crazily. Loganth pitied the rabbit. Despite living in the Mountains, his men always gave a swift chop of its head to end its live before cutting into it. Unless they are humans, whereby they would probably do the same and skin them alive. 

Watching this scene, Loganth already did not like them. But he still watched from afar. 

"This little bugger." Flicking the rabbit's skull with his finger. "Stealing our teal leaves! Lucky we got you otherwise we would be losing our job." The big man said again. That's why Loganth thought. 

"Hah Ashur, that's enough. We got the leaves back, quickly prepare the fire. It's getting dark quick and soon." Another man said. 

The man torturing the rabbit got up, pocketed his knife and went the opposite direction of where Loganth hid. One more left with him. 

That night Loganth hid a fair ways away from them. He hid and observed them. He avoided making any movement to prevent them from hearing him. He did not trust them and he did not know anything about them. But he knew he did not like Ashur. He was considered small relative to his people. But these people were smaller than him in height, besides Ashur. They did nothing besides resting the whole and recuperating and maintenance.  

The thing he hated that night was not having the comfort of a fire. The nights can get very cold. Despite living in the Mountains throughout his whole life, the cold was unbearable especially in the night. But he had to carefully plan his every movement. Not anyone can enter past the Walls, according to Spar. He said that there were strict rules against foreigners without a paper for entry. Since the rule of Berth, and the recent campaigns to gain control of Westea in the South. Berth had all the land he needed. But greed and power have blinded him. Stories mentioned of Berth in his younger valiant day in effort to survive when it was cold and dark. That led one to another to the point of him being King. Unifying all men under one name through blood and sweat. 

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Through the night and another day he wrapped himself in his cloak. His legs hurt with the lack of movement. Pins and needles crawling up his leg. Snacking on the bread that have turned hard. 

After the second day, "Joe, time is coming to an end. We'll have to go back soon." The skinniest man said.

"Got it" Collecting his thoughts.  "Mak could you scout out around us and a little more towards the north. Give it a final run." Joe, the leader of the group spoke to the scout. "We'll pack your things."

"Ahh. Lucky Mak, always getting your things packed for you." Ashur teased a little.

"You wanna scout instead? I would pack your things." Sounding a little annoyed. He looked towards Ashur's belonging. A pack of water, a small bag to sleep in, a sword and another bag, filled with teal leaves. 

Ashur just grinned. Mak knew that he teased a lot, but it got annoying after a long time. It has been three months since leaving the wall. With the recent struggle against the Mountain, the men past the Wall have been on alert. Sending small groups of soldiers to report for any advancements. 

That noon, they got everything packed. Loganth had to move away while Mak scouted the area. While he came back following Mak's footsteps. Not a very good scout Loganth noted. Though it cannot be compared to Loganth who lived in the Mountains all his life. Apparently they are two days away from the Wall. Loganth had to come up with a plan to get past the Wall. He racked his brain and nothing came up. Spar told him that the Wall cannot be infiltrated with the massive wall and strict rules. 

And from the conversations he had heard, they were soldiers and thus the best way would be to follow them. But no one has crossed out of the Wall since the rule of Berth. The only chance of him getting past the Wall is with the status of a soldier. But no one goes out alone from his observations. Thus a story was what he needed. 

Quickly passing the group. He stopped by one tree and hid behind it. He took the strap of his leather bag and bit into it. Taking the dagger, he cut a few wounds into his arms and he stabbed himself into the thigh. Muffled sounds of pain came out of Loganth's mouth. Though not loud enough for it to reach the soldiers. He then wiped some of his own blood onto his face and clothes.

As soon as heard their footsteps. He stepped out, clutching his stabbed leg. "Help." He said weakly. 

Being soldiers means being cautious and ready at any moment. They drew their swords out quickly. Pointing the tip of the blade at him. "Help" Loganth said again. This time dropping to the floor. This was not an act. Loganth regretted this, he should have came up with something better he thought. "Fuck!!" he thought.

"Who are you?" The leader Joe said. 

Still in pain and not in an act, Loganth's words got stuck in his throat. 

"Speak or this sword goes through your heart boy!" Ashur said. He was big and definitely intimidating. 

Catching his breath. He has gotten into many fights where he gets wounded. But with no adrenaline coursing through his veins beforehand, the pain was quite unbearable. "Mountain men. They attacked me." Paled face and sweating, Loganth managed to say. His swollen face making it even more convincing.

The group of men spoke with their eyes. Glancing at each other. Especially glaring at Mak, the scout. They must be thinking how he did not see me when scouting Loganth thought. Suspicious but seeing how weak and fragile Loganth was at that moment, they relaxed and quickly took Loganth into their care. 

"Tell me what happened." Joe said. Suspicious and curious.

"I got separated from my group when Mountain men ambushed us from the trees. We got careless, and I don't know what happened to them." Loganth replied. Voice shaking with every moment passed. The cold was getting to him. 

"Ergh!" Loganth looked down and saw the fifth person binding his wound with cloth. He knew that there was five soldiers. but this one was so quiet like Queth. Probably having the same title, 'the Silent' too if these man were not named since birth. This man was a professional he thought. It was swift and efficient. Pouring some water into Loganth's mouth. 

Joe looked at Loganth suspiciously. "What's your name?" Jerking Loganth from fainting.

"Loganth" he managed to squeeze before blacking out.

Mak took the dagger and looked at the symbol. Passing it to Joe, they nodded. Confirming that he is part of the army. Loganth did not know. And Queth definitely did not know as well. It was fortunate that he came up with the story of him being a soldier. "They must have used his own dagger to stab him. Bad way to get stabbed." Ashur teased. Again. 

No one mused his teasing. "His body is heating up. Getting a fever." Mak chimed in. Touching his forehead and neck for a feel. 

"Lucky fella." The skinny man said. They were on the way back home. And it was not far. He was lucky he wouldn't die from stabbing himself. He would wake regretting his actions. Maybe thinking smarter.