In the quiet village of Oddwood, the morning sun cast a warm glow over the farm fields. Villagers, most of whom were once soldiers themselves, went about their daily routines—preparing the bakery for fresh bread, tending to the livestock, and repairing tools for the day's work.

The tranquility was interrupted by the distant sound of hooves. As armored men on horses approached, the villagers, recognizing the significance, straightened their backs and exchanged knowing glances. Their eyes reflected a mix of sadness and acceptance, for they understood the weight carried by those who bore armor and weapons.

A young villager, quick to react, sprinted toward the village tower, shouting, "Recruiters! Recruiters!"

The news spread like wildfire, drawing villagers out of their homes to witness the approaching soldiers. Eyes filled with a range of emotions—some carried a flicker of hope, others were weighed down by sadness, and a few seemed to hold an emptiness that spoke of past losses.

The village bell rang loudly, its toll echoing across the fields, alerting those unaware of the soldiers' arrival. The villagers congregated at the village center, forming a gathering around a wooden stage.

The soldiers, their armor bearing the scars of battles, made their way through the crowd to ascend the stage. The villager's eyes fixed upon them, anticipation mixed with a subtle tension.

The commanding officer, clutching a scroll, began to read aloud. "The last year brought severe losses as villages,'Oakridge, Pinevale, Stonehaven, Birchfield, Foxgrove, and Midrest',succumbed to relentless monster attacks. Additionally, Earthson, Liefield, and Norksome were captured by the Empire of Beasts to the north."

Before he could continue,complains resounded.

"Those filthy beasts,they should've gone extenct".

"Dogs,that cant even recognize their masters".

"Biting the hands of their owners arent they".

The commander's voice resonated loudly, commanding attention. "Silence, quiet! I haven't finished the report yet," he continued, "The 2nd legion was decimated. While many perished, some were captured. The roster of Oddwood's lost sons includes Thorn Essertg, Gavin Bearson, Finn Burkee, Lyra Burkee, Eldric Ironhart, Rowena Edisone, Lark Eatone, and Flyta Eldrede."

When the commander's voice was heard, some began to collapse to the ground, tears streaming down their faces. A woman fell to the ground, her cries echoing through the air. While everyone had anticipated such news, hearing it was always a heavy burden on the heart.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

The commander's own heart ached at the sight. Behind him, a soldier could be seen with tears rolling down his face, a faint whimper escaping him. Several other soldiers were visibly shedding tears. However, the commander, having witnessed such heartbreaking scenes countless times, managed to maintain better composure. He continued, a testament to the resilience borne from the weight of responsibility.

"The 3rd legion has succumbed to the dead; their hearts no longer burn with hope, their bodies cold with sorrow and despair. Even though they haven't turned aggressive, they still pose a danger to the northern south borders."

"The civilians of Oddwood, aged between 12 and 15, are anticipated to assemble at the village center by the afternoon. Even youngsters as young as 9 years old are eligible to apply for enrollment. Evading conscription is viewed as a betrayal to the human kin and will be treated accordingly. Punishments for such betrayal range from enslavement to banishment and even execution. It's crucial to remember that this duty is not just to the community but to your own kin. While witnessing our sons and daughters in peril is an unbearable prospect, the survival of our kind necessitates that we take up arms and fight."

In the face of such a poignant scene, not a single complaint was uttered. Instead of succumbing to fear of the unknown and the prospect of being thrust into the front lines, the children seemed excited at the prospect of defending their country, gazing up with admiration at the heroes of old.

Among those,a kid,his eyes filled with anticipation,was looking up at the commander proudly,he yelled at him,"COMMANDER!!".

The commander hearing the childish voice calling out to him,turned to see a child waving at him,although he couldn't recognize the child,a faint smile graced the commander's face as he waved back.

The same boy,on his way to his home from town center,2 other chilren a boy and a girl,comes running to his side.

"Yo,aizak,are you really going to enroll.",said a the boy.

"Isnt it going to be dangerous,aren't you afraid.",added the girl.

"There ain't anything else for me to do here.",He wore a big smile on his face as he said.

"What about uncle Conor,he isn't going to be happy when he hears this.",said the girl.

"Sara,he knows about the situation the country is in,i might be young,but as long as i remember we never lost such amount of villages as this year,its getting worse than ever,we need every able body to survive.",replied the boy.

"Bane are you encoraging him,he might die,he is barely nine,we are barely nine,don't' tell me you're going with him.",complained Sara,a tear threatening to fall.

"I won't be going this year,my mother is sick,i need to be there for her,but as soon as she gets better,or passes awa.",said Bane,stoped shocked by his own words.

"How could you say such a thing about auntie!,those old stupids are infleuincing you.",said Sara,her tears finaly falling.

"Sara,we need to protect the country,even if auntie passes away,she was injured protecting the empire.",said Aizak,before adding,"Sara,we are no longer the stupid toodlers we were,every year someone passes away,the old no longer surviving to come back here,and the young dying days after reaching the frontlines,even big brother Eldric died,we are going away in 3 years at most anyway,better early than late.".

Sara remained silent,as they continued to walk silently,with Sara's whimpers ocaisonly breaking the silence.

Soon they were at a stone house,Aizak talking a few steps ahead of the group,turned around smiling,"See you at the afternoon,Sara,Bane."

"See you.",said Bane,his face stiff.

While,Sara looked away as if hiding her wet face.