Another round of punishments.

Once again. because I refused to wear the filthy green uniform.

That disgusting symbol of the wolves that abandoned us in our childhood.

I've been made to run around the base camps so many times that the run no longer bothers me. The only irritating part was the mud and dirt that entered my worn out boots.

When I was finally allowed onto the battlefield, I was given an Edonai. It was a gold bracelet with various gems embedded into it already. The centerpiece started to glow an ominous red color when it touched my skin.

To think after such a big deal, I was just given it like that. It's not like it really made me feel different, and I wasn't able to do what Emma did. I had no idea what magic really was, but I was told I didn't have affinity for it anyways. Sad, the one thing that I could have possibly looked forward to was nothing in the end.

Everywhere is the same, I wasn't allowed to go into the tents, and the guy who's barking orders at me all the time keeps telling me to remove the shawl that Emma gave me. I was also told that I wasn't to be trusted around other soldiers, or the armory.

What they didn't know was that whenever the little gems of my Edonai break, I'd crawl under the tent and replace them with the new ones there. It started with a balance of colors, but I figured just putting in the red gems would be fine. There's a lot more of them so I'm sure no one would be able to tell the difference. I'd do the same thing for both of my swords, too.

For whatever reason, that one they cared less about when seeing me take the swords even though I'd break them regularly. In fact, that would be one of the only things they didn't bring attention to for some reason. Due to that, I would safely tuck both swords into their scabbards.

In the middle of thought, one of the people on the same squad as me started to yell about the orders we were given.

“Agelheed, we’re meeting in the center now! Hurry up or you’ll be punished again!”

I reluctantly follow the person back to the group to wait for directions. Instead of the usual person barking orders at me, it's just someone with dark-brown almost red-looking hair. The particularly loud person that kept ordering me around is pretty quiet this time. I guess this guy is important or something.

I move out of line a little to see what the big deal is. Considering the color of his head and his black uniform lined with dark green. All I think about is a watermelon. I suppose with my brighter red hair I’d look even more dumb if I wore this country’s uniform.

Our country’s colors are supposed to represent the abundance of nature, the coexistence we have with the elves who give us the Edonai, and some other fancy garbage that I never bought into since joining.

“With utmost efficiency.”

I thought I understood those values when Wing was around, since he would do everything he could to take care of us, but he would make sure not to strain himself. Despite that, he was left behind by this country’s so-called creed.

“Private Eclaire Agelheed! Respond!”

With a shout, I snapped back to attention and looked up. The red haired man just looked down at me and started to address me.

“I said. Private Eclaire Agelheed, respond!”

“Ah, yeah. What?”

“Do you know who I am? Are you really going to take that tone with me Private?”

“No. I don’t. If you need me to do something just tell me.”

After a bit of a pause, the red haired man started to laugh. He gave me this condescending look and continued to speak.

“Very well, I heard about you. Very much just like him.”

“What?”

“Nothing, nothing, I heard of your circumstances, an ill-mannered pup. However, we still have hope of you yet. Especially with what you're capable of doing. The reports don't lie.”

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“As it should be, I do want you to see that you edge out some manners at the very least Private, and do show some dignity by wearing the uniform.”

These are just words. I have no idea what the hell this guy is saying. I'll do as I see fit, I don't want to make friends with people that just want to band together and play games. I want this damn war to be over with. That would make achieving my goal much easier.

After that uncomfortable exchange, he continued to explain how once we retake the village off the border of Elkysti then we make a base focusing on the Eisenbar Ward. Some prison off the border that has some of our people in it or something. Supposedly we negotiate from there or something, but that doesn't concern me.

Right now, ahead of us is a battlefield.

Whether there is any meaning in it or not isn't my call. I will survive. I will get rid of that man. I return to my tent where that girl I share a bunk with just starts to tell me about the upcoming March.

“Hey Agelheed! You heard what he said?”

“Ah.”

“We'll be recapturing Saum soon! Then, we're going to finally push onto their side! We can save those people!”

“Eh.”

“Aren't you excited? Our squad has been doing pretty well, but we do wish you relied on us more! Especially Keith, he wants to accomplish so many things to help others.”

“Meh.”

“You're so experienced in everything, it's no wonder you're an Agelheed.”

I don't know who that is, nor should I care.

She talks a lot. Her glasses remind me of Karla in a way that makes me want to break them. I started to get along with Karla in the final moments living there, but unlike those times, this girl is ruining any sort of positive opinion I had towards her.

“Why can’t we just go through the mountains north of Saum?”

“Oh! That’s the first time you’ve ever talked to me like that! I will very much like to go in-depth on why, but really aside the frigid cold and rigorous trek upwards. Theres the guardian that people talk about.”

“Ah… “

This is already exceeding far more than what I was willing to communicate about.

“In fact, many people who encounter it usually don’t survive! We don’t even know what will happen past that. Also, also! If we did want to climb up there we would of have had to enter the mountains even further west, before the elven village of Nantonaku!”

Whenever I see the Elkysti Army Mage Uniforms, an indescribable bitterness fills the bottom of my stomach. The color reminds me of an onion, though.

I tried to get some sleep before we departed, but the onion kept talking to me until another two annoyances barged in. One wore the standard black and green uniform of Elkysti so he was up in the front like me. The other was another green onion. The onion approached me and handed me a letter.

“Uh... I'm sorry, Agelheed, but our Sergeant wanted me to hand you this since he doesn't like to deal with you... He said.”

“What?”

I took the paper and read the usual golden words.

Punishment for disrespecting a high-ranking officer.

10 Laps around base camp.

Ugh... What's the point of these petty punishments? I also noticed that everyone is very focused on the last name I took. It doesn't mean anything to me in what they think of it, but having it gives me a sense of comfort that I can't describe.

The two people I love the most share a connection with me. That's enough to get me through the actions I can't turn back from.

I never question who Emma was; it's a fact that she took care of me.

The ringing in my ears make me wants to throw up. Various blasts of flames keep aiming at me each time I get up. I manage to push myself a little further before I get hit. There's no one around me as usual. While they're busy playing games in their tents, I have to advance further. I have to end this quicker.

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I get told doing things like this are why I always have punishments to do, but I don't care. I have to go on.

Red.

So very red.

The enemy mage falls, covered in red.

When Wing saw me do that irreversible action that changed our lives. He looked afraid. I know him well. He wasn't afraid of me, he wasn't afraid of what happened to the other person. He was afraid of what the action did to me.

The Edonai glows and bursts again.

The oldest of the red gems blow out again. I can only tell since it's usually what happens when I see a glow from my wrist, as if it were a signal of when I exert myself too much.

A spell where an ember reaches its target and explodes.

Doesn’t take that long to use and is very annoying.

[Fire Blast] A gentle ember flies forward.

On the command of the soul, the ember bursts and incinerates everything in its vicinity.

Another group of people fall. And at that moment, I get hit by a torrent of flames. Without thinking, I roll out of the blast. Once again, the swords I use become further coated in mage blood.

Don't think about it.

Don't feel for it.

Don't humanize anyone.

Everyone's a disgusting monster waiting to be hunted.

Everyone's an animal waiting to be butchered.

Everyone's in the way.

Every time I strike someone down, everyone smiles.

This is what the people I'm using want.

Their smiles are the path forward to my goal.

Of course that's probably the same thing that goes on in the Mysmegalos soldier's mind as well when they take down one of ours. How did this become something I do? I thought of the possibility of this, but I guess...

I just don't care anymore.

When did that happen?

Did it happen when I accidentally hurt the kids at the orphanage?

Did it happen that day in Fals?

It doesn't matter anymore.

I'm alone.

An arrow nicked the side of my gauntlet, and yet another attack from a mage. I ran up ahead alone, and I will finish this up alone.

I swing one of my blades at the magician, but then an enemy soldier leapt out of the dips in the ground. He swung his blade at me, but I managed to block it with my other blade.

I jump out of the way of another set of attacks, but the swordsman keeps trying to strike me whenever I turn around. Out of retaliation I swing my right sword hard into his guard, and then shove him to the ground.

The mage and marksmen in response are too panicked to continue attacking me, so I use my free hand to lunge the other sword into his body.

“Ack— Ugh...”

I hear the wet murmurs of someone's last moment, but for whatever reason it just doesn't feel like anything. Emma used to tell me to remain empathetic towards others, whatever that meant. She never taught me to feel the same towards monsters. Not like it matters, as everyone in Elkysti just does what they find convenient and efficient to them.

I just keep hearing the screams of the other soldiers.

Eventually the front of Saum has nothing at its entrance. Just the main entrances in front of me. Panicked soldiers run after me while people from the Elkysti Army show up. It’s the talkative green onion and the other two.

“Agelheed! We heard that you went in early! You’ll be in trouble if you do this again!”

“Ugh…”

“No! Don’t worry, we were sent to see if we could retrieve our squad mate, but we don’t want to hold you back. In fact, we understand wanting to capture Saum as much as possible! Even if it’s scary, we want to help you!”

Her slightly high-pitched voice hurt to listen to.

The other person that was carrying a sword walked to me and started to talk.

“It’s as Melfina says! We have to help each other out. We won’t hold you back, we promise!”

“Do as you will.”

It doesn’t really mean anything to me, if going ahead means I’m the first one to be able to encounter Shenen El’gant and take care of him. I continue to brandish my swords and go towards the gate. The Mysmegalian Soldiers point their spears at me, so I begin to charge at them. Before, they make a stab at me, I leap into the air, and swing my sword at him.

However, the moment I jumped, they saw the movement I was making and lunged at me in the air. Instead of committing to the attack I just left I rotated my torso enough to narrowly avoid being impaled and slam into the ground.

Then, after I hit the ground I rotate my body in a spin to slice at their ankles.

“Arggh!”

With one blade each contacting a different enemy’s ankles, I stand up in an instant and push the swords into gaps of their armor.

Immediately after they fell, a surge of soldiers rush into the area. I was still recovering from the sudden contact with the floor and standing up that my head was still rattled, so I dive out of the way and run back a little.

A spell where ice rises from the ground and impales the target.

I was told it requires planned usage, as it is very slow to utilize.

[Ice Wave]

For a moment, the land below is engulfed by frozen splendor.

Shortly after, spikes rise from the frosted ground, much like plants seeking sunlight.

As I step back, the other person with the sword run ahead and strike at the incoming soldier, he was unceremoniously blocked, but right after a wave of ice rises from the ground. Followed by a blast of fire to the group, I sprinted towards the smoke and slashed at the next people. The ice made it slippery, but I was able to deal with the panicked soldiers.

Using my swords I struck one into the other man’s spear and ran forward, past him. Immediately I turned and hit his lower stomach.

Surrounded again, the three that were with me were left separate as they dealt with the entrance. When I turned towards the group of soldiers, one was already in mid-swing, while another one was using their spear to dig into my stomach. I slammed myself to the ground again and stuck the person’s ankle, and rammed the blade into the other’s chest.

I leapt upward and an arrow grazed into my gauntlet, and another hit my hip.

“Ergh—!”

I yanked out the arrow and ran towards the archer who shot it. The one behind me aimed at me as I ran towards them, but since I figured I’d be taken advantage of, I rolled to the side as the arrow hit the man in front of me, and I turned and hit the other archer.

Another burst of fire was targeted at me; I was able to jump back enough to not take a direct hit, but I was still pushed into the ground.

Something is welling up inside me yet again. I swing my blade into the next person charging at me, once he blocked the strike, I use my strength to tackle him to the ground and lunge my other blade into him.

Another tried to swing at me from behind as I land on the ground, but I kick the person on the ground away, and strike the person in the arm before he gained speed in his strike, then I swiped at his neck with the other sword.

Every new person who challenges makes me feel uneasy, every time I get hurt, every time something strikes me, I just push myself further to erase this uneasy feeling. I put more strength in every attack that I give..

When more arrows targeted me, I broke into one of the village’s doors and avoided shots. I hear screaming of the people in the door as I use the pieces of the door to block arrows. I kick the pieces of wood in the direction of the soldiers chasing me. Then I use both my swords to strike him and advance to the archers.

Avoiding another volley of arrows, I dive into the merchant cart on the street. With a loud crash, I then run behind the archers looking at me and dispatch them next.

I jump to the ladder leading into the watch station nearby, and from the latter crash my swords into the magicians readying another spell. I spin my blades to avoid strikes, but they nearly hit me anyways.

[https://imgur.com/QkJCdaA.jpeg]

This unnatural strength that I have.

This doesn’t feel like me.

However…

This is the “me” that will move forward.

By the time I realized, I was no longer using the two swords that I entered Saum with. They broke some time back, a new set that was unfamiliar with me were in my hands and more Elkysti Soldiers were here. When the remainder of the Mysmegalosian army ran away, they cheered, but I didn’t see anyone noteworthy among the soldiers.

The scent of iron.

Once again, I feel empty.