As Leon looked upon the charming scenery he couldn’t help but scratch his collar, the mountains were as glimmering as always.

soon the carriage came to a stop, in the middle of the road.

Leon looked outside curiously. Before the door was opened revealing the carriage driver.

“Lord Leon the horses need rest, let’s stop for now,”

Leon nodded, before exiting the carriage and setting up camp. Which is not typical of a prince but as it was just the two of them due to the lack of men the Royal family would like to spend on him, he had to.

After setting up camp, Leon and the driver, who introduced himself as Gabriel, sat on a log cooking their limited rations.

as they sat quite, the sun still out, Gabriel spoke out,

lord Leon, how long do you think you’ll live on the front lines.

Leon looked at him, before putting up five fingers.

Five months?

Leon nodded, his eyes impenetrable and his thoughts hidden even from the most venerable of gods.

“Has the Royal family even thought to give you the education fit for a general?”

Leon with great vigor turned his head.

the carriage driver continued speaking making sure to word his questions so that they could be answered with a nod.

“I can give you a book, after all, this job pays thirteen crowns a day, so the longer you live the better for me, although I’m not sure the Royal family would like that given they sent you here to die. “ Leon smiled before nodding and extending his hand.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Gabriel looked at him like he was an idiot.

”I don’t have it on me right now,” he spoke

“ I can get it from my bag though, one second” although this was no way to speak to his lord, Leon cared not, just happy to be treated kindly.

“here, basic military and mystical strategy, it’s pretty cheap only three symbols” he continued “ not worthy of a prince, but since the royal family hasn’t given you proper education it will due”

Leon smiled before tossing him a full crown.

Gabriel smiled gleefully, “thank you for the extra thirty seven symbols, I’ll use them well,”

Leon opened the book and began reading, this was his first time reading something about military given his families lack of education for him.

”military and mystical strategies sixty seven”

The title bore the number sixty seven, as volumes in Ferenic counted backwards from one hundred, this meant the book was decently advanced.

Gabriel let out a sigh as he looked upon the mute “helpless “ uneducated prince, thinking about the royal families plan.

”Leon, my liege, if I’m being honest, I think I will die once your killed in battle, for “failing to protect a member of the royal lineage” as I have my own circumstances, “

Leon looked at him curious of his point,

Gabriel continued, “I was a former knight, but due to happenings I was demoted to carriage driver, and I will be executed if you die,” Gabriel let out a sigh, “sorry if this is awkward, I’m socially inept, and it’s hard to tell someone my true thoughts,”

”but the point is, that I will try to keep my liege alive, at least until, we arrive at that hell zone where I won’t be held responsible for your death,”

Leon smiled, while reading the book of strategies. Before tossing Gabriel a crown,

”payment for my services?”

Leon turned his head, just briefly putting his palms together as if praying.

Gabriel turned around, still slightly awkward from his sharing of secrets. Silently Leon picked up a stick from the ground before lighting it aflame, using the campfire, slowly waiting for it to fully catch it peak. He picked up the pot of water Gabriel was boiling before carrying both the stick and the water to behind Gabriel, he silently tapped Gabriel’s shoulder, and as he turned around, Leon splashed the boiling water upon Gabriel’s face! Gabriel disoriented and burned his eyes boiling, fell onto the ground while yelling, Leon started beating him with the burning stick, blood smearing across the ground,

“why!”

Leon stood up, Gabriel now a mess of blood and burns.

Leon opened the book, before pointing to the thirty seventh pages first words.

Gabriel his eye still burned tried to focus hard, reading the words.

“Brave men walk towards war, smart men walk towards life” the book said.

”ah, I understand now,”

Leon smiled,

“You don’t want to enter Genteel” Gabriel told.