Taking the mountain pass was surprisingly easy. In fact, almost to a concerning extent. The Republic of Amidonia is an international powerhouse of wealth, culture, and military might. To take such a strategically vital position with little resistance feels unnatural. Ozias had an explanation, while we were in the middle of a strategy meeting, he explained.

“The Republic does not have one unified standing army under one commander as we do in our kingdom. Instead, they grant governorship and commanding rights of certain armies in their senate to individual senators who then raise more private armies to defend or expand those territories. Some units do stay in the capital of course, and individual territories often have the same armies defending it for many years on end, but most of the time the threat of the Amidonian military depends entirely on who was elected to lead it.”

So, they elect a general in the capital who then inherits an oftentimes subpar fighting force who is expected to raise a stronger one and gain victories? It seems the Senate is also responsible for deciding which armies are expected to stay long-term, it would seem like they see us as a minor threat.

“Due to our performance in the last war, they likely saw fit to send a decent army to defend the past the king is invading personally. Then sent a weak sub-army to launch a raid against this crossing. However, with two armies destroyed, the Senate will respond in full force. They will likely send an experienced and competent commander from the capital as well as multiple elite units.”

“Two armies destroyed? We haven’t yet heard whether the king has crossed.” I respond a little confused.

“The king is strong, strong enough that there is no doubt he passed through safely.”

“I see.” So, it is a matter of trust in ability.

“Amidonia organizes these individual armies in what they call ‘legions.’ Each legion is 5000 men strong; this number can be deceptive. The most experienced legions can be 4-5 times stronger than a newly raised one. The commanders can be of entirely different calibers. We faced only 1000 men total in the path, so it is likely they broke off a small number of light troops from a larger army to the west. Now that the king has destroyed that army, we have just a couple of months to prepare for their counterattack.”

“How strong will that be?” Domitius asked.

“When my army and the king’s army unite, we will be 32 thousand men strong. They will likely respond with the same amount of foot soldiers, so likely 6-7 legions. They will likely send some elite units as well.”

“Elite units? Like the spider unit?” I ask, this might be my chance.

“Most likely not at first, the republic doesn’t like to send their strongest unit away from the capital unless the situation is desperate. The temple guardsmen, the blessed ancients, the magician's order, or just the highest-level adventurers could all be candidates. If you want your revenge, we will likely need to destroy another elite unit first in order to prove we are a threat the spider unit must respond to.”

I see, in order to attract the attention of the people I need to, then it will require first defeating the weaklings. No, don’t forget those people are still skilled fighters. Well, I’ll worry about fighting them later.

For now, let’s get ready to move camp. We broke apart the supply chain that was going through the mountain pass we claimed. This is because we will be moving to meet with the king’s army to the west of here. It will be a two-week march, we only have enough supplies for about half of the march with our non-existent supply lines, and Ozias is not interested in making them go hungry.

We march for the first seven days like normal, there are no villages on the road in this area. The ground simply isn’t fertile, and the terrain is rough to walk through. The distance between the start and destination is not very far at all, the terrain is likely doubling the time it takes.

Rations were cut, having just come from the cold heights of a mountain path, the scorching heat felt like hell itself. This is when a village came into sight. Ozias declared we would resupply at this decent-sized village. I figured we would go in and pay for food, or forcefully take it and spare the villagers.

I entered the village among Ozias and the other troops at the head of the column. The village was deserted completely. Upon seeing this Ozias raised his voice and shouted, “Find them!” and started looking through the houses until he found the one he wanted to stay in.

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Many of the soldiers began to run and search through the surrounding area. The ones who searched through homes emerged either with food or sick and elderly civilians who were left behind.

Warriors in this world are far, far faster than civilians. It took only a few hours to round up all the people that escaped. They were gathered at the center of the village, and some of the younger men and women were dragged off elsewhere. The sick, old, and deformed were the only ones left after the ones who were spared had been selected.

When they were being separated, some pleaded to not have their children taken away. Others had resigned to their fate and begged for the young people to be treated well. Some just froze. Some wept. Some prayed. Some smiled, seeking to enjoy their last moments. One man got drunk while waiting to be captured.

Each of them faced despair in a unique way. They each had an upbringing, life, experiences, and people that changed the way they face danger. These were all people just like me, people who simply wished to live their lives as they pleased.

That is a privilege reserved for a few. In my old world, and especially in this world.

I had long abandoned the thought that these people were going to be spared. As the axes, swords, clubs, and spears were raised, I simply watched. I wanted to look away, to distance myself from this, I wanted to stop it. But I was helpless, these were Ozias’ orders, and the will of the army. No one man can change a thing.

My eyes were glued to the scene as men and women from all walks of life were butchered helplessly. A flow of crimson turned into a puddle, and the men who committed this atrocity walked away as if they had done nothing but a menial task and got to eat the food they pillaged.

They drank, laughed, and joked about what had transpired. Joked about how they would get rich off the people they captured; they joked about how shitty the food is in this country. They joked about the cowards who didn’t even fight back. I couldn’t handle this anymore, so I walked away.

I vomited out the food I ate on the grass outside the village. Wandering away I stumbled across a scene undisturbed by the madness and cruelty of the invaders. It was a calm lake, illuminated by the moons, reflecting the stars above.

A lone girl stood at the edge of the waters. I recognized her from before, she was one of the young people taken away, maybe 19 years old.

She turned around and saw me. She didn’t scream, there were no emotions on her face. Not anymore.

“You are that boy soldier, aren’t you? Have you come to take me back?”

“No, I’m not interested in capturing you.”

“I see, then please make this quick, I won’t resist, I’ve learned my lesson.” She dropped to the ground ready to accept whatever actions I took. I walked up beside her and then sat on a rock facing the river.

“I’m not interested in that either,” I explain.

“I see, if you aren’t interested in hurting me, then can I ask you for a favor?”

“What is it.”

“The sacred cleansing ritual passed down by the progenitors, do you know it?”

“I’ve seen it, but I don’t remember any of the words.”

“That’s fine, I will teach you.”

I’m not interested in taking part in religious bullshit, but something inside me is preventing me from saying no. I memorize the words she is telling me and wait for her to get ready. She takes off the rags she’s wearing and steps into the water.

Blood escapes from the wounds all over her body, she was likely beaten and cut into behaving. She doesn’t wince, completely unaffected by her current situation. When she is done submerging herself in water she walks back out and kneels in front of me.

I put my right hand on top of her wet hair. She closes her eyes and I start speaking.

“Our lord and God. May your children be cleansed of their sins and their defiance of your will. When your children come before you again, let them do so in their true form, free of their wrongdoings in this world. The progenitors who embody your will are wise, wrathful, sympathetic to nature, and human.

With this blessing your child is cleansed, with this blessing, they return to their true form, with this blessing they become worthy of your love once more.”

I take my hand off her head, she stands up high above me and starts speaking once more.

“May I ask one more favor of you?”

“Go ahead.”

“Please kill me, there is nothing left for me in this world. My grandpa and grandma were all I had left. If I continue to live, I will merely be used as a slave for the rest of my life, all alone, suffering until I die due to overwork, old age, or a master’s whim. If I die here, I can avoid that, I can die with my freedom and what dignity I have left.”

Seriously? She’s asking me to euthanize her? There is no way I can… no, she is right. All that is left for her in this world is pain, suffering, and torment. I would be doing her a favor by ending it here.

“Can you not do this yourself?” I wonder.

“God has forbidden suicide.”

“I see… then, I shall do it.”

My hands are already bloody. What is one more person? I pull out my silver dagger and get into position. As I do this, she speaks her final words.

“What is your name boy?”

“Cassius.”

“I used to believe in hell. Now I realize that would be impossible, there are no people there to administer eternal punishment.”

“What do you mean?”

“There are no demons in hell… they all walk the earth. You are one of them, Cassius, you are responsible for all of this, just like them.”

“I know.”

I stab her in the heart. She clutches my tunic hard, then lets go seconds later. I cover her body then bury it into a hole made from earth magic.

I didn’t sleep that night.