Go on patrol. Drink some troll blood alone. Rest for an hour. Go on patrol. Drink some troll blood alone. Rest for an hour. Go on patrol. Drink some troll blood mixed with wine alone. Rest for an hour. It was a very monotonous set of tasks. Every day was the same. Sometimes, I'd spice it up by going on a patrol while drinking some troll blood mixed with wine. At first I was very focused, but over time that focus degraded. I assumed that at any second the city could be under attack or an explosion would spring up. But nothing. It was just so quiet. The bodies were cleaned up and eaten away by crows and mushrooms. Everything felt so empty on the inside and out.

After witnessing what Viking became, I never really talked to him. Occasionally I would just see him at his post just to make sure he was still alive. I still considered him my brother. But I never went over to talk to him. I just didn't know what to talk about. And I never once saw him at the tavern ever since then. It felt like yesterday that we would share drinks and food together during our breaks. It was fun even if Cutter and Doc weren't there. But those times passed. Now, it was just the same boring patrol over and over again. I just had to do my duty for the empire.

Some time passed and as I was 'enjoying' my break, KR-01 came to see me. He had orders from General Kull.

"General Kull has a special assignment for you," it said.

I was just sitting there waiting for whatever it was. Personally, I just didn't care.

"There are rumors of a new underground ring of terrorists."

"More rebels!?" I exclaimed as I sprung up from my seat. I just couldn't believe that there were more of them. I thought we had dealt with this problem. But apparently that wasn't the case.

KR-01 continued, "This rumor is recent, but the general believes it to be true. General Kull requires you to lead a squad of roaches into the sewers. If you find any of these traitors, report back. You will find your squad north of here."

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I nodded my head.

"I understand," I replied.

"Good. The general specifically requested you and that big roach, Viking, to lead."

"Viking?" I exclaimed.

"Yes. Will that be a problem? He does have a certain hatred towards rebels and dark elves. The general considers that hatred to be a good motivator."

I haven't talked to Viking in such a long time, but I still didn't want to lose him. If he died, then I would have lost all of my close siblings. But orders were orders. It was not my place to disobey them. I just had to hope that it was just a rumor. My will to fight had all been buried, but if I had to fight to protect Viking I would. Although, I doubted that Viking would need my help. But if there were traitors, I'm sure he would charge in.

I replied, "I don't think Viking would be a good fit for a recon mission. He's -"

KR-01 cut me off. "I may have asked if it was a problem, but I do not really care. The general's orders are clear. I will be taking my leave. Follow your orders as if the Queen ordered them."

I sighed in disappointment. "You don't have to remind me."

As KR-01 was about to leave, I called out to ask him one question.

"Do you know how long we've been here? In this city, I mean. How long have we occupied it?" I asked. I didn't know if he was going to know the answer, but it didn't hurt to ask.

"According to my internal clock, Hiroga City has been under our control for three months and eleven days."

"We've been here for three months!?" I exclaimed.

"Yes. We're right on schedule."

It actually felt a lot longer than that. I may have felt that my closest siblings were alive yesterday, but after going through so many lonely, monotonous tasks, I felt like I've been in this dark city for years. Ever since we came to this dark place, all I've experienced was hell. Everything was perfect before we came here. It was all so... cozy.

As KR-01 left the tavern, I picked up my crossbow and sword, and I went out to meet the squad. I still hoped that the rumors were just rumors, but prepared myself for the slightest chance of a fight. It didn't matter how much I hoped because I felt like the more I hoped for something to happen, the exact opposite would occur.