"Everyone hold formation! left unit save the children protect the innocents and evacuate them immediately!!!" the commander ordered while glaring bleakly at the storm that was approaching. He was certain that none of them including himself will survive if they kept on  defending the city. he does not want to think about it not when his two year old's lives is on the line. The land was cursed so there was nothing else they can do...

The screams of the citizens was getting louder and more rowdier as they tried to escape some jumped over others who have fallen down and some others trampled over the fallen causing them to die. In short the entire city was in chaos since there was no orderly evacuation plan readily available for them.

He could barely hear the voices of the knights he was in-charge of as they sprang into action. one fleet trying to quell the flames  and clearing the way for the others while another tried their level best to evacuate whoever they could find.

The flames was getting higher and higher and it consumed everything quickly  towards them. Those who were slow to escape were consumed by the flames their screams echoed as they incirnated into charred flesh and bones terrifying the rest. It did not help matters as the knights scrambled around trying to quell the disorder around them.

The celestial realm the gods whom they trusted with their hearts and soul bringing them offerings and celebrating in their honor each year with rigor ended up rewarding them (*or is it punishing them?*) by razing their land with a never ending fire that consumed everything in its wake and an endless horde of monsters that they could not even fight with what they had.

There were approximately about 10,0000 citizens in the city alone and in the span of one night it reduced to just a few thousands. The knights laid down their lives for their country by defending the gates and perishing in the fire.

The commander smiled for the last time when he realized he may never see his child grow up ever again. It was painful but from the time he had signed up to be part of the knights he knew that this was the day he would meet his end.

"Commander what shall we do now?" one of his men Lorenzo asked him out of breath.

The crackle of wood burning the loud commotion and the screams did not deter him  The commander asked Lorenzo calmly "Have they all been evacuated?" 

"The people?" Lorenzo asked confused for a moment before confirming that yes, his unit had evacuated the remaining citizens and yes, all of them are safely outside the city where the fire cannot reach them for now.

"ah..... that's good ahaha....."He laughed grimly.

"Commander....."

"Commander what are your orders How should we proceed?" His men started to ask one by one anxiously waiting with bated breath.

He looked at them, all of them their soot and scarred faces staring at him, waiting for them to give them their last order as there was nothing else for them anymore. No city to protect and no living family to count on coming home.

Finally he let out a breath, sighed loudly, blinked the tears away from his eyes and ordered them solemnly with a straight face.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"ALL UNITS STAND DOWN....."

"Did he just tell us to FUCKING stand down?" Lorenzo whispered to Teo in disbelief.

"Everyone...' He dropped his formal tone as he addressed his soldiers.  'As for today we have done our level best as the knights of Neheida saving the people and ensuring their safety....." He paused composed himself and continued. "But as part of our knighthood our duty is not done and never been, by our handbook what was the first rule we learnt?"

"Protect the gates........?" Lorenzo, Teo and the rest of the remaining knights answered the question a little hesitantly.

"BY OUR HANDBOOK WHAT WAS THE FIRST RULE OF KIGHTHOOD?" The commander yelled at the top of his voice

"PROTECT THE CITY! PROTECT THE GATES! AND PROTECT THE CITIZENS!" 

"LOUDER!!!!!!" He ordered them

"PROTECT THE CITY!" 

"PROTECT THE GATES!!!!!!"

" AND PROTECT THE CITIZENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" They all cried in unison and chorused each line repeatedly like a chant.

"AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NOW?" He hollered yet again.

"PROTECT THE CITY! PROTECT THE GATES! AND PROTECT THE CITIZENS!"  The foot-soldiers the horsemen and the archers   screamed.

"ALRIGHT BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM THIS DAY FORWARD WE DEFEND THE GATES TILL THE DAY WE PERISH DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

"YESSIR!" The soldiers pumped their fists in the air.

"FORMATION" 

The footmen lined up in the front the horsemen and the archers were right behind them. The commander stood at the front of the row sitting on his horse flamethrower with the flag of Neheinra in his hand.

Another horde of monsters emerged from the void more perilous and even more hideous to the eye brandishing their clubs with spikes they rushed forward without any rhyme or reason. The mages and the flame casters came forward next (*or something of that sort*) 

The commander observed the chaos that was ensured. He was beginning to give out the orders when a young gallant approached him. His voice brisk and airy which caught him slightly off guard.

"SEBASTIAN FOR CHRISTSAKE WHAT IN THE DEVIL ARE YOU DOING HERE?" He whisper shouted to the gallant who was carrying a child on his shoulder.

"Evacuating isn't that what you wanted?" Sebastian quipped  

"Well yes and no Sebastian just leave...." He hissed in return 

"Commander......"

Sebastian, you are NOT a knight you WILL leave this area right NOW you HEAR ME! YOU ARE NOT A KNIGHT AND YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO INTERFERE IN THE KNIGHTS BUSINESSES" He growled enunciating each word clearly startling the little girl that was leaning on his shoulders.

Sebastian clicked his tongue annoyed and clicked his heels to leave the area with the child on his shoulders. The commander watched him go until Sebastian disappeared from view.

He calmed down......

"Commander..." a warning and anxious tone came from his petrified soldiers waiting for him to give them his orders

He turned around and indeed in those few seconds when he was distracted the enemies was at the bridge charging at them with full speed.

Shit they are here!!!!!!

"GO!!!!!!" The commander screamed and they followed him to meet their inevitable end.....

"It seems none of them survived in the end...." he mused as he sat along with the rest of the survivors in the makeshift home made out of wood and leaves away from the epicenter.