“HOLD THE LINE MEN!”

I race up and down the line occasionally providing support with magic to keep the line stable. Felicia follows behind me helping me relay orders. The tall trees surround us as the screams of the dying ricochet all around me.

Laslow is pushing the line forward and I see him cutting his way forward clearing a path for his men to follow.

Racing towards the left flank I see Matthew firing off his arrows in a rapid-fire fashion from the top of a tree. His men are making their way forward with extreme vigor. Sure that they are being watched by the careful eye of their commander.

“JUST A LITTLE LONGER MEN WE HAVE THEM ON THE RUN!”

They all roar with renewed vigor as they continue to charge forward. That only leaves the right flank I need to check.

Arriving on the right flank I can barely make out Lelia as she and her men make their way forward. With Lelia quickly dispatching any bigger threats with her daggers leaving the smaller creatures for her men to mop up.

Overall the fight seems to heavily be falling in our favor. What I’m afraid of though is our men’s stamina. We’ve been fighting for a couple hours now and I can see the fatigue oozing from their slower movements.

At this rate, the men will be more prone to making mistakes. I was hoping it wouldn’t be necessary but we’ll need to bring in the reserves.

“LEILA! We are going to switch to blitz tactics. We need to end this soon. Have the injured fall back and join the reserves. I want the rest of your contingent to consolidate with Laslow.”

She nods in silent agreement before issuing orders. I don’t hear her issue orders as I rush back to our reserves.

“Felicia, relay the same orders to Matthew. I’ll go get the reserves.”

She nods as she tries to control her nervousness. She doesn’t hesitate though as she veers off towards Matthew. Making my way to our camp I see the vanguard in position with Anna leading the vanguard.

I raise my sword as I yell out to the men.

“Alright men, follow my lead!”

I then charge off hearing the men thundering forward behind me. It doesn’t take long for us to find Laslow who is holding strong with Matthew and Leila.They make an opening for us and we rush through.

I cleave the head off the closest monster and continue forward into the horde. I then hit my hand on a tree as I pass it. Doing so I’m able to see the enemy in front of us and make my way towards the biggest threat.

After a few minutes, the monster comes into view surrounded by dozens of larger monsters.

“So, you have finally arrived ‘hero’. I was wondering when you would show.”

What the hell was this thing? I’d heard of monsters that talk, but I heard they were quite rare. Never thought I’d actually find one. Well, no matter I’m just going to kill this creature. The last time I tried to talk it out I fell into a trap.

I jump off my horse and release a large wall of fire that engulfs the front line of monsters as I land on the ground. I then run towards the monster using the ground as a platform to launch myself above it and use wind magic to propel myself towards the ground.

My strike manages to make a deep cut across its torso as it screams in rage. I roll away jumping up into a tree to survey the situation.

The monsters are almost all on fire and disorganized as the reserves smash through the shallow resistance. The monster can only hiss as it disappears into the woods. With the falling sun covering its escape under the shadow of darkness.

“You will regret this ‘hero’! I will make you suffer for this.”

I can only stand there though as the fatigue hits me. I used too much in that attack and it still wasn’t enough but I wasn’t worried. It was a lot weaker than I had thought it would be.

I jump down after I recover and cut down a straggler as it jumps at me. I then extinguish the remaining fires I had accidentally started. The others clean up the remaining stranglers as the rear echelons cheer in celebration. I see Anna come over to me with worry in her eyes.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, but the leader of these things got away.”

“You should have waited for us. Why’d you charge off ahead like that?”

“Sorry, it’s a bad habit of mine. I’d always try to draw all of the enemy’s attention and lower my own losses, but I forgot that these guys are a lot stronger and our enemy is a lot weaker.”

She looks at me with concern but before she can speak up Laslow wraps his arm around her as he laughs.

“Haha, we sure showed those monsters who was boss. How about we head back and celebrate. I mean at this rate we’ll reach the lake tomorrow.”

Anna throws off Laslow’s arm as she pushes him away.

“We can celebrate later you buffoon.”

“She’s right Laslow, first we need to tend to the wounded and get some rest. We can celebrate after we secure the area.”

“Fine, I’ll make sure everything is in order for tomorrow.”

He frowns before walking off waving us goodbye without looking back arrogantly.

I then see Matthew and Leila surveying the area with both of them walking over to me after instructing their men.

“It appears that they all scattered whenever you injured its leader. Would you like us to pursue them.”

I look at the forest and shake my head.

“No, we’re all exhausted and I’d rather fight them when we have all gotten some rest. It’s been a long day already.”

“Very well, we will be heading back then.”

They then turn around leaving me and Anna alone.

“Well let’s head back then. I wonder what they made for dinner tonight?”

“Done, sorry Diana. Are you really okay? We’ve been fighting for over a week now. I know you did this a lot before but are you really okay. Every day you look like your getting worse.”

“What are you talking about Anna? I’m fine you saw me just take on this whole area just now.”

She stops as she turns to me.

“I’m not talking about physically. You have always had plenty of energy. I mean how are you doing leading this army. You seem okay, but you look like your shouldering all the burden yourself.”

“You’re just imagining things Anna.”

“Am I? You seem to always thrust yourself into the heart of the battle and whenever something goes wrong you always seem to punish yourself even if you don’t admit it.”

I stop as she says this and she stops as well not sure what she said wrong.

“It’s because every time I mess up someone dies Anna!”

She looks shocked and I realize I had just yelled at her.

“I’m sorry, it’s been a long day you go ahead I’ll catch up.”

I watch her walk off with a concerned look on her face. I shouldn’t have done that but the campaign is taking a toll on me. Our losses have been minimal, but I still feel unease.

During my campaign against Seliph I had suppressed a lot of my discomfort for it all, but with Anna here she can see right through me. My mask being torn away by her acute observations.

I’m afraid I’ll mess up and get people killed. Forgetting that I’m surrounded by strong people who are not afraid to die. But, I keep remembering those graves. Of all the men I had fought beside having failed to protect them.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

I wanted to run away from all of this and bring peace to this world. But the irony was my abilities thrived on the battlefield and I would always be thrown back into the fray of war. A contradiction that always seemed to cling to me.

I took my time making my way back to camp. Using the time to calm down as I listened to the blowing through the trees. When I finally made it back and entered the camp I put my ‘mask’ back on. Thanking the troops and trying to improve the moral of the resting soldiers.

I then made my way to our infirmary where everyone was busy at work caring for the wounded. Alice is treating a man who has a large bite wound on his shoulder. She looks calm though and is busy treating the man.

I walk over and heal the man as I crouch down next to her. It uses the last of my remaining mana to do but with all the blood around him I think he’ll die if I don’t.

“I see you’re working hard Alice.”

“Thank your highness. I was having trouble stopping the bleeding.”

She then washes her hands in a water basin to the side of her as she wipes her hands off before standing up to stretch.

“Make sure you get enough sleep tonight Alice. We’re going arrive at Leinsburg by tomorrow.”

“I am don’t worry. I just want to find a way to be useful to make it up to you for allowing me to come with you.”

“It’s no trouble at all. I bet the troops are happy to have you here.”

“You’re too kind your highness.”

I can now see why Anna liked Alice. When she asked if Alice could join us I was skeptical at first, but over the past few days, she has been actively helping throughout the camp not afraid to get dirty. She was a wonderful asset to the camp.

But, I could see a little bit of anger in her eyes. The way she feverishly moved and worked was taking a toll on her. She had wanted to fight on the front lines, but I denied her request because I was unsure if it was a good idea. She looked determined, but I was afraid she’d act too recklessly.

“Hey Alice, you in here?”

I turn to see Anna looking around walking until she found us.

“Hey Don-, Diana, I see you found Alice before me.”

“I was just helping her finish up. What’s for dinner?”

She rolls her eyes as she takes Alice’s hand.

“Come on let's go get something to eat Alice. We have to hurry or Don-, Diana will eat it all.”

She then leaves the tent with Alice behind her as I follow behind them. The men salute to us as we pass and I smile and thank them for their service today as we make our way to the mess tent.

There Felicia is serving dinner to the troops along with the other kitchen staff. When she sees me she excuses herself and serves up three plates before bringing them to us. I turn to an almost empty table and ask the men.

“Would you mind us joining you?”

They look surprised and quickly get up saluting me.

“No, your highness, we just finished. We would be more than glad to give you our table.”

I smile at them as they leave and gladly take their seats.

“Thank you, you are both too kind.”

Anna looks unnerved by the exchange as she takes a seat. I need to talk to her later. She’s been looking at me this way constantly over the past week. I think she still hasn’t wrapped her head around it all.

Felicia gives us all a plate and I thank her as she goes back to work. I gratefully accept the food and scarf it all down. The fighting had gotten so intense that most of us had to skip lunch. So even if it makes me look bad, my stomach doesn’t care.

Hearing giggling I look up to see Anna and Alice laughing at me.

“You still haven’t changed a bit Don-“

“Anna, it’s fine if you call me Done.”

She looks annoyed by her mistake but nods her head as she continues to eat.

“Sorry, it’s just-“

“It’s okay Anna. You don’t have to explain, I understand.”

Alice only smiles as she watches us Anna sees her and asks her.

“What is it?”

“Oh nothing, it’s just you bounce right off each other. I only wish I had a sibling like you two.”

She scoffs at this as she looks away from me.

“Your mind would definitely change on that matter if you actually had one. They are more annoying than you’d think.”

“Am I really that annoying? I thought we got along well as kids.”

“We did, when you didn’t come and mess with my stuff!”

“I remember it being the opposite though. Weren’t you always messing with my stuff?”

“Enough you two, it's getting late and your meal is getting cold. Come on Alice it’s getting late.”

I turn to see Alice’s maid at our table. I also see that the kitchen is cleaning up the meal. I guess we really were the last ones to get here.

“Sorry Emiliya, I’ll see you tomorrow Anna, and you to your highness.”

“Goodnight Alice.”

We wave her off as we finish our meal before leaving for our tent. When we arrive I prepare to jump on my bed but Anna quickly stops me.

“What are you doing! Look at yourself!”

I look at myself and realize she is right. My clothes are a bit dirty, and bloody. I take off my armor and lay it out making sure to clean it to prevent rust before taking off my clothes.

I had to thank Seliph for his foresight. He had my armor refitted so I was using my old armor which I found quite comforting. It would’ve hurt to see it discarded after everything we’d been through. Especially since it was still in good shape still.

Using a damp cloth I wash my hair before I put on some fresh clothes. I’m then finally able to jump on my bed rolling back and forth enjoying the comfort.

When I stop and look over at Anna. She had gotten changed as well, but she was staring at the floor. I roll around to sit on my bed before facing her.

“Something wrong Anna?”

She sighed before looking up and facing me.

“We need to talk.”

I gestured to the empty room.

“I’m all ears. What’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure how exactly to say this, but how can you be so calm?”

“What do you mean? It’s my job to be calm I can’t lead these people if I’m not.”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

She keeps looking at me but quickly looking away each time. Clearly, something was bothering her and I had a guess about what it was.

“How can I be calm about this.”

I gesture to myself and she slowly nods. Leaning back I try to think of how best to continue this.

“Honestly, I’m just not sure what else to do. Like I told you, I had no choice in this matter.”

“But, you, ...“

She seems lost on what to say so I try my best to finish her thought.

“You’re having a hard time thinking of me as anything but your brother aren’t you.”

She clenches her fist as she looks at the floor. I walk over to her and take her fists in my hands as I smile at her.

“I might not be the exact same brother you remember, but I’m still that same person on the inside.”

She laughs as tears fall from her eyes.

“No you’re not, just look at yourself. My brother is a woman and-”

She can’t finish her sentence and chokes up. Not knowing what to do I try to embrace her offering her some comfort. When I do though she pushes me away.

“No! Keep away from me!”

Why was she being like this what had I done?

She realizes what she had done and curls up in a ball.

“I’m sorry Done, I’m sorry.”

I slowly get up and sit back next to her. She tries to push me away again as tears continue to fall, but I catch her arms and embrace her once again.

“Stop that! Let me go!”

“I’m sorry Anna, I wish things could go back to the way it was, but they won’t.”

She stops resisting me but her tears fail to cease.

“I want to think of you as my brother. Those strong arms that always protected me, the annoying way you’d try to intimidate my boyfriends, and even that funny stubble you called a beard.”

I laugh a little as she slowly stops crying and looks at me.

“But when I look at you now I have a harder and harder time seeing you. I don’t know if it’s your experiences or what but you just seem different.”

“Well, it has been a year for me.”

“True but there are other things that make it difficult. Especially when you keep squeezing me like that.”

I stop for a minute and realize what she meant. I let go of her and give her some space. I feel so stupid for doing that. They really don’t make this easier for her I bet.

I don’t know what else to say and stand up. But, before I can I feel a tug and turn to see Anna holding on to me.

“Don’t go, I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t be doing this, especially in the middle of this campaign, but I’m still not sure how to process all of this.”

“It’s okay, I know this isn’t easy for you, and it isn’t exactly easy for me either. The difference is I’m just a better faker than you.”

“Haha, even if your body changed your still as crazy as always Done.”

She lightly hugs my side as I stroke her hair. It slowly helps her calms down until I hear something.

“Am I interrupting on something ladies?”

I turn to see Laslow standing in the doorway with a large smirk on his face. My face burns with anger and I clench my fist as a wall of earth rises up and locks him in place.

“What do you want Laslow!”

“I’m sorry your majesty! I just heard some loud noises from your tent and came to make sure you were okay. I didn’t see you doing anything I swear.”

I feel like he’s lying and I’m still irritated for earlier so I launch him a good ways away from camp. He screams in panic as he flies off but he should be fine. I quickly forget about him and turn to Anna.

“Sorry about that Anna. Laslow just needs to learn some manners.”

“Your temper is still the same as its always been.”

“What are you talking about. He shouldn’t have barged in like that.”

“Sure, but you didn’t need to send him flying.”

We then sat there for a couple minutes pondering. We both had things we still haven’t addressed, but I think that’s enough for one night.

“Well, let’s get some sleep. We’ve got another long day tomorrow.”

I go over to my own bed and blow out the candle lighting the tent as I lay in bed.

“I’m sorry Done, I just need some more time.”

“It’s okay Anna, take all the time you need.”

I try to put myself in her shoes as I lie awake. I image my sister as someone else and have a hard time thinking about it. We’ve known each other so long that I can’t image it. Maybe it has to do with the time I’ve spent with her.

But, I don’t blame her for her outburst. Honestly, I had expected her to have done it in some fashion earlier. Hopefully, this is the first step to fixing this division between us.

But the more pressing matter is tomorrow. I can only hope Seliph hasn’t beat me to Lake Renvall.