‘I think we should stop here near the forest; later, we can go there to se if there are more people that want to join us.’ A dark-haired Shafran spoke on the radio.

They began to settle camp and use the wagons to form a circle as protection. Some children were looking straight at the lights that were hanging on the wagons while they were arranging the camp.

‘Stop doing that; your eyes will hurt.’ Ethan gave a slow head shake.

‘They are simply in awe, Ethan.’ A dark-haired Shafran soldier drew nearer.

‘It will blind them, Sargent Egor; I was just trying to help.’ Ethan rested his hands on his hips.

‘We need to establish a perimeter for the night, so just leave them alone, Corporal. Let's go.’ Egor moved past the wagons and headed outside.

There were nine soldiers waiting for him outside the circle of wagons: older A-Dam and Shafran, with younger Chatzi mixed in. They all took position after seeing Egor, just as they had practiced in the duchess's home's backyard.

‘Same as yesterday, groups inside the wagons looking out in three-hour shifts.’ Egor points at the wagons.

‘Eli said there was another community inside this forest, sir; I don’t think they would attack us.’ A young Chatzi said it in a joyful tone.

‘Did you forget we are on enemy territory, soldier? Be vigilant; don’t let your guard down in case it is bandits, monsters, or the community we are here to help, we don’t know if they want or need help.’ Egor approached the young soldier and patted his shoulder.

‘All right, people, get into position; we have been out in the open for far too long.’ Ethan climbed into a wagon.

A Chatzi young lady got closer to the wagon where Ethan and an A-Dam soldier were. He looked at her, wondering if she wanted something.

‘Hello, could you please give me the magic stove?’ The Chatzi woman gave Ethan a timid-eyed glance.

‘Oh,ok.’ Ethan handed her the device.

‘Thanks.’ She looked into Ethan's eyes.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

With the device in her hands, the young woman moved to the center of the circle, sat down next to the other women, and then began to prepare food.

‘So, Ethan, why are you not opening up for her when you know she likes you?’ The A-Dam soldier asked while looking into the darkness.

‘Shut up, old man; I can’t betray Leah; I like her.’ Ethan lowered his gaze to the ground.

‘What? You didn’t notice how she looks at Edmund, despite the fact that she is aware of your admiration for her. You are a fool.’ The soldier gave him a frustrated look.

‘Edmund is just her teacher, and she is jus....’ He retorted in an iratmanner, but was interrupted.

‘You may be superior to me here, sir, but I’m older. From my experience, you better move on or she will feel bad you passing opportunities for her.’ The soldier's gaze was drawn to the darkness.

Ethan sighed, looked around the circle, and noticed the young woman approaching once more, but now with two bowls of food.

‘Here, I hope you like it." She looks at Ethan and quickly turns around and rejoins the other women.

‘See? Why would you think of Leah? You are a fool.’ While eating and gazing into the darkness, the soldier shook his head.

The radio crackled, and Egor's voice came through.

‘We have contact; it is coming from trees; everyone be on high alert; something or someone is out there.’ Egor’s voice sounded calm.

From the trees, shadows could be seen as they drew near, and Sargent Egor's hands began to sweat; he was unable to give them any shape. Eli, however, unexpectedly emerged into the darkness, with a group of people startling him.

‘Don’t shoot.’ Egor spoke to the radio while getting out of the wagon and heading in Eli's direction.

‘While you talked to the soldiers outside the wagon circle, I went into the forest to save them.’ Eli answered.

‘Old man, are you insane? You are all under my responsibility; we could have taken them tomorrow.’ Egor rubbed his head while observing the group.

‘Look at them; they couldn’t wait, the noble of this area was driving monsters into the forest.’ Eli turned around and pointed at some of the group members' injuries.

Egor looked at the group again, noticing that they had numerous wounds, including bite marks and cuts, all over their bodies. Now his face is showing concern.

‘I understand; just give me a head up if you want to pull one of this off again.’ He turned around and started to guide them to the caravan.

On their backs, people were conversing and laughing, which made Ethan and the soldier next to him stare stiffly into the darkness. He felt uneasy because of the contrast of being attacked at any moment by the cheerful laughs on his back, but again, his radio crackled.

‘To all units, or friend Eli, who sneaked into the forest and brought the community that was in the forest closer, they need medical attention; come here, Asher.’ Egor changed from a calm to a more serious tone of voice.

‘Well, that is me. Why did I have to volunteer as a medic and learn those things from the town doctor?’ After grinning at Ethan, Asher exited the wagon.

‘All units, move the wagons to make room for these people.’ The radio made a crackling noise.

To widen the circle, the soldiers began to move the wagons. When the group entered the circle, everyone gave them food, and Asher began to treat their wounds. Eli approached Egor and touched his shoulder.

‘I am sorry, my friend; I felt like they needed help; perhaps it was the goddess that gave me this feeling.’ He grinned at him.

‘Hum… Just don’t do it again. Leave the dangerous jobs for us soldiers.’ While looking at the people being treated by Asher, Egor scratches his beard.

The new group was focused on the lights and the appliances heating the food. They were curious about how everything was working; it seemed so magical, and at the same time, loud noises began to emanate from the forest. Eli and Egor turned to face the darkness, but they were unable to figure out what it was.

‘Ethan, I want your team on the front; I believe we have company and they don’t like us.’ Using the radio, Egor spoke.