There are two types of soldiers:
The perfect ones: They follow orders without asking questions, using the battlefield as a test, following the instructions given to them and carrying out the tasks in the way that was carefully planned in the war rooms by those who were born in traditional families or have enough power to avoid going to the battlefield.
And there are soldiers who win wars.
My Days of Combat – Sir Emmanuel Johanssen Victorius Yaelsen
*
The last night before Arthur’s public execution is also the last night that Fiandel’s soldiers be in the Capital. Both sides spend their last afternoon in very different ways: While the prisoner rests in a heavy sleep, the soldiers unfold themselves in multiple activities: Organizing supplies, placing the wounded in the wagons, planning the safest routes… All of this while getting the necessary paperwork to cross the borders of the bordering nations.
But, even though most of the soldiers are occupied, some of them remain on standby, waiting for the events of the night until the time to leave.
Yvanna, distracted by the light of the starry night, walks calmly into the Central Square, trapped in questions about what is happening to Rinlia. The tone of secrecy that Barsen and she used in the past few hours did not please the vampire and, had it not been for the long time working with the elf, she would have spied on her, trying to unravel some betrayal or reprehensible conduct – Yvanna, however, has full confidence on Rinlia’s loyalty to the kingdom. That makes so the vampire chooses to wait for things to unfold on their own. For now, she just walks, thinking about the mission and the prisoner they lost. She wonders if they did everything possible to keep him and if they should have done something different.
She is reminiscing about these things when she realizes, a few steps ahead, the figure of a soldier among the trees in the Central Square. He is one of the reasons why she came this way. Thiago, with his preoccupied gait, is enough to distract the vampire from her own concerns. He is her ticket out of her concerns about the future that awaits them in Fiandel.
The soldier, on the other hand, is unable to calm down, haunted by the sight of the attack made by the beasts a few days ago. It is impossible to forget their huge paws and disproportionate silhouettes. Their black, white and red eyes. Their long claws and sharp teeth. The way those claws and teeth sank into the skin of his companions. The way the flesh was torn apart, spurting blood in all directions-
He definitely would not be able to sleep. His agitation even prevented him from quietly waiting for the moment of departure, forcing him to walk in the meantime.
For a boy who lived his entire childhood in the countryside, he feels some tranquility in this park, located behind the statue of Life. Here he can see the trees and the soil. Big kingdoms like Vivre would usually have houses of nobles huddled together in such a privileged space, or they would set up some kind of chapel to establish a point of reference to the banks and commercial establishments in the vicinity.
But not in Vivre. Here, Life is above all, protecting everyone. There is no room for another entity and, in the public eye, this was the reason why Arthur’s execution was not carried out immediately. To kill someone without a trial would be a major disrespect to Life. And everybody knows what happens to those who disrespect the entities that protect their kingdoms.
That is why Vivre uses its central square in an unusual way. Here, the Queen used the most important piece of land to offer the biggest sacrifice to Life. Instead of using this land for trades or to give it as a present to the most important nobles, the kingdom chose not to cut down a single tree. It is forbidden to kill any animal or injure any citizen on this piece of land, unless such action is taken in order to prevent a death. Here, birds are not hunted, nor rabbits are sacrificed. Here, the allies rest in peace, knowing that the kingdom will not allow actions that put a life in danger. This is the most precious space – surrounded by commerce, but filled with nature, on a space equivalent to a small farm.
This is the philosophy that allows Thiago to hear the sound of crickets on his left. The rustle in the branches on the right. He can feel the soft earth offering less resistance to his feet than the stones on the main road. Even the foul smell of sewage from the citadel in the distance seems to be attenuated by the smell of dew on the leaves and the scent of yellow flowers scattered around him.
Nature is good. It reminds him of home. It reminds him of the days when he was running in the fields near the small village and the times when he used those places to play games with his brothers. He remembers the times before wars and magic. Before the destruction of everything. Before he became a lone orphan, recruited by the army, trained to wage war against the Kingdom of Argalya.
He walks and sighs, audibly, longing for the time before the magic, the battles, the monsters and all the blood. How long has it been since he started his training? Since this life began, filled with things he hates so much. In fact, why is he still in this life, if he doesn’t want to see the carnage caused by the misuse of magic? What is the reason for not running away?
-You look tired.
Thiago does not need to turn away in order to recognize Yvanna’s voice, as she approaches. From where he is, Thiago can smell the scent of night flowers; that intoxicating touch that always follows her. He had never smelled the same scent while they were surrounded by other members of the company, but whenever he was alone, the woman would exhale an unmistakable perfume.
-My lady, I…
-Please, we are alone. Don’t use formalities with me. Just say what is on your mind.
Without the permission, he would think of something that would consider his position as a soldier. However, her gaze admitted no lies. Her phrase was an order.
-I… I miss my homeland.
-Fiandel?
-The Northeast of Fiandel, to be exact. The place where I was born. Back then, things were not so complicated. – With a curious look, he peers at the nearby trees, searching for birds. – I miss the time when I didn’t know about the existence of creatures that want to feed on my body.
The woman walks along him, looking in the opposite direction, searching for crickets on the ground. After finding them, she starts admiring their movements between little jumps.
-This is in the past. Besides, your ignorance would not be enough to stop attacks from the enemies.
She walks calmly among the birches and begonias that grow around the trail.
-Do you see these flowers? – She points to them. – What do you think about the place where they are?
-Are you talking about the fact that they are too close to these tall trees? I think it just happened to be that way. This applies to everything here. They are naturally like this, because the queen ordered that everything should be left the way nature wants them to be.
She shakes her red hair, with a bright laugh.
-Take a good look. Do you see that there are few leaves on the ground? Where are the dead flowers? Where are the animals that feed on these plants?
-There is none. The Queen gave orders to collect any animal that could cause damage to the plants.
-Yes. That is one reason. Another reason is because, this way, it is easier to create a different environment. A magical one, where big trees don’t prevent the sun from reaching the small plants. Where it is possible to dig the ground in secrecy, spreading species that would never grow in the same terrain. Where you can place insects on the ground and claim that it was “Life” who brought them here. – She points to a place ahead. – The truth is that there is no entity called “Life”. There are only people. And people’s interests.
In the distance, a shadow sneaks up in the middle of the night, carrying a small box. The shadow kneels, next to a tree. From where they are, Yvanna and Thiago cannot distinguish the creature’s features, but they see that the shadow opens a box, allowing several butterflies to fly in a field of roses.
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-I don’t understand. – He whispers.
-Really? – The silhouette moves away. – Why? Is it hard to believe that a queen wants other kingdoms to fear her, thinking that “Life” is at her side? Is it hard to believe that villagers don’t rebel when you tell them that taxes will be raised to protect wild animals in the vicinity in the name of Life? Is it complicated to understand that the nobility cannot kill a queen if Life is the protector of the entire kingdom, making so killing the monarch would automatically destroy any revolutionary movement?
Thiago interrupts his walk and the woman turns to him. Her eyes shine, reflecting the moonlight. She smiles to the young soldier, showing her canines. Her pale skin contrasts with the shadows of the trees. Thiago opens and closes his fists. He doesn’t feel threatened, but he finds it impossible to get rid of the uncomfortable nervousness in his chest.
-Why are you telling me that?
She moves towards him without hesitation.
-What are we? The two of us.
-We… - He swallows. – Are we soldiers?
She keeps her gaze locked on his.
-And what do soldiers do?
-We fight.
He feels inebriated by the strong scent that comes from the vampire.
“What will she do? What do I do if she does what I think she is going to do?”
-Exactly. We fight. But for how long? Forever? Until someone tells us to stop? Until we die? No. I will not wait for that.
-W… What?
-I am a soldier because I have something on my mind. And now… I saw what you saw during the last battle. I may have fought longer than you, but what we saw is something new even to me. That means that something new is emerging. I don’t want to waste any of my time fighting the wars of others.
-Are you going to leave the army?
-You did not understand me. Leave the army? Absolutely not. – She runs her hand over his shoulder. – Where would I go? No, that is not it. What I want is to see beyond the smoke screen. I will not be deceived by a garden dedicated to Life. I want to be protected by the garden. – His body is pressed against a tree. Yvanna brings her lips close to his ear. – We are sheep, obeying when we are called, walking in the direction that is pointed out to us.
Her face is just inches away from his. She looks at his mouth, then she looks into his eyes. Her scent dominates him. The red hair touches his arms. Her pale, smooth skin is within the reach of his hands.
-You want to choose the path. – He whispers.
-Yes. I will not be a sheep. I could take you with me, if you ask nicely… - She laughs, brushing her lips over his.
She continues.
-One day, I will sleep peacefully, knowing that the garden does not fool me. Knowing that I am a wolf, sleeping in the center of my pack.
*
Arthur was slow to wake up. Hours passed and, when he opens his eyes, he feels his mind agitated, realizing that his plan is barely a plan and his resources really do not seem enough to start the undertaking ahead.
After all, until recently, he was just a boy, living a normal life. Now, he needs to escape a prison in a magical world, using his own magic and the help of a creature that looks like a ghost.
But none of this matter, because he has no other choice. If he does nothing, he will die.
Death. This is the penalty for a crime he did not commit. The punishment for the act of breathing in this world that does not wants him.
The night breeze passes through the gaps in the wall. He stretches his body, looking to the moon that shines in the sky, positioned above the largest building that he is able to see from his prison. That must be the castle of the kingdom.
The moon and stars shine on the young man’s iris. He feels the cold wind cut his body and hears the sound of the whistle produced by the same wind. The night fog enters through the gap in the wall, covering the floor. A mist, that dances on the floor and rises in front of him, like rolls of white smoke.
A smoke in the shape of a girl with curly hair and a rounded face.
The apparition surprises him, making so Arthur staggers backwards after seeing the change in the entire constitution of the girl. Right now, she seems about to enter a physical state similar to his, but, at the same time, she still looks like a ghost.
She waits a few seconds, until he regains his balance. After that, she points to the door.
-Yes. – He agrees. – We have to go. It’s now or never.
She approaches the large, wooden door and stops in front of it, raising her hand, signaling the number “three”. He doesn’t understand the gesture right away. She closes her hand and opens again, with the sign for number “two”.
-What will you do?
She closes her hand and opens it with the number “one”.
-Hey. What-
She throws herself against the door and, with a crash, the wood is made in pieces, making room for the “incorporeal”. The only piece that remains in place is the lock, dangling on the wall.
On the outside, two guards were stationed in the empty space in front of the cell – a round room, surrounded by doors to other cells, with only two exits: One on the left and one on the right.
Both guards are standing between them and the ladder on the left, the same one he needs to pass in order to follow the instructions given by the drawings.
The moment it takes for the guards to regain their composure is the one the girl uses as an opportunity to launch herself at them.
The first guard is thrown on the wall, his breastplate crush by the impact. The shock of his head with the stone makes him immediately faint and a small trickle of blood drips from his head when his body falls on the floor.
The second guard has enough time to raise his sword, placing it between himself and the enemy. The girl, however, does not seem to care about the weapon, letting the blade pass through her body and hitting him in the forehead, throwing his body directly on the ground. The soldier squirms in pain.
She wastes no time looking at him, immediately signaling to Arthur. The recent situations of intense shocks make so he is not impressed by the current situation at the point of "not moving". This helps because, in the past, he would not even be able to react to her call.
With unsteady steps and always walking close to the wall, he approaches the exit. He is about to go down the first step when he hears the sound of several steps, mixed with sounds of metal.
He looks at the girl. She seems afraid of going through so many enemies.
-So, we cannot go through this path. – He murmurs, looking around. – Then…
The other exit is on the right side of the room. The guard is still writhing on the ground, more and more slowly, as if he were about to pass out. For a moment, Arthur sympathizes with him, just to remember that these were the same people who were willing to kill him tomorrow. Empathy is not something he wants to feel right now.
He goes towards the staircase that goes up the tower, in a last flight of stairs. From where he is, Arthur can feel the wind that comes from outside the tower.
Before he could even open the outer door, a soldier comes in. He is two meters tall and has greenish skin. The soldier steps forward, opening the door. He immediately steps back after seeing the smoky figure that guides the boy. Arthur tries as hard as he can to climb the steps while using his good leg.
-Oh my... – The soldier exclaims, with tears in his eyes. – Is it true?
The incorporeal tries to get closer to him and the soldier retreats towards the opposite side, at the edge of the tower. Besides him, a dwarf warrior uses a mace to sneak around and try to hit the incorporeal. Her ax shines some kind of blue light and, for the first time, the girl dodges an attack, throwing herself back, and, as soon as the blow passes in front of her, she launches herself at the dwarf.
The warrior, surrounded by the fog, waves her arms in despair. The incorporeal remains on her, avoiding only the blows of the ax, which passes very close to her body. However, she is not hit and the incorporeal can blow its “smoke” on the face of the dwarf, who runs on her back, trying to avoid it.
-Incorporeal. – The greenish soldier still does not move, only points to the “ghost”. – Incorporeal!
The dwarf is blind, waving her arms and trying to get rid of the apparition. She ends up stumbling on her own legs, falling on her back and crossing the parapet and falling from the tower. The incorporeal remains in the air before turning to Arthur.
-You killed her! – The soldier screams.
Startled by the events, Arthur stares at the girl’s image.
-Is she dead? She…
They hear footsteps coming from the staircase. The soldier tries to run down the stairs.
-What do we do now?
She signals to him and then to the spot where the dwarf has just fallen.
-What? Do you want me to fall? Jump? Do you want me to jump?!
She nods.
-I can’t. I will die!
She makes a negative gesture, pointing to herself.
-And what can you do-
Before he can finish, she throws herself at him. Smoke enters through his mouth, nostrils, ears, eyes and even through the skin. In a split second, she seems to be inside him.
For a moment, he feels the same sensations of when she transferred energy to him. However, now it is even more intense. Power seems to run through his veins. His body seems stronger than ever before.
“Jump”
The voice in his head is feminine. The incorporeal. It has to be her.
A step towards the abyss. His fractured leg feels lighter – almost healed. He climbs on the parapet. The soldiers appear at the door.
-Will I die? – The building seems to have at least ten floors.
“Jump”
He looks back. The guards do not advance. There is fear in their eyes.
Arthur looks down again. If he retreats, he will be arrested. If he jumps, at least he is choosing the place and time of his death.
It is time to make a choice.
“Jump”
*
*