Day 29 of the Fourth Month, Year 1016 - morning

Dustor Military Base, Dustor City

WHEN the daily assembly was adjourned, Dev’s mind quickly went back into focus. The war was in front of his eyes, and despite the fact that he did actually want to get merit and retire honorably—and comfortably—he was never the type to do things in half. Especially in war, when he could die anytime, with the weight of the whole company upon his shoulder. There were a few soldiers that he couldn’t use in the coming battle… They didn’t recover as well as Doctor Wentworth expected. The antidote worked, for the most part, but a few were still too agitated to go to war.

Despite all that, his company was still able to take part, of which he was thankful—he would be of some use. He started walking to his own office, eager to start combing through his soldiers’ profile, when someone called his name. “Major Andres, please stay,” said the low, booming voice.

Dev stiffened when he heard General Adefine’s voice, then he turned back. “General.”

“Please, follow me.”

The temporary office of the General of the Army—originally it was Lieutenant General Gale’s office—was tidy and neat, with practicality written all over. General Adefine welcomed him to take a seat as he himself took place behind the desk. “Good work on escorting the Princess,” the General began as he sat down.

Dev inclined his head respectfully, preventing himself from wincing. He should’ve brought the Princess back to the Palace right away, but what she did was important to the Kingdom too, after all. “It’s what I’m supposed to do.”

“Then you should know what happened along with Her Highness? I heard from Corps General Harvey that you were also there in their base?”

Ah, the Crimson Corps. That was what this was all about. Indeed, the Corps had arrived a few days ago and helped them fending off Lirsk’s attack. They managed to hold Dustor City for now.

Dev nodded. “Yes, we were attacked by an army of two hundred.”

The General’s face grew complicated. “Do you know where they were from?”

Dev shook his head. “There was no indication of any identity on their armors. I sent a scout in Her Highness’ stead, but I have no idea whether she or General Harvey had gotten him back.”

“Yes, that’s troublesome. If they had, I haven’t gotten any news from them. Two hundred sounds few, but it is still a force,” the General sighed. “And they were attacking the Crimson Corps. Would it be an overcautiousness to expect them to attack us here?”

Dev was startled. If they went to attack the city, with it being sandwiched by two forces… He couldn’t imagine the consequences. He stared at General Adefine carefully, but found no sign of anxiety on the older man’s face, which made him calm down as well.

“What do you think, Major?”

“They would attack…” He fell silent, because he remembered that the way anyone could reach here was to go through the City of Liath first.

Then—

“They would attack Liath!” He lifted his head in surprise.

“Yes.” The General nodded. “Only two hundred, so I don’t think we should be that worried… But I still think while it is still not confirmed, it is better to take it slow and not cause panic. Though, I think you should go to Liath since you already know.”

Dev observed Adefine before nodding. “Of course, General.”

“Bring your company as well. We need to secure and defend the city.” The General looked at him seriously. “We cannot lose Liath no matter what, you get me?”

“Yes, sir!” He answered readily.

He went out of Adefine’s office, but instead of going to his office, he went to Colonel Carlton. He needed to consult his mentor and godfather about this. Also, he hadn’t been able to greet the old man ever since he got back. It would be nice to get Carlton’s opinion.

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The Colonel looked ragged. To be completely truthful, the whole army looked ragged because of the war, but Dev had always known Carlton to be hardworking. From his childhood, the number of times he saw the older man could be counted on one hand. Carlton had always been so busy, very much so that he wasn’t able to help his adoptive parents when—

Dev didn’t continue that train of thought. He didn’t want to resent the Colonel.

There was a coffee on the table, cold and untouched. He looked at Carlton sympathetically. “I guess you haven’t rested the whole night?”

Carlton waved his hand. “There’s loads to do, with Lirsk so menacingly near us,” he said with a sigh. “Go, go, sit down. You have something to talk about?”

“Yes,” Dev said, sitting down in front of Carlton. His office was considerably smaller than the General’s, for obvious reason, and a lot messier, too. Dev had to tidy up some stationeries from the chair he was about to sit on—otherwise his behind was going to hurt. “I am about to go to Liath under General Adefine’s command.”

Carlton looked up. “Ah,” he uttered. “For what reason?”

“A precaution,” Dev replied, careful not to spill too much. “If we have internal conflict.”

Carlton understood his meaning. “That is most unfortunate,” he muttered. “You have grown, though, son. The General of the Army believes in you now.”

Most of that attributed to the Princess, for sure. He was just rubbing in that trust, but he understood that it was an opportunity—the very thing that Carlton had always wanted him to avoid. It was odd. Carlton was very much against him entering the military—but he found out after Dev already entered and climbed the ladder, so he was powerless to do anything. The old man never warned him outright, but he could feel the displeasure every time Dev talked about moving up.

And it wasn’t jealousy, or wariness, either. Dev could never make sense of the reason why Carlton was against it. “You know me, Colonel. I just want to make merit, then retire comfortably—I mean, honorably.”

“I wish you would just go straight to retirement,” the Colonel replied.

Dev laughed. “Colonel, I’ve yet to reach twenty!”

“The military is dangerous for you,” Carlton sighed. “Everywhere is dangerous. I wish you would go to obscurity.”

Dev stiffened. He never told Carlton about what he did to survive, when Carlton didn’t show after his parents’ death and his brother’s imprisonment. “Do you… know?” He changed his name, yes, but Carlton never commented on that. He always assumed his mentor never knew, and he never told anything, either—but that was stupid, wasn’t it? Of course, Carlton knew. If that was the case, then Carlton’s prudence made sense…

“About why you change your name?” Carlton laughed. “Yes, yes. But it doesn’t matter, you see. Whatever your name doesn’t matter…” He trailed off and looked back down on his papers.

Dev stared at his old face, the one most familiar from his childhood, when he visited every Winterfell to gift him a sword, to train him, to teach him. He remembered calling Carlton ‘godfather’ and the old man would smile… bitterly.

His face was wrinkled now, his lips pursed. He knew, but it wasn’t the reason? What was he talking about? Why should he be obscure, then? But it was destined to be an unsolved mystery, because Carlton waved his hand before Dev could open his mouth. “I have to finish this before noon, then I have to train my soldiers. Don’t you have to prepare to go to Liath City?”

Dev swallowed his question and nodded. “Colonel, take care of your health,” he said in concern. “Don’t drink too much coffee.”

Carlton laughed. “It’s fine. I won’t die so early.” He sighed. “Go now.”

Dev left Carlton’s office in puzzlement, but quickly he brushed it off because of his business. After combing through who would stay back, he marched his company to Liath City under everyone’s envious gaze. As no one was aware of the possible internal enemy, they thought Dev was given some special mission. In a way, that was true, and that didn’t stop everyone from spreading rumors about him.

Especially the two Palmers. It was understandable that under their influence, everyone thought the worse of him, but Dev didn’t really care. He told his company that they must get to the Liath City soon.

Dev was never one with big ambition, despite what Carlton thought of him. When his brother died, he was young and reckless and vowed that he would take revenge. It made him went into the wrong path and got involved in the dark side of the Kingdom. When he finally escaped, he was worn out and too weary for revenge. But after all that, the smallest vengeful spirit drove him to check the nobility that destroyed his and his brother’s life—only to find that they were already ruined. He didn’t know why, and he only felt empty.

So, he enrolled in the Cerubalt City’s Champion Academy, graduated, then entered the army with his own effort, simply because he didn’t know where else to go or what else to do. He worked hard, got promoted fairly quickly, and when he was rather satisfied with his salary, he began to request holiday for himself.

How did this big responsibility fell onto him? Others might think it more of an ‘opportunity’, but again, he never did thing in half. This so-called opportunity could ruin people’s life if he failed.

Everything that happened already happened, and now a city’s safety was in his hand. This responsibility… was something he never thought he would hold. Sure, he was rather appreciated in the army, and the General admitted his ability, but he usually just led his company. There was no war before and so there were no merits that could prove him really capable. He was promoted simply because of his ability.

Now he was sent to protect a city. []