Vas woke up to a dark ceiling and then closed his eyes again. The Scout barracks didn't feel like home per say, but it was better than anywhere else he'd recently stayed.

He flexed his arms and found that neither had gone numb during his slumber. He'd grown accustomed to numb arms due to sleeping with a partner so often, but had opted for his own bed in the barracks.

"VAS!" Alex's shout was something particularly special in the morning, not because of her cheery tone or excited attitude, but because of her mouth's proximity to his ear.

"Ow," Vas said as he glared at Alex, whose face was not more than an arm's span away from his. "I knew you were awake. You always move your arms when you wake up."

Vas blinked. He hadn't realized Alex paid such close attention to him while he slept. "Miiche told me. She's pretty alright if you don't need a conversation partner."

Vas sat up and rubbed his head.

"Can anyone have a conversation with you for very long?" He hadn't meant to be mean about it, but she did shout in his ear. Alex just rolled her eyes and walked away.

Vas glanced to Miiche, who was sprawled on another bed in the room watching him quietly.

"Nothing to add?" Vas was uncomfortable that she watched him so intently.

The silence lingered a few more moments until Miiche took a deep breath.

"Since when did you have a little harem?"

Vas snorted, stood up and put clothes on.

Miiche put her warm hand on the back of Vas's cool neck after a few moments. "You still thrash around at night."

Vas nodded. He equipped no weapon today. He didn't really have anything worth taking. Besides, if Miiche wasn't enough to protect him, she could at least stall long enough for him to find a weapon to use. She would insist on following him around all day anyways.

Selene walked into the room fully equipped. She'd changed into a new set of clothes altogether. Vas had done the same, except for his jacket. Selene nodded to Miiche, and Miiche smiled back.

Joust and Alex walked in almost immediately after Vas finished putting his jacket on.

"Ready," Joust said. Was it a question? It seemed like Joust's statements and questions could sometimes be taken either way. Vas just nodded in response. The little group walked through and out of the barracks. As they went, people would start following them.

It was unspoken, but because the entire military camp was outside of the Wall, everyone was expected to partake in the fighting. Sun had explained it the night before, something about having waves of people lined up. It felt like some sort of medieval stratagem. Sun's fighters were in the wave of troops closest to the Wall. The last line. They would provide support and assist in filling gaps where necessary, but were in what was considered the safest position. That along with following the command of the legendary Vas seemed enough to entice people to follow for a chance to be considered a part of Sun's wave.

Selene and Miiche walked slightly behind Vas to either side while Alex and Joust walked side-by-side just ahead of him. Miiche snickered, "It really is your own little harem," she said. Selene raised an eyebrow, and Alex turned fully around with an incredulous expression. "What?! Ew! Vas is reliable, but just... Ew. Sorry Vas." Miiche stuck her tongue out at Alex in response. Vas attempted to ignore the exchange as much as possible, but Joust turned around and winked at Alex. "Don't worry, you can join my harem." Alex turned and stared at Joust with her eyebrows raised.

Vas coughed and stared at Joust for a few moments before he finally broke into laughter. In a moment the laughter overtook every one of them, and they stopped walking for a full minute or two. The people who had been following them were confused but waited patiently.

Vas and the group arrived in Sun's camp just in time for the morning ration. The camp was a series of tents and buildings that were familiar to Vas. In the center of it all was the large building where Sun had drilled survival and fighting tactics into new recruits. It was also where Sun had set up a base of operations. Vas and the others made their way to the center after about an hour more of walking. Curiously, almost all of the troops in the camp were also going in the same direction. Maybe for a training exercise?

When Vas walked through an open door, he saw that the entire warehouse had been turned into a barracks. Sun came out of nowhere and slapped Vas hard on the back. "It looks pretty nice right now, doesn't it?" Sun smiled, but Vas knew the man wasn't really smiling. Vas smiled back anyways, indulging. Sun shook his head. "This building is going to be a field hospital. It's my base of operations for now, but once the fighting starts we won't need it for that. Bandages, beds, executions."

Sun walked forward into another room. Vas, Alex, Joust, Selene and Miiche followed. There was a large table with a rough map of the area which included key buildings, bases of operations for other commanders, troop deployment charts and rough topography. There were also giant flags leaning against the wall. Red, blue, green and yellow. Sun waved away everything in the room in an all-encompassing gesture. "That's all strategy and communication and whatnot. I don't need your mind for that part. I need you to help me figure out how to make all these cowards fight."

"Cowards?" Miiche's voice came from behind Vas. Sun threw a hand out. "Yes, cowards. The people who don't want to fight and somehow found their way to the back line. The last wave. My wave. They wanted to avoid fighting and death and they ran all the way to my camp. I can't use people who won't fight, and people won't fight without hope. I was thinking Vas's little bit of popularity might help with that."

Vas nodded. The idea made sense to him. "Unfortunately, my entire persona is something Alex made up and tells stories about. On top of that, we've only been here a few days."

Sun smiled at Vas, "Good stories travel fast. Especially stories people want to believe. Everyone in the camps has heard your name, and half of them know a story or two. Don't underestimate hope." Alex beamed at this and elbowed Joust, "He called my stories good!"

Vas shook his head and closed his eyes. "What do you want me to do?"

Sun grinned, "All I need is for you to give a little pep talk and then help with training and organizing troops. We only have a day or so, but if you show yourself around the camp and make a good impression you might give me all I need."

"A pep talk," Alex said with a maniacal smile, "let me help you write it!" Vas opened his mouth but before he could say anything Sun raised a hand. "As much as I would like Alex to craft an incredible speech for our hero, they should be gathering in the next ten minutes or so."

Vas was relieved. And a bit scared.