Day 3 of the Fifth Month, Year 1016 - dawn

Northern Tower, Liath City

When the dawn broke a few days later, the city was already three-quarter empty. There are those who refused to leave after the warning, but Dev couldn’t force them. The majority already left and it was enough for him. He did hope Walsh’s information was false… But how could it be?

After realizing this situation, though, Talon called him into his office in the northern walls’ tower to throw a tantrum and broke a few tables. “What do you think you are doing! This is not your territory…”

“General, not good!” One of the soldiers ran into the room they were sitting in. “There is an army of two hundred from the north!”

“What?” Talon was shaken into sobriety. “What do you mean?”

“General,” Dev sighed. “I already told you. But you didn’t believe me, or Walsh.”

“You weren’t just trying to scare me?” Talon seemed truly stunned about that.

Dev couldn’t be bothered to care anymore. “Men!” He called to his own soldiers.

“Yes, sir!”

“Get to your positions!” He shouted. “Remember, don’t let them into the city!”

“Yes, sir!”

Savire’s army came blazing in, with high spirits and stamina. On the other hand, the northern walls’ soldiers were drunk and tired. Dev and his company tried his best, but after an arduous day, they were still on the losing side.

Dev wasn’t injured much, but he could feel himself tire. He gritted his teeth and held his sword stronger. As long as the walls weren’t broken, he wouldn’t stop fighting.

But as he thought about it…

A loud boom resounded through the city, causing the citizen left behind to scream in terror. Their gate was broken down. The enemy soldiers filtered through the gate, then started looting and destroying. They held the foe back for a day, at least… Dev felt angry, but relieved that most of the people in the city were evacuated. At least he saved some lives, right…?

His soldiers were right here in the battlefield, with him. They would perhaps die together. He was proud to say that none of them were deterred by the hopeless situation. Most of them were young, many were rookies, but they fought with passion to defend! He knew they thought as he did—as long as they could fight still, then they would! It might buy time for the rest of the citizen to escape, wouldn’t it?

Dev smiled. Yes. It didn’t matter, he would fight to the death. The retiring with honors might now happen, but dying with honors… would be quite similar, right? As he swung his sword to deter the enemy, he wondered… Would anyone miss him? Would anyone care?

Carlton would, he thought. Who else? The blood of the enemy splattered on his face, but he just wiped it from his eyes and continued to fight. Was it presumptuous… to wonder if Her Highness would miss him?

Ah, well, he could hope. He was dying, after all. But… Would Victoria even be able to mourn for him—for anyone? The worry started to creep into his heart and his movement faltered for a second. He raised his blade in time to block an attack, but his mind raced. Once the enemy occupy Liath, Forewood wouldn’t have any defense against Lirsk. He would fail to protect the city, Lirsk would continue into the Kingdom, destroying everything, even occupying the Royal Capital... Then…

The worry almost made him give up when a soldier’s shout broke through him. “Reinforcement!” Someone shouted in surprised delight. “It’s… It’s the Crimson Corps!”

Dev was stunned, then he couldn’t help but smile.

She did it again. []