ade

uuuu

s. I started this. And there was a girl ready to bolt, righ

wn

e hell of a

t see—I didn't want to freak her out anymore that she already was—I partially shifted an

in and got the r

n but I didn't let him ask and just kept him busy answering al

figurati

ced by the rhythm of war. It started by the distant sharp echoes of gunshots that reverberated through the night. And as I came closer, the occasional growling of wolves ferociously tea

facts, I

the air. I pick my handgun in one hand and my sword in the

e midst of combat, I let out th

ance and fell. Many found themselves taking a few steps back from the auditory ass

ious fighting tactics and maneuve

of victory. But there is nothing glorious in violence, there is no heroism

ild an empire on destruction. You don't save the weak, or protect

e where I feel elation, because there is. But to me, this is

rganisation, to be able to do more. But the more you gain, the more the line between actions and goals blurs, the more the order of things becomes unclear. And soon enough, those who sought money to be able to care for others, now take care of others

ves in my hands, this simple shift in goals could have repercussions far beyond my own life. I got burnt a few times. I got into this too young.

, every life I take,

always manage to reach the detachment for the unfolding

ments, the choices. There is no deeper meaning, or social pleasantries or protocols—just cause and effect. One gun shot, one wound, then you move on. It has a rhythm, like a travesty of a mantra leading you in this a

trained often enough, you can let the mo

dn't reach the calm

nd I was gettin

eir strategies and weapons inventories,

tle is more like a marathon, and my men are absolutely great marathoners. Sprinters can't last long in a marathon. Even if their magical forces were too much for us, or their armoury too great, or their numbers too

es were not as overwhelming as they could have been. Which meant a caut

le. In the last ten battles, only one has had a death, just one—the

he careful approach we have taken, and the consequent effect o

than my men. My reason said obviously not. But there was a small part of me that was rebelling for the first time. A pa

want to care for mys

afford this, could I live w

I alone slipped through the woods to attack the rear on my own. This is not a sa

o take thi

e price of my recklessne

lae

lls under the weight of battles.

ave been b

beginning. How did I let myself be dragged into this? One minu

they thi

They were probably looking all over for me, and I was he

, where the trees were thicker, where my presence would be harder to detect. At th

desperation in his voice. Maybe it was the desper

sn't always in harmony with my instincts. But in the end, I gave my word. I may not have sworn any oath, but it was a bond

me was abou

to be