Northeast of Norden
Capelle
Autumn, 1545
"It's a trap! call of your men, we're falling back!" Said Colonel Dorschuffer thundering through the radio.
Arlin Frauner, a young captain in charge and responsible for the 1st wave to attack the last defense line of Alteran army; dropped the radio to the ground right after hearing the message.
He dashed out from behind a stone and shouted. "IT'S A TRAP!, FALL BACK!...FALL BACK TO THE TRENCH!" as he giving a sign with his hand. Still hoping his men could survive.
But it's too late, soon after he gave the signal, a sound of artillery gun fired at the same time heard reverberated through the air. He turned back and look towards the pale-colored sky, glance at one of the projectiles descend rapidly towards him, creating hissing sound as it gets louder.
But somehow he just stood there as if he lost hope. Death was right above him. Desperate and ready to accept his final moment.
Everything went black as the projectile hit the dirt right in front of him and bash him 2 meters away.
Think, it was the end.
He brought back to reality as someone dragging him. People scream and shouting wandering his ear. His vision becomes vague and unable to move his limbs because of the shock, he can feel the wave of pain from his lower as shrapnel stuck inside of his right thigh.
"Hang in there Arlin, I promised your mom to bring you home in one piece," said the person while dragging him.
Arlin's vision got vividly after blurred for a few seconds. He realized it was someone he really loved dragging him.
"Vi..vira?... I can't even move my leg, you should just save yourself!".
She didn't respond and kept on dragging him regardless of raining artillery. "Incoming!!" Someone shouted telling them to evade the incoming projectile. The projectile hit the ground behind her. She collapses to the ground, landing next to Arlin's eyes.
Arlin tried to move all his limbs as hard as he can to reach her.
"Vi..vira, wake up..hey..don't do this to me..we promised to get home after all of this remember," said Arlin sobbing as he cradled her face in his arms. He tried to hold and suppress the wound on her back, but she already loses too much blood because of the projectile flake.
A small voice cracks tense between him. "Take this and keep it and give this to my mother....promise me to stay alive..." as her gaze met him with a smile while caressed Arlin's cheek with soft.
Her lips turned pale, even hard for her to breathe since her bleeding won't stop
She handed him her necklace and a letter to her mother.
Arlin holds her hand tightly as he looks her in the eye. "I promised.."
Vira passed away in his arms a few seconds after she handing her necklace.
Arlin hugs and kisses her for the last time with tears raced down his cheeks. He let go and put her down from his arm gently.
He stood, clenching his fist as he scurried away. Arlin ran towards the trench along with the artillery rain.
He takes a look back for one more time towards a field full of smoke and dead bodies. Everything happens so fast. He didn't expect to lost somebody meant to him again.
After he makes his retreat by running for 3 kilometers towards the medic station
An armored truck was already lined up. Dozens of soldiers board each one of them. Arlin just stood there thinking about going home.
He walked towards a medic tent with an injured and bleeding leg. The sound of pain gets louder as he comes closer to the tent. He glances at every injured soldier he passed with a saddened look.
One of the doctors approaching from behind him. "Captain?... you're bleeding"
Arlin is taken aback by the doctor. "Ye..yeah...".
He sat on a chair and leaned back as the doctor prepares for his minor surgery.
Arlin glared at a field full of short grass. Still tried to digest what happened.
"I just lost someone today doc," said Arlin breaking silence between them.
"Go on, I'll hear you out" as he keeps trying to pull the small flakes from Arlin's leg.
"We were friends since we were kids, we always play together, she's like a sister to me at first. but she confesses to me right before we went to an operation. So we promised each other to get married when the war over, but her fate says otherwise..." Arlin continues.
"It happens to all of us. All you can do now is stay alive, and let go of her. I'm pretty sure that's what she wants." the doctor replied as he applied a bandage to Arlin's leg.
Arlin nodded. "yeah...thanks Doc, I appreciate it" as he looks at Vira's necklace
Arlin got patched up. He returns to his company, Stuart company, as he trudged with his dirty boots. But when he saw the rest of his men he noticed most of them didn't make it. He stood there, felt distressed because he's responsible for the loss. He walks heavily towards them with a flat line across his expression.
"I'm sorry about Vira"
A few words of comfort from Stanis, 1st Lieutenant, leader of the 3rd squad of the company gave his hand to help Arlin board. Arlin sat down in front of him and give him a little smile.
"You're broken?" Arlin asked.
Stanis shook his head. "what's your point?"
He leaned back as he glanced outside. "I lost more than enough, I'm pretty much fucked up right now," reply Arlin as the transporter starts moving.
Stanis turned his gaze away towards the road and just sat there quietly as if he felt bad.
After a 1 hour trip, silence break as the truck humming stops at the town of Schaford. A town where the main HQ of 2nd battalion stand. Smell of rotting flesh and feces odor as he dropped down. Corpses lying neatly on the ground draped in thick clothing. More bodies came every minute brought by the combat medic with a wagon attached to an old car. Arlin stood there, his heart throbbing with pain every time he looks at the corpses.
Later on, a tall man with a bald head wearing a brown coat came out from one of the sturdy building along with his aide walking towards the water fountain located in the middle of the town.
"Gather around, I got good news and bad news," said Lt.Col. Aster as he unfolds a paper at his hand. He reads out loud the content inside the paper.
"The loss of almost half of Norden causes impactful damage to this Nation. Massive casualties, Our friends and family have died along the way. Therefore, I, The Queen of Norden, Celestia Hemloft has admitted my and release almost half of Norden territory to enemy's hands in order to end this cruel war. I want to thanks all soldiers who defend their homeland with all strength, It's an honor to have brave people like all of you. Sincere Celestia Hemloft"
"that's all, good news and the bad news" continues Lt.Col. Aster.
Every soldier who gathered around the middle start to disband with a flat expression as they muttering about the speech.
"Excuse me, sir," said Arlin in the distance as he raises his hand. "After all we through, you just want us to give up like that? They died for nothing if it turns out like this!" Continues Arlin with his voice constantly raising.
The Lt.Col. Aster steps towards Arlin while looking at his eyes with a furious expression. They standing face to face against each other.
"We all want the same thing here, Captain. But this is queen orders, we can't do anything except obeying her word" said Aster.
Arlin's mouth stuck shut. He clenched his jaw as if he understands he had no choice but to obey the queen orders. He steps away from Aster and went back to Stanis. The atmosphere surrounding them became more and more gloomy as the other company went back to the city. Stanis and Arlin were silent until they board the truck.
Stanis broke the silence shortly after the truck start moving. "You believe that bullshit? The war last for 5 years and We just gave up like that and let them take our territory."
"I never trust the Alteran government, they could break the peace at any time and start a war again, and if it's happening again, I'll fight back until we got back what ours." Said Arlin.
He arrived at his hometown at Doch, A small village located in East of Norden. He was exhausted since he arrived at night. He stood in front of his wooden house, a house full of memory. He can't wait to see his mother, but at the same time, he still mourns about Vira. He steps towards the front door and knocked on the door. the door opened, reveal the interior and a middle-aged woman as if she waits for him after 5 years.