Chapter 3
The Shitennou left in the morning. Their armor shone like silver and gold under the late summer sun, and they sat on their horses, their backs straight and an air of resoluteness around them. None of them had family members in the city, but plenty of admirers came to send them off with the best of wishes. They knew that it would be a piece of cake for the Shitennou and the soldiers.
Everyone saw how General Zoisite was more cheerful than normal with his eyes glistening with joy.
The time came, and the army marched through the north gate. Wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, and children waved their farewells, brave smiles on their faces that transformed into silent tears when their loved ones could no longer see their expressions. Partings were always difficult; it might take months before they met again, so it wasn't strange for some to become emotional. Still, everyone was hopeful.
General Jadeite's smile slightly wavered ever so often and General Nephrite seemed more quiet than usual, but that was probably due to the fact that they'd gotten hurt in the previous battle.
Most soldiers were eager. The riots had been going on for a while now, and it disrupted the peaceful harmony that had come to symbolize the Golden Kingdom. The young men were more than happy to stop the disruption so that things could go back to the way they were before the rumors started simmering. Their optimism was backed by the more observant ones of the crowd.
They swore that though General Kunzite sported his usual calm demeanor, he had a determined look in his eyes.
The people of the city were sure that victory was just around the corner.
It was just a small battle.
~-0-~
People waited for news of victory. Small whispers of what-ifs were quickly quashed. Morale was important, and it would be the biggest joke in the world for the soldiers to win the battle and return to chaos. No, for the sake of those who were fighting, people who stayed behind should go about their everyday lives as they usually did and prepare in advance for the celebrations that were bound to be held once the victors came home.
Merchants, however, were warned to avoid traveling to the north. The fight wasn't over; the troops hadn't returned yet, so they would be taking too much of a risk for money that could be earned another time, when things calmed down a bit more.
Not to mention autumn was settling in, and if the dark clouds gathering in the north was anything to go by, it was going to be a hard winter. But that was fine. It could be treated like a short vacation. Things were bound to be busy once the riots ceased.
The wait shouldn't be too long. Things should go back to normal any day now.
It was just a small battle.
~-0-~
Unrest stirred in the south. The main royal troops hadn't returned from the north yet, but Prince Endymion didn't seem to be worried—at least, he appeared like so in the public eye.
Though the last group of merchants who'd returned from the north reassured everyone that things were fine in the north, something about them seemed off. People who'd known them swore that they were more quiet than usual, that something about their stares seemed to send children into crying fits. Others, with shifty eyes and agitated demeanors, would tell these people off. How dare they jinx the good lads fighting in the front lines?
No, rather than worrying, they best concentrate on preparing for the winter—dark clouds were still gathering in the north and seemed more ominous than ever.
It was just a small battle.
~-0-~
Young people with loved ones in the army sported quiet solemnness these days.
It had been months since anyone had any contact with the army.
Just a couple of days ago, a lad broke down in the bar.
His family had a long history of dabbling with magic, particularly magic that had to do with tracking.
He claimed, through his tears, that no matter what he did, he couldn't track his sibling, as if his sibling had disappeared from the face of Earth.
Nobody tried to silence him.
Loud, confident words had become wavering whispers:
It was just a small battle.
~-0-~