7

Camus, the previous lover of Nyna. Waits anxiously in the castle lounge. The young royal is chatting with a soldier, he rests on expensive furniture in total comfort and safety. The soldier realizes it's time for him to leave, so he picks up his lance and carries on. Camus watches him run out the lounge. Head up high, full of spirit. His heart begs for the soldier to stay, but it couldn't reach his mouth to speak it. He knew that soldier was just another pawn among all the others on the battlefield. He spoke in such an educated way. What terrible luck he has. Camus cups his palms over his face, fingernails digging in his forehead. He waits. Passing his fingers through his blonde hair, he looks around with burning anticipation. His wine glass was completely empty, the bottle next to it. Also empty. Camus stares at this glass with unrest. Getting up from his current position he headed out of the lounge. Bursting through the doors, the soldier returns gasping for air. Camus shrieks "Good heavens! What is it?". The soldier makes way for Camus and answers politely. "Your highness! General Jiol is looking everywhere for you! Jiol just received word that the Altinian rebellion-

forces are approaching our way. I have ordered the spies to scout the area for our little pests" Camus, still as a wooden plank. Listening to the booming orders. Thoughts about the Higher ups flooded in. Leaning on a window, the black dressed, white haired man observes the plains. Stress was all Camus could feel, he didn't want to kill anyone. Yet, Jiol expects him to fight alongside him. Camus knows that Jiol is thinking of something too advanced for his simple understanding. So, he plays along.

Two guards wait silently at the castle gate. Two figures arrive and instantly the guards spring into action and open the gate as fast as they could. The two royals walk outside the protective castle walls, admiring the troops working on the defenses from afar. Birds flew in the air, singing their little songs for the humans. Birds however, have the freedom to express and sing. These people are controlled by fear, they envy the freedom of the birds. Killing and sizing control is the only way to resolve any issue. Generations before settled on arguments this way, the clashing of two forces. Which one could outwit the other? In this case, the rebellion was gaining important land. It seems as if the Dolhr forces are suffering a slow demise. The soldiers were scurrying around like a colony of ants. Huge ballistic machines were rolling, the personalized giant crossbows attached on wooden wheels for easy transport. The cart carries a single person inside. A whole barrage of them are moving out. This gives Camus a strong sense of power, standing by Jiols side he finally felt relief. "Have you heard the news of the recent murders? The story is rather interesting." Joil grabs Camus' interest. Facing him he responds. "I have heard those two guards speak about it briefly, but other than that gossip I am uninformed." Jiol looks back at the field, White hair shining in the sun. "Word has spread about the Laguz people returning after years of extinction." Jiol gestures to a bunch of soldiers to head out into the battlefield. "The Laguz were a savage but intelligent tribe. Frequently called 'subhuman'. A few days ago, several townsfolk were killed in a mysterious way." Camus processes this information, the concept of Laguz was not alien to him. He had seen manaketes in person, winged humans. But these manakeetes are much different from the Laguz people. "I cannot believe that the Laguz people could exist to this day. The only remaining beasts similar to them are the mankeetes, but we have a good relationship with them." Jiol frowned, thinking about the coming war. Wondering if the enemy had a secret weapon. "I will order the soldiers to stay out of the forests from this point forward. No man in my colony will die in such a gruesome way. Not to some subhumans. Camus, keep your blade by your side, remember that it has been given to you because it needs the highest protection." Camus mounts his horse. He gallops out of the castle gate. Galloping away from the castle. There was a hustle and bustle of village life. But he didn't care to pass by. He was met with fellow soldiers, and they continued to prepare.