Chapter 2 Time. Looks like our protagonist is a bit terrified, as well.
Okay, uh, think. Kieran's Platoon got wiped out escorting Princess fuckin' Elincia to Gallia. Objective: Get the named characters out alive. That'd be myself, Kieran, Elincia, Brom and Nephenee. Should I try to play myself off as a seer? No, that always fucks Self-Inserts over. No damn point. I'll just... try my best. I've got zero prior combat experience and, last I checked, I don't have any random abilities I didn't have before.
While I've been brainstorming, Lucia has initiated a hushed conversation with Kieran. I decided to put my planning on the backburner, though I knew I shouldn't. Kieran's expression has grown more and more... shocked... as the discussion continued.
Then, Kieran gained a determined look.
He turned to us and bellowed out, "FIFTH PLATOON! WE HAVE AN ASSIGNMENT!" The entire group snapped to attention- Kieran had a commanding presence. "GENERAL GEOFFREY OF THE ROYAL KNIGHTS SHALL BE TAKING OVER MY POSITION! WE ARE TO ESCORT HER HIGHNESS-" he pauses to gesture to Elincia- "TO GALLIA!"
A murmur spread throughout my fellow conscripts- nobody recognized Elincia as a royal. Figures.
Of course, not soon after this announcement, Geoffrey, mounted, trots out from inside the castle. Kieran nods to him, and Geoffrey pulls Elincia onto his horse.
Speak of Elincia, she looks absolutely terrified. She's shaking, her eyes are wide and brimming with tears, and I swear she's sweating. That last one's not for sure, though.
"SOLDIERS OF THE FIFTH PLATOON! HEAR ME! WE SHALL EXIT THROUGH THE EAST GATE, AND MAKE DUE COURSE TO GALLIA WITH GREAT SPEED!" Geoffrey's even more commanding and loud than Kieran, holy shit. Elincia's ears must be bleeding.
Anyways, me and my fellow conscripts fall in line and begin to move rather speedily to what I presume is the East Gate. Geoffrey's shouting orders to the slower among us- Brom and his fellow knights- and those who are blocking the path to the gate.
Once we get out of the city, it really starts to set in how bad my situation is. I can just barely see the Daein war camp in the distance; a few wyvern riders are swooping around, probably training or something. For a moment I swear I can see some moveme- wait, no, Daein's forming ranks. Shit, we need to sp-
"MOVE WITH HASTE, SOLDIERS! WE CANNOT BE CAUGHT IN DAEIN'S ASSAULT!" The effect is instantaneous- everybody in the platoon is practically sprinting now. I'm running out of stamina pretty fast, at that. My tiredness doesn't last too long once I remember that if I slow down, I'll be killed by enemy soldiers in an instant.
Due to the quick pace, it isn't too long before we've arrived at some forest trail, and Geoffrey gives the order for us to slow down. Thank fuck for that, too, I was starting to get tired despite the adrenaline. Of course, I don't stop. Nobody stops, we can't stop, because I know that Daein is pursuing us, and all the others are too paranoid of exactly that to stop.
...
...
...
It's been a few hour of steady marching, now. I'm unsure as to how far from the capital we are, nor how close we are to the next battle. My paranoia is rising with each passing moment. The pursuing troops should be attacking soon, soon, soon...
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"CHAAAAAAAAAAAAARGE!" An exceptionally loud war cry sounds out from behind us. I've been on alert for the entire march- some of the other haev relaxed and foolishly let their guard down- so I swing around and ready myself at the impending charge.
A small wave of cavalry is barreling down upon us- I quietly wish I'd grabbed a spear to stop something like this, but alas, I'd chosen the blade. I simply raise my shield and prepare for impact.
I'm nearly launched backwards from the impact; I stumble backwards a bit but manage to right myself before falling. Some Daein Soldiers- the class- are now charging out, as well, with a couple archers strategically firing arrows.
Shit, shit, sunnuvabitch.
Luckily for me, nobody's singled me out yet, so I can determine who's dead.
I see at least five Crimeans lying dead or wounded on the ground, and also see Kieran and Geoffrey effortlessly making mincemeat out of the enemy cavaliers. Kieran's probably just succeeding because weapon triangle.
Oh- SHIT! I barely sidestep a jab from an enemy spearman and I instinctively swing my sword at the man's neck.
To be honest, I didn't expect to hit, much less kill.
The soldier stumbles back, half his neck gorily wrenched from his body, blood spurting out of his wound in a disgusting fashion.
I barely hold in the urge to puke at the sight.
My opponent looks at me, terrified, and lets out a gurgle.
He collapses, blood pooling around his fresh corpse.
I don't have the time to register that holy shit I just murdered somebody because I have to raise my shield to block the axe of a remarkably enraged Fighter. His axe clangs off my metal shield and I instantly go to stab him in the stomach, but before I can do so, he punches me right in the face.
I stumble back, clutching at my new injury, and realize he's once again bringing down the axe.
Fuck, no time to block.
FUCK!
Click!
I'm suddenly behind the Fighter, who is now shouting confused expletives. I'm not one to waste opportunities, so I quickly stab him in the back.
The axeman stumbles off, my blade, and turns his terror-filled eyes upon me.
"D-demon!" He shouts out, teetering back. He falls flat on his back, and scrambles away from me.
I... can I do that again?
Click!
I'm practically standing on top of him. The man screams, and I hesitate, before plunging my sword into his skull.
This time, I fall to my knees and vomit.
So, his stand. Won't say anything about it's abilities, so feel free to theorize, but it's kinda situational, depending on how you look at it.