Author's Notes
Hey yall, Author man here, Welcome to part 2
Guest(if you are still here): Honestly, I really wished Kenji continued this story but such is life, I enjoy the hell out of it and couldn't wait to see more but then it got put up and I will 100% continue this until I feel like its an acceptable end. I only hope I can write as good as kenji could
Oscuro Oscuro: Gracias por dejar un comentario, lo aprecio
Elias Walker, That was the name of the private that he had accompanied for all of 16 hours, On the file it stated that the man was a football star during high school and was very athletic when he first signed up, He was aged 18 but had a girlfriend back home, Jaune dully noted the notes the drill sergeants jotted down on the side such as impressive strength and incredible marksmanship
Too bad neither saved him from getting his throat slit, Poor gal will be heartbroken A twisted part of his mind laughed as he tried to silence his thought, he quickly set down the file marked with a red stamp of [K.I.A] before standing to leave the tent, They finally have a small break from the charging Imps and artillery and he wasn't going to waste it on depressing thoughts
"Hey Lieutenant, A hand please?" Someone called out as Jaune turned to see a familiar face, he quickly moved over to help carry a injured man into the medical tents, It has been a day since the offensive rush and they are still finding wounded soldiers in their area, The man gave him a thumbs-up before injecting the man with morphine
"Still finding people Corporal?" Jaune asked as the man grunted before turning him to nod, the eyebags evident under his eyes as Jaune turned to go back to his own tent, It was a miracle that so many of their lived and it was another miracle they were able to find so many wounded that were still alive after a day
He was almost knocked over when a soldier ran past him, hurrying towards something, fearing the worst he grabbed a passing soldier as he readied himself for the news of another attack while his hand shifted toward Elia- His, His own rifle
"What's going on? Is there another attack?" Jaune asked urgently as he searched for his bayonet, almost cursing out loud when he couldn't feel the handle or the blade sitting where it should have been, thankfully, The man quickly shook his head and glanced at the arm that Jaune was holding as if he was wary that Jaune would do something to him
"No Attack, Mail" The three simple words flipped a switch in Jaune's head as he let go of the man who rushed in the direction the others were going before Jaune finally realized what he had said and joined the other as they ran for their mail
"MAIL, GET YOUR MAIL HERE" The man shouted on top the truck as Jaune quickly moved to the front, receiving a package and letter from the man, Mail were a rarity, it took them weeks if not months to receive mail before risking their life to deliver the mail to the frontline where any moment could be their last especially since the imperial has gotten desperate and sent a wave of man every single day instead of once per week
Seeing a camera nearby, he quickly held up his mail and smiled towards the cameraman with many others doing the same as the bright flash of light engulfed them, None of them cared how much mud covered their face, All they knew was that the photo would immortalize this happy occasion, the rare happiness that one can experience during war
Not wanting to waste his moment, he quickly handed his own letter to the mailman who took it before he finally moved back to where he was staying before, sinking into the hard wet ground as he opened up his letter from his family, He has sent back letters whenever he could to let them know he was alive, it was the least he can do
Dear Jaune
How are you doing on the frontlines? I know it's hard there but you'll make it out of this alive, Every Arc who fought has made it out alive and you will be no different my son. I know it's hard and I know it's rough but I have trust in you. -Dad
How are you doing Son? are you warm? is there enough food to eat? have you found anyone you liked yet? I know its war and all but you never know when you'll meet your love, maybe all it take is a nice Mantinese medic patching you up for you, You never know, I know how cold and horrible it is on the frontlines but don't give up hope and don't keep us waiting and stay safe Jaune - Mama
yeah what mom wrote - Saphron
From your family
Ps: we all put something in the package so don't lose it
mama wrote too much - Rouge
Jaune's heart warmed at the content of the letter as he tucked it away into one of his breast pocket, eventually he'll return to his tent and file it away with the rest of the letter, curiosity quickly took ahold of him as he opened up the package
"ohmygod cookies" was the first thing to tumble out of his mouth as he opened up the box of cookies that he had just found, quickly throwing one into his mouth as he savor said cookie which were kept fresh through a ingenious utilization of dust, the sweetness alone almost dwarfed any depression he had experienced only moments ago as he inhaled the rest of the package, His mood increased exponentially thanks to his loving family
He quickly realized that despite the size of the cookie box, it wasn't the only thing his family has sent him and he pulled out a pair of gloves that would keep him warm yet not hinder his ability to fire and reload his weapons, something that must have cost his family a fortune to get or months to make, and with the winter soon approaching? Jaune was more than grateful for the thoughtful gift and quickly put the gift on
"ohhhh good gloves how I've missed you" Jaune muttered in happiness as he instantaneously felt the warmth return to his hands, the glove looked almost comically out of place with the bright green that wasn't dirtied by mud or blood but he didn't care, it felt nice and it would get dirtied sooner or later thanks to the war
"GET DOWN" The warning shout saved his life as Jaune threw himself to the ground without hesitation just in time for a explosion to sound off near him, he didn't get up to check if anyone has been hit, instead Jaune curled into himself and tried to make himself as small as possible. It was the only thing they could do when this happens
Just one of these summa bitch and you'll be fucked, pray to god you survive The words of his sergeant rang in his ears as more explosions sounded off near him before he felt himself being lifted through the air, for a few seconds Jaune wondered if this was it and that he would meet his ancestors in that moment, but gravity had other plans as he was quickly reacquainted with his good friend, the cold and muddy ground
Jaune groaned as pain wracked his body, Whatever threw him from the ground had given him both a nasty case of vertigo but it also knocked the wind out of his lungs, the world was spinning before his eyes as he tried to get air into his system, his ears were ringing from the explosions. but by some small miracle he was still alive.
Quickly pushing himself to his feet, Jaune turned to see what had thrown him into the air and came face to face with the shell of a mortar that hasn't exploded yet, his heart almost leapt out of his chest as he quickly scrambled away from the malfunctioning shell and opted to throw himself into one of the craters as more and more screams of agony and pain echoed along with the explosion happening along the trenches
"Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck" Jaune cried to himself as he waited for the barrage to end, waited for a single well-placed shell to hit his hiding spot but the explosion continued and he was still alive, some were close enough so he could feel the tremor from the explosion, hear the cries of soldiers who were hit by the shell but still alive, and the smell of charred flesh that will forever haunt his memory
the barrage lasted for another ten minutes, but for them, the ten minutes felt like hours. Hours of never-ending shells and explosion that assaulted their trenches, hours of questioning whether it would be their last moment and questioning why they were on this god forsaken battlefield
They all knew the answer to that last question, they were on this battlefield because they signed up for this, it was their choice to sign up and this was the price they are paying. Whether they would be paying in blood or tears would be up to the Mistress of Death and whom she would reap from the battlefield
Mom, Dad, Saphron...If I survive this hellhole, I am going to hug all of you so hard you wouldn't believe it, Even you Piera Jaune thought to himself as he propped himself up, his legs still shaking in fear as he looked around and felt bile rising in his throat at the sight and smell of death surrounding him but Jaune forced it down as he glanced around the trench with a somber expression
the trenches were filled with blood and gore, red staining the sides of trenches with human appendages lying around, hands that still clutched onto rifles or letters, legs that were without a body with intestines hanging out, The sight was sickening but the smell was even worse as the putrid smell of burnt flesh finally pushed Jaune over the edge and his breakfast and snack escaped from him with many others doing the same
it was a grueling sight even for those who have experienced it before and ,without missing a beat, Jaune quickly started the equally grueling task of searching for the dog tags of those who were killed, Those who paid the price with their life as those who survived pay by digging through the corpses but it wasn't long until the search stopped after the sound of whistles being blown was heard
"LETS AVENGE THE FALLEN" Jaune heard a soldier shout out from down the trench and he heard several roars of agreement, his mind barely noticing that he was one of the few as he grabbed an bayonet from a discarded rifle and mounted it on his own, Righteous fury ran through his veins as he met the first of the many imperials, who immediately tried to skewer him
These assholes just don't give up do they
"MEDIC, I NEED A DAMN MEDIC HERE" Jaune shouted as he injected another dose of morphine into the injured soldier, he kept pressure on the wound as he scanned around him for a medic or anyone that would have been anymore use to the wounded than he was
God fucking damn it, Where's a medic when you need one Jaune thought as he growled, The fight was over. The push has already been repelled and the medics should have been out here and treating the wounded but all he can see is soldiers like him trying their best to keep the wounded alive with medics quickly arriving to help but barely enough for many of the wounded soldiers. We weren't fucking train in this, I don't know how to treat a damn bayonet stab wound
"GOD DAMN IT, WHERE ARE THE OTHERS" Jaune shouted out in desperation, He could feel the man's heartbeat slowing and his breath getting slower, Another number in the report and another man that he'll lose. Tears prickled at Jaune's eyes at those thoughts but he adamantly refused to let the tears fall, with practiced ease, Jaune quickly willed the tears away as he continued to call for a medic
"S-sir, Sir please... I want to... pass a message" The weak voice and desperate grab at Jaune's sleeve quickly caught his attention as Jaune quickly refocused his attention to the dying soldier, A man barely older than he was yet still referring to him as if the teen had any right to be his superior, Jaune bit the side of his mouth in agonizing indecision that lasted a few precious seconds before he decided his course of action
"what is it soldier?" Jaune asked firmly with a gentle undertone, he refused to let his voice shake in front of a man who needed strength, if the man dies here then Jaune will make sure he will greet heaven's gate with confidence in them, Not the image of a superior crying over a pitiful death.
"Tell- Tell my mama I'm sorry, send her a le.. letter telling her I'm sorry tha.. I left her and pa alone... th-that I'm" The man trailed off as Jaune's grip tightened, sheer panic almost overwhelming the poor lieutenant as he felt the man's heart stop but the man's eyes still shone brightly with a bloodied grin, with what could only be sheer will and determination, the dying man forced out one more sentence
"I'm proud to have served... the 94th" The man forced out with a laugh before he slumped over, dead. The turquoise eyes dulling as the grin remained on his expression, Jaune took a shaking breath before he closed the man's eyes and simply sat there, Mourning the loss of someone who could have been saved
"LIEUTENANT- is he..." The shout however quickly snapped Jaune's attention away from the corpse as he turned to see the giant red cross on the helmet and band around the arm, Jaune felt a rush of white hot anger before he stamped it out, The medics do their best to save everyone. Only luck and skill kept a wounded soldier alive
"he's dead. Died just before you got here" Jaune emotionlessly replied as he fumbled under the man's uniform before finding the dog tag, Thomas Conrad, He quickly filed the tag away as he turned to walk away only to see the medic still there, Another burst of anger rushed through him and this time. Jaune allowed it to flow
"Why are you still here? There are man dying out there and you are just standing here?" Jaune asked as the medic quickly shook his head and pulled out a morphine syrette, Jaune waited for the response only for the medic to pull out more and more supplies
"What are you doing? Go, save more people, Save more soldiers" Jaune ordered, desperation creeping into his voice as the medic calmly shifted closer to Jaune and started to unroll some dressing, Forcing Jaune to stay still as he started to roll up Jaune's uniform
"Don't forget about yourself lieutenant, I don't know whether you injected yourself with Morphine or if it's the adrenaline. but you are wounded too" The man calmly replied as Jaune looked down to see a huge gash in his right side that was slowly trickling blood, he hissed as the medic pressed a damp cloth to his side which cause his wound to burn horribly
"dddamnnnn" Jaune growled through the pain as the medic drew the towel away before quickly dabbing at part of his wound with precision that outrivaled even the most skilled of snipers (and he was sure that somewhere a redhead sneezed but he wasn't sure why), with his wound cleaned, the man quickly started to wrap the wound up and finishing the treatment
"...Name's Jaune, What's yours?" Jaune decided to break the awkward atmosphere by introducing himself before he found himself staring Bright pink eyes which stared into his, Jesus it's almost like this guy is searching my soul Jaune thought as he quickly tore his gaze away
"My name's Lie Ren, Rank Corporal. Keep that wound wrapped and cleaned, redress the wound if it starts to bleed through and try not to get stabbed" Lie said with an incredibly monotone voice before turning to head down the trenches, undoubtedly to do what Jaune had furiously ordered him to do not a minute ago
"Oh and call me Ren. I'll see you around lieutenant, Maybe on a better term" The medic said his farewells before rushing down the trench as Jaune himself stood there, his mind and body exhausted from the battle but duty calls and he has to do a few more things before he could truly sleep tonight and even then, That sleep will not be unbothered
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Conrad
I am regretful to inform you that Private First Class, Thomas Conrad, has dutifully served his country and has fallen on the battlefield. This may seem like a typical letter sent to you by our country like every other that has informed so many of the death of their loved ones.
I assure you that this one is written with not just that
I am currently writing to you at 6:17 on the eastern front, Your son has only passed a mere 5 hours ago, Thomas was a brave lad. Perhaps the bravest I'll ever see in my darn life even when I stare into a mirror. He never feared anything, If he was shot at then he shot back, if he was stabbed at then he stabbed back. Nothing scared the man and he never cowered like so many others when the call to fight was heard.
I don't know if you would wish to know how your lad passed away but I shall include it in here. Thomas died of a stab wound to the stomach along with many other injuries but he held on bravely and took on the foolish bastard that thought he could take a Conrad down and get away with it, He didn't back down even then, I like to think he laughed in the face of death before he went with her.
I arrived moments later to see Tommy on the ground bleeding out with a corpse next to him and a big smile, A grin that shined so brightly with pride that I thought the sun was out despite the dark clouds covering the sky.
I tried to save him but I failed, I tried to stop the bleeding the stop the pain but I couldn't. There were no medics that could have been spared to help and I myself didn't know enough to save the poor lad but I can assure you that he did not go with regret and his heart heavy
He wanted you to know that he's sorry, He's sorry for leaving you Mrs. Conrad and he's sorry for leaving you Mr. Conrad, He may regret leaving the two of you alone in this brutal and unforgiving world but he isn't regretting his choice in joining, His last words were that "I am proud to have served the 94th" and I want you to know that as an commander of the 94th. We are proud to have Thomas Conrad in our platoon and I assure you his death will not go amiss
From
Commander of the 3rd Platoon of the 94th infantry division.
Lieutenant Jaune Arc