The Castaways I

We spend some time chatting about more light topics... He finally decides to lay down and rests his head above one harm -In all this mess, there's honestly only one thing I wish with my whole self... That one thing I would regret if I were to die one day-

-Tell me, I'll see it done if it's in my capability-

He laughs and then shakes his head, reaching a hand toward a book beside his bed. He opens it and starts flipping through the pages -I miss her so much... I wish to see her again, soon. The day this war is over, marrying her will be the first thing I'll do... And you all will be attending, of course! If you nobles are fine with a commoner's wedding haha- he caresses the pages before turning the little book around for me to see

-I'm kind of a good drawer if I do say so myself... These are all portraits I made myself of my fiance. Whenever we met I would spend the time just admiring her and drawing her, she would always ask me to show it to her but I was so embarrassed that I never did haha. I did add a few more drawings of her since I joined the War, mostly out of memories of her... There's just one page left, I decided to keep it empty for now and draw it once it's all finishes, then I will let her see the book-

He smiles fondly when talking about the girl of the drawings -You seems to cherish her-

He stares at me confused -Of course I do. That's the luck about being a nobody, you can marry whoever you want as long as they're on your same level. We are childhood friends, we loved eachother in secret untill I finally managed the courage to ask her father... Since I was a respected soldier and her family had a small Inn buisness, he agreed right away and we got engaged. But war started right away and I got called here, just my luck.

I cherish her more than my life, I cannot shower her in gold and scented oils but I can love much more sincerely than all those rich men- he adds -I know we live in very different worlds and you may not understand what marriages out of love are... But well, here I am as an existing proof haha-

I smile and take the book in my hands -She's very beautiful, you're talented afterall-

-Was that supposed to be a compliment...?- he rolls his eyes

-How is she?- I ignore him, I want to know more about them somehow... Hearing such words of love are intriguing, is he just another of those men who see it all as perfect but owns a suffering woman to be locked in his house? Or is it actually a mutual genuine love? The only forms of love I've seen have been all twisted and forbidden... All the arranged marriages, me trying to get married with that High Ranking Noble to cover up each other's secrets, my brother and Hua, Qin Luo and me...

-Oh she's the best woman I could ever ask for me, I'm not worthy of her- he murmurs with a smile... I can see Qin Luo's face sayings the same words while crying out of desperation, the feelings behind being the same but one brings joy and the other brings pain

-She's always patching me up after a fight and smacking me so hard when telling me how big of an idiot I am. Yet I always end up smiling n thinking how much I love her, how cute she is, and she only gets angrier because I don't pay attention... But then she ends up laughing and telling me to do better next time. She even tried to protect me a few time I got into a fight, coming in between us and blurting out words too clever for me to understand, just to save my ass... When I was off duty or done with training I would always go to her family's inn and seat at the restaurant just to watch her hehe. She would yell at me all day for distracting her and wasting time... But I know she likes it deep down as she blushes whenever our eyes meet, I'm her idiot afterall-

He chuckles while talking about her -Ah look at me, going on and on about my love life in front of my superior! I'm sure you've got more important things to do, Ying Tongjun, thank you for coming to visit me still-

I lean forward and ruffle his hair -You really are an idiot afterall, I'm no Tongjun with you guys. I'm here because I want to, actually... Your cheesing around is a good way to keep be distracted as the time passes-

-Are you worried about the guys?- I cannot deny it of course -It will be alright, Lai'Er- he says before yawning

-I'll take my leave, you should rest now He'ge- he nods while rubbing his eyes -I'll see you later then- he waves a hand as I walk away.

...

I see the young boy from before once I leave the tend... He's bent down counting some stacks of medial herbs. He really does look like Nan from afar, or maybe it's just my mind playing tricks since it can't accept such a sudden death.

I approach him and look at his fast hands working -How's the situation here?-

He jumps startled and blushes right away -Ying Tongjun! Uhm well, I think we're good for now... It's not a very nice thing to say but actually... Thanks to all the men who died in the recent attack, we now have enough medicine to cure the remaining injured and the upcoming ones from today's battle- he looks down as his movements slow down

-Mhn, I understand- he widens his eyes in shock -You're not gonna scold me or...?- -Why would I? That's the truth. We should be thankful for their... Sacrifice- I say forcing the conversation to end -Well then, I've stolen a lot of your time already. I'll get going-

-Are you sure you don't want to stay some more?- his question sounds kind of weird -What?- I turn around but he smiles awkwardly -Oh n n n nevermind! You can go if you want to. Come see He Rang again tho, he really was looking forward to chat with you-

-Will do!- I wave my hand and leave... "I really should come back later on, so I will greet him one more time before the others arrive... Or I won't be able to say goodbye before he gets send back home, that would weight on my conscience since he's in that state because of me"

...

I finish giving out bowls of food to the left back soldiers -Thank you so much for taking the food duty today- says the last man, going to seat down somewhere with his limping leg.

Taking out some trays I arrange a few extra bowls of warm food and head back to the infirmary.

...

I place all the trays on a table at the center of the tend as the few men inside thanks me repeatedly -It's alright, it's only my duty- I murmur while looking at He Rang, starting to wake up just now... I'll take my leave now, there's no need to intrude so much. The young boy approaches He Rang and helps him stand up to go and get some food, but by the time he's on his feet I'm already gone.

I stretch my back a bit walking away from the tend -What should I do now...? Maybe I could go patrol the perimeter since I'm the healthiest here- I talk to myself before turning to the side, my eyes fall on the horizon already in search for movements...

And I see black smoke rising in the sky -Xu Lei must have been successful...- I take a breath of relief while looking at that black cloud -I was so worried- the dimensions of the Cloud seems to augment, I squint my eyes and rush to the camp's end -It's getting closer...?-

I try to focus and look further away, I notice some men walking toward us. Those aren't our injured soldiers coming back nor the enemy's army launching an attack... Those are sand men!

I widen my eyes upon realization -We need to leave before they get here... He Rang can't walk...!- I shout and run back to the infirmary, I need to evacuate everyone before they get to me.