Episode 19.

I looked everywhere and there was nothing: empty drawers, empty shelves, also the cupboard was empty. What a problem it was to live in a poor, worn-out hut; but even so, it couldn't be an excuse for not having a single damn match!

Max: 『 Shit!! It just had to be today!! 』

My head was beginning to cloud with anguish. I needed to hurry, Shun was fighting alone out there, if I didn't help him soon, he wouldn't last much longer and the invaders would enter the colony.

I was looking for anything that could help me light the bomb. I looked through the furniture in our room and there were only the few clothes we had and some old and wrinkled books that we kept, but nothing that was useful.

I went to mom's bedroom and made a mess of her things. I accidentally found her underwear and I was embarrassed, I avoided touching it and decided to take the outside of the drawer and empty it. I rummaged through her clothes, her closet and her dresser, but I had no luck, I only found more clothes and makeup.

I cursed myself for being so unlucky. I saw my disappointing face in my mother's mirror, full of stress and shame. Then the idea occurred to me. It took me a long time to notice it『 How did it not occur to me before?! 』 I grabbed the drawer that I took out of the furniture and threw it at the glass, shattering it into multiple pieces. I picked up the most curved one and ran out of the house.

Max: 『 Good! With this I can−! 』

Workers: 『 AAAAAAAAAH!!! 』

I heard again the terrified screams of the workers. I ran to the colony to see what was happening and everyone was fleeing from a group of soldiers who were chasing them through the streets of the neighborhood. I should have guessed it before, I was too slow and things were already getting worse.

The invaders entered to the houses and massacred anyone they found inside, it didn't matter if they were children or elderly, they simply murdered them. Some tried to resist to save their families and give them time to escape, but they paid the price and ended up mutilated by the merciless gray soldiers.

Every house I passed, I found the same horrifying image of an open door showing bloody lifeless bodies on the floor. There were at least ten homes that I found like this; an elderly couple, a mother hugging her daughter, a young couple expecting their first child; More than a dozen people lost their lives at the hands of the invaders' assault.

If I'd just been as fast as Shun, I would have saved so many people from dying. My inability to direct people caused them to lose their calm and disperse everywhere, instead of keeping them in a group and evacuating them orderly and on time. This was my fault.

I tried to reach the invaders to stop them, but there were several of them and they were scattered throughout the colony, I couldn't go for all of them at once.

Terrified girl: 『 Dad!!! 』

Distressed worker: 『 Stay back!!... ¡¡¡G−GET AWAY!!! 』

Mocking invading soldier: 『 Ha, ha, ha!! 』

However, I still had to make things right. I arrived at a shack in time to stop one of them before he stabbed a father and his daughter. I stuck the glass in his leg and he knelt, I snatched the spear from him and hit him with it.

The father was frozen with fear and was breathing heavily. His daughter ran to him and hugged his hand tightly, clinging to it with her eyes closed and full of terror. The man took her and held her in his arms.

Terrified girl: 『 Dad!! 』

Distressed worker: 『 ¡¡Oh, sweetie!! Don't worry, it's over! It's over... Thank you. 』

Workers: 『 AAAAAAAAAH!!! 』

The screams appeared again. I had only saved a couple of people, but many more were still at risk. I bolted out of that house, looking for the rest of the invaders among the other streets and huts. And right in front of another house, a woman cornered on the ground by the gray soldier's sword was pleading for help. I sped up as soon as I saw her, but I was too far away to reach her. I thought about throwing the spear, but behind the soldier, the shadow of another appeared, who, without hesitation, pierced his abdomen with a long crowbar and prevented the woman from being injured.

Mr. Jakob: 『 Phew, that was close! Are you okay, miss? 』

Max: 『 Mr. Jakob?! 』

Mr. Jakob: 『 Sorry for the delay, boy. Our barn was a mess and we took a while to prepare. 』

Max: 『 We? 』

He pointed to the street and I watched the rest of the invading soldiers fight against five farmers who used their tools and wore elements of old and worn armor. They were Messrs. Evers, Ventura, Heeren, Roig and Chef Capello; all preventing the invaders from going against the people of the colony. They fought with their tools, keeping the soldiers at bay and "teaching" them how to fight with class, it cost them nothing to disarm their opponent in three blows.

Mr. Roig: 『 That was the last one! 』

Mr. Jakob: 『 Roger, Roig...! I think things got a little out of control. 』

Max: 『 ... It's my fault... I was the one who planned the evacuation and I messed it up. If I had organized them all better−』

Mr. Jakob: 『 Hey, hey, what are you saying, boy?! This is not your fault... When fear and uncertainty invade people's minds, things like this happen, and believe me, it's much more often than you think... It's true, we lost several people today, however, there is no use for us to complain now. Our mission remains the same: we must prevent more people from dying today! Now is not the time to make those excuses! So..., raise your head and keeps fighting, boy! 』

He was right, it was not the time to get discouraged, it was no use continuing to regret my mistakes. Shun trusted me with this, and I wasn't going to disappoint him or all these people who needed hope, a light so they could regain confidence. I would no longer hesitate about my decisions, I would become the leader who would guide them to a path that would restore their faith. I won't give up yet.

Max: 『 Everyone listen, I know you're scared and things look bad, and I also know you're doubting whether this is worth going forward with, even I am!! But I want to tell you that no matter how difficult or painful it is, you have to rise up!! RISE UP AND FIGHT FOR THEM, FOR YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR HUSBANDS, WIVES, FATHERS, MOTHERS, FIGHT FOR YOUR FAMILIES..., FOR YOURSELVES!! Let's keep going for all those we've lost and for those still with us!! PUSH FORWARD FOR THEM!! LIVE FOR THEM!!! IT'S TOO EARLY TO GIVE UP YET!! LET'S NOT DISAPPOINT THEIR HOPE!! 』

Mr. Jakob: 『 ... YOU HEARD HIM, PEOPLE!! Get out of your houses and get together!! We must all evacuate from here!! GO, GO!! 』

Timidly, the villagers came out of their houses and hiding places. Thanks to Mr. Jakob's sympathy, everyone's spirits and confidence were restored, they were now bolder and more confident. They were determined not to flee again.

More metallic footsteps echoed through the hole, another group had entered, but they were more cautious when they saw the workers united. People took courage and grabbed anything they could use as a weapon. This time, it was a small battalion against an army.

Max: 『 DON'T BE AFRAID, WE CAN FIGHT AGAINST THEM!! TOGETHER WE CAN!! ATTAAAAACK!!! 』

Workers: 『 AAAAAAAAAAAH!! 』

We rushed at them and began a massive, overwhelming attack. No matter how much enemy reinforcements arrived, the people imposed conditions and overwhelmed the gray soldiers. The powerful impetus and inspiration they received caused enormous pressure on the invaders who fell defeated.

In the distance, I could see Shun surrounded by dozens of soldiers who were attacking him relentlessly trying to stab him. He was in serious trouble and needed immediate help.

Max: 『 Mr. Jakob. I need someone to go and help Shun!! ¡¡He is fighting alone up ahead!! 』

Mr. Jakob: 『 Roger that!! CAPELLO, ROIG, DEFEND THIS POSITION!! 』

Chef Capello: 『 You heard it, Roig, cut that meat faster!! 』

Mr. Roig: 『 Aye aye, Chef!! 』

Mr. Jakob: 『 COME ON, GUYS, YOUNG SHUN NEEDS SUPPORT!! 』

Messrs. Evers, Ventura and Heeren accompanied Mr. Jakob. They surprised the huge platoon that surrounded my brother and little by little they cleared the place. The villagers continued fighting without fear and Messrs. Capello and Roig covered the opening. I could finally light the bomb to try to close the gigantic hole, but I needed to give those four time to clear the area a little more.

Shun received some order from Mr. Jakob and began to run straight, entering the military zone and without stopping, getting further and further away from the colony. Possibly it was because of the reinforcements that arrived later to help the small squad of employees. I assumed then he would exit through the main door of the academy and head towards the North intersection, as we agreed.

However, despite the support of the soldiers and cadets of the military school, the number of enemies was not reduced no matter how much it seemed so. When an invader was killed, another would come from the palace and replace him. There was not much more time, the attacks did not subside and several were beginning to get tired. I had to close the hole, now!

Max: 『 Mr. Jakob, come back!! I'll close the wall!! 』

Mr. Roig: 『 And what about your brother, lad?! 』

Max: 『 We'll meet at the Northern intersection, so he'll come out from the front! 』

Mr. Jakob: 『 YOU HEARD HIM, INSIDE!! 』

With the piece of mirror, I found the optimal angle and aligned the light towards the wick. However, the weather was not helping me, the gray clouds blocked the Sun and gave me very little light; The wind and cold didn't contribute in a good way either and made things even more difficult.

Max: 『 AH, COME ON!! 』

I had to think of something better again. I looked to see if somewhere nearby the clouds were not so dense and the light was more concentrated. Then I saw over the ash footprint a small flame that had prevailed. I ran to it before it went out so that it could share its fire with me, I brought the wick closer and with enough slowness and anguish it was finally lit.

Max: 『 EVERYONE, GO BACK!! 』

I prepared to throw, but suddenly I forced my arm to stop dead when I saw Mr. Jakob was still on the other side. He was the only one left outside and kept fighting against the invaders.

Max: 『 MR. JAKOB, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!! 』

Mr. Jakob: 『 DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME, BOY!! FINISH THIS!! 』

Max: 『 BUT−!! 』

Mr. Jakob: 『 JUST DO IT!!! BLOW IT UP!!! GET OUT OF HERE!!! 』

The wick was coming to an end. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't wait for him anymore. With no other option, I threw the bomb up the opening, hitting the subwall and exploding above it. Large stones collapsed and blocked the access below. With that, more soldiers could no longer enter, at least for the moment. We gained enough time to take our things and leave from that hell once and for all.

Max: 『 ... QUICKLY!! EVERYONE OUT TO THE INTERSECTION!! 』

Now we were heading to the Northern roads; The most feasible thing was to go to Anton, the neighboring country, to warn of the situation and request help.

There was no turning back. We had to abandon everything we had, all our things, our precious memories, our home. I wished that those two would make it and that we would meet at the meeting point, I could only pray that they would.