A deserter

The battlefield was a somber tableau of victory and loss. Soldiers moved among the fallen, their faces etched with a mix of relief and sorrow. The groans of the wounded pierced the heavy air as comrades carried them back to the camp, where makeshift medic tents awaited. The final count was devastating: 1,744 had fallen, with 429 injured.

Jacob, bloodied and exhausted, helped carry a wounded soldier to the medic tent. The stench of blood and death hung in the air, a grim reminder of the cost of their victory. As he laid the soldier down, he heard his name called.

"Jacob," Serath's voice was weak but insistent. "Come here."

Jacob approached the cot where Serath lay, the grizzled commander's face pale and drawn. His armor had been removed, revealing gruesome wounds that bled through hastily applied bandages. "Medics, leave us," Serath ordered.

The medics hesitated but complied, their eyes filled with unspoken questions as they exited the tent. Jacob knelt beside Serath, who was struggling to speak through labored breaths.

"Jacob, I haven't much time," Serath began, his voice a raspy whisper. "My injuries... they're too severe."

"Don't talk like that, sir," Jacob urged, though he knew the truth in his heart. The commander's pallor and the blood-soaked bandages told a grim tale.

"Listen to me," Serath continued, gripping Jacob's arm with surprising strength. "You're a prodigy in swordsmanship, young and with a brilliant future ahead. But the main army will soon call for reinforcements from Commander Beltran and what's left of our troops."

Jacob's heart sank at the implication.

"We cannot win this war, Jacob," Serath said, his voice filled with a grim certainty. "The Norlik Empire's main army is too powerful. They have over ten magicians, fully armored infantry, and knight cavalry. Our kingdom's army is at death's door, ravaged by plague and low morale, with no magicians to support us."

Tears welled up in Jacob's eyes, but he held them back. "What do you want me to do?"

Serath was the one who took care of him in the camp after all so not only he saw him as a friend but also as a big brother

"You must leave tonight," Serath instructed. "Take a horse and head east. Tell them you're on a scouting mission. And Jacob... don't come back."

Jacob's breath hitched at the command, but Serath's eyes held a fierce determination.

"You have a chance to survive, to make a future for yourself away from this doomed war," Serath said, his voice breaking. "But there's more. Go to the Holy Kingdom of Paladina 's capital and meet a man named Nashea. Give him this letter." Serath handed Jacob a small, sealed scroll from beneath his cot. "He will understand once you give this scroll to him ."

"I promise," Jacob whispered, the weight of his words settling heavily in his heart.

"Good," Serath murmured, his grip loosening. "May you find peace where I could not."

Serath's eyes began to glaze over, his strength fading. Jacob stayed by his side until the end, watching as the light slowly left the commander's eyes. The tent fell silent, the only sound the distant murmur of the camp and the faint crackle of the fires outside.

As the night descended, Jacob made his preparations. He moved through the camp with quiet efficiency, gathering supplies and ensuring his horse was ready for the journey ahead. Nova's emotionless voice guided him through the process.

'Host, the optimal route to avoid detection has been calculated,' Nova informed him. 'Proceed with caution.'

Jacob packed light but ensured he had enough provisions to last several days. He retrieved his hidden weapons, securing them in place, and donned a cloak to shield himself from the chill of the night. The camp was a sea of flickering fires and hushed voices, the soldiers weary from the day's battle.

Mounting his horse, Jacob took a deep breath, steeling himself for the journey ahead. "Nova, maintain a steady course east," he commanded, his voice steady despite the turmoil within him.

"Course set," Nova responded. "Proceeding as instructed."

Jacob cast one last glance back at the camp, a sea of tents and flickering fires, before urging his horse onward. The night was dark and silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant calls of night creatures. The path to the east stretched out before him, a long and uncertain journey into the unknown.

As he rode, memories of the battle flashed through his mind—the clash of steel, the cries of the wounded, the terrifying presence of the Black Bear. His hands clenched the reins tightly, the weight of his promise to Serath and the grim future ahead pressing heavily on him.

"Nova, analyze the terrain and identify any potential threats," Jacob said, his eyes scanning the darkness around him.

'Scanning terrain... no immediate threats detected,' Nova replied.

Hours passed, the landscape shifting from the familiar plains near the battlefield to the dense forests that marked the eastern borders. The air grew cooler, and Jacob pulled his cloak tighter around himself. The forest was eerily quiet, the only sounds the soft thud of his horse's hooves and the occasional rustle of leaves.

"Nova, how far until we reach a safe distance from the camp?" Jacob asked, fatigue creeping into his voice.

"Approximately ten kilometers remain," Nova responded. "At current pace, estimated time to reach safe distance is one hour."

Jacob nodded, urging his horse to maintain a steady pace. The journey was grueling, each step taking him further from the life he had known. But he clung to the hope that somewhere to the east, away from the horrors of war, he might find a chance to rebuild.

As dawn began to break, the first rays of sunlight filtering through the canopy, Jacob reached a small clearing. He dismounted, allowing his horse to rest and drink from a nearby stream. He took the moment to catch his breath, the adrenaline of the night's ride slowly fading. As he set up a camp and lit bon fire

"Nova, status report," Jacob said, his voice low.

'You have successfully traveled a safe distance from the camp,'Nova replied. 'No immediate threats detected. Recommend rest and recovery.'

Jacob nodded, sitting down by the stream and splashing cool water on his face. The exhaustion of the past days caught up with him, but he forced himself to remain alert. The weight of Serath's words and the knowledge of what lay behind him kept his senses sharp.

He allowed himself a brief moment of reflection, thinking of his fallen comrades and the battles they had fought together. The pain of loss was a constant ache in his chest, but he knew he had to honor their sacrifice by surviving, by finding a way to live on.

"Nova, set a reminder to continue east in one hour," Jacob instructed, leaning back against a tree.

'Reminder set,' Nova confirmed.