I've been running toward the Elior forest for several minutes now. My hands won't stop trembling, shaken by the weight of memories that surface in this place. Each step I take feels like another descent into the darkness of my own remorse.
"Are they safe?" I whisper to myself, a pang of worry gripping my heart as I realize I haven't checked on them in a long time.
Here, in this forest, my family—my mother, Archi—lost their lives due to my selfishness. The echo of their sacrifices still resonates in my ears like an eternal lament. Yet, at this moment, the lives of others are in danger, and I have a duty to fulfill.
The urgency of the situation weighs on my shoulders like a crushing weight, reminding me of the fragility of the peace we so desperately crave.
I've learned that no matter the fear that grips me or the pain I feel, I must strive to the utmost to help those who depend on me. My muscles burn with effort, but I know I can't stop.
"This is part of what I have to do as a future ruler," I feel the determination in my body.
The forest stretches out before me, blanketed in a white cloak of snow that seems to blend with the cloudy sky. Each branch is adorned with delicate lace of ice, and the crunch beneath my feet resonates in the stillness of the place.
As I advance, my mind wanders to Luan, to whom I owe gratitude in the future. Her warning has been my only light in this growing darkness. If it weren't for her, this tragedy would be even more devastating.
"Fortunately, she informed me of what happened; if she hadn't, I would have arrived too late."
As I advance among the trees, I glimpse the bodies lying on the snow, their shapes barely recognizable under the white blanket. Some seem to have fallen amid their escape, frozen in a pose of eternal despair. Snowflakes fall, covering everything in their path.
Others show signs of struggle, with red marks contrasting with the pristine white surroundings.
The corpses, still fresh in their frozen state, emit an aura of death that permeates the air. Their faces, frozen in expressions of terror or agony, are silent witnesses to the tragedy that has ravaged the forest.
"You must endure, Emilia," I tell myself, trying to calm the emotional turmoil raging inside me. The icy wind whispers through the trees, carrying with it the echo of the last breaths of those who are no longer here.
Every step I take is a reminder of the fragility of life, of how ephemeral everything can be when faced with the relentless force of nature.
The forest, once teeming with life and beauty, is now a frozen graveyard, a somber monument to the cruelty of fate.
"I'll save them, no matter what," I say, clenching my fists, feeling the blood flow through my body.
I wonder how she's doing, Luan; it seems like the enemy is using some method to transform the demihumans into bloodthirsty monsters, creatures resembling crazed beasts. What kind of magic is this?
My hands clench tightly, and I feel my heart pounding intensely in my chest. Anger boils within me, a flame threatening to consume me entirely.
I'm furious, outraged by the fact that they've used innocent people to turn them into this. The smell of fresh blood and the gut-wrenching cry of a distant creature remind me of the brutality of the situation.
Why must these injustices exist? What kind of beings are we if we allow this to happen? The world should be a suitable place for everyone, and I see no reason to commit these acts driven by selfish interests. But here I am, running into the unknown, fighting against an enemy who knows no bounds or scruples.
An unsettling question haunts me as I make my way through the forest: If we had rejected war, would they have turned our people into these abominations? The mere idea sends shivers down to my core, and a feeling of nausea overwhelms me.
Amidst my thoughts, a sound breaks the silence of the forest. A stifled groan, an echo of suffering that pierces the air like a dagger. My senses sharpen, alert to any sign of danger. The time to act has come, to set aside doubts and confront the darkness that threatens to devour us all.
It's time to face those who have unleashed this hell upon us.
I've undergone an internal transformation, gaining a deeper understanding of injustices I once overlooked. Considering various perspectives, I've shed a part of myself.
The darkness looming over me is palpable, as if the very forest of Elior is absorbing my tumultuous thoughts. That's why Marco deemed my dream exceedingly challenging.
Nevertheless, I won't give up.
I'm no longer the same Emilia as before. I've left innocence behind, and now, imbued with determination, I must confront the horrors unfolding before me.
Now, I must have confidence in myself and fulfill the trust others have placed in me. I must save them all.
My steps quicken as I venture further into the Elior forest, but what I find beneath my feet is a gruesome tapestry of corpses and torn parts. Soldiers halved, demihumans riddled with bullets.
Trees with frozen entrails stuck to them.
A shiver runs down my spine, and for a brief moment, I close my eyes, trying to escape the terrifying sight unfolding before me. Marco's warning is the most truthful in this desperate situation.
"The horrors of war are something you'll never shake from your mind, but you have to push forward for the people who need you," he once said to his soldiers, but those words resonated with me as well.
"It's during war that you realize what you're fighting for, and as we fight to protect, we must keep our eyes wide open; to prevent this from happening again."
I open my eyes, forcing myself to see the consequences of my decisions.
The snow, tinged crimson, bears silent witness to the massacre that has taken place here.
"War... There's no word to describe the atrocity," I witness.
Coagulated blood mixes with the pristine whiteness of the snow, forming a grotesque contrast that chills my heart. I already knew, but I'll never stop thinking about it. There's no honor here, no glory, just death and ruthless destruction.
If I want to end this nightmare, I must become stronger, someone like Marco. It's my duty to push forward and accomplish my goals, even as fear burns in my heart.
I press on with determination through the forest, feeling the snow under my feet, a warm and silent caress contrasting with the chaos around me.
Explosions and bullets echo in my ears, signs of a battle raging nearby. The smell of gunpowder and burnt flesh makes me recoil for a moment, but I know I must press on.
Suddenly, figures emerge from white bushes like death itself. They are rabbit-men, twisted by evil and thirsting for blood. Their eyes gleam with animal ferocity as they lunge towards me, whispering threats and curses.
"Die, half-devil!" they exclaim, staring at me with abyssal bloodlust. In an instant, magic flows through me, and small ice stakes, sharp as needles, materialize in the air. Their brains are their weak spot, and if I want to end their suffering quickly and painlessly, I must strike there.
The ice stakes fly towards the rabbit-men, piercing their bodies and fragmenting them in the process. The suffering ends instantly, and their bodies fall to the ground like broken puppets.
"I'm sorry, truly," I mutter, closing my eyes for a few seconds, praying they find peace. I continue forward, but what I encounter next is even more unsettling. The stench of death intensifies, and my senses sharpen as I prepare to face whatever awaits me in the depths of the forest.
There's no time for doubt, only for action.
The black liquid, thickly oily, spreads like a grim stain on the ground, emanating darkness that contrasts with the surrounding nature. My steps, hurried and determined, resound in the air, accompanied by the battle cries piercing the atmosphere.
Dodging trees with skill, I evade the stray bullets buzzing dangerously close, each one a reminder of the imminent danger. My senses sharpen amidst the chaos unfolding before me, a battlefield where life and death depend on the decisions I make.
Finally, I reach a clearing in the forest, and what is revealed before my eyes leaves me breathless. A trench, an improvised fortress erected by earth mages, looms imposingly against the horizon.
Facing it, a group of individuals driven mad by that dark force, emit screams that pierce the soul and tear through the air. Bullets and spells intertwine in a symphony of destruction.
On the ground lie the bodies of the fallen, silent witnesses to the brutality of the conflict. A sense of helplessness washes over me, but I refuse to succumb to it. With words of encouragement on my lips, I prepare for the impending battle.
"Don't lose hope!" I exclaim, my voice resonating with determination. "I'll protect you all!"
I leap into the trench, positioning myself behind the soldiers. My gaze meets theirs, greeted with astonishment and gratitude. Colonel Oslo, wounded but still standing, hobbles towards me.
His eyes reflect a mixture of pain and hope.
"General Emilia!" he exclaims with relief. "Have you come to rescue us?"
There's no time to waste. Channeling my energy, I concentrate my mana on healing the colonel's wounds. A wave of power flows through me, intense and vibrant, as my hands work to restore his battered body.
The colonel nods in gratitude, and my attention shifts to the other wounded soldiers lying around me. There are barely over fifty, a fraction of what they once were. A sense of anguish washes over me as I think of those lost in battle.
"How many were there when the confrontation began?" I ask one of the soldiers as I continue my healing work.
The soldier, eyes fixed on the enemy, responds without looking away from his target.
"We were a hundred at the start," he says firmly. "I can't say how many of us remain now."
He keeps firing, completely absorbed in his duty, his eyes locked on the enemy but seeming to gaze beyond; into a void I cannot reach.
I observe the enemies, an endless horde stretching as far as the eye can see. How many more will fall under their twisted influence? How many have been corrupted and transformed into monsters?
The injustice of the situation hits me like a punch to the stomach.
This isn't justice, it's not what leaders should allow.
Including myself.
A knot of anguish twists in the depths of my stomach as I watch the people now trapped in darkness.
His eyes, once brimming with life, now reflect only an abyss of despair and hatred, overshadowed by the corruption consuming them. Their howls, more than mere sounds, are a haunting echo of their suffering, a lamentation for what they once were.
"Soldiers of Irlam!" My voice, brimming with determination, cuts through the air, resonating across the battlefield. "Thank you for holding out! You are under my protection now."
My words hang in the air, like a fragile promise amidst the surrounding darkness. There are over a hundred of them, and it's my duty to free them from their bonds.
Though I'm not sure if these words will offer any solace to those whose souls have been ensnared by the shadows, I know I must do everything in my power to liberate them, even if it means facing the darkness itself.
I forge two swords of ice in my hands, the cold energy coursing through my veins as I prepare for the impending confrontation. The ice responds to my will, shining with a bluish light amidst the gloom.
Without hesitation, I leap into action, descending to the ground with the grace of a leaf in the wind. As I touch down, a frosty whisper runs across my skin, and ice blades sprout from my feet, creating a rain of sharp needles that descend upon our enemies.
"I'll have to hurt them a little to end this," I resolve, firm in the belief that it's unnecessary to make them suffer.
The battlefield transforms into a chaotic stage, where the war cries mix with the groans of pain caused by bullets.
"I'll save them all, I promise."
I stand firm, my determination like a beacon in the darkness, as the demihumans, of unusual sizes and shapes, advance towards me with uncontrolled ferocity.
"Die, damned one!" shouts one of the enemies, with a guttural voice full of hatred, as he raises a huge axe above his head.
I dodge the attacks of my adversaries with agile and precise movements, dancing among the shadows of their strikes. I seize every opportunity to counterattack, slipping through their ranks and leaving a trail of cuts and light wounds in my wake.
"I'll cut you to pieces!" spits another enemy, his breath interrupted by the effort, as he tries to reach me with his sharp claws.
With a quick twist, I dodge the blow of a giant demihuman, whose brute strength is countered by my agility.
I take advantage of their moment of vulnerability to unleash a flurry of ice needles that find their mark with lethal precision, piercing their skin and leaving a trail of dark blood.
"Arghh!" the giant bellows, his roar muffled by pain as he squirms on the ground. Meanwhile, another enemy, more agile and elusive, attempts to flank me from the side. With a swift movement, I spin around and deliver a precise slash to his abdomen, causing him to recoil with a cry of pain.
"Damn it!" the enemy exclaims, his voice strained with pain as he clutches his bleeding wound.
As I advance, I feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders, but also the certainty that I must press on, fighting for those who cannot do so themselves. They all stop trying to climb with the soldiers and gather close to me, attempting to strike me.
The demihumans, with their grotesque forms due to mutations in their bodies and their eyes filled with hatred, approach with ferocity, intent on ending me. It's a horrific sight, seeing how ordinary people transformed into this.
"Don't shoot!" I exclaim, raising my voice above the battle's din, aware that a misstep could cause unnecessary harm.
I feel the energy coursing through every fiber of my being, an intoxicating sensation reminding me of how far I've come since those days of uncertainty. Now, stronger and more confident than ever, I channel my power with unwavering determination.
"I won't fail," I repeat to myself inwardly, focusing on my duty.
I generate an icy zone around me, allowing my mana to spread across the ground without harming the soldiers in the trenches. My skills have evolved, and now I have much more precise control over my power, without fear of hurting those I seek to protect.
"Believe in yourself, Emilia. If you believe in what you do, your power will reward you with effective use," I whisper to myself, recalling Marco's words of encouragement, whose confidence in me has been a beacon in the darkest moments.
Each of the enemies already shows signs of weakness, their skin freezing, and an icy mist emanating from their wounded bodies. Before, I could only create an ice flower and use a limited area, but now, with my improved control, I know I can do much more.
With an agile leap, I perch on the shoulders of one of these beings and soar above the battlefield, cutting through the air and looking around with determination.
I extend my hand, focusing my power even more, and exclaim, "Ice flowers!"
Instantly, the open wounds on my enemies' bodies become fertile ground for the growth of ice flowers. One after another, the flowers sprout from the bleeding wounds, curling around the bodies of the demihumans with deadly grace.
The enemies cry out in surprise as the ice flowers consume their blood, leaving them motionless and frozen in place. Death comes without pain, a final sigh before their bodies are trapped in ice for eternity. It's my last resort to end their suffering.
"Forgive me, but it's the least I can do," I whisper, my heart heavy with the need to take innocent lives to protect those I care about. But in the state they were in, it was the only thing that came to mind.
The flowers, now tinged with intense crimson, emerge from the chests, heads, and arms of my enemies, creating a gruesome yet necessary landscape. Over a hundred flowers have bloomed, putting an end to everyone's suffering, and leaving a trail of freezing and death in their wake.
I collapse to the ground, my body still trembling from the impact. The rough, cold snow becomes my momentary refuge as I try to catch my breath.
The decision I've made weighs heavily on me like a slab, but I know it was inevitable. There was no other alternative; I must stand firm, for them, for my people.
A solitary tear slides down my cheek, a silent display of the anguish that overwhelms me. I turn to my soldiers, whose gazes reflect relief and gratitude.
"The general has saved us!" they shout with jubilation, raising their weapons to the sky. "The general is the strongest!"
Their words comfort me, but my mind is already set on the next step. I open the communicator to contact Marco, but before I can even speak...
"General!"
A deafening roar breaks the air, and a colossal fist crashes into my side with devastating force. The pain hits me like a hammer, ripping a scream from my throat as my body is violently thrown backward, crashing into a wall of earth that crumbles upon impact.
The pain is intense, piercing, like ice daggers stabbing into my flesh. I close my eyes, fighting against the wave of agony threatening to engulf me.
But even amidst the suffering, I begin to grasp the ominous presence looming over me. The twisted details of his ice armor become sharper, more menacing, as if reinforced by a malevolent will.
His helmet, a mask of darkness, conceals his face more sinisterly than ever. The eyes staring at me from the shadows of his visor radiate relentless disdain, as if they were the windows of a soul corrupted by wickedness and darkness.
"This is..." My voice cuts off as I witness the ominous figure in front of us. The soldiers stir, firing their weapons fervently, but the enemy seems undisturbed by the assault.
His human appearance, however, fails to conceal the aura of danger surrounding him, a difference felt in the tension-charged air.
"He's the one who caused us to have to hold out here!" Oslo shouts, pointing at the man with resentment as he glares at me with contempt.
I rise from the ground with determination, aware of the weight of responsibility resting on my shoulders. Though the enemy's strength commands respect, my duty is to protect those who trust in me.
The words of determination echo in my mind like a mantra: "I will fight, I will fight with all my strength."
With firm gestures, I conjure ice swords, shaping the cold element to forge protective armor around my arms and legs. I cannot afford to lose focus; I must remember everything I have learned, from the tiniest particle to the control of the natural forces that surround us.
The damp environment offers me water particles that I can manipulate at will.
I merge these tiny droplets with the oxygen in the air, channeling my power through my sword. The resulting reaction brings forth a frigid flame, a manifestation of my control over fire and water.
"Ice Fire," I murmur, and the icy flames dance in my hands, ready for battle.
Without hesitation, I lunge toward the monster looming threateningly before me, its bulk contrasting with its surprising speed. Its movements are like earthquakes, but I do not allow fear to paralyze me.
It raises its fist in an attempt to crush me entirely.
With a quick and precise movement, I hurl my sword toward it. The flames on my weapon clash with its fist in a deafening burst, creating a shockwave that consumes its arm in a whirlwind of fire and ice.
The impact is so powerful that nearby trees freeze in its wake.
Before it can unleash another attack, several dark purple ice stakes emerge from the ground, threatening to impale me. My survival instinct kicks in, deftly dodging each projectile with precise jumps and turns as I seek the best way to counterattack.
The monster, impassive to my assault, emits no sounds of pain, simply seizing its frozen arm and snapping it before the ice spreads throughout its body. The scene is striking, as if nature itself rebels against it.
But it's not time for regrets.
"Ice Flower!" I exclaim, trying to halt its advance. A flower blooms from its shoulder, but its fleeting beauty quickly fades, transforming into a violet flower that shatters and disappears into the air.
It's like witnessing the death of mana.
My eyes snap open in surprise, but before I can react, I feel like I'm ensnared by the legs, as if the very roots of darkness are coiling around me.
I conjure fire in a desperate attempt to free myself, but this ice is more unusual than it appears. Magic has insignificant effect on it, as if it's destined to smother any trace of mana.
Feeling panic rising, I clench my fist and turn it into ice. As the monster swiftly approaches, I throw a punch at the ice encasing me.
One, two, three blows. It's like hitting a wall of rock, but I can't give up, not when so many lives are at stake.
Just as the monster is about to strike me, the ice shatters, and with a quick movement, I create a sword to block the blow. But something is wrong, the attack halts in mid-air.
A feint?
I glance to where his missing arm should be, only to witness how, in an instant, a purplish ice arm materializes, hitting me head-on. The impact is brutal, as if a mace is striking me with all its force, and a cry of pain escapes my lips as I feel my body being thrown through the air.
"Ugh!" My voice is lost in the roar of battle as the ground rushes towards me terrifyingly fast.
I crawl, wounded and disoriented, as the soldiers desperately attempt to attack the monster looming over us, an unstoppable force defying all logic.
Every corner of my body burns with pain, as if every nerve is a blazing flame. My hand touches my lips, and the metallic taste of blood reminds me that I have internal wounds I cannot ignore.
A sharp electric sensation emanates from the point of impact, where multiple small stakes are embedded, like venomous thorns threatening to consume me.
I've never felt so much fear, nor so much determination to survive.
My hands tremble as I remove the stakes embedded in my body, feeling every movement like an electric shock coursing through my skin. Carefully, I extract the ice thorns, releasing the blood pooling around the wounds.
Each breath becomes an effort, as if the air itself grows denser with every passing moment.
The monster approaches, its imposing presence darkening the snowy landscape around us. A chill runs down my spine at the sight of its figure, a mass of shadows and darkness looming over me like an unstoppable storm.
"Ul Huma!" My voice echoes out, brimming with determination, as I conjure a massive ice stake from the ground and hurl it towards him with all my might.
The ice cuts through the air, slicing the cold breeze with its devastating speed, aiming to halt the monster's advance.
My muscles ache with effort, but there's no time to hesitate. I've used up much of my energy healing my wounds, but I still possess enough magical power to confront this threat.
Snowflakes fall around us, their glistening crystals reflecting the rays cascading down from the horizon. Amidst the flurry of white flakes, the monster looms tall, morphing before my eyes into a living nightmare.
A snowstorm brews.
The soldiers move to advance, but I halt them with a gesture of my hand, signaling for them to stay out of the fight.
"It might be terrifying," I concede, keeping my sword raised high, poised for battle. "But trust me, trust Emilia."
The presence of spirits around me strengthens; their comforting energy enveloping the air. I sense their support, their breath against my back as I prepare to confront the monster with all my might.
The monster's roar reverberates, shaking the ground and causing the soldiers to recoil, hands covering their ears as they battle against the pain from its thunderous voice.
But I stand resolute, focusing on the power coursing through me.
"I am Emilia," I declare with unwavering conviction, my words resounding in the frigid air. "And I will defeat it."
With a determined gesture, I reach towards the sky, channeling my mana to connect with every element around me. The snow, the trees, even the flakes descending from the sky, all become my allies in this critical battle.
With fluid movements, I manipulate the snowflakes in the air, melding them together to create a barrage of icy stakes aimed at the monster with deadly precision.
The distant trees respond to my call, releasing blossoms that transform into lethal projectiles, all directed at the creature standing between me and victory.
My muscles tense, prepared for battle, as I recall every technique and advice imparted by Crusch and Marco. The sword in my right hand, the kukri in the left, both weapons extensions of my will and determination.
"I'll protect them all!" My voice echoes across the battlefield, defiant in the face of the imposing monster looming over us like a menacing shadow.
I carefully observe the enemy, evaluating each movement, each potential weakness. I know that freezing it won't suffice; I must find a way to inflict damage that transcends its defenses.
Gathering my mana, I feel its energy vibrating around me as the monster prepares to attack. Its arms rise threateningly, resembling a guillotine aiming to crush me mercilessly.
With a swift maneuver, I transform my sword into a shield of icy flames, erecting a fiery barrier between the monster and me. Its claws clash with the defense, but I stand firm, holding my position resolutely.
Seizing its momentary vulnerability, I scale between its arms, seeking an opening in its icy armor. With a swift and precise movement, I plunge the kukri into one of its eyes, intending to blind and destabilize it.
The monster roars in pain, its movements becoming more erratic as it attempts to free itself from my grip. It's then that I decide to escalate my attack.
"Elemental fusion!" My voice resonates with determination as I concentrate my power on the dagger embedded in its eye. I channel the fire, increasing the temperature of the ice surrounding it until it ignites.
The intense heat melts the ice, turning it into vapor that rises into the air.
Before the monster can react, I freeze the vapor particles, transforming them into sharp ice stakes that pierce its head with devastating force, causing it to explode into a shower of icy fragments.
Stepping back, I carefully observe each movement of the monster, but its resilience surprises me.
Despite my attacks, it remains steadfast, its black armor dripping with a dark liquid that glows with violet flashes. My heart beats strongly, fueled by the determination to defeat this enemy that threatens to engulf everything in darkness.
The intensity of the battle spread through the air, the palpable tension as I prepare for the next clash. The darkness emanating from the monster only intensifies my determination.
"I won't fall; I'll be an unbreakable pillar in the heart of everyone."
I am ready to fight, for myself and for all those who depend on me to protect them. Every tense muscle, every fiber of my being is prepared for the challenge ahead.
As I witness the monster fall to the ground, a sense of urgency overwhelms me. Its presence devours everything in its path, the black liquid spreading across the ground and appearing to consume everything, a threat that I cannot allow to spread.
With a cry of determination, I call upon the spirits, seeking their assistance to safeguard the forest we cherish and fight to preserve.
The spirits heed my call, granting their power to bolster my own magic. Pillars of earth emerge to impede the monster's advance as I channel every ounce of mana into my dagger.
This is my moment, an opportunity I cannot let slip away, even if it means confronting the threat head-on.
The monster presses forward relentlessly, effortlessly shattering the pillars in its path. I must charge my spell, concentrating on harnessing every iota of magical energy coursing through me.
My mind drifts to my companions, hoping for their safety as I face this peril.
The monster strikes out furiously, hurling purple ice stakes in my direction. Swiftly, I evade its assaults, sensing the tension in the air as I prepare to retaliate. I transform my kukri into a sword, poised to strike back with force when the monster lunges.
The monster lands a direct blow to my face, but I extend my arm, positioning my sword as a shield.
"Ice explosion!" My voice reverberates across the battlefield as I unleash the full might of my sword's accumulated power. The monster's arm erupts in a violent explosion of ice and darkness, and I seize the moment to leap onto its back.
With a swift motion, I deliver a powerful kick to the back of its neck, sending it crashing to the ground with a thunderous roar. The earth shakes upon impact, but I press on.
I place my trust in my abilities, even when confronted with such a formidable adversary.
I must make the most of this power, even if it depletes a massive portion of my mana and distances me from Puck. But I will endure if it means safeguarding those who rely on me.
I will shield them, regardless of the sacrifice.
Propelled by the burning determination within me, I lunge forward and forcefully drive my kukri into the monster's back. A cry escapes my lips as I channel all the power I possess:
"Absolute zero!" The spell is unleashed, rapidly spreading through its body and the dark liquid emanating from it.
My objective is clear: to halt its advance, to paralyze every particle of its being. I recall Marco's lessons on absolute zero, the ability to freeze molecules in place, rendering them static and motionless.
The monster begins to slow down, its movements decelerating until it is completely still. The flow of that liquid emanating from its interior abruptly halts, as if time itself has stopped for it.
A sense of victory washes over me, but fatigue begins to take hold. I have consumed too much mana to control this spell, but it was worth it.
I managed to stop it.
"I was able to protect you!" I exclaim, raising my fist in a gesture of triumph, seeking to instill hope in those around me.
"Long live the general!" the soldiers respond, emerging from their defensive positions to join me.
However, as I look at my own body, I realize that parts of me are also frozen, a result of using my mana inefficiently. I still have much to learn and master if I want to wield this power without endangering my own life.
"Fortunately, my wounds have healed," I sigh, wishing for a long rest.
But I cannot give up. Like a Bocco fruit, I look forward; I must press on and heal the wounded in Irlam.
I am their leader, and it is my duty to protect them all.
No matter the difficulties that stand in my way.