𝙎𝙃𝘼𝘿𝙊𝙒 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙁𝙇𝘼𝙈𝙀

𝘀𝗶𝘅

Maven

The truck shakes as the wheels come before a bump in the dirt road. I almost crash into the guy next to me but straighten up quickly. It's improper for a prince to fall. I'm wearing a full uniform with small stripes on the sleeves that represent the Houses I come from and my title. It's not much, so as not to bring unwanted attention to myself, according to General Lerolan. He is leading the legion into the front lines. Cal is here too, looking the part as future King. Every few minutes he gives me a reassuring hand squeeze. I wish I could find comfort in it, but I don't.

We had a little over a week to prepare for this, enough time to wrap my head around the fact that I'm going to kill people. But it still makes me uneasy. I shouldn't mind. I shouldn't care. They're the enemy, strangers I don't even know, and yet somehow that makes it even worse. How can I allow myself to erase someone like that? What gives me the right?

I don't let any of these thoughts show on my face. I've put on the strongest mask I've got to get through this. I can't let it get to me. This is what I need to do to prove myself to Father. It's the sole reason I came here in the first place. If I get through this, maybe I can go home.

"Grab your weapons, we'll be arriving shortly!" General Lerolan shouts down the transport.

I tighten my hold on the firearm I've been given. Not that I really need it to protect myself; the bands on my wrist should be enough to keep any danger that comes to me at bay, but I can't be too sure. Even Cal carries his own gun. The other soldiers, mostly Reds, have multiple weapons strapped to themselves, ranging from rifles to knives to grenades. Silvers like me also carry whatever they need to use their abilities. Weapons are pointless when you can manipulate matter itself.

"Keep your heads low and run to the trench!" Lerolan barks. "There shouldn't be any attacks now, but keep your eyes open."

Soon, the transport stops and the doors open. We spill out and move swiftly through the mud. The smell of smoke is even stronger here and coats everything in a white haze. I rush along with everyone else, trying not to gape at the burned land that lays beyond. The sun isn't visible even though it should be rising in the horizon now. Debris lays around the charred ground, but I can't make out exactly what it is or where it came from.

"LAKELANDERS!"

"Get down!"

I turn around just in time to see one of the men behind me fall. And I freeze. There weren't supposed to be any attacks now. We were supposed to be safe. Cal stands a few paces away, scanning the ground and already snapping his bracelets to summon fire. Bullets start raining all around us. Someone pulls me down to the trench that was just a few paces away and I fall on the mud. My firearm lands beside me. I scramble for it quickly.

"Get into formation!"

Soldiers start taking their places at the edges of the trench and taking aim. I move beside one of them. Where is Cal? I can't find him now. Focus, Maven. You can't fail. I look around but the smoke makes it impossible to spot anyone. Even after readying my weapon and loading it, the targets escape me. I can't aim like this. But it means they can't see us either. They're firing blindly.

A man two places to my right yelps and falls. Even if they're not aiming, they're taking out people. I feel tremors down my arms and clench my fists. I can't get distracted now. I can't let my mask slip. A Windweaver sends the smoke away, revealing the Lakelanders standing in No Man's Land.

"Let's move!"

I follow behind my legion as we make our way into the battleground. I focus on my next step, on who is in front of me and who is behind. People scream, but I can't tell if they're orders or not. The Lakelanders move to meet us and change their weapons to close combat ones. I point, but I can't bring myself to shoot. I dodge and occasionally use my fire to scare those who get too close. Then someone releases a gas bomb and we're covered in blindness once more.

Gunshots ring again. I hear the bullets zooming by, grazing my legs. There is an explosion to my right. Lerolan, most likely. Shouting behind me. No, to my left. The gas won't let me see beyond my hands. I think someone calls me. I'm not sure.

Deep breaths, Maven.

Someone is screaming. Blood splatters on my face. I hear footsteps running in my direction and call on my flame. It's a Lakelander. In my fear, I miss. We fall over, with them on top of me. I struggle to breathe. They're strangling me. I see dark spots in my vision. I think I'm going to die. And then, suddenly, air fills my lungs in a blessed moment before the man's guts spill all over me.

I don't realise I'm screaming until my throat starts burning, but it's drowned under all the noise around me. My face feels wet. Is it blood or sweat? I'm breathing hard. I should get up. I should get help. I should run. But maybe if I stay here I can just pretend this all away.

When will this be over?