One Side Soulmates

Part VII

It had only been a few days since Ohelia entered the camp.

She had actually through those days felt bad for her soulmate for once. They had the unfortunate love to share eachothers pain, and throughout the last days she had got nothing but bruises all over her legs and arms. Well it wasn't as if the other person couldn't have been used to it aleady. She had small scars everywhere for being clumsy, which was a bit of an insecurity atleast the one scar on her neck, which she usually tried to hide. She had gotten it after falling down an apple tree when she was eight. Not even the healing magic could make the scar disappear.

Chimika Kondana, the woman who was in charge of training the new recruits, had visited Ohelia for the past few nights, having friendly conversation with each other while sitting amidst the high grass.

Chimika sighed. "Listen kid. As noble a thing I think you're doing, I'd rather know that you'll walk safely home." Ohelia looks at her, tilting her head. "Where are you going with this?"

"There is this one girl, she got hurt whilst in the army and was sent home. I'll give you her address. I want you to write to her. Hear about her experience in war. She's around your age but she had been in the army for three years, the moment she was allowed. I want you to hear her stories."

"Why?"

"Why? Well that is easy. She has been to war. I am older and I have had my share of battles, but her? She got hurt the moment she was sent out the first time. She was sent overseas to one of Lureca's allies, who unfortunately lost the war. I wish she wasn't sent there. She was too young."

Ohelia regretted volunteering. She regretted leaving home. She regretted signing up for a suicide mission. Asteabia, although not being the wealthiest kingdom (it was only second) it was the biggest and strongest in the continent of Vrehia. The thought of her eventually marching onto the battlefield and mere moments later into the after life, was more frightening than anything else. All she'd ever wished for, was her village's safety. Her family, her friends and all the others. But she never stood a chance against the asteabian army.

It was around midday when she heard the screams, then accompanied by shouting from her fellow associates. Up until then she had spent her day practising her aim with a bow. In the middle of the chaotic commotion she managed to focus on four simple words. 'We are under attack'. Then everything after seemed like a blur. All she remembers is waking up in a big foreign tent, a man sitting next to her.

-

"Your majesty. Some scouts have found an enemy camp nearby."

Gadreel looked up from the map on the table, a smirk forming on his lips. This should be easy, he thought to himself as he then uttered aloud, "Why don't we give them a big welcome?"

Why couldn't they have been more clueless? Less experienced. Not to say that they were that good warriors, but they did put up more of a fight than he had imagined. But no matter, with only a few scratches Gadreel fought them off. Everything luckily went the way he planned considering his army was superior in every aspect.

That was until some form of magical field kept him and his men away from getting closer. Mutters were heard around him. Some believed it to be witchcraft. Others thought it must have been the Lurecan king. To that explanation Gadreel laughed coldly. "As if that lazy fool would ever fight his own battles." But there wasn't really any other explanation. Royals were the only ones that could wield magic, but Lurecans would never dare to march into combat themselves.

He touched the magical barrier before flicking it with two of his fingers. In that moment it was as if a wall of glass had shattered from a single touch. "Let's get this over with, shall we?"