The Sword Of Sunshine [Eng Ver]

Chapter 4

"Dear Dylan,

How long has it been since the last letter. I am not sure anymore.

I hope you're doing well.

Everything is fine at the barracks.  I'm still dedicated to my role as a junior pharmacist and it brings me great joy to be of service. There have been some difficult times, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to make a difference.

What about you? Five years is a long time. I hope life at the orphanage has been treating you kindly.

I'm sorry I couldn't visit you. But soon, we'll see each other again.

Please write back to me.

Hope to see you soon

Your sister, Lia"

Lies, all lies.

Five years have passed since the fire took everything away from us. Dylan is now residing in an orphanage, while I've enlisted in the military to shoulder the burdens of life in his stead.

Letters were exchanged to keep in touch throughout the first year. After that, I never received another letter from Dylan.

During my time in the barracks, I was not allowed to visit my hometown because once joined the army, there would be no rest while the war lasted. 

The scribbles on the paper were like carrier pigeons, carrying my memories away, hoping that one day there will be a response. I don't even know if the old address is still valid or where those letters might have ended up. Four years of longing have gradually turned into a hopeless void.

Life in the barracks was not much better. People were irritable, everyone was only concerned with their own affairs and bullying was a common occurrence. Despite my best efforts to belong, in the end I was still an outsider.

After all, I had already anticipated this.

I did not directly go out to the battlefield, but worked in the rear as a intermediate pharmacist. Since I came here, I have always been looked down upon as a wild wolf, with a weaker appearance than most other recruits.

I had to attend pharmacy classes, help around the barracks, stay busy from early morning to late night. Every time soldiers returned from the battlefield, I, along with other pharmacists, quickly provided timely treatment for their injuries. Life here is a grind, days blend together in a blur of endless work.

This place was almost like hell on earth, the war had drained everyone of their strength. The smell of blood and gunpowder had gradually become an inseparable part of this place.

Nestled on the empire's eastern frontier, Military District 11 was a solitary island of steel, encased in a delicate magical shell.  An unseen wall divided it from the rest of the world. The colossal iron gate, the only entrance to the district, was always heavily guarded. Most political activities are conducted in secret within the great tower.

The class divide was clearly evident, even here. While the knights enjoyed the warmth inside the tower, behind the cold stone walls, we soldiers were left to camp outside in the cold. Perhaps there wasn't enough room inside for all the soldiers, or maybe they simply didn't want us there.

After all, none of the soldiers who enlisted here did so voluntarily.

Exhaustion overwhelmed my body, but the unfinished work kept piling up. Another night of flickering lamplight and heavy lids was looming.

Inside the tent, in the dim light, the familiar silhouette of a hateful figure was clearly visible, arrogantly sitting on a wooden chair beside the desk. The acrid smell of smoke hung thick in the air, everything inside was tossed about in a chaotic mess. With a flick of his wrist, he discarded the ash of his cigarette onto the floor, his lip curled in a contemptuous sneer as he exhaled a cloud of acrid smoke.