09
“I won’t leave. I’ll stay. There’s no way for a doctor to run away at the last moment. If I leave,
what about the wounded soldiers and civilians?”
Esther’s face was smeared with blood, giving her an eerie charm. She looked at me. “I’ll stay
with you. If the city really falls, we can’t survive, anyway. My father once fought against the
barbarians. He didn’t come back, and I’ll complete the mission he left unfinished.”
My eyes were slightly red.
Gloria stared blankly at Esther.
I had no idea what was in her mind.
Perhaps she was wondering if their long–standing feud in the previous life was really
meaningful, or if it was worth her coming alone to the border just for a man.
Esther gazed at Gloria, lacking memories of the previous life, and showed kindness. “You go. Leave through the south gate and follow the civilians. Head towards the capital.”
She then took out some ointment from her pocket. “Take these with you. You can use them if
you get injured.”
Gloria’s eyes widened as she looked at Esther, then at the ointment.
I saw that there were some glistening tears in her eyes.
Esther frowned and hugged her. “Gloria, don’t cry. I don’t have any medicine for tears. Don’t add to the burden of your sister and mine.”
Gloria looked up at me, with a flash of guilt.
So I nodded. “Go. Head towards the capital. Maybe you’ll encounter rescue.”
But we all knew that the accident happened so suddenly that even if the rescue came galloping, it would take more than twenty days.
We wouldn’t have time for the rescue.
But if she left, she had a better chance to survive.
Gloria didn’t say anything, wiping her tears and leaving.
What was inevitable still came. Despite our fierce resistance, Yugen still fell.
The city’s invasion by barbarians was met with cries of despair.
The lord of Yugen was captured, creating more chaos.
Rumors spread that Prince Edward and Charles drowned, rendering Lambert’s troops
insignificant.
The barbarian leader was already celebrating the victory inside the city.
Esther and I hid in an abandoned civilian house and continued to treat the wounded
civilians.
D
The next day, they began to clear out our soldiers inside the city, all of whom were captured
in the square.
I knew that they wanted to frighten the civilians by this to inform everyone that Prince Edward was dead and that this place would soon be theirs.
20:13 Fri, 14 Feb
insignificant.
The barbarian leader was already celebrating the victory inside the city.
Esther and I hid in an abandoned civilian house and continued to treat the wounded
civilians.
36%
The next day, they began to clear out our soldiers inside the city, all of whom were captured
in the square.
I knew that they wanted to frighten the civilians by this to inform everyone that Prince
Edward was dead and that this place would soon be theirs.
Overwhelmed by sadness, Esther and I wept, feeling helpless.
But at that moment, the sound of galloping hooves came closer.
The person on the horseback was wearing barbarian armor, holding a bow and arrow, and
her long hair was flying in the wind.
I recognized her face.
It was Gloria.
As noble ladies, Gloria and I mastered skills since youth, with horsemanship and archery
reserved for royal events.
I never thought they would be useful here.
Gloria drew her bow and shot an arrow at the general on the city wall.
A nice shot. The man fell off the wall, staining the ground red.
Enemies realized that this wasn’t one of their own.
All their bows and arrows were aimed at Gloria, who came alone.
There was no trace of fear on her face.
It seemed as if she had grown up overnight.
She nimbly dodged the arrows and galloped to the city wall. Only then did the barbarians
see that she was carrying explosives.
No one knew how she got them.
No one knew how she managed to break through the barbarian encirclement.
Seeing her set herself on fire, I heard her high–pitched voice. “Those who dare to invade our country will die!”
Amid the deafening sound, the flames on the Yugen city wall merged with the distant dawn. Whether in the previous life or this one, Gloria, who always wanted to do better than me,
never beat me before she died.
I burst into tears.
Abruptly, I recalled when we were ten and swinging in the garden together.
Gloria pushed me from behind, her laughter lively. She said, “Regina, we’ll be good sisters
forever.”
We made a promise to each other as kids, yet we couldn’t avoid growing up…
D
20:13 Fri, 14 Feb
We made a promise to each other as kids, yet we couldn’t avoid growing up…
