Back in the Days

Hours have passed since the battle in Lyndal.

The caravan is on its way towards Fenza'il - the capital of the Dukedom of Ratoon - looking for aid and shelter.

Reinforcements arrived prepared for a large fight, but later learned it was too late.

During this time, Sigmund was inside one of the carriages, sitting quietly. It was clear in his expression that he's deep in thought.

"Lyndal..." He uttered.

The very thing his father entrusted him to protect was destroyed during his watch. He did not know what to do.

"Father... I had failed you."

Suddenly, one familiar voice spoke to him.

"It wasn't your fault, Sigmund."

He looked outside. It was Harlan beside the carriage, mounted on a horse.

"Little could be done with the vast force they had. Compared to our army, it was a grain of sand in a desert."

"It was something unaccounted for."

Sigmund just sat there deep in thought. Not a single word was uttered for minutes.

"... The sun has already set. Let's settle here for now." Sigmund then said.

"Tell the men to set camp here for tonight."

Harlan replies, "Of course." and approached the soldiers.

...

It was midnight. Most of the people were asleep. It started to get cold as winter is only months away.

In precaution to sudden attacks, soldiers take turns in patrolling the campsite.

However, one man in the tents couldn't sleep. He was thinking of what happened the earlier day.

Bloodshed, chaos, screams, it filled his mind.

Struggling to sleep, he went outside his tent, to sit by the campfire. Then he saw Harlan alone, sitting by the fire. He joined him.

"Couldn't sleep?" Harlan asked.

"Isn't that why you're here too?" Sigmund snickered.

"You know, as your lord, shouldn't you be cautious of the way you talk to me? How rude."

"Apologies, my Lord. I fear I have forgotten you were a Lord with that personality." Harlan replied sarcastically as he bowed.

Both of them laughed at each other's bickering. It has been a while since they had shared a time like this.

They then stared blankly at the fire. One could here the wind blowing on the swaying trees and sounds of nature all around.

"Hey, Sigmund." Harlan then said.

"Do you remember the time we were hunting bandits and rescued a kid from their camp?"

"Of course." Sigmund replied.

"The kid was so thankful back then. When we brought him back to his parents, he offered us his favorite biscuits." He chuckled.

His smile slowly faded.

"Life was quite simple that day." he then said.

Harlan looked at Sigmund and saw him in despair.

The loss of the late baron clearly took a toll on Sigmund. He didn't eat for days. Now, he had even lost his home.

"You were a hero to that child, if you think about it. You've saved the boy with the eagerness to help - and you did." Harlan said.

"I have told you before, what happened that day was not your fault. It was--"

"I know what happened, Harlan. And from what I saw, Lyndal was doomed because of my incompetence!" Sigmund interrupted.

"You said my eagerness to help saved that boy's life. But what happened now!?"

Sigmund stood up. "Was I not eager enough to help my people? Do I not desire to save the barony? Why did Lyndal had to fall during my watch? That's all I could think about!"

"You're not getting my point, Sigmund. All of us weren't prepared!" Harlan shouted as he stood.

"Did you think someone had warned us that the dead would come back and have us all killed!?"

Sigmund was silent. Hearing what Harlan said made him realize and understand the whole situation.

But it couldn't relieve him from the sadness he's feeling.

"But what of Lyndal? My home. What can I do about it?"

He was already in tears because of the pressure he was feeling.

"Even if I accept the fact that i'm not at fault, it's still gone. That was the only thing my father left me to protect." said Sigmund.

Harlan let out a sigh. He knew how much Lyndal meant for Sigmund. Many memories of his father happened in that place. It was why he treasured it so.

"Sigmund."

"Have you really forgotten about what the baron said?"

...

It was eleven years ago, both Sigmund and Harlan were 12 years old.

Baron Aethur Greville returned from fighting rebels in the south. Him and his men were welcomed back as heroes.

He was greeted by the two boys who were excited to see him again.

"Father, you're back!" the young Sigmund said as he ran towards him.

Aethur chuckled and lifted his son, "Hey there, little one! How was your adventures?"

"It was great! Me and Harlan went up the mountains and fought a group of gnolls!" Sigmund replied.

"You sure did, son. You did well." He lets his boy down.

"Speaking of which, where is Harlan?" he then asked.

He looked around and saw the young Harlan hiding behind a post.

He was a little shy to approach the baron. He had always thought of him as someone of high status, and he wasn't allowed to be acquainted with him.

Aethur saw this and called Harlan over to talk to him.

"Why were you hiding there, Harlan?" Aethur asked.

"I-I'm sorry if I have offended you, Lord Baron." Harlan nervously replied.

"Lord Baron?" Aethur asked. He then laughed a little about the new nickname he now has.

"Why don't you two come with me. I want to show you something." he asked them.

...

"Come here you two, you don't need to be scared."

The both of them went close to Aethur, as they stand on a cliff of a mountain.

But as they go closer, they see the enchanting view of the lands of the barony. It was seen all throughout the horizon.

"You see those, boys? What you see is whole of Lyndal." Aethur said. "Beautiful isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is!" Sigmund replied.

"That's why this has become my favorite place in the mountains." he smiles.

"Let me tell you two something." he then said.

"All things valuable here are not really important."

The two of them looked at each other, confused.

"What do you mean, Lord Baron?" Harlan asked

Aethur chuckles and looked at the scenery. "What I mean is, these lands, that keep, what you see here are not really important. Because this isn't Lyndal, but the people within it."

"Things can be easily replaced. But a person cannot."

He then looks at the both of them.

"So never forget, our people are the priority. A village is worthless without its people."

...

"A village is worthless without its citizens." Sigmund repeated.

"Don't you see all these people?" Harlan asked. "They have nowhere else to go. No one else to turn to but us, but you."

"You haven't failed, Sigmund. Lyndal still stands. With them." he said as he pointed to all of the people in the camp.

"I... I guess you are right." Sigmund said.

"Of course I am. You're talking to the Knight Commander of the Lyndal Vanguard." He said, mocking Sigmund.

Sigmund raised a brow, surprised of what the knight said. But decided to play along.

"Well 'Sir Harlan', have you forgotten that who you're talking to is the 'Lord Baron' of Lyndal himself?"

"Ugh! Why would you bring that up again? I've almost forgotten about that!"

Once again, they laughed at each other's bickering.

Sigmund's been feeling down in the drain since they departed from Lyndal. But this gave comfort to him.

"Thanks, Harlan. I needed this." he then said.

Harlan smiled, knowing his friend was now all right.

"Of course. Any time." He replied.

"But not all the time." He said while glaring at Sigmund.

...

Several days have passed. After the long march, Captain Shal had called Sigmund.

"Lord Greville."

"We are here."

Sigmund looked out of his carriage and saw the sturdy walls protecting what is inside.

The gates were opened for the caravan, revealing a bustling city full of people. It's as if there weren't living in the midst of war.

Sigmund was in awe.

"At last. Fenza'il."