Chapter 19

At dawn, Azul moved silently through the tent, her steps light. She approached Ragnar's armour, her fingers tracing the intricate designs on the polished metal. She could see her reflection in the polished steel; her expression quite sullen.

Ragnar stood nearby, watching her quietly.

She began with the under armour, carefully securing the padded garment that would cushion him from the blows of battle. Her hands moved deftly, fastening the ties and adjusting the fit. Next, she reached for the chainmail, lifting the heavy garment and draping it over his shoulders. The metal links clinked softly as she adjusted them, ensuring they lay flat against his body.

Ragnar remained silent, his eyes fixed on her face. He could see the worry etched in her features, the unspoken fears that she tried to hide. He placed a hand on her face, caressing her cheek to her lips. "I will return to you," he promised.

Azul forced a smile. She has confidence in his ability to live, but she didn't have the confidence that he would meet her when he came back. Her mission was merely to survive, she didn't even need to be here, but she chose to. "I know you will. Just be careful."

She had simulated the battle a hundred times in her virtual training area, picking the most successful strategy for them to go with. People would die, but if she could save one extra man using her useless system, she would.

As she secured the greaves and sabatons, completing his armour, she stepped back to admire her work. Ragnar looked every bit the warrior, his scar making him look quite fierce and lovely.

Ragnar reached for his helmet, but Azul stopped him. "Let me," she said, taking the helmet from his hands. She placed it gently on his head, adjusting it until it fit snugly. The helmet's visor was up, allowing her to see his eyes.

"I love you," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

She was shocked by his words, but returned his feelings.

"I love you too,"

With his armour in place, Ragnar turned to leave the tent. Azul followed closely, staying by him till he got to his horse. As they stepped outside, the camp was a flurry of activity. Soldiers were preparing for battle, checking their armour and weapons, bidding goodbye to their friends.

Sain, her assigned bodyguard, followed a few steps behind her, he was exempt from fighting, much to Azul's relief, he was only fourteen so she didn't want to imagine him being killed by the monsters on the battlefield.

Azul walked with Ragnar to the gathering point, where the men were assembling. She watched as each soldier greeted him with respect.

The moment of departure was drawing near, and Azul felt a knot tighten in her stomach. She stood to the side, watching as Ragnar addressed his men. His voice strong and commanding, filled with the confidence that had earned him their unwavering support.

As the speech concluded, the soldiers cheered, mounted their horses and prepared to ride out. Ragnar approached Azul one last time, his eyes softening as he looked at her. "Protect yourself, Khatun" he said.

"I will," she promised.

With a final kiss to his forehead, Ragnar mounted his horse and joined his men. Azul watched them ride away, the dust from their departure swirling around her.

Azul waited until the dust from the departing troops had settled before turning back towards her tent. The camp felt strangely empty without the presence of the soldiers; the silence almost oppressive. General Varok and his men remained behind to facilitate communication and protect their resources, ensuring that Azul was well-protected.

Despite this, with her husband away, she found herself with an unusual amount of free time. Sain, her ever-vigilant bodyguard, stood idly outside her tent, watching for any sign of trouble. It wasn't long before Azul emerged again, this time with a basket and her riding gear.

"Are you going somewhere, Khatun?" Sain asked, his voice respectful but curious.

"I'm going riding. Would you like to come?" she offered, knowing full well that he didn't have much of a choice.

Sain nodded, following her to the stables where they mounted their horses. Azul had made up her mind to picnic near the river, not only to relax but also to check the poison and ensure it was still potent. She didn't expect to encounter any wild beasts, at least not today.

The river lay hidden a short distance away at the edge of the steppe. Fetching water from here was a laborious task, given the distance and the terrain. The sound of the running water, however, was a balm to her nerves, soothing the unease that had settled in her heart since Ragnar's departure.

Upon reaching the river, Azul dismounted and set her basket down. She considered taking a swim but felt too self-conscious with Sain around, so she settled for dipping her feet in the cool water.

Her hair was held up with two plain metal pins, a stark contrast to the ornate jewellery she typically wore. This lack of adornment made her seem gloomier than usual, and Sain was careful with his words, not wanting to inadvertently upset her.

As she unpacked the picnic, Sain stood nearby, watching the surroundings. The silence was comfortable, but eventually, Azul broke it with a question. "Sain, do you have any family?"

Sain looked at her, momentarily caught off guard by the personal question. "Yes, Khatun. I am the middle child of five. I have two older brothers and two younger sisters."

Azul smiled, intrigued. "That must have been a busy household. You are still young, why did you join the army?"

Sain's expression softened as he thought about his family. "I joined to alleviate the burden on my parents. Feeding so many mouths was difficult, and this way, I could send money home."

She was reminded of Arthur, it seemed like this was the story of many of the men here.

"What did you want to be growing up? I assume you had a dream you are yet to fulfil."

"Growing up, I always wanted to be a merchant, to earn enough to support my family and give them a better life."

Azul raised a brow. In her world, a fourteen-year-old wouldn't have such thoughts of providing for their family.

Azul handed him a piece of bread and some cheese from the basket, encouraging him to sit and relax. "When I was younger, I wanted to be a princess."

Sain chuckled softly, accepting the food. "But Khatun, the Khan said you were the princess of your tribe; why would that be your dream?"

She laughed alongside him; her dream was always to be a princess. When she found the Princess Simulator system, she considered it fulfilling her dreams.

Azul kicked her feet in the water, deep in thought. She'd have to go further downstream to ensure the poison spread effectively. But as she pondered, a sudden brush against her foot made her squeal in surprise.

"Ek!" she exclaimed, quickly pulling her feet out of the water. Was that a fish?

She watched the ripples in the water, a little fish passed by. As she settled back, she noticed a movement in the tall grass on the other side of the river. Squinting, she saw a small face peeking through the blades, wide eyes staring curiously at her.

A boy, no older than eight, was crouching by the water's edge, half-hidden by the grass. Azul smiled, waving gently.

"Hello there," she called softly, not wanting to scare him.

The boy's eyes widened further, but he didn't move. Just then, a voice called out from behind him.

"Tamu! Where are you?"

An older girl, perhaps in her teens, appeared, scanning the area. She spotted the boy by the river and hurried over, grabbing his hand.

"Tamu, you shouldn't wander off like that," she scolded gently, then looked up and noticed Azul across the river. Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Who are you?"

Azul raised her hands in a friendly gesture. "I'm Azul. I didn't mean to startle you. Are you living nearby?"

The girl hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, we moved here recently."

Azul tilted her head, curious. "May I ask why you moved here? It's not common to see families so close to the army encampments."

The girl glanced around nervously before answering. "We had no choice. There is an army coming through our village. They said we had to leave."

Azul's heart skipped a beat. "What army? Where are they coming from?"

The girl pointed in the direction from which Azul and her people had come. "From the north. They passed through our village a few days ago. My father said they were heading this way, towards the mountains."

Azul's mind raced. A second army? "Can you describe them?"

"They're just a normal army, marching in lines with these metal sticks on their back."

"Metal sticks?" Azul asked, her voice wavering, she was praying this wasn't what she was thinking.

"Yes, like weirdly shaped short speers, strapped to their backs." 

Azul got up immediately, rushing to her horse. 

"Khatun!?" Sain called out but she immediately left. He rushed to follow her, leaving the two children questioning what just happened.