Chapter 124

The marching sound of his infantry troops crossing the bridge echoed ominously in the empty streets.

Matthias had since broken off part of his company into two groups, who now both stood on standby on either side of the fortress’ broken entrance. The rest continued their climb into the opening they made forcefully. 

Looking over the village, the smell of soot and rotting flesh filtered through Matthias’ senses. It was like a mass graveyard, filled with the dead enemy. 

His sharp gaze quickly swept over the broken buildings, all turned to rubble and dust. And then his eyes glanced over at the chapel, which was missing both its spire and roof. Still, its walls remained standing tall, and would provide excellent cover.

How fortunate that a foreign country’s god would give them their own protection. He had no doubt even Lovita’s own enemy forces would see this as a blessing, especially the religious ones amongst their ranks.

Matthias pushed on, running down several more stone walls, crushing beneath it the fallen bodies of their enemy forces. He was only following instructions, never mind it led him straight to where he needed to be. Immediately his company began spreading out, rounding the perimeter of the chapel at an efficient speed.

Matthias observed the chapel, and his men’s placement, before pulling the pin out of the grenade and launching it near the stained glass, before it shattered into a thousand more pieces. A distant scream could be heard, as more of their enemy soldiers resurfaced and rejoined the fray.

Matthias had no love for any deity, as such it was easy for him to destroy such a sacred place. So he merely raised his gun, trailing it at his enemies and pulled the trigger, feeling nothing as they dropped dead like flies around him.

They were inconsequential to his goal after all.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

They thought the sound of bells ringing from the square would be over after the bell tower had been destroyed. But alas, once more it resumed, followed shortly by loud sounds of heavy machinery and firearms!

By now, the museum had been closed. Leyla still found everything so surreal the more the days progressed. But she wasn’t even worrying about her current loss of job. 

No, it was the war that was getting closer and closer to their doorsteps with each passing day they spent was what’s been bothering her the most. She knew she didn’t have reason to, but her mind kept making up the worst possible scenarios that could happen to her. 

What if an air strike would happen again?

What if the Berg army finally breaches the borders of Sienna?

How long will the war last? Will they still be alive to see it?

A gentle touch awoke Leyla up, and she woke up with a slight startle before realizing it was only Uncle Bill, who’d gently nudged her awake. She didn’t even realize she’d fallen asleep, her mind too preoccupied with morbid thoughts. Nevertheless, it didn’t feel like she’d been sleeping.

“Uncle?” she mumbled out sleepily in question, and Uncle Bill gave her a small smile.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.” He apologized softly. He must have just gotten back. Leyla smiled back at him and began to sit up, grasping his hand on her shoulder, and squeezing it in a comforting manner. 

“It’s okay,” Leyla said hurriedly, “You’ve finished early?” She took a quick glance at the clock, “You must have, it’s not even dinner time yet.”

“No, I’m not finished yet, we’re on lunch break though.” Bill chuckled softly before gently putting a box on the bed beside her. “I just stopped by to give you something.”

As soon as she saw the box, Leyla beamed up at him in excitement! 

“Is it for me?” she eagerly asked, “What is it?” She wondered out loud, and Bill couldn’t help but chuckle in seeing her glee. Then, bringing it closer to her, she could smell the faint scent of peaches in the air!

After the air strike, he was fortunate that his work wasn’t entirely rendered out of commission, and thus returned to work. But everytime he left for work, he couldn’t help but worry and feel guilty at leaving Leyla all by herself at home all day.

She wasn’t showing him any signs that would usually give him worry. But still, leaving her alone all day, every day, can’t stop him from feeling so anxious.

This was the only thing he could think of to brighten up her day momentarily.

If he could only stop the war, and make her dreams come true by himself, he would do it. Make sure she’d find someone good to her, and loved her, he would find them. But he’s long known how limited his power in this life truly was.

He’s only Bill Remmer. And as a lowly peasant, he could only bring her favorite fruits right now. 

“Eat up okay?” Bill lightly reminded her, to which she eagerly nodded at him.

“Of course!”

“And don’t just keep saying yes to everything I say, make sure you eat them for real, and eat well alright?” Bill lightly chided at her. “It’s times like this that you need to make sure you’re healthy and energized enough. So eat like a cow alright, I told you that before, didn’t I?”

Weeks kept passing, and more and more he could see the way Leyla’s features sharpened, her face turning hollow, and bones jutting out more prominently against her skin. Why was she so thin? 

Was she starving herself again?

Oblivious to his worries, Leyla only laughed at him, and reiterated she will. But, such naivety and innocence still, Bill couldn’t help but think; he wondered what would happen to her as soon as he wasn’t there to look out for her.

In some ways, she was still a child.

“Good, make sure you do just that.” Bill hummed, “And don’t worry about dinner, I’ll make sure to buy us both some good food later.”

“Ooh, fancy!” Leyla giggled, “Are we having a feast later?”

“A feast, eh?” Bill hummed thoughtfully before smiling, “Why not? Let’s see if we can have a feast later.” He patted Leyla’s head, lightly ruffling her hair and grinned upon seeing her indignation.

“Okay then,” Leyla smiled at him, before her expression turned serious, “If we have a feast later on, I will tell you something too.” Leyla’s eyes turned sombre as she stared off into space…

“Yes, I have something to tell you.” She whispered softly, but still loud enough for Bill to hear. Her grip on his hand tightened up some more, and Bill took the chance to assess her more carefully. 

He could tell this would be a serious matter. He’d only ever seen such a determined expression on her quite a few times before.

In Leyla’s mind, she resolved to come clean to him tonight. She no longer wanted this constant guilt in her chest about hiding something this big to her uncle. 

She wanted to stop being so afraid of his judgment. She won’t be a coward anymore.

“Well then, I best get going by now.” Bill said, squeezing her hand back in a comforting manner, prompting her to finally loosen up her grip on him. “Take a good and long rest alright?” 

Leyla watched as her uncle turned around to leave, and the cold feeling washed over her. Why did she say that? What had she been thinking!?

“Uncle!” She called out and Bill turned back around, with an inquisitive look on his face.

Leyla only gave him a bright smile. 

“Don’t worry about tonight, I was only joking!” She laughed it off, “Have a safe trip okay?” She then reached out to put on her glasses back on.

Bill let out a dry sigh at hearing her words, and waved back at her with a small wave goodbye.

“Still a kid, quite the kid you still are.” She could hear him lightly chide her as he turned around to leave. “Well then, I’ll see you soon, Leyla.”

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Another shot of a bullet rang through the air as it hit its mark! Another soldier of their opposing forces dropped dead on the ground, his gun clattering loudly against the rubble beneath him. Major Herhardt finally lowered his gun once more, eyes devoid of remorse or glee.

The war wasn’t important after all.

“We’ve got a runner!” someone shouted, pointing to a pair of enemy soldiers who were making a hasty escape. Matthias’ eyes narrowed towards them, before he spotted a war horse tied loosely close by. 

Matthias raised his gun, pointing it towards the horse, and pulled the trigger.

The window behind the horse shattered into a million pieces, effectively spooking the animal, before it took off running. The Lovita soldiers tried their best to intercept the horse, but were immediately surrounded by Berg forces.

Matthias signalled his men to hold their fire, leisurely approaching them. As he came to them, his eyes were drawn to the middle-aged man, who held his head up, looking to the skies in complete resignation. 

Judging by his uniform, he was the commander of the fort defense. Matthias at least graced him with a common courtesy of respect for his rank. 

“This battle is over.” Matthias spoke in the native tongue of Lovita. It was decidedly rough on his tongue, but at least he was fluent enough to be understood. “Won’t you agree with me?”

The commander sighed, eyes darting quickly over to Matthias, before raising his gaze up towards the skies again. Surrendering now would only mean that the battle indeed was over. And if he were to surrender now, there was a high chance the rest of his remaining men would survive, even amidst capture. 

But what would that mean to Sienna?

Steeling his resolve to face his imminent fate, he breathed in deeply before huffing out a single prolonged breath…

In no time, he pulled out a gun and pointed it directly to Matthias!

Sharp cries of soldiers around them echoed all around as a single shot was heard once more.

“MAJOR!”

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Leyla half-heartedly ate the peach Uncle Bill had gotten for her. She had little to no appetite right now, but she didn’t want to disappoint him further. As soon as the sweet, saccharine juice hit her tongue, she immediately felt hungry…

She didn’t expect it to be this savory. She eyed the other fruits as she eagerly bit into more of the fruit.

‘Should I eat more?’

she wondered in between bites, as the juices dribbled down her chin.

‘I probably should save some for later though.’

Eventually, her hunger won out and she immediately reached for more of the peaches, when an unfamiliar sound soared through the stillness of the town! Leyla’s hand stilled, a breadth away from another peach.

Her hand wavered and lightly nudged the peach, prompting it to roll off the table. Something unsettling was churning in her stomach.

It was impossible… 

But she couldn’t shake the feeling away. She couldn’t help but feel cold dread wash all over her as the alarms rang again…

‘No! Please no!’

A scream broke out, not too far away, followed closely by a loud explosion, and the ground beneath her shook!

Leyla screamed, holding onto the corners of the table as her entire apartment shook from the impact! Frames fell down, and the cabinets clattered as more and more explosions rang out from all around her!

Finally, Leyla managed to crawl underneath the table, holding onto the legs for dear life as the shaking grew stronger with each passing second!

The explosions were drawing closer and closer to her! More screams were heard out in the streets as everyone hurried to a bomb shelter!

Leyla’s heart was beating so loudly against her chest, that she could hear it pounding in her ears! She knew she needed to get out quickly, and race to the nearby bomb shelter, but her body was currently frozen in fear!

‘Think Leyla! Think!’ she admonished herself, ‘What do you have to do!?’

Her minds raced back to that time Uncle Bill pulled her out of her frozen state, and immediately brought them back to the nearby chapel where they all huddled in until the bombing was over. 

She could do that. She did it once before, she could do it again!

A loud explosion suddenly appeared, and the building across from hers blew up into pieces! Leyla wasted no time more in crawling out from under the table and rushed outside, bringing nothing but adrenaline as she raced outside for safety!

As she rushed out of the building, she heard a fighter jet whizzing through the air loudly! Then, another roof went missing from across the street!

Leyla’s legs felt weak upon seeing the wreckage in front of her, but she couldn’t stop! And so with shaky legs, she continued down the flight of stairs, hoping for the next bomb to not land right on top of her!

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

A smoking pistol remained, and a gurgling sound came from the Lovitan commander. Matthias stood over the dying man with cold, and unimpressed eyes, his gun still aimed perfectly to where the commander had been kneeling. 

The commander’s gun was soon soaked with his own blood in no time. 

Feeling he was dead enough, Matthias pocketed back his pistol and turned to his men as though he did not just kill a man. However, even Matthias’ men became unnerved about his indifference. Some swallowed down the uncomfortableness of the moment.

“Like I said, this battle is over.” He reiterated and turned towards the Lovitan general, who remained. He held out his hand for him to shake as though they were just finishing a business transaction. 

The general squeezed his eyes shut, muttering about their god to show mercy and looked up to the skies to pray once last time. Then, with a despairing sigh, he quickly removed his effects and surrendered them to the young Berg major. 

An official recognition of defeat. 

He had no doubt another airstrike would happen, this time closer to the beaches of Sienna. 

Matthias looked towards the defeated general, stepped back a few paces away, and bowed towards him. The Lovitan General rose to his feet and straightened up his posture.

“I apologize about your commander.” Matthias hummed respectfully, looking down on the bloodied corpse between them. He then gestured to his men, and immediately, the General was cuffed, and led towards the square.

The general was now their prisoner of war. 

Upon seeing this, cheers from the Berg army erupted loudly! Then, they began to celebrate their short-lived victory before they began preparations to occupy the whole of Sienna. 

Matthias felt somewhat detached from the whole thing. The war wasn’t important. 

Victory, glory, and honor? None of that mattered, none of those ever meant anything to him. He was only ever here for one thing, one important thing most of all, and the only one that mattered above everything else for him.

If winning the pointless war for his emperor was the way to do it, so be it.

All he needed was Leyla. 

His Leyla.

A small curve of a smile made its way to his lips at the thought of her. 

He watched as his men tore down Lovita’s flag and replaced it with their own, declaring the city to be on Berg’s property. His commanding officer was now making a big fancy speech to boost more of their force’s morale, but Matthias didn’t need them.

His morale is boosted every time he knew he was closer to seeing Leyla again.

She would belong to him again, in every sense of the word, and he could now keep her safe in the way he deemed fit. 

Any moment now, he’d have her again. This was his fate. He couldn’t help but feel amused. People said you could die any time in times of war, but Matthias never felt more alive than right now! He knew air strikes were still being held around Sienna, and there was no way to guarantee her survival…

But he knew his Leyla was a survivor. Therefore, she’d find some way to be safe and remain safe until he was there to see her again. 

Besides, he’d issued an order to provide safe haven to any of the civilians they’d encounter along the way. His men knew not to harm anyone that wasn’t an opposing soldier. But, of course, if they were met with resistance, Matthias gave them a go-ahead to do what must be done. 

‘Ah, Sienna,’

Matthias thought with a confident smirk, ignoring the dried blood splattered around his face.

‘You’re mine, any moment now.’