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The sun was beginning to rise, casting a faint golden hue across the landscape as I sat by the campfire, lost in thought. The aftermath of the battle still weighed heavily on my mind. We had won, but it came at a cost—two of my men were severely injured. The sight of Timothy’s severed arm and Jared’s pale face haunted me. These weren’t just nameless recruits; they were men I had fought alongside, men I was responsible for.

I glanced over at Silvana, who was sitting across from me, her brow furrowed in concentration as she checked over our supplies. She’d been handling the logistics while I focused on the fight, and for that, I was grateful. I had a lot on my mind, but the weight of responsibility was something we shared.

“We need to get back to the city,” I said, breaking the silence. “We’ll fetch Sora and gather the supplies we discussed. We’ll also need to buy a few carts to transport the wounded.”

Silvana looked up at me, nodding. “Agreed. We can’t keep them out here like this, and it’s risky to send them back to the city. If anyone connects our men’s injuries to the bandits’ deaths, we’ll have bigger problems.”

I stood up, stretching my sore muscles. “Let’s move quickly. We’ll leave half the troops here with Leon to bury the bodies and stay out of sight. You and I will head to the city, get what we need, and come back as soon as possible.”

Silvana rose to her feet, wiping her hands on her tunic. “I’ll get everything ready. Meet me at the edge of camp when you’re set.”

I gave a curt nod and walked away to inform Leon of our plan. He was already organizing the remaining recruits to start digging the graves for the bandits. I could see the fatigue on his face, but his resolve hadn’t wavered.

“Leon, Silvana, and I are heading to the city to fetch Sora and supplies. I need you to stay here with the rest of the men, bury the bodies, and make sure no trace of our presence is left behind.”

He nodded, his jaw tight. “Understood. We’ll take care of things here.”

“Good. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

The journey to the city was quiet, both of us lost in our thoughts. As we moved, I found myself reflecting on the battle, on the decisions I had made. Had I done everything I could to protect my men? Could I have prevented those injuries or even the death of one of them?

“You did what you had to,” Silvana said suddenly as if sensing my thoughts.

I glanced at her, surprised. “What do you mean?”

She shrugged, keeping her eyes on the road ahead. “You made the right call. In battle, there are always risks, but we came out on top. You can’t blame yourself for everything.”

I nodded, though her words did little to ease the knot in my stomach. “It’s just… I feel like I’m responsible for them. If I had made a different plan, maybe things would have turned out better.”

Silvana was silent for a moment, then sighed. “You’re doing your best, Augustus. That’s all anyone can ask for.”

I didn’t respond, letting the silence stretch between us. The city walls were coming into view, tall and imposing against the morning sky. As we approached the gates, we were stopped by a couple of guards. I showed them the letter from Garios that had granted us access before, and after a brief inspection, they waved us through.

The city was eerily quiet, much like it had been during my last visit. Most of the shops were still closed, and the streets were nearly empty, save for a few garrison troops patrolling here and there. Silvana and I made our way toward the governor’s palace, but before heading inside, we decided to take care of the more urgent matters first.

“We need to buy some carts for the wounded,” I said. “And we’ll need a doctor to come with us. Let’s split up and handle that.”

Silvana nodded. “I’ll take care of the carts. You find a doctor.”

We parted ways, and I set off toward the lower part of the city where I knew a discreet doctor operated. The clinic wasn’t much to look at—just a small, nondescript building tucked between two larger structures—but the healer was skilled, and more importantly, he didn’t ask questions.

Inside, the air was thick with the smell of herbs and ointments, a sharp contrast to the stench of blood and death that still clung to me from the battlefield. The doctor, a wiry man with graying hair, looked up from his work as I entered.

“I need your help,” I said without preamble. “I have two wounded men outside the city, and they need medical attention. I can pay.”

He raised an eyebrow, wiping his hands on a cloth. “How badly are they hurt?”

“One’s lost an arm. The other’s got a deep wound in his leg. They’ll survive, but only if they get treated soon.”

The doctor nodded slowly. “I’ll need to gather supplies. Meet me outside the city gates in an hour.”

I thanked him and left the clinic, feeling a small weight lift from my shoulders. At least now my men had a chance. As I made my way back through the city, I spotted Silvana at the marketplace, haggling with a merchant over the price of the carts. I joined her just in time to see the merchant give in with a sigh and lower his price.

“Got the carts?” I asked as I approached.

“Two of them,” Silvana replied, looking satisfied. “Enough to carry the wounded and the supplies.”

“Good. I found a doctor. He’ll meet us at the gates with everything we need.”

Together, we gathered the necessary supplies—food, water, and medical items—and loaded them onto the carts. As we finished, I glanced toward the palace.

“Let’s go get Sora and finish this.”

---

We found Sora waiting outside the governor’s palace, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. She spotted us as we approached and raised an eyebrow.

“Took you long enough,” she said with a smirk.

I rolled my eyes. “We had to gather supplies. We’re heading back to the camp now. Everything’s ready.”

She nodded, her face serious again. “Good. Let’s get this over with.”

We left the city quickly, avoiding any unnecessary attention, and made our way back to the riverside where Leon and the others were waiting. The carts, supplies, and mules rattled behind us, and the doctor moved alongside, his face drawn with concern. I could only hope he was as skilled as his reputation claimed.

When we arrived at the camp, Leon had already finished burying the bodies, and the site looked clean—no signs of the battle remained. The men greeted us as we approached, and I could see the relief on their faces when they spotted the doctor.

“Get them treated,” I instructed the doctor, gesturing toward Timothy and Jared, who were still lying there. “Do whatever you can.”

The doctor nodded and got to work immediately, setting up his tools and tending to the wounded. Silvana organized the men, distributing the food and supplies we had brought back from the city. The mood was tense but hopeful. We had made it this far, and now we just needed to see it through.

Sora approached me as I stood watching the doctor work, her expression thoughtful. “You’ve done well, Augustus,” she said quietly.

I looked at her, surprised by the compliment. “Thanks. But we’re not done yet.”

She nodded, glancing toward the river. “No, we’re not. But I have a feeling you’ll see this through.”

There was something in her tone that made me pause, but before I could respond, Leon called out to me.

“The doctor says Jared’s stable, but Timothy… it’s bad.”

I walked over to the cart, where the doctor was kneeling beside Timothy. His face was pale, and the bandage around his arm was soaked through with blood.

“We’ve stopped the bleeding, but he’s lost too much blood,” the doctor said grimly. “I’ll do what I can, but it’s not looking good.”

I nodded, my throat tight. “Do your best.”

As I turned away, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me. Timothy was just one man, but he was my responsibility, and I had failed him.

Silvana appeared beside me, her expression soft. “You did everything you could, Augustus.”

I didn’t respond, the guilt gnawing at me.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of activity. The doctor worked tirelessly to stabilize Timothy and Jared, while the rest of us prepared for the journey ahead. We would be heading to the Aserai lands soon, leaving behind the Empire and all its dangers.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the camp, I sat down by the fire, exhausted but determined. The mission wasn’t over yet, but we were close. Soon, we would be out of the Empire’s reach, free to start fresh in a new land.

And for the first time in days, I allowed myself to feel a flicker of hope.