Fading Peace IV

"What!?" Kies wasn't sure if he heard that right. Did Nina just say that she was going to join the war as well?

"I said I'll join as well," Kies did hear her right. She was going to join the war with him.

"But why!?"

"I can't let you go alone."

Kies was dumbfounded. The battlefield was the last place he wanted her to be in. But judging from her expression, she was determined to go through with what she said no matter how much Kies tried convincing her otherwise.

"As you said, there is no other way out. Fighting is the only thing we can do now," Nina told him.

"But that doesn't mean that you should join the war as well."

"I won't change my mind." Nina was absolutely sure about her decision. Even though she couldn't stand blood, if Kies was going to fight then so was she. Nina was determined to follow Kies into war and nothing he said would stop her from going so.

Kies saw that it was pointless to try to talk her out of it and gave up. He walked to the wall of the mansion and sat down, leaned against it, and shook his head. Nina walked over and sat down beside him.

"Is there really no way to talk you out of it?" Kies asked in a concerned voice.

"If you're going then so am I."

"Your parents will definitely not allow you to go through with this."

"Though you barely talk to them, they're your parents too, and they don't want you to go either," she pointed out.

"Well, I have no choice," Kies reminded her. All men that were capable of fighting were told to report to the barracks by tonight, which was just a few hours away. Anyone who didn't comply would be executed. Hiding would be pointless because the army had records for every citizen in the kingdom. Even if one did manage to get away with hiding, they would be forced to stay in hiding for the rest of their lives. If Silverfield survives the fight, then they would be labeled as traitors.

If the Otane won, then they would take over the kingdom and they did not welcome cowards. They were a warring kingdom with a very strict military and set of laws. No matter which side wins, hiding is not a good option.

Silverfield was unlikely to win against Otone. They were lucky to be one of the two kingdoms that survived through the four-year-long war between the human kingdoms. The only reason why they made it to the end was because they constantly switched allies throughout the war, betraying their previous ones until it was only they and Otane that were left. As pretty as their name and kingdom were, their history was anything but.

Kies and Nina sat together without saying a word. It was probably their last time that they could enjoy a time like this together. Neither of them knew how much time went by, but after a while, Nina broke the silence to ask Kies something. "Are you wearing that necklace right now?"

"Yes, though it is a little bumpy and uncomfortable." Kies took out the bird necklace that was hiding under his shirt. It wasn't his first time looking at it, but he was still amazed by the details that went into carving it. He had gotten used to how strange the bird looked, and even if it was just a little bit, he kind of understood what Nina meant when she said that the bird was cute.

Nina looked at the position of the sun and told him, "Kies, I think it's about time."

Kies dropped the bird back into his shirt and got up. "Are you really sure about this?" he asked, already knowing the response he was going to get but he wanted to make sure one last time.

"Yes, I'm sure."

Even though Kies really didn't want Nina to follow him, he was a little relieved that she was going to be on the battlefield with him. He felt guilty thinking about that though.

"Oh, if we both survive the battle, I have something to tell you," said Nina.

"Can't you tell me right now?"

"No, we'll have to wait and see."

***

Siegfried stood at the doors of the barracks watching men both young and old arrive. Many of them looked nervous and from their body gestures, obviously didn't want to be here. However, there were a few exceptions, mainly the younger ones that were excited to join the war. There were also a few women that wanted to fight, with the majority of them being water or light mages. They were likely to be assigned to a clinic to take care of the wounded.

Siegfried continued to scan the crowd and saw two familiar faces. He raised his eyebrows, wondering why Nina was here.

'Maybe she is sending that boy off? What was his name again? Kale?'

Siegfried had already forgotten his name even though it was just yesterday that he saw him. 'Ugh, Rui is right. My memory really is getting worse.'

Nina's eyes met with Siegfried and the pair walked up to him. "Sir Siegfried, we are here to join," Nina told him.

Siegfried raised his eyebrows, thinking that maybe his ears were going bad too. "We?" he asked, making sure that he was hearing it right.

"Yes, we. The two of us."

"WHAT!" Siegfried's sudden yelling attracted everyone's attention and their heads turned to him.

"Ah sorry, please go back to what you were doing," Siegfried apologized to the crowd. He then asked Nina in his normal voice, "Why?"

"Because I want to?"

"And you're okay with this?" Siegfried looked at the boy next to Nina, whose name he was still trying to remember.

"I can't talk her out of it," Kies told the knight.

Siegfried looked back at Nina. "Do your parents know of this?"

Nina shook her head.

"Won't you reconsider? Even though as a water mage, you will likely be assigned to the clinic, it will still be dangerous."

"I've made up my mind and I'm not turning back," Nina said stubbornly.

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