Ch. 6: Of Fire and Steel

"Feuer! (Fire!)"

A trebuchet was ordered to fire.

"eingehend! (incoming!)"

A boulder hit the wall destroying the top part of it.

"Die Division Seggs meldete, der Feind habe Verstarkung. (Seggs' division reported enemy reinforcements)"

"keine rationen mehr (no more rations)"

Men were dying, starving and suffering. The siege surprised everyone and they weren't prepared.

"die mauer ist kaputt (the wall is broken)"

Soldiers were being deployed left and right. The stronghold can't take it.

"Schmidt!" a man said, he had black long hair, and a dirty face. He had a shirt that looked like a potato sack, with chainmail in front of it and a bowl-like helmet. He also had a slight muscular build. A wide nose and red eyes, his facial features were. He was standing up near

"Yeah Hans!" the one named Schmidt said, he had the same build, features and armor as Hans but he had a slender build and blue eyes. He was currently sitting at a chair overlooking the whole 100km stronghold. While Hans was standing up.

"Ze commadant told us ve vur going to the gate, lets go" Hans said with a thick Zsenik accent, walking towards the gate. It was far away, they were at the 3rd wall as garrison but the commander said otherwise. The first gate was now being fought for, as well as it's walls. For 3 months this was happening. 3 months.

Schmidt then stood up and grabbed his sword and shield, while Hans had a spear and shield. As the two walked together they saw others as well.

"MAMA!"

"nein ich will nicht gehen!"

"Oh lieber Gott Barjuid nimm mein Gebet an und vergib mir meine Sunden"

Some pleaded to be let go, some were crying, and many were praying. After all, the Zsenik are not known for their armies.

As they walked through the second gate the defenses were amounting. Spikes and all that as well as makeshift cannons.

The research department told them that they could use the new weapon of war. One they call a musket, it was hard getting it to work and being safely transported. The ammo was a small metal ball and its propellant was something called 'gunpowder'.

"Be careful with that around fire. It's explosive…I think"

"Sure, sure" Two soldiers chatted about the gunpowder.

"Watch out!" a soldier shouted at the soldiers stationed pointing towards a boulder coming there way. Schmidt and Hans quickly went to cover near a house. The boulder nearly hitting them, hit dozens of soldiers and buildings.

Whatever they were in was going to be hell.

------------------

"Status Report" a man commanded with a raspy voice. He had black long hair in a ponytail. He had a beefy body. He was at least 40-50 years old, with some slivers of white in his hair. He also has a bushy beard. He was wearing knight's armor. His helmet was at a table near him. He was currently standing and overlooking a map.

He was inside a cobblestone building at the 3rd gate. Guards all over the place. Inside was a table with a map on it and some weapons laying near the side.

"Commander, Segg's division has spotted enemy reinforcements, whilst our reinforcements from the Zivali are still a long way from here. The 1st gate is being fought for now hard, casualties mounting, rations lessening and injured….too many. The 44th platoon has been sent to the 1st wall." An officer said. Having a rather slender build. Standing near the door. He was wearing his armor which consisted of a sallet helmet with a cover for the mouth. An iron chest plate, chainmail behind it, and iron leggings as well as brown leather boots.

"What are the groups in the platoon?" the commander asked, looking at the officer.

"Uh…There is Grinson's squad, Alcthridth's, Tyrol's, Tenhauser's and Haldnen's sir" the officer replied. There was a moment of silence between the two until the commander spoke up.

"Have Haldnen's and Tyrol's squad support the men on the walls. Tenhauser's and Grinson's should support the defenders at the gate and the inner defense of the first layer. Lastly, Alcthridth's should be at the backline to be ready to be called onto."

"Yes sir I'll relay the order"

"Good, now get going." the commander said as the officer left.

He then gets out files of the members.

Ivan Grinson- S.C

Gregor Tyrol- S.C

Hans Haldnen- S.C

Erik Alcthridth- S.C

Adolphus Tenhauser- S.C

Hans Haldnen- Age: 25 Birth Place: Staunn Braun, Rhur Province.

Role: Captain of his own squad.

D: Excels in hand-to-hand combat, Bow, and melee weapons. Mediocre in intelligence

Members:

Falnern Karkovitchky- Melee expert

Brinn Bauns- Sharpshooter

Val Gritchnon- Melee expert

Schmidt Haldnen- Intelligence officer

Schmidt Haldnen- Age: 23 Birth Place: Staunn Braun, Rhur Province

Role: Intelligence officer

D: Excels in Academics of Biology, Chemistry, Botany, Microbiology, Animology, etc., feeble at hand-to-hand combat, bow, melee weapons but adapts easily.

He looks at the files of the two brothers and sets it down the table. He sighed, "potential candidates" he murmured.

---------------------------

"Cap'n" a man shouted, the voice was fruity. A short man about at a height of 5'3 and eight inches shorter than the two brothers. He had shoulder level blond hair, an ample body stature, a long nose and black eyes. His hair was messy. He was currently sitting on a barrel at the side of a road. Wearing a rangers outfit.

"Morning Brinn, I told zu to meet az at ze 2nd gate"Hans informed Brinn. They were now at the sights of the 1st wall.

"Sorry commadant, got lost and ended up waiting here"

"Don't vorry…now vhere are ze west?"

"Uhh…" Brinn paused.

"RIGHT HERE" a man said with a grating voice. A tall man with short hair that was light brown showed up. Having a toned build, he was at least 6'5. To his right was a man with long black hair and a pretty shredded build and being just a bit short compared to the other. They were walking towards them. The cheerful one was wearing a steel chest plate and leggings without a helmet while the quiet one was wearing full metal armor.

"Aah! Zere you are Falnern und Val, you vere just in time. I vas verried you guys already vent to ze fight"

"AHH! DON'T WORRY CAPTAIN, WE MAY BE STRONG MEN BUT WE ARE ALSO CAPABLE OF FOLLOWING CLEAR DIRECTIONS" Falnern's voice still grating. He then coughed a lot. Val just grunted.

"Alright Vet's go!" Hans said. The squad then went to the place just near the gate where they were supposed to be. Along with the other squads

"Alright! Commander gave the orders. Haldnen and Tyrol's squad are stationed at the walls. Tenhauser and Grinson's at the gate and Alcthridth's at the back for reinforcements" As soon as the officer in charge finished the soldiers regrouped and went towards the supposed place. Hans' squad was going to the north wall where the 1st gate is located.

"Alright, Brinn you go to a building near ze vall, Val, Farnern und Schmidt, you're vith me got zit?" Hans asked, they replied with a nod and a grunt. "Alvight…let's go!"

Brinn went to a building just near the wall a tall enough to not be at the sight of to be hit by a boulder. The rest then went to the top of the walls where fighting was happening. As they reached the place, soldiers and orcs were already fighting. Val and Falnern went into the fray as Hans helped some soldiers. Schmidt on the other hand looked outside the walls. Calculating the next wave and approximately how many.

"distance….height….width….speed…..Captain!" he murmured then screamed the last part gaining the attention of Hans.

"Calculations?"

"4 more siege towers coming in about 13 minutes with at least…..170 orcs or 110 orcs and 20 trolls"

"crap"

"I know….I think…we should…abandon the 1st walls-"

"not now…" Hans interjected, killing an orc with his spear.

"Sorry" Schmidt mumbled, not noticing an orc sneaking behind him until it was too late. The orc jumped on him but was stopped by an arrow killing it. Schmidt, now on the ground, looked at the building and gave a thumbs up. His left hand was shaking, but he grabbed it tightly to stop it.

-------------------Time skip 10 minutes later

As the fighting ended the ones who were left were Hans' squad and Tyrol's along with ten other soldiers. Schmidt took this chance to speak up.

"I think we should withdraw the 1st wall." He said, gaining the attention of everyone.

"Why?" one soldier asked.

"Look all around." he said. They looked around and saw flames, debris, broken buildings, and corpses. "W-we should go now before it's too late…I've checked my calculations…In about…2 hours, they might get the wall and in 12, the whole 1st layer….As well as the enemy gaining a foothold in our territory…and don't you see? The enemy is wearing us out! Look at the dead's armor? A few to a medium amount while look at the ones outside!"

They looked at the enemy and saw…heavily armored orcs and trolls.

"We are wasting our time with the grunts while they still have stronger ones outside. This is a war of attrition. An-"

"The enemy have breached the gates!"

They looked at where the gate was and saw orcs pouring through it. They also looked at the walls where the siege towers now came and the gate was opened, orcs pouring out. They had to fight their way out.

"Schmidt calculations!" a man in medium (not heavily armored like heavy armored knights) armor shouted at him. He was from Tyrol squad. Schmidt then calculated the forces coming to them and the ones on the ground.

"More coming in about 20 minutes! And some are coming here in less than ten…..so we need to kill them quickly before their reinforcements get here and we can escape them."

"Thanks." he replied, killing an orc.

"Schmidt!" Hans called striking an orc with a sword. "Go to Brinn and stay vith him und tell him to make a signal to varn us iv the others are coming"

Schmidt replied with a nod then went down the wall to where Brinn was. He ran as fast as his noodle legs could go. Fortunately his stamina was ok. As he reached the building Brinn was supposedly in, it was about a minute of two getting there.

"Brinn!" he said, being able to see Brinn up on the third floor of the building.

"What is going on?" he asked curiously.

"If we spot some orcs coming within an 18 feet radius of them, we need to signal them." Schmidt replied. Brinn nodded. Brinn then continued firing his bow at enemies.

As the enemies in the walls lessened, the orc reinforcements were nearing. So Schmidt told Brinn that it was time. "Do it"

So Brinn fired an arrow near the squads gaining their attention. Thankfully Brinn was visible enough to do sign language and make them understand. "Reinforcements are nearing close, Go!"

As the two squads and a random group of soldiers retreated, Brinn and Schmidt went as well hoping to rendezvous with them.

---------------------------

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN!" the commander said looking down at a piece of paper given to him by a messenger that sneaked in. The letter said:

"Dear Commander Welshen,

The war department has given you the direct order to hold out. Reinforcements are on the way. Supplies can not be sent to the place anymore due to the rear guards defeat a few days prior. The Zivali are coming in three weeks at their fastest. So, I hope you find a miracle and somehow survive this. "

The order was ridiculous to him. The men's morale was low, supplies and rations were down and the men were fighting the enemy to their deaths. "Those slow bastards!" Commander Welshen threw the letter to the table letting it fall down to the ground.

"The men are fighting for their lives! They need to hasten their advance more or my soldiers will all die!" He screamed at the top of his lungs.

Commander Welshen just walked outside near the Captain.

"What are the conditions of the squads?" he asked.

"Well sir, Grinson, Tenhauser and Alcthridth's squads made it inside the second gate in time…while Tyrol and Haldnen's squad haven't been seen yet." The captain informed the Commander.

"What are the conditions of the soldiers?" He asked.

"um, there were…how do I say this….." The captain tried to find a better way to word it. "They…have lost most of their will to fight…or live."

Hearing this, Welshen rubbed the temples of his head. "Crap, if this goes on, when the orcs reach the second wall, our men will all be dead."

"We can only hope for a miracle to happen." The captain replied.

"There are no such things as miracles." Welshen retorted. "The only thing we can hope for is that the reinforcements can come soon and lift the siege."

----------------------------------------

Outside the walls there lay two orcs talking to each other.

"So…The archers will go inside first commander?" the orc officer asked.

"Yes…the Zsenik scum rely on defense, so let it be that they will die doing so. Reports by our scouts say that reinforcements are not here for 3 weeks." The supposedly Commander told his officer. "And get Alaknar"

-------------------------------

Thankfully the two groups met without fighting enemies. They met at a place full of destroyed buildings and some debris laying everywhere, they were far from the nearing orc army. Schmidt, Brinn, both Tyrol and Haldnen squad, and 10 other soldiers were there. It was silent for a few minutes with them resting on the floor from the battle until someone spoke out. He was from Tryol squad, blond hair in a ponytail, his body was athletic with a armor covering his chest to his toes. A bushy mustache and beard. The man was Gregor Tyrol, the leader of Tyrol squad. "So, now we go back to the 2nd wall"

Others looked at him with agreement, but Schmidt looked at him in disbelief, he spoke to him "W-w-we can't!" he said, making others gasp at him, especially Hans.

"What?!" Capt. Tyrol growled at Schmidt, walking up to him. "They have the first wall, they have the wall, we withdrew, what do you think we will do next?"

Schmidt, losing confidence, suddenly spoke up to him with determination. "We attack"

"You're crazy!" A soldier from Tyrol squad said to him.

"Yeah, you are…" Tyrol said, walking away from him and to his squad.

"What do you think we do? Huh? Should we just sit and wait for our doom?!" Schmidt replied.

"Schmidt, I think you should just-" Hans interjected but was cut of by Schmidt.

"What do you think they will do? This is not a war of numbers! This is a war of attrition! They will slowly but surely kill us! They know our strategy! They've defeated the rear guards near this fort! It's only a matter of time until we will all die inside here!" Schmidt screamed at Tyrol with all his might. Unfortunately some orcs heard this and now informed their commander. Now the orcs were nearing them, making them move again and hide somewhere safe.

"This is not over…" Tyrol said to Schmidt before running towards safety.

The group went into broken buildings to hopefully hide from the orcs. From broken buildings to debris they went.

"Hey…how'd you know anything about that?" Brinn asked curiously.

"Their movements…when I saw other orcs, they were just standing there. Doing nothing. Then, I saw some other orcs enter, they were archers. They've no intention of attacking with numbers. They'll attack with archers" Schmidt said as he walked through the building. "They have the intention of wearing us out, both our manpower and morale."

*BAM

A boulder hit the building they were in and made a hole in the side, but that wasn't all, Tyrol and Hans were cut off from the rest of the group. They were behind the group and now they were trapped between a wall of debris and orcs.

Meanwhile at the other side the rest of the group laid. Stopping 'cause of the wall of debris isolating the two captains and their squads. Val and Falnern tried to make the wall move but it did not budge.

"Val, Falnern…you can't move it….t-they are now in the hands of the orcs!" Schmidt said with regret.

"NO! WE CAN'T JUST LEAVE THEM, REMEMBER? NO MAN LEFT BEHIND?" Falnern said to Schmidt before coughing a lot again.

"Wait, where's Alhan?" a soldier said, looking everywhere.

"what does he look like?" Val mumbled but everyone could here him.

"uhh…he has brown hair…and small height…that's all I know"

"This him?" Val said holding an upper part of a dead body by the hair, the hair had brown hair. The head was bloody and blood was still oozing out of the chest. The soldier who was looking for him vomited outside.

"W-We should go" a soldier quickly said.

At the other side of the wall Tyrol and Hans were looking at each other with orcs nearing them. It was a silent moment until Hans spoke to Tyrol. "Should we fight?"

Tyrol looked at the wall and then to the orcs and looked back at Hans "Well, I don't have a choice do I?"

Hans made a smirk then went into a battle stance towards the orcs. "You always have a choice"

The two then charged the orcs, battle ready, into a battle to the death.

----------------------

Outside the orc commander was just sitting down a tree bark waiting for someone. Another orc then walked up to him, his head was scary looking, a face that had one eye bigger than the other and deformed face. His body was not seen because of his black sharp-looking armor. On his left hand was a sword and on the other a hammer.

"I've been waiting." the orc commander said. The other just grunted.

"Your mission now…." The commander stood up and looked at the other in the eye "Kill all the survivors in the first section." With that the other just nodded and left. 'Alaknar…the champion of the orcs' the commander thought and chuckled.

----------------------

As the remaining group ran towards the exit they hid near another broken but not demolished building. They took their time, they were about 6 meters near the second gate.

"So who will be leading this group?" Brinn suddenly asked. There were murmurs among the soldiers until it stopped when Falnern spoke up.

"I think....Schmidt should be leader" gasps were heard and the group broke into arguements. Schmidt, who was shocked when he heard his name cooled down. He could hear the group's voices.

"What?"

"How can he lead us when he can not even fight?"

"COME ON GUYS! HE'S SMART! HE PREDICTED MANY THINGS AND WAS CORRECT" Falnern defended but deflated when Schmidt was nowhere to be seen. He tried to look for him but was stopped by Val then immediately coughed more.

"He is probably thinking of something." Val mumbled for only Falnern to be heard.

As Schmidt walked away, out of sight of the soldiers, he went to another broken building but was still standing. He walked inside and sat down on the ground of the second floor, thinking. 'What should I do? I'm not capable of being a leader. I'm not even good enough with fighting, and leading? That was…Hans' trait. He is a good leader.' He then remembers his experiences when he was younger.

(Flashback)

It was a sunny day, four kids were outside near a forest. Inside the forest though laid a wooden house.

"Hey Schmidt! Why don't you go inside the broken down house?" A kid as old as him said.

"B-b-but I-i-i-t's Trespassing?" he stuttered

"Oh come on! Don't be a baby! We're 10!" Another kid said.

"F-Fine" he mumbled. He stood up, and went inside the forest to the house. Each step he took was long. He was scared, scared of what may come out of the house and eat him.

'Idon'twanttodieIdon'twanttodieIdon'twanttodie'he thought as he was nearing the place. As he opened the door he was expecting something scary and old. But all he could find was…

…

…

Books.

He skimmed through the titles and pages of the books. Each one gave him interest. He skimmed and skimmed until he found something that caught his eye.

THE WAY OF THE WORLD

BY FREDERICK AXVALL

He read through the pages and many things interested him like how the world worked. Equipment beyond worth of his village and discoveries beyond what his 10-year-old mind can comprehend. When he was done reading the book he noticed that it was nearing nightfall. 'It must have took me all day to read the book'

And so he left with the knowledge he learned from it and headed back home where his parents were.

The other kids were surprised by it, because they thought he was dead.

"What happened?"

"We thought you were dead?"

"Why did it take you until night time to leave the place?"

All little Schmidt could say was "I saw books and read them"

Making the three other kids unsurprised. The day then ended and he went back home and slept, when the next day came he went to the house and read more books. His routing went on and on. From days to months to a year. When other kids knew about what was happening, they started to bully him and he was ostracized but he didn't mind 'cause he has books, a whole library full of it. He excelled in school because of it. He wanted to become a scientist. But his father was mad at him.

"WHY DON'T YOU JUST GIVE UP TRYING TO BECOME A SCIENTIST AND JUST BECOME A SOLDIER" his father shouted at him. His father was a soldier, and so was his father's father, and it goes on and on. Schmidt wanted to become a scientist to try and help people but his father said otherwise.

"LOOK AT HANS! HE'S MORE STRONGER THAN YOU! YOU ARE A DISGRACE!" his father shouted again. Tears swelled in Schmidt's eyes.

"OH! ARE YOU GOING TO CRY NOW? WELL JOKES ON YOU! I DON'T PITY YOU" insults were hurled at Schmidt who began to cry.

"GO TO YOUR ROOM!"

Schmidt then ran to his room crying and used that to help with his sleep. When the next day arrived, it would be the start of hell.

…

His father held him firm with his hand and went outside to a nearby field. He then dropped his grip on Schmidt as he fell down. But before Schmidt could stand up straight, he was kicked in the right cheek.

"NO SON OF MINE WILL BECOME A FUCKING SCIENTIST!" his father shouted as he helped Schmidt get back up only to punch him in the stomach. Schmidt vomited blood then.

"I WILL TRAIN YOU TO BE THE PERFECT SOLDIER!" his father announced. "I WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO FIGHT AND KILL AND MAKE YOU FORGET ABOUT BECOMING A SCIENTIST!!"

Hell then started as everyday, Schmidt trained with his father. Many times bleeding out, fainting, and vomiting. Due to this, his mother then left his father.

Training became harder and harder there. He was taught close quarters combat and how to use knives, and throwing axes. The two would continue this for 4 years until his death.

He and Hans attended his funeral. The former would not pity that man he called 'father.' He did not cry.

"I will not use what you taught me. Instead, I will use what I taught myself." Schmidt vowed before he and his brother left the cemetery. 'I will use my knowledge and help people as well as never being useless.'

(Flashback End)

And here he was now feeling useless about the situation. 'I am useless after all'

He sighed as he gazed at the large gap in the broken building.

"You are worth more than you think you are." A voice called out to him. He turned his attention to the building, seeing if anyone was there.

"Hello?" he stood up looking around. Everywhere in the building he looked and looked but his attempt was futile. 'I must be losing my mind now' he shook his head.

"No you're not" a misty figure said to him walking near him. "I am simply here, but also I am not"

"That does not make sense…" Schmidt took a moment of silence. "unless there is a technology that can present a user in another form-"

"See! You aren't useless at all! You can imagine creations that have not been thought of yet!" the mist interjected, stopping Schmidt's mumbling. "That big brain of yours is your power, the knowledge you have, the knowledge you own is your power and you can discover more and more with it."

The mist started walking around him in circles. "But you are stopping yourself from reaching your full potential. You accepted the cons of the situation, as well as the pros. But why not accept what your father, our father has taught you?"

Schmidt hastily responded. "No! I'm the one choosing what I can or can't do! I am the only one capable of changing my own path!"

"But think about it, is it helping you or your friends? Your comrades?" The mist asked.

"I came far without using it! What makes you think that I can't achieve anything?" Schmidt shouted.

"For a smart person, you are very narrow-minded." The mist chuckled. "What will you do if a scenario where you need to use the skills he taught you?"

"…" Schmidt could not think of an answer.

"You have grown so much, brother…but do not let grudges nor anything push you away from your true potential." The mist then disappeared from the building leaving a very confused Schmidt.

"…" he thought about what he said. He then looked at the gap in the building and saw orcs pouring in. It took a good 5 seconds until he saw something different. An orc with black armor, a sword arm at his left arm and a hammer in the right. The orc's face was deformed and ugly looking. It was looking at it's comrades until…

…

…

It looked right at him, its eyes piercing his soul and its mouth had formed a somewhat-smile before walking into the city.

"crap" he muttered to himself before running back towards the others. He made his way onto the group, but when he went to the spot, they were gone.

"Oh crap" he said to himself. 'I am dead, so dead'

Schmidt looked everywhere to find them but ended up with no luck. He found some barrels of gunpowder but nothing else. He then heard footsteps, then sword clatter. 'Oh no' He ran towards the noise as fast as he could, with sword in hand he saw them clashing with a group of orcs and in the midst, lay the black one slaying others with ease.

With a left strike he killed a soldier. Another one with its hammer. He saw Falnern and the others struggling to fight the others so he took the initiative. He noticed that he was in a building being held by one support pillar so he called out to the others.

"Guys! Come here!" he shouted. Some did follow, some hesitated but did, but Falnern refused.

"YOU GUYS GO! I'LL HOLD THEM OFF!" he said, holding back an orc from killing him.

"NO! YOU WILL NOT" Schmidt replied. Gaining a chuckle.

"You can become a good leader, Schmidt." Falnern said. "But leave me here, I'm a liability, and you and I know that"

Schmidt was silent until he nodded and ran, hitting the singular pillar making it fall on the way. His left hand was shaking again, he stopped it again with his right hand. With Falnern alone, he killed and killed orcs, slashing them. He was now against the black armored one. He attacks but the orc dodged and with a singular left strike with its sword he defeated Falnern. Finishing the move, the orc left his body on the ground bleeding and walked towards the now made wall.

"A worthy opponent?" the orc asked himself then smiled.

Schmidt and the group that was left were now hiding again. It came down to 12 men. Four from Tyrol's and three from Haldnen's as well as 5 militia. Things were going badly for the group. They were 5 feet near the second wall.

"We're screwed!" a soldier said.

"Yes we are…" Schmidt replied, getting the attention of the group. "we are, if we don't fight back!"

Schmidt walked to the scared soldier. "What is your name?"

"Gray Nuhr" the said soldier replied. He had blonde hair with his hair growing only up to his shoulders. He had an iron chest plate, and no protection on the limbs, which were covered by normal clothes. He had a slender body. 'could be good at running'

"How 'bout you guys?" he asked the others. "as well as those from Tyrol squad, I don't know your names as well"

"Erich Wolkbeck." A soldier from Tyrol squad said. He had jet black long hair. He had a beard and mustache. He was wearing full iron armor without the helmet. He had a strong body but not that bulky. His left arm was missing. 'A fighter eh.'

"Hasso Verchi." Another soldier from Tyrol squad said. He had light brown hair that was in a ponytail, and was smaller than most by 3-4 inches. He had leather armor and a bow and arrow with a knife. 'An archer'

"Erwin Rommelbok." A soldier said. He had hair just like Erich but shorter and a body and armor just like Gray but he had a mustache. 'I think he can be a good distraction'

"Monn Von Fachk." Another soldier from neither group said. Having darker brown hair which he put in a manbun and a goatee. A body just like Erich but a little bit slender. He also had no armor, only clothes that were rags.

"Heinz Goschenz." A soldier from Tyrol squad said. He had jet black hair that was shortened, only reaching his ears. He had a bulky body like Falnern or Val. He was wearing only an iron helmet and leather armor for the rest.

"Reiner Jakob." A soldier said. He looked like Gray but with a mustache. He also had no armor.

"Walter Pock." Another soldier said. He looked like Brinn but much taller. He had a leather chest plate and was wearing chainmail under it.

"Witz Hausern." A soldier from Tyrol squad said. He looked like Hans but had grey hair and an athletic body. He was in medium iron armor.

Now that everyones' been introduced, Schmidt started. "Well then, Now that I know your names I'll have to say this. Either you go back to safety or fight with me, we will all die. From the attrition we face or to the enemy's weapons. As the saying of an old leader, "Es gibt zwei Dinge im Krieg. Diejenigen, die kämpfen und diejenigen, die rennen. Entweder einer, sie werden beide sterben. Aber wer kämpft, wird andere inspirieren. (There are two things in war. Those who fight and those who run. Either one, they both will die. But whoever fights will inspire others)" I will ask you this, will you fight? Or will you run?"

It was silent the next few moments. Many were thinking and some were waiting for others to go first. That was until Heinz stepped up and said. "I will join you in your endeavors then."

Then one by one many joined him. Gray however refused to join. "I'm sorry, but I will decline."

"Then it is not my position to judge you." Schmidt replied, turning his back to him. Gray then left towards the second wall.

"Well then" He started. "I have a plan. An explosive one."

----------------------

As Gray neared the wall he saw boulders flying over head and onto the second wall. He was seen by the gate guards and soon opened up for him. He quickly did so, but when he saw what was inside, it was messy. Soldiers wounded, maimed, and dead were laying inside. With a few healthy ones waiting for an order. He sat down a barrel near the gate.

A few moments went by, with arrows barraging the walls, until he was called by an officer.

"Soldier, the commander wants to see you." He said before walking away. On his way he saw many things, from screaming soldiers, to ones committing suicide.

"I can't take it anymore." a soldier said. The soldier's left eye was gone and was covered in ragged bandages.

"Niles! no!" A soldier shouted to the one committing suicide. Niles then jumped off the wall and died with a splat.

As he made it to the Commander's place he saw him sitting down, looking at the fortress being fought for.

"Where are the other squads?" Commander Welshen bluntly said before looking at him.

"U-um, t-they are-t-they said t-they were going to counterattack the enemy" He said.

"Soldier, can I ask you a question?"

"Yes sir."

"Why do we fight?"

The question made Gray silent.

"Why do people kill other people? for survival?" he continued. "Can you tell me the answer?"

"I-I-I d-d-d-ont know sir"

"Life really is a mystery, us humans are a mystery, even the world is a mystery. Have you ever wondered what it would be like if.....if we didn't exist?"

"No sir"

"Heh, now I think Barjuid wants us to suffer to see who will lead others and who will run." Commander Welshen stood up and left, but before leaving he said. "One is a lamb one is a lion, be a lion not a lamb."

Gray stood there for a few minutes until he heard explosions coming from the 1st wall. He looked towards the 1st section and ran to the walls of the 2nd and saw…

…

Explosions destroying the buildings.

"Schmidt" he murmured. He also saw other soldiers looking at the explosions. He took that chance. The chance to speak up and inspire them.

---------------A few minutes ago

"Okay the plan, use the gunpowder and possibly rout the enemy. Erwin, Monn, and Erich will put the barrels at the buildings that are visible in Brinn's eyes. Walter on the other hand will put one near the gate. Hasso and Heinz will distract the enemy. Val, Reiner and Witz will hold the flanks so that you can put the gunpowder. Ok?"

"Sir, Yes Sir!" the group said.

"Let's Go"

The group went to their respective objectives. Schmidt then held a dagger in his right hand. He looked at it with hatred. His right hand then shook furiously, then he dropped it. 'I don't need it.'

---------------Now

Gray ran to the highest point where he could be seen by everyone. Once there, he felt something rising inside of him, courage? Confidence? Guilt? Then, he started. "Soldaten! Manner! Waffenbruder ... Wie Sie sehen, hat eine Gruppe von Soldaten beschlossen, sich gegen den Feind zu rachen. Eine Gruppe von Soldaten, die ihr Leben fur uns aufgeben werden! Eine Gruppe von Soldaten, die fur unser VATERLAND sterben wird! Ich bitte dich nur darum. Wirst du kampfen? Fur unsere Familie, Freunde und unser Land? Wirst du fur ihre Zukunft kampfen?! (Soldiers! Men! Brothers in Arms... As you can see, a group of soldiers decided to take revenge against the enemy. A group of soldiers who will give their lives for us! A group of soldiers who will die for our FATHERLAND! I'm just asking you will you fight For our family, friends and our country? Will you fight for their future?!)"

"JA!!" one chanted, and once heard at least everyone started chanting it.

"Wir sind nicht schwach! (We are not weak!)"

"JA"

"Wir sind keine Feiglinge!(We are not cowards!)"

"JAA!!"

"Wir haben ein Feuer in unseren Herzen! das Feuer der Entschlossenheit! Und ein stahlerner Wille!(We have a fire in our hearts! the fire of determination! And a will of steel!)"

"JA!"

"Wir! Wir sind gemacht! Von FEUER und STAHL(We! We are made! Of FIRE and STEEL!!)"

"JA!!".

The chants could be heard even in the 3rd gate which reached the ears of Welshen.

"What is happening outside?" Welshen asked his guards.

"It seems sir, someone is speaking, someone is inspiring the soldiers"

Welshen was surprised to say the least. He called upon the captain.

"What is it sir?" the Captain asked.

"Come with me." Welshen said walking with the captain towards the 2nd section. "What happened?"

"Explosions sir, from the 1st section." The captain informed Welshen.

"How?" he asked.

"I believe it was Haldnen and Tyrol's squad." The captain said as both of them reach the second layer.

"And what happened is that they were inspired?" Welshen asked, putting on his helmet.

"I believe so sir." The captain replied.

"Huh, miracles do exist." Welshen said. The captain only grinned. "I can feel you grinning."

The captain then stopped grinning, returning to a blank face.

As the two went to the group of chanting soldiers Welshen went to the center of the crowd. He saw the soldier he met many minutes ago trying to argue with the gate opener to make it open.

"Open it!" Gray screamed, not noticing commander Welshen.

"I'm sorry but it is forbidden." The gatekeeper said.

"Why?!"

"Because I said so!" Commander Welshen interjected, walking up to him.

"Why?" Gray asked softly

"Because I wouldn't want my men going out without me" he replied gaining looks of shock from many. He then looked towards the group of soldiers and towards the gatekeeper. "Open it."

"Yes Sir!"

As the gate was being opened Welshen said to Gray. "I'm proud son, you made lambs into lions." Gaining a nod from Gray.

"Not before a lion in sheep's clothing made me into one." Gray said, referring to Schmidt. Welshen nodded in response.

"CHARGE!" Welshen shouted as he unsheathed his sword.

"CHARGE!" Gray shouted with him. The soldiers then did a war cry and then they ran towards the gate.

"Till death I shall serve my kingdom" Welshen whispered to himself before running along, Gray following.