THE PRICE OF COURAGE

"What happened?" Gaius Drazen asked, addressing the warriors who had just returned from battle.

His question remained in the air like a sinister shadow, casting a shiver over the exhausted warriors. Their grimy, tired faces glanced away, avoiding his focused gaze. You could cut the tension with a knife, a heavy silence engulfing them. The troops fidgeted, their boots scratching the earth, as they exchanged short glances, quietly hoping that someone else would have the courage to respond.

The weight of what they all held pressed down on them, making the silence even more devastating. A single sweat drop slipped down one soldier's temple, the only trace of life in the oppressive silence. Another gritted his teeth, his jaw muscles revealing the words he was holding back. Eyes flitted around, desperate for someone to break the silence, to bear the weight of their common fear and shame.