On her journey to find her older sister's battle fortress, Lina had reached the edge of Teran's borders. Lina was surprised by the sight of the seemingly ransacked village. The wooden entrance had creaky and falling pieces, the name of the village barely hanging on by a nail. Dust blew in the air, no sound in sight.

  Lina's breath was caught in her throat. This was Teran's first line of defense—the towns located near the borders. These were the places that soldiers took their rest in and brought supplies from.

  Lina's stomach bubbled with anxiety. She turned on her horse and glanced at the houses beyond the entrance. There were discarded pots and pans everywhere, clothes torn and sliced, malnourished dogs licking at the dirty ground and barely a soul in sight.

  "A visitor…"

  Lina's head snapped up. From the creaky houses, small and thin figures began to emerge. Lina's stomach twisted when she saw it was women and their frail children. Babies clung onto skinny skeletal mothers, whilst another child was attached at the hip.

  Lina noted there were barely any young men present. A few months ago, the Emperor had issued the first or second son of every family to be drafted to fight in the battle. There had previously beena famine in Teran , thus, women weren't healthy enough to bore more than one son.

  "Visitor…? From the palace?"

  "A woman…"

  The whispers crept out of nowhere, like a small gust of dust that swirled into a tornado. Many people poked their heads out of the houses, revealing their tired eyes, dried lips, and shaky bodies.

  "Aid from the capital?"

  "Look at her clothes…"

  Lina nervously licked her bottom lip. Her thighs tightened on her horse, who nervously neighed in protest. They had been running for a while now and her horse was beginning to grow weary.

  "Can someone direct me to the path leading to the frontlines?" Lina called out, bringing her horse closer to the entrance.

  The townspeople exchanged hesitant expressions with each other. Their faces were grim. Everyone seemed to be on the edge of malnourishment.

  "Supplies…" An eerie voice commented, just as a lone finger pointed towards the large packages the horse was carrying.

  Lina stiffened. She glanced down at the supplies meant for the soldiers. She heard there were many injured soldiers who needed all the aid they could get. It was precisely why doctors and nurses were being dispatched left and right. She wondered if any of the people running to the frontlines also came across this village and just left them be.

  Lina was stuck in a dilemma. The soldiers needed their aid, but so did the villagers.

  "Supplies."

  "Supplies."

  Lina paused. Everyone was beginning to crowd her horse, a hungry look in their eyes.

  "There's no food," Lina blurted out. "But there are herbs for healing that you may use, a-and tools for—"

  "Useless."

  Lina froze. She took a glance at the war-torn village. If it wasn't for the war between Teran and Ritan, none of this would've happened. Lina had visited the bordering towns in her youth. She remembered the bright sun, the green grass fields, and the prospering villagers. She did not remember this desolate spot, with its broken roofs, dreary atmosphere and weary townspeople.

  "I-is there a herb for my baby's sickness?" A woman spoke out, quickly coming forward and breaking through the crowd.

  Sure enough, in her arms was a baby on the verge of death's doors. Her milky skin was scarred with red hives, her brows taut, and there was a wet cough. Clinging onto the woman's hips was a little girl with teary eyes.

  "What about my child's cough?" Another woman cried out.

  "And my baby's hunger?"

  "Or my mother's high fever?"

  "How about bleeding coughs?!"

  Questions; one after the other were thrown at Lina. Herbology wasn't Lina's field of study. She was great with swords, but could never use it against these people. Quickly, everyone began to swarm towards Lina's supplies.

  The horse neighed in protest as hungry hands grabbed for her leather sacks. Freighted by so many strange touches, the horses raised its front legs and loudly cried out.

  "Please, wait—" Lina said, feeling her body go back in shock as the horse nearly trampled a woman.

  Instead of scaring the crowd, it only made them more desperate. Immediately, the townspeople grabbed for the horse as well, eyeing the beautiful mane that could be turned into something useful.

  "Stop—"

  "Supplies, we want supplies from the castle!" Someone demanded, pulling at the packages that were tightly secured to the horse's saddle.

  Lina's sword felt heavy on her hips. It was going to be her only way of getting people off of her and the horse. But what kind of Princess raised her sword to her people? The town was once home to farmers who supplied the royal palace with produce. Now, was she going to hurt them?

  "Enough!" A voice cried out, sharp as a sword.

  Every pair of eyes snapped to her. People scrambled backwards, disgusted by the sight of her. The townspeople huddled against each other, whispering at her unprecedented presence.

  "Witch!" Someone cursed.

  "Get out of here you witch!"

  Lina thought they were talking about her, but realized they weren't. The insults were directed towards the tall and thin woman who came out of nowhere. She stood in the middle of the road, proud and prideful amongst the abusive comments.

  "Fools!" The woman shouted back. "She is someone sent from the palace to survey the town. If you rob her, how will the palace send aid?!"

  At her words of wisdom, the townspeople began to pull away from the horse. The horse let out a snort, walking back a bit. Lina reassuringly patted the horse's mane, soothing her anxiety.

  Lina wasn't aided by the palace. She was just aid for the frontlines. After today's events, Lina was going to run home and report the village's circumstances. All of the horrors she had witnessed were caused by this damn war. Frightened women, starving children, scarce men; these were just the beginning of the trouble.

  All for what?

  Some piece of land?

  "Come this way and have a talk," the woman said. "I shall report? f the town's condition to you."

  Lina shakily nodded her head. She guided her horse in the woman's direction.

  "This way," the woman said.

  Lina noted the woman's skin clung to her bones. She had no meat or fat on her body. Her hair was brittle and there were bald spots. Lina paid no mind to the woman's appearance.

  Soon, they reached her humble home, which was made of molding wood and dirty curtains.

  "Thank you," Lina gratefully said, climbing off her horse. She glanced behind her, and saw the townspeople were eyeing them intently.

  Lina was too worried to leave her horse outside and all alone. She was scared one of them might do something to it. During war, it wasn't uncommon to kill and eat horses as it was their last resort for protein.

  "Bring the thing inside," the woman softly said. "It is alright. Let her rest."

  Lina hesitatingly led the horse inside the house. Instantly, the horse let out a small neigh and folded its legs to relax. Lina's heart went out for each and everyone here. For her horse who was thirsty, but had no water. For the townspeople who were starving, but had no help.

  Everyone was suffering, all because of this never-ending battle.

  "Mama!" A little girl cheered, quickly running forward to hug her mother's legs.

  "You have a beautiful daughter," Lina softly commented, noting the child's rare green eyes and brown hair. She heard there were people in the West with hair the color of the sun, skin as pale as milk, and blue eyes like the fish ponds or green like swamp water.

  "Thank you," the woman gratefully said.

  Lina smiled a bit. She bent down to take out some of the herbs from the pouch, at least two handfuls of it.

  "Oh, you really shouldn't—"

  "Please, take it," Lina insisted, as she brought the herb over to a table in the far corner of the spacious house.

  There were the bare necessities inside this dwelling. There was a small wooden table with three chairs, a small fireplace for cooking, a bed that could fit two people at most, broken windows, and a tiny closet.

  "This is my food for travel, but please take it as well," Lina added on, walking back to the horse and taking out dried meat, rice, pickled vegetables, and some fruit.

  "I don't know which herb is for what, but it should help at least a few people," Lina shakily said, settling everything onto the table.

  "Wow, Mama, she's as nice as Papa!" The little girl gasped, her eyes going wide at the shiny and juicy fruit. It had been a long time since she witnessed this.

  "You have a husband?" Lina gently asked, standing at the table and peering down at the little girl. She realized the child must've resembled her father.

  "Yes, he is a soldier—"

  "Papa is the best fighter in the whole wide world! He is saving our country!" The little girl shouted, throwing her hands up excitedly. She quickly ran over to Lina and grabbed her hand.

  "You must be from the palace, have you seen Papa before you left? Mama says he is training in the palace and has yet to save the world, but he will soon enough!" The little girl squealed.

  "What is his name?" Lina asked, offering a slight smile.

  "Papa is Papa!" The girl responded, bright-eyed and far too innocent for this world.

  "He is a foot soldier of the first rank," The woman said to Lina.

  Instantly, Lina's smile dropped. "C-could this be him?"

  Lina reached into her pockets and shakily pulled out the blood-stained name tag made of wood. The woman sharply gasped at the sight of it covered in pink.

  Lina knew. The woman knew. They both knew.

  The father was dead. He was never coming home. He died a hero before he could save the world.