Chapter 242 - 223: Honorary Execution
The Silvermoon Knight and Allen stood outside the infirmary tent, listening to the conversation between two brothers inside.
The previous siege battle, despite its brief duration, had still resulted in casualties. Magic Conduction Cannons weren’t for show; even the oldest model could pierce through several armored soldiers with a single shot.
This soldier had been particularly unlucky, a shell fragment had sheared off his right leg, and though his life was saved, that limb would remain outside Dew City forever. Yet, in a stroke of dark fortune, he was luckier than several other Laine warriors hit by the Magic Conduction Cannon who couldn’t even leave behind intact corpses.
The accompanying priests needed to conserve their mana and dared not use Divine Arts to regenerate his limb; only after the war could he be sent back to be treated in his homeland.
To many of the Laine People, being wounded on the battlefield represented a tremendous honor, the best proof of their devout sacrifice to the Lord of the Dawn. However, this soldier’s younger brother was so terrified by the horrific injury that he told his elder sibling he didn’t want to go back to the battlefield anymore.
The result was a vicious slap across the face from his elder brother; such cowardice was a disgrace to their family.
"Brother, I can be a support soldier. I am willing to give up all my inheritance rights; I can donate everything I’ll acquire to the military. But I don’t want to go back to the battlefield. I can’t even hold a sword steady. I’m truly scared."
The young man’s face bore a bright red handprint, his eyes brimming with tears. Just the thought of the previous scene, where blood and flesh flew about as the Magic Conduction Cannon fired, was enough to send shivers down his spine.
Not everyone can be brave in the face of death.
Allen remembered when he had been captured; deep inside, he had been afraid and weak as well, even though he eventually overcame it, never submitting to the Lich, never committing acts against the Holy Light. But Allen couldn’t deny the weakness in his heart, as it was only human nature to seek comfort and regain courage.