I don't have a name.
Maybe I had one once, but if anyone remembers it, they don't say it. It's as if I never had one at all.
The old woman who looks after us just calls me "You." That's all I am.
The soldiers? They don't care enough to learn the names of insignificant children like me.
I'm around fourteen now. When the old lady took me in, I must have been five or so. My memories before that are foggy, like a fading memory of a lost one.
The orphanage sits in a small village called Ashenbrook. It's a forgotten place near the border of the Kingdom of Virevia.
Virevia has been at war with the neighboring kingdom, Caelwyn, for three years now. The war feels endless. I think it will never stop.
Ashenbrook has suffered more than most. Children starve, and I am no exception. The orphanage does what it can, but the kingdom's taxes have been raised because of the war. It's like trying to fill a leaking bucket.
Today, the soldiers are coming. I overheard adults whispering about something—children and war—but the words slipped through. It's hard to tell what they meant.
But none of it matters. I have more important things to think about.
Sometimes, I have nightmares. Of towering buildings made of glass that stretch into the sun. Of strange devices filled with all the knowledge in the world.
People say I'm crazy.
Maybe they're right.
Walking down the hallway of the orphanage, I stumbled into the lady.
"You, come with me to the plaza."
Why? I thought.
But I had no choice.
I didn't say anything, just followed.
Following the lady, I left the orphanage and arrived at the big plaza in the center of our village.
There I found a big gathering of people, most were men between the ages of 10 and 40.
"Why's everyone gathered…?"
But it didn't take long.
"Everyone, listen up!"
A soldier standing in the middle shouted.
"I am here today to take you to war."
I froze. I didn't want to go. I knew fourteen was the perfect age, a perfect war child.
The soldier put all the men in a long line, and one by one we came up to him, where he asked us questions.
"How old are you?"
I hesitated.
"Eleven, sir."
I lied. I wasn't eleven. Even I knew that.
"Pretty young," the soldier looked up and down at me.
"Welcome."
Huh?
No. I got drafted. My heart sank. I had never wielded a weapon, not even a kitchen knife. I knew the second I got there I would die. All I was, was a meat shield.
"W-wait…"
"You will be fine. If you're lucky, you might become a hero." He patted my back.
I knew that would never happen.
He was lying.
I was sent there just to die. It was suicide. But I had no choice. If I declined this, I would die faster.
"T-thank you," I stuttered.
He pushed me toward a group of young men. These were the men I would die alongside. Beside me was a small-statured boy with brown hair. I had seen him somewhere before; I couldn't quite place him.
"Hi," the boy said.
"Hello," I said, surprised by the sudden act.
The boy didn't seem frightened by the fact he was going to war. He was more... excited.
"I'm gonna be a hero!" the boy said proudly.
Ah. He's just naive.
Poor boy didn't know what he was about to face.
After a while, the soldier who had talked to me before came up to the group, giving each of us our weapon.
He handed me a spear. No armor, no boots. Just a weapon, and a death sentence.
Then he went to the front again.
"Stand straight. You are now warriors of the empire."
"Young men, we will march towards the east. In two days, we will reach our destination."
"Long live the empire!"
That was all he said, and after that we started to march.
After two days of marching through the cold, I now found myself standing on barren land. Beside me, many young soldiers. In the distance, I could only see a hill.
We stood there for what felt like an hour. Then, I heard a big horn.
And in the distance, shadowy silhouettes emerged.
It was the enemy soldiers.
But they weren't small children like us.
Every man was a strong, experienced warrior.
We stood no chance.
As another horn blew, the men beside me started to run toward the other side.
With no way out, all I could do was run with them. My heartbeat began to get louder and louder, until it felt like it would burst out of my chest.
A whistling sound rang out in the air, and before I could see anything, the boy beside me fell with a thud to the ground, an arrow sticking out of his head. No scream. No nothing. He was lucky to die instantly.
I dropped my spear, turned, and ran like hell. I didn't even care which direction. Just away. Away from the screaming, the mud, the dying.
Then everything went cold.
[Life completed]
Calculating life...
Life value: 5 points earned
SYSTEM INITIALIZED…