In the Southwest in the region of the Varish Kingdom, the shelter of the Viking is undergoing sever changes, excited crowds lined up wishing for a chance to sign in
Most of them wanted the benefits that come with being a warrior of the front lines, the high-quality food, the treasure rewards from each raid, the fame
Only few women were accepted, for they were mostly required in the centre camp, the shelter, the majority that got to sign in are young men, the likes of Jason (15-year-olds) all the way up to 40year olds
Of course, expectations were made for older warrior to join in for their experiences such as Ramo, the trainer in the shelter, and others who have fled long ago from the falling front lines
Jason got to the front of the lines, writing his name on a piece of paper he went inside the tent
There they check his health, weight, and overall body he had. Leaving throw the right side he was accepted as he was handed a small knife, it was a little old but better than nothing
Seryon the brother of the new assigned chef was peeking from the inside of the chef's tent; he closed it stepping inside in anger as he spoke
"Even Jason got accepted, why are you declining my request still?!" talking to his brother
"Those parts aren't what you expect to be, there is no guarantee when battle is going to rupture there" Pharam said while sitting down facing the table map
"If it is so dangerous why let the other kids go there?" said Seryon
"Not all the kids will be sent, only the most experienced. They will be escorted by adults in horse carriages, wish we only have a few of," said Pharam
"You know damn well I'm better than most if not all of them, what do they have that I don't?" said Seryon
"It is not about that—" said Pharam, Seryon cut him saying
"Then what is it about? If you are afraid, you should be doing the same towards them! Do you think I will just leave the carriage and started humping through the wilderness like a wild animal out of spite?"
Pharam shouted in anger
"You may choose any other part from the outskirts or the shelter defence line, but going to the front lines is forbidden" he calmed down as Seryon bit down on his tongue in frustration
A moment passed as Seryon said in a calm voice hiding his anger
"You. Are afraid"
Pharam looked up at him slowly and said "Yes, Yes I am"
"What do you think the people will fell about that?" said Seryon
"I don't care, actually, if they want to remove me off my position, I never chose to step up here—"
"No" Seryon cut him saying. Pharam looked up at him confused about that rejection. Seryon continued
"That's not what I meant, what will the people think of you as a person when they hear you are sending their blood to protect yours"
Pharam understood what was about to be said, Seryon noticing said it anyways
"How are you any different from the past chief"
"I barley pulled you out of there alive, I don't want to drag you dead" said Pharam, he held down his anger as much as he could
"I don't have any whose I trust out there, all of them died with the last rulership, you know well that you having my blood is a threat already both to yourself, and me, "said Pharam
Seryon knew what he said was true, all of it, but he couldn't accept his fate
"You are nothing but a prey for the ones that wish to catch me by the tail, they know you, but I, don't know them"
Silence crept in, Pharam ended the conversation with" Go back to your dorm, this conversation ended long ago" staring down at the table refusing any eye contact
Seryon left without words, passing by Ramo who was sitting by the tent's side
"Did you kids have a sibling fight or something" said Ramo entering the tent as Pharam looked up at him
"I don't see any hair pulled out from any of you" Ramo continued
Pharam sighed, refusing to answer as he stared back down
Ramo sat beside him and said "You know, you can speak to me, or do you not trust me as well?"
"You were eve dropping?" said Pharam looking up at him
"Well, I am your personal guard, plus I was sitting beside the entrance, not too far for my age" said Ramo
Pharam looked up and down at him, pouting with his eyes all the wrinkles and the white hair he could notice
"Come on, don't you want to hear my solution?" said Ramo pulling his chair closer
Pharam sighed and spoke
"What is your magical solution"
"I have decided to leave towards the front lines" Ramo said with a smile
"What??!" said Pharam
"Like you heard me, great right? You won't need to worry about your brother" said Ramo
"That is not what I meant, all of these years, you were going back and forth between the shelter and the front lines, just to set here once they fell, refusing to join the expedition teams no matter how much we begged, and now you want to leave to do what? Protect my little brother?"
Pharam said, confusion and shock were the glow of his face
"Well, you may say it is the young spirit that broth mine to life, you may say it is the feeling of guilt, or a sense of vengeance, but for me. I just chose to stand at the front one last time before time finally gets the better of me" said Ramo
Pharam was still no convinced so Ramo spoke again saying
"What? You think I will betray you and kidnap your brother?" he said as he clinched his cheeks saying "Or do you feel unsafe without me around you, you big baby boy"
"No, no, it is just… unexpected" Pharam said looking down
"Whatever it is, you better go say your goodbyes to your brother for we are leaving on no time" said Ramo
Seryon standing beside his door was walking in circles, one hand on his mouth supported by the other, the other kids were packing their stuff beside him
"Don't worry, Seryon, you will have a chance to join us next month" Jason said with a smile, not too mocking and not a cheerful one either, just a friendly joke, putting his hand on Seryon's shoulder
Seryon removed Jason's hand, that boy who was smaller than him in height and said "Get off me! This did not end yet"
He walked up to his bed and took his backpack from underneath it, removing the accumulated dust
Another boy said "Wow, wow, you are not going to disobey the chief, are you?"
Seryon looked up at him and said "And are you going to snitch on me?" silence was his answer
He went back to packing it up "Leave guys" he said "I will be following you in no time"
They left with some of them giving him one last look. Moments later he went outside, checking left and right, sneaking behind the guards and backing carriages that went by, he went across the field
He finally reached the carriage he was aiming for; he was about to throw his backpack before a hand touched his shoulder, looking back he saw it to be his brother, Pharam
He was frustrated to see him so he spoke in an instant saying" If not my carriage, I shall follow by foot—" he was handed a knife by Pharam who spoke saying
"Don't break it" before leaving him and going back throw the crowd
staring at the sheet in confusion he climbed up just to find Ramo sitting amongst the kids
"Your late" without any smiles or cheerful sounds Ramo said, as if tutoring another student
"And what are you doing here, aren't you supposed to be a guard for the chief" said Seryon
"Speak to me like that again, kid, your brother is the chief, not you, you keep respect and don't ask any questions"
Seryon put his backpack down, Ramo knocked twice behind him meaning to order it to move
The carriage left, and for the first time in years, the shelter people stood by the door staring at a real force sent to the battle field, Seryon looked out the window with some kids as flowers showered them with praise
Jason did not, staring at his knife he was out of this world
People were happy, excited, for the first time they felt there was hope, and they all agreed that they wish this feeling continues on living inside there hearts