‘I think we should stop here near the forest; later, we can see if more people want to join us.’ A dark-haired Shafran spoke on the radio.

  They settled in a camp and used the wagons to form a circle to protect it. While arranging the camp, some children looked straight at the lights hanging on the wagons.

  ‘Stop doing that; your eyes will hurt.’ Ethan gave a slow headshake.

  ‘They are ?in awe, Ethan.’ A dark-haired Shafran soldier drew nearer.

  ‘It will blind them, Sargent Egor; I was just trying to help.’ Ethan rested his hands on his hips.

  ‘We need to establish a perimeter for the night, so just leave them alone, corporal. Let's go.’ Egor moved past the wagons and headed outside.

  Nine soldiers were waiting for him outside the circle of wagons: older A-Dam and Shafran, with younger Chatzi mixed in. They all took position after seeing Egor, just as they had practiced in the duchess's home backyard.

  ‘Same as yesterday, groups inside the wagons looking out in three-hour shifts.’ Egor points at the wagons.

  ‘Eli said there was another community inside this forest, sir; I don’t think they would attack us.’ A young Chatzi said it in a joyful tone.

  ‘Did you forget we are on enemy territory, soldier? Be vigilant; don’t let your guard down if it is bandits, monsters, or the community. We are here to help; we don’t know if they want or need help.’ Egor approached the young soldier and patted his shoulder.

  ‘All right, people, get into position; we have been in the open too long.’ Ethan climbed into a wagon.

  A Chatzi young lady approached the wagon where Ethan and an A-Dam soldier were. He looked at her, wondering if she wanted something.

  ‘Hello, could you please give me the magic stove?’ The Chatzi woman glanced at Ethan timidly.

  ‘Oh, ok.’ Ethan handed her the device.

  ‘Thanks.’ She looked into Ethan's eyes.

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  With the device in her hands, the young woman moved to the center of the circle, sat beside the other women, and prepared food.

  ‘So, Ethan, why are you not opening up for her when you know she likes you?’ The A-Dam soldier asked while looking into the darkness.

  ‘Shut up, old man; I can’t betray Leah; I like her.’ Ethan lowered his gaze to the ground.

  ‘What? You don’t notice how she looks at Edmund, even though she knows your admiration for her. You are a fool.’ The soldier gave him a frustrated look.

  ‘Edmund is just her teacher, and she is just...' He retorted in an irritated manner but was interrupted.

  ‘You may be superior to me here, sir, but I’m older. From my experience, you had better move on, or she would feel bad if you passed opportunities for her.’ The soldier's gaze was drawn to the darkness.

  Ethan sighed, looked around the circle, and noticed the young woman approaching again with two food bowls.

  ‘Here, I hope you like it.’ She looks at Ethan, spins around, and rejoins the other women.

  ‘See? Why would you think of Leah? You are a fool.’ While eating and gazing into the darkness, the soldier shook his head.

  The radio crackled, and Egor's voice came through.

  ‘We have contact; it is coming from trees; everyone is on high alert; something or someone is out there.’ Egor’s voice sounded calm.

  Shadows could be seen from the trees as they drew near, and Sargent Egor's hands began to sweat; he could not give them any shape. Eli, however, unexpectedly emerged into the darkness, with a group of people startling him.

  ‘Don’t shoot.’ Egor spoke to the radio while getting out of the wagon and heading in Eli's direction.

  ‘While you talked to the soldiers outside the wagon circle, I went into the forest to save them.’ Eli answered.

  ‘Old man, are you insane? You are all under my responsibility; we could have taken them tomorrow.’ Egor rubbed his head while observing the group.

  ‘Look at them; they couldn’t wait; the noble of this area was driving monsters into the forest.’ Eli turned around and pointed at some of the group members' injuries.

  Egor looked at the group again, noticing that they had numerous wounds, including bite marks and cuts, all over their bodies. Now, his face is showing concern.

  ‘I understand; just give me a head up if you want to pull one of these off again.’ He turned around and started to guide them to the caravan.

  People were conversing and laughing on their backs, making Ethan and the soldier beside him stare stiffly into the darkness. He felt uneasy because of the contrast of being attacked at any moment by the cheerful laughs on his back, but again, his radio crackled.

  ‘To all units, or friend Eli, who sneaked into the forest and brought the community that was in the forest closer, they need medical attention; come here, Asher.’ Egor changed from a calm to a more serious tone of voice.

  ‘Well, that is me. Why did I have to volunteer as a medic and learn those things from the town doctor?’ After grinning at Ethan, Asher exited the wagon.

  ‘All units, move the wagons to make room for these people.’ The radio made a crackling noise.

  The soldiers began moving the wagons to widen the circle. Everyone gave them food when the group entered the circle, and Asher began treating their wounds. Eli approached Egor and touched his shoulder.

  ‘I am sorry, my friend; I felt like they needed help; perhaps the goddess gave me this feeling.’ He grinned at him.

  ‘Hum… Just don’t do it again. Leave the dangerous jobs for us soldiers.’ While looking at the people being treated by Asher, Egor scratches his beard.

  The new group focused on the lights and appliances heating the food. They were curious about how everything was working; it seemed so magical. Loud noises began to emanate from the forest. Eli and Egor turned to face the darkness, but they could not figure out what it was.

  ‘Ethan, I want your team on the front; I believe we have company, and they don’t like us.’ Egor spoke using the radio.