Ethan and four others approached the front, using the wagons as cover to examine the darkness and silhouettes on the trees. He noticed the people behind them started hugging each other, not knowing what was happening.

  ‘Throw a light over there, Ethan; we need to see something.’ Egor pointed to the light on the wagon.

  There were some extra lights on the wagon he was in. Ethan lit them and threw them into the woods, signaling his squad to do the same. As soon as the lights reached the ground close to the forest, all the soldiers on the wagons looking in the forest's direction saw orks and goblins in the trees.

  ‘Fire!!!’ Egor shouted.

  As the soldiers pulled their triggers, whistles mixed with the monsters' screams and the lights from the rifles flying in the forest's direction. This gave the monsters a path to follow, and charged at their position.

  ‘On the right flank, we have contact.’ A voice came from Ethan's radio.

  ‘On the left, too.’ Another voice came through Egor's radio.

  As the monsters were getting closer, Ethan looked around, and an idea came to mind.

  ‘Caleb!! Right now, I need the cannon with the explosive here.’ Ethan shouted.

  One soldier on Ethan's squad, Caleb, ran to a wagon in the back, crossing the crowd of people who were lying trying to protect the children with their bodies, and grabbed a cannon and loaded it with explosive ammo. As he passed the people on the ground once again as fast as possible, he ran to the front again and gave it to Ethan.

  ‘I will bring you more, sir,’ Caleb spoke as he ran back.

  Ethan fired, aiming for the center of the monsters, rushing them without giving it much thought. The projectile traveled?, and an explosion ?followed, engulfing some monsters and sending others into a panic.

  ‘Use the cannons!’ Egor yelled over the radio.

  As the orders came over the radio, more explosions occurred among the monsters. Crashes made them stumble as flames engulfed others, and explosions made them fly, prompting the rest to flee back to the forest.

  ‘Cease fire.’ Egor's voice could be heard on everyone's radio.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  ‘Keep your eyes open; throw lamps as far as you can in all directions for better vision.’ On the radio, Egor stated.

  With the wind blowing toward the forest and only that sound audible, with everyone waiting and the caravan in darkness, the soldiers scurried and began tossing lights around the ring of wagons. The people seated within the circle became more composed and mustered the energy to look around.

  ‘Be on high alert, everyone. I’m going to calm everyone down.’ On the radio, Egor spoke.

  ‘See, the goddess defended us with her weapons; the feeling that I had to rescue our people in the forest came from her; I feel it.’ Eli extended his hand upward to the sky.

  On the duchy, Ariadne was sipping tea and reading some papers as she gazed at the gloomy night inside her bedroom. Her heart was filling up like never before, a warm sensation that made her feel needed. With a sigh of relief, she sincerely smiled while looking out the window.

  ‘I thought I heard someone calling for me. Strange.’ She sipped a little of the tea.

  ‘Maybe the people of the duchy are calling your name, their savior, your Highness.’ Eliza smiled at Ariadne.

  ‘Indeed.’ Standing up, Ariadne made her way to her bed.

  ‘Good night, your highness.’ The maid got out of the room.

  ‘Good night, Eliza.’ She lay down on the bed and closed her eyes.

  The sun began to shine on the horizon, and as people awoke, they peered over the wagons at the monsters lying on the ground in front of the forest. The bodies were left behind as the caravan began to leave.

  ‘We currently have too many people. We are moving directly toward the duchy for safety and to avoid drawing the kingdom's attention. Egor spoke more loudly.

  Ethan could hear the murmuring of everyone praying around him while he was in one wagon, words of gratitude, and some even crying, thanking the duchess for a safe trip. Seeing these people turn the duchess into some kind of god so quickly made him uncomfortable, but he understood why; their conditions were not the best. The girl from the previous night was sitting next to him, praying.

  ‘I’m grateful to the goddess for her protection and blessings.’ She blinked, opened her eyes, and turned to face Ethan.

  ‘Do you genuinely think that the duchess is a goddess?’ Ethan enquired.

  ‘Yes, when I accepted her in my heart, I could use the magic stove; what more could I ask for proof? According to the soldiers, there are also more magical things in her territory. It's like being rewarded for my faith in her.’ The young lady smiled.

  ‘The duchess is a great person, but she even has a slave, you know? I don’t think she views herself as a goddess; the duchess wants to strengthen the duchy so everyone can be safe." Ethan cast a glance at the floor.

  ‘A Slave? I am sure there is a reason for it.’ The young lady looked at him and put a hand on his knee.

  ‘He was a prince in Velvent; he now does many things for the duchess, even teaching people how to make these devices.’ He notices her hand, and his eyes widen.

  ‘See? Everything happens for a reason, and I bet she is treating him very well.’ She smiles at him while squeezing his knee.

  ‘I… 'm sorry; this was our first ge-ge-genuine conversation. My name is E-E-Ethan Aaron, and I serve in the Du-Du-Duchess A-A-rmy as a corporal.’ Ethan stutters every time she squeezes his knee.

  ‘Ho, that is right; my name is Ruth Abadi. Ah, I almost forgot: this is my sister's husband, my sister, my mother, and my father.’ Ruth points to every family member while moving her hand to his thigh.

  ‘What?’ He looked at the family confusedly while blushing.

  ‘Soldier, don’t be like that; you will make a brave husband. I witnessed what you did and how you led the battle.’ The elderly Shafran laughed,

  Ruth looked into Ethan’s eyes and tightened her hold on his thigh again as Ethan laughed awkwardly. Caleb, standing across from Ethan, was grinning while pretending to sleep.

  As they continued to travel to the duchy, the caravan began to get attention from local nobles, and soldiers looked at them from afar. Previous homeless Chatzi, living in the streets of the cities, joined in; Eli caused that, traveling ahead of the caravan and preaching for the people on the way to the Chatzi in the slums. The caravan never entered or got close to any city, but they knew how and where to join because of Eli.