📖 POV – Daniel (the boy)
The battlefield stretched wide, smoke curling above Kalvoria's broken ridges.
My first command. My first real taste of war.
My heart hammered like a drum inside my armor.
Then—dust clouds behind us.
Columns of B.A.M soldiers marched in. Tanks, artillery, even aerial cover.
I froze. That wasn't part of my unit. That wasn't part of my test.
Soren had sent backup. Not a handful. Not a support wing.
A flood.
The enemy who once stood tall crumbled fast—too fast. Barrages tore their walls, fire swallowed their towers, screams cut off before my blade even tasted blood.
The men beside me cheered. "Victory! Glory to Blackwood!"
But for me… it felt hollow.
I wasn't commanding. I was watching.
Watching my chance stolen by the very man I admired.
Why?
Did he think I would fall? Did he not trust me? Did Chris order it?
I tightened my grip on my sword, furious at the ease of it all.
War wasn't supposed to feel this light. Victory wasn't supposed to feel this cheap.
As the enemy's last stronghold fell, I stood there silent among the cheers.
Inside, my chest burned.
This wasn't my win.
This was mercy disguised as triumph.
And I hated it.