It had only been half a day but Corvin already felt like an eternity. The cool breeze of autumn brushed against his face, a small mercy in an otherwise miserable march. His legs were leaden, every step a quiet plea for rest.
He wasn't built for this.
The pack on his back dug into his shoulders, sweat glued his shirt to his skin, and his breath came shallow. He didn't think he'd make it to sunset.
"I think I left my legs somewhere back in the last valley," Corvin muttered, half-joking, half-praying someone would tell him they were stopping soon.
Moxa snorted.
"I'd carry you, but you'd slow me down."
"You'd be slower than usual? Impressive," Catherine said dryly, her tone playful despite the sweat streaking her forehead.
Branik was walking quietly behind them, but he chimed in, voice thin.
"I thought joining the army was better than starving on the street. But this… This is worse."
Corvin grunted in agreement.
"I can feel my lungs protesting every breath. And this is just day one."
It was just then that a voice pierced the air. Commander Thorne, a silhouette on horseback, raised a gloved hand. The signal to rest.
Relief washed over Corvin. The entire column sagged as if someone had loosened invisible strings holding them upright. Packs dropped. People groaned. A flurry of tired movement as they began setting up a temporary camp.
The recon unit gathered near a sparse patch of shade, beneath a crooked tree. Corvin dropped beside them with a heavy thud, trying not to look like he was about to keel over.
Food was distributed—if it could be called that. Some dry bread, jerky that is hard enough to break someone's teeth, and some mysterious fluid that might've once been soup.
Catherine poked at her portion with her spoon.
"Is this real food?"
"It is… Unfortunate," Moxa said, already chewing through his without complaint.
Vuk, the captain of Recon Squad 1, leaned back against his pack.
"Eat it up. You'll miss this when it starts raining and you're chewing on dried roots."
"Comforting," Corvin murmured.
"You'll get used to it," Vuk added, tone gentler this time. "First day's always the worst. After that, the days just blend together. You wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a rock and a bread."
'Of course you would, this already tasted like a rock.' Corvin complained inwardly.
Just then.
Moxa perked up, brushing crumbs off his lap.
"Let's do something interesting before the rot sets in. Why did everyone join, huh?"
Vuk took the cue. "For town guards, it's mandatory. Besides, I wouldn't want my boys to head straight to their doom. They still have a future. I don't."
Catherine—still under the guise of Victor—gave a smirk.
"I'm just a bum who can't even earn money yet so I signed up so the breadwinner of the house, my brother, could stay at home and care for my parents."
Vesna introduced herself next, brushing a lock of red hair behind her ear.
"As you can all see, I'm not a man. My parents wanted my brother to stay behind. I was the... substitute." Her voice was light, but her eyes didn't smile.
Miro, tall and broad-shouldered, nodded.
"My brother's not cut out for this, so I volunteered. Thought I could protect him by doing this instead."
The rest of the unit followed suit—short stories, some funny, some grim. Corvin didn't say much. He mostly listened, trying to piece together who these people really were.
Then Squad 2 returned, dusty and tired. The others greeted them with quick claps on the shoulder and a flurry of questions.
"All clear," one of them reported. "Should be at the rendezvous point by tomorrow if we keep pace."
Vesna and her squad stood shortly after, quietly readying themselves. No speeches, no dramatics—just tightening boots and checking gear before setting off as the new scouting unit.
Corvin watched them go, their figures shrinking against the horizon.
There was something humbling about it. All these people, each carrying their own reasons and fears, all just... moving forward.
After lunch, the march resumed. The sun hung lower, and the shadows lengthened. If the morning had been painful, the afternoon was a quiet kind of despair. Muscles screamed louder. Blisters multiplied. The dust clung to skin and air alike.
Branik tripped once and barely caught himself. Moxa offered him water with a grin.
"First fall's free."
Corvin didn't even bother trying to joke anymore. His words had melted into a numb silence, the kind that came from pushing past what you thought was your limit.
Finally, as the sky dimmed into twilight, they stopped again. Camp was made with slow, aching limbs. Dinner was even worse than lunch.
Yet somehow, Catherine and Moxa looked... excited.
"First scout mission," Moxa said, rubbing his hands. "Let's see if it lives up to the horror stories."
"You're too cheerful," Corvin said, trying to mask his own nerves.
Catherine grinned.
"What, not looking forward to crawling around in the dark with nothing but a spear and your fragile hope?"
Branik looked pale. Turned to Vuk and asked.
"Do you have any advice? Sir?"
"Don't call me sir. Just keep your eyes open. Ears too." Vuk replied.
As the last of the light faded, Squad 3 returned. Tired, a little dusty, but intact.
"Your turn," one of them said simply.
Corvin stood, heart thudding. His spear felt heavier than ever. The cool air bit through his tunic, and everything suddenly felt far too real.
Still, he walked forward. Nervous. Excited.
This was it—the first step into whatever this war would become.