Soldiers fighting in the battlefield face most of the hostility from their enemies.
Anger, hatred, resentment... malice is everywhere.
Frail people will collapse in such negative emotions, but strong warriors will become stronger in this.
But there is one thing they cannot accept.
mercy.
The pity and contempt of the enemy are of course indifferent, even if they are regarded as useless chess pieces and ants.
Those people will eventually know the consequences of despising them and pay the price with blood!
But there is a kind of mercy that is different, those...compassions from the people who are protecting them.
That sight hurts them.
Because they made such sacrifices, they were never looked at like this.
"Please don't mourn for us, that's not respect, it's insult."
With a serious expression on his face, Cole stared at Eberron and spoke slowly:
"While you may not mean it, your thoughts belittle our honor."
No……
Hearing such words, Eberron's expression suddenly changed, and he shook his head violently.
No, no!
It shouldn't be like this!
Blocking the panic in her heart, she asked loudly and quickly:
"But! Aren't you going to die without a doubt? No one even knows!"
To this, Cole also answered loudly:
"They never need to know!"
"What!?"
What a warrior needs is never recognition from others, not even understanding them!
If you don't understand, you don't understand. It doesn't matter. It can't shake their will.
There is no need to justify their names.
It is enough as long as the people they want to protect can live the lives they expect.
Will suffice.
As for how much pain I have endured and how many times I have escaped from the edge of death, these are not important and do not need to be emphasized.
Overwhelmed by Cole's momentum, Eberron wanted to argue several times but in the end he didn't say anything. In the end, he just muttered a question:
"Is it worth it?"
Is it really worth not being known or understood by others?
"Of course it's worth it, why do you think it's not worth it?"
Even though they are scarred, even though they face the danger of dying in a deserted place at any time, the soldiers who fight for others are happy to do so.
"Did you know? Some extraordinary creatures will praise their gods when they are about to die. We don't believe in those. What do you think we will say at that time?"
"We will praise ourselves."
With pride, Cole raised his head and spoke proudly:
"They are all willing to die for gods who don't know what they are thinking, so why can't we sacrifice for our compatriots?"
He said:
"Praise to humanity."
"Long live humanity!"
Shocking.
In his past life, Eberron had never experienced such a shock.
Although the man in front of me is weak and dying, the faith in him is extremely vivid and dazzling.
As if he was dazzled by the dazzling light, Eberron narrowed his eyes slightly, turned away and asked:
"Aren't you afraid of death?"
"Of course...scared!"
Cole did not deny his fears, but accepted them calmly.
"I have never been a person who is not afraid of death. If I can survive, I will choose to live without hesitation."
"However, we have no choice, or we, the people, have actually made the decision long ago."
Smiling proudly, Cole spoke:
"We are willing to dedicate everything we have to guarding the world."
After hesitating for a moment, Cole raised his bandaged right hand with difficulty and reached towards Eberron tremblingly.
Do you want to shake hands?
After only a moment of hesitation, Eberron took off the glove on his right hand and held Cole's stretched out hand.
Startled by the suddenly clenched palm, a cry of surprise came from Eberron's mouth.
"ah."
Cole squeezed Eberron's hand tightly like a flashback, and Cole's eyes shone brightly as he looked at her scorchingly.
"If you must honor us, then please honor us with victory."
"Please be sure to win the final victory!"
Feeling the strength and warmth from his palms, Eberron's lips moved, he raised his left hand to cover his face, and lowered his head tremblingly.
"……Um."
Tick tock.
"Um!"
…
…
Squeezing Andrew's shoulder, Cole signaled that it was okay, and then asked Eberron, who had adjusted his mentality:
"Ma'am, I haven't asked your name yet."
sniffed
"Ahem... Eberron, Eberron Teton."
Smiling clearly, Cole showed his half-broken teeth and smiled brightly.
"Haha! It's indeed the Tetons. I didn't admit my mistake."
Shaking his head, he said with emotion:
"Eberron, do you know Vivian? Vivian Teton."
Eberron glanced at Cole strangely. He didn't expect to hear the names of his family members at this time. He paused and said:
"She...is my aunt, do you know her?"
"You know? I do know her. As for everything else, it doesn't matter. I just ask you to give her a message for me."
Without waiting for Eberron to answer, Cole spoke softly:
"She is a good woman. I was the one who felt sorry for her back then."
Eberron:!!?
Cole looked at Eberron, but the shocked and confused Eberron was no longer in his eyes.
His thoughts had already fallen into a dusk long ago, the woman with her back to the setting sun.
The almost forgotten moisture warmed his eyes, and the warrior who always sweated but never shed tears showed his weakness in the end.
The moment the tears fell, Cole closed his eyes and murmured:
"I'm sorry, Vivian, I broke my promise in the end and couldn't go back..."
There's no going back.
I'm sorry, I am worthy of others, but I failed to keep my agreement with you.
However, you should be pleased, right?
I behave very well in front of your niece!
At least, she shouldn't think I'm a useless sinner, right?
I hope everything I do can touch her.
I hope she will no longer be sad for us and become more adaptable to this cruel world.
The voice became quieter and quieter, but the expression on Cole's face became calmer and calmer, no longer full of regret, and a hint of pride could be seen faintly.
"Ah...if I hadn't flinched at that time, would the result have been different? Haha..."
After mumbling the last unclear words, Cole lowered his head as if he had lost all strength.
There was no more sound.
This time, without Andrew specifically pointing it out, Eberron also understood Cole's current situation.
He died.
On the way home at sunset.
Soldiers can no longer wait to return home.
Because he had fallen in the dawn that was about to break.