"Hi, I guess it's my turn," he said. "Anything special happened?"
"Oh, hi Bardy," a servant said. "No, nothing special. The night was quiet."
"Understood, thanks. Rest well," he said.
"Thanks. Good start," the servant said and left.
Bardy was in the watchtower, looking out and observing the outside. Oh, hi sun. Is it hard for you to rise? I think this is how I will fall. Forgive me, my mom, forgive me, my dad, and my little sister. I miss you all. Forgive me, I wasn't able to implement our project. I don't think I can see you to explain. Here, it is bad. We have a monster, and death is breathing on me. I can't even send you something. The path is blocked. I tried to change our lifestyle, but I failed. Will you forgive me? I was hoping that things would go the right way, but with every year, new obstacles rose. I am alone.
Others hold on to me, but they don't know that I have already fallen. I was holding on to you, all my dear family. Luckily, my old friend Radi came. Without him, I absolutely wouldn't have survived. Speaking of surviving, this is my last campaign. If I survive, I will go home and stay with my family. Fifteen years is too much. Dear sun, send my words to my family. Please, sun, send them.
He wiped away his tears. He closed his eyes. He took a deep breath. He opened his eyes. He tried to smile, but when he smiled, he remembered the words he had said to his family about their project, and he started to tear up. Suddenly, it started to rain. Even the clouds agree with me. Anyway, Bardy, come on. You should be stronger than your family. Come on, you can do it. After all, I am the witch killer. But how did I become so weak? I know I can. I will. But give me strength. Please, someone, give me hope.
Some time passed. It was morning, and the rain became stronger. He ignored it. This is it, probably my last time watching the rain. How long can we hold? What if they attack us today?
Some time passed. It was not yet noon. He heard some footsteps.
"Bardy!" a servant said, worried.
"Yes. Climb up, soldier," he said.
"Thanks, Bardy. We are in trouble," the servant said.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Honestly, I am a little surprised that you didn't come first," the servant said. "You didn't react as fast as our Commander."
"But I can slap you faster than our Commander," he said.
"That one, I know," the servant said.
"I don't understand. Speak directly, servant," he said loudly.
"Forgive me, Bardy. I didn't want to upset you. You probably were busy," the servant said. "The rain, which started slowly, we thought was not an obstacle. But now it's strong and intense. We can't work. As you are the second-in-command, I am asking you temporarily if we can stop working."
Bardy started to focus on the rain and think about the words the servant had said. Darkness takes me. He is right. This rain, what is happening here? How did I miss it? I was so sad that I didn't notice it. Am I losing grip or losing my mind? That is bad. He looked at the servant.
"What about the Commander?" he asked.
"He didn't come out yet," the servant said.
"All right. Take my position. I will come back," he said and left.
Bardy rushed directly to his tent. He approached and saw the fabric still bound on the tent. From yesterday? Are you joking? What is happening? Come on, Radi. He slowly and gently opened the entrance, entered inside, and left the entrance slightly open. He approached Arrdun's bed. Arrdun was on his bed without any blankets. He was wearing his sleeping clothes.
"Radi, it's me," Bardy said quietly, but Arrdun didn't react.
"Radi, are you still sleeping?" Bardy asked normally, but Arrdun remained silent.
"Commander!" he shouted, but Arrdun didn't move.
Bardy remained silent for a short moment. The raindrops were hitting the tent's roof. He came close to Arrdun's bed and heard slow and heavy breathing.
"Are you joking, jester!" he shouted angrily. He grabbed Arrdun's left arm, started to shake it, and repeated Arrdun's name. After a few tries, Arrdun barely opened his eyes.
"What? Who? What is happening?" Arrdun asked, surprised.
"Jester, shit," Bardy said, then exhaled deeply. "Wanted to kill me before the monster?"
"No. What do you mean?" Arrdun asked, confused.
"You were sleeping so deeply, I couldn't wake you up. You didn't even react to my words," Bardy said. "Radi, I was afraid, and when I touched your arm it was wet, hot. You are burning, Radi."
"Darkness, what is this crap?" Arrdun asked angrily. He touched his forehead. "Yeah, something is wrong, and I also feel strange. Something is off."
"Strange? What do you mean?" he asked.
"My skin feels swollen from the inside. My senses are becoming dull," Arrdun said worriedly.
"That's good, Radi, isn't it?" he said. "The betrayer leaving me? I can't take the monster alone."
"You can't, but close your eyes and imagine that it's a witch," Arrdun said. "I don't wear a dark cloak"
"I can give you that, if you want it that much to wear," he said.
"Thank you for your kindness, but," Arrdun said, "no."
"Jokes aside, Radi, we have a problem and it's the rain," Bardy said worriedly.
"Today it started raining slowly, the rain was weak at first, but after a short time it became stronger and stronger. People can't work and they're asking if they can temporarily stop." He continued, "How can I help with your sickness? Please tell me you're okay."
"Rain? Hmm, it's good because I'm burning," Arrdun said. "Dori, dear Dori, where's your smile? Did you leave it outside?" He continued, "I don't need help. I'll manage by myself, no worries. I just feel a bit weak. Help me to stand."
"Doing it by himself but can't even stand," Bardy said while stepping closer to help.
Bardy helped, and they both went out of the tent. When they stepped outside, the wind hit their faces. They began to observe the surroundings, and while watching, they noticed that the rain was starting to cause small damages to weak structures. Bardy didn't speak; he was surprised because the rain had become stronger, and the wind was something new. It hadn't been present before.
"Hmm, I wonder, what could possibly go wrong, Dori?" Arrdun asked. "Dori?" he repeated, but Bardy did not answer. Arrdun added, "Why didn't you come earlier?"
"Shit, this will damage the buildings if we leave it like this," Bardy said quietly.
"We need to act fast," Bardy said, rushing to meet the servants to give orders and help them.
"We didn't finish!" Arrdun shouted after Bardy as he ran away. What is wrong with him? Came here, asked for permission, and now just leaves like that. Whatever. Speaking of which, I wonder what's wrong with me. He didn't know exactly, but this swollen skin didn't mean anything good.
Time passed but the rain and wind didn't weaken. The camp started to take damage. They tried to restore it, but at one point the situation was so bad that they all gathered inside the same big tent, which was changed and modified due to the situation. They improvised and tried to hold on inside. Many things were damaged, destroyed. Some places were flooded. Many tools were pushed away by the rain and the wind.
The wall with the watchtower suffered. They were already bent and cracked. Every time the wind hit, they were dancing with scratching noise. They were shaking, swinging. Only Bardy was outside and guarding. Regardless of the situation, he was on watch. The crew gave him a surname, Bardy the Brave. They didn't know that Bardy was actually broken and seeking death. After sunset, the wind disappeared and the rain became very weak. They all left the shelter, and Bardy approached and met them.
"Commander, I didn't see anything useful to report," Bardy said.
"Understood, you can go rest," Arrdun said. "Servants!" he shouted. "Now let's restore our camp. I know that many tools are lost, but we will do what we can."
The crew's morale was low. While Bardy slowly walked away, someone from the crew said, "Yeh, let's restore our camp, which will become our grave."
These words were heard by Arrdun and Bardy. Arrdun recognized the voice, but Bardy didn't because he was a bit far from the crew. Without any word, expression, or emotion, Arrdun went directly toward that servant. He was calm and approached the servant. Arrdun reached him while he was busy.
"Servant," Arrdun said gently.
"Yes, Commander," the servant answered.
"Come with me now," Arrdun said. "I think you may be able to fix the wall."
"Understood," the servant answered while putting down the broken wooden sticks.
They approached the wall. While Arrdun was trying to open the gate, a few servants heard a loud sound and went there. They thought and hoped maybe someone had come, but instead, they saw their Commander and another servant. With great difficulty and force, Arrdun opened the gate.
"What is this?" Arrdun asked, surprised and touched the servant's left shoulder.
"What? I can't see. Don't scare me, please," the servant said.
"Strange," Arrdun replied.
"What is it? It's a bug or something?" he asked and wanted to touch his shoulder.
"Don't move," Arrdun said calmly.
"Understood," he said and stood straight.
"You won't believe what I see," Arrdun said.
"What is it?" he asked, nervously.
"This is..." Arrdun said and looked into his eyes, "our symbol." He grabbed it and removed it.
Before he understood what had happened, Arrdun, with both hands, pushed him outside. After the rain, the ground was slippery. The servant's body went outside. The servant almost fell, but at the last moment, he managed to keep his balance.
"As a commander, I release you from your service," Arrdun said and closed the gate.
Arrdun went back and saw a few members were observing the situation. He approached them. "Did you finish the job?" he asked.
They became confused and scared. They panicked and tried to go back fast, but Arrdun managed to touch one of them. Arrdun grabbed the servant's arm while the others left.
"Stop," Arrdun said calmly.
"Commander, I can explain..." He tried to speak.
"Don't," Arrdun interrupted. The servant remained silent. Shit, I am dead. The Commander is going to punish me.
"The watchtower should never be empty," Arrdun said.
"But when Bardy went..." he said.
"No worries, I will see Bardy about that matter," Arrdun said.
"Commander, may I ask?" he said.
"Yes, I am listening," Arrdun said.
"Where did the other servant go?" he asked.
"Which servant?" Arrdun said, surprised. "I don't see any other servant except you."
"As you command," he said. "I will guard our camp."
The servant tried to climb the stairs, and the cracking sound was worrying.
"No worries, I will send a few men to restore this first," Arrdun said. "Maybe try working on the wall if it is more stable." But suddenly, they both heard a voice from outside. The servant outside was crying, asking for forgiveness and help.
"Servant," Arrdun said calmly as he looked at him, "I hear no voice."
The servant was terrified.
Arrdun left, and while he was walking, he heard a desperate voice:
"Sorry, comrade. Orders are orders. I cannot help you."
Arrdun went to meet with Bardy. Crap. The wall is almost gone. The watchtower... I don't even want to think about it. We are doomed. Was I too harsh? Negative speakers affect others. The situation is hopeless. Maybe this was what pushed the soldier. Anyway, this should be a lesson. We must hold on to morale. I can't let someone contaminate others with despair. I think the others already know. Yeah, I have to be a harsh commander. I'll speak with Dori and bring the servant back.
He approached the crew. "Servants!" he shouted. "Does anybody else have something to say about my orders?"
"No," the crew answered.
He noticed that Bardy wasn't resting but helping to restore the camp. Dori... Dori, why isn't he resting? On the other hand, what's the point of resting? We are doomed. "Bloody darkness!" he screamed. Others froze. He turned back and, with a fast walk, went back. While he was approaching, he could hear the crying coming from outside.
A brief moment passed. Arrdun came back with the servant who had been outside. The servant's position was restored, and he had his symbol back.
"We need to restore the wall and the watchtower. It is a priority, servants," Arrdun said to the crew.
Most of them, with Arrdun, went to check the wall and the watchtower. Some time passed. They tried to restore or fix it. Unfortunately, without the basic tools, they couldn't restore it. They couldn't build a new one, and they couldn't repair the old one either. Understanding the situation, they tried to reinforce it, but they didn't have any materials left for that.
"All right," Arrdun said. "Or crap!" he yelled angrily. "Let's go back and see what we can do." He continued, "If we can't restore, then we should start cleaning and making a new campfire," he said. "Bardy, I need to talk with you. Meet me in our tent, or whatever is left of it."