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keigo-writes · 1 year ago

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Act One Part One: Chapter One

Haneul's POV

“I never stood a chance did I?” Haneul said, staring up at his lover's eyes, grasping on his breath.

“You’re not dying. You can’t die yet. You can’t leave me.” Caesar replied heart breaking into a million little pieces, not ready to answer Haneul’s answer, not ready to admit that he loves Haneul.

“You never answered my question, my love. I can’t leave you until you tell me if I stood a chance.”

Four Months Earlier

Haneul's POV

It was a normal day for my father and I. My mother left when I was just a young boy, we didn't have enough money. I think that's why she left. My father and I are farmers, we own a shop downtown that I work at whenever I can. Before the war started (approximately six months ago). We were doing good, business was booming but since the war lots of people have died. Our crops being bombed, half of our soldiers are dying. The war supposedly happened by a failed assanation attempt by the king of England. The king denied everything, but we all knew he did it.

My father is working at the shop, he is extremely old. The King keeps telling us to enlist or we will get drafted. I pray to our gods each day that my father won't get drafted. If they had to draft someone I hope it's me. If it means my father gets to live, and I can see the world like I always wanted to.

I was out getting rid of the weeds in our vegetable and fruit garden, when I saw some of the king's guards walking towards me. I put down my shovel and took off my gloves. I looked around and realized none of them didn't have any guns, I instantly realized but soon got nervous. What about my father did they tell me my father got drafted into the war? I sure hope not.

"Is something wrong sir?" I ask the closest one, nervous to know if they are gonna take away my father.

"Ma'am you mean." The lady corrected me. She walked towards me and patted my shoulder.

"I am terribly sorry Ma'am. Is something wrong? Did my father get drafted? He's too old, please don't take him."

"Oh, don't worry. Your father should be here any minute. Your father was already told, would you like us to wait for him before we tell you or would you like to know right away?" The lady asked in a sweet mother tone.

"I. I Uh. I-I wo-would li-like to kn-know now pl-please." I stuttered out, feeling super embarrassed I normally don't stutter.

The other soldiers didn't react or anything, she probably was a higher ranking officer than them.

"Okay. It's okay if you feel nervous. I understand. Would you like to sit inside and talk about it?" The woman replied and I relaxed knowing I'm not being judged by her.

I nodded, "Can we please sit inside? Follow me please." I walked inside but before I went inside I opened the doors for the soldiers.

"I'm sorry if I seem out of it, I was worrying about my father. He is all I have so I don't want him to go off and fight in the war. Would you like anything to eat at all or drink anything? I can get you some tea or milk." I asked the soldiers.

All the boys shake their heads, but the girl nodded, "Yes please I'll have some tea. My name is Kim Ae-Ri, I'm a five star general." She sat down at the couch whilst I made some tea for her and myself.

Once the tea was done I walked over to the couch and handed her tea. "Careful it's hot, what is it that you needed to tell me?"

She took a deep breath and looked at me and smiled sadly, "Unfortunately we have lost lots of our men and we need more soldiers. The King and the other 5 star general drafted your name out of a random hat. We are here to inform you of that decision and to let you pack your stuff. You won't need a lot of your clothes, just some boxers, everything will be supplied there. You can bring some books or anything you would like to bring for comfort during your training. We ran into your dad at your shop downtown. We already told him." Ae-Ri said, looking up at me with an even sad smile, taking a break from time to time to drink her tea.

I slowly nodded and my father stormed through the door and ran over to me and gave me a bear hug. "I-I, that's okay. I can go pack my stuff right now, and leave you guys with my father," I was startled by my dad, but I gave him a hug back.

I slowly walked towards my room sipping my tea. When I got to my room I started crying. I didn't want to leave my father behind but I wanted to leave no matter what way possible. I started to pack my boxers, cleaning care stuff, some pictures of my dad and I. I also packed some clothes just in case. I grabbed a notebook right before I left my room. My dad was sitting on the couch crying, and Ae-Ri was comforting him.

I told one of the soldiers I was ready to go and that I had my stuff packed. My dad gave me one big hug before he looked at me in my eyes, "Remember to be true to yourself."

I nodded to him, "I always will be, you promise you will be true to yourself too." He just nodded and didn't say anything else.

My dad just walked away, probably to the cellar to get himself drunk. We walked out of the house and towards the carriages. I got into one of the carriage and as we were going towards the military camp, I was watching out the window questioning how my life was going to be now.

It felt like it was two days, when in reality it was probably three to five hours to get there. Ae-Ri showed me to the place I was going to be staying for the next eight weeks. I unpacked my stuff to a bunk, surprisingly I was the only one in the camp. There was only one bed, and one toiletry room.

I looked back and she was smiling sitting on my bed and nodded, as if confirming that it was all mine indeed. "We should go over the schedule. I wrote one just in case you forget. We wake up at six in the morning each day unless it's Sunday, then we wake up at eight in the morning. We have breakfast at six thirty in the morning each day unless its Sunday then we have it at eight thirty in the morning. We have training from seven to three thirty pm. We have lunch at four pm. For Sunday our training is from nine to noon, we have lunch at twelve thirty, and then training from two to six pm. For any other day, that's not Sunday, we have training again from five to eight pm, and then dinner at eight thirty. Sunday we have a chill day from six thirty till dinner which is eight pm. Lights out at nine pm each day." She looked over at me, but when she was saying that she handed me the schedule on the paper. I smiled and nodded.

"Thank you Ae-Ri, I mean General of the Army. It is a bit much but it helps that you have it written down. But since it's Sunday and it's noon, am I going to train today?" I was scared I was going to get into trouble for not calling her military name.

She nodded, "Correct, you're not gonna train, you're just gonna watch how it is done, I'll show you the ropes and everything. But don't worry about not calling me the military name I am. As long as we are in public and you do, please do call me that. But if we are alone you can call me Ae-Ri." Ae-Ri responded with a mom smile and gave me a warm hug.

After the hug she stood up and reached out her arm, "Now let's show you around. First let's head our way to lunch. Nobody should make fun of you in any way, you have an important job to us and to the war. If they do, please do tell me. I will be overseeing your training and I will be the one training you." Ae-Ri walked out of my bunker and headed to the cafeteria.

"What sort of job is that?" I asked, generally curious.

"I mustn't tell you, the King will tell you at Dinner." Ae-Ri responded as I nodded in understanding.

Ae-Ri explained what sort of training I will be getting and what sort of weapons I will be using, and life on the base. We soon made it to the cafeteria and we got our food. Ae-Ri walked me over to where we will be seated. We ate in peace and quiet. When we were done eating, we threw our trash away."Follow me, we will be heading towards one of the training areas first, after that we will be heading to the armory and weapon training area. If we run into the King you can ask him what job you will be assigned. Is that clear?" Ae-Ri commanded and told.

I nodded, "Yes Ma'am." I was a little stiff but soon relaxed. I followed where she was going and I was watching the areas.

When it was dinner time we made our way back to the cafeteria and we started eating again, in the same place. When we were done eating, Ae-Ri made me throw away both of our stuff as she was talking to the King's right hand man.

Ae-Ri made her way towards me, "It's time Haneul, we are going to meet the king and you're going to learn what your job is for the military.

I nod stiffly, and follow her to the room where the King is waiting. We make our way to the room and Ae-Ri knocks on the door three times and then walks in.

"You may enter Ae. I'm assuming you got young Haneul." The king commanded from the other side of the door.

"Yes that I have Haneul." Ae-Ri and I enter the room and I start to fiddle with my hands.

"It's okay that you're nervous young Haneul. I would be nervous if I was in your place. Now you must be wondering what your job is, and why I specifically drafted you." The king smiled

I was shocked, I looked at Ae-Ri, "But I thought it was random, that's what General Ae-Ri said."

The king sighed, “That is what we agreed on to say. I have known Ae-Ri for a very long time, I know that she won't do something I have ordered her to do. Now your job is to get close to prince Ceasar of England, and to kill him. He is the one who must die in order to stop this war, or more innocent people will die. I'm sure you don't want that. I knew how close the last bomb was to your house, I can move your dad and he can be somewhere closer if you give me the go ahead. I am a man of my word." The king smiled wickedly at me.

All I could do was nod, "Yes your majesty. I will get close to it, just protect my father please."

The king nodded, "Of course young Haneul. I will be proud of you for serving this country. I hope you succeed in killing Prince Caesar."

I smiled back at him, "Thank you, your majesty. I will succeed in killing Prince Caesar." I bowed politely at the king.

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