The soldier beside me spoke first.
"My name is James. The one near the door is Kane. Python is keeping watch by the window, and the one with the leg wound is Colt."
"Wait—Python?" I asked, chuckling despite myself. "Why is your name Python? Forgive me for laughing."
Everyone smirked, the tension easing slightly.
Python turned away from the window, looking embarrassed.
"It's... a nickname. During training, I once crawled through the mud so quickly that they said I moved like a snake. The name just stuck."
James laughed.
"More like you got stuck in the mud and started hissing at the sergeant."
The room erupted into quiet laughter. Even Colt, despite the pain in his leg, managed a grin.
Python shook his head.
"One day, I'll prove that it's a name worth keeping."
I smiled faintly.
"Well, at this moment, you're the one watching the window. If you see anything slithering our way, you'd better hiss first."
The laughter grew louder, echoing against the ruined walls.
For a brief moment, the war outside felt distant. Inside that abandoned house, we were not merely soldiers—we were men clinging to humour, to our humanity, before the next storm.
I unfolded the map and tried to determine our location.
"Hey, Python."
"Sir?"
"Tell me if you can see any landmarks."
"Grass... and some old buildings?"
"Use your eyes to look, not your nose."
"But—"
"I'll look, Commander," James interrupted.
I nodded.
"There is a building, some grass, and what appears to be a broken fountain. I'm not entirely certain."
"That may not be enough to determine our location."
After thirty minutes had passed, I stood up.
Everyone looked at me, wondering about my next move.
"Python, James, Kane, and Colt, get ready. We need to move before anyone discovers our position. Colt, how is your leg?"
Everyone nodded. Instead of answering, Colt asked his own question.
"Commander... how is your left arm?"
I smirked.
"Fine. Just a little pain."
"Same here, Commander."
I chuckled and nodded.
"So, can you move, or do I need to carry you like a princess?"
"No need."
Colt immediately rose to his feet.
I nodded.
The others stood up as well.
I glanced at the map once more, trying to determine our exact position.
A heavy sigh escaped my lips.
"What is it, Commander? Is everything alright?" Kane asked.
"I hope so."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I can't pinpoint our location."
"Why don't you use tunnel vision?" Colt suddenly suggested.
All of us turned to look at him.
"What? I only said that because Admiral Rook told me that our Commander can determine his location even in the middle of a desert. He calls your ability 'Tunnel Vision Master.'"
I stared at him for a moment. I had no idea I was known by such a title.
"I can't use that so-called ability right now. And after the invasion of Draven-Cross, I need to have a serious conversation with Admiral Rook. Colt, thank you for informing me."
"Sir... why do I have a bad feeling that I've made a terrible mistake?"
"You think?" Kane replied.
The only way to confirm our location was to reach the fountain.
There were only two fountains in the slum district of Draven-Cross City.
The Fountain of the Holy, located in the southern district, and the Fountain of the Empire, located in the western district.
There was also a statue of the old Emperor in the northern district, marking the boundary between the slums and the suburbs.
The problem was that we could not remain here for long.
If the enemy discovered us, they would kill us without mercy. I could give my own life without hesitation. But I refused to let these young men die because of me.
I lifted my gaze from the map and looked at my comrades. They were still smirking and quietly laughing among themselves.
"Commander?"
They all looked at me, waiting for an answer.
No.
This was not the time to think about the worst possibilities. I had to survive—not only for them, but also for the countless children who had lost their homes and parents.
I took a deep breath and slowly stood up.
"It is time to move. Colt, can you walk? I need a yes or no answer. I do not need someone slowing us down."
My voice turned cold.
He looked stunned.
A trace of fear appeared on his face.
"Y-Yes... I can move."
He answered cautiously, his voice trembling.
"Good. We're moving out. No more jokes. No more resting. We have already been resting for twenty-five minutes."
Everyone nodded. They understood. We quietly left the old house.
The night was dark, and an eerie silence filled the streets. Eventually, we reached the old fountain James had mentioned. As we approached, however, we realized that it was not a fountain at all.
It was a statue of the old Emperor.
We were currently in the northern part of the slums, close to the suburbs.
I signalled for everyone to follow me.
Slowly, we advanced toward the K.I. Building.
Unfortunately, it was still four to five hours away.
Enemy patrols were moving through the area, remaining highly alerted.
I sighed.
Python glanced at me.
"What do we do, sir?"
"We move through the houses. We have no other choice."
I unfolded the map and showed them our route.
I explained how we would quietly enter and pass through multiple houses without being detected.
If everything proceeded according to plan, it would take us approximately three hours.
We had to pass through twenty-one houses.
Everyone agreed.
Charging directly at the enemy would be nothing more than suicide.
We would not even eliminate half of them before being killed ourselves.
This longer route was our best option.
It was a long shot.
But it was better than marching toward our deaths.
We carefully approached the first house.
Python picked the lock, and we quietly entered before closing the door behind us.
Two and a half hours passed.
We had already crossed twelve houses.
Now, we had reached the front side of the K.I. Building.
However, our objective was the rear entrance.
We entered the thirteenth house.
Only eight remained.
After three and a half hours of silently breaking into houses and slipping out of them like shadows, our luck finally ran out.
At the last house, we were spotted by a child.
No—he could not have been more than eleven or twelve years old.
Python, Colt, Kane, James, and I exchanged uneasy glances, silently understanding the danger of the situation.
James quietly approached the child.
He smiled and gently spoke to him.
"Hey, kiddo. What are you doing awake so late?"
"I'm hungry. Mommy told me to get food from downstairs and not to knock on the door unless there's an emergency. She also told me not to mind the scary noises coming from the room."
The colour drained from everyone's faces.
"Commander..." James looked at me with a horrified expression.
"Ask for more details. Find out who is with her."
James nodded and continued speaking with the child.
After a few minutes of questioning, we confirmed that the man staying with the child's mother was an Imperial Guard captain.
If we managed to capture him, we might be able to extract valuable information.
"Kane and Colt, prepare some food for the mother and child. James, Python—you two are with me."