The Great War: Chapter 64
It's time to pick the next General
Two royal guards march into the infirmary tent. One of them turns to a nearby healer and states, “We’re looking for Jae.”
Jae can’t help but let out a sigh and turns away from the storage racks as the healer points towards her. There have been so many beings looking for her lately. She’s starting to grow sick of needing to deal with them all. Is this what Yumi has to put up with being the Head Healer?
Perhaps if they were injured, she’d not be so sour. But she has a feeling she knows why they’re here asking for her. It’s been the only topic of conversation that has followed her relentlessly these last few cycles.
The General of Life.
“What can I do for you?” she asks the guards as they approach.
“Your presence at the castle has been requested by King Samuel,” the first guard tells her. Her eyes widen at the news. She knows she told Cassie that the only being she’d listen to was the king, but she wasn’t expecting to be brought before him so soon.
She hasn’t written any names down, nor has she heard back from Yumi, either. If the king asks her for any names, she’ll have to think of some on the spot.
“Now?” she asks.
“Now,” the guard confirms, gesturing for her to follow them.
She’s escorted out of the tent under the gazes of her fellow healers. Though not a word is spoken, they’re all wishing for her to return safely. She holds her head high in reply. She’ll do what she can.
She’d be lying if she were to say that she wasn’t nervous as she makes her way to the castle under the watchful eyes of the two guards behind her. She’s only met the king a handful of times beforehand, but she doesn’t really know him. She doesn’t think any being really does, aside from his personal guard and his own father, of course, rest his soul.
Will he be able to deliver on his promise of freedom? Or will he let the island crumble beneath him? It’s hard to say, though from his speech he seemed to be full of determination to see things through to the very end. And with how often he’s been seen in public lately, it’s almost reassuring to think that he’s been taking a more proactive approach to the war.
Unlike his father.
She is led into the throne room, where the king is surrounded by his Generals; she sees Cassie fanning herself with a piece of paper, appearing rather bored as she sits on one of the steps that lead up to the throne. On top of the orange boy and the black-robed guard, there’s one more being with the group as well, in leather and blue cloth, his brown hair appearing to have white specks of sea salt forever trapped within their strands. The king said that there would be seven Generals. Already, five are gathered here.
Or… maybe she should make that six.
Jae stops short of the throne, her hands clasped in front of her as she patiently waits to be noticed. The king is a bit busy talking with the other two. Cassie, however, perks up with a bright, off-putting smile the moment she sees the healer she’s been harassing lately finally in the presence of the other Generals.
The guard, too, takes note of her presence, and eventually taps the king’s shoulder to grab his attention. Jae takes a deep breath, summoning all of her confidence, as the king’s eyes lay upon her.
The briefest sparkle of recognition flashes in his eyes. He’s probably recalling her from when she delivered that letter to him from the Guardians, many cycles ago.
“Jae,” he speaks, his rich voice full of confidence and poise, “no doubt you know why you’re here?”
“I believe I do, my king,” Jae replies, giving him a short bow. “This is regarding the General of Life.”
“Correct.”
She holds back a sigh, though a sigh of what, she doesn’t know. Relief, knowing that she was right? Anticipation, waiting to hear what she suspects will be coming next?
Samuel extends a hand in Cassie’s direction. “Your name was mentioned time and again as being the best candidate for being the General of Life.” Cassie’s grin only widens further, eyes narrowing. A chill runs down Jae’s back under her intense gaze.
She feels like she has to say something.
“My king,” she speaks quickly, shooting Cassie a quick glare, “as much as I’m honored to be spoken so highly about, I cannot accept being a General. I refuse to associate with a criminal like her.”
Samuel’s guard presses his lips firmly together, stiffening at Jae’s response. The king, however, remains unfazed by her words.
“I understand your reservations,” Samuel nods. “I felt the exact same way. However, the Spirit’s requests cannot be ignored. If He said she is the one to be a General, then who am I to refuse Him?”
Jae is silent. Great Spirit’s words aside, she refuses to allow herself to become corrupted by a being such as Cassie.
“This is no longer a choice, Jae,” Samuel adds firmly. “I need a General of Life magic. I cannot waste any more time picking and choosing. The final decision rests with Korodon Himself now.”
Jae takes another deep breath as frustration swirls inside her. She’s stuck with that criminal after all, assuming that the Spirit accepts her into the group’s fold.
But she’s not upset with the arrangement itself. Strangely, she feels more eager to get all of this done and over with, to become a General. She wonders what authority will come with the title, and if it’ll be enough to allow her to finally do what she needs to do to support the other healers of the island.
She might be in company that she despises, but her heart and duty is to the kingdom of Korodon.
Jae places a hand on her heart. “Then I’m ready for the Spirit to judge me.”
This makes the king smile ever so slightly, a weary one but a smile nonetheless. He rises from the throne and gestures for her to follow him. “This way, then.”
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