"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."

  April 3rd. 1846.

  Act three: The great retreat.

  Private Clint Jackson.

  "Murderer." A whisper.

  "Killer." Another.

  "Look at me, Clint."

  "Shut up," I muttered, covering my ears, yet the whispers persisted.

  "You killed me, didn't you? Look. At. Me."

  I opened my eyes, looking up at the figure standing over me. All the elves I killed, standing over me, fresh flesh and blood still hanging and dripping. Grabbing my rifle, I aimed and fired.

  And I jolted awake looking up at the grey sky before I rolled over on my side.

  "Yia! Relax, my friend!" A Virginis soldier said, smiling softly.

  "Clint?" Kasey muttered and looked up from the newspaper in his hand.

  I sat up, rubbing my face and reaching for my rifle.

  "What?" I asked.

  "Nothing," Kasey answered.

  My eyes glanced toward the virginis soldier as he curiously observed my rifle.

  "Your musket is shorter." The Virginis knelt, showing me his musket.

  I took his musket, and he took my rifle, looking down the barrel. My eyes narrowed as I saw a smoothbore barrel. Sure, Virgo hasn't existed for more than thirty years, but I did expect more.

  "Your name? What is it?" The Virginis asked as we traded our weapons.

  "Clint," I answered.

  "Clint! I am Markos Karras!" The Virginis answered with a smile as he patted my back. I twitched slightly and leaned away, yet he only slid closer.

  "The Elves -"

  "Inhumans." I quickly corrected and glanced over to see his stunned expression before he nodded.

  "Yes yes..Inhumans as you Navarans say. What are they like?" Markos asked.

  "Alive until they aren't," I responded and pushed myself to my feet before stretching. I looked over at Ramon, who was still asleep, and Robert, who was talking to Kasey. Every now and then, Kasey would take a glimpse of me. He rarely spoke to me now. Never anger simply..silent. And that scared me more.

  "Ah..."

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  "And them," I pointed to a group of Virginis all holding wheat or other grains and vegetables around a man who preached to them. "What are they doing?"

  "Worship to Virgo. May she bring good harvest and an even better campaign. And you Clint? What do you believe in?" Markos asked.

  "Humanism," I answered, and stiffened as a trumpet called. Form column.

  "I uh..must leave. Best of luck, Clark!"

  "Clint."

  "Yes, yes!" Markos then ran off to form into his regiment as I began to walk over and take position in mine.

  The 112th took the flanks. We marched in a loose column. The army, for what it's worth, was lively they sang and chanted while marching.

  We walked down the path in between the woods and heard the scream of a woman.

  "You see anything, Clint?" Kasey asked, approaching me rifle raised to the forest.

  "No," I answered, squinting my eyes at the woods.

  A woman dashed out of the woods, screaming and begging for help.

  And behind her, a group of men holding muskets and shotguns dressed in white robes with bandanas and hoods they all froze seeing us the women stumbled down and jumped up running to us and grabbing onto Kasey

  "They-They want to kill me!" She screamed and hid behind Kasey. The men stopped our colonel stepped forward revolver in hand.

  "What's the meaning of this!" The colonel barked out.

  "We caught the bitch fucking a Vile one under the law she deserves death!" The leader of those men stepped forward with a noose hanging from his hand.

  "Under what law?" Kasey asked. The colonel glanced back at him then back at the hooded men.

  "Haven't heard?" The man pulled down his bandana and lifted his chin reaching into his pocket he pulled out a newspaper and held it to the colonel.

  The Colonel took the newspaper, reading each letter before clearing his throat.

  "By the President of the Republic Ulysses J. Harrison.

  A Proclamation...

  Whereas it has become necessary for the preservation of public order.

  Humanity has been threatened as savage inhuman war bands have begun committing acts of violence declaring total war against the republic.

  The human bloodline is being threatened and preservation of the human race is of utmost importance. Here I decree no human shall lie with any inhuman. Anyone found breaking this law is to be condemned to death.

  Humanity must not fall."

  The colonel folded the paper and handed it back to the man before tucking his lips and nodding.

  "Very well. The law is to be fulfilled. Lance Corporal. Hand the women over."

  Kasey froze before stepping back and away from the women I rushed toward her, grabbed the woman, and shoved her toward the men.

  "Who are you, boys?" I whispered to the men.

  The men tackled the woman down and tied her arms as she kicked and screamed, wrapping the noose around her neck.

  "Blood Knights Klan. Ehehe we invite you. We just like you. Keeping the law."

  "Hm." I then stepped back into my position

  The Klansmen dragged her into the woods her screams echoing before a gunshot echoed and then silence.

  "Forward march." The colonel ordered and the column began to move once more.

  "Clint," Ramon called glancing over to him I saw Ramon rubbing his head before he muttered.

  "Your boy. Jason was it?" He asked.

  "That's his name," I answered.

  "The chico walking again. Well..slightly. saw him he gets up walks with a cane and then has to lie down on a stretcher. Who knows why they still have him here?"

  "Jason's strong. Always has been." I answered before the column halted. In the distance, we saw a group of men. At first I assumed regulars but I saw their officer. White uniform. Marines.

  "What is it now?" Ramon began to complain as he scratched his head in annoyance.

  The column stayed still for minutes before moving again.

  Kasey ran up toward the Sergeant and minutes later ran back toward us with Robert.

  "Clint. Ramon." He addressed us both before clearing his throat his hazel eyes darting around.

  "Say it," Ramon said.

  "News..says elven reinforcements arrived..lots of cavalry. Dragoons are already on their way but we're redirecting to Silver Creek. Marines said that's where they're heading." Kasey informed us before looking down at his rifle with a mix of shame and anxiety.

  "Great... another fight," Ramon muttered.

  "Hey, Clint.. go check on Jason..give him this!" Kasey handed me some sweet tobacco I stared at it confused before asking.

  "Where did you even find this?"

  "On a dead inhuman Clint.. where else?" Kasey answered.

  "Right." I then fell back from formation and began to approach the rear where Kasey was still on his stecher yet his eyes were open and immediately darted to me.

  "Clint..?" He gasped out.

  "Jasonn.. I would say nice to see you but..it isn't nice to see you like this."

  Jason only nodded his head before smiling softly.

  "Gonna be ready for battle soon."

  "I hope so Jason.. Kasey.. sends this." I handed him the sweet tobacco and Jason's eyes immediately lit up as he took it and began to chew slowly almost painfully yet with a smile.

  "Thank you."

  And with that, I jogged back to formation. Kasey had his head low before snapping back into reality as he saw me.

  "He said thanks."

  Kasey only nodded.

  And we marched for hours. And hours. And hours. Until the regiment was silent except for grunts and pants. And the cracking of snow turning into mud.

  And as night fell the Trumpet ordered us to halt.

  I made my tent and took the first watch my eyes watching the path behind us. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. It was as if the very land dared not threaten us.

  "What are you doing Clint?" Kasey said as he stepped next to me.

  "Sentry duty," I answered.

  "It seems like you take on any action duty now. But that's not what I meant. What happened to the Clint who was joking who would charge headfirst into battle to protect. You just kill now." Kasey asked his hand twitching at his rifle his eyes locked onto mine.

  "War Kasey. War happened. And I protect Kasey. I protect in my own way.." I answered, biting my lip as I looked at the ground.

  "War..but here I am Clint. Still..holding whatever morals I can."

  "Maybe I forgot those morals along the way Kasey.. or maybe they bite at me every night. We're winning the war aren't we?"

  "Yeah. Were winning and quick. And after we win what then Clint?" Kasey asked.

  "That question huh? My answer..is that we'll always be soldiers. With or without a uniform." I responded.

  Kasey patted my back and hugged me before whispering.

  "Don't lose the only thing you have Clint." And with that, he strolled back into camp.

  And I stayed. Maintaining my duty. Staring into the dark abyss of night.