solo | starlitnight.01
tw: (violence, blood, war)
Joseon's Frontier | Early Manchurian Invasion Scouts | Day 3 - The Victory
The sand beneath his shoes were stained in blood. How much have been spilled in this battle alone? Five hundred men against three thousand. Two hundred men had sacrificed themselves to take out half of their forces, trapping them in a burning fortress.
He rode back with the remaining three hundred, prepared for death.
His arms were screaming in exhaustion. The sword on his left, and spear on his right were tied to his hand and arms. His fingers had long lost their ability to grip on the weapons tightly. His armor was pitiful, however his spirit is still strong.
The sand. The blood colored sand seemed so close. Was he kneeling? Droplets of blood dripping, were they his own? An arm grabbed him, pulling him up, supporting him as the battle still continued to rage around them. “GENERAL. YOU HAVE TO RUN. WE’D MAKE A PATH FOR YOU TO RETREAT.” He was shouting. Siwan shook his head, he will not leave anyone else to die for his sake.
He had rode out confident. Confident that his wit, his strategy would bring him victory, promising him that chance at Jiu’s hand in marriage. Her kiss before he left under the star lit night, was a appetizer for the sweetness, he knew their marriage will bring.
I’m sorry, my love. He felt tears coming down his face, smearing the blood and dirt on it. He roared, standing steadily, pushing the help away. He lifted his spear to the air. “For Joseon!”
Everything since then became a blur. Men covering his back with their own bodies, his sword penetrating flesh, his spear piercing throats. They were demons on the battlefield, death was a welcomed peace.
Finally, we find a kneeling siwan, barely supporting himself with his sword plunged into the ground. The enemy had ten men left, and he was alone. The enemy general was saying something, siwan did not understand, perhaps respect or gloating, he cared not.
Five hundred Joseon soldiers had brought the three thousand strong enemy to ten. Even if he lost, he won. They charged at him, however he was not alone. He had commanded three other of his best, to lay down playing dead around him. They sprung when the enemies guard was low.
Everything became silent. Light was fading, giving way to the star lit skies.
He laid on his back, his throat parched, his very own light fading.
Tears falling down the side of his face watched the skies, reminiscing of the very same sky he gazed upon with jiu.
She would be alone without him now. His heart clenched, and hurt more than the countless wounds on his body could. He prayed that she will find solace in other. He prayed that she would be eating well. That she would not choose to hide, crying alone at the news of his death. He prayed she would not have chosen to join him.
His eyes widened at that thought. Would she?
His neck moved to gaze around him, the cold of the night would most kill him if his wounds did not. He moved, every muscle in his body screaming as he buried himself, squeezed himself into the bodies surrounding him. While they had long lost their warmth, it would still help him last longer.
He kept his eyes open, no matter how sleepy he felt. He repeated her name, his voice was gone, however his lips moved.
He lips were still moving when he was found, even when his eyes had already closed.
jiu.