Chapter 22: Welcome back.
Chapter 22: Welcome back.
The Barracks was more lively than anyone would expect, with soldiers walking up and down, working as they should.
Some of them gave them strange looks as they walked by, since it was their first time seeing someone in Osbornes attire all the way out here.
" You 5 head back to the tent, I’ll be going to inform the platoon leader about our friend here."
" Try to get him some warm towels and something hot to drink." He added.
3 of them nodded while Vlaric remained silent.
Osborne followed the 4 soldiers back to their tent after Silas left.
***********
Osborne sat on Sila’s bed with a towel wrapped around his shoulders with a steaming cup of water in his hands.
It was the best they could do in such conditions. Nevertheless, Osborne was more than grateful.
" Is it always this cold out here?" Osborne feeling bored, tried to strike up a conversation.
" Well yes, it’s always snowing up here in the north." One of the soldiers said, while rubbing his hands together. " It gets even colder in the morning, which makes it harder to take a fucking bath."
" Don’t you guys heat up some water if that’s the case." Osborne raised a brow and asked.
The 3 soldiers all paused, giving him strange looks.
’ Did I say something wrong?’
" Of course a noble wouldn’t know anything about it." Vlaric scoffed from the corner of the room.
" You think it’s that easy to start a fire out here, even if you did, you wouldn’t exactly have something big enough to heat it up with. That cup of water in your hands came straight from the logistics department. You’re lucky Silas really cares about someone like you."
" Is a cup of hot water really that special?"
Osborne paused, confused by the level of hostility. " I mean, couldn’t you guys just request for more equipment from the capital?"
" You think we haven’t?!" Vlaric yelled. " We’ve made many requests yet all were turned down on counts of being unnecessary and a waste of resources."
" Sounds to me like you guys have a problem with your superior’s. Just start a protest and everything should turn out alright." Osborne said calmly.
" Why you spoilt bastard!" Vlaric suddenly looked annoyed. " You think this is funny?!"
" Vlaric calm down!" Two of the other soldiers quickly stood up and grabbed a hold of him.
" Let me go right now! I need to beat that bastard noble up! Who does he think he is to mock us?! Sniveling cowards like them who refuse to do anything useful in this kingdom deserve to die!"
’ Well that sure escalated quickly.’ Osborne blinked his eyes.
He’d read the novel a bit but he never really read it in detail to be honest and he surely didn’t expect there to be such a divide between the kingdoms militia and it’s nobles.
’ When I get back, I really need to read up on this.’ Osborne said to himself.
" Damnit! I said let go!" Vlaric snapped and used his right leg to sweep one of the men off their feet, before using his free hand to punch the order.
" ARRGH! Vlaric you crazy idiot!"
" That fucking hurt man!" Both men clutched at their injuries.
But Vlaric didn’t listen, instead he rushed Osborne who was still sitting down.
" ....!!" Osbornes eyes widened when he pulled out his sword from his sheath.
" I’ll cut you down like the rat you are!" Vlaric
’ Is this guy a psycho?!’ Osborne finally got anxious seeing the sword coming down towards him.
SWOOSH~!
’ How?’ but right then, the rusted dagger he’d been looking for, emerged in his hand right then.
"...?!" Vlaric was stunned but that didn’t stop his downward swinging momentum.
Osborne who didn’t really have the time to think, flipped the dagger, grabbing it upside down, before swinging it at the incoming sword.
CLANG~!
Both blades collided, realising a spine tingling sound.
" You bastard! You really were faking it weren’t you!" Vlaric gritted his teeth and dragged his sword.
SCREEEE~!
The sound of both blades scraping against each other was heard.
Osborne who knew he was outmatched when it came to sword play, used the opportunity to jump onto the bed.
" If you’re life here is so shitty! Why continue to complain so much about it, why not just quit!"
" Hahaha, of course you think it’s that simple!" Vlaric laughed out loud. Swinging his sword, which Osborne intercepted with his dagger.
Both fighters leaned in close, in attempt to over power the other.
A look of strain emerged on Osbornes face since Vlaric had the terrain advantage and weapon advantage.
Trying to use a dagger to overpower a long sword really wasn’t an ideal thing to do.
" Do you even have any idea how hard it is for us commoners to survive in this kingdom?!" Vlaric droned on.
" All you noble bastards know how to do is talk and fill your wretched bellies, you raise the prices of goods and increase ones own tax, without a care for how you’re actions affect those beneath you."
" We join the military not only to protect our families, but in hopes of ranking up and gaining immunity from you vile monsters."
" To increase our stars and gain noble level authority, we commoners are forced to throw our life out here in the north while you fat cats hide behind the east, west and south borders!"
Vlaric swung at him again but he quickly evaded by rolling to his right.
He then jumped off the bed and made a run for it towards the door.
" Get back here!" Vlaric yelled as he quickly gave chase.
Osborne frantically ran for his life.
BAM
" Urrgh~" but he found himself slamming into someone before bouncing back and falling on his ass.
" What the hell is going on here!" A booming voice echoed out.
Osborne raised his head to see Silas standing by the door, an angry look on his face.
" Vlaric! I told you 4 to watch after him, not kill him!" Silas growled as he began walking towards Vlaric.
Vlaric had a stunned look on his face since he’d never seen his friend so angry before.