"Are there no healers available?" Teo asked he was desperately trying to keep the man alive.

It was a foolish question. The entire place had turned into a battlefield, even as he spoke - Teo knew that the snow kingdom people were marching to the front of their camp. How did this happen? When he first arrived, things were relatively peaceful. While there were skirmishes here and there, no significant battles like this occurred, "Guhhh.." Hearing the man let out a painful cry. Teo looked down, in the next few minutes, this man would surely die.

He wouldn't be the only one, all around him, people were injured. The sneak attack that occurred four hours ago left so much damage. Even though he brought his men back to camp, the attacks didn't stop. The ones who got wounded are the ones who could use magic too. So presently they had no barrier, and it left the camp exposed. Teo wiped the sweat from his forehead as a light emerged from his palm. His healing abilities differ from the average person since it meant exposing his dragon side. However, Teo knows that everybody knew the rumors already. Besides…

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Year 4014 - Mist Kingdom Castle - Princess Lyn Courtyard

"When you see somebody dying in front of you. Restrictions or not, would you save them?" Lyn trailed off, her gaze softened, "I don't think it's necessary for me to say this."

"You'd save them?" Teo asked, despite knowing the answer already.

Lyn smiled, "Yes"

---------

Though the Queen punished him for his reckless behavior; even now Teo knew that the words she said back when she was a mere sixteen-year-old princess still applied. She won't mind, even if he were to do something like this. Teo focused on the wound, the light grew brighter, but to his surprise, the man weakly grabbed hold of his hand.

"General.."

"...What? Rather, let go--" If he does this, how can Teo heal the wound? "It's okay, thank you General," The man said weakly. Teo's eyes went wide before he could say any more, the man's hand slipped from his.

"General, just now we lost---" One of the soldiers from the second group approached, his sentence fell short, and he brought over a white sheet, covering the man who just died in front of him, "General?"

".." Teo looked down, even though he was right here. He hesitated. He should have used his power from the beginning; why did he sit around and wait for? He clicked his tongue; in the end he hasn't changed at all. He still can't save those that are dear to him. What's the use of having a strong power, if nothing changes?

......

Three seconds.

That's the amount of time it took after that man died in front of him, for the enemy to break their defenses and attack. It takes Teo double that time to summon his blade. In the battlefield, others consider anything less than two seconds to summon one's blade dangerous. Because the unexpected happens, in the moments one hesitates, it's the same on this occasion.

His thoughts broke off when something dark and ire looking emerged from the corner.

Teo identified them right away, demon tigers - one that has lost their way. It was not just one but several.

"Those who can still stand, grab your weapons and protect those who aren't armed. But do not stare into their eyes, you will get sucked in. " Teo bellowed out orders. He isn't sure how many people heard the last half since screeches followed. One after the other, his companions fell. However, Teo didn't have time to look over at each and every one of them. Teo leaped onto a rock and issued more orders, "Archers, maintain your distance. Do not let it see you."

Teo felt the sweat falling increasingly from his face. This situation was not good at all, archers drew and followed his command - a sea of arrows mixed with magic rained across the battlefield. But even then Teo knew that it would do little damage. How is this possible? When he arrived at the Western border, a week ago. He set up backup defenses and a.s.sessed the men's skills. The people guarding the borders are part of their strongest men in the kingdom, and to top it off they had his guidance. This bloodshed should not have happened.

But Teo cannot deny the reality of the current situation. He has to do something about it. He heard the cries and screams of agony increasing, and Teo didn't have to look to know that those screeches came from their side. The beats wailed, and each time they did so, the ground shook; black beams seem to emerge from their claws. The men who got close ended up having their brains split apart; their limbs crushed. As Teo cut through some monsters with his sword, he watched as countless heads rolled away.

When he saw this, Teo thought about his disciple. His disciple who even after that disaster happened didn't learn her lesson. She must be plotting a way to escape her punishment even now, to head over here. He sliced through another and left his blade there as he undid the bandages on his arm. His arm covered in scales, barely any traces of human flesh left. Teo used this arm to grab one beast, and another that appeared behind him and slammed them against each other. The force caused the beasts to leak out dark energy, but Teo quickly got his blade back and split the energy into pieces.

"The general... The general is still fighting and winning."

"We mustn't give up!"

His persistence actions lead to his companions regaining hope. Hope? Him? If need be, Teo will sacrifice himself to make sure they all got to safety. No, he is not rus.h.i.+ng to his death. He wouldn't die protecting them if he had to give his life away. It would be for the Queen. By sacrifice, he meant to stall time. If he were alone, it would be easy to retreat and escape.

Is this the sight Miley wanted to see so badly? There is nothing pleasant about the battle, while he isn't vocal about it like the Queen and Head Knight. He too dislikes battles, and even more so war. The things that bring about war, the pain and anguish the soldiers and public experience. Losing loved ones.