Lilya: To save our comrades stranded in the mountains, we left the city by truck.
Lilya: A road was built outside the city, with our outposts and supply stations scattered along its route.
Lilya: The locals often came down from the mountains to trade with our people.
Lilya: Exchanging pretty stones for clothes, wool, and kisses for paper clips or old shoes—things that weren't worth much.
Interrogator II: Speak slowly, take your time.
Lilya: As our truck left the city, we passed a demolished tank by the side of the road.
Lilya: Not long after, the driver said we were running low on fuel.
Lilya: Lucky for us, a gas station was not far, guarded by troops like all the others.
Lilya: We hopped out and watched our truck slowly make its way over.
Lilya: Everyone was relaxed and having a good time, chatting and laughing by the roadside, waiting for the truck to fill up and roll back around.
Lilya: Why'd we all have to get out of the truck?
Bertolt: Because when the truck blows up, it's safer out here than it is in there.
Bertolt: To our foes hiding in the mountains, destroying a vehicle can be more valuable than taking lives.
Hassan: Don't scare the rookie, boss. It's a beautiful day, sunny and bright. Nothing bad is gonna happen.
Bertolt: Heh. It does feel good to stand here and soak up the sun, you might even grow a little taller.
Bertolt: Last month, our allies cleared out the nearby villages because they were supporting our enemies. So we have nothing to worry about, comrades. Relax and enjoy the sunshine!
Hassan: We have been blessed with a peaceful day, haven't we, brother Aleksei? This is all thanks to your good fortune!
Aleksei: Stay alert, Comrade Hassan. Keep your eyes on the mountains.
Lilya: Among us, Aleksei was always the most on edge, while Hassan was the most relaxed.
Lilya: They didn't care whether I was a human or an arcanist. They only asked what unit I was in and where I served.
Lilya: But not one of them even glanced at my Red-38! Hello? A broom of mass destruction over here, the ultimate ride! They weren't even the least bit curious about that?!
Lilya: Imagine if they saw Zeno's arsenal, with flying carpets that breathe fire and ropes that seek out enemies, their jaws would hit the sand! Hah!
Lilya: But none of that stuff is as good as my trusty broom!
Hassan: Before joining Zeno, I was begging on the streets of Juhalerat. Each day was either feast or famine, a roll of the dice. That was just how life was, haha!
Hassan: But then one day, they came up to me and said, "Hey, kid, you want to join the army? We'll feed you! Three meals a day!" So I signed up.
Lilya: Chatty Hassan, always so talkative.
Hassan: Loyalty is easily bought over here. All it took was one pair of boots, two bowls of pilaf, and three square meals a day.
Hassan: After that, people from Zeno taught me to read and write, and told me all kinds of old stories.
Hassan: You know, just a friendly advice, be careful. It's okay to give gifts to the locals, but make sure you never take anything they give you.
Hassan: If you're lucky, it's poison; if not, it's a bomb.
Hassan: Music boxes and dolls might just blow up in your hand.
Hassan: Did I scare you? No need to be afraid, haha! Welcome to Juhalerat, Comrade Lilya! May you live a hundred years!
Lilya: I've heard all of that before. Who do you think you're tryna spook?
Hassan: Yes, yes, you're a brave one! You are! By the way, where did you serve before?
Aleksei: She's like me, a student from Zeno.
Lilya: Air Force Reserves.
Hassan: A fledgling falcon, ready to spread her wings! Did you fly here on this broomstick?
Lilya: Hassan caressed my Red-38, gently patting its metallic casing.
Hassan: This thing, you sit on it, and it really flies? That's the coolest thing ever, friend!
Lilya: Want me to show you?
Lilya: The curious crowd gathered around me, like spectators waiting for a show.
Lilya: The clear skies, mountain roads, and the valleys between the peaks were like a perfect runway.
Bertolt: Go on, see if you really have the eyes of a hawk. Scout the mountains. We're counting on you.
Lilya: Roger that, Commander!
Lilya: Everyone cleared a path for me, and then my magnificent Red-38 and I took to the skies.
Lilya: I heard cheers as I lifted off, or maybe they were gasps.
Lilya: There was nothing but mountains and trees out there, but it wasn't as barren as I thought. In the distance, a light was reflecting from the forest.
Lilya: The shepherds and villagers in the mountains seemed to have noticed me, and looked my way from afar.
Lilya: I waved, but I doubt they saw that.
Lilya: After circling the mountains, I returned to the ground to save fuel.
Hassan: Ha! Ha! Can you take Hassan flying too? I've always wanted to see the sky!
Soldier: Hassan, man, you'd probably pee your pants, hahaha!
Hassan: What're you talking about? Hassan's braver than a lion! What's a little flight to me? The lives that have fallen by my hand are more numerous than the sheep you've eaten for dinner!
Aleksei: That's not something to brag about, Comrade Hassan.
Aleksei: You know, after the war, you can fly back to the Zeno Arms Academy with us on a special plane.
Hassan: Yes! Of course I will! That's what you promised, right, boss?
Lilya: Bertolt smiled and nodded, then checked his watch again. He seemed uneasy.
Aleksei: Sit next to me on the plane. I'll have a barf bag and stale crackers ready for your somersaulting stomach. Hah!
Lilya: Laughter erupted from the crowd. Hassan grinned too, showing his yellow teeth and cackling so hard that even Bertolt cracked a smile.
Lilya: Outside Juhalerat, the sun shone brightly as eagles glided across the blue sky.
Lilya: The truck was parked at the gas station, with a few people going about their business. It seemed like an easy job.
Hassan: We really are lucky this time, all thanks to our little comrade, the goddess of luck! No mines or bombs, and no—
He spoke too soon.
A massive explosion erupts ahead, followed by two more in quick succession.
Lilya: That's the РПГ-8Д84! I'd recognize that sound anywhere! One rocket, three blasts.
Bertolt: It's time for action, comrades!
Lilya: The shock wave from the explosion of the truck and gas station left my ears ringing. I couldn't hear a thing.
Lilya: But our comrades were quick to react. Hassan and two others had already found cover and started shooting up the hill.
Lilya: Aleksei helped up a comrade who'd been knocked down by the blast, but thankfully they were a safe distance away.
Lilya: All in all, we lost a truck and a driver, nothing else.
Lilya: But now we were caught with our pants down, and bullets started flying.
Hassan: I just had to go and jinx us!
Lilya: How did they get their hands on those things?
Hassan: By the humps of a stubborn camel, how should I know? See that guy up there? Shoot back, boys! Open your eyes and aim, you sightless donkeys!
Lilya: We returned fire, but we were too far apart to hit each other. Despite the fierce exchange, none of us were injured in the slightest.
Lilya: About the РПГ-8Д84. It is an eighth generation portable rocket launcher, developed by the Zeno Arms Academy and issued in the fall of '84.
Lilya: Believe me, these are some of the most intelligent rockets you'll ever see.
Lilya: Amidst the deafening roars of wind and screeching, these explosives never fail to find their target.
Lilya: I've played with these back at the academy. Powerful stuff, but luckily they're one-offs, and each one is a pain to cultivate.
Lilya: But seriously, how the hell did the enemy get their hands on those things?
Interrogator II: So, are you saying that Zeno's arcanum weapons have fallen into enemy hands?
Lilya: Good question. I wonder what really happened, comrade.
Interrogator II: We'll make a note of that.
Lilya: There was more. They all had Zeno uniforms as well.
Interrogator II: Hm. We recently shipped a new batch of uniforms to the front lines, as recorded by the logistics department.
Interrogator II: Some units have temporarily recruited local personnel to join their auxiliary forces. They needed Zeno's uniforms.
Lilya: A new batch of uniforms? No, that doesn't make sense. Hassan was still wearing his own clothes, and so were a bunch of other comrades!
Hearing this, the interrogator turns to the clerk, who nods in understanding.
Lilya: They retreated, and the shooting stopped.
Bertolt: Is anyone hurt?
Hassan: Boss? All the radio equipment were on the truck, but now they're gone.
The officer grimaces as he watches the smoke disperse. The truck and surrounding buildings continue to burn uncontrollably in the distance.
Aleksei: The explosion was far from us, sir. The driver and the comrades at the gas station are gone, but our people here are unharmed.
The soldiers regroup, the most unfortunate among them sporting only a scratch on his arm.
Bertolt: The good news is we survived unscathed. The bad news is we've now lost contact with the trapped party.
Lilya: Bertolt forgot that he still had me.
Lilya: Was the distress signal on a military channel?
Bertolt: Yes, an encrypted one. Do you have a plan, little falcon chick?
Lilya: The experimental navigation radar ПВ-1182, a new gadget devised by Zeno's arcanists. Let's give it a try, it should be able to pick up a signal.
Lilya: The creatures in the radar are highly trained. Certain frequencies can activate their dormant minds, prompting them to react accordingly.
Bertolt: Let me see that.
The soldiers begin to murmur at the mention of arcanists.
Bertolt: There it is! But what happened? Why has the signal stopped in place?
Lilya: It might be unstable. It's still a prototype, after all.
Bertolt: Well, it's better than nothing.
Aleksei: We were fortunate to have you here, Comrade Lilya!
Aleksei: But we no longer have a vehicle.
Hassan: If you don't have wheels, use your legs! Are you scared, brother Aleksei? Our people have been traversing these mountains for thousands of years!
Bertolt: He's right. Let's go. We'll follow where this thing goes.
Lilya: So off we went, toward the billowing smoke of the gas station.
Lilya: The atmosphere had changed. There were no more jokes or laughter, just pairs of watchful soldiers, their eyes fixed on the hills.
Lilya: There's trees on that hill there. Maybe people there too.
Hassan: I wasn't wrong, comrade, we really are lucky to be alive.
Hassan: Let me give you some advice. I know it's going to sound morbid, but you'd best keep a bullet for yourself, little comrade.
Lilya: I'd rather jam my last bullet up an enemy's nostril.
Hassan: Hahaha! But seriously, don't get caught alive, or you'll wish you'd died.
Hassan: Bullets are merciful things! A bang, and you're gone, no pain at all! I've seen way too many soldiers in the infirmary, wailing in pain.
Hassan: I remember the missing limbs, such a pitiful sight. Lying in bed, calling out names, crying for their mothers.
Lilya: I noticed a glimmer of tears in his eyes, but he quickly composed himself and burst into a mischievous laughter.
Hassan: Those fiends torture their captives with blades coated in poison. I hear they have skilled arcanists who use cruel arts to leave their victims unable to live or die.
Hassan: For us here, blood is thicker than water. If someone hurts your family, you have to seek vengeance at any cost.
Hassan: You afraid yet? Ha, even the city isn't safe! Just remember, my young friend, never take anything from someone you don't know.
Hassan: Even a lighter—press it and boom! Blow you to bits.
Lilya: Get lost with your scare tactics, you've already told me that!
Hassan: Believe it or not, your choice.
The old soldier shrugs and pulls a handful of roasted beans from his pocket.
Hassan: Want some? They may be cold, but they're still good. My wife fried them with salt! They're tasty!
Lilya: So there we were, a group of survivors, nibbling on chickpeas as we continued on our way.
Hassan: Just a few beans is enough, indulge in too many and you'll be tooting like a tuba! Haha!
Lilya: As we passed the remains of the gas station, we all instinctively covered our faces from the thick, black smoke.
Lilya: We did not have the time to mourn.
Aleksei: Maybe there are still survivors.
Hassan: Impossible, absolutely impossible. Nothing could have survived such an explosion. You would have to be some kind of monster!
Lilya: But Aleksei did find a survivor.
Lilya: Though she wasn't one of ours.
Aleksei: Look over there! I think I see someone!
Bertolt: Aleksei!
Aleksei sprints ahead, too fast to be stopped. Bertolt quickly signals to follow.
Aleksei: Are you alright, miss?
The woman lies on the ground, eyes wide with terror. Her calf is cut by broken stones, bleeding profusely.
She looks like a frightened lamb, with a flock of unfortunate real lambs lying next to her, none spared by the explosion.
Aleksei: You're hurt. Stay calm, I'll take care of it.
Aleksei crouches down, pulls out a first aid kit, and carefully tends to the woman's wounds.
Aleksei: The disinfectant will sting a bit, but don't worry, I'll stop the bleeding first. Your injury is manageable, I've practiced this at the academy before.
Hassan: I think I see blood.
Aleksei kneels beside her, gently cleansing the wound and using precious cotton swabs to apply medicine before carefully wrapping it in a bandage.
Lilya: As we caught up with Aleksei and approached the scene, the woman became even more frightened at the sight of armed soldiers.
Hassan: She's from the hills.
When Hassan sees the woman in local dress, he unslings his rifle, loads it, and points it at her.
Aleksei: What are you even doing? She doesn't have a gun! And she's hurt!
Aleksei jumps up and stands in front of the gun, using his own body to shield the frightened woman behind him.
Hassan: She comes from the hills, brother! There's a good chance she's a spy for "them"!
Aleksei: Hassan, please! She's just a simple herder caught up in this terrible war! She's injured and defenseless!
Hassan: Are you out of your mind?! Think, brother Aleksei! Whatever is in your box is all that we have left!
The explosion had taken their truck, driver, radio equipment, and all their first aid supplies.
Aleksei: Listen to yourself! Are you telling me to leave her here to die? Just walk past a wounded lady on the roadside like she isn't even there?
Aleksei: She could just be a herder passing through to trade, and now her sheep are gone, all thanks to that d**n explosion!
Hassan: There are herbs in the hills that can stop bleeding, and my ancestors have been using them for centuries. She's a hill person, she can take care of herself.
Aleksei: Do you really think she can survive through the hills with that injured leg?
Hassan: #@&$! Why do you have to be such a crazy do-gooder, Aleksei?
Lilya: They were at each other's throats, but I didn't think Aleksei was wrong at the time.
Lilya: Bertolt stepped in to break it up.
Bertolt: That's enough. I believe this lady can find her way home now. We have other matters to attend to.
Bertolt: Time is ticking, comrades. Our fellow soldiers in the cave are still waiting for us.
Hassan: I'm not sure if we should leave a loose end like this, boss. What if one of her family members is an enemy of ours?
Aleksei: Did you just say loose end? It'll have to be over my dead body, Hassan!
Bertolt: That's enough. Put away your gun, Hassan. And Aleksei, step away from her. Pack up the kit and medicine.
Bertolt: She's a victim just like us, nearly killed in the attack. Let's leave it at that.
Hassan: I can only hope you're right.
Hassan sighs and slings his rifle back over his shoulder.
Hassan: If we were in the time of Nader Shah, our brother Aleksei would have been a great knight.
Hassan: But now, your kindness just might get us killed, Aleksei.
Aleksei: And your lack of empathy is killing Zeno and its future here, Hassan.
Lilya: After that, we continued on our way.
Lilya: Aleksei followed closely behind Hassan, glancing back every few steps until the woman limped out of sight and into the mountains. Only then did he seem to relax.
Lilya: Our Aleksei is a good man, maybe even better than some of the other good men I know.
Lilya: Hassan, on the other hand, was reliable and experienced. I couldn't help but wonder what he had been through.
