From outside came the howl of the barracks, the clatter of iron, the roar of commanders — the massive army of the Dark Order was moving forward.
Our tent trembled from the footsteps of heavy infantry, as if the ground itself were speaking.
We — the children — were summoned.
The Commander entered without unnecessary words.
A black cloak, steel pauldrons, the emblem of the Order on his chest: a black rose on a white field. His face was tired, his eyes red. He looked at us the same way he looked at soldiers — without indulgence.
“The situation… is critical,” he said. “The demons have broken through the northern line. We need more people.
And according to your teachers… among you are those who can help right now.”
A murmur ran through the children. Some were frightened, some tensed, some pretended not to understand.
The Commander continued:
“There will be no way back. If you join — you go to the end.
You go to war.”
These words rolled through the tent like a cold wave.
I stood up.
The silence stretched, thick and sticky, like tar.
I pulled out the map — the same one on which I had marked points and outlined the demons’ strike directions the day before.
I spread it out on the table.
The Commander’s eyes changed.
From calm — to sharp, focused, as if he were seeing a child in front of him for the first time.
“Here,” I pointed to the depth of the kingdom, “they’ve already broken through the northern arc.
If they keep pressing, they’ll trap the southern lands in a ‘cauldron’ and begin a purge.”
The soldiers standing nearby fell silent.
The Commander stepped closer.
I continued:
“My village is here.”
I tapped the map.
“A week’s journey. If they advance in a wedge, it will be hit.”
The Commander sharply raised his gaze.
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“You understand military strategy?”
“I was taught… by someone,” I deflected. “But that’s not the point now.
I’m joining the Order.
If we go straight — we can hold the northern flank.
If we go around — we lose time.”
The Commander looked at me in silence.
That was the look adults have when they see something unbelievable — and can’t explain it.
Finally, he said quietly:
“You showed me the final piece of the puzzle we were missing.
Without this plan… we would have lost days.”
He stepped back.
“Zen Helvard. Accepted.
Welcome to the Dark Order.”
After that, almost everyone made their decision.
Finn — without hesitation:
“I’m with you. If not us, then who?”
Edgar clenched his fist.
“Helvard swordsmen don’t run from war.”
Miella trembled, but said:
“If you’re going… then I am too. We can’t abandon each other.”
Astra raised her hand almost calmly.
“Water mages can heal. I… will be useful.”
Siren sighed heavily.
“We are obliged… at least to try.”
Even those who usually argued stepped forward in silence.
Only Noy remained standing aside.
Pale. Angry. Tense.
“You’re… insane,” he whispered. “This is war! You’re children!
You don’t even understand what you’re choosing!”
He looked straight into my eyes — fear was there.
“You’re just playing the hero… and they’re following you!
You’re putting them at risk! All of them! All of us!”
I stayed silent.
I understood him.
But there was no way back.
Noy turned away and suddenly ran out of the tent — as if fleeing fire.
Only Elinia and the princess still remained silent.
“And you?” the Commander asked more softly than the others.
Elinia looked at me.
For a long time.
Too long.
“I… am a princess.
My duty is to be protected.
I must… live.”
Finn wanted to snap something sharply, but I stopped him with a gesture.
Before she could finish, Kaya stepped forward.
Confidently. Fearlessly. As always.
“If you’re asking me…”
She took a deep breath.
“I am no longer a princess.”
The Commander blinked.
“Pardon?”
“My people are dying. My Academy is burning.
I… have no right to stand aside.
If you take me, Commander…”
He raised a hand.
“You are not required to—”
“I am no longer a princess,” she interrupted firmly.
“I am your subordinate, if you accept my oath.”
The tent fell silent.
Even the soldiers.
I saw it in her eyes — she had decided long before she entered.
The Commander lowered his head.
“…Your Highness.
I accept. But in war, a title will not save you. Only skill.”
She nodded.
Only then did Elinia lower her gaze.
“I…” Her voice trembled. “I will go too.
Not because I want to.
But because… it is right.”
And in that moment, she became an adult.
And only then did I understand.
We are children.
Only twelve or thirteen years old.
But the world left us no choice.
We had already become soldiers.
Not because we wanted to.
But because it came to us before adult life did.
I looked around at my friends.
Finn with burning eyes.
Siren calm as steel.
Edgar clenching his teeth.
Miella trembling, but standing beside us.
Astra trying to smile, though her hands shook.
Elinia thoughtful, but resolved.
The princess — no longer a princess, but a warrior.
Only one was missing among us.
Noy.
I said quietly:
“This is a hard path.
But if we chose it… we’ll hold together.”
The others nodded.
Outside, the roar of the Orders and the sound of a thousand footsteps merged into a single wave.
The war had already begun.
And we were only small sparks in this ocean of fire.
But sometimes, it is a spark that decides where the storm will turn.