It's that dream again

Perhaps, Jackal is right. But still, that is an easy call for him to make. I say, “Our daughter is three years old now. I promised her that we would return safely from the war. What am I to tell her if her mother didn’t make it? This is too cruel for a little girl to bear.”

Jackal says, “Then what are you going to tell the people who entrusted you to lead the army? You’re going to tell them that you decide not to end the war simply because you want to keep your wife safe? If your wife is here with you right now, she would have wanted you to make the tough decision to end the war.”

What shall I do? I know I should make the call and end this war. On the other hand, I will never sacrifice my wife so that we can win the war. My loved ones matter to me, so does the fate of our land.

What shall I do?

Shall I proceed with our mission, knowing that the Witch’s presence will endanger the lives of my wife’s team?

Or shall I call this mission off, and find a better time to defeat our nemesis? My wife’s team will be safe for now. But as what Jackal said, we are losing a lifetime opportunity to end this war for once and for all.

I ponder deeply about the consequences of my decisions. “I’ve made up my mind, Jackal.”

When I finally announce my decision to Jackal, I realize that there will be no turning back from here onwards...

Our lieutenant pulls me aside and whispers, “The commander of the 1st Division asked me to pass you a letter. She said it is only for your eyes.”

I read the letter. What she wrote in the letter is difficult for me to swallow. “Why? Of all time, why now? This is a tough position to be in, Jackal. I think we may need to retreat.”

Jackal’s reaction is huge. “But, why? We are just a door away from ending the war of the century. What did your wife say?”

I want to say it is impossible for my wife to say she saw the dead. But living in a world where our enemy uses Dark magic to raise an army of ghouls from dead bodies, that statement would mean nothing. “She saw someone who is supposedly dead. She saw the Witch.”

Jackal shakes his head. “That’s impossible. The Witch is dead. We’d already destroyed her. She is not supposed to be here. Are you sure that’s what your wife saw?”

I show him the letter. “She is certain. We know what the Witch is capable of. Thirteen years ago, when the Paladins led by Sir Devon stormed into Hezekiah’s fortress and were on the verge of winning the war, the Witch was present. Nobody knew what she did. She made Sir Devon’s entire army disappear. Probably killed them all. Here we are on the verge of winning the war, the Witch is present again. Is history going to repeat itself?”