The flames of war consumed the peaceful land.
When Bailien led his troops into battle, he discovered that Glenson's army was all bluster and no substance. As the two forces clashed, he found himself tearing through Glenson's ranks like paper, with an ease he could not explain.
Bailien charged through a hail of bullets into the encirclement and saw the Bearded Man cutting someone's head off.
"General, sir!"
"Bailien?"
At the sight of him, the General relaxed and dropped onto a corpse, still holding a severed head. "What took you so long? Any later, and were you planning to make me fight my own way out?"
"I'm very sorry."
Bailien stepped around several corpses and hurried over. Dropping to one knee before the Bearded Man, he used the water from his canteen to rinse his wounds. "Are you all right?"
The Bearded Man smiled and pushed him away, drew the gun from Bailien's waist, and rose to his feet, striding forward.
Bailien followed behind him.
Just as he had years ago.
But this time, the Bearded Man shouted, "All right, soldiers! Kill them all! Leave no survivors! Once they're dead, all their army's supplies are yours!"
It had already been a one-sided slaughter, but the Bearded Man's words unleashed the beast in every soldier. They even began to cheer.
Bailien watched everything before him in silence.
Noticing his silence, the Bearded Man turned and clapped him on the shoulder, drawing his words out slowly.
"Bailien, my finest soldier, my dearest friend. I knew you were the only man I could trust. You think Glenson is useless, don't you? That's not really how it is. I have a secret I meant to tell you later, but given how loyal you've been to me, I'm willing to share it with you, my