The soldiers marched on the dirt road that led to Drunard.
We followed right behind our superiors who was on horseback as the sun shined on us all.
"We're marching straight into Drunard? With us looking like this!?" Hermann blurted out.
He was right, we were small in number and nothing really to show off.
It would be pathetic if we walked like this.
"I wonder if our parents and relatives will be there." Gideon said.
"I sure hope not. I don't wanna see them as the last thing I remember leaving this city." Hermann stated.
"What's wrong? Are you upset you won't be seeing them till the end of the year?" Lena jokingly said.
"Huh!? How the hell do you get to that conclusion!" Hermann replied.
"Guys, stop arguing or he'll kill us." Mara said.
Both Hermann and Lena shut their mouth up.
I wonder... will she be there? To say goodbye? I hope so cause the last time I saw her was that we had an argument together. Oh how the days pass by.
We continued our path towards the capitol.
Getting closer and closer to the point we were right at the edge of the city.
Civilians passed by us, waving us goodbye.
Kids played together and watched us in pure awe.
The distant rattling and clanking of metal was heard ahead of us.
Towards the city.
Probably from all of the steam and machinery that populates it.
***
Now in the capitol.
The entire company has arrived.
As well as the other company that were supposed to march with us.
Crowding up the entire place we were at.
We were a few miles away from the streets we were supposed to march on.
Which will lead us into the train station at the end of it where we would say our last goodbye.
"Company! Cease!"
The superior commanded and we all stopped simultaneously.
"We still have less than half an hour before we march so take a quick break before we do so." He said before going off.
The moment he turned his back against us, we all collapsed to the ground exhausted.
Except for myself as I observed our location.
"Where are we anyway?" I asked.
"No idea." Lena blurted out.
"Then why the hell did you say that?" I replied.
"I don't know." She wore a smug face after saying that.
"Whatever." I decided not to care and went off.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Amelia asked.
"Just looking. Don't mind me." I replied.
Without looking back, I just left them as I explored around.
***
As I walked passed multiple soldiers just like ready to march.
Here was I just seeing around.
Trying to remember every detail before I leave.
The soldiers around me were having conversations with each other.
Chatting and smoking cigars.
How can I blame them for smoking.
After all they were going to the front so this would be a stressful experience.
But in the distance I saw something that was behind a building.
It was certainly large and I wanted to see what it was.
I squeezed through the soldiers inching closer.
Soon enough, I finally made it.
A giant hulking metal that towered over me.
Being 30 feet in the air.
It roared in steam and gears.
"Holy fuck." I said to myself.
Getting closer.
The machine was a humanoid robot having the usual four limbs.
Two legs and two arms.
The machine had decoration all over its body.
And its back was some kind of capsule of some sort almost looking like a backpack.
And it was connected through a small wire that linked into something in its right hand.
It looked almost like some kind of tube of some sort.
Like a microphone.
On its left hand was some kind of tool that extended to its shoulder.
And its head was purely decorative.
Cause it looked some kind of medieval headwear or gear that knights would wear in battle.
And the holes where the eyes would normally see through were lights being illuminated.
I watched in pure astonishment at the figure that stood before me.
"So this is the steam paladin huh?" I said to myself.
I slowly walked towards the paladin.
Reaching my hands forward to touch it.
But as I got closer, a sudden pressure was placed on my shoulder.
"You shouldn't stuff like these you know."
Turning my back around, I saw a women not in your typical military uniform.
As she was wearing a hat that covered her entire head and goggles.
Looking like a world war helmet that pilots would wear.
Same with her clothes looking like a jacket.
"Um... who are you?" I asked.
"You seriously can't tell?" She said?
I shook my head lightly.
She replied with a sigh before saying.
"I'm a pilot who rides one of these behemoths. You should have seen us on the newspaper or something."
"I don't think I ever saw you." I said.
"Not me! Other pilots like me!" She said frustrated.
"OH! Nope. Never saw them." I jokingly said.
She let out a sigh in pure annoyance.
"Heh, sorry. Are we going to march with this?" I asked.
She gazed her eyes towards the paladin and walked towards it.
"Yes and do you wanna know the amazing part about this?" She asked with excitement behind her voice.
"What is it?"
"It's the fact that this behemoth is a BIG CHUNK OF USELESS METAL!" She suddenly lashed out and violently kicked the machine.
But I stood there confused by her sudden reaction and she clearly noticed it.
"If you don't get it. It FUCKING means that this is a FUCKING FAKE." She kicked it once again.
"A fake?"
"YES! A fucking fake because they couldn't even bother producing one or at least bringing one of them over! And I was FUCKING chosen to represent this FUCKING PIECE OF HUNK OF USELESS FUCKING METAL THAT HAS NO USE THAN SHOW OFF!!!" She furiously kicked it multiple time as she continuously lashed out in front of me.
"I'm supposed to be a FUCKING pilot! Not an actor! I'm supposed to be out there slaying our enemies but due to unfortunate circumstances, I almost got myself killed and not I'm here to recover but OH NO, the superiors want ME! Yes ME! Of all people to march!"
I gulped.
"Wait if that's a fake. Than where is it real one?" I asked.
She soon pulled out a pack a cigarette to smoke and said.
"Tsk, where do you think there are. There still at the front battling. This ones a prop cause they weren't able to built a new one or at least bring one from the front." She took a deep breath of the smoke and slowly exhaled all of it out.
"You should go back by now. We would have marched by now but for some reason we haven't so hurry back to your squad. Or do you want to killed by our superior?" She said.
"Nope! Bye!" I immediately replied and ran off.
But she continued to smoke as she saw me run off.
She looked up at the fake paladin.
Looking right at its eyes if it even has one.
"What have they done to you."