A hundred years.
This stupid war has been going on for a hundred years.
Do you know how long that is? That's like three generations dedicated to this nonsense. So imagine my surprise when I realized I was living in a town that was considered a "resting place" for soldiers because of how close it was to the battlefield... just my luck.
My name is Beatrice. My friends call me "Bea" for short, and I'm sixteen. And I live in this rundown town called Whelsing. The people here kind of suck? Like, major time. When they're not being total creeps or straight up jerks, they're nothing short of pathetic... some of them can be decent though. For example, Mrs. Robes.
"Already up and at 'em, dear?"
I heard her voice calling out to me when I walked past her shop, wiping the soot off her hands with a handkerchief. I raised my hand at her in a small wave, showing her my rare friendly smile that she deserved. She offered me a job at her Herbalist shop when I was broke, which I was super thankful for, so I owed her a great deal.
"Yup! I can't be late for the teachings of the Lord, after all. I'll be sure to bring back the batch of weeds you mentioned yesterday when I clock in."
"D'aw, you're too much... have a good day sweetie."
"You too!"
I waved goodbye, straightening myself up to carry my school bag better. "Teachings of the Lord"... well, I wasn't entirely lying. I do go to a church school– the only church in the whole town actually. There were others schools around, like maybe two, but they were very subpar... also the boys stinked to high hell, so no thank you.
As I walked down the street, I slowly came to a stop when I noticed a window reflecting my image. I approached it until my frame was clear in my view. I was wearing my usual collared white blouse and long pink skirt reaching down to my ankles, sporting my somewhat new black shoes. I leaned closer to inspect my light gray hair, making sure it was combed properly. I reached behind my head to puff up my pig tails to make them look real pretty. Finally, I touched my face. My pale complexion made me look like a porcelain doll, though thankfully not the creepy kind. My gray eyes went to the small piercings on my cheeks, one on each side near my mouth. I liked how they looked on me... it made me feel good about myself, more than usual at least.
"Oi! This ain't a one-sided mirror, get lost!"
I was startled, both by the door of the building swinging open and the fat man that emerged from it, shouting at me to get lost... I forgot the window was part of his shop. I scoffed at him, a hand on my hip to enhance my sass.
"What, can't a girl feel pretty? Maybe this behavior of yours is why I barely see any customers in your shop, mister."
"Why you little–!"
As soon as I saw him reach inside for his broom, I blew a raspberry at the man and bolted outta there, watching him struggle to catch up and forced to almost quite literally eat my dust. I heard him shout some obscenities my way, but I was well away from earshot... I doubt I would care about what he said anyway.
I slowed myself down from a sprint back to a walk, fixing the wrinkles on my clothes after that little run I made. Despite being a girl, I was definitely more physically able than most. I never questioned it and simply took it as me being better... it seemed like the most sensible train of thought.
Just as I turned into a corner, I was met with a sight I should be more than used to by now. Bags were littered on the side of the street, shaped like human corpses which happened to be exactly what they contained within. And if their appearance wasn't convincing to you, the smell sure as hell was. Flies were swarming the small mountain of bagged bodies, and judging by the potency of the odor, they had been in a state of decay for a week now.
"Eugh..."
Even as I walked past by what I deemed a safe distance I couldn't help but gag, pinching my nose closed to diminish the attack on the organ in charge of my sense of smell. This was the result of the hundred-year war Calisk had been waging with Frit; the casualties get too severe at times, so much so that coffins couldn't be built in time, so they leave the corpses for the nearby towns to hold onto until the caskets were made... because why not, right? It's not like they couldn't, oh I don't know, grab a shovel and bury the bodies regardless. Most of the corpses are too far gone to even bother burying when they arrive, always saying that traveling was difficult... bunch of pricks.
Not only that, but they can also just waltz in and take whatever able-bodied men they could find to drag into the war zone completely unprompted. From grown men to boys even younger than me, as long as they could raise a rifle with their own two hands. Great thing that being a girl has more perks than just natural beauty, right? Haha...
I finally got away from the nauseating smell, allowing me to breathe normally once more. When I looked further down the street, I noticed two familiar figures in the distance, which emboldened me to hurry up my pace to catch up.
"Hey! Didn't expect to see you guys early."
I spoke up when I was close enough for them to hear me. The aforementioned figures were two girls close my age who happened to be not just my classmates, but also the only girls I regularly hang around with. The one on the right was Abigail, a brunette with freckles on her cheeks and green gentle eyes. She was a hardworker, both physically and academically. And while granted she wasn't the best at the latter, she tried her best like no one else.
The one on the left was Olivia, a dark-haired girl with brown eyes and glasses. She was more introverted than both Abigail and me, but wasn't a stranger to lacking filter when her confidence was high enough. She was also the smarter one out of all of us... more so on subjects that had nothing to do with our school and its teachings, but hey, a girl's gotta have a hobbies. I noticed they were both wearing the school's uniform already... I mean, I should be also, but I just liked showing off my own clothes on my way to school. I could always change there anyway.
"Yeah, well, someone insisted on going early... I haven't rushed like that since my days at the farm."
Spoke up Abigail, who side-eyed Olivia with an obviously teasing smirk. The latter of whom fixed her glasses while performing her retort.
"Uh, yes? Because we have a test today? Surely you haven't forgotten that?"
"Hey, I studied, okay? Besides, the teachers reminded us even during lunch time. I mean seriously, I'd be surprised if someone did forget."
They both slowly turned their heads to me, since I've been kept quiet the entire time they started talking about the "test"... which I completely and utterly forgot about. I blinked twice specifically, hoping they wouldn't question me abou–
"You... didn't forget, right Bea?"
"Huh? Uhhh nope, I remember."
I said to Abigail... you know, like a liar. She quickly accepted my answer and turned to continue walking, Olivia and I following on each side as a trio now. They were talking about something, I think? I completely tuned them out for a few moments. The reason? I was silently lamenting about today's test, trying my hardest to not start pulling at my hair like a maniac. They literally told us after each class and even as we left! It's totally unlike me to let something like that slip my mind...
"Um... Beatrice? Are you listening?"
Olivia suddenly addressed me. It helped me snap out of it, turning my head to face her properly as we walked.
"Uh? Sorry, what was that?"
"I was talking about the notice Calisk sent earlier. They were going to come collect more men who could assist in the war... it's the third time this week."
Abigail huffed through her nose, her brows furrowing in displeasure much like mine did, but with less creases in my case.
"Ugh... I hope they take the drunkards from the bar this time, at least. Those asshats have been causing more trouble than they're worth."
Abigail said with a vindictive tone. It made sense, considering she worked at the very bar I knew she was referring to. Those guys were the worst; either instigating fights or flirting with the barmaids. I nodded my head in agreement with her comment, adding one of my own.
"In fact, look at it this way. If they can't aim for shit, then maybe they'll be useful as meat shields. Who knows? They might be up for it if you get them drunk enough."
The three of us imagined the scenario playing in our heads simultaneously, and came to the same conclusion that it would be hilarious. We laughed together as we kept on walking, the sight of the church we went to becoming visible from afar.
Sure, this whole war situation was terrible... it sucked a great deal. But when something as big as that becomes the main focus, it helps as a distraction. It allows for what was once considered something of myths to resurface without notice, and allowed to fester in the shadows. The three of us knew that the most, because the school that we went to...
... was a school only for witches.
[End of Chapter 1]