(Yasoul Howe, Insignificant, & Jun Mantan, Insignificant Manning a Balista in Fortress Gloria, Praelium)

"What do you think it will be today, Yasoul? Sand elves? The naked bugbears? Perhaps silt runners try their luck, only to be obliterated?" Jun sighed and looked upward to the sky, bored out of his mind. "You know, I could probably do something as great as the Tyrannus too, if all the desert tribes wouldn't perish before they reached to wall. There was never a war hero that came from an enemy that couldn't put up a fight."

Yasoul groaned and turned away from his more talkative companion. Unlike him, Yasoul didn't want to be a war hero. He wanted to serve his time then get out and return home to his lovely girlfriend and run his father's market. He was more concerned about catching up on sleep, as the night before he may have had one or two too many.

"Nothing happens on this side, anyway." Yasoul grumbled. "I hear Carver counted all the grains in the desert twice before he found his opportunity. Get started on that."

"And I'm sure you would be glad to do that instead of fighting for glory on the battlefield," The other scoffed. Yasoul was used to this, mostly because it was true. "That's why you man the ballista, right? Rarely ever used, and I'm sure your glad too. Bet you couldn't hit one soul if a horde of dragon born was right in front of you."

"Hey, I'm not useless," Yasoul said, sitting up and glaring at the other. "They put me here because I know how this thing works AND my shots are accurate."

Jun was about to retort, but he caught something in his peripheral. He quickly turned and saw a group of Orcs, clad in impressive armor and riding horseback.

"Enemies! We have enemies!" Jun shot straight up and began ringing a bell, alerting nearby foot soldiers to mobilize. The soldier turned to Yasoul as he vigorously rung the bell, who stood there frozen.

"Do something!" Jun snarled, and Yasoul stumbled to stand upwards and hobbled over to the ballista. His adrenaline was pumping throughout his body. This would be his first kill. The thought terrified and excited him. He would have a story to tell back home to his family. Perhaps he would stay in the army. 

[i]Ballista master... I like the sound of that![/i] The hefty man turned the ballista at the orcs, and let out a might cry.

"Take this, you Northern bastard!"

Yasoul fired the ballista and it let out and resounding [i]WHOOSH[/I] and sailed straight towards the orcs!

... feet. The ballista arrow was undershot, failing to connect with any of the intended targets. Yasoul looked at the pitiful ballista arrow sunken in the sand with his mouth agape. Even with the thousands of bells ringing throughout Gloria, it felt as if he was completely isolated, except with the failed ballista arrow.

A low whistle brought him out of that isolation.

"Literally, one job, Yasoul."

Yasoul remained silent for a moment.

"Fuck off, Jun."

[i]I can't wait to get back to the market...[/i]