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[sub][color=Silver][i]Garnian Salient: Rear-Lines, August 25th - [b]Ode to the Innocent[/b][/i][/color][/sub]
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[color=Silver]	There was a light. A glimmer of saturated hope and happiness suddenly shimmered down upon his darkest hour, stepping towards the confines of his solitary retreat. Jean was met with another elegant soul, one who seemed to have an array of sunshine and godly rays descend upon her from behind, bringing out all of the natural features amongst her muddy and grim uniform. There was a strange accent to what she had, one that was similar to the sapper back on the frontlines a while ago: a Vinlander, nonetheless. He always pondered why such nourishing sights of Vinlanders, such as the deity before him, had volunteered to head out into the plains of warfare. There was no chance that they were forced by their government to participate as the USV had yet to join in on the official declaration of war. This girl before him, however, seemed to be the direct manifestation of the elegance that the Vinland stereotype, beautiful and prowess in their composition. Even with mud on her hands and uniform, the clear features of her face were indefinitely in view. Jean felt slightly spoilt, knowing that Diana, Kalisa and now this newer angel were all within his regiment and platoon. However, it didn't stop his depressive spree of misfortune.

	She spoke in a soft accent, one that tried to enlighten his poor darkness once more. Jean was surprised that she asked if he was okay, and tried to figure out what had gone on. Of course, she was a true innocent mess, having not probably had the chance to kill. She was one of the few sappers recalled back to assist in the movement of artillery back up the hill, whilst Jean and his own soldiers were forced to do the dirty work. He didn't resent her for that privilege and rather felt sorry for her. Finally, he looked deep into her eyes and simply shook in his own boots. With a sudden instinct, one simply of trying to find comfort, he moved out his hands and rested them on her wrist when she knelt beside him, just to help him think of what to say.[/color]

[color=Aqua][b]"H-Hell...It was all but hell out there. We were told to run. Run up that f-fucking hill...Run and watch our comrades get picked off in the masses. I...I can't shake that image, the one of disgust when I saw the bloody victims of our Federation. And then we got up there, only a fraction of us could make it, and had to beat the life out of every man and women we encountered. We saw them, and only them, deep into their eyes as we were told to murder. I...I killed two...two men. Three perhaps, I cannot ever know. Hundreds of the regiment died. We're down by...two...two thirds. And...I can't...I just can't control myself..."[/b][/color] [color=Silver]Finally finding the emotion to talk, he burst into tears once more, crying in shame for what he saw. Jean truly was fearful for what this girl had yet to see. It was heartbreaking to know that now they were reaching a [i]reassignment[/i], she would have no excuse to continue the virginity of a soldier. Either she had to kill or would be killed. There was no compromise. There was no salvation. She was going to lose that innocence she likely held onto dearly.[/color] [color=Aqua][b]"And...you'll have to do the same, otherwise...otherwise we all die. We're moving...moving away from Garnia to a different land to fight a different battle. I don't want to go, but...I can't abandon those who've survived. I need help. I...I can't focus nor can I find peace."[/b][/color]

[color=Silver]	With his head turning into the ground, shaking and trembling as such, the grip on her sleeves tightened as did his nerves. There wasn't anything inherently wrong with what she asked and it had finally brought out the bottled emotions he needed to let loose, but Jean was unsure of how to follow up. Still, without looking towards her from pure shame, he trembled out his name.[/color]

[color=Aqua][b]"I'm...Jean...Jean-Robin Charpentier. I'm...I'm supposed to be the one who leads us...I can't even lead myself."[/b][/color]

[centre][sub][@Bushman501][/sub][/centre]