*two days later—at midnight*
{JUN'S POV}
I twiddle anxiously with the flash arrow, spinning it like a baton in my hands.

This is an arrow of my own design. My father, the lord of Tai, doesn't like my experiments. They're usually explosive and he always ends up apologizing and paying for the repairs.

But this time, Hikari-sama gave her approval for me to design new weapons. To fight back against an army that massively outnumbers us, we need to get creative. Thus, the flash arrow was born.

It's a simple concept. The tip of the arrow is hollow, with a thin divider inside separating two chemicals. When the arrow is fired and the tip hit its target at a high enough velocity, it'll shatter.

The shrapnel is a weapon in and of itself. But when the two chemicals mix, they'll create a shower of hot white sparks that lasts for thirty seconds. It can light up the night and scatter the enemy's formation.

My rotation is in the watch tower tonight. I can't relax. People are counting on me, and I doubt that tonight won't be calm.

My best friend since birth, Ren Ito, was on the wall for patrol duty today when he saw something in the treeline. He told me about it when we switched shifts.

Ren thought he saw people. A lot of people. He believes that it was platoon of Cojacan soldiers. According to Ren, they were definitely close by, but they retreated back into the shadows soon after he called attention to them.

The sighting was so brief that nobody else saw it. The older knights think it might've been a trick of the eyes due to stress, or a wild animal.

I believe in Ren though. As long as we've known each other, he hasn't been one to lie. He saw people. Ren was genuinely spooked, so I'm on high alert.

Hikari-sama also believed Ren without question. After he reported the incident to her, she warned all the watchers when our shift started that Cojaca will probably try a sneak attack at night.

It's the watcher's job to warn the soldiers patrolling the West Wall of an impending attack. We have to be alert. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. My heart has been trying to escape through my ribcage.

But then I remind myself that Hikari-sama put her faith in the knights of Taj fortress. Despite being unable to fight and a target for kidnapping, she refuses to run and abandon us.

Unbeknownst to Hikari-sama, we who surround her see her as a ghostly person. The first time I ever saw Hikari-sama, the sun was shining in her light blonde hair and her blue eyes were sparkling. When she smiled and greeted me, I thought she was a fairy.

We fear Hikari-sama will leave us if we lose sight of her... like a single ray of light peeking through the trees, only to fade away when the sun moves on.

It's obvious from observing her that Hikari-sama thinks she can't show weakness as a leader. Her stubbornness is endearing, but it also proves that she's ignorant of our concern for her personally.

Hikari-sama is so charismatic when she takes command, we can't help but be moved. She doesn't sit on her high horse or refuse to listen to those ranked beneath her either; she considers our feelings. It's why we all choose to follow Hikari-sama.

Even my stoic father really respects the princess. She's just too cool!

I glance out of the slit in the watch tower and spot an orange spark. It's tiny, bobbing up and down, then whisked out of sight behind the trees, fifty feet away.

My breathing stops... that light was definitely fire from a torch. Ren was right.

I quickly grab the bow I leaned against the wall in hopes that I wouldn't need to use it tonight. Now that I've been tipped off, I can make out dark forms moving slowly across the now barren land. My allies haven't noticed anything yet.

I'm the watcher. It's my duty to warn everybody. I nock my flash arrow and aim it sightly in front of the approaching enemies. I let the arrow fly with a prayer, and my aim is true. The Cojacan soldiers are sneaking past right as the arrow explodes.

Three are taken out by the shrapnel. Perfect. That went better than expected.

There's a popping sound as two chemicals meet. Then, with a silence-shattering loud hiss, a fountain of white sparks sprays into the air.

It's more effective than I imagined. The sparkling white shower lights up the entire field, immediately garnering the attention of my allies and illuminating several dozen Cojacan soldiers, who freeze like a deer caught in torchlight.

Half a minute. That's how long the chemical reaction will last. But the Clarines soldiers along the wall are already following protocol. Some snipe the unprotected Cojacan soldiers while others light the battlefield by setting fires.

By the time the flash arrow's fountain of light dims, I can still see the enemy plenty well.

I have one more important duty as watcher. I grab one of the two horns I was given at the start of my eight hour night shift. The first is a horn that should only be blown if the West Wall is going to fall soon.

We've all memorized the sound and been delegated our duties. With all the mobilization drills Hikari-sama put us through, the entirety of Tai can be ready to evacuate in fifteen minutes.

That one will remain unused for now. I pick up the second horn. This is the horn to sound the start of an attack, so everyone will know it's started and every soldier is prepared. A warning bell.

I puff my cheeks up and blow.

{THIRD PERSON POV}
Deep and loud, a horn's sound echoed through the night and roused several people from their sleep.

Drowsy citizens shivered under shared blankets in their tents. They pulled their loved ones close, wondering if they would hear the dreaded bellow of other horn tonight.

The knights on the East Gate tensed, eyes searching the darkness. They watched for any sign of a Cojacan attack from the silent mountain pass—an attack that would come, just not this night.

Hikari couldn't sleep. She was told to go to bed by knight commander Isamu and Lord Zetsu. They told her they could handle the night. She lay in her sheets, awaiting sleep or danger, whichever came first.

When the horn blew, Hikari leapt out of bed fully clothed; her night gown was less frilly or colorful and more practical than the gowns she preferred before she took command of Tai. Childish bows and frills were luxuries that she refused now.

Hikari looked far more mature than she did mere weeks ago. She acted less her age.

The princess ran down the stairs of the tower that lead to her bedroom, taking a break before the bottom to cough her lungs out and catch her breath.

Now acting more proper, as a princess should, she approached the war room with an air of calm and elegance. Her lungs burned, but every knight who saw her was in awe of her collected demeanor. Thus, Hikari's popularity grew amongst her subjects.

Hikari entered the war council. Everyone stood at attention until she took her position at the head of the table. They were waiting for her before beginning the meeting. Even though they encouraged her to, no one expected the princess to actually sleep.

A report was quickly received from the gopher, aka runner of messages: the wall was holding strong.

Hikari told the gopher her orders in return: soldiers were to mobilize according to their training. The West Wall must be defended. The East Gate must be prepared for a potential pincer strike.

The gopher bowed and left for the barracks to announce Hikari's commands. The general and lord also left Taj fortress's war council room to fulfill their princess's request and defend the wall.

Once she was alone, Hikari allowed her body to slump into the cushion. One little cough.

"It's going to be a long night." Hikari sighed.