You had been a soldier, who fought with pride and determination. Your sword cut the flesh of the enemy, again and again, without ever stopping. Your stamina and strength was on par with all other men, although you weren't.

You were born and raised in a camp, built by men only. At the time, Commander William Achard, a powerful and violent-looking man, attacked a small village in the middle of the mountains.

The inhabitants tried to resist until they were killed one by one. The defense was poor, as these people weren't used to fighting and most of them were farmers and shepherds.

The mothers tried to shelter their children, but when they found them they were killed without mercy...

And the women were raped and killed.

It wasn't the first time they had done this. When they weren't called by a noble lord, who paid them to raze a fortress, they took away everything they could in the surrounding villages, leaving only dust and death.

That day was no different, but definitely something happened...a young woman, after seeing her parents being massacred, had decided to hide in her house with her father's precious sword.

She prayed to survive, or to die fighting, but her hands began to shake as the men burst inside...

With them, there was the commander. When he found her, he looked mercilessly into the face of that girl, with her eyes terrified, but as splendid as emerald and hair like cherries.

He approached and stopped at the tip of her trembling sword. She wanted to stab him, but she couldn't and her cheeks filled with tears, now aware of her fate.

But nothing happened.

The man took the handle of the weapon and lowered it, without stopping to stare.
He didn't want to hurt her, as he had done to everyone else.

His fingers touched her left cheek and smeared it with the blood he wore. The girl was still scared and she wished she could die right then as soon as he said those words.

«You'll come back with me.»

• • •

When their commander returned to the camp with a woman, the soldiers had no doubts what she would have done and looked at her like hungry wolves.

«You brought a lost sheep, Will? It was better if you killed it ahahahaha!»

But his laughter didn't last long. Without him noticing it, his head found itself detached from his body, under the terrified eyes of the others.

On his horse, the young woman covered her face crying in terror.

«This woman belongs to me.»

He waved his sword to let go of the blood splattered on his blade and put it back in its sheath.
As James, his most trusted soldier, walked away, he ordered to clean up the misdeed; even though he was still young, he had been recognized immediately by Achard for his excellent skills...so, James was sure he would have taken his place as commander when he would have died.

But soon, things would have changed, particularly when the young woman got pregnant. Even though she hated that man and when he forced her to sleep with him, she couldn't help but love what she was carrying in her belly. To her, that creature was the only pure thing that would ever be born in that filthy world.
When she was alone, because Achard had left with his men, she sang an old lullaby that her mother had handed down to her as she walked through the steppe that surrounded the field.

Although the pregnancy proceeded normally, the same couldn't be said for her condition. She felt weak, dirty and she ate just what was needed to raise the baby.
Achard didn't care how she was doing, as he just wanted her to satisfy his needs by promising not to be touched by other men. A protection, as much as a terrible sentence.

After nine months, during his absence, the girl had to give birth. She didn't want to do it inside his tent and so she went off in search of a quieter place taking a sword with her.
She walked to a dry cherry tree and sat down under it.
No one had followed her. The contractions were getting stronger and she wished her baby could get out as soon as possible.
Her screams were very loud, but they helped her through the pain.

When it finally finished, she carried the baby in her arms and when heard his cry, she cut the umbilical cord that still bound them with the sword.

«Don't cry my baby...you'll be strong one day...»

She smiled at that small life and continued to hold the baby tight, until she closed her eyes, forever.

It wasn't long before the soldiers returned, along with their leader. They managed to find her thanks to the cries of the baby, naked and cold, still tight to the chest of the dead mother.
Achard picked him up and immediately realized that she had given birth to a girl.
The mercenaries wanted him to get rid of the baby, a female would have done no good, but he didn't care. By now, he had made up his mind.

He looked at her little face, which had stopped crying and had the same eyes as her mother.
He wrapped the baby in his black cloak; James looked at him almost in disbelief.

«...are you really going to raise her?»

«Yes. I'll take with me and raise her so she can become the future leader.»

He said nothing about that, but James was sure he would have never forgotten those words that burned him inside.

«...have you decided her name yet?» He asked watching the baby sleep.

But Achard just looked at her one last time before returning to the camp.

• • •

«Focus on your breath, Y/n. Let your sword guide your body.»

The screams of the enemy inciting battle, the blades colliding with each other, the groans of pain of the wounded men and the hoof of the horses, frightened by all that noise and blood.
All of this was supposed to go away when you were in the middle of that iron hell.

Your father had taught you everything ever since you started taking your first steps. As a child, you began to see the violence and rotten around you too early.

«We don't have any feelings or regrets, as they were invented by weak men.»

You listened to your father, as he sharpened the blade of his grand sword. Your big green eyes looked at him with curiosity and amazement.

«Never have mercy on anyone.»

It was like this. Each year you grew up, you became stronger and improved your physical stamina by keeping those words in mind.

Of course, you knew you were different from them.

Achard had clearly expressed his intention to raise you, to become a good soldier although you weren't a man.

When you took part in your first battle, you were just eleven. Your father made sure you weren't on the front line, but he wanted you were ready and useful.

But you didn't disappoint his expectations that day. Without any fear, you bumped into a man three times your size and managed to knock him off his horse.

«Little piece of–»

He stopped as soon as you implanted the sword in his throat causing him to choke in his own blood.
When your father joined you he looked at your face, dirty with the dust and blood of your opponent, and devoid of emotion...he smiled internally.

• • •

The others couldn't believe their eyes and ears; despite your father's words, your presence seemed disturbing to others and not because you were unable to fight...
But they didn't show any solidarity towards you and didn't even try to communicate with you; however, you could hear their murmurs behind you.

«Achard must have gone mad! If she really has to do something, she could do it in our tents in private, ahahahaha! That's what a woman lives for, after all!»

This was what you often heard. The others laughed heartily thinking that their friend's point of view wasn't so wrong... but their faces returned serious when they saw the right arm of the boss behind them.

«I seem to remember that it's your turn to guard around the camp, so I wonder what are you still doing here wasting your time...»

The only one who seemed to act like a "friend" was James; due to his role, he had been forced to watch over you from an early age as well. Somehow, you felt you could trust him. He was like an older brother.

But nothing lasts forever, and events took another course, again...one morning four years later, your troop was split into two groups; Commander Achard led his own line-up to bring down a fortress, while James commanded the second to patrol the surrounding territory. You were part of the latter.

It was warm under the armor, but you didn't look away from in front of you as you were on horseback, in the front line, with James.
The shouting of the people of the village was making itself heard. You didn't know the name of that place and you didn't expect them to be there. You turned to James, who was staring silently like you at the horizon...he was making a decision.

«The commander's mission must be successful...we cannot allow the enemy to be rescued. There must be no prisoners.»

The sun was beating down on your helmet, but it wasn't what made you dripping with sweat. You had always obeyed the orders of your superiors but, for some strange reason, his sentence made you fall into a thousand thoughts.

What would you have done if you had met a helpless elder? And a child?

James gave the order to continue and, once they were close to the main entrance, increased the speed. He intended to attack by surprise.

So it was that you started wandering the streets, accompanied by the harrowing noises and screams of those poor people. You hadn't disarmed your sword yet, as no one had attacked you.

Your eyes were used to all that violence and you made it yours in battle, against other soldiers like you. You squeezed the horse's reins when you heard a female voice cry from afar and decided to follow it.

A young girl, probably your own age, couldn't defend herself against her attackers and was screaming at the top of her voice in hopes that someone would have helped her. They had ripped off the skirt of her dress and, like stray dogs, they pounced on her.

She looked at you for a moment, with her eyes fixed, and you felt the blood freeze in your veins. You have never experienced such an intense sensation before.
Your hand trembled over the hilt...you should have taken it and raised your sword at them.
Yes, against your "comrades", the ones who had done nothing but see you as a foolish female, a meat for slaughter, just like that innocent girl.

Life was leaving her pupils too soon causing her young face to wither.
When they were sure she was no longer alive, they left satisfied, without noticing you.

You got off the horse and approached her; a suffocating pain filled your armed chest.
No matter how many corpses you saw before, you couldn't look at her body in that state.

Then, why did you allow such violence to happen? You could have saved her, the only one who could have done it.

Those thoughts assailed your mind for all the time as you came back.

• • •

You hadn't received any news of your father's regiment. You had won the battle, but it didn't matter that much to you. Not after what you saw.
You took off your helmet to free yourself from that feeling of heaviness due to the heat and useless pride.

Meanwhile, James walked over to you.

«You look upset. Don't worry, your father may be old but that won't be enough to bring him to his knees.»

He smiled slightly, after realizing that there was something strange in your attitude.

«...after today, I don't know what to think anymore, James.»

Although there wasn't any, you felt like your hands were stained with blood and so you looked at them inexplicably with horror.

«We won, what happened now...» He folded his arms and looked down at you; even though you were already seventeen, he behaved almost like a worried parent.

«That girl...must have suffered a lot...because of them...and for my fault. I'm worse than this shit around me.» Then, you pressed your fingers against the sweaty forehead.

After a brief silence, James sighed.

«There was nothing you could do, Y/n. It happened because she was a weak wretch. This is the life.»

For some reason, you didn't agree with him.

«...no. It didn't have to end like this...» You turned your head away. You couldn't accept the way things were.

«But you're a soldier. You shouldn't compare yourself to them.»

You clenched your fists. Unlike him, your hands were small, although they were often swollen and bandaged. It was useless how much he tried to tell you...you couldn't ignore the hair that grew every day, you couldn't ignore how rosy and delicate your skin was despite being covered in heavy gray armor, you couldn't ignore the belly pain that every month you had to take care. You couldn't ignore that you were also a woman and how fragile and helpless you could feel, despite the male education you had received.

The noises of approaching hooves interrupted your thinking. Some of the men your father had brought with him were back.

«Where's Achard?» James turned to them first.

The others look at each other before uttering a word.

«He fought endlessly to conquer the fort...but his injuries were too bad...»

You recognized your father's bastard sword. His blade still gave off that bright light that your father gave it when he polished it carefully, in front of your childish eyes.

You didn't close eye that night.
You left your tent and went to the place where your mother was buried and sat under the cherry tree. Despite the weather, it was still standing and, right on its branches, the first buds of the year had blossomed...

• • ● • •

Five years later, somewhere in the Midland

PRESENT DAY

• • •

«Here you are, sir.»

Before your eyes, the merchant placed the goods on his counter and waited.

You already knew those gloves would last a short time with you. Sure, you weren't expecting quality work, but that lightweight fabric was too obvious.

Your serious and silent gaze returned to the man in front of you.

«Maybe, I haven't paid you enough...»

Suddenly, you threw a small bag causing him a gasp, but he quickly fanned his eyes when noticed it was full of silver coins.

«T-this is the best product I have...»

You thought he was coming back with something else, but you tightened your lips when you realized he was referring to the ones you refused.
The hood prevented the merchant from getting a better look at your face, but by the hard and inflexible tone of yours he realized that his client was losing patience.

«I-I have nothing else, forgive me please...» With his hand, he moved the coins in your direction «I-if you don't buy then–»

At that moment, you noticed a little rag doll on the shelf behind him...so, that old man had a family...you gave up and turned to the exit.
The poor man tried to stop you, but you had already left the shop.

Despite your charity, you still lacked something; that was the only leather shop in the village and you sighed for doing all that journey for nothing...

During the last fight, it tore one of your gloves that you wore tied around your wrists, to protect them and to improve the grip around the handle of your sword.
As an alternative, you used a pair of gauze to wrap the entire hand up to the fingers.

«...better than nothing.» You thought with a snort.

Meanwhile, people strolled beside you and often stared at you, like any other stranger who came from nowhere, but with no doubt about who you really were...a dark cloak, with a hood, covered both your armor and face.

But you weren't the only one passing there...somewhere, a mysterious guy, surrounded by a dark aura, was walking down those streets scaring the locals; by chance, you passed him but without noticing his presence...on the contrary, he did it.

«Huh? What happens, Guts?»

A tiny voice began to speak, hidden inside the black hood of the unknown man, noticing that he turned around when you passed.

He said nothing anyway, and just went on his way...

...or so he believed.