Three weeks later.
"No one knows if any of us is going to be alive a week from now… So why hesitate? There's no way I'm dying a virgin! Suit yourself, Dalia! Justin, let's go."
Watching her friend walk away, Dalia felt helpless.
The boy who held her hand with a triumphant expression on his face was at least a few years older than them, and if she was being frank, she would admit that his sharp features and chiseled body really were attractive.
But when he had come to the group of 16-year-olds who had been sitting around a fire and talking between themselves, she had only been able to look at him with disgust as he put forward his offer to deflower any of them.
He had not come alone: four other boys had come with him, and even though they weren't all as handsome as he was, they were all young and fairly good-looking.
Of the group of seven that she had been a part of, only two were left now, as all five of the boys had been successful.
Dalia had tried to dissuade the others… But she had to admit that their reasons were genuine enough. In fact, for a brief moment, even she had been tempted to throw caution to the wind, but remembering her mother and the promise she had made, she had tried to convince the others that these five only wanted to take advantage of them, and the frenetic atmosphere that permeated all of the camps all over Angaria.
As the five pairs disappeared under the smaller tents that had been erected a week back, she once again thought about the fact that in these few days, many, many women and girls would be bedded or wedded, or both.
The string of marriages had started two weeks back, and they were still continuing. At one point, the number of requests to get married had risen to such a level that their Godking had spoken in their minds to let them know that they could simply choose a place they liked to speak their vows. Wherever they were, their marriage would be consummated officially with the Godking, himself, as the witness, so following that, even those who hadn't been thinking of marriage before rushed to the decision.
Dalia had gotten tired of them after attending twenty occasions of those she had known. Since then, she had been politely declining the requests. For some reason, people treated her with respect even though she hadn't done much so far. All of the credit went to her mother, of course, whom she hadn't seen in these few weeks as she was apparently busy organizing the food and other materials required for all the really old and really young folk to go into hiding.
Now, sitting with just one other girl in front of the bonfire whose flames were dancing merrily, she wondered whether it was really wise to hold herself back.
Yes, they might not be alive in a week, but did that mean that she had to rush her first time?
And if she did that… Didn't that mean that she wasn't confident in the capability of the Godking to get them through the war?
"If you're embarrassed because of me, young miss, you can go ahead. I promise I won't tell the mistress."
The words of the girl beside her brought her back to reality from the world of her thoughts, and for a few moments, she could only blink as what she had said started to register in her mind.
When she did understand her, she smiled and replied, "I never did stop myself from doing things just because my mother said so. I believe in the Godking. I trust him. I know we'll get through, and after we do… I want to fall in love, just like in the stories. I want to be swept off my feet by the man who will lead me into a new world with my hand in his… so just choosing someone randomly is not something I want to do. Even if the worst happens… I don't think I'll regret it."
Hearing her words which were definitely more mature than anything that one would expect from someone who was just 16, the girl who had been sent by her mother to tend to her needs, if she had any, smiled and got up.
"If so, please excuse me. I don't think I'll have too many chances to spend time with my childhood sweetheart anymore…"
Dalia had seen the look in her eyes when the girl had watched the others leave, so she wasn't really surprised.
She was just a bit sad that she might have to spend this night alone, but knowing that that did not mean that she could ask someone to waste one of the last chances they might have to spend time with their loved one, she nodded and continued to look into the flames.
An hour passed during which she wrestled with the many troubling thoughts that kept coming to her mind. Finally, deciding that she should at least attempt to find some company, she got up and began to walk towards the place where the food and drink were present.
They were arranged in long tables that weren't very crowded, as many of them were present around all the major tents. The food was simple, but filling. There was roast mutton, roast boar, mashed potatoes, rashers of bacon, fruits, and cheese of all kinds and wine aplenty.
She knew that she wasn't supposed to drink, but as she was alone, she helped herself to a few cups of the light-colored beer that left her slightly lightheaded.
When she was helping herself to a few potatoes roasted in the juices of the boar, she heard a voice behind her.
"Miss Dalia? I thought there would always be that ring of companions around you… so what a surprise it is to find you alone on this beautiful night!"
Turning around, she saw that the one who had spoken was a bearded 30-year-old man with a gentle smile on his face.
Try as she might, she couldn't remember if she had seen him before, so in a polite tone, she said, "They're all busy… But I'm afraid I don't recognize you."
Letting out a hearty laugh, the man said, "Oh, you don't know me, but I do know you. We were on the verge of poverty when my wife got a job in one of your factories. Every time I came to walk her home, I would see you and your mother hard at work just like the rest of us. How could I forget that cute little girl who was such a darling to all those she talked to? Would you like to join us? A few of us who found ourselves alone have made a small group where we are talking about all sorts of things… At most, you might be bored, but isn't that still better than being alone?"
She loved the way the man talked, and his words had a genuineness to them that she had missed. All of her companions from before had come from well-to-do households, so she had almost forgotten how nice it was to talk to those with the same background as her.
She didn't need to think much to nod, and a few minutes later, she was sitting in a large circle where there were at least 50 people around a large bonfire.
After a few minutes where the buzz of conversation revolved around different topics, the man who had brought her here got up and shouted to get everyone's attention.
"All right, enough of this gossip! I've heard of a game from my wife, and to me, it sounded pretty damn fun!"
"Games? If they aren't played in the bedroom, I'm not interested!"
"Shut up, you old man! Can't last 20 seconds, and you say you want to play games? Tell us about it, Gavin, I'm sure we'll like it, too!"
The exchange between a couple in the group brought laughter to all and a slight blush to Dalia's cheeks, but as the man who had been called Gavin continued, she looked up and hung on his every word.
"Haha, right you are, Marge! Well, it's simple…all we need is a flagon of beer, and good company! I don't know about the latter…but the beer is ready!"
Another round of good-natured laughter and jeers ensued, during which Gavin bent to the spot where he had been sitting and took out a large flagon filled to the brim.
"Now, time to get a bit serious, folks…we all know that the future is a mystery. So, this game is meant to make us all…immortal! Hear me out, now, before scoffing at my words. In a minute, I'll start passing around the flagon. Every man or woman that it passes to must take a drink…and speak out their deepest desires or wishes. Someone once told me that a person is the sum of these things…now, I don't fancy myself a smart alec, but there was a whole lot 'o wisdom in those words. No matter what happens, those of us who live in this group will remember the faces and wishes of all those here. Hehe, isn't that what immortality is all about? Let me begin!"
Dalia had definitely not been expecting something like this. Yet, when Gavin took a large sip and began to speak again, she bent forward as she was curious about what his happy-go-lucky man's deepest desire must be.
"I, Gavin Jargot of Milkwine Village, have always wished for a daughter! I just…want to put her on my head and show her the world! I want to be her hero! After the war, I know we will succeed! Th-that's it from me, Horace, take the flagon…"
Everyone could see the tears that came to Gavin's eyes when he laid his heart out. But when he wiped them away and tried to pretend that they hadn't even existed, no one laughed. His voice even broke when he handed the flagon to the next person, but by the time that man began speaking, the smile was back on his face, and it looked like his pain had been forgotten.
Only, Dalia could see that it had only been hidden away. This…was what they were fighting for. The desires and dreams of all these people were what they wanted to save, so once again, she felt happy that she had taken the decision to join the war effort instead of acting like a pampered princess.
As all the people began to talk about their dreams, she listened intently, etching each of their faces in her memory so that they would never be forgotten. At the same time, she began to think about what her own dream was.
When the time came for the flagon to be passed to her, she had the answer, and after taking a sip…Dalia stood up and bellowed it for all the world to hear.
"I, Dalia Emerest of the City of Lanthanor, will one day become a powerful Hero! With my power, I'll always aim to save and help all the people I can find all over the continent! Also…I want to find a loving husband with whom I can settle down, and when we do, we will have little baby Heroes who will help everyone, too! By the grace of the Godking, I wish that this comes true! But first, for all that to happen…we must win this war, so that is the strongest desire I feel! I know we will! Long live the Godking! Long live Angaria!"
For a few moments, all the common folk around her were stunned, but after that, they all took up the shout, too.
Like wildfire, the shout was taken up by a nearby group, and then another group near them, and then another group a kilometer away.
Finally, it seemed as if all of Angaria was shouting with all its might, and seeing what she had done, Dalia smiled proudly and looked to the Heavens.
What she didn't know, though…was that at that moment, the one in her thoughts was also looking back at her.