I stepped into the church graveyard with a solemn expression. A cool wind blew around me, sending a chill down my spine. Before me was a sea of stone with names and dates marked in it. Some graves had flowers in front of them. Others were empty, having nothing but the cries of ghosts as a tribute to the dead. The scent of fresh dirt and death mixed in the air.

  For a moment, I wondered if the others could hear the spirits. Turning to my girlfriend, I saw Augusta gazing at a grave with the sound of weeping emanating from it. I looked at Janek next. He didn't seem to notice any noises.

  We kept moving with Janek leading the way. He brought us to a large piece of dark grey stone. It was in the same shape as most of the graves, but much wider. Numerous names and dates were inscribed upon it.

  Pytor Rzeznik. 1598-1610.

  Casimir Nowak. 1600-1608.

  Antoni Wozniak. 1597-1609.

  Yanking my head away as fast as I could, I let out a heavy breath. Dammit all!

  There was no way I could bring myself to read any more names. Something became quite clear to me. This was a massive gravestone dedicated to child soldiers. Around me, the crying of ghosts became more intense.

  Janek knelt in front of the grave. He put his hands together in a praying motion. His mouth moved, but the words were so quiet that I couldn't hear them.

  Mimicking Janek's posture, I sat there too. Augusta did the same as me. I might have put my hands together, but I didn't pray. I didn't know the words. I didn't even know what god or gods to pray to.

  We sat there in silence. The only sounds were the whistling of the wind and the weeping of specters. I felt sadness flow through me and a weight pushing down on my mind.

  After a few moments of nothing, Janek spoke.

  "It was years ago, when I was but a boy of 6, that it started," he said. "An invasion from the East."

  I turned to him. Janek's eyes looked as if they were elsewhere. Somewhere far away and absolutely horrifying.

  "Tens of thousands of streltsy. Thousands of kozzak horsemen. And beasts of the cold and darkness. They invaded Katow like blazing madmen, destroying all in their path. Men were slaughtered, women were raped, and children sent off to slave away in the mines."

  Augusta's weak voice flowed into my ears.

  "This was the War of the Great Coalition?"

  Janek nodded.

  "Yes. The nobles gathered what men they could to fight against the invaders, but they were defeated. I was 7 when I was told that we lost so many men that women and children would have to fight."

  A sinking feeling flowed over my body. Children should never have to fight in war. But from the sounds of it, the War of the Great Coalition was one step above a war of genocide. When in a conflict like that, what choice do you have other than to send everyone out who can fight?

  "Katow was hit the hardest," Augusta said. "I still remember gendarmes coming back to the palace from the war. I'll never forget their eyes, or what they told me: all stories made by humans are about death."

  "A lot of people who were in that war thought that. I do not, but I did then," Janek stated.

  He took a deep breath before continuing his story.

  "As a noble, I was put in charge of a group of other children. We were meant to be skirmishers, to use our small bodies to hide and fight without being seen. 500 of us went off to war. Only five of us came back alive. Sometimes I wonder if I was one of the lucky ones, or if the dead were the ones spared by the gods."

  Janek shivered.

  "Sometimes, I dream of that time. Huddling in the cold snow with a cloak that barely kept me warm, a musket in my hands, praying to the gods that I did not get seen."

  I reached out a hand to Janek, but he brushed it aside. His body cringed. Yet, Janek's expression told me that he wanted me to listen.

  "But there are times when not being noticed is worse. Horses are too big to be stopped by the bodies of children. And we were too small to carry pikes. Then, there is the taste of blood in my mouth. The feeling of my musket butt sinking into someone's skull. The smell of smoke."

  At this point, Janek's shivers turned into constant trembling.

  "The sound of gunshots, the thunder of canons, pain, blood, death, bodies, terror..."

  "You don't have to say anything else," I spoke fast. "If it's too painful for you, just stop."

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  Janek halted. He took heavy breaths. His eyes were wild, pain clear on his face. After a few moments of deep breathing, Janek gulped before turning to me. However, he seemed to be looking through, rather than at, me. I leaned back. Augusta and Janek locked eyes. My girlfriend's normally stoic face seemed to be breaking slightly, sadness filling it.

  "Your Highness," Janek's voice was weak.

  "Yes?" Augusta asked.

  "I understand that war can be necessary. It can even be better than a peaceful option," he answered. "But when you become queen, please do not fight needless wars. Please keep anything like the War of the Great Coalition from ever happening again."

  Janek shivered as if he were naked in a blizzard. He reached out like someone desperately clinging onto a cliffside while dangling from a precipice.

  "Our kingdoms were allies then, but they are neutral now. I do not want to bring ruin to them both. Please, Your Highness, do not become a warmonger. I beg of you, please, do not let children suffer the way I suffered."

  Augusta was shaking too. Less than Janek but still trembling.

  "If I become the Queen of Calavon, I will do my best to keep war from breaking out. But if the alternative is worse..." she shivered.

  "That is all I ask, Your Highness," Janek said with tears in his eyes. "Thank you. Thank you so very, very much."

  After that, Janek and Augusta grew silent. I doubted I could ever relate to them, to how heavy their heads were. Janek was a child soldier as well as a noble, and Augusta was a princess. Most of all, both of them were good people who cared about others.

  It would be much easier for them to go down the path of corruption and be evil nobles, but they didn't. Those two were walking down a harder path that would be horrible to their minds. However, it would ultimately be the best for their people. I couldn't help but admire them for it.

  We stayed quiet for a few more moments to give the dead their peace. I noticed that the ghosts stopped crying. But I remained silent. No speaking until we were out of the graveyard.

  "Augusta, Janek, are you going to be alright?" I asked as my feet touched the streets.

  The former's face seemed stronger than before. Janek's body was no longer shaking.

  "Yes, Dante," he answered. "Thank you for coming here with me. Thank you, too, Augusta. It meant a lot."

  Meanwhile, my girlfriend's expression seemed a bit disturbed. Her hand shook a little bit. Still, her words were stoic.

  "Lord of Katow, you are welcome. And Dante, can I stay with you in your dorm tonight?"

  That was...a strange request. When I looked at the sky, the sun was on the verge of setting. So, she at least asked at a good time. But why?

  Augusta and I already agreed to wait to have sex, so it couldn't be about that. I gazed at her face. Something was clearly bothering her, and I think I had an idea of what. She might want comfort or at least someone to keep her from having nightmares.

  "It's against the rules for girls to go into the boys' dorm," I said. "So, sneak into my room after it turns dark and make sure no one sees you."

  "And that is my cue to leave. I will not interfere with your lovemaking," Janek started walking away.

  I groaned.

  "We're not going to have sex," I said.

  "Do not ruin your chances now," Janek replied as he left eyeshot.

  Then, I turned to Augusta.

  "The graveyard shook you up, didn't it?" I asked.

  She definitely noticed the ghosts like I did. And considering Augusta's experiences, hearing dead people can't have been easy for her.

  "Yes," Augusta's calm voice answered without hesitation. "That and what Janek said. It brought back bad memories. I'll have nightmares tonight. Janek might have worse, but I will have them."

  I did not hesitate. My arms wrapped around Augusta's body, pulling her into a tight hug. Feeling the fabric of her clothes and the athletic muscles of her body, I let my girlfriend lean into my shoulder.

  "And if you have nightmares, I'll be there for you," I promised.

  My back felt a pressure as Augusta wrapped her arms around it. She pulled me in close, moving my head down until it was next to hers. Her body trembled.

  "You saw them too, didn't you?" Augusta asked.

  "You're talking about the ghosts, right?" I questioned.

  "Yes."

  My heart sank. Things were worse for Augusta than I thought.

  "I didn't see them," I said. "But I heard them."

  A wetness came over my shoulder. Salty tears flowed from Augusta's eyes. I held her tighter.

  "Dante, I've seen ghosts since I was a child," her voice cracked.

  I waited for Augusta to say anything else. But she did not speak. So, I let her stay there in silence. After a few minutes of this, we parted.

  "Are you feeling any better?" I wondered.

  "Yes," Augusta said. "Remember, Dante, ghosts aren't evil. They're sad. So very, very sad."

  Her voice seemed tired.

  "Maybe I should walk you to your dorm?" I suggested.

  She shook her head.

  "You'll get in trouble if anyone finds out what we're planning," Augusta stated. "I will not allow that."

  "Why would I get in trouble? You're the one sneaking into my room," I pointed out.

  "I'm a princess and you're a commoner. You'll take the blame if we're caught," she said.

  Then, Augusta let out a slight breath.

  "Forget about this, Dante. All of it."

  Her sudden change of tone almost gave me whiplash.

  "Forget about it? Why?" I asked.

  "I'm not getting you in trouble because I might have a nightmare," Augusta answered. "It's not worth it."

  Pain flashed through me. Augusta would suffer tonight if I couldn't talk her out of this. I was already a bad boyfriend, not able to get the woman I loved anything, but if I wasn't there when my girlfriend needed me? I'd be horrible. The idea of letting Augusta down when she needed me made me want to throw up.

  "It is worth it to me if it means helping you," I said.

  "I have servants. They can help me," Augusta replied.

  "Augusta, I haven't seen any servants of yours since I got here," I stated. "Even if you have them, they're not your friends. They're people who work for you. They can't give you the emotional support I can."

  Wait, was that too controlling? Fuck! It might be. Guilt washed through me, so I quickly backpedaled. Just not all the way. Augusta needed help, and I doubted a servant could give her what she needed.

  "It doesn't have to be me. Just someone you consider a friend. You could ask one of your female friends to have a sleepover," I suggested.

  "I don't have any," Augusta said.

  "There's..." I thought for a moment. "You might be able to convince Millia."

  For a moment, Augusta's face was like a sheet of ice. Then, it softened.

  "Alright, Dante, I'll ask Millia," she stated.

  Relief flowed through me.

  "You will? Do you promise?" I asked.

  "Yes," Augusta answered. "I promise."

  "And do you promise that you'll come to me if she refuses?"

  Augusta hesitated for a moment.

  "Dante, I will not do that if it risks getting you in trouble," she declared.

  Before I could object, Augusta leaped into the air. She landed on a rooftop and started running back to the school. Still, my relief hadn't ended. I was sure that Millia would help her. That was the most important thing.

  And I'd have to ignore my guilt that I wasn't the one helping her.

  Or maybe I could come up with some other plan?

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