Aaron couldn't bring himself to act indifferent or pretend not to care about what was happening to Theodor's group—the people who had saved his life in the Forbidden Forest.
Especially now, when his power might prove useful in a moment like this.
That was why he had pleaded with Theodor to let him join the battle as an archer. At the very least, it would allow him to contribute while remaining in a safer position, with the option to retreat if necessary.
"Huff... Fine, you can come—but you're only allowed to help by assisting the wounded or carrying supplies. You're not to engage in combat, under any circumstances.
"It's not that I doubt your archery skills or your ability to hunt... It's just that archers often become prime targets.
"And more importantly, kids your age are our future—they should be protected. We've already evacuated all the children to a safer place. You should go with them. Evacuation is the best choice for you, kid."
Theodor's voice was calm, almost pleading, still trying to shake Aaron's determination to join the battlefield.
His reasoning made sense to Aaron, who reconsidered his plan and eventually agreed to Theodor's terms.
Still, given the situation, Aaron decided to observe the battle first before doing anything. If the moment called for it, then—and only then—he would offer what help he could.
Aaron hadn't had the time to measure his strength properly, so this war was also giving him a strange kind of motivation—an opportunity to test himself—beyond simply wanting to repay Theodor's kindness.
'I might end up killing people this time... but maybe that's okay. These aren't just people—they're worse than monsters. I'll just think of them as monsters. And I'll only step in if things get desperate... That's probably the best choice', Aaron thought to himself, trying to justify his place in all of this.
After all, he was still just a teenager. Facing something this serious—where morality and ethics might be tossed aside on the battlefield—could easily shatter his mental state.
Preparations were underway. Everyone, whether they were going to fight or evacuate, was getting ready. Children and the elderly were being moved to safer places, out of fear they might be targeted or taken hostage, which could complicate the battle even further.
Aaron, who had insisted on staying, was allowed to help only by carrying equipment and assisting the wounded.
Theodor still doubted Aaron's combat readiness—despite his Earth-tier physique, which equated to the body strength of a level-2 warrior. Raw power alone wouldn't mean much on the battlefield; without proper training and combat skills, he'd be little more than cannon fodder.
Once preparations were complete, the entire group set out toward Frank's settlement—the place where he was keeping the old healer and others hostage.
Capturing the one responsible for creating medicine for the critically ill was as good as holding the lives of Theodor's people in the palm of his hand.
"By the way... can you explain what this 'fairy' is that Frank's group is so obsessed with?" Aaron asked, breaking Theodor's concentration.
"Oh... right. You already heard what happened in the valley while you were unconscious, about my deal with Frank. Fairies in this world... they're magical beings. I don't know how to explain it exactly, but they're said to possess a natural kind of magic. Those who have a fairy can potentially channel power in unique ways—with far greater results," Theodor answered, further stoking Aaron's curiosity.
"Umm... how is that even possible? That sounds... kind of unbelievable," Aaron replied.
"Well, simply put, fairies have natural miracles within them. When someone bonds with a fairy, they can try to learn its unique traits. If the person manages to understand and recreate that miracle within themselves... BOOM. Something incredible can happen—or so the stories say," Theodor explained.
"What?! That whole explanation was based on fairy tales?" Aaron nearly shouted, a mix of shock and disappointment in his voice.
"What else can I say? The fairy we have in the settlement has never left its shell—not for generations," Theodor replied casually, shrugging his shoulders.
"Hasn't anyone tried to wake it up? Maybe it's just hibernating," Aaron asked, still trying to stay positive.
"They've tried. Even people from great, powerful clans have come to attempt it—but nothing happened. Some believe the fairy might be dead," Theodor said, though he didn't seem too invested in the matter.
"But... I don't think that's likely. Fairies live far longer than humans. I've never heard of one dying of old age. They only die if they're killed," he added more seriously.
"So... what we're dealing with is a fairy that's still—"
"Leader!"
A young man came running toward Theodor, shouting urgently.
"What is it?" Theodor responded, his tone turning serious. It was rare for any of his men to deliver a message with such urgency—unless it was truly important.
"We've received word. Frank's forces are already positioned at the border of our territory. They're ready for us."
"Hm... I figured as much. There's no way he'd make such a move without preparing for war. But what is he hiding that's made him this bold?" Theodor murmured.
"Do we know their numbers? Any signs of hidden forces or unusual strength?" he asked, wanting to confirm something.
Theodor had his calculations. He knew Frank wasn't foolish enough to start a war without a solid plan—unless he was already sure of his victory.
Still, if Theodor didn't act now, things could spiral even further out of control. Frank was a cunning man—far too dangerous to underestimate.
"Total count is around four hundred. We didn't detect anything suspicious. Everything looks just like our own forces," the young scout reported.
"That makes it even stranger... Our numbers are only around three hundred, yet Frank wouldn't challenge us directly unless he had a trick up his sleeve," Theodor muttered, suspicion growing stronger.
"Listen up, everyone! I don't want any reckless moves. Stay alert and hold your formation. I'm sure Frank's planning something behind the scenes," Theodor called out, his voice echoing through the ranks of his three hundred soldiers.
They continued their march on foot, trekking through the forest toward the area where Frank and his troops were waiting.
Aaron, meanwhile, quietly opened his virtual screen and continued studying it—searching for any possibility, any edge, that might help him in the battle ahead.