Her back crashed against the ground as her head ring with pain, suffocated as his weight pressed down against her, a wet sensation over her skin as her, her clothes dampened. 

"Alice!" beautiful sapphire eyes watched her, the weight lifted as the barbarian is pushed off her, Christian? "Are you alright?" 

She blinked, it was Cassandra, she was always a handsome woman. That's it, no more heroics, she closed her eyes. 

---

"Cassandra, what happened?" Peter's group had the better luck, it did not look like they came across any stragglers, they are clean and fresh. "Damn, I wish you had brought your platoon with you, it must have been hell." 

He turned and watched her from top to bottom, "Are you alright?" Do I even look remotely fine? she stared at him. Idiot.

"More of them are coming!" shit, everyone turned to the barbarians coming out from the castle gate, Steels grazed their sheaths as both sides watched one another in a standoff. Cagey.

"They're just kids! Cut through them and we're as good as fled!" They were deserters trying to make an escape.

The two sides clashed in a melee, though their numbers overwhelm the barbarians they were swiftly losing the fight, cornered rats fight the hardest.

Cassandra jumped off their horse and took out her spear, Alice's hand reached for her musket, it was cracked. I am not dying out here, Her hand on the hilt of her sword, I am not going in. Cassandra entered the fray, no more playing hero. 

Alice's eyes widened as three of the barbarians fell swiftly before Cassandra, she is living up to her reputation as the best cadet of their intake. Fighting other cadets was one thing but here she is taking out three barbarians without breaking a sweat.

 A man appeared from behind the enemy lines, cutting through the barbarians like a whirlwind of death, A one-man army. 

The fight was over. They had won.

---

She placed a touch on her neck, the barbarian probably could have snapped her neck if he wanted to, her head throbbing with pain, "Thanks Cassandra, we would've died back there."

 Her head hangs low as her eyes closed, "I-" the memory crossed her mind,  "I still can't believe I am alive." she looked to the rest of her team who were heavily injured, two of them even lost a limb. Marvin. 

She placed a hand over her head, Did he die because of me? she shook her head, I am sorry.

"Everyone gather around!" it was their Commander, a tall and lean muscled man walking beside him. "I am sure you are all eager to be where you are supposed to be after the battle, but this is a rare opportunity, the Death Corps is looking for fresh recruits!"

Death Corps? Is he? "This is Commander Hawke, one of the first members of the elite Special Force." everyone saluted. It is him.

"I am Chester Hawke." he lowered his salute and look to his left, "Leader of a ruthless band of thugs with nothing to lose, Scoundrels and Rogues who enjoy killing."  he scanned them and stopped in her direction, "I assure you, what you heard is not true." 

"We are the finest soldiers in the empire, our loyalty, and dedication unrivaled, we offer our lives for a greater purpose. Salvation of our people. If you are willing to accept death, then join us, that is our only requirement."

Death Corps. She wrapped her fingers around her locket, this is it. Her head lowered, mother, mutterings all around her. 

Damian stepped up before Commander Hawke, he was always eager to prove himself, he had wanted to be the best cadet but fell short to Cassandra.

She clenched her hand as she walked forward, her mission had just begun. 

A hand on her shoulder, it was Cassandra, shaking her head as her sapphire eyes focused. "It's alright Cass, I know what I am doing." 

She lifted her chin as she walked forward, there was no better way to spy on him than being in the Death Corps, whatever the risk may be.

---

She took a deep breath as she pushed open the door to his room, Christian sat on his bed, his eyes watched her fondly.

She lowered her gaze as she entered, hiding her hand behind her back as her heart tingled. "Do you have to go?"

"It's my duty." He pulled out the red scarf she had woven for him and smiled, "I have this with me."

"Good for you." She looked up to him, "But what about me? What would I remember you with?"

He placed the scarf beside him and pulled out a heart-shaped locket, splitting it into two, two-pieces of half hearts that could be combined into one.

"My heart." He offered her a piece of the locket, "And yours." He held the other close to his heart.

A smile escaped her as her cheeks redden, she took the locket he held close to his heart and hung it around his neck, he hung hers around her neck in return.

"Come back to me."

He rose and brushed the left fringe of her hair away as he leaned his face close, "It's the savages you should worry about, they wouldn't stand a chance." He chuckled.

"Promise me."

"I promise."

He was not one to break promises, she placed her head on his chest as her eyes closed, his arms around her.

"May God bless our fallen heroes and accept them into heaven..." she woke to reality as the Cardinal rose to his feet and turned to face the crowd, bowing his head low before leaving.

It was one thing to lose someone, but to not even be able to bury him properly, not able to see his face at least one last time. She held back her tears.

"I am sorry for your loss." she turned to a pair of bright green eyes, he held out a locket, her heart. Christian. Her legs weakened, "He was a good Captain."

She fell to her knees as she held the locket tight in the palm of her hands, tears rolling down her cheeks. "A good friend." her eyes shut tight as a hand placed itself on her shoulder, "And he loved you dearly." she sobbed.