Beneath the Soldier

The journey to the camp was longer coming than going. Isaiah, Augustine, and Josiah ran the path quickly, but walking back was set to take a few hours. While the soldiers were fine for the most part, mostly only minor injuries, the Unproven were a different story. Their very presence in this environment put stress on them. It's a wonder how any Unproven survive to become the soldiers that fight Malthisans.

The soldiers who carried them felt the strain, their earlier adrenaline now drained, leaving only bone-deep fatigue. The terrain was uneven, twisted by years of decay and overrun by nature reclaiming its lost ground. Angelique, breath ragged, was pushed along by a ring of brothers to keep her pace. Isaiah had, for some reason, ordered them to surround her for the journey. Her thoughts were awhirl with her assessment of him.

The way he fought—reckless, relentless, unflinching. She had thought it was sheer skill that spread his renown, but now she wasn’t so sure. She felt something else beneath it. She didn't know what, but that may be why the Lord had assigned her to him.

As the group trudged forward, Isaiah veered toward Darius and the transport pilot, his voice low but firm. “Tell me exactly what happened. Rabdos shouldn’t have been able to reach you in the air.”

The pilot, a grizzled man with a fresh gash across his forehead, wiped at his brow. “I couldn't explain it, brother. We steered clear of buildings. They couldn't have jumped up to us.”

“I'll admit, I was off guard at first." Darius said, the Unproven on his back, pulling gently on his ear. "We barely had time to react before they were among us."

"An Ornias could get them up there." Isaiah exhaled sharply.

"Beg your pardon, but Rabdos don't work with other Malthisans, brother." The pilot said more meekly than before.

"They also don't dodge... unless a Lilith is involved." Isaiah said nasally as one of the Unproven in his arms reached up to grab his nose.

"So that's why we're covering Angelique. Look at you caring about the new Sister." Darius poked at his superior like there was no hierarchy between them.

Isaiah stayed quiet, placing a gentle hand on the head of the Unproven squeezing his nose. As it let go, all three of the little ones he carried began to nuzzle into him. "I told those idiots up top to keep her up there until we got it sorted, but here she is."

Angelique listened in silence, noting the tension in his words. He was analyzing the situation and worrying about her. Why couldn't he show it like a normal person? She never would have known if she weren't eavesdropping—gaining intel. That's right. Gaining intel.

Isaiah looked back at her briefly as the Unproven directed him to. They moaned lightly, waving for her to come over. The little one clinging to Isaiah's back began to reach out to her, letting go and falling toward her. Angelique rushed to catch it, grabbing its hands as Isaiah's cape lifted up to cradle it by the tummy.

"What are you doing, little one?" Angelique raised it up as she got closer, resettling it on Isaiah's shoulder.

The little one began to pet Angelique's head softly, a common expression of "This person is good." The Unproven then did the same to Isaiah, as if they were showing Angelique.

"I think they want you to be friends." Darius said, chuckling as one began to pat him too. "Oh, thank you."

Isaiah smirked at Angelique. "Guess that means you have to listen to me now, huh?"

Angelique smiled back. "Little ones, that's the wrong expression. For people like him..." She reared back, slapping him in the back of the head with the full force she could muster. The smack hurt her hand more than Isaiah.

"You hit like an Unproven." Isaiah reached out and flicked her forehead with the same casual ease one might swat away a fly.

Angelique grabbed her forehead, rubbing it vigorously. She had picked this fight and lost. Isaiah chuckled, smiling in a way that didn't fit his bad boy reputation at all. She fell back, getting some space between them again. She'd get him back.

“I'll win next time.” Angelique muttered.

“Yeah?” A voice said beside her.

She turned to find two men standing at her side. One was smiling, lighthearted, with an easy air about him—Josiah. The other was more reserved, his gaze sharp and assessing—Augustine.

“You aren't doing your duties very well for a Silver Sister.” Josiah said, offering a grin. “Not that he'll let you.”

"He's strange. Only slightly like his reputation." Angelique met his gaze, her expression carefully neutral. “I actually don't know my duties as a Silver Sister.”

“Darius didn't fill you in?” Josiah replied.

"In his defense, I did pass out on the transport." Angelique sighed.

“Your duties are to tend to Isaiah's mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Not that he'll let you do it in an obvious way.” Augustine added. He studied her for a moment before speaking. “You should know about his last Silver Sister.”

Angelique’s fingers curled slightly. “Yes, she retired to the city.”

"Is that the story up above?" Josiah’s usual smile dimmed. “She was killed by a Lilith.”

Angelique's mind raced. That name again. Isaiah had a wall of soldiers shielding her from this Malthisan. This was more than just a safety precaution. This was a trauma response.

“She was capable enough to beat Legion but was still a woman.” Augustine said. “Her strengths lied in less physical areas.”

Josiah leaned closer, expression pensive. “Isaiah tried to save her. He was able to save us and Darius, but everyone else... they weren't so lucky. Ever since then... well, you’ve seen how he fights.”

Angelique swallowed. Reckless. Almost suicidal.

“He keeps acting like he should’ve gone first.” Augustine’s tone was devoid of sympathy, merely stating facts. "Not like he could, with his right of Holy Resurrection."

The words lodged deep in her mind, unwanted but unshakable. Isaiah wasn’t just a warrior. He was a man who carried a death wish disguised as duty.

Angelique gave a weak smile. "Let's keep this conversation between us for now. It would probably do more harm than good if he knew."

"Yeah. You have your work cut out for you." Josiah tapped a knuckle on her shoulder as he walked past. "We're in your corner, though, if it'll help him."

Augustine passed by her as well before stopping in front of her. "You will be of use to our brother. You will not hinder him."

Augustine turned and continued walking, his thinly veiled threat hanging in front of her. Angelique had been chosen by the Lord to "save" this man. How could she save someone that didn't want it? Someone that punished himself for a crime not his. What made her so qualified?

As the party made it to camp, Angelique found herself watching Isaiah from afar. He moved through the soldiers, checking gear and ensuring defenses were in place. No rest. No hesitation. As if stopping meant facing something far worse than exhaustion.

For the first time since meeting him, she wondered if there was anyone left beneath the soldier at all.