A day had passed with no attacks from the rats. With nothing really important going on besides finishing the second trench filled with spears, buying armor, and training. The morning he wished not to come was upon them. Urist sat in silence in the civilization room preparing himself mentally taking deep breaths.

He was nervous about what the future held in store for them.

I’ve done the best I could with such short notice. I’m not even a person who should be a leader. Afterall, I’m just some random schmuck who knows some things on survival. People are going to die today because I wasn’t strong enough.

People that died in another life have to live through it a second time. How much blood do we have to spill before everyone lives a happy and fulfilling life? Even if I can bring them back later on. Will I be strong enough to keep them alive at that time?

Clenching Greedy Serpent in his hands Urist took a deep breath to calm his trembling.

I’ll do my best and if it isn’t good enough I’ll surpass my limits until this body is broken.

Finding resolve, Urists body stopped shaking as his eyes sharpened coldly. Pulling up the timers he found that they had two hours and eleven minutes left. Having collected himself he walked out of the cave to see everyone moving around for last preparation, stop and look at him.

Looking at their gazes he could see that they wanted something from him. No expecting something from him.

Steeling himself against the gazes of his fellow dwarf, he planted the butt of his spear into the ground. The spear stood firm allowing him to cross his arms over his chest and look at his fellow dwarf.

“Everyone stop what you are doing. I have something to say before we all walk into hell together.”

When he felt everyone’s eyes upon him, he felt the pressure of wanting to fall down on his knees and give up. But he couldn’t. He just couldn’t afford to do such a stupid thing to drop mortal.

He had to be strong.

He had to lead.

He had to get them through to see another day.

“My fellow brothers and sisters. Although we may not be related by blood, we are bound together by the flow of destiny. Our enemy will show us no quarter in our upcoming fight against them. We cannot run, hide, or suffer defeat for if we do we will all die. Instead, we will fight tooth and nail to show that this is not our end.

We will remember that today will be the start of our glory. That these vermin will become a footnote to our great history. So sharpen your spears, steel your nerves, for we will win this day no matter the cost. For we shall survive to see another day, Now scream it with me KILL!”

The crowd of dwarfs responded in kind to their leader, “KILL! KILL! KILLLL!!!”

Lacking their usual attitudes of laziness, a tinge of bloodlust had replaced their gaze as they screamed bloody murder.

Moral high, home advantage, and well-rested. I hoped it would be enough to carry us through the flames of war.

He knew they would be facing an army of twenty to thirty thousand rats against their one hundred and fifty strong dwarfs. Despite their superior weapons, a height advantage, killing trenches, and even magic superiority he did not delude himself that today would be hard-fought.

Drawing Greedy spear from the ground, he walked up to the staircase and stood on the wall to watch his fellow dwarfs double-check the defenses. Looking down he could see that the twins were leading fellow earth mages around to make sure no tunnel came out of the ground.

The smiths hurriedly making last-minute weapons. The bombs being rapidly distributed to at least five per dwarf. With the more important personnel holding the metal variants. On every dwarf in their back pouch, a single berserk potion lay ready to be used as a last resort.

The sadistic healer and her second hand sat far back covered by two warriors in case the rats tried to ambush them. The mages made sure to top up their mana taking turns to rest under the statue.

Silently Ubel appeared behind Urist, “So are you prepared for what's to come? Kill your ideas fool. Dwarfs are going to die today and there is nothing you can do.”

Instead of turning to Ubel, Urist decided to watch the bloody colored scenery, “You know you suck at pep talks.”

“I didn’t come to ‘pep talk’. I came to tell you that you can’t save everyone so give it up.”

“Does it matter?”

“Eh?”

“I mean, if I die then you being one of the smartest here have a good chance of being the leader. So why try to convince me not to throw myself into the fire to save another?”

Ubel snorted, “I’m not cut out to be a leader. Simple as that.”

“And why is that? A man of your stature would easily do well in the role of leadership.”

When Ubel didn’t respond. Urist had a nudging feeling to turn around and see Ubel’s expression up until he heard clothing being removed.

“Turn around.”

“I don’t swing that way sorry.”

“Just turn around I want you to see my failure.”

Unable to stop his curiosity, Urist turned around and what he saw made his eyes go wide. All along Ubels cheat and arms various burn scars could be seen. It was to the point that Urist couldn’t pick out any unblemished skin. How could someone be so horribly scarred and still be living?!

“For my mistake of letting one million people die, I took on the punishment of burning. Inch by inch, day by day for four months until I came to know what pain truly is. Those that are not decisive will lose what was everything if they can’t make the necessary sacrifices.”

Slowly buttoning up his military coat Ubel looked Urist dead in the eye before turning around to take care of some minor task.

Be before fully leaving he stopped and looked over his shoulder and pushed his glasses up at the stunned Urist.

“Remember fool, every choice has a cost. Learn this lesson before you fuck up and get everyone killed by your selfish desires.”

Walking down the stairs Ubel departed leaving Urist something to mull over as war approached.

Ideals Vs. Reality.

A choice that every person must make in their lives. To live in ignorance and fool himself or accept the cold harsh truth of reality. Left alone now, he felt the weight of the world suddenly hit him. It seemed intent on crushing him and his ideals to dust.