NovelUSAChapter 407 The next day, Hastings gathered all his soldiers together and played a video on the big screen-a montage of their training days from enlistment to the present. Every highlight and hardship, every laugh and every tear, every memory that shaped them flashed before their eyes.
As they watched, the room filled with laughter and sobs alike. Sdoubled over, clutching their sides at old jokes, while others buried their faces in their hands, overcby emotion. Hastings glanced around at his men, seeing not the hollow, grief-stricken shells they'd become, but the friends and brothers he'd always known. He felt a sting in his eyes and quickly turned away, swiping at the corners with his sleeve. Then, without warning, he spun back and called out in a voice that rang through the hall: "Brothers! Do you remember what we dreamed of when we first put on this uniform?" The soldiers nodded, honest and unwavering.
"Captain, I remember. I wanted to protect my home, my country." "I wanted to honor my brother, to serve in his stead after he was killed in action." "| I grew up with nothing and no one. If the regiment hadn't pulledout of that hellhole, I'd be dead or worse. The army saved me. I live for my country, and if I die, my soul belongs to it, too. I swear to protect it with my last breath." "We don't have grand ambitions. We just want to give everything we have for our country." "I'll always be proud to call myself a Vermillion Vanguard." Hastings blinked hard, the redness in his eyes unmistakable.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"You're all damn fine men," he said quietly, his voice thick.
Then he raised his voice, steady and commanding: "Brothers, do you remember the Vanguard's oath?" He straightened his uniform, squared his shoulders, and spoke, every word ringing with conviction.
"I swear, I am a member of the Vermillion Vanguard-unyielding as steel, sharp as a blade. The red of my blood is my honor. I vow to be loyal unto death, to my country and to my people, and to never forget why I began this journey." Even before he finished, the soldiers joined in, their voices unison, strong enough to shake the rafters. In that moment, every pair of eyes burned with fierce resolve.
When the oath was done, it was as if the entire company had been reborn. The men who had been listless and lost since their comrades' deaths now stood tall, energy and life rekindled in their eyes.
Off to the side, Citrine watched the scene unfold, feeling a wave of nostalgia crash over her. She remembered taking that very oath herself, every word and every pause etched into her heart. Hearing it again, her blood roared in her veins.
If it hadn't been for her own battles inside her mind, she might never have left the regiment at all.
Though she'd been away for a long time, she knew that if her country ever called, if the Vanguard ever needed her, she'd return in a heartbeat.
Lost in thought, she didn't notice the soldiers had spotted her. In an instant, they rushed over, voices tumbling over one another, faces alight with excitement.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Instructor Carmichael, you're back!" "You finally cto see us!" "We missed you so much. We nearly cried ourselves sick when you left." "Yeah, you slipped away without a word. We only found out you were gone when we went to say goodbye." "I don't care, Instructor-you're having dinner with us tonight. No excuses."
For reasons he couldn't quite explain, Hastings felt a twinge of annoyance as the group clustered around Gitrine. He strode over and, with m more force than necessary, nudged a few overzealous soldiers away from her, his tone sharp. "All right, knock it off. Give her sspace." Then, almost possessively, he stepped in front of Citrine, shielding her from the crowd.
One of the soldiers shot him a mischievous look. "What's with you, Captain? Did you eat nails for breakfast?"
But the men were too happy to dwell on it; they simply laughed, pultean Hastings aside, and surged back toward Citrine.
One bright-eyed private stopped right in front of her, his did shining. "Ms.
Carmichael did you cback because you missed us?"
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
