Just after Henwell's seventh birthday, the truce ends, and the War of the Six Kings erupts once more. Henwell's father, who had distinguished himself in the previous battles, is summoned by the baron to join the fight again.

  Watching his confident father depart, Henwell feels a deep unrest. He understands all too well that this time, the War of the Six Kings is different; the preliminary skirmishes are over, and now it's a brutal fight to the death.

  Six months ter, terrible news arrives—not that Obian has fallen, but that the Ika Kingdom has suffered a crucial defeat. This loss exposes a small portion of the kingdom's eastern territories to the enemy's advance.

  Unfortunately, the small town of Diversion Bay lies within this vulnerable area.

  Due to their limited perspective, most of the town's residents remain unaware of the impending danger. Even those who suspect that the enemy might occupy the area think it would just mean paying more taxes.

  But Henwell sees it differently. After six months of bloody conflict, the enemy has also suffered significant losses. The prolonged war and the brutal hand-to-hand combat have stripped soldiers of their humanity. Both soldiers and officers are on the brink of mental colpse.

  As the saying goes, "Bandits pass like a comb, soldiers like a razor."

  Henwell can imagine the horror: burning, looting, and sughter, with bodies strewn everywhere.

  It's no exaggeration.

  Thinking of all this, Henwell immediately seeks out his mother, urging her to take his younger siblings and flee the area. They have a carriage and can pack some gold and silver to make the journey.

  Henwell has calcuted that the enemy's vanguard will take at least a couple of weeks to reach them, giving them enough time to escape to the nearest big city. That city is fortified with several strongholds, making it a tough target for the enemy.

  However, his mother, being the daughter of a simple merchant, cks the insight to grasp the situation and doesn't believe his predictions.

  After all, no matter how clever Henwell is, to others, he is still just a seven-year-old child. Abandoning their home and livelihood to flee to an unfamiliar city based on the word of a child is a decision too heavy for her to bear.

  Unable to convince his mother to leave, Henwell realizes he must come up with another pn.

  Under the cover of night, Henwell sneaks into the warehouse, carrying sacks of grain into the hidden celr beneath their home. This secret storage space was once used by his father, Obian, during his trading days but has been abandoned for years and mostly forgotten.

  Although Henwell is only seven, he's already 1.3 meters tall and has been secretly practicing the knight's body-strengthening techniques, giving him the strength of a teenager. Carrying loads of several dozen pounds is manageable for him.

  To avoid detection, Henwell works quietly and discreetly.

  Over the course of two weeks, like an ant moving its nest, Henwell manages to store a significant amount of grain, fruits, and vegetables in the celr.

  By the twentieth day, there's enough supply to sustain their family of four for over a month.

  However, on that very day, a group of refugees arrives in the town of Diversion Bay, bringing dire news: the enemy forces are advancing, pilging and burning everything in their path, intent on turning the region into a wastend.

  This revetion jolts the townsfolk into action, as they hurriedly try to gather their belongings and flee. But it's too te. If the refugees managed to reach the town, the enemy's vanguard cavalry must already be surrounding it. Escaping with families in tow is now impossible.

  By evening, the grim reality is confirmed when a series of severed heads are thrown into the town by the enemy forces. These are the heads of residents who attempted to flee earlier in the afternoon, validating Henwell's worst fears.

  Like everyone else in town, Henwell's mother is overwhelmed with panic. As a simple woman, all she can do is hold her children close, crying and praying to the gods that the enemy will show some humanity.

  Henwell calls out to her several times, but she remains trapped in her fear until he shakes her forcefully, bringing her back to her senses.

  "Whimpering... I should have listened to you earlier, Henwell. Now we can't leave..." she ments.

  Henwell interrupts her sobbing, "Mother, listen carefully to what I'm about to say—it's crucial! I've stored enough food and supplies in our home's hidden celr to st us a month without going outside."

  "The enemy isn't here to occupy; they want to destroy and cause panic. Otherwise, there would be survivors! Their goal is to unsettle the kingdom's army and spread fear to other cities, triggering a wave of refugees and forcing the kingdom's forces to divide. "

  "Forget about all that! The important thing is that the enemy won't stay here long. They'll withdraw in a few days or, at most, two months. Besides the food in the celr, I've also hidden some supplies in the storage room under our house. Even in the worst-case scenario, we can endure."

  "We need to stay calm and quietly leave tonight. You must take my siblings and sneak to the celr using the back roads. The enemy's cavalry will only patrol the main roads, not the smaller paths. As long as we're careful, we won't be discovered."

  His mother asks, "What about you? Aren't you coming with us?"

  Henwell shakes his head, "I need to scout the area to provide timely warnings!"

  As he speaks, Henwell picks up a bow and arrow left by his father and ties a short sword to his waist.

  Seeing this, his mother covers her mouth, tears streaming down her face.

  "How can this be? You're just a child!"

  Henwell fshes a confident smile.

  "That's exactly why the enemy won't notice me. Don't worry, the narrow paths aren't suitable for cavalry, and the enemy won't venture into unfamiliar roads. Besides, remember, I've trained with Sir Kukler. I'm already a man and will become a knight someday!"

  He gives her a reassuring thumbs-up.

  Whether Henwell's words are true or not, his mother knows they have no other choice.

  She gathers her younger children, carrying a small pack, and follows Henwell's lead, quietly leaving the town through the back door.

  Outside, Henwell pauses frequently to ensure the coast is clear, signaling them to move forward with a bird call. They proceed cautiously, taking over an hour to cover just a kilometer, but the hidden celr is now within reach.

  At that moment, fmes erupt in the town behind them. Henwell urges his mother to hurry inside. She hesitates, asking, "Aren't you coming in? It's dangerous out there!"

  Henwell replies with a hint of resignation, "I need to erase any traces we've left to prevent the enemy from tracking us."

  Before leaving, he emphasizes, "Mother, if you don't hear the signal, don't open the door. If I don't return, don't come looking for me. If there's danger, I'll hide and find a way to reunite with you."

  With that, Henwell begins using branches to sweep away their footprints. Watching his retreating figure, his mother can't shake the feeling that she might be losing her eldest son, and tears stream down her face uncontrolbly.