The other battlefields came to a halt as well, so despite his exhaustion, Raiden had to move to tend the wounded with his mother and sister.

Raiden hadn’t noticed it before, but now, as he looked around, he saw many young elves and dwarves who had joined the battle. These kids, barely out of their adolescence, were initially positioned on the backline to use their bows, relying on their keen eyesight and steady hands to rain arrows down on their enemies from a safe distance. However, the ferocity of the battle had pushed the frontlines closer to them, and many of these young warriors found themselves forced into close-range combat.

Raiden observed their faces, marked by a mix of fear and tension. Their inexperience showed in their stances and movements, but they fought valiantly, wielding all kinds of weapons against the advancing foes.

Despite their youth and the odds against them, the young elves and dwarves stood their ground. Some of the older warriors tried to protect them, but the chaos of the battle made it impossible to shield everyone. Raiden felt a bit of sympathy and a surge of respect for these brave young fighters, who were giving everything they had to defend their home and people... for a while.

While all elves had bows as their main weapon, they also carried other weapons for melee fighting, which they chose at their own discretion. Each elf selected a secondary weapon that suited their personal fighting style and preference. Some preferred slender swords for their agility and speed, others carried daggers for close-quarters combat, and a few opted for short spears for their reach and impact. This variety allowed them to adapt to different combat situations, making them versatile fighters on the battlefield.

Or so the theory goes, but they weren’t all that good at melee fighting, it was more obvious to the inexperienced ones... they weren’t that robots, after all. Having a secondary weapon and not like to have the experience to use it only made things more obvious.

Initially, some of the elves didn’t appreciate being treated by Raiden. They felt their pride stung and were reluctant to accept help from someone they viewed as an outsider and who looked like that as well.

However, after suffering a bit more under Iri’s rougher treatment, their attitudes began to change. Iri, while well-meaning, had a no-nonsense approach that often left the elves with additional bruises and discomfort even while they were wounded.

The stark contrast between Iri’s methods among them became quite a rumor. Gradually, the elves calmed down and stopped resisting Raiden’s help, recognizing the value of being more considerate.

"... You were quite impressive today," Iri said when they finished helping their group. "Training is made to look as close as possible to real battle, but it felt like you had a lot of experience."

"You think so?" Raiden asked while smiling," I just put all that training in action and it worked well, I guess."

Iri didn’t notice any changes in Raiden’s behavior outside combat, not real shocks or even nightmares during all that time, so it didn’t seem like he had recovered his memories. Still, she couldn’t help but think that something had awakened in him to show that much skill and lack of hesitation...

After their first battle against the red spearmen, Iri couldn’t help but feel a mix of surprise and pride as she watched Raiden fight. Throughout the skirmish, he displayed a level of raw strength that was almost equal to her own. This struck her as impressive; Raiden, who was five years younger, was already showing signs of becoming a powerful warrior.

Iri noticed that while Raiden was still a bit inexperienced and his movements lacked the finesse that comes with years of training, his potential was undeniable. His strikes were powerful, his determination unwavering, and his instinct in battle was impressive for someone his age. She saw moments where his inexperience showed—hesitations, small mistakes in his form—but these were overshadowed by his sheer physical power and natural ability.

Reflecting on their fight, Iri realized that if Raiden continued to train and gain experience, he would soon surpass her. His raw talent, combined with the fact that he was only eleven, filled her with a sense of pride. Despite any jealousy she might have felt before, she now understood that Raiden was destined for greatness. His current level of strength, at such a young age, was a clear indicator of his potential to become an exceptional warrior.

Raiden also noticed her eyes, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful... he had messed up. It was clear that he was standing out. Still, he didn’t regret it. He did what it had to be done... there was no point in dwelling on that.

The only downside to that situation was the nagging guilt Raiden felt for hiding the true secret behind his strength from his family. The power wasn’t just a result of hard work and natural talent; there was something more, something he had kept hidden. He was certain that if he revealed the source of his strength, his family wouldn’t believe him or understand it anyway.

Despite this burden, Raiden decided the best course of action was to continue working hard and proving himself through his efforts on the battlefield. He carried the weight of his secret alone, using it as motivation to push himself further. Every swing of his weapon, every step he took in training, was driven by the desire to become stronger and protect those he loved. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

In the end, Raiden’s determination to succeed despite the hidden truth behind his strength only made him more resolved. He knew that, for now, he had to bear this burden alone and focus on becoming the warrior he aspired to be.

In any case, when the job was done, night had already arrived and they finally had the chance to rest and eat something. Still, soon they heard the ominous sounds of cannonballs being fired.