About four years ago, Ilinia
-- I am leaving the legion, sir.
-- Are you sure you've thought this through? If you stay, you could achieve great success. In two months of service, you've proven yourself a decent soldier; it is quite likely that in time you will receive an officer's rank, perhaps even lead the legion...
-- No. I made my decision long ago. Farewell.
Dominic turned his horse and began his journey home.
"Well, God be with you."
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A few days later, Kalevritia
After two years of wandering, he finally found himself at home, in Kalevritia. Much had changed since he was last here; the war had left its heavy mark on the country. But still, the temples of the true faith rose toward the sky, the tolling of bells still sounded, and paladins in shining armor still served calmly and proudly. Even in such difficult times, Kalevritia and the Kalevrites preserved their grandeur. Everything in this world is fragile and fleeting, but the Kalevrite faith is eternal and the Kalevrite spirit unshakable.

First of all, Dominic felt it necessary to see his acquaintances. Finding them was not too difficult; a company of his old comrades, whom Dominic had known since the Geirtea Campaign and other expeditions, were sitting in a tavern.
-- Look at this, it's Dominic himself! And you said he wouldn't return. Sit down, let's drink and talk.
The former comrades drank, reminisced about the past, discussed the present, and thought about the future. It was time to part ways.
-- Well alright, I'll be going... By the way, do you happen to know how my brother is, or my mother?
-- George is serving in the army again, even though he's a cripple. He's gotten quite handy at killing Alvarez's lackeys with his left hand. He's in town now. As for the old woman, I don't know where she is, but I know for sure she's alive.
-- Thank you, fare thee well, comrades.

He could see his brother tomorrow. For now, Dominic thought he would visit Adelaide.
He had met her about three years ago. He even intended to marry her, but then the romance of distant roads called him again and he left Kalevritia. Dominic spent about two years wandering, and there had been no news from him.
Approaching Adelaide's house, he felt anxiety. How would he be received now? And who would receive him? He knocks on the door, and some random man opens it...
Either way, Dominic knocked on the door. A tired woman's voice said, "Come in."
Adelaide was sitting in the far corner of the room. Or was it not her? Dominic remembered Adelaide as a young, cheerful, and spontaneous girl in her early twenties. But now he saw not a girl, but a grown woman, with an expression of only fatigue on her face and the imprint of life's hardships. She was still beautiful—her features had even gained more completeness and perfection—but she made a completely different impression.
-- And who are you, exactly? -- Adelaide's voice distracted him from his contemplation and brought him back to reality.
-- You don't remember?
More likely, she doesn't recognize him. She wouldn't recognize in this overgrown, dirty subject with a scar on his face and rusty armor the Dominic she knew two years ago...
-- Oh, you... -- with these words, some heavy piece of household ownware flew toward Dominic at considerable speed. -- You absolute scoundrel, you abandoned me, wandered somewhere for two years, and now you've crawled back? How did you have the audacity?
Adelaide grabbed a poker with her fragile hands and swung it with the unambiguous intention of inflicting severe traumatic brain injury on Dominic.

Like many women, Adelaide could quickly fall into a state of intense anger, but was absolutely unable to maintain it for long, so by the next day, the conversation was already in much friendlier tones.
...
-- Actually, I am very glad that you're still breathing. But that doesn't change the fact that you acted like a scavenger back then.
-- I know. Forgive me.
...
-- Well then, it was good to see you, but duty calls.
-- Go, if it calls. Try to stay alive, alright? -- she tried to maintain an expression of calmness on her face, but not very successfully.
-- That depends on the Lord's will.
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About three years ago, Kalevritia
The war has been going on for one year, two months, and three days. So many of ours have perished, but how many more will fall? The warriors of faith show wonders of bravery and martial skill in battle (and after a victorious battle, they show mastery in depleting alcohol supplies, but perhaps we shall not speak this trait of their character aloud too often), yet Alvarez's army continues to advance relentlessly. But there is no doubt or fear in Dominic's soul, just as there is none in the other warriors of his detachment. For as long as the Lord is with them, they are capable of defeating an army of sinners that outweighs them even ten times over. At least, they are sure of this.

This time the Lord favored them, and they returned home as victors. In the recent battle, Dominic distinguished himself especially: at a moment when the enemy seemed to be gaining victory, Dominic led the Kalevrites in an attack, threw the opponent's ranks into confusion, and with his own sword cut down four enemy fighters and a commander. When they return to the capital, the regiment commander will report Dominic's successes in this battle, and the latter will receive the rank of officer. A tired warrior will return home and gladden his wife with news of the promotion. And Adelaide will be even happier that Dominic is still alive. Then he will return to the war again, and she will once more feel the fear of becoming a widow.
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About two and a half years ago, Kalevritia
Having been significantly thinned but still having snatched victory from the same dirty claws of the enemy, the regiment under the leadership of Dominic Farrell was returning from the border territory when the commander noticed a rider approaching them.
-- My respects, Sir Dominic. I come to you with an assignment, -- then the rider lowered his voice. -- Five miles from here is a fortress. And ten miles from the fortress, a huge army of Syntan rats is gathering. Your task is to take up defense in the fortress and hold them off until we send an army.
He began to speak even more softly.
-- But, honestly, you most likely won't be alive by that moment.

Dominic looked over his regiment.
-- Brothers, -- the commander began his speech. -- I understand that you are tired and that you want to live. I am also tired, and I also want to live. But I do not want to live so much as to dishonor my name and fail my country. And therefore, we shall now set out for this fortress, fortify ourselves there, and deal with those scoundrels! Are you with me, soldiers?
-- Yes! -- the warriors shouted.
-- Yes! -- echoed through war-ravaged Kalevritia.
-- Yes... -- the whole world seconded them.
And the host marched into the sunset.

The fortress did not make a particular impression with its qualities, but for those doomed to die, it was quite good. There were defensive weapons here, a small supply of provisions, and even a church. The regiment prepared for defense, asked the Lord for help, and began to wait for the enemy.

The first assault was repelled without much trouble. The Syntans clearly did not expect to meet such resistance. The sinners were showered with a rain of arrows, boiling oil poured over them, and they were thrown off storming ladders. The defenders lost four; the attackers—about one and a half hundred people.

During the fourth assault, the gates were broken. They fought off the enemies and built a barricade. And, what was much worse, besides the gates, the resolve of the soldiers began to break, and this problem cannot be solved so simply. One of them, a lad about 17-18 years old, tried to desert. He was caught and publicly executed. There were no more attempts at desertion, but the morale of the people dropped noticeably, and an unpleasant residue remained in Dominic's soul from this incident.

On the twelfth day, the opponents burst into the fortress. Warriors of faith stood back to back, surrounded by hordes of the unholy. Wave after wave they surged and broke against the spears and swords of the Kalevrites. The inhuman hatred and anger directed at these wretched worshippers who refused to surrender, refused to die, who stubbornly fought when there was not the slightest chance of victory, and each of whom took a dozen enemies to the other world with them—emanating from the black souls of the Syntan heretics—were felt by Dominic almost physically. The Syntans fought driven only by unrestrained rage, while the Kalevrites fought driven by the Lord and loyalty to the Homeland, and an army of sinners could not overcome them.
-- Enough! -- a voice suddenly rang out, and the black hordes receded, leaving a couple of dozen Kalevrites standing in the fortress courtyard. -- You fought well, and I am ready to spare your lives. We need such warriors. Join us and...
-- You, you filthy worm! How dare you... -- Dominic wanted to say much to this bastard, but a swarm of arrows soared into the air and covered the Kalevrites.

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And fifteen miles away, an army of paladins hurried toward the fortress. Armor glistened in the sun, banners flew high. In a few hours, the army of Syntan would be crushed, but Dominic Farrell would not see this.

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The name of Dominic Farrell, son of Richard, and others who perished during the defense of the fortress will be recorded in the archives of Kalevritia. Also, based on the words of people who knew Dominic, a book "The Life of Dominic Farrell" will be written.
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After her husband's death, Adelaide entered a convent, where she will spend the rest of her life.
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And his elderly mother, who was eventually found and told of her son's fate, will say:
-- What a cretin. Died like a fool. He should have just waited out the war in Ilinia.
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But Dominic Farrell will see none of this.