A tall blond sits perched on a corner of the fifth city's wall. He squints his eyes and watches the horizon line with the setting sun at his back. The fifth city's second is named Lachlan, master of duel wielding swords. He stands a good five inches above most people, including his General. The second's body is stiff and tense.
"Second, y-you've been up here for hours", a soldier eventually speaks up. She was on guard duty at the gate, and has been watching her Second brood for the majority of it. It was now that she finally got the courage to speak up. Lachlan turns to look at her when she does. His gaze is conflicted and worried. Lachlan takes a moment to compose himself before speaking.
"What is your name?", he asks the soldier.
"Samantha, sir", she answers. Lachlan chuckles at the last part.
"You don't have to call me sir, Samantha. Can I call you Sam for now?". The soldier nods her head, and Lachlan continues. "Sam, would you make a decision to save everyone, even if you have to condemn a few?". Samantha is startled by the question. Lachlan is usually so closed off that his personal life is a complete mystery. To have him talking like this is very strange.
"Well, I wouldn't like it, but calling a retreat and leaving some soldiers beside is better than everyone getting captured", she answers. Samantha thinks that this must be from last week's battle, where a retreat was called. A few soldiers directly under Lachlan's command were killed. The second looks away for a moment, before turning back.
"Do you have any family?", he asks her. Samantha's face lights up at that.
"My youngest brother just turned eleven. We threw him a birthday party with a few of his friends. My older brother even took the day off to come celebrate", she smiles. Samantha thinks of her brother's smiling face, before a thought crosses her mind.
"Lachlan...... do you have any family?", she hesitantly asks. The second's expression tuners thoughtful as he thinks on the questions.
"Well, my parents are dead, but we weren't very close", Lachlan eventually explains, "I suppose that I kinda have other family, but it's a bit complicated. He's a little uncomfortable talking about this with an almost complete stranger, but the second needs a conversation like this more than he realizes. The two sit in a comfortable silence as the sun finally sets.
Samantha doesn't realize that her replacement is there until they tap her on the shoulder. Lachlan sees this too, but doesn't bother to leave his perch. Samantha gives him one last concerned look before descending from the wall. She hopes that her Second will snap out of whatever rut he's in. Seeing him like this is a bit of a shock. Maybe she should go say something to the General? No. Lachlan will be ok. She could try and talk to him again tomorrow to see if he's feeling better.