Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

"Wait!" Another soldier grabbed his companion, "What's that sound?"

They heard the neighing of horses.

Following the noise, the two made their way to the stables and effectively trapped Scarlett inside.

Scarlett was wearing dirty trousers, an old shirt, and her hair was tied back, making her look a bit like a boy.

But the delicate features inherited from her mother couldn't be hidden by clothes.

The two Revodan soldiers were stunned.

The older one, since being conscripted into the army, hadn't touched a woman for a very, very long time.

The younger one had never touched a woman.

Scarlett grabbed a pitchfork, and although panicked, she didn't scream, "My father is a Dusack, my brother is also a Dusack, if you dare touch me, I'll kill you and then myself!"

"Even if you're not a rich man's daughter! A coachman's daughter will do!" the older soldier shouted, lunging at the girl like a madman.

"Help!" Scarlett screamed, stabbing at the man who had turned into a beast.

The older soldier ran onto the pitchfork, its sharp tines piercing his abdomen.

"You!" he exclaimed in panic, "You killed me!"

"You!" he shouted angrily, "You killed me!"

"You damned little wench!" The soldier, overcome with rage and with the pitchfork still in his belly, drew his saber and roared as he swung at the young girl, "I'll kill you!"

Scarlett dodged the blow as she screamed, yet she never let go of the pitchfork.

The younger soldier was too terrified to react.

The sound of horse hooves grew closer.

Two officers burst into the stables, one after the other.

With just one glance, the two officers understood what had happened.

The younger soldier was so frightened he wet himself, "Ma... Major Ronald... Captain Apel..."

Major Ronald's face turned blue with rage as he pulled down the older soldier and brutally kicked him in the jaw.

The soldier was knocked out cold.

Apel knew exactly what to do; he drew his sword to finish off the solider on the ground and took the other soldier, still standing in shock, out of the stables.

"Are you alright?" Major Ronald asked the girl kindly.

Scarlett, still clutching the pitchfork, looked at the unfamiliar officer with wide-eyed terror, her chest heaving violently.

"Why didn't you run away..." Ronald's gaze shifted to the white horse in the stall.

As an officer who came from the cavalry, he quickly connected the dots, "Is it because of her?"

Ronald went into the stall and bent down to check the white horse.

Seeing the unfamiliar officer approach Botayun, Scarlett, nerve-wracked, screamed as she stabbed at him.

Ronald quickly knocked the pitchfork aside with the hilt of his sword, "Calm down, young lady. She's having difficulty giving birth, and I can help you."

At the word "difficulty giving birth," the fear in Scarlett's heart was momentarily suppressed.

What followed was relief, and tears spilled over as she sobbed.

Major Ronald was at a loss facing the crying girl and quickly turned his attention back to the white horse.

"When was her due date?" Ronald asked.

"The fourth week of August," Scarlett said through tears, trying to dry her eyes.

"Don't wipe them, your hands are so dirty, you'll get an eye infection!" Ronald exasperatedly took out a handkerchief and handed it to her.

He knelt on the ground to check the cervical opening, "The foal is too big, and the position seems wrong; the mare can't give birth... Is this her first foal?"

"I... I don't know..."

Ronald rolled up his sleeves, "We have to pull the foal out! You, go find me two thick ropes! The thicker, the better!"

Once again, the sound of horse hooves approached.

Shortly after, someone walked into the stable.

Hearing the footsteps, Ronald smiled with relief and looked up, "Apel, you arrived just in time, come help..."

His smile froze, as he was greeted by the face of Winters Montagne.

"Where's Apel?" Ronald asked.

"Passed out, not dead," Winters replied.

Scarlett, crying, threw herself into Winters's arms.

"You... and her... are you?" Major Ronald found himself at a loss for words.

Winters gently patted Scarlett's back and asked, "What happened to Botayun?"

"Difficult birthing. When did her labor start?"

"Last evening," Scarlett answered, wiping her tears.

"The foal probably won't make it, the position is incorrect. But if we act now, we can still save the mare."

"I'll help," Winters said, as he started rolling up his sleeves.

Ronald nodded.

An infantry officer assisted a cavalry officer, and the two tried to help deliver Botayun's foal.

Ronald washed his hands and reached into the mare's cervix, feeling around.

Stimulated, Botayun kicked furiously, striking Winters.

Winters grunted softly.

Scarlett hurriedly knelt beside Botayun, gently stroking the horse's neck.

"It's okay, don't be afraid..." she soothed the horse, unconsciously humming a childhood lullaby, "Edelweiss, Edelweiss, greet me in the morning you bloom; small and white, clean and bright..."

"I've found it!" Ronald, with a stern face, suddenly shouted excitedly.

Clenching his teeth, he began pulling hard.

As the Major shifted backward bit by bit, a pair of tiny hooves emerged from the cervix.

"Belts!" Ronald yelled.

Winters quickly undid his belt.

"And mine!"

Major's belt was removed as well.

Ronald, panting heavily, said, "Strap them on! Tie them around the hooves!"

Each belt was secured to one of the foal's ankles.

"Pull hard! In one direction! Don't twist!"

Upon hearing this, Winters wrapped the belts around his hands, took a deep breath, and started exerting his strength.