Mission 100 (
Summary[]
Westalian soldiers attack Martha in the woods
Going back a few months on the battlefield, before the war's end and Henry's discovery of the Women's Combat Battalion's extermination, Martha survives an artillery shell blast. Realizing that being under the shadow of their artillery gun shielded her, she gives thanks to its manufacturer, Blackbell Heavy Industries. After coming to, Martha mourns her fallen comrades and then witnesses in horror as more fall after their captain begins killing deserters. An enemy fire comes into the trench, killing the captain and hitting several soldiers. The lieutenant orders a retreat into the woods in the south. Due to her injuries, Martha barely keeps up and is left completely alone. Resting at a tree, she thinks of her parents and Henry, but is interrupted when two Westalian soldiers find and shoot at her. They drive Martha to a cliff, where she also returns fire at them, but she gets shot and falls off the cliff into the water.
Martha wakes up in a proper bed and has her wounds treated. Trying to figure out where she is, she is startled by the sudden appearance of a friendly dog greeting her at her bedside. When a scowling old woman enters the room, Martha asks her where they are. The old woman reveals that they are in Westalis, and she knows about her status as an Ostanian soldier, which shocks Martha. The girl wants to escape but cannot get up because of her wounds. The old woman tells her to lie down, explaining that she is not going to kill her and that Martha should be thankful to her dog, Baron, for finding her at the riverbank.
Mrs. Anabel tells Martha about her daughter's death
Martha stays with the old woman and Baron while she recovers from her injuries. One day, Martha sees a family photo of the old woman happily sitting with Baron, a young nurse, and an unknown man in a sailor suit. Martha finds the woman knitting a scarf and asks her about her army uniform, to which the woman says she threw it away and suggests that Martha take something from her daughter's things. Remembering the daughter from the photo, Martha attempts to refuse, but the woman reveals that her daughter was killed in the war, which shocks Martha. Martha is saddened about another victim of the war but is surprised that the old woman has never said angry words about her as an Eastern soldier.
After a while, Martha begins walking well again and offers to help the old woman with yard work. She quickly hides herself when a postman arrives with mail for the old woman, Mrs. Anabel. The postman spots the open door and inquires about it, but is relieved when he sees Baron exiting. Before leaving, the postman warns Anabel about Eastern Army stragglers. Inside the house, Anabel informs Martha that they are in a village full of refugees who lost their homes in the war and tells Martha not to show her face due to the intense anti-Eastern sentiment. As Martha apologizes, Anabel calls Ostania pathetic for sending a girl like Martha to the front lines. Martha tearfully confesses her reciprocal hate for Westerners, blaming them for the war, and crying that she only wants to go home. Anabel dryly approves of the decision and warns Martha to forget about their meeting. Martha gratefully assures her that she will sneak out tonight.
Martha decides to tell Henry about Westalis upon returning home
That night, Martha prepares for her return to Ostania. Dressed in new clothes, she bids farewell to Baron and a sleeping Anabel before leaving the house. Walking through the unfamiliar area and shivering from the cold, Martha raises her head to the night sky to look at the stars, and notes that the stars in Westalis are the same as Ostania's, then tries to use their shared latitude to find her way. However, Martha gets lost and takes refuge in a nearby, small cave until dawn. Becoming hungry, Martha goes through her bag and discovers that Anabel helped prepare her departure, packing the bag with bread, some money, the scarf she was knitting, and a map with the words "Go home" written on it. Touched by the care of the old woman, Martha is brought to tears. Remembering Henry, Martha decides that upon returning home, she will tell him about the beautiful night skies, delicious bread, and kindhearted people who are in Westalis.
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