(Y/N) POV:

Why couldn't you wake up? It's been two days now... As much as you enjoyed to be around your new friends, it wasn't normal. You should be awake by now, most likely lounging into your couch and celebrating internally the end of your exams.

But instead, you had to stay in a small cramped room with six other men, trying to hide from war and every single staff member who entered. Since the trench got invaded, you stuck to your friends' sides. They had been sent behind the lines to be treated and file-registered before they could be sent to another front.

All of your friends had managed to keep you hidden from any potential threat or people who could report your existence to the higher ups, from nurses to mere staff. You mostly stayed in the small room attributed to your friends. It was a simple room, a small rectangle with a few rows of bunk beds. The paint on the walls was wearing off, now only a faint yellow.

Fortunately it wasn't dirty, which you appreciated since you stayed here most of the time, while the others were sent on checkups at the infirmary. Apparently when Berthold and Christoph went, there were quite a few issues since they were now completely healthy, whereas their previous reports spoke of multiple injuries, some permanent for Christoph for example.

Hans and his little squad also asked for information once everyone was safely secured in their 'dorm' like room. You had no choice but to tell them the truth. They were already doing so much, betraying even their countryhuman for you.

"I managed to heal them." You had said, sitting on one of the free bunk beds, facing a small group of men who now looked completely flabbergasted. You had continued, looking embarrassed.

"I don't know how I did it... I felt a pull and this happened. This ... light happened."

This was another mystery to you. This flash of light. Well, maybe it wasn't too much of a mystery. This was your dream, right? So you were just finally having a clutch of that lucid dreaming of yours. Surely that was just it.

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You were laying on one of the empty bunk beds (on the top) when the door opened. The others had been out since it was dinner time for all soldiers but now just came back. You sat up, looking down at them as you saw your friends lay in their respective beds.

-"So?" You asked Berthold, who was standing by the bed, he was the one who took the bottom seat of your own. He looks up at you, looking a bit frustrated.

-"Still no info. Everyone else who had once been in our trench and retreated with us had been assigned to other fronts, yet there's still no order concerning us." He explained. Hans who was laying on one of the other beds chimed in.

-"I'm not complaining about not being sent to my demise once again." He muttered with a scoff. Berthold glared at him, their relationship having not improved for the past two days.

-"It's still weird. It's not like they've forgotten about us. And the country will not give up on a few soldiers, even for just a few days. The war situation is dire. We're being held back for a reason." Berthold replied coldly. His expression unkind. At least until he looked up towards you. His expression softened ever so slightly.

-"I'm worried He got wind of you somehow." He says, leaning his elbows on the edge of your top bunk. You smiled at him, trying to be reassuring. It was the only thing you could do, ever since you appeared in the trench, while they were the ones doing everything.

-"I'm sure it's not that. I mean, there's hundreds of soldiers here, everyone in this headquarters is busy, someone may have just done a little planning mistake."  You told him calmly, resting on your elbows. Berthold didn't look convinced in the slightest, maybe even more upset at seeing you so effortlessly optimistic.

-"Someone had called for Christoph while we were eating. A general." His new sentence shattered your every hopes and dreams. You shot up, almost falling over when panic surfed in.

-"WHAT?! Couldn't you start by this?! Where is he now? Is he alright? What if he's...I don't know... Imprisoned or something?" You jumped off your bed, grabbing onto him tightly. Your mind was running over all kinds of torture and punishments humanity has ever inflicted (it was a very long list) when Berthold put a hand on your shoulder. His face could never be called 'reassuring' but the fact he wasn't as agitated as you was at least calming your nerves.

-"Listen, I don't know what is going to happen to him. But I recognise that general. And he is not responsible for any penal matters. In other words, Christoph will most likely not end in prison. It never happens like that anyway. Being called in front of everyone? Not the government's style."

You stared at him silently. Your brain was struggling to pick a reaction between being relieved or panic even more. Yet Berthold's gaze was unwavering. And you finally decided to trust his words, despite them not being truly relieving. You closed your eyes. 'Please, Christoph be okay.'

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Christoph POV:

-"Excuse me, my general, but I still don't get why you're dragging me like this?" Christoph asked, confusion etched into his features yet he tried to be as respectful as possible. Whatever his situation was, better not to aggravate it by being unkind.

The officer looked perpetually annoyed, even more so by Christoph's questions. Clearly he wasn't used to simple soldiers asking questions. Since earlier they had walked from the common soldiers lunch room, to plenty of corridors until the very late wing, the corridors becoming more luxurious, the inside more private.

Christopher pursued his lips at being ignored, looking around the new surroundings warily. As he passed by multiple maids and servants, Christoph instinctively tried to fix his appearance. Never had he entered such an... important atmosphere. It was... Oppressive, intoxicating.... terrifying.

-"General...where are you taking me?" He asked again, fear lacing his every word. Because he knew. He felt it. The flag on his cheek now felt burning hot, tearing apart his flesh. His question was desperate, holding onto the hope that he was wrong. The General finally stopped. He turned around, looking over Christoph with an annoyed frown.

-"Listen up soldier. I don't know why you and your peers started acting up, but you're not gonna do it to me. I'm your superior and you're gonna do what I say. And I say, be quiet." The officer scolded. Christoph swallowed back his indignation. How cupid those people were. Why was he belittling him, his comrades, when this man was no better? The countryhuman will still see him as a pawn, no matter where he's standing in the hierarchy- no, even less, the countryhuman don't even see him, short.

Why were humans always fighting eachother instead of trying to sustain and support eachother, since they were in the same miserable position to these 'higher' beings. Christoph just couldn't understand. However, he was already close to dying twice, he wasn't going to test if he could be blessed a third time. So, Christoph merely nodded with an awkward salute while holding his head down.

The officer just huffed as he turned back around, clearly still disattisfied and pissed off. The man had the illusion of being somewhat superior from everyone else because he had interacted with German Empire. The countryhuman didn't even spare him a glance but now the officer was keen on believing that he had become his closest consultant of some kind. That's why he was utterly offended at not knowing why the German Empire had summoned that ...mere soldier.

In the meantime, Christoph was internally hyperventilating. The flag on his cheek was now scorching his skin. The meaning clear: he was approaching his maker. At least that's what the propaganda wants to make believe; the countryhumans are superior beings, gods to their nations. The world owes them ownership of their people. Not many can claim that they've interacted with countryhumans more than once, because the ones who do are secluded.

Why did the German Empire want to see him? Christoph was panicking. Did he do something wrong? Did he slip information about (Y/N)? What would happen to him, to his family? He needed to calm down. He was being too emotional, too alive. Countryhumans didn't like that. He needed to act robotic so he'd leave unscarred....or the closest to it.

When they stopped in front of a beautifully ornamented wooden door, Christoph felt like going through an ice shower. This was it. The officer turned around. His angry frown hadn't left his face for a second since he first saw him.

-"Alright boy, you better not try any funny business. I was already humiliated once because of you, you better not tarnish my reputation. And behave, this isn't your stupid average dirty soldier. He deserves your utter respect." The officer ranted on. 'What Reputation?' Christoph thought to himself. That officer was miserable, everyone disliked him, and no one respected him. He wasn't going to act good and obedient for the guy, but for the sake of his friends and family's safety.

The Officer straightened his appearance, overdoing it which tugged at Christoph's nerves not to roll his eyes. He then suddenly opened the door and scurried to bow down exaggeratedly low. Christoph bowed too once he entered, a bit awkward since he's not used to it.

Once he stood back up, he accidentally made eye contact with the one sitting at the desk. His whole body froze, petrified under the presence and control of the one sitting at the desk, the leader of his country, and the country itself...

The German Empire.

~°~
To be continued

Nah just kidding let's continue.

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German Empire looked at the soldier in front of him with a thoughtful expression. Christoph Werner... When his eyes had landed on his latest file, he had been confused. Wasn't he supposed to have a permanent inability to walk? Why did the infirmary record mentioned absolutely no injuries, even the smallest diseases symptoms any soldier in the trench should have? German Empire was intrigued, and thus for a mere pawn. It never happened.

But more than that, now that they were face to face, German Empire could also distinguish the new phenomenon which has been spreading amongst his men. Christoph looked alive. He was expressive, he was individual. A few weeks ago, no such thing existed. All soldiers looked and acted the same: robotic.

Looking away from the trembling soldier, German Empire glanced at the officer who accompanied him.

-"Thank you, General. You can resume to your other duties now." He said calmly. The officer looked offended at first before he walked out with a bow, not without glaring daggers at Christoph.  Apparently even officers were affected by that new 'individualism', but they were so annoying that German Empire really had enough of that strange phenomenon.

When it was only them two in the room, German Empire let out a small breath, before the usual smirk settled on his face. He didn't bother to invite the soldier to a chair, this young man had to be reminded of the power imbalance here.

-"So, Mr. Christoph, we finally meet. I heard...a lot, about you." German Empire slowly started, relishing in how Christoph stiffened and shifted nervously.

-"It's a honour, truly. Not many of my soldiers are alive after disobeying me. It seems that fate takes a heavier role in your life than I first thought." German Empire almost sniggered at the thought. Fate. As if it would even bother to affect one of the pawns instead of the major pieces.

-"However, there's something amiss in your file. And that's the only reason why you're still here and not thrown back in another trench the second you retreated, like the arrangement over your treason stated."

-"It wasn't treason." Christoph argued, which made German Empire narrow his eyes. Did it really happen? Did this soldier just talk back to him?

-"You disobeyed my order. So it's treason. I ordered fire, and you acted all buddy-buddy with the enemy." German Empire's voice was cold and firm. His fist loosely curled on his desk as he thought back to the event. People called it the 'Christmas Truce'. What a joke, since truces had to be properly admitted by countryhumans, not by a few squads too lazy to fight.

From the reports, Christoph Werner had been one of the initiators, convincing his trench not to raise fire at the opposite team. It barely lasted a few hours before German Empire heard of it and send officers to end the 'festivities' and get the people back to fight. Since most of the soldiers still held a positive opinion of the events, he couldn't go and execute Christoph, or else to risk more mutinies.

So, in all his benevolence he simply forbid Christoph not to ever take the few vacation soldiers were allowed to have. Even when during a battle, Christoph had been permanently unable to fight, he still wasn't allowed to be sent back. He had to stay in the dangerous trenches until the end of the war, only then would he be able to go back home and see his family. If he's still alive when it happens.

And even after everything German Empire had done for him, this young impertinent dared to talk back to him? The leader's pistol ached at his belt, demanding to be let out and shoot the insolent. But not now. Right now he needed answers. With legendary effort, German Empire calmed down and cleared his throat. He couldn't risk not appearing civilised after all.

-"As I was saying... I would have sent you back into battle if there wasn't something amiss in your infirmary file...comfirmed true by your mere presence here." German Empire intertwined his gloves fingers, resting his elbows on the table.

-"So, Mr. Werner, how is it possible for a man with a permanent inability to walk, to be completely fine the next day, right after his trench got invaded? I'm listening." Christoph tensed. How in the luxurious fridge is he supposed to reply to that. (Also blame (Y/N) for his weird choice of cursing). He couldn't invent a dumb story about how they suddenly healed, or how he fought through his disability. There was no hint of scars of any injuries on his legs or whole body. His body was healthier than a recruit's before his first mission.

In the meantime, German Empire grew considerably annoyed. Why wasn't he answering? Soldiers used to reply to him in a second! Their brains were programmed to reply to him. German Empire wasn't supposed to notice Christoph's thoughts process, his nervousness, his fear of the potential outcomes. This was all because of this weird phenomenon once again. Something was happening and messed with the thoughts and personality of every soldier.

-"It's not possible, isn't it? That's why you're here to tell me exactly what happened." German Empire leaned over his desk. Despite sitting while Christoph was standing, his authority was still looming over the young man, terrorising him.

Christoph was completely shaking by now, what was he supposed to do? Who knew what would German Empire do if he found out about (Y/N)? But yet again, German Empire was his country, he couldn't lie to him. First, he'd see right through it and second he physically couldn't. The flag on Christoph's cheek was burning, literally hurting him, getting even hotter as German Empire's impatience grew.

German Empire was his country. He was already close to being executed for treason once, if his will collided with German Empire's once again, he was done for. He would be killed and soldiers would be sent to his family to tell them not to mourn him since he was an enemy to the nation. Betraying (Y/N), his friend, hurt. But he knew they'd forgive him. They would understand that he couldn't go against his country, his homeland, the place he fought and nearly died for.

-"I... I was healed sir." Christoph sputtered nervously. German Empire's impatience turned to confusion. Of course it didn't disappear completely, just faded slightly. He could feel that Christoph wasn't lying, but it was absurd.

-"I know that we managed to progress a lot in our medical field during the war, but we're still not close to being able to fix such a disability...and instantly on top of that." German Empire's voice was slow as his brain ran for ideas to gouge out answers out of Christoph. He was lying, he had to be. But he was a master at perceiving lies, and it was a sixth sense to know when his people lied. Was that strange phenomenon strong enough to take down that second nature? If so, it really became a threat, he needed to do something, anything. He had to find whatever was the culprit and-

-"I was healed by magic, my lord. Heavenly magic." Now, if this man was trying to lie, he really sucked at sounding believable. German Empire's face was completely unimpressed, looking blankly at the young man in front of his desk, who was slowly becoming red in embarrassment as he realised how sheepish he sounded to his literal countryhuman.

-"So...magic? Any more precise information you could lend me?" German Empire said sarcastically yet Christoph seemed to take it seriously. He took a big breath. He was really about to expose (Y/N)'s existence. Would they be mad at him? He'd understand if they were. But he hoped they'd forgive him for this. Christoph thought back to their first meeting. They had come to him like an angel, saving him from death. And they did it once again when he was with Berthold. Despite their protests, he'll forever remain persuaded that (Y/N) was more than they admitted. So, it was natural for him to say, with a little smile.

-"I was healed by an angel."