17: A BLOODY, RED SUNSET

After acquiring medical supplies from an apothecary, I'll organize the chapter events: it becomes the first time he publicly challenges his position and demands better care for his wounded men. During a bridge run against the crystalline chambers and the pursuing archers, he moves to the deadly front position and rescues injured bridgemen, defying standing orders. He finishes the chapter by threatening bridge sergeant with violence to convince him to allow the wounded to be carried back to camp.

Back in the camp, the apothecary proves to be a shrewd merchant who charges exorbitant prices for medical supplies despite appearing frail. While purchasing bandages, needle, and thread, I learns that spheres are rapidly draining of their power and have not been stored properly. After brief exposure to camp life, I hears about the warcamps' scale, the competition between highprince armies, and the nature of the chrysalis hunts. When a horn sounds calling for an immediate bridge run, I leads Bridge Four toward the plateaus. Along the route, he refuses to rest like the other bridgemen, standing at attention instead—a gesture of defiance that gradually earns grudging respect. At the final assault, I abandons his safe position at the rear and moves to the deadly front line alongside Rock, despite his exhaustion. When arrows rain down, several men fall instantly: I's bandmates sustain multiple injuries. Though struck himself with an arrow that grazes his ribs, he channels a sudden surge of strength and continues forward. After the bridge is set, I abandons his position of safety to rescue wounded bridgemen from the battlefield, working frantically to save lives despite lacking proper medical facilities. He rescues or treats multiple men, including dragging the wounded out from under flying arrows. Though one man, I, dies from a grievous wound while raving about the land being destroyed, I manages to stabilize others through makeshift surgery using heated blades and cauterization. At evening's end, he confronts the bridge sergeant I with a threat of violence, combined with a bribe, to force permission to transport the wounded back to camp rather than leaving them behind per standing orders.