every movement, and the soldiers sat in the corner like lost shadows. Their uniforms were torn, their boots ripped, and their faces bore the marks of exhaustion and indifference.

As soon as Anna crossed the threshold, she felt rage boiling inside her. She had expected to see strong, proud defenders of the homeland, but instead found men reduced to poverty and despair.

She walked firmly up to the captain.

— “Why are your soldiers living in such conditions?” she demanded sharply. “Where are the uniforms, the proper food? Why does this barracks look like a pigsty?”

The captain frowned and, realizing there was only a defenseless girl before him, smirked mockingly: