Mathias shook his head, counting the losses of the battle. They certainly could have done better, but then again, this was quite good considering the circumstances. There was little hope of reinforcements, but with the men they had... As long as they could keep morale up, they could win the battle.

First priority now was to take care of the wounded. Mathias was planning on helping to the best of his ability, though he kept analyzing tactical details even as he helped a knight carry a wounded man to the tent. They would win. Although the chances didn't look so good at quick glance, Mathias knew how they would win.

He returned outside, and caught Leon standing on the side of the camp, talking to a couple of men. There was something slightly off, and he pushed the strategy plan from his mind and walked towards the place where the other man was.

"Leon," he called out. "I need to talk to you. Walk with me for a bit?"

Leon nodded, then exchanged a couple of more words with the soldiers before heading to where his friend was. He wondered why Mathias wanted to go for a walk, but then remembered the reason; he wanted to talk about something private. It was also apparently something that could not wait till the night, so he hurried his steps.

"What is it?" He asked as he reached the tactician and slowed down to walk on his side. "Is something wrong?"

"I would like to ask you that," Mathias replied, moving slightly away from the camp. "Don't think I cannot see that look on your face. You hide it so well, but for me... I can see through that mask. What happened? You did not have that look on your face back when I saw you on the battlefield."

Leon looked down. "I'm not sure. It's nothing, really."

Mathias stopped abruptly and grabbed the other man by the shoulder. "That is what you say, but it is not what I see. Speak."

"I am..." Leon started. He turned to look at Mathias, and then sighed. "The enemy. I do not hesitate to kill in the name of our Lord, but... They... were yelling, calling me a monster. Speaking of me as if I was something inhuman. But I-" At this point, he was interrupted by the look Mathias gave him, and he went quiet.

"Is that so," Mathias said after a moment of silence.

Leon closed his eyes. "Is that really what I have become?"

"Leon," Mathias said. He raised his hand and lifted Leon's chin up. "Then tell me this; were you actually a monster, would you be doubting your humanity? A monster is merely something that lives by instinct; it does not care what it is."

"But, what if...!"

Mathias smiled, and Leon's eyes widened a little. "Mathias?" He asked, a little unsure of the meaning behind that smile.

"Worry not, my friend," Mathias told him. "You know what you are, and should not take something like that to heart. What does the enemy know about you, anyway?" He turned around and started walking back towards the camp. "Meanwhile," he then continued. "I hope you do realize that is what the enemy seems to know. We can use this to our advantage."

Leon followed the other man. "I... see. But how?"

Mathias shrugged. "Simple. They were calling you a monster? Then let them do that. The more of them hear that, the more of them believe that, the better. Let them talk about how we have someone inhuman on our side, and let those words carve fear in their souls."

"Fear..." Leon wondered aloud. He then smiled and bowed his head slightly to the other man. "Thank you."

"It's not me you need to thank," Mathias said. He stopped and turned to look at Leon. "After all, it's all thank to your skill on the battlefield. Now, go get cleaned. There's blood all over you."

"Ah, right," Leon replied. "I shall go do that then. You go back to your strategies." Mathias just smiled at him and headed to his tent.

They would win, and there was absolutely nothing that could keep them from winning.