Chapter Six

As the sun reached its peak of noon, it began to get intolerably hot again. It was summer in its death throes giving all who lay below one final wave of unrelenting heat and misery as though it were a spiteful god. The dry, unforgiving heat made AZKi wonder if, perhaps, the traditions of sacrificing people before the God of the Sun held merit after all. It had been long since banned due to pressure from neighbors who were disgusted by such a backwards, retrograde practice and it was something her grandfather had gone on about at great length. They are disrespecting the old traditions! he would say in his gruff, raspy voice I fought in two wars, and all for what? AZKi you mustn’t sign up if this continues, it will be the death of us all, I swear on it! Her grandfather was an incredibly religious and superstitious man. Each morning the family would head into the upper back room to pray to the shrine that honored each god and goddess. Special wind chimes said to offer protection from dark spirits should writing be cast on the metal in a specific way during their smithing, were placed at each entryway. However, like many of AZKi’s generation, the world of modernity seemed to steadily refute the existence of the god’s power over the world and shake the faith of hundreds. War often proved the exception; how could one have a bullet miss them by but a hair and not believe a divine force protected them? How could one face down the barrel of chance and come out the other side thinking it was not by divine providence that made it so? Nevertheless, AZKi had become more disillusioned the older she got. The world of steam, coal, and canons seemed all too much a sign of human hubris was being left unchallenged. Moona’s voice broke her train of thought.

“We should be nearing on the second card now. If we head just along this ridge and make a hard left, we should basically run right into it.” she said, looking carefully at her map and making a hash mark whenever she noticed a landmark “After that, we’ll follow a north-easterly bearing for about a mile and a half, go straight north and then we’ll get the final card.”

“We’re making good progress.” AZKi commented “I wonder how well the other squads are handling.”

“Guys…?” Risu said, gasping for breath “Can we… can we stop for a second?”

They all turned around to see Risu panting and sweating. Though they had been moving at a pace less than a brisk walk, she looked as though she had finished a two-mile run in full kit. She knelt on the ground, hand on her chest as she gasped for air. Sora immediately ran to her side.

“Risu. I need you to lay on your side.”

“What…? Why?”

“Just do it.”

Risu lay on her side and began to cough a few times as Sora investigated her throat.

“Is she alright?” Civia asked

“No… I was right. She got bit by that squirrel.”

“But… but…” she said between gasps “I… I got bit in… in my hand…”

Risu began to panic as she felt her airway closing. Her breathing picked up rapidly, it was as though she were drowning on dry land. She squirmed around in a futile attempt to evade the danger, grabbing forward on instinct as though some unseen force might save her if she just reached far enough to it.

“Do you have any medication on you for this?”

“N… no…” she began to cough “H-help! I… I don’t want… I don’t want to die! Help!”

“Moona? Can you find help?”

“Right away.”

Moona took off towards the way they’d come, knowing Noel would be there. Being three miles back made the odds of getting back to Risu in time slim at best, however.

“I’m going to get you through this, ok?” she told Risu

AZKi watched in awe at Sora’s handling of the situation. She wasn’t looking at the meek, soft-spoken, easily intimidated girl she’d come to know so well. It was as though someone was standing in for her, someone self-assured, confident, and completely in control. Risu felt tears in her eyes as her airway began to swell to no more than the circumference of a pinhole.

“Hel…” she choked

Sora put her lips to Risu’s and began to administer CPR. For a while it worked, but her breathing way soon became too clogged for it to be effective. Meanwhile, her entire body from her cheeks to her feet began to swell. Her ankles bulged against the compact size of her boots causing terrible pain.

“AZKi.” she said in a calm voice “I need you to take off her boots. Fubuki, I need you to go and see if you can find anyone from the cavalry. Take my map and my compass.”

“On it!” Fubuki said, retrieving the items and walking out in a random direction

Sora began rifling through her rucksack as Risu’s face slowly turned pink and then a horrible blue shade. AZKi struggled to pull her boots away. Her skin had become so inflamed that no amount of effort could remove them. She took out her knife and began cutting through the tough leather in order to pry them off, finally freeing her feet from the boots. Sora took out a straw and a knife.

“AZKi… Please hold her in place. This is going to hurt.”

“Got it.”

AZKi kept a tight hold of her and Sora took a long deep breath to compose herself for what she would have to do next. She pulled out the tip of her knife, making sure the angle was just so, then gently drove it into her neck down to the wind pipe at just the right place as to avoid killing her. She took the straw and jammed it into the new hole as Risu struggled with all her might against the combination of intense pain and suffocation. Finally, however, air began to pass into her lungs again. Her face returned to its normal, healthy shade of white, and strong gasps of air flew in and out of the straw. For now, she would live until help arrived.

“Sora… that was amazing. Where did you learn to do that…?” AZKi asked in stunned disbelief

“This happened to my mother when I was younger. We have so little in the village that we have to use very rudimentary medical tools and techniques in order to treat things like this. My father needed my help and he showed me exactly how to do it without killing the person you’re trying to save. It was… terrifying. But I made sure to remember every detail just in case it ever happened to my mom again. She lived, thankfully. I hope Risu does too.”

She fell back on her hands, breathing a great sigh of relief.

“Is she going to be alright?” Civia asked

“For now. We just have to wait for help and then she can get proper treatment for the swelling to die down.”

Risu’s entire body had swollen to twice its normal size and tears flowed down her face. While she could breathe, the pain from the swelling was incredibly intense and there was no remedy for it. All she could do was wait. To their great relief, they heard horse galloping in the distance as Warrant Officer Botan and Lieutenant Suisei came to their aid. They both hopped off their horses and looked her over while AZKi explained what had happened.

“That was quick thinking.” Botan said “And you did this, Sora?”

Sora smiled at her the most radiant, beautiful smile.

“Yup. It was nothing really… I’ve known how to do that for a while.”

Botan smiled back, enjoying the ray of sunshine from Sora’s face.

“You did a great job.”

“We need to get her back to the base…” Suisei said “She’s stable for now but she needs treatment fast. Let’s put the stretcher together.”

Botan and Suisei pulled out a compact stretcher from a rucksack and pulled it flat, lifting Risu onto it and buckling her tightly so she wouldn’t fall. With the help of Sora and AZKi, they lifted the stretcher so that it could be balanced between both horses.

“Good job you guys. We’ll be sure to report what you’ve done. In the meantime, go back to the starting area and tell the Sergeant what happened. We’ll get Risu straight to the hospital.”

They saluted the officers and agreed, watching them carefully ride down through the woods to safety then made their way back.

Back at the academy, the afternoon was beginning to wind to a close and Sora washed her hair out with her canteen as though trying to cleanse herself of the day’s events. Even if she had acted bravely, she was still rattled by it all. Her calm, care-free demenor had become overrun with anxiety in its aftermath.

“Private Sora.”

She turned to see Colonel Mio and First Sargeant Noel standing in front of her. She immediately jumped to attention and saluted them both.

“Yes, sir!”

“At ease.” Mio said “I was informed about your actions with Risu. That was quick thinking and well executed. I can’t do a lot to reward you, however, I would like to give you some favor for what you did. In light of that, I think you’ve earned a day off. Tomorrow, you’re dismissed from any tasks.”

“I appreciate it, sir.” Sora said with a smile

“Happy to hear it. Have a good day, Sora.”

The Colonel left and Sora returned to the barracks, falling flat on her cot with a long sigh. Her adrenaline had finally run out of her system, leaving her completely exhausted. She closed her eyes to take a short nap. As her eyes slowly opened, she caught AZKi by the bedpost, head bowed and hands clasped together in silent prayer before a small stone shrine. It looked almost like a tiny house and was said to be a resting point for spirits who took a liking to the faithful. It was no taller than the apex of her boot and no wider than a box, but it appeared quite old and weathered. It was a common sight amongst battlefields as their presence was said to curry favor with the gods and spirits. A phenomenon that was often observed after battles was what was known as Battlefield Apartments in which such a large amount of soldiers would drop their compact shrines across the battlefield during the fighting that it would look as though a shrunken village had sprung up in its wake. It was regarded as a bad omen as, typically, this grim anomaly was observed when they were on the losing side. It was rumored that the soldiers who had dropped them didn’t pass on, instead occupying the sacred space for which only the spirits were meant to dwell. It was regarded as a punishment for a battle lost, forever imprisoned inside the shrines and unable to move on to the higher plane of rest. AZKi finished her prayer and looked up at Sora.

“Have a good rest?”

“Yes.” she said rubbing her eyes “Who were you praying for?”

“Risu. I know she treated you poorly and all but…”

“I get it.” she smiled “Do you pray often?”

“Less than I should. But watching what happened to Risu… guess you could say that it reminded me that it doesn’t hurt to hold a bit of favor with the spirits. What about you? Are you religious?”

“Yes, but not to the traditional gods. My village believes in something very different.”

“Really? What?”

AZKi stood up with her shrine and carefully set it back in the footlocker.

“We only believe in one god. He made everything and is everywhere, all around us. He’s sort of like a father before all other fathers. We have a mother as well but she was said to be a human woman that had earned his favor. When the two married, the mother gave birth to the first human and started the human race. So, women in our religion do whatever we can to follow in her footsteps and earn a place at his side by living an honorable life with our husband.”

AZKi looked stunned at the explanation. Even those in Nijisanji didn’t believe in something so bizarre.

“Seems a bit conceited, doesn’t it? Not to mention a bit demeaning to women.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I mean… one god making the entire world? Doesn’t that seem a bit narcissistic, Sora? He had no help, no aides? And what does it even mean to live an honorable life by your husband?”

“He’s said to be almighty and all-powerful. He governs everything, sees everything. As for the last question… it’s a partnership. Our village priest described the man as the head of the family and the woman as the neck. We point the head in the right direction and without us, the men will always falter. It’s our duty to be sure our husband isn’t set astray.”

AZKi crossed her arms tight and glared slightly.

“Does he allow you to be gay, too?” she asked snidely

Sora frowned, giving her a hurt look and she immediately regretted what she’d said.

“Sorry…” she said, looking down “ I shouldn’t have said that. I crossed a line.”

“I told you… I’m not gay. I don’t like other women that way…”

“Forget I said it… it’s just… seeing someone believe something so different got to me for some reason. I shouldn’t have said that. I asked you about it, after all. I’m sorry.”

“It’s ok…”

The door to the barracks opened and Civia entered.

“Sora! AZKi!” she called “Specialist Immergreen wanted to play some poker and we need some extra players. Want to join us?”

“Absolutely.” AZKi said, eager to break away from the awkward conversation

“But I thought-”

Sora was interrupted by an elbow to her ribs from AZKi. They both stood up and followed the Specialist back into the academy and down a hallway into the dorms. Cecilia turned the key and opened room twelve, igniting a wave of jealousy in all those present. Inside were four comfy bunk beds, a nice, carpeted floor, a window with fabric blinds with an oak desk below it, and a table in the center of it all. Sora felt the slight chill of the ceiling fan above them, perfect for such hot days as the one they’d had today. Tucked just beside what was presumably Cecilia’s bunk was a violin.

“Cecilia, how come you get this room?” Sora asked

“They had extra rooms available and since I served in the Basin for six months, I get special considerations. Just some of the… perks that come of deployment” she said, almost sounding mournful “Now, pull up a chair and we can begin.”

They each pulled out chairs and Civia revealed her poker deck, setting it down at the center of the table. Cecilia took out some makeshift poker chips, no more than circles cut out of tin from ration cans and each had knife etchings depicting their value from five to fifty. Sora suddenly felt a wave of embarrassment as she realized she had no idea how to play.

“Sorry but… how do you play?”

Cecilia gave her an odd look.

“Where did you come from? Been living beneath a rock your whole life?” she said with a chuckle

“I’m… from a small rural village. So I don’t know a whole lot.” she explained, anxiously tousling her hair with one finger

“It’s not that hard. You want to line the cards in patterns and by their suits. Getting two of the same number is two of a kind, three is three of a kind, etc. Same suit is even better and-”

Sora’s head began to spin as Cecilia explained the “simple” rules of the game, going into each and every minor detail as she went. AZKi finally stepped in.

“It’s not as hard as it sounds, Sora. Basically, just look for any patterns. The higher the numbers, the better the value. Same suit is even better. Face cards are always worth even more.”

“Ok… I’ll try, I guess.”

“I promise it’s way easier than it sounds. You’ll get it quickly.”

“I’ll deal first.” Civia said “After all, they’re my cards.”

Cecilia and AZKi put down the blind, and after a short shuffle of the deck, Civia dealt each of them two cards each. They lifted them up and gazed at their values. Sora’s hand, predictably, was garbage. two pair of twos.

“You have to put a chip down, Sora.” AZKi explained “It has to be a bet equal or greater to the bet that came before it.”

Sora took one of the tin chips and put it on the table, calling the blind AZKi had wagered. Civia put her cards down.

“I fold.”

Cecilia put down a ten and the bets continued. With each go around, Civia dealt them a new card until eventually each player had five in total and the pot reached eighty-five Yukimins. Cecilia put her hand down first.

“Two pair; aces and queens.” she said with a smug look

It was the first Sora had seen her smile since they met. She had a lovely, glimmering smile that had her struggling to keep her own lips folded. Yet, with eyes as weary and worn as hers, it seems to be a clash between the sun in the heavens and the dirt of the earth. AZKi tapped the table twice.

“Tough luck, Specialist.” she said, laying her hand out flat “Ace high straight.”

Cecilia let out a small “ugh” and gently hit the table in frustration.

“What about you, Sora? Tough hand to follow on.”

Sora hesitantly put her cards on the table revealing a meager pair of twos. Her hand hadn’t improved once, yet she didn’t think to fold. AZKi pulled the chips to her side and the game began again.

“So, Cecilia…” AZKi began, putting down the small blind “That’s quite the accent you have.”

“Yes. I was born in Grün. I came from one of the mining towns. I use much of my income here to help my family.” she explained

Sora checked her hand, her starting cards revealing two aces. She smiled to herself, immediately giving away her good fortune to the rest of the table. Civia put down a ten.

“Which town? I was born in Grün as well before my parents moved the business here. I lived there until I was ten or so.”

“You probably wouldn’t know it,” she said with a light chuckle, seeing her raise “It’s one of the minor ones. It’s a small coal mining town called Obstgarten Feld.”

“Oh, I see.”

AZKi folded as soon as the next card was dealt to each of them. Sora smiled again as her fortune grew with a third ace.

“You’ve been to the front, right Cecilia?” Sora asked

“Yes, I was. I was sent to the northern line on guard duty for one of the bayside artillery regiments.” she explained “If you’re looking for good war stories, you won’t hear many from me. It was quite boring most of the time. A lot of watching and waiting. Sitting at the same wooden watchtower for hours on end and seeing nothing be seagulls, crabs, and the occasional swordfish. I was more likely to die of boredom than from an enemy rifle.”

“Ever see a Nijisanji dreadnaught?” Civia asked excitedly

“We saw just one.” she said, putting down a fifty “Something happened with it… and I’ll tell the story if you see my raise and don’t fold for the rest of the hand.”

Sora looked at Civia who looked back at her. Both shrugged and matched Ceilia’s raise as they drew the second card.

“It was in the early hours of the morning.” she began, raising the pot yet again “I was posted on the guard tower next to one the artillery guns. They’re so big! They need two horses just to move them and each shell was as long as my forearm! Anyway, where was I… right; so there I was standing guard next to one of the guns, checking it to make sure it was in working order.”

Sora looked at her hand again, not believing her luck. Four aces. She was going to absolutely clean the table out. She couldn’t wait to see that smug look of confidence wiped off Cecilia’s face, yet she remained stone faced. Civia, began to show signs of nervousness, clearly exhibiting that her hand was a complete bust. Sora raised the pot by another ten, assured of her victory.

“Then, on the horizon, we saw it: a Nijisanji dreadnaught. It was a bit smaller than the stories described it, but my goodness those guns…” she said “I could see right then and there if it got too close, our position, our entire garrison would just be a series of shell craters. So, I sounded the alarm and got everyone up.”

The final card was drawn for each of them and Cecilia raised the bet yet again by another fifty. Sora could hardly believe it. What hand could she possess that would give her such confidence?

“The ship immediately began to fire on us before we could load the first shell. One of the ship’s cannon shells zoomed right past me and hit the ground behind me. The shockwave was so powerful it knocked me forward and pushed my face in the mud. Luckily, my other comrades began firing back. I barely knew what was happening when I got up, just shells flying and explosions.”

As the pot approached its final value of one hundred and fifty Yukimin, Ceceilia revealed her cards: a royal flush. AZKi and Civia could hardly believe what they were seeing. She had made that wager not knowing her hand would be so fruitful. Sora showed hers followed by Civia whose hand limped to the finish line with two pair of kings and fives. Cecilia pulled the great pile of tin chips toward her with a look of smug superiority only to have her face fall as she continued her tale.

“We returned fire, eventually punching three holes in the ship and sinking her but not before three of our men died and a fourth was wounded. The shell blasted his leg right off at the knee. Crippled for life…” she sighed “If I had not been on that guard rotation, I’d have certainly been hit.”

The group sat in stunned silence as she recalled the finale. Cecilia quickly picked up on the mood and attempted to lighten in.

“Uh… how about a joke?” she said, taking the cards and shuffling them “What’s… what’s small, round and green… and goes up and down?”

The group looked at each other for a few moments then back to her.

“What?” AZKi asked

“A green pea in an elevator…” she said, her voice trailing off

Everyone stood completely quiet for a while before bursting into laughter. The joke was so aggressively bad that it fell in on itself to be comedy gold. Cecilia chuckled too, beginning to toss the cards out again.

“AZKi, I’ve always wanted to know more about your sister.” Civia said “I’d love to hear some things. Have any good stories?”

AZKi frowned a bit, then pulled out a cigarette and began to smoke.

“I’ve got a few stories, yes. Do you want to hear a cute childhood one, or one about when we were teens?”

Sora put forward her blind.

“A cute childhood one. I want to hear something light.”

Each of the girls put chips into the pot, bringing the total to fifty on the first hand. AZKi let out a puff of smoke straight upwards and they each took a new card.

“There was a time she and I were playing underneath the cliffside close to our home. There’s a massive lake to the ease surrounded by high walls of land due to some big dredging operation done about ten years before this took place.” AZKi put forward a fifteen-chip “We would play down there often because it arched over the beach. Our favorite game was princess in the castle where one of us would sit at the top of the cliff and the other below while we pretended to be princess and knight. IRyS would talk in this overly posh voice ‘we must save the kingdom, fair AZKi!’ It was so adorable”

The bets continued and this time, Sora folded. Her chips were starting to dwindle, sitting at a measly fifteen Yukimins. AZKi let out a sigh.

“One day though, it had begun to crumble right as we were both playing under it. It collapsed and nearly buried me but my sister gave me a hard push right into the water. It fell on her, but since she was far older it didn’t affect her that much. If it were me, I’d definitely have been seriously hurt. We both got up, she covered in sand and me soaked to the bone and I hugged her tight. She began to laugh, saying that it was all part of her plan. Our mother scolded us till our ears fell off.” she sighed “I hope she’s ok…”

Sora put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“She’ll be fine, AZKi.” she said with a smile

“Thanks, Sora.”

“It’s your turn, Civia.” Cecilia said, putting forth a ten-chip “Tell us what it’s like living with a big-shot weapons manufacturer.”

“Stifling.” she explained “So many rules. Always something to do, someone to meet, plus the idea that I am expected to be in an arranged marriage. Never less than perfection.”

“Must be hard.” AZKi chuckled as she put down her bet “Eating cakes, having tea parties with the wealthy, sipping on all the expensive overseas wines. I pity you, truly.”

“It’s not like I’d expect you to understand.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Civia just scoffed in response as AZKi grew frustrated.

“You always look down on us. I can see it in your face. Why join the military, what’s the real story on that?”

Everyone took their final cards and placed their final bets.

“Well… my dad wanted me to find ‘better prospects’” she said in a sour tone “What that really means is that I am an embarrassment to them and they’re hoping this will humble me.”

“Embarrassment? You? Well, say it ain’t so~” AZKi teased

“It’s not quite like what you’re thinking… I had anti-war views and I made them known at the school I was at… so… here I am.”

Each of them revealed their hand. Cecilia once again took the pot with a diamond straight. Sora began to seriously wonder if she survived that bombardment because of some divine favor and luck with how many chips she was stacking up.

“You’re anti-war?” Cecilia asked “Why’s that? The N’s were the aggressors. We’re just defending ourselves, it’s not like we’re in the wrong here.”

“We’ve pushed them out though. And now we’re just sending people in by the hundreds through the Hell’s Doorway… we haven’t made a single inch of progress in a year… shouldn’t we be doing peace talks now?”

“Hell’s Doorway?” Sora asked as she began to deal the cards

“You know how the mountains separate us from Nijisanji, yes? There’re only a few ways to cross from their territory into ours… you go by sea and meet our many artillery positions, go through Grün, our ally, in order to hit us from the west or go through one of the two breaks in the mountains. Both us and them have set up trench lines around what has now been nicknamed Hell’s Doorway because every time either side tries to make progress, it’s a massacre. If neither of us are making progress, aren’t we just throwing lives away for nothing?”

The table went silent once again as each of them put forward a bet. Sora’s luck began to turn once again on the second draw, revealing the makings of a queen-high straight if it held.

“Hard to argue, I guess. But it’s out of our hands. Not much we can do…” AZKi said, her thoughts once again drifting towards her sister

“I want to hear about Sora now.” Cecilia said “Where do you come from that’s so out of the way you haven’t even heard of poker?”

“Advent Village. It’s by a lake called Nepolabo.”

“Oh, yes! I think I’ve heard of that. Really good fishing that way. I’ve never fished at the lake itself, but I have gone to the rivers that come out of it.” she said, her brow furrowing as she looked back to her cards “Ugh. Guess it had to happen eventually... I fold.”

“That was most of what I’ve eaten my whole life, plus the older sheep.”

“You keep sheep, Sora?” Civia asked in surprise

“Yes. We only eat the old or critically wounded sheep though. Otherwise, we use the wool to line our coats and gloves.” she said “All of our winter clothes are brightly colored and patterned so we can see each other in the snows.”

“Huh… I never even thought about that. That’s clever.” Civia said, tossing another chip forward “How many people live in your village, anyway?”

“Five families. I have seven brothers and two sisters. I’m the youngest of all of them.”

AZKi about spat out her cigarette.

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah. Childbirth in our village is… well… it's not always a success, even at the best of times. So, we have a lot of kids. There’re a few neighboring villages and during the spring months, those who have passed their Meerderderjarig Worden Ceremony get to participate in the Feest Van de Liefde.”

The whole table looked shocked at the sudden foreign speech.

“You’re bilingual, Sora?” AZKi said in shock

“Yes. Every village has at least one family who practices both the common language and our traditional language for the sake of trading.”

“I see…” she replied “That’s really cool.”

She smiled at her.

“Thanks.”

“What exactly is Meer… der… whatever it is you said in common?” Civia asked

“It’s the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. The Feest Van De Liefde is the Festival of Love where those who passed that ceremony hook up together and have children. It’s a massive spectacle. Lots of drinking and singing, bonfires, dancing.”

“I’d love to come see it one of these days.” AZKi said as she tapped the cigarette ash on the floor “The does beg the question though… are you married?”

“No... It’s… partly why I came. Serving here and bringing fame and wealth to my village qualifies me for not just that but for my would-be husband and I to own property. We are usually married off at age fifteen by our parent’s choice, so long as we pass the ceremony of course. Without passing the ceremony though, you can’t marry.”

The entire table went wide-eyed.

“Fifteen?!”

“What…? Is that odd?”

Civia revealed her hand to the table: three of a kind with kings.

“Most of us aren’t married until eighteen, Sora.”

AZKi put forward her hand next: four of a kind with nines

“Oh… well… we typically marry at age fifteen, sometimes sixteen or seventeen if you miss passing the Meerdjerderjarig. Like me…”

“And what exactly does the Meerdjerderjaring entail?”

“It’s different for boys and girls. The boys have to do a feat of bravery: hunting something massive, winning a fight against someone older and stronger, rescuing someone from danger, that sort of thing. Girls have to bring something of great value back to the village. Say… like money or some other boon.”

As the turn ended AZKi let out a sigh, pulling out all the Yukimin in her pocket and setting it on the center of the table.

“I’m out.” she said

“Nonsense!” Cecilia said “Who said it need only be money? You have some nice boots, some cigarettes…”

“Oh, please.” AZKi chuckled “I’m not looking to go back to my barracks in nothing but my underwear tonight.”

Cecilia smiled and shrugged as she put forth a small blind.

“Suit yourself. You two still game?”

“Of course.” Sora said “I want to hear more stories about your deployment.”

“And I’d love to get to know more about this Village of Advent you come from. What a place it must be.”

The cadets continued to play with Specialist Immergreen far into the evening. After a long and stubborn power struggle with Civia, Cecilia had emerged victorious with a new pair of boots from the young, noble-born private. Sora felt ease for the first time since joining the army.

The door pushed open to a meeting of great minds and powerful people. As it did, an attendant announced the arrival of the final member to join them.

“General Ouro Kronii to see you, your grace.” he said in a proper posh accent

Kronii entered the wide oak doors and quickly closed behind her. She was stern in expression and tense in body language. This privilege of meeting with the upper echelons of society, as well as the Jidoja herself, never felt so restrictive. Beyond the planning table sat a wide platform and a semi-transparent veil hung upon the entire length of its golden, highly ornamental bar. Beyond the veil sat the Jidoja, slightly obscured as she watched the planning take place as though she were a shadow or a ghost. One could not see her eyes nor her expression, yet her mood radiated from her and carried with it the force of the Gods that had supposedly chosen her. Today’s mood, it seemed, was not a cheerful one. The General sat at her seat on the very furthest end of the long table. Joining her were other generals of great reputation, politicians of ill repute, and a rather skinny, pale-looking gentleman who was recording the meeting for the sake of posterity. One would look at him and wonder if he wouldn’t be a security risk as he heard such high-level military secrets and plans. Officially, it was his strong, unwavering loyalty to the Jidoja that kept his mouth shut. In reality, it was the noose before a crowd of eager spectators. The same attendant that had announced her offered her a cup of the finest tea, which she politely refused with a simple hand motion.

“Greetings, General.” the Jidoja spoke “How was your visit to the southern line?”

Kronii tapped a few documents of notes against the table.

“The attack was as bad as we feared, your grace.” she said, her voice lowering slightly and her expression falling as she read through the lines on the report “They didn’t attack directly, not at first. This seems to have been a test for the latest brand of artillery cannon and it far exceeds our own. From what the analysts told me, their range is eleven thousand or so yards and perhaps longer than that. Even our best artillery cannons carry shells no more than half that distance. The shells tore through the defenses and the casualties are estimated to be about four hundred and eighty thousand men and women with another eighty injured.”

The table looked on in stunned silence as Kronii read off the report to them. Artillery had always been the thorn in both powers’ sides, but this advancement was far beyond what they had ever anticipated was possible.

“How many guns?” one of the lower generals asked

“It’s estimated to be at least five, a maximum of eight. After the bombardment, they charged at us and met very little resistance due to the high casualties. We would have lost the line entirely had it not been for two machine gun platoons that managed to inflict heavy enough losses to get a retreat.”

“I will see to it that those platoons receive the appropriate honors.”

“They will be appreciative, your grace.”

“Have they struck since?” she asked

Kronii leaned back slightly, putting her hand to her chin.

“No, your grace. We’re unsure why, but, either way, we would be ill-advised not to find a countermeasure. I’ve already started sending half of the Fourth Royal Battalion to the southern line while the able-bodied men that survived are digging a new trench network and putting up more fortified bunkers. But… I have my doubts it will be enough.” Kronii went quiet for a while as a grim look formed on her face “If they strike before the Fourth Royal arrives in two weeks, we’ll lose the position without a doubt.”

The table once again fell silent. The war had been mostly in the favor before now, but if they were to mass produce such terribly efficient weapons it would flip the table on them.

“What do you propose, General?”

Kronii sifted through her report notes and tapped them against the table again.

“We have two options available to us: we either make or surpass this new artillery technology, or we deploy the first of our tanks before we have a sufficient number of them.” she explained “That being said, there’s no guarantee they’ll even survive the artillery barrage and I’d even wager they would be destroyed by any direct hit. We could have the tanks there in as little as four days.”

“Perhaps…” one of the politicians began in a tepid, meek tone “peace is in order.”

The table looked at the man with contempt at such a suggestion.

“Are you mad?” one of the lower generals asked “How do you think the soldiers would take it if we called for peace just a week and a half after the southern line was destroyed along with their comrades?”

“I agree. If we sue for peace directly after that strike, the terms are going to be harsh for us. They’ll view us as being scared senseless and thus open to exploitation.” Kronii said “The soldiers will see us as cowards and may even mutiny. We can’t risk it right now. If we want peace, we will have to have a victory of our own, which is where the tanks come in.”

“I find myself struggling to disagree with the man…” another general chimed in “If they break through the southern line, not only will they have opened up an entire theatre of war but they will capture at least five cities before we can mount an appropriate defense. I could send the Second Royal Infantry but that would take a week and a half at best. At the very least, we may negotiate a temporary ceasefire so we can properly reinforce our southern territory.”

“I will authorize research funds for better artillery cannons.” The Jidoja interrupted “Meanwhile, begin the deployment of the tanks and the reinforcement of the south. We must destroy that artillery position before we lose the southern line.”

“Understood, your grace.” Kronii said “I and the other generals will begin drafting plans to take or destroy the artillery position. If I could have permission to make another request.”

“Granted.” she said

“I would like the approval to launch some reconnaissance planes so that we are better able to assess the risks we’re up against. If we’re deploying the tanks early, we should go in knowing every detail we can.”

“I authorize approval of two planes.”

“Thank you, your grace. We will do you proud.”

“Is there anything further that needs to be brought to my attention?”

The table stood silent and the Jidoja got up from her throne.

“Understood. I have other duties to attend to.”

The entire table reached into their pockets and dawned blindfolds as the Jidoja exited. As per tradition, those outside of the royal family and their retainers could not look at her directly. It was said that by doing so, the gods would strike them blind. This was often the case, though always by mortal hands with an earthly blade. As soon as she exited, everyone removed their blindfolds and began planning for the strike on the artillery base as well as what would be a historic first for the world: the advent of the tank.

AZKi approached Sora after breakfast with Civia and both looked as though they were up to something.

“Sora.” AZKi said “You’ve got the day off, right?”

“That’s right. Why?”

“We’ve got guard duty. We were wondering if you wanted to help us with something.”

“Sure. What do you have in min-”

Suddenly a man approached AZKi with a satchel that read MAIL across it. He pulled a small letter from the bag and held it out to her.

“Letter for you, Private. High priority.”

AZKi practically jumped to snatch the letter from his hand. The man left and she gazed upon its front. As she stared at the letter’s return address and felt as though she may puke on the spot. It read:

General Ouro Kronii

First Royal Regiment, Holoro 3489 N. Eastern Command

Empire of Mogchoji and Daeyang

She knew no person of such high status would ever personally address such a lowly grunt. It could only mean one thing: it was a message from high command informing her of the death of her sister. She stared at the letter, not wishing to break it open. Subconsciously she reasoned that if it were never opened, if she never read what she knew the letter would say, it would mean that her sister was still alive and well. Suddenly, Sora and Civia approached her, and their jovial expressions faded as they gazed upon AZKi’s wet eyes.

“AZKi…? What’s wrong?” Sora asked

“This letter… it’s… it’s from high command…”

“Why’s that bad…?”

AZKi couldn’t help but let out a light chuckle. Always so slow on the uptake. She tried to light a cigarette in her trembling hand to calm herself. The lighter wouldn’t start, her fingers shaking with such intensity that she couldn’t properly click the flint together. After a while of struggling, Sora struck a match beneath her boot and lit it for her.

“Can you… open this for me…?” she asked “Also… how’s your reading coming?”

“A lot better… I’m still slow but I’m beginning to read more clearly and easily.”

“Can I ask a favor then? Please read this letter out to me, if you can. I don’t think I can do it…”

“Ok…” she replied in a worried voice

She tore open the top of the letter with her finger, pulling out the letter along with a gold wedding ring, a photo of what was presumably AZKi’s entire family, and a second letter on faded parchment. At the back stood a very proud-looking old man in dress uniform, his chest adorned with several honors, while a father and a mother sat on chairs directly in front of him. In the mother’s arms, a baby, and at the foot of both parents, another small child no older than four. Sora held the items out to her and AZKi froze in place, a portion of the burnt cigarette falling as though to punctuate the shock she couldn’t verbalize. After a while, she took the ring and the photo, looking at both with wet eyes.

“G… go ah…” she said, choked up “ahead and… read it…”

“Dear… Private AZKi… we… hope this letter… finds you well… and…”

Civia pulled the letter away.

“Here. Let me read it.” she said, clearing her throat “Dear Private AZKi. We hope this letter finds you well. We regret to inform you that, on the attack against the southern barricade, Corporal IRyS died in the subsequent fighting. Enclosed you will find her personal effects as well as a letter from the soldiers she had saved. She died exhibiting uncommon bravery, saving the lives of seven men who would’ve been caught in a collapsing bunker. In recognition of this act, she has been posthumously promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant and awarded the Medal of Valor and Virtue. You have been given permission for immediate one week’s leave to attend the funeral and to take personal time to grieve.”

Sincerely,

General Ouro Kronii, First Royal Regiment

AZKi tossed the cigarette out and put her hand over her mouth as both girls stood in stunned silence.

“Do… do you want me to read the other letter?” Civia asked gently

AZKi nodded with a sniffle as she struggled with all her might not to cry. She handed it to her and Civia once again read aloud.

“Greetings, Private AZKi. I am one of the men that your sister saved. We were faced with a sudden artillery bombardment and in the chaos, the bunker we were sleeping in got a direct hit. No one was caught in the blast, but the bunker began to cave in. IRyS quickly got us up and as we were all half asleep, pushed us out as fast as she could. Unfortunately, the bunker collapsed directly on top of her at the shoulder. There was so much heavy debris on top of her that we unfortunately couldn’t dig her out in time. Me and the other men comforted her in her dying moments. She spoke very fondly of you and her family and wanted to relay this message to you specifically: ‘I love you very much and didn’t die afraid or alone. I was surrounded by my friends and I only wish I could see you and Pa just one more time. I love you, AZKi. I love you.’

If not for your sister, we’d all be dead right now. We have all been given leave time and each of us signed up as honor guard for the funeral. We hope to see you there and we owe our lives to your sister’s selflessness. All of us offer our deepest condolences and we will help you in whatever way we can.”

AZKi stood frozen for a long while, her mouth half open as the second letter was read. Her fingers trembled slightly as she closed her fist and bit her lip. Finally, she took off out of the barracks before another word could be said. Sora and Civia looked at each other mournfully.

“I’ve never seen her so sad…” Sora said quietly

“What did you expect? Her sister is dead.” she replied in an annoyed tone

Sora left for the barracks, not wishing to argue with her, and began to pull off her shirt so she could change into her civilian clothes inside. There, she saw AZKi sobbing beneath her blankets. Her eyes began to tear up as well at the sight of her friend in such pain. She began disrobing and changing into her civilian clothes only to hear AZKi’s muffled, pained voice.

“Where are you going?” she sniffled, her face still beneath the sheets

“I… was going to go out and enjoy my day off. But I’ll stay here with you if you’d like.”

She lifted herself up and wiped her eyes.

“No. Actually…” she sniffled “I’d like to accompany you if that’s ok.”

“Absolutely. Whatever you want to do, we’ll do it.”

AZKi smiled through her still tear-filled eyes.

“Thanks, Sora. You’re a good person, you know that?”

Sora smiled back.

“It’s what friends are for. Anything you need, I’m here for you.”

AZKi hopped down from the bed and began changing into her civilian clothes. She dawned a white and pink dress, letting her hair down to its full length. She dawned some rather expensive name-brand boots and even carried a purse about her shoulder. It looked so wrong to see her in such feminine attire after spending an entire month with her only in uniform. It was like seeing a Noel dress the part of a housewife. They exited the campus together as AZKi’s tears finally ended and began walking to the right towards the cavalry garrison. After a rather conflicted battle in her own head, she finally turned to Sora and spoke.

“How… how would you like to come home with me? Just for the evening. I’d pay for your train fare, of course.”

Sora looked genuinely shocked.

“You want me to go with you? Are… are you sure?”

“You don’t want to?”

“No, I do! I’m just… shocked is all. Of all the people I’d expect for you to ask, I was the last one.”

AZKi smiled at her and patted her shoulder.

“You’re a good friend to me, Sora. I’d love for you to pay a visit and see…” AZKi’s lip quiver as the tears entered her eyes again “see my family…”

Sora gave her a great big hug as she broke down into tears again. She gently rubbed her back as she waited ten minutes for her to finish.

“I’m sorry… I’m just… I’m just…”

“Don’t be sorry, AZKi.” she said sympathetically “Anyone would be like this in your situation. Let’s head to the train station.”

“Right.”

The two girls walked to the wall of the city, exiting the thick wooden gateway and down a dirt path until they reached the train platform. It looked so out of place: a wooden structure painted in light green and blue that sat just beside the train tracks and the wilderness that stood around them. A flat ceiling stood above a clerk’s desk who gave train tickets and approved bulletin messages that could be stuck on a corkboard attached to the side of the booth. Paying for both their fares, AZKi joined Sora at one of the benches and let her bag rest on the floor. Both of them stared in awe at the sight before them: a massive stretch of emerald green grass and golden wheat that slammed  into the massive mountain range that separated them from Nijisanji. Men and women were dying by the score in front of that very range yet all looked peaceful and still, as if the war was nothing but a bad dream. She handed Sora her ticket.

“It sure is beautiful, isn’t it?” AZKi commented

“Yeah… I’ve never seen the basin from this angle before.”

They waited for around fifteen minutes before a train bound for Holoro arrived. Sora marveled at the sight: tts long, seemingly endless line of red and black passenger carriages that gave way to the storage cars filled with coal, mail, passenger-cargo, and water. It was yet another piece of the modern world that stunned Sora in its brilliance. Her small village seemed so insignificant before even the most minor of wonders that modernity had to offer. She and AZKi boarded the train, entering the first-class carriages. It was nothing short of pure delight. After an attendant clipped their tickets, they walked to the middle of the car, finding a charming booth to occupy for the ride. It stood separated from the rest of the train car by a thin wooden door lined with silver accents and clean white drapes while inside lay comfortable plush seats and a sturdy table next to a window. Sora felt as though she were a princess.

“What do you think? Never been on a train before, I take it?” AZKi asked as the train began to move

“Never… this is all so crazy. I feel like I’m in another world.”

She smiled at the simplicity of the charming, backcountry rube before her. It was endearing, like watching a child discover the world for the very first time. Sora stared out the window as the train gained speed, watching as the grass fields, farms, cows and rock homesteads flew by her. A waiter suddenly knocked on the door and opened it.

“Greetings, ladies. Might I interest you in dining this morning?”

Sora’s entire face lit up like a kid on Christmas day.

“Do we have time before our next stop?”

AZKi smiled and leaned back.

“Of course.” she said “We’d love to see the menu.”

The waiter put the menu in front of them and they looked it over. Once again, it felt as though she had stepped into the Jidoja’s royal palace and was being treated like one of the family. Expensive wines, imported lobsters from northern Grün, and high-quality poultry with expensive spices. It was something out of her wildest dreams.

“What do you think you’ll have?”

“I think… I think… god there’s just so much to choose from… by the way, I’m paying for us this time, AZKi.”

“You don’t have to-”

“I insist. I have nothing to spend my money on anyway. May as well use it to help a grieving friend.”

AZKi gave a sincere smile.

“You’re too good to me. I’ll try not to make it expensive.”

A while later, the waiter returned with an expensive, high-quality bottle of wine fermented right in the Empire. While Grün was best known for its top-of-the-line fish, Mogchoji and Daeyang were best known for their wine, especially in what was once the sovereign nation of Daeyang. AZKi went with two turkey legs, doused with spices from across the sea and Sora took the snow lobster, a breed of freshwater crustation that grew only in the icy lakes at the very northernmost section of Grün. As its namesake would suggest, the lobster’s natural shade was colored snow white before preparation. Once boiled, its white shell became translucent, giving an almost ghostly appearance to the slain creature as the hungry table guest looked directly at the meat beneath it. Coming at the cost of over one hundred and ten Yukimin, Sora sought to savor every bite so that she could remember it well into her old age. She wanted this moment to sit in her mind until her last moments on her deathbed.

The train continued at full speed, giving them only minutes to spare once done with their meals. Both cadets leaned back in their seats, appreciating the electric taste as though being given one gold bullion each. Every Yukimin spent was worth it after having spent the last month eating bland, almost rubber-like MREs.

“That was amazing…” Sora said with a satisfied sigh “I don’t think I’ve ever tasted food so good in my entire life.”

“Me neither…” AZKi said with a small burp “Oh man… god I’m stuffed…”

“What about the wine? No way we can drink it right now.”

“Let’s save it for-” she let out another burp again “for tonight. You’ll be having dinner with us, right?”

Sora felt sick at the suggestion. Even imagining taking another crumb of food into her overstuffed body made her feel too full.

“S-sure.” she said with a forced voice

Finally, the train came to a gentle halt in Holoro. The women picked up their belongings, as well as the fancy wine, and exited the train car onto the platform. For the first time, Sora gazed upon AZKi’s hometown. It was far more modest than she was expecting. It may have had paved streets and beautiful houses, but it was rather small and unassuming. The city still seemed to rely mainly on oil lamp lighting and the streets reeked of horse shit. Despite this, it gave off a certain aura of comfort and security, even without walls to protect it from outside forces. The military presence was light and the most intimidating thing she could see was one solitary artillery gun manned by just two very bored-looking officers. Children played on the streets and horses gently trotted about. Here, the war seemed to yet again be a distant bad dream with no basis in reality. AZKi began to walk and Sora followed her down the streets. Each corner gave way to a charming little shop or another unique-looking home with its own personality and flare. No two were alike and, often, they were so different as to be strangers in the same city. Finally, they reached AZKi’s home: it was another modest abode, the entire property’s area encompassing less the half the leisure field at the academy while the house occupied only half the space. It stood surrounded by a white picket fence and inside it was a large, strong oak tree that stood just ahead of the front porch window. The house itself was tall, consisting of three floors, and was painted a nice, soft blue that sat below a black angled roof. AZKi hesitated as they ventured up the front porch steps, an instinct deep inside her telling her that if she just turned away now, IRyS would still be alive somehow. Sora put her hand on her shoulder, giving her a friendly nudge and she let out a shaky sight before knocking on the door. Footsteps walked towards them and the door opened to reveal the parents depicted in the photograph, only now they were far grayer, and their faces aged with hours of grief from the news AZKi had also received that same day. Upon seeing them, her mother began to collapse into her father’s arms in tears, relieved to see her other daughter still alive in well.

“Please,” the father said in a gruff, gravelly voice “come inside. We apologize for the rough first impressions.”

“It’s perfectly understandable.” Sora reassured them “My name is Tokino Sora. AZKi and I are friends at the academy.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Sora.” he said, giving her a strong handshake “I appreciate you comforting our daughter in this time. Please, come in.”

They stepped inside the home and Sora’s entire body relaxed. The walls were the same light blue as the outside and full of family photos and paintings. One of particular interest was of the father standing amongst his comrades, all no older than twenty. He was shockingly handsome in his youth: finely cut muscles, a jaw of iron, and an air of allure to him that made him cool and mysterious. He stood in uniform beside eight other men while in his left arm, he hugged who could only be his wife. The father ushered them down into the living room where they sat on a plush red couch. AZKi and Sora took the two red velvet chairs opposite them and she put the wine bottle on the coffee table.

“My, my, what a fine vintage.” he said, closing his eyes “Don’t tell me… don’t tell me… it's… it’s a Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon… which must mean it’s a 1652 vintage. Am I right?”

Sora looked at the wine bottle in pure shock. He was off by just a single year.

“1653. But… yes. Everything else is correct. How did you know?”

“Wine is something of a hobby of mine, Miss Sora. I have developed quite a diverse collection in my cellar. It is quite the sight to see.”

She had barely met the man, yet he was homely and gentle. He treated her with the same familiarity he would give to a dear friend he hadn’t seen in a decade or more. His body language was relaxed and his rather impressive handlebar mustache gave him a suitably dignified appearance. His strong face looked swollen and his jaw hung down slightly from the exhaustion of  many hours spent keeping the well of emotions buried inside him so he could remain strong and stalwart for his grieving wife. His wife clutched his arm with both hands as she cried and her black hair draped over her face to hide the waterfall that cascaded down her face and onto her fine silk skirt.

“My dear AZKi…” he said with relief “It is so good to see your face.”

“Same, Dad…” she said, feeling tears in her eyes again “They gave me a week’s leave. So I’ll be here to help however you need.”

“Will your friend be staying with us? The guest room can be prepared quickly.”

“That’s ok,” Sora interjected “I’ve only got today off. I will be heading back before tomorrow.”

“I see… well that is a shame indeed. Know, however, that a friend of my daughter is a friend of mine. If you ever wish to visit again, don’t feel a stranger in our home.”

“Thank you… you’re so kind.”

The grandfather clock that stood adjacent to the coffee table began to sound its low-pitched gong, signaling that noon had arrived. AZKi’s father stood up, straightening his jacket and pulling back his finely trimmed hair into place.

“Excuse me. I have something I must attend to. In the meantime, do make yourselves comfortable.”

He left the room and marched upstairs as AZKi’s mother brushed tears from her face.

“AZKi…” she said in a weepy voice

She immediately leapt up and hugged her mom.

“I’m here, mom. I’m right here.”

“Please… please quit the military… I… I can’t…”

“I’m sorry, Mom.” she said quietly “That’s not possible.”

“I… I don’t want you to die…!” she said, breaking into hysterics again

AZKi could barely stand to watch and Sora struggled to keep her composure at the distraught woman before her. Immediately she began to think of how her own family would react with similar news. It was one thing to know her family would be sad, even hopeless at the news of her passing during war, but to see it through the eyes of another put a whole new level of anxiety to the idea. Before her was a woman completely broken by what had happened. Her face contorted in a pain that couldn’t be described while her cries spoke to a sadness so deep and blue as to be deeper than the oceans of the earth. Even as Sora saw this before her eyes, she knew there was a depth to it that she couldn’t see simply by looking; it was the kind of sadness one could only truly comprehend via experience. She clutched AZKi tight as though worried that in letting her go, the same fate that befell IRyS would in the next moment befall her as well. She didn’t want to let the child go for fear of never being able to hug her again. The father soon returned with a list in his hand.

“I apologize but I must leave for the time being. We need to restock on groceries.”

Sora jumped up enthusiastically.

“I can do that for you.”

“Are you sure? You needn’t do it if you don’t want to.”

“Of course, I am. I’d be more than happy to do it, actually. You deserve to spend some time with AZKi right now.”

“My girl, you are a lifesaver indeed. AZKi always has had a knack for finding good people to be friends with.” he said, handing her the grocery list “Take this down to the corner store and give it to the clerk. It has my signature on it, so he’ll know it’s from me and it's already paid for. I appreciate this more than you know.”

“You’re very welcome.” she smiled, taking the list in her hands “Take it easy, ok?”

Sora excused herself and walked down the street, looking for the corner store. As she walked across main street, she found the most curious sight at the knee-high brick fence that sat just before the park: three homeless men, all of whom were in the worst shape. One was missing his leg up to the halfway point of his thigh and his left eye was clearly made of glass. The second, who appeared to be the most able-bodied among them, stood supported on two crutches despite seemingly whole and unharmed. The last and the worst off was a man with bandages around his eyes and a missing arm. The way his head was tilted, Sora could immediately tell he had an issue hearing in one ear. She had witnessed this same phenomenon in her home village after an accident with a rock hit one of the children so hard it knocked his eardrum. Each of them lay dirty and near emaciated, their hair falling out and their skin covered in lesions and bruises. It was like a trio of corpses rotting before her eyes. The man with a missing leg ushered her over.

“Greetings, miss. Care to donate to us veterans?” he asked “We fought for you.”

Sora looked upon the sight with a deep sadness. What were these men who had quite literally risked life and limb to defend the empire doing in the street like common beggars?

“Of course.” she said, handing them twenty-one Yukimin

“We appreciate your kindness so deeply, miss.”

She gave an awkward look at them, wanting to ask a million questions but not knowing where to begin, or even if she should.

“My name is Sora. Private Tokino Sora. I’m currently enlisted… if you don’t mind me asking… why are you all out here?”

“Because it’s a right scam! A scam!” the man with crutches howled wildly as though possessed by some foul demon

“U-uh don’t mind him. He’s uh… he’s not quite right in the head since the war... Shell shock, they call it. Sometimes it drives men crazy… but we’re here because they didn’t have any jobs for us once we were discharged… I mean who wants a man with only one good leg right?”

“Drives men crazy? How? I know there’s artillery and all but…”

“IT’S A SCAM! IT’S ALL A SCAM!” he howled and raged, flailing his arms about until he fell off his crutches and slammed to the ground. He landed with a hard THUMP yet seemed completely unaffected by the sudden impact, looking almost confused as he twisted around on the ground like a earthworm

“Quiet down now!” the one-legged man scolded him “Anyway… they say the impact of the shells rattles your brain sometimes… breaks it. Kind of like how you can pop an eardrum or have a punctured lung, I guess. Truth is I don’t think anyone really understands it yet. Some men just come back… wrong in the head.”

Sora lifted her head up, seeing a stone statue dedicated to General Ouro Kronii. She was one of the nation’s best military minds and had won several decisive battles that seemed to have been impossible to turn around. Yet, here she was, looking down on three broken men with her cold stone eyes and sword raised as if to cast judgment on them for their failures. Where was the justice in this?

“Take care of yourself now, you hear?” he asked her “And get yourself out of the military as soon as you can. I know it sounds cool and adventurous but… it’s bad over there. Worse than hell.”

Sora returned from the grocer still shaken by what she had seen. What would it have been like if IRyS had returned alive but driven crazy by shell shock? How would AZKi cope with such a thing? She put the bags down and found AZKi’s father with a grim look on his face as he stared out of the kitchen window. Despite the ample noise she had made upon her entry, it was like he was deaf to her approach. He turned around, startled.

“Oh! Goodness!” he said, clutching his chest in shock “You mustn’t sneak on me like that, young lady.”

“O-oh! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean too.”

“Don’t worry. It’s fine. Thank you for doing my shopping, by the way.”

“It was my pleasure. How’s AZKi?”

He let out a heavy sigh, the sigh of a father and of a husband who held the weight of the world across his whole back and had been doing so for some time.

“She’s recovering. I know I said it already, but I appreciate you accompanying my daughter. She speaks well of you. Says you’re a trusted teammate and a good friend. If ever you find yourself in Holoro in the future and need a warm bed, please don’t hesitate to drop in.”

“Thank you. You really are too kind.”

The two stood quiet for a while, the only sound being the slight tick-tock of the clock on the wall.

“If you’ll excuse me, I must get some work done. If wish to see AZKi, she’s in her room. Top floor, second door to your right. Do be sure to knock as well.”

“Thank you.”

He gave her a pained, forced smile and went into the study that lay just beyond the living room. Sora took her expensive wine and walked up the steps to AZKi’s room, giving it a light knock.

“Come in…” a weepy voice said

Sora peaked through the door and frowned at the sight. AZKi lay with her face against a tear-soaked pillow.

“Is this a bad time?” she asked gently  “I can wait in the living room if you need space.”

“No…” she sniffled “I could use some company right now.”

Sora smiled.

“One moment, AZKi. I’ll be right back.”

She put the wine bottle right beside the door and went back downstairs to retrieve two glasses. Picking the wine bottle up again, she cast open the door to see AZKi’s room in its full glory. It was surprisingly feminine: pink walls with two stuffed animals on a hand-knit comforter that sat on a rocking chair. Beside the small window stood a light wooden dresser with a small mirror sat atop it. By her bedside table lay an overturned photo of IRyS and AZKi hugging one another along with loose makeup supplies. The room was rather cramped but it almost added to the comfort. Sora sat next to the bed and lifted the wine bottle up as she put both glasses down.

“How about we drink?”

AZKi smiled.

“Sure. Let’s do that.” she sniffled again “Don’t take this the wrong way but… I love you, Sora.”

Sora dawned a hurt expression again. She couldn’t help but wonder if this was yet again another insinuation to her romantic persuasion.

“I didn’t mean it that way…” she said, putting her face against her hand “Just… never mind. Pop it open.”

“Right away.” she said with a smile

“Do you know how to do it?”

Sora began trying to pull out the cork with all her might to no avail. Even with her newfound muscle, it was as though the thing were glued in place. AZKi chuckled.

“Here. There’s a much easier way to do it.”

She rifled through her bedside table’s drawer and pulled out an ornamental knife then took the bottle in her hand, putting the cork end directly away from her.

“Ready?” she asked “Watch this.”

 She quickly ran the knife across the neck of the bottle a few times until finally the cork popped loose, slamming into the wall like a bullet and the built-up pressure sent bubbles out all over her hands. Sora clapped in amusement.

“That was great!”

“It’s something my dad taught me. He loves his fancy wines. I bet he was so jealous you got this. He’d kill for a sip.” she chuckled

AZKi poured each of them a glass and she raised hers up.

“Cheers to IRyS.”

Sora held hers up, clinking it against the rim of her comrade’s glass.

“Cheers to IRyS.”

They both knocked it back and Sora let out a “bleh” once she swallowed it.

“Do they not drink alcohol where you’re from?”

“They do, but it’s restricted for the men and only during celebrations. You should see what it’s like when they all get drunk… it’s truly something else.” she said, taking another sip “Doesn’t stop us women from sneaking some glasses though. Usually no one minds unless you get super drunk.”

AZKi rolled her eyes.

“Your village seems to have a very low opinion of women, Sora.” she said, taking another drink

“No, they don’t. But let’s not focus on that. Let’s drink. No more sad stuff, ok?”

“You’re right, you’re right. We did this to talk the edge off, not sulk or argue.”

The two began to drink, quickly becoming rather tipsy. The bottle didn’t reach even halfway empty before the two began slurring their words.

“I… I need to go take a huge piss…” AZKi said

She didn’t move, instead staying seated as her head lightly drifted from side to side.

“Then… then go piss!” she giggled “Or are you going to wet the bed, you freak?”

“No! You… you shut up, ok? I’m not three.”

AZKi stumbled out of bed, landing flat on her shoulder.

“God damn the fuckin room is spinning…” she said, rubbing her head

“Y… you know what… what helps with that? I have an… ancient remedy from my village… you can’t tell anyone though, ok?”

“Ok… I’ll… I’ll not tell anyone ever, not even mom…”

Sora got a big, mischievous smile on her face.

“It’s called… called…” Sora could barely contain her laughter “sh-shutting the fuck up you dumb cow!”

Sora erupted into laughter and AZKi lazily punched her leg.

“You big bully.” she said, pulling herself to her feet “I’m… I’m gonna tell on you… s-swear to god… and Noel is gonna beat your ass so hard…”

“I’ll beat you ass first…”

“Yeah, you would, huh, faggot?”

“I told you, I’m not a gay girl…”

“Yeah, well you’re still a huge bully… hold on I’m going to piss…” she said, walking to the door “Don… ‘t touch anything in here while I’m gone or I swear to god, Sora… I’ll kick your ass, you don’t e… even know…”

AZKi departed for the bathroom, leaving Sora on the floor as her stomach twisted and turned. She waited only to find her comrade had not returned. Five minutes, ten? It was hard to tell. She pulled herself back to her feet and began to walk downstairs.

“AZKi you dumb bitch… where’d you go? We’re supposed to be drinking.”

She listened closely only to hear the sound of someone vomiting rather forcefully. She quickly burst into the bathroom to see AZKi with her head above the toilet.

“I… I thought you said you were gonna take a piss!” she said with genuine shock “Are you lying to your best friend now?”

“I didn’t lie, homo.” she shot back, immediately puking again

She got up, wiping the excess vomit away with her sleeve, and dizzily sauntered to the door.

“Let’s… let’s go outside, it’s nice and cool out.”

“After you, lady~”

She looked genuinely insulted by the remark.

“Lady? I ain’t no lady, Sora.”

“Bet you are, lady.”

“Shut up… man you really are a bully, aren’t you?”

They walked outside, taking a hard left, and clumsily made their way to a large open field before sitting down. Night began to fall over the world and the stars showed themselves for yet another dazzling show.

“It’s… it’s so beautiful out here.” Sora said in awe

“It is…”

They sat there quietly for a while.

“So… so… so… so, Sora… what does your… stupid nonsense religion say about death?”

“It’s not nonsense. And it says we all go back to the father… we go to his side and be happy.”

“That sounds… nice…” she said with a sigh “You think IRyS would have made it there?”

“Of course.”

AZKi went quiet, biting her lip.

“She’s… she’s really gone. My sister… she’s…”

Sora looked down sadly and put her hand on her shoulder.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s ok… just…” she sniffled “I hope she’s happy. Wherever she is. I hope she’s happy...”

“I hope so too, AZKi.” she replied “I hope so too.”