“To repay for your efforts. Knowing that you don’t wish to be burdened, may I offer you a special position in my brigade as my advisor?”

“I’m sorry Major. I can’t take that role.”

Rize refused at once.

“How unfortunate. Is the responsibility too heavy still?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Preposterous! The major offered such a position, the least you could do is accept it you privileged w…

“Lieutenant Ku, shut it.”

Shen GohJi snapped at him.

“…”

“Ms. Tatsuki, why is it that you deny my offer?”

“Frankly, I want nothing to do with the military when I’m on break. Of course, that isn’t to say I wouldn’t help should any emergency situation befall New Hangul. Since both TaeHyun-kun and Nana-chan are under my care, you can at least count on me to act within that criteria.”

“That’s no more than the responsibility I seek as my advisor. I see no reason why it would burden you if that’s what the role requires…”

“You know, I have never once held any official positions in First Sergeant Hai Aki’s squad. Six years of service later, I don’t see a need to change that.”

Six years… which meant the Black Siren had been part of the military since she was six years old. The cold harsh fact made for no further arguments.

It was clear to everyone here that this girl had no desire for status, wealth or power. Without any need for those external proofs, her existence alone was the epitome of them all. A true maverick.

“I see…”

“Of course, I’m really glad you offered me that title. But how about we just be friends? Let me know anytime you need help. But within limits, cuz I’m retired, got that?”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Well, sorry for holding you up. Here’s the complimentary dessert we made especially today. Ta-da!”

On cue, DaHong brought the tray of ice cream souffle over. Together the waiters arranged the special ramekins on the table.

“You needn’t have.”

Shen GohJi shook her head delightfully.

◜\⌝▫◆▫.

The storm hath passed. Them officers that barged into the restaurant without making any prior bookings left. Rize groaned.

“S-Sorry. We had no idea.”

Kazuo Nana kept bowing in apology.

“I swear the major said she only wanted to try the food here.”

TaeHyun said, biting his teeth.

“Yeah, well, that major has a couple screws loose in her head. Can’t help it.”

Rize muttered.

“That… uh…”

“…”

To the two young cadets, Rize’s statement was to be reprimanded but… the major herself held her in high regard so… was it appropriate to retort here?

“Anyways, welcome back you two. How long of a break did the major give you?”

“She said two days?”

“Two days, the major said.”

“Two days? What an oddly random number.”

“It’s considered special leave so we can visit the cemetery. It’s not deducted from our applied leaves.”

“Wha? So cadets have applied leaves now?”

Rize thought that the major’s way of handling things was seriously corporate.

“Putting that aside… did anyone see Eun-chan?”

“Eun-chan?”

“Oh, she was frightened by the major, so I told her to rest.”

YiChen pointed out.

“You help hold the fort here in the restaurant. I need to see her. Thanks a bunch!”

“Sure thing boss!”

““???””

Seeing Rize rush off, TaeHyun and Nana could only look at each other puzzled.

“What are you two standing here for? You’re disturbing the customers.”

YiChen reminded with a cough.

“Ah, okay.”

“I suppose we should take a bath…”

“Right. A nice long bath.”

Following after Rize, the two cadets entered the residential building in a daze.

-☆▫.-▫.｡.:* ▫⌎.☆\*: .｡ ▫.-

“That accursed woman who killed my son and daughter.”

Rize wondered what Major Shen meant by that.

Was it a grudge that came from EunHa’s survival? Times where she survived when she may have very well died alongside the others? Rize wanted to know the details… no.

She didn’t need the details.

What she needed to know was how EunHa was feeling. For a girl with such a frail mental state, to hear something so harsh would’ve without a doubt hurt her psyche.

“Eun-chan.”

Rize called out to her, the girl with auburn hair, and a pair of glasses drooping off her nose. She was seated on the ground with her head hung low, her breathing shaky. It was senseless to ask if she was alright.

She clearly wasn’t.

Rize took a seat beside her.

“Did it hurt when she said that?”

“…Yes.”

“Are you recalling painful memories?”

“…Ye…s.”

“Do you… want to talk about it?”

“…”

EunHa moved slightly. Taking off her glasses, she buried her head into her knees.

“…She’s right…”

In a raspy, airy voice she confessed.

“I killed them.”

“Sergeant Wang KeZhi and,”

“…Ayumi.”

Major Shen GohJi’s only son and daughter died because she couldn’t protect them. Because of her curse.

◜\⌝▫◆▫.

“Rize-sama is always taking care of new people, don’t you think?”

Kazuo Nana remarked as she munched on dried seaweed sheets.

“Yeah. And the new girl especially. I wonder how they met.”

TaeHyun held his chin with this lingering thought. Both of them were lazing around the living room.

Swoosh~

A shadow flew over.

Snap! Snap!

“Yo, yo! Our best turtle come here!”

“Cinnamon! Long time no see!”

Snap. Snap.

The sky turtle nuzzled its snout against Nana and TaeHyun’s body in turn before finally settling on top of TaeHyun’s hair. He stroked Cinnamon’s head with his finger.

“You’re still the same size after so long?”

Snap. Snap.

“Weird isn’t it? Cinnamon grew so fast the first year, but after that, he just stopped. I wonder if there’s a reason for that—want some seaweed?”

Snap. Snap.

“Have you seen Akane-san anywhere Nana-chan?”

“Akane-san? I heard that she left for her laboratory.”

“Then I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to see what new stuff she has in her lab. The special PP-grenades she gave, have you tried it?”

TaeHyun got up from the sofa and stretched.

“I didn’t get the chance to.”

Following that, Nana got up and walked behind him.

“Those things are nasty. The PP-grenades, I threw one and the demonica in the effective range went into convulsions.”

“So the permanent paralysis function works?”

“Yes and no. The octopus demonica we met didn’t fall to the ground. More like its body stopped listening to itself, so it flew around crazily. That could be dangerous if it’s any fast-moving demonica. There were also the normal shrimps nearby which were affected. They went especially crazy.”

“You should tell Akane-san about it when you meet her next time. I’m still trying to find an opportunity to use them.”

Snap. Snap.

“And yeah… those things better stay far away from Cinnamon. Can’t imagine what would happen if he was hit.”

The two came before Akane’s room.

“Um, are you sure it’s alright to enter someone’s room without permission?”

“She made a secret bedroom in her basement, didn’t she? Then the room she usually uses would’ve become any common room.”

“That… but…”

“I wonder if this mad scientist is ever afraid someone might steal something, always leaving her room doors open.”

Nana couldn’t persuade TaeHyun otherwise. It was a habit of his to check on Akane’s latest project to kill time. It just so happened that Akane was out today.

TaeHyun and Nana walked right in and…

“D-Demonica!”

Nana yelped.

“It’s koi… when the fuck did she build a tank like this?”

TaeHyun leaned in and studied the Crazy Koi. Blackish scales and spiky fins. Sitting right next to the demonica tank was a tank of normal, healthy koi.

“I wonder what she’s up to this time. She even brought the Variable EMP-wave Diminutive Wavestack Delineator.”

“The what?”

“It’s on the label here.”

“Eh… the name’s too long.”

“Let’s see what she’s been up to.”

TaeHyun dug through the paper waste basket, unfolding one of the papers.

“A graph of bioprana it says here… hm? It also says… EiYun-san?”

“EiYun-san? Where?”

“This scribble chart here.”

“What is this?”

“I don’t know… some bioprana wave signal?”

A comparison between marine life and EiYun’s bioprana. And on the bottom right, a question mark which writes ‘demonica’s bioprana EMPG(?)’.

TaeHyun and Nana looked at each other.

““What?””

.- ▫☆\*: .｡ _ ▫.｡.:*☆▫.-⌎

“Eun-chan, meet TaeHyun and Kazuo Nana. TaeHyun-kun, Nana-chan, meet Tatsuki EiYun.”

Rize and EunHa sat on one side of the sofa.

TaeHyun and Nana sat on the other.

“Nice to meet you—”

Kazuo Nana bowed respectfully.

“Likewise… nice to meet you two.”

EiYun said timidly.

“Tatsuki? She’s a Tatsuki?”

TaeHyun however, couldn’t get rid of this unsettling feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“Yup. I decided to adopt her.”

“Rize-sama you what…?”

“Ha?”

TaeHyun and Nana both fell confused.

“A-Adopt? Her? Wha…”

“Who is she exactly?”

Who is she? And why was she the subject of Akane’s experiment?

“She’s someone that needs special care. That’s all I’d say.”

“Special care?”

“An orphan then?”

“You could say more or less.”

Rize neither denied nor agreed.

“Anything you want to say to them, Eun-chan?”

“Um… no?”

EunHa glanced at the two young cadets now in comfortable clothes. These were the fledgling Rize wanted to meet last time, but they weren’t in the barracks.

Kazuo Nana. Grey-purple hair weaved in a half ponytail, and crystal red eyes.

And TaeHyun. Curly brown hair, and sharp olive eyes.

“Then I have something to ask… if that’s alright, EiYun-san?”

Nana raised her hand.

“What is it?”

“How did you meet Rize-sama?”

“…”

“At a back alley somewhere in Fort City I’d say… of course, that’s a lie.”

Rize followed up on EunHa’s silence with a jest.

“So it’s a secret.”

“Yup. Just like with many things.”

A secret. Which meant it wasn’t okay to talk about why EiYun was an experimental subject.

“Then it can’t be helped.”

TaeHyun crossed his arms and leaned back against the sofa. His studying eyes fixated on EunHa, this girl who…

“What are your hobbies EiYun-san?”

Nana asked.

“I don’t have any hobbies?”

“Then, what did you do before this?”

“Uh… working?”

“What kind of work?”

“…”

“…”

Conversations with her were hit or miss it seems.

“Well, because of her complicated background, let’s not talk about that shall we…?”

Rize said awkwardly.

“Right, then how about this.”

TaeHyun spoke.

“Nana-san and I plan to visit the monastery tomorrow to pay respects to the soldiers. Since it’s the whole reason the major gave us these two days off.”

“Are you planning to come? Or do you have other plans scheduled…”

Nana and TaeHyun looked at her with pleading eyes. Rize turned to EunHa.

“…”

She nudged her.

“You’re alright with tomorrow?”

“…Okay.”

“And there we have it. We’re visiting the cemetery tomorrow.”

◜\⌝▫◆▫.

BANG!

The bullet collided with the target.

“Looks like my aim is still good. Your turn Nana-chan.”

“Oh, uh.”

Nana received the gun from TaeHyun.

She held the trigger and aimed from the dot sight scope. The target was an ‘X’ mark drawn on the tree situated 20 metres away.

It was a makeshift training ground a few blocks away from the restaurant residence which Rize built for them before they were enrolled as a cadet.

Away and free of people, it was here that Rize taught them the basics of firearms and CQC.

Nana remembered how she and TaeHyun used to pass each other the gun, at this specific gun range to practise holding and aiming techniques.

BANG! Swish—!

The bullet flew past the mark and entered the forest. The gun that Nana and TaeHyun were holding was the P-SCAR with a silencer attached. An advanced prana-operated version of Earth’s FN SCAR.

“Missed…”

Nana sighed in disappointment.

“Can’t be helped.”

TaeHyun said. Nana turned towards him, noticing that he had his attention elsewhere—towards those two.

Rize and EiYun. They were fighting with soft wooden daggers.

“She’s from the military.”

TaeHyun muttered.

“But she’s so skilled though…”

Nana could barely keep up with their exchanges. Rize’s fluid movements which resembled that of a martial artist… against EiYun’s calculative manoeuvres that combined experience and mastery of details.

One punch blocked by a diversion of the upper arm. A swing dodged with a slide. A kick nullified with another.

Rize clearly had the upper hand against EiYun. But, it was also clear to them that EiYun who was struggling was no pushover either.

“How did she end up with Rize I wonder?”

“No idea.”

Like a jellyfish, EiYun’s beauty was deceiving.

“I suppose asking ourselves wouldn’t get us anywhere.”

TaeHyun took the gun from Nana and fired. Swish—

“A miss.”

He sighed.

“You know, I’ve been thinking.”

“Thinking about?”

“Why Rize-sama always attract the goodwill of others?”

Nana had known about this years ago when she first met Rize as an orphan. She had this charisma and magnetism to her that one just can’t explain in words. Her ability—luck to attract good things, and her carefree personality should’ve been at odds.

“You mean that girl EiYun?”

“I mean the offer major dropped on her yesterday. I’m so glad things didn’t go awry…”

Nana said with a wry smile.

“Yeah, that took me by surprise too. I’m glad Rize-sama didn’t get angry at us.”

Because unintentionally, they had brought trouble directly to the restaurant. Had Rize responded differently, the outcome would’ve been vastly different.

To deny a position so openly in front of so many high-ranking officers… was something no normal human could pull off. It required a diamond will and a courage of steel.

“Well, I think the major would’ve tolerated that much. Since she looked like she was in a good mood.”

“A good mood huh?”

TaeHyun pondered.

About Major Shen’s smile. It was the first time he saw that cold stern boss of his smile like that.

“The girl who killed her family died. I suppose she was glad they were avenged.”

“Mn…”

Nana nodded.

“But just who is she anyway? She sounds like a big deal, but it’s the first time I’ve read about her.”

“Let’s ask Rize-sama. She was there on the scene…”

“Ask me what?”

“Ah!”

Rize snuck up behind Nana.

“Don’t go off slacking when training. Do it seriously, seriously okay?”

“Sorry.”

Nana lowered her head.

“…”

“…”

Meanwhile, TaeHyun and EiYun stared at each other silently.

“You’re an ex-militia right?”

“Maybe…?”

EiYun’s answer made TaeHyun a little miffed. She should just say yes if he was right.

“Here.”

“…?”

“Take it.”

“Uh, no… I don’t think…”

Seeing as she was refusing, TaeHyun forced the gun upon her.

“The target is there. I want to see if you can snipe—”

The instant she came into contact with the metal body.

“!!!—”

All the memories…

“…the target…?”

“STOP! STOPPP ITT!!!”

Ayumi died.

“AAHHHH!! No…”

ALL BECAUSE OF YOU.

“W-Wha?!” “EiYun!?” “Eun-chan!”

“AAHHHHHH—!!!!”

Rize-chan quickly grabbed hold of her and forced the girl in hysteria to look at her.

“Look at me! Eun-chan, look at me!”

“SAVE THEM!! SAVE THEM PLEASE!!!”

It’s your fault.

“HELP THEM! Help… ”

“Eun-chan, they’re safe… they’re safe..”

Screaming. Out of reality. Unsound. Broken.

You should’ve just died.

Seeing the gun fallen by the side, this girl weeping in Rize’s arms… a kind of existence TaeHyun knew but had never seen…

“…”

The ones traumatised by war. This was the identity of the girl Tatsuki EiYun.

◜\⌝▫◆▫.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, I… should be the one to apologise…”

EiYun had recovered enough to speak normally.

It was morning when EiYun suffered a panic attack. Now came the evening, they were about to head out to visit the cemetery. TaeHyun couldn’t get rid of this feeling of guilt.

He shouldn’t have forced the gun upon her.

“Ah, enough with the apologies, everyone makes mistakes. Are you sure you want to join us today, Eun-chan? I could always bring you there some other day.”

Rize asked.

“No… I can’t run away from it.”

EiYun said, clenching her fists.

“Can’t run away from it huh? I suppose that makes sense.”

Run away from what? Had it to do with why she freaked out in the morning? TaeHyun was curious.

“Let’s go.”

With his words as the trigger, they left for the monastery.

-☆▫.-▫.｡.:* ▫⌎.☆\*: .｡ ▫.-

The monastery that takes care of the cemetery was busy. The main hall was packed with people, prayers and hymns echoed throughout.

“It’s not as busy as the ones I used to go to.”

“Really? Then I guess the scale is different. Here at New Hangul, congregational services are held the whole month, so people have some leeway with when they want to pay a visit. Many soldiers from the First Stratum take their leaves around this time.”

“I see…”

EunHa nodded to Rize’s explanation. No wonder there were so many military personnel here.

“Where off to first?”

“Well, Eun-chan here needs to visit a certain person. But with the graveyard so big, I don’t know if we’ll ever find it.”

“A certain person… what’s the name?”

“Ayumi. Wang Ayumi.”

“Wang Ayumi? Alright, got it.”

TaeHyun supposed that he shouldn’t question too much about their past.

“Um, a little suggestion, how about we buy flowers? They’re selling some there.”

Nana pointed out.

“What do you think, Eun-chan?”

“Ayumi had always liked beautiful things.”

“Then it’s a steal! Let’s go!”

◜\⌝▫◆▫.

How long had it been since they searched? Gravestone after gravestone. Nameplate after nameplate. With over a thousand… it would require a fortune of luck to locate the right one.

“Not here either…”

“Then let’s search up there.”

“But I’ve covered that spot already.”

“Really?”

They thought to split up initially. But upon further discussion, if they did that then everyone wouldn’t be able to find each other.

“Hey! It’s Monkey Face!”

Rize shouted.

The guy, Ng HouZi, turned around.

“What… you damned wretch…”

““Sergeant Ng!””

On the contrary, TaeHyun and Nana saluted him with a firm stance

“So, what brings you here?”

“Do I need to tell you something so obvious?”

“Nope.”

“That’s not funny.”

“Monkey Face, I have a question.”

“Um Rize-sama… I think it’s much better if you don’t call Sergeant Ng like that?”

“Do you know where Major’s late family’s tombstone is located?”

““Huh??””

Nana and TaeHyun creased their brows.

“And why in the hell do you need to know that?”

Sergeant Ng bent down, looking at Rize demeaningly with both hands on his waist.

“Because we have flowers to give them.”

“Eh…”

Rize pointed at EiYun who held the two bouquets of white lilies.

Never in their wildest dreams would they have guessed that the person EiYun was trying to find was to find Major Shen’s family grave.

“Tsk. You’re the worst.”

He scratched his head and then pointed off in the direction of the hill. There was no way he could deny someone from paying respect to his superior’s family.

“It’s somewhere there. Just don’t do anything stupid.”

“Thank you Sergeant!”

Rize said with a comical salute. It only served to infuriate him further.

In any case…

“But I was sure I checked this place? M-Maybe I overlooked it… I’m sorry.”

Nana apologised.

“It’s fine. As long as we find it—oh. Here.”

TaeHyun called.

“We’ve found it, Eun-chan.”

“…”

Before them the plaque of names carved in stone, and two of which were made clear. Wang KeZhi and… Wang Ayumi.

“So the major had two children… I didn’t know that.”

Nana muttered.

“Yeah…”

TaeHyun wasn’t sure how to feel about it.

Rize placed her hands on EunHa’s shoulders.

“You can finally tell them what you’ve always wanted to. Go on.”

EunHa tightened her grip on the flowers.

“Can… I ask that everyone leave…?”

“Huh?”

“I want to… do this alone.”

She said, a harrowing breath.

“…Please.”

.- ▫☆\*: .｡ _ ▫.｡.:*☆▫.-⌎

⁛ Origin Year 138, 23rd of Yǔ.

Ayumi. You know? The cemetery was a place built for the fallen soldiers. Each major city had one. And it just happened that New Hangul was the place where you were buried.

I never got the chance to visit you. I never thought you would end up one of them.

Because I was scared. Too scared to face you.

But… it wasn’t like I could keep hiding from you forever. I said before that people die every day, and that you weren’t suited as a soldier.

I promised that I would help you get out of the military… and help you achieve your dreams but… I couldn’t do it. I still regret it after so many years.

Yes, I know it’s stupid to dramatise this situation. To think that just because of you, I’m struggling.

Perhaps I need to be more like Hyeon-ssi.

To face it.

And feel it all.

Ayumi. I know it’s a day early but… I didn’t want to wait another day with this gnawing feeling. Humans… have emotions for a reason.

Because mom taught me that in a world where emotions are a burden to others… that same burden that tears us apart, is also the same burden that unites us all. There really is no such thing as being rational. It’s just a made-up scheme to glorify apathy and indifference.

Emotions…

A person like me, why did I ever think emotions were unnecessary? Having suppressed my emotions… just look at the broken state I’m in now?

Ayumi.

“I’m sorry.”

The wind blew as petals scattered. Grass blades formed waves on the sea-like meadow.

“But thank you.”

Sergeant Wang KeZhi. Cadet Wang Ayumi.

For this life. Sincerely…

What would you think of me if I told you I almost gave up on life? I’m sure you’d hate it. Right?

I arranged the bouquet of flowers before their grave. Stood up, and prayed.

Amidst the thousands of small graves erected upon this vast plateau, evening clouds painted the land red.

God. Bless their souls up in the heavens. And help me.

Grant me the courage… the will… to live a life worthy of their death. Worthy of everyone’s death.

Please… please.

I opened my eyes.

And bit my lips.

Cry.

I allow you to cry, EunHa.

If you have any tears left for them, let it all out here, before you move on.

Drip. Drip.

“I think I know now…”

Bringing my hands up to my eyes.

“…why people have to mourn.”

And wiped my tears.

“Alright.”

I slapped my cheeks twice, like a sandwich. My heart felt light now that I’ve said my prayers.

“I can do this.”

I dedicate my life to you Ayumi, and your brother Sergeant Wang KeZhi.

I will do my best not to disappoint. To live my life.

I turned around, planning to rejoin Rize-chan and the rest at the monastery.

“To think someone would mourn for my family.”

To the deep, solemn voice. I froze. Strands of hair the shade of midnight fluttered. I caught a glimpse of ominous purple.

“This is the first time anyone has sent flowers to them besides myself.”

Major Wang GohJi walked right past me and stood before the graves of her two children—leaving three purple roses. One for each of them. Was the third meant for her husband? I didn’t notice.

“KeZhi, Ayumi. That girl is finally dead.”

She knelt down and kissed the small tombstones one at a time.

“You may rest in peace now my poor children.”

Stroking the third, smaller gravestone situated behind the two in the front.

“And dear husband, don’t worry. The rest will follow soon.”

Those deserters. I will make sure they pay, every last one of them.

My breath choked in between my throat. She finally stood up after an eternity.

“Your prayers looked rather moving in my eyes.”

She said. I held my breath.

“Tell me.”

With a pressure that riveted me in place. Looking right at me.

“Who exactly are you?”