AND THIS LADY IS...?

"Ikazuchi Raijin"

The sudden call made the young man startled from his sleep. Laying down on the cold stone bench of his prison, he immediately straightened himself to the officers outside the room. He kept his head lowered to the ground as they opened the steeled door.

"An order from the council said that you'll be participating in the assembly"

Assembly?. There was no time to ask them a question. The two soldiers had immediately held him in both arms as the cuffs had once again occupied his wrists. He stepped out of the room and the two sides of the hall were filled with rows of metal bars and steeled doors.

Raijin had no idea if every room had a prisoner inside and the idea of him being the only one locked in there had sent chills. He glances at the man in front of him and the one behind, they wore an all-white uniform similar to the one he had seen weeks ago.

It took them a minute to finally pass the rows of confinement rooms and finally reach the metal bars that lead to another corridor. The soldier in front opened the entrance as rows of prison cells with bars rather than steel doors were seen. Some prisoners gave him a gaze, which made Raijin remain his eyes on the ground.

Male prisoners stood inside the jail while the female inmates were separated in another hall. Some detainee from the cells they were passing by was lying on the cold ground, their body was filled with bruises and wounds and their eyes crept in a dead silence of being lost. It struck the young man, those people had reached for freedom in the longest time than he was confined and he had wished that someday they would be able to grasp it.

When they had reached the final cell on the corridors, they took the stairs and he was met by several soldiers pacing in the entry area. There were people seated at each counter, they were facing a pile of papers writing and stamping on them. Enormous glass windows were placed near each corner of the building and Raijin stared outside. But it was not the towering structures of Riagi and the busy street of the mainland that caught his eye, it was the reflection of himself.

His hair had grown quite long that it almost reached below his nape, each strand was tangled and dry—for the soldiers had given him food and clothes to wear but not a comb nor even a shampoo. Maybe they thought that 'ah water and soap go brrr'. Several unkempt strands were falling on his face down to his nose. He couldn't tell if he should smile to check his teeth because as if the person in his eyes were not him at all.

Raijin had never once put an utter effort into his appearance. But his grandfather had properly taught him hygiene. He had also remembered that Hideo had once told him that he would be a perfect housekeeper for the nobles on the mainland. Since general cleaning on their entire backyard is every day for him.

It was during these times that he had forgotten about caring for little things just like himself. Wait, that was quite incorrect—did our young man really care about his being? or was he too caught up with matters that he had forgotten he would present himself to the Council and the Generals looking like an absolute... shi-

The two soldiers with him nodded at their colleagues and they led him outside. When they had reached the exit towards the building, his eyes stared in awe looking at the view. The wind greeted him, it brushed on his skin that he had almost forgotten the fresh air felt that good until now. He had once again seen the civilians working on their own and soldiers patrolling everywhere, kids playing on the sidewalks while some people had pursued fixing the casualties on the structures.

Two months had passed since his confinement and he had missed the sight of the land. His eyes searched around as they continued to walk. Repairing and renovations on Riagi continued and Raijin could hear the shouts and orders of an engineer not far from where they were. The lively city had brought a smile to him, but the gasps and gossips of some people every time they passed by made him lower his head once again to avoid their judging gazes.

"We're here," Said the soldier behind him.

They stopped at a facility similar to the ones they had entered at the selection. Numerous people were inside wearing a firm and solid posture. Raijin and his accompany entered inside, turning to the right part of the first floor. They came across a hallway and later on stood on their feet in front of large double doors.

He had no idea what was waiting on the other side for him. Nervousness started to crawl on him as the officers pushed the door.

The light inside had almost blinded him, he adjusted his sight and his eyes searched all over the room. Two semicircular conference tables were in the middle, one was higher than the second as if resembling a two-step stair. The windows after each pillar on the walls were covered in curtains and the ceilings held a beautiful chandelier lighting the whole place. There is also a mosaic of different events and figures on the ceiling's vault.

But what left him shocked was that Mitsuka and Hiro were at the center of the U-shaped conference table. His eyes widened. They were standing on a podium looking at the Generals who were at the lower table.

"We have brought Ikazuchi Raijin," The soldier said beside him.

Everyone's attention had turned to him. Mitsuka and Hiro's eyes met his and the latter gave him a small smile.

At the moment, he was quite embarrassed about how he looked, each person inside had worn their presentable attires and there he was standing like a desert cactus over bushes of expensive roses. He could feel the room's building tension when his eyes glanced at the Generals sitting and on the unfamiliar faces on the higher conference table—several of them were elders that stared at him with piercing gazes.

One of the soldiers had guided him to stand before a podium between his two friends. After it, the officers who had brought him had made a salute eventually leaving the room. He strengthened himself, trying to look presentable as he can but his hands were still chained.

"Rai," Hiro whispered.

"Hiro" He called back, to which the Kazahana heir responded with a smile. "Why am I here?"

"We also don't have an idea. But rest assured, we are told to come here because this is the final part of the selection"

"What?" He was perplexed that he did not realize his voice had made an echo around the room.

"You two keep quiet, they're staring at us," Mitsuka said. Her focus was on the Generals, searching for someone.

One of the elder members of the council cleared his throat, his hands holding a scroll. "Let's begin the assembly. Hitomi Mitsuka, Kazahana Fujihiro, and Ikazuchi Raijin. You three served an important role in the battle to protect the land. With the decision of the council and higher nobles: the Kamiyama clan, Noguchi clan, and Hiraoka clan had concluded that you three had passed the selection. And in this ceremony, you'll be joining a General's division—if one of them had chosen you. However," The old man cleared his throat and took a glance at him. "Ikazuchi Raijin had committed a crime against the law and his punishment would be manifested by the decision of the Generals."

Silence followed. The three of them glanced at each other not even the slightest joy was seen in their expressions. Raijin had known that none of the Generals would save and stand to him right now. General Yozou was not present because he's still recovering. If only he had been here, he would be the one to issue a disagreement on the council.

One of the Generals raised a hand and everyone turned their heads toward her. "I account for Hitomi Mitsuka in the Kazahana division," She said.

Hiro on the other hand was expecting something like this but he still can't help but feel a slight ache. His sister had chosen someone worthy of being able to fight beside her and that was not him. He smiled at both of his friends when they glanced at him in disbelief. For there was nothing but a solemn look to his sister even if their eyes had met when she uttered those words. Though, he's used to that kind of treatment from her.

"Half co-," Mitsuka said.

"I'm happy for you" And that was the truth. Even if Hiro had realized that he is not capable of being acknowledged by the 4th General, he's not the kind to trample on someone else's success just because of his wants.

"Kazahana Fujihiro" The sudden call made Hiro push his thoughts to the back of his mind, as he wondered where the voice had come from. "Will be a member of our division"

Hiro didn't know what to feel at the moment—disappointed in himself because his hard work was not worthy of his sister's acknowledgment or feel the urge of excitement since one of the upper generals had chosen him and it was the 2nd General Akaru Hiraoka. He was baffled as the 2nd General had given him a nod.

No one had felt the tension between the two Generals in the room—Fuyumi glanced at Akaru for what he had just done as the latter had ignored her. And the only one left was Raijin, not a single soul had decided to speak in regards to him. And he's not expecting that he would be chosen by one of the Generals.

Hermes averted his eyes from him when it had met his as if telling him that if he would join their division, he needed to memorize volumes of encyclopedias and pass research containing different findings on the land. While Lucien and Fuyumi had given him a look of grievance.

There was nothing but quiet that seemed to not let itself be broken until it lasted for thirty minutes. And the man of the council had decided to speak. "We would now commence the decision of punishment for Ikazuchi Raijin" The old man stood in his seat.

"I issue an execution at this very moment" Lucien suddenly uttered. The urge of violence had taken over the 5th General when he had swiftly charged in front of Raijin. His dangerous strings that could cut someone into pieces lingered around the young man. Mitsuka and Hiro were also startled by the action that they had reached for Raijin as the deadly strings had begun to close fast to him.

"General Voigt!" Shouted Akaru. Before he could move to stop the General, there was a thump at the door as their eyes didn't have the time to figure out who it was because of how fast the movement is.

A rapid slash of a blade had caused the 5th General's string threads to break, falling onto the ground. Everyone stood in shock staring at who did it.

"Lay a finger to him and I won't hesitate to kill you"

The familiarity of her dark hair and firm posture as the scabbard of a sword rested on her side made Raijin recollect the events when he had been worn out after fighting Kato. It was the same General who had saved him. And right now, she was standing in front of him again.

General Lucien Voigt wiped the blood flowing from the small cut on his cheeks. He's been wounded by the lady's blade and the moment he realized it, his threads were already lying on the floor.

The council was left in gasps and the elder's voice who did all the talking and announcement thundered across the room. "General Noguchi, what's the meaning of this!?"

Turning her head towards the old man, Seratsuki spoke: "I'll take this boy"

Raijin was growing more clueless. And everyone around becomes more surprised than they already were. Even Mitsuka and Hiro stared at Raijin in shock while the young man couldn't process everything that's been going on.

"Take him? This is no time for jokes, General Noguchi. You know too well that a criminal like him would stain the name of your clan" Said General Kazahana.

"I don't care about that. '' With Seratsuki's careless response, the council had protested again.

"We can't let a General from the Noguchi clan take someone-"

"I said I don't care about that. My clan has nothing to do with this. If you're planning to tell this to my father, then do it"

There was immense pressure in the room, everyone had begun speaking their complaints about the 3rd General's decision.

"If that's what you want then his crimes would be accounted to the Noguchi!" Said one of the members of the council.

"And why would we take something that hasn't been done in the first place?" The 3rd General said.

"You can't decide this on your own, General Noguchi. All of us Generals shall be the one to decide what we will do to him" Inquired Lucien.

Raijin felt the glance of the 3rd General who was beside him. He's still puzzled as to why she had decided on having him in her division. In all honesty, he was intimidated by her presence.

"Ah. If you still have complaints then shall we settle it with my blade?" Seratsuki swung her sword once and that made the 2nd General rush to her side.

"Sera," Akaru spoke. "Are you sure about this?"

Raijin's eyes went from Akaru to Seratsuki and everyone back again. The 3rd General looked at the man beside her. She let out a heavy breath, sheathing her sword. "I am brother"

Akaru replied to her with a small smile. "As a higher noble and head of the Hiraoka clan, I support General Noguchi's decision," He said.

The old man from the council brought his hands to the table. "A punishment is a must to that kid!" The other eight members with him screamed in agreement.

Seratsuki said, "Joining my division is worse than a punishment"

"I strongly concur with General Noguchi's decision," Hermes said, letting out a faint chuckle at what the 3rd General had said.

"I also do" Nova followed, glancing at Raijin in relief because he was alright after what had happened.

Lucien and Fuyumi didn't speak. As they couldn't bring themselves but to feel a small resentment towards the boy.

The murmuring of the council members continued inside the room. Their gazes landed on Raijin and on General Noguchi who stood beside him. The old man sitting in the middle of the higher conference table let out a deep breath. "As per the majority of the Generals' decision..." He hesitated. "Ikazuchi Raijin shall work under the Noguchi division"

Council members protested in defeat. There was nothing their leader could do since the name of the higher nobles had been brought up—that was the limitation on their ruling, the higher nobles held power and authority more than them. And the four out of the six present Generals had agreed with the decision.

"We will still look through his actions and his crimes will not be overlooked. One mistake, and you shall go back to prison. That is all, the meeting is adjourned." With frustrated looks on their faces, the council had immediately dismissed themselves from the room and it had created another silence between the Generals.

Raijin wanted to speak about the matter and question everything that was happening as he was still standing puzzled. Yet, he can't mutter a single word to them. The tension and nervousness he was feeling were overtaking him. It was like a sudden outburst of a dream that his only reaction was to get surprised and confused.

As if time had slowed, he struggled to replay the mixture of events in his mind. He had thought that execution as a punishment for his actions would be put upon him. But this is far from what he had imagined—a General unknown to him had made her way to save him.

He waited for minutes and none of the Generals had said a word to each other. Their expressions hold a sense of authority and honor that he, Hiro, and Mitsuka could also feel the pressure weighing inside the room.

"We shall be on our way then," Hermes said.

Raijin turned his head towards the General who spoke, his hair was gray as if an old man's but his face tells otherwise, he looked tired, sleepy, and bored. Raijin couldn't make it out. The General's uniform was also gray and streaked with white. Hermes waved his hand at him and he was startled that he wasn't able to respond. While the woman in a green uniform glanced in his direction, following Hermes.

Raijin heard Mitsuka's several deep breaths and he looked to check at her. But he noticed how stiff her shoulders were and her gazes were occasionally taking a glance at the lady in front of them—which is, you know who.

Mitsuka had lied to herself if she didn't admit that she felt jealousy towards Raijin who had been chosen by Seratsuki. And yet along with that, she wasn't expecting the 4th General to take an interest in her.

"Kazahana Fujihiro, you'll be meeting our division tomorrow," Akaru said.

Hiro gave a short glance to both of his friends as Mitsuka had to return it. And Raijin, who was still in the depths of confusion, didn't notice it.

"Yes sir," said Hiro.

"Hitomi"

"Y-yes ma'am!" stuttering her words, Mitsuka felt the thumping on her chest in nervousness.

"One of my soldiers would provide you with the location of our camp. In the meantime, pack your things and be prepared" Fuyumi said, turning her back towards them. She and Lucien had reached for the exit.

When the two upper Generals were the only ones left, they had also moved their way outside—leaving the three youngsters who stood frozen in disbelief.

"Rai! Isn't that good? We can now work together again" Said Hiro, patting his back.

He nodded in agreement as a smile slowly formed on his lips. Raijin was about to say a response or even scream in delight because he would be able to pursue his goal, but the tick of something interrupted him. It came to be from the chains between his hands and it had fallen on the ground.

He stretched his hands because of the strain from the cuffs. The freedom that he had not thought to be granted to him was now in his hands. His expressions lit up, facing Hiro and Mitsuka but a sudden urge of realization had hit him.

"That's right. I need to..." running his way outside of the conference room, he dashed towards the hallways of the building—leaving Mitsuka and Hiro puzzled.

His eyes searched for the 3rd General around, turning to every corner that he spots. Sweat was starting to drip off his face as his breaths had become heavier.

"There she is!" he exclaimed. The people inside were startled by the young man's rush that some of them had shouted at him to not run through the corridors while Raijin had uttered his apologies.

He had almost dropped to his knees, stopping abruptly. "General Noguchi!" he shouted.

Seratsuki and Akaru turned their heads towards him. The young man was still breathing heavily, yet he managed to stand properly in front of them. Both of the Generals faced him.

Raijin was about to say something when his eyes stared in astonishment when he saw clearly what the 3rd General looked like.

He didn't notice how beautiful she was back then because his mind was filled with questions. The bits of embarrassment were starting to fill him when Seratsuki looked at him straight in the eyes, waiting for him to say something.

At the moment, he knew that his reaction was the same as how Mitsuka would get flushed. "I..." he started, "T-thank you! General Noguchi!" he managed.

Not averting her eyes from the boy, she replied. "Meet me in front of the main headquarters, tomorrow at six" having said that, Akaru and Seratsuki turned their backs and continued to walk ahead.