SERATSUKI NOGUCHI

Walking his way through the main headquarters, Raijin can't suppress his hands from shaking. His eyes surveyed through the towering structures of the mainland yet his mind had wandered on how he would present himself to the 3rd General. For, he wasn't used to anything like a formality. Talks to strangers had always been casual to him—even the time he had met Algard Yozou. And right now, he prepared himself to at least display a presentable look.

An inn that was owned by the Noguchi clan had sheltered him in the meantime. They offered him clothes, food, and a free haircut—to which he had been grateful. Though he had asked them to trim his hair just the way they had looked before, but the barber had made it a bit shorter that its crimson strands had not passed through his forehead. It was now standing on top of his head like tiny red spikes.

The innkeepers had even offered him piercings but he had refused to take them. And had only worn the beige shirt, and black pants and his old footwear that was worn out on the battle was now replaced by a pair of neat brown boots.

The chattering of the vendors and the patrolling of the soldiers filled each corner of Riagi. It astonished Raijin that the people of the mainland are also early risers. He passed through the crowds of people from the walkways quietly. After a mile of walking, he had finally arrived at the main headquarters. The tall building was filled with glass windows as soldiers lingered inside the facility. They had different businesses to attend and they wore different uniforms as an indication of what division they belong to. Their attire's palette matches their General's.

He had been on the mainland for more than four months. Yet, he had never seen a soldier that belonged to the General who had chosen him.

He walked beside the building's entrance and the 3rd General's words echoed in his thoughts. "Joining my division is worse than a punishment". The idea had made him tenser than he was. He was uneasy that his performance might only cause her to be disappointed.

His anxiousness had made him pace back and forth in front of the headquarters, thinking of the possible outcomes. He had worried that he might make his first impression of himself unpleasant.

Stopping abruptly to his feet, his eyes roam around.

It's been almost two hours past six o'clock when he glanced at the clock inside the facility and the person he's been waiting for hasn't shown any signs yet.

Before arriving at the headquarters, he had met Hiro and Mitsuka along the way. They were already out with their respective troops. He didn't know if he was being tested or if this might be a setup for a greater cause. Whatever it was, he didn't want his nervousness to be prolonged.

"You're late, Ikamuzi Ranjun"

His soul had almost left his body when he heard the 3rd General's voice. Raijin immediately turned his head in her direction as she approached him.

'Weren't you the one who's late?' He thought to himself, along with the wonder who on earth is Ikamuzi Ranjun. Confused about what she said, he tried to compose himself in front of the General.

He was about to utter the practices he had made to introduce himself formally and pleasingly to her, yet his words didn't manage to come out when he heard her speak again.

"Have you eaten yet?"

"I did General," he said, not anticipating the question.

"Well, I didn't. So, let's eat"

"Huh?"

All of his efforts in staying late at night to create a good impression out of himself had suddenly vanished. The woman ignored his questioning look, turning her heels and walking ahead of him.

"W-wait General!" he exclaimed, following after her.

Until they had arrived at where they were going to, the General didn't speak at all and Raijin wanted to ask her tons of questions—yet he can't make himself to, he is intimidated by her silence and blank expressions.

Raijin doesn't have the slightest idea how to approach someone like her. As if she would be the kind who would only stare at him as a response to what he would utter. It was still a wonder why the woman chose him to be a member of her division. For as long as he knew, Generals from a respective family or clan needed to select a person who can carry the honor of their position and someone who wouldn't affect the reputation of their clan's name. Once a soldier has joined a division, they also carry their General's name. And almost every General had come from a prestigious bloodline.

Raijin was stunned for a moment when he saw the signage of the food shop they stopped at. 'Sweetie sweet and everything nice' was written on the board filled with shades of pink and white. There was a cupid with the head of a goat shooting arrows between the letters. While a mother cow and a green frog with a crown on his head were also seen kissing as they were 'accidentally' shot by the love arrow.

And he had dreamed at the moment that being granted with the ability to wash one's eyes and erase his memory of seeing the signage would be great. But Raijin stopped himself from recoiling on it, trying to remain composed behind the 3rd General who pushed the door open.

The bell on the door rang when they entered inside and to his surprise, they were the only customers. Which made him want to turn his back and escape. He didn't know what would happen to him inside the food shop with all the strange things on the signboard. And for everything's sake, give this boy some break.

"General Noguchi! We're glad you're back again!"

A plump woman in her thirties wearing a white apron walked in front of Seratsuki, holding both of her hands as she spoke her pleasantries. "Oh! So, this must be the boy you've chosen! How wonderful!"

Raijin was taken aback when she suddenly patted his back. He must admit that the pat was so hard that it might break his bones from the inside. Maybe if this lady had appeared during the invasion the battle would end in two chapters only.

"I'll have the usual. How about you?" said Seratsuki.

Baffled by what he had to say, it took him a couple of minutes before he could regain himself to answer. "The..." he hesitated as his gaze had immediately wandered to the menu above the counter. Its prices were surprisingly affordable.

Before he could take the words out of his mouth, the 3rd General spoke again.

"He said he'll have a chocolate fudge"

'But I didn't say anything yet...' Raijin said in the back of his mind. Disbelief about his impression of the General filled him. She was different at the time she had battled the god.

Following her, they sat on a pair of two chairs and a table facing each other. Raijin glanced at her, it made him wonder how she looks in portraying a different emotion aside from the straight and blank face she usually has.

"What is it?" Seratsuki said, sensing his gaze towards her.

"I-it's nothing General" he averted his eyes, focusing his attention on the window and watching people mind their own business. They continued restoring structures and he felt some guilt since he was one of the people who had blasted their powers to defeat the Nemiendlich and that had caused damages to property.

"Thank you for waiting! Here is your order!"

The lady who greeted them upon entering came back carrying a tray of sweets. Beside her was a young lady who appeared to be the same age as him. She also carried a tray, helping the woman to serve food on their table.

Raijin's face grew in surprise looking at the food on the table. He knew that he was about to be caught in something he didn't choose to do.

None of the ordered meals can be considered 'appropriate' for breakfast as they were sweets filled with nothing but the flavoring of strawberries aside from the three plates that were placed in front of him, the chocolate fudge.

"General are you going to eat all of that?" he asked, looking at the six plates containing a set of strawberry desserts: a strawberry shortcake, strawberry gelatin, a strawberry parfait, a strawberry pie, and everything that would have a name strawberry.

The 3rd General nodded to his question as she began to take a spoonful of the cake, not minding him who was speechless. Another spoonful filled her mouth, continuing what seemed like an onslaught on the desserts.

While Raijin didn't touch the chocolate fudge as he still doesn't know how to react to what was taking place at the moment.

"You want some?" Seratsuki asked. Her mouth was still full from the couple of desserts she's eating.

"I'm okay..." he replied, refusing to take a portion of the strawberry cake. "Can I ask something General Noguchi?" he started, managing to maintain his tone despite how his General acts.

Seratsuki glanced at him, permitting him to shoot his inquiry.

"Why did you choose me?" He saw her fight and wield her blade and it was executed skillfully. She was also a higher noble and an upper General. It is still a wonder to him why a General of her caliber had chosen him who's only a stranger to everyone on the land.

The 3rd General paused for a moment, sipping on the strawberry drink and facing him after. "I like red"

"Huh?"

Seratsuki's gaze landed on top of his head. She stared at the crimson locks of his hair that gave an uncanny match to her attire and the sheath of her sword. The uniform that she wears was filled with a scarlet shade lined by the small highlights of black and white. They draped like a cape on her, falling over past her knees with a slit in the front that shows the straps on her clothed thighs. And inside she wore maroon in white buttons that seemed to clad her fittingly.

She leaned her back towards the chair, not taking her eyes off the young man. "It's a good color. If you disagree, I'll kill you right here right now"

Raijin jumps to his feet, waving both of his hands in surrender. He returned her look as he gave out a sigh. "General, you can't just choose someone because of their hair color," he said, growing concerned about the woman's carefree choices.

The 3rd General averted her gaze to him, her eyes ventured outside the windows as if in contemplation of something. "I know the feeling of...losing control over your power. And so, I'll teach you everything that I know. For you to not regret something in the future" Her hand reached for the drink, still in deep thought while watching the people outside.

And now, Raijin's wonder of seeing her bear another expression had been granted sooner than he knew. "General," he started, trying to speak as softly as he could. But the lady had cut through his words.

"Let's go somewhere, Ikamuki Ramon-"

"Uhm...Ikazuchi Raijin, General" he hesitated, uneasy to interrupt the General's words.

Seratsuki gave out a deep breath, nodding to him. "I see, Reymond. You're now part of the Noguchi division. And I shall...never mind. Follow me"

Raijin let that slip off. For he knew that he was still a novice and maybe someday she'll learn how to say his name properly. Well, maybe.

Issuing her command, he stood beside her as the General took her sword that was leaning on the wall as they started to tread in their direction.

They entered the woods. It's where the people would have come from if they'd decided to visit the mainland. The forest is a path to travel from one land to another in Anshiantum along with the bodies of water that their ancestors had sailed. Though there are only two great islands in Anshiantum—one was secluded and one was owned by the higher noble Hiraoka clan.

Upon the foot of elevated land, they strode in peace and it reminded Raijin of the time he had met Kato and the 6th General. The same green trees and chirping of birds took him back on his journey going to the mainland.

Crackling of leaves sounded below their feet and between the gaps of the trees he could see the entirety of Riagi as if the city were sandcastles built on the hands of a giant. They continue to walk ahead. The image of Kato remains in his thoughts and it suddenly made him recall how he had taken his life and the words that would always randomly erupt his nights.

"Keep your word. And end this war" he remembered Kato's weakened voice. The way his body had not been able to withstand the charge he had received from him while his breathing had paced slow and stopped.

Kato's dead. But a piece of him says he's still alive—if it weren't for his eyes that had seen how his own hands had taken someone's life, he would believe that any time soon Kato would come back and take revenge on his pride.

"We're here," Seratsuki said as she sat on a rock resting on the trunk of a tree, placing her sword to lean on it. "There are still things you wanted to ask me. Go on"

Raijin faced her, the gentle blow of the wind hit him and the fallen leaves moved on his feet. "General, thank you for helping me. But you don't need to worry about my powers being out of control" he paused, for he didn't know if this was the right thing to say and do. What if telling her the truth would lead the General to discard him? and the council would take him into confinement or worse an execution? Raijin fears death, for that would take the ambition he had built. "I... don't have the source of my power anymore. So, I don't think I would be a good soldier for your division"

He stared down to his feet, placing his hands towards his chest and trying to remember the weight of the chushin.

There was no expression to the 3rd General when she heard his words. As if she doesn't give a thing about what he just said, yet has still listened to it. "To all the Noguchi elders, I ask permission to brag for a while," she said. An out-of-the-box response to what the young man said.

"Huh?" was his answer once again.

"Who are the people who govern the land except for the council?" standing to her feet, she paced towards him.

Perplexed by the 3rd General's pop-up quiz, Raijin managed to give her an answer. "His excellency? and...uh the Generals?"

"Wrong. The Generals do the fighting and issue orders from the council and his excellency"

They looked eye to eye and her blank stare had almost made him avert his eyes. Because there's nothing more intimidating than a swordswoman who kills everything on her way and eats a truck of strawberries.

"Generals and normal nobles don't have anything against them. They just follow what they want. But people who belong to the higher nobles who stand at the..." Seratsuki paused as if unable to continue her bragging anymore. "Top of everyone is a different matter"

Raijin stood firm in front of her while she was giving something like a lecture. He thought that General Algard Yozou didn't speak to him about those. Or perhaps he had just forgotten it.

The latter is more convincing if you'll ask me.

Seratsuki continued. "And, do you know the only three clans who are considered to be a higher noble?"

"Yes!" he answered, for the sudden recollection of the council's words yesterday had made him confident to score on this recitation. "The Kamiyama clan, Hiraoka and Noguchi clan..."

He had known that his General was a part of the higher nobles. Yet this time around the idea had only sunk to him. He let out a short gasp, staring at the woman in front with wide eyes. That's right our young man, a higher noble who eats at a shop where a cow and frog kissed and would utter your name in pure error is definitely a rare sight.

"Correct. Those clans hold an important role in governing Anshiantum. Their authority is higher than that of the council. In terms of ruling over the land: his excellency comes first, the higher nobles and the council last"

The gush of information has given him some clearance. Since for as long as he could remember, Algard Yozou hadn't mentioned the higher nobles only topics like women in Riagi is divided into five types and Algard said that he likes them all, especially ones who are blonde and cold.

Seratsuki turned to her heels, she took a hold of a twig—beginning to create scribbles on the ground as Raijin watched her. "The position of a General is given to a soldier who had given great service and honor to the land, it's an acknowledgment from his excellency. And the First, Second, and Third Generals are titles only given to someone who has almost surpassed every aspect and has an outstanding performance than any others. Our ranking is based on our skills not only in battles but also in different aspects—contribution to land, leadership, and such." she heaved a deep breath.

Raijin stared at the arrows and boxes drawn on the soil. How he had wished he had brought a scrap of paper to take note of everything and prepare himself for the next pop-up quiz of the 3rd General. But then again, the thing he had just understood from everything the woman had said was 'great service' and 'honor' . The rest were just like scrabbles in his mind that he would be taking some time to collect or maybe just cheat on his way and ask Hiro about everything. The Kazahana heir is the best when it comes to explaining.

"And to think that you would tell me that you don't have a source of power or something. Are you perhaps doubting my judgment? Do you think I'll choose you if you're normal?"

"Ah. Hehe," Raijin replied, scratching the back of his head. He remained staring at the scribbles on the ground and a bolt of question struck him. "General Noguchi, if it's okay to ask, what happened to the First General? You said that your numbers are based on how good you are, that means he or she is the strongest"

Seratsuki's hand stopped moving from writing the list of the things she had spoken about. She slowly stood up as if suddenly in a daze and a red stone held by a string of chain hung on the belt of her uniform down to her thigh dangled as she moved. The stone was enchanting as it was meant to be a necklace—yet, the General had chosen to hang it on her waist.

"He's..." there was a pause in her words. "Dead" her gaze ventured from afar, just like how she looked at the dessert shop.

Raijin could hear the sorrow in her words. Even if it's the slightest emotion that she could show. Curiosity must've run through him that he wanted to ask more, but he stopped himself. "Oh! That's right General, where are the other soldiers of the Noguchi division?" he said, trying to shift the topic.

Gathering her composure, Seratsuki faced him. "You're the only one" she replied, going back to the rock she was seated on.

"What?"

"Ikamudi Roland and Seratsuki Noguchi are the only members of the division. Meaning, that also makes you my squad leader, adjutant, and... I'll just give you the position of Lieutenant-General someday"

"General! Stop messing around!" and this time, our young man snapped—tired from the surprises Seratsuki's giving him.

"I'm not" Seratsuki responded shortly while her hands played by the leaf that had fallen.

"That's not possible! You can't- don't tell me you're doing missions by yourself?!"

"That's true. I can handle myself after all"

It made him exhausted—the unexpected revelations of the General and her words that would suddenly burst at the moment, to the point where he needed to regain some peace of mind. Though even the calm atmosphere of the forest didn't help him have that.

"A General leads hundreds of soldiers! So how come you're branded as one?!"

Showing him a blank expression, she took her sword placing it on her waist. "Forget about the details"

Disbelief filled Raijin. And it had made him baffled by the fact that the famous and respected Generals he looks up to, give a different picture in private. Well what do you expect our young man, you met Algard and Seratsuki first, those fellows are just...

And that also made him wonder what would Mitsuka's reaction be if she were in his place this time?

"That's all for today," said Seratsuki. She handed him a crimson badge, a mark of the Noguchi division. There was a symbol of a blade and a moon in it.

"Wear that at all times. It should also serve as a pass inside the main headquarters. And one more thing, you can use it to get free sweets at the shop. Meet me here tomorrow at six, don't be late"

After that, the 3rd General left him standing frozen while he watches her walk away until he can't see any signs of her.

He clasped the badge in his palms and closed his eyes. "Pops, I've become a soldier" he muttered, recalling the comfort it had always given him whenever the old man would show a smile ruffling his hair. "And...my General is kind of weird"

Though, this is just the beginning. The real battle is set to start.