Year 20XX: We had just come out of a movie theater with my two best friends. Not just my two best friends but probably the only two I've ever really had. We'd known each other for three years, but we were so in sync that it felt like we'd been friends since childhood. For the most part, we had the same tastes, the same interests, and probably the same ambitions. But sometimes, even the best of friends can disagree.
"That movie sucked," said Sebastien. "Why put guns in a film full of dragons and monsters? I mean, they're clearly useless."
"The premise was good," added Rezel. "But they completely misused the military in the film. They died off in like 20 minutes."
"The heroine was awful."
"And the movie had no real story," Rezel continued.
I looked at them, bored, as they argued like the perpetual nitpickers they were. Rezel moved forward and looked at the buildings around us, and I quickly realized he was lost in one of his fantasies.
"Imagine, right now, if dragons invaded the sky, how would the army respond? I bet they'd send jets, interceptors preferably. Like F-16s or Eurofighters, you know, the stuff NATO has in stock."
And Sebastien joined him.
"No, it depends on their response time. They could coordinate with soldiers and tanks on the ground. Soldiers with MANPADS or drones in the air, with an AWACS. Of course, I'm talking about an ideal world, but that would be awesome. What do you think?" he asked, turning to me.
Naturally, I ended up joining in.
"You're both wrong. If dragons attacked our world, they'd just destroy everything. The army would be too scattered and would spend more time minimizing damage than fighting. And that's if the command center remains operational. Imagine titans releasing lightning over cities—our entire electrical system would fry, and the air force would be paralyzed."
They both stared at me with accusatory looks.
"You're such a buzzkill," Sebastien said. "But you're right; no zombie movie would ever start if the air force were even remotely realistic."
"And I didn't get the chance to ask—why did you dye your hair pink again?"
"What? It's cute," I said, stroking my hair and giving him a wink.
"You look like a Koreaboo. Did you get into K-pop or something?"
"Stop judging! I even sent you links to watch."
"Zell never watches anyone else's links," Sebastien said, stuffing his hands in his hoodie pockets. "But when it's his, we all have to watch, huh? You and your stupid ego."
"Not my fault you send me garbage vines. I don't even speak African," he said with his usual haughty tone.
"Africa isn't—"
"A country, yeah, I know."
I saw Seb getting annoyed, but before things could escalate, I stepped between them.
"No, no, not today. N'Kozi, calm down. And you, Haman, stop being such a jerk."
"Yes, ma'am," he said mockingly.
"We still need to decide on the next movie to watch," Seb added. "Rock-paper-scissors?"
We all pulled our hands out of our hoodies and played. I won, crushing both of them.
"No way, you didn't let her win?" Zell pouted.
"I won fair and square. I've already picked the movie: 1917."
"With that title, it's definitely about the Great War," Seb said. "You know I hate that period."
"Which is exactly why I picked it—you don't know anything about it. It's about brotherhood, and it might bring you two closer."
I saw Zell drift into his thoughts again, probably imagining something more epic than necessary—the kind of guy who spoils the movie for himself.
"A film about the war to end all wars," he said with a wide grin. "The 'war to end all wars.' Okay, I'll buy the tickets."
"What, really?" I asked.
"I'm rich, remember? We're seeing it together."
Honestly, I adored them. They were my best friends. Then one day, everything changed. The only two friends I'd ever had died on the same day. Zell was shot in the head by a police officer, and Seb... Seb was crushed by an elevator. Both on the same day. If I were insane, I'd say it was some sort of divine intervention. There was no way they could have died—not like that, not so young. I spent the rest of my year in my room. I had lost the only people who truly mattered to me, more than my own family. Going through my days without seeing their faces became unbearable. I was alone, isolated like an outcast, and it terrified me. How did I manage for a whole year?
"If the dead really all end up in the same place, then please, let me land with them."
With those words, I threw myself into the void. I chose a skyscraper to make sure I'd be dead before I hit the ground. It may seem like a cliché "a Japanese girl committing suicide" but frankly, I didn't care anymore. My life had ended the day those two left me. I was plunging towards my destiny, hands clasped and eyes closed, when I suddenly felt a coldness around me. It wasn't a freezing cold, the kind that gives you chills—it was different. It was the cold of death. I opened my eyes, and a dark mist surrounded me. I wanted to scream, but a shadow emerged, a skeleton covered in tattered black armor. It grabbed me by the mouth and spoke in a deep voice.
"You are not the one to decide when you die, Naomi Sagasori."
Present day
Lunden is a peculiar city, with a reputation that goes back to its founding. "No invader, no matter who, will ever take this city," its founder had declared. And since then, that had been the case. Fueled by the momentum of their ancestors, the people of Lunden always fiercely resisted any invader, no matter their nature or kind. It was destined to remain impregnable. This city now serves as the capital of the Holy Grand Inglesian Empire, the world's foremost military power, proud of its victories and heroes. Yet, before me, Lunden is burning. Bombs rain down on the city, people scream, shells explode everywhere. It's only a matter of hours before the city falls. This is what happens when you ignore your intelligence services and believe you're invincible.
"Major... the convoy has arrived. We need to go."
But I didn't have the strength to leave. I took off my beret and sat down on a pile of bricks.
"Go on without me. I think... I'll stay here a while."
The soldier didn't ask any questions, simply saluting and wishing me good luck before departing.
"Aaah, how beautiful my Lunden is. If only we could go back to when everything was still beautiful."
April 1021, Lunden.
At that time, we hadn't yet imagined the looming danger hanging over us. In the newspapers, it only reported who had won which battle and where, almost like football matches.
"Good morning, Major," the sentinel at the guard post greeted me.
"Soldier."
I work at the Inglesian Royal Intelligence Office, or IRIO. Our job, as the name suggests, is to gather information on anything that might threaten the empire's security. In 1021, the world's situation was unstable across all continents, especially in the Apochrypha with tribal and religious wars whose origins were unknown. Today, as I entered the office, I was relaxed. I grabbed a coffee, not too strong, with a light dose of sugar. William was still trying to get the Radio to work by smacking it. I made my way around the building and settled into my office at the far end of the hallway on the left. It was on the ground floor, so in case of a fire, I could escape easily. That said, today I had been summoned to the office of my superior, Colonel Simpson.
"And then he says to me, 'Peace be with you.' Can you believe that?"
Simpson was a pencil-pusher. He had never fired a shot in his career; his gun was gathering dust behind his desk, and I hoped it would backfire on him the day he decided to use it, so I could take his job.
"No, not really, General," I replied with a fake laugh.
"Anyway, what I'm saying is, those Asakura sent someone, and guess who walks into my office? A woman."
He said it as if it were shocking.
"I decided to get rid of her, or at least make her wait. Can you believe it a female officer? What kind of man would let a woman command him?"
"And what kind of coward would let a woman fight in his place?" I retorted.
"Exactly what I said. The Asakura are cowards, I tell you. They're led by a woman, surrounded by women who command men."
"I understand your point, Colonel," I said, without real conviction.
"Anyway, I don't want this woman getting in my way. Major Creed, you handle it."
"Understood, Colonel."
If there was one thing Simpson excelled at, it was delegating his tasks to his subordinates. Naturally, I headed to the waiting room to meet our guest, but she wasn't there. Since she was missing, I returned to my office, where I bumped into one of my subordinates, Second Lieutenant Toffel a short man who was self-conscious about his height of 1.65 meters.
"It's confirmed, sir," he said, handing me the report.
"Do we have his name?"
"Not yet, but it won't be long. The soldiers on the front are calling him the Devil."
"The Devil, in the skies. Since he's on our side, why not call him the Angel?"
"That's the nickname his enemies gave him, sir. He's shot down 7 enemy fighters in one go and destroyed a surveillance airship."
"Impressive work. I want more information on the situation at that front."
"Yes, Major."
As he left, I opened the door to my office, but upon closing it behind me, I came face to face with someone unexpected. She stood near my desk, rolling a model car that sat there, then locked eyes with me. She was strikingly beautiful, with a gaze that was both severe and captivating. She wore the military uniform of Asakura: a deep onyx-blue suit adorned with the emblem of her country, a crescent moon encircling a cherry blossom. Instead of standard military boots, she wore high-heeled boots that reached up to her thighs, and what looked like a katana was fastened at her belt. Her hair was a deep black, tied into a ponytail, with one rebellious strand dyed pink. This was someone who clearly cared about her appearance. As for me, a simple fade sufficed as a hairstyle. When she saw me enter, she and sat down in the chair opposite my desk, crossing her legs and fingers. I made my way to my own seat and sat on the edge of the table.
"I wasn't expecting to find you here. Miss?"
"Call me Sago, Major Creed Lionel."
"Actually, it's Lionel Creed. We switch names and surnames in this part of the world. Except in Valorys, but their tastes are terrible anyway."
"Oh, I'll be sure to note that, Mister Creed. I must admit I expected someone different when I entered this room."
I stood and moved behind my desk.
"If you're referring to my skin color, know that segregation was abolished over a hundred years ago. As for me, I expected someone like you."
"You're not bothered by seeing a woman in the military?"
"Unlike the apes running this army, I have a rather clear vision of the world. Elysion started integrating women into their military over 20 years ago. You're anything but original."
"Really?"
She fixed her gaze on mine, and once again, I felt that strange sensation, something coursing through my body. It reminded me of a strange memory, but I couldn't quite place it.
"Why don't you start by telling me your rank, so I can stop calling you Miss?"
"If you can't figure that out by looking at my epaulettes, Major Creed, you still have much to learn about us," she replied calmly. "But today, I'm here to learn from you."
"Really? What is a representative of the Asakura Empire doing in the heart of Lunden?"
"Tourism."
I stifled an internal sigh and clasped my hands together.
"And a bit of espionage too. Evaluating the state of the place, analyzing the city's defenses, the structure of buildings—those that can withstand a bomb. By the way, did this one have a shelter ?"
This woman was strange, casually telling me this, but if she was truly doing what she said, I needed to stop her.
"Take your hand out from under the table," she said.
"Excuse me?"
"The gun under the table,it's a classic. Remove your hand, because I, too, have a weapon. One you can't see."
A weapon I can't see? I glanced out the window and saw a sniper's scope glinting in the sunlight. How is this possible? Has her target been me all along?
"You're a competent man, Major. It would be a shame to see you dead."
"What do you want from me?" I asked, placing both hands on the table.
"You're the officer tasked with evaluating the entire Empire's military forces. It took the time it took, but you did it."
Those sleepless nights had turned me into a caffeine addict, but I completed my work.
"What do you want from me, finally?"
"Here we are," she said, smiling slyly.
A short while ago, I had presented my report before the commission. During the presentation, I had briefly explained what our army was composed of.
"First, let's talk about the air force. It's important to know that the sky has become a new battlefield, but the new aircraft from Venus give us a significant advantage. That said, too many incompetent young nobles are trying to become fighter pilots, which increases the mortality rate."
"The sky is like the cavalry, Major," said the general. "It's reserved only for the elite and the deserving."
And what exactly made him deserving?
"Elysion has created pilot schools. The first one has the highest mortality rate but also shoots down the most enemies."
"Wow, a 1:12 kill ratio," remarked the general. "Who runs this school?"
"Captain Brandon Van Elysée."
"The duke's son," another added. "They're certainly motivated in Elysion."
"At sea, our navy is progressively replacing its wooden ships with more modern vessels. Last year, Elysion's shipyards produced heavily armed and armored warships."
"Ah yes, I remember," said an old man seated in the corner. "The dreadnoughts, right?"
General Harris was the old sage here, though no one took him seriously anymore due to his past as an alcoholic. His baldness gave him an even more mediocre appearance. Poor man.
"One of them has already distinguished itself in battle," added the man seated next to him. "The Kristensen."
Lieutenant Colonel Sterling, the Empire's deputy head of intelligence, was far more competent. He'd seen battle, gotten his hands dirty, frankly, he deserved to be director more than that pansy, Simpson.
"Continue, Major."
"The advantage our dreadnoughts provide in naval combat is significant, but they require constant maintenance. We also have the infamous Ducal Marines."
"Here we go," said the chief of staff "How are those hell demons?"
"Still as brutal and merciless as ever. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say they're the deadliest combat force on the continent. Their recent assault at the Guaiz Canal still sends shivers down people's spines. It was something else."
"You witnessed it firsthand?" Sterling asked.
"Yes, sir."
"Continue."
I went on to cover some mundane details. Overall, they seemed fairly satisfied with the results. After the presentation, Vice Director Sterling approached me. We stood on the balcony, watching the generals leave one by one as we both smoked a cigarette.
"You know what's wrong?" he asked.
"That our desk generals are all too fat?"
"That most of our offensive power depends on Elysion. And that means if they ever turn against us, we'll be in deep trouble."
"If we look at historical reality, that's unlikely. They've been loyal for 500 years," I replied.
"Don't be naive, Creed. Reality is much worse. Anti-Inglesia sentiment has spread much deeper than we thought. If the new chancellor isn't favorable to our actions, we could have a civil war on our hands."
"The chancellor? It's the duke who makes all the decisions. The chancellor doesn't have a say, does he?" I reminded him.
"That's true, but good old Lowell is ill, and his son, Raphael, has no interest in politics. So the fate of the country..."
"Rests on the next chancellor."
"Exactly," he said, taking a drag. "Alysser Cailum is the clear favorite in this race."
"Cailum? You mean the Alysser Cailum? His wife left him; he's lost all his influence."
"And he's rebuilt himself by creating a political party aimed at denigrating Inglesia. The result? A growing anti-imperial sentiment that's rotting away the most powerful duchy in the world."
I exhaled the smoke and took some time to think it over.
"I see. A delicate situation indeed. What do you suggest?"
"It would be quite convenient if our friend Cailum happened to run into some stray bullets… Just saying. Oh, by the way, you didn't mention Beowulf in your report. Why's that?"
"What's Beowulf?" I asked, feigning surprise.
He stared at me for a long moment, then finished his cigarette, which he dropped on the head of one of the generals waiting for his car below. He patted me on the shoulder.
"It's nothing."
Reflecting on it now, we had a mountain of problems. Later that evening, I met with the Asakura woman in a dark, secluded part of Lunden. Even if the king himself wandered here, no one would notice. I had brought a few of my best agents along for protection. Asakura was a rising empire on the continent of Niho, practically on the other side of the world compared to Midgard. I'd never been there, so what was a military officer from there doing here?
"Good evening, Major Creed."
She no longer wore her high-heeled boots but regular trousers and ordinary heels this time. She also had an officer's coat draped over her shoulders and wore sunglasses. And that gaze… I'd seen it somewhere before. That intensity, but I couldn't remember where.
"You took your time," she said, still as cold as ever. "It's rude to keep a lady waiting."
I had my doubts at first, but as I handed over the report to the woman standing before me, I had another thought.
"What do you need this report for? Our army is four times stronger than yours."
"Lions led by sheep," she murmured.
"I heard it you know?"
And she is Right. The Empire grew too much rotten.
"My question is why are you handing this to me ? I don't think it is because i threat your life. I've read your file you have been throught Warzone all over the world."
"Haha. Let's Say i have my own agenda. And some competition won't Hurt from time to time".
She quickly flipped through the report several times, lingering on a few pages, then tucked it into her coat, resuming her cold, distant demeanor.
"That will be all, thank you. I'll contact you if I need anything further."
"Wait. Didn't you forget something ?"
She turn in my direction and Hand me a file. It was the Asakura Empire current military situation, especially intel about their navy.
"Pleasure meeting you again. Lieutenant Commander Akagi Sago."
She turned in my direction and gave me a chilling glance. I gave her a sly smile; she almost gave a faint, barely perceptible smile in return.
"Are you coming?" she said.
Suddenly, a man appeared right next to me. I watched as he slowly passed me, sliding a knife into the sleeve of his coat. No doubt about it—he was from Niho as well, and he had a tattoo over his left eye.
"Next time, choose your bodyguards more wisely," he murmured.
He joined her, and she turned back once more before disappearing into the darkness with him. That look, she reminded me of a young man with blond hair I once met while traveling, and another with silver hair. This woman had the same intensity in her gaze, the same spark. Once they were far off, my heart resumed its normal rhythm.
"Good riddance."
I hoped they'd crash and burn against Elysion before ever getting here. As I sat at home, sipping my single malt, I knew I had created something bad. And I had no idea what was going to happen, but let's be honest, after the crappy day I'd had, I didn't give a damn.
End of chapter