Summary/disclaimer: time for another chapter of Warwitch and her guardian. Enjoy the 2000-word chapter. I don't own VK, Sega, Ryutaro Nonaka and Shuntaro Tanaka do.

Raines stared at Selvaria while he prepared to carry her orders out. It had been rather interesting when it came down to it. The general seemed to be staring into the plains while he frowned under his helmet and saluted the woman.

"This entire plan was terrible, wasn't it?" Selvaria questioned to which Raines tilted his head. "Don't pretend it wasn't honestly, Captain. I don't wish for someone to bother me when it came down to it. We need to handle the rest of the soldiers now. They might be far more reinforcements." Selvaria stated before she folded her hands behind her back.

Raines had led a lot more soldiers on his mind and it had rather bothered him when it came down to it. She had a lot of soldiers under her commander while he was honestly pondering what to do next. Raines tilted his head towards the commander before he cleared his throat and started to motion once more around him.

"It wasn't something we predicted at the moment, ma'am," Raines stated before he dusted the snow off his armor. "There are more soldiers here who wouldn't be alive before if you hadn't stepped in," Raines stated before he tapped on his armored hips.

"And yet I had failed when it came down to it." Selvaria stated before she sighed.

"How, ma'am?" Raines questioned before he raised an eyebrow at her. "As I said. There were dozens of soldiers that hadn't died when it came down to it. If we hadn't tried to battle them with you? They may have tried to kill you." Raines said while he tilted his head towards her.

The woman almost seemed surprised that she wasn't criticized when he considered it. He hadn't the faintest clue as to why when it came down to it. She was honestly a better general than it seemed she had been. He had a lot more interested in how when it came to

Still? He had a lot more on his plate than simply questioning the general. He was one of a few officers in her forces and he needed to handle fewer duties when he considered it.

"Is there any sign of the enemy general?" Selvaria questioned to which there was simply a shake of his head. "Then it seems there's a good chance we routed her forces. She will probably return in some shape or form. We still need to prepare for a counterattack now and see what she does next. There will be more soldiers coming to reinforce this position if my intel is correct." Selvaria stated before she sighed to herself.

There was a lot she didn't understand at the time. Who had been the enemy general? Whom had ambushed her and her forces? How was she so powerful at the time that she had almost ended the life of the Valkyria.

Yet? She still had a lot on her plate, and it seemed as if they were all in the same boat. It had made too much sense that her men worried for her so, they had all sworn they'd protect her and serve her. Yet? She hadn't the ability to bother with it as of now. There were still scouts to mop up, areas to secure. It hadn't yet bothered her when it came down to it. Her soldiers were almost servants, each had sworn to protect her as a servant would a king or queen.

Selvaria rotated towards Raines who seemed to wait for whatever orders she saw fit to order. It had become a weird topic to her, yet they hadn't yet seen fit to happen as of now.

Still? She had a lot more on her mind when it comes down to it. There were still some odd questions to ask at the second. It had become too hard to simply prepare mentally for the hardships that came from command. She honestly seemed to question how some of her men came up with this idea she was properly in command if she hadn't inspired a lot more courage in them.

"Raines, was it?" Selvaria questioned to which there was a nod to one of her questions. "Why do you enjoy my leadership? Be honest. There were no wrong actions." Selvaria stated to the soldier that seemed to consider her options.

She didn't question that many of her men feared her, it had been that way when she was a child if she was, to be honest. It had been part of life that she was treated a lot more like a weapon than anything else. It seemed as if she had a lot more to handle.

"Because unlike other commanders? You don't treat us like trash, General Bles." Raines said while he sighed and started to look around when it came to it. "The others will throw soldiers away at the times where it becomes convenient. You threw the option away. We came to back you up when there was a danger to the rest of the group. How many Imperial officers treat the rank and file like people and not actual people? The fact you're even letting me have a damned opinion is already 3 thousand times better than the rest of the army." Raines said with a smile that almost made Selvaria blink in surprise.

Still? She had a lot more on her plate when it came down to it. Raines had a lot on his mind, and it seemed as if she hadn't a lot to say in response. It had been a long day for her, and she had a lot to question

It had been a lot harder to handle this without good officers and it seemed as if that wasn't to change anytime soon. She glanced at Raines who was quiet a moment before he decided to speak once more.

"If I may? There's no better officer when it comes down to it. I'm not ready to handle it when it comes down to it." Raines stated before he seemed to roll his eyes. "This honestly isn't as bad as you made it sound. How many officers treat us like people and not disposable trash? How many? It becomes so blurry when it comes down to it. I don't think anyone expects it to get this far when it comes down to it. None of them consider us to be anything besides cannon fodder." Raines said before Selvaria stared at him.

"You speak of General Gregor." Selvaria stated to which Raines nodded.

"There are almost no women in the military. Did you expect me to hate someone just because others think they're a monster?" Raines questioned before he looked down and into the base. "You treat us as soldiers, we're doing what is needed. I can't think of serving under a better general. You're not afraid to face the enemy yourself, the others won't without a full division backing them up." Raines stated before he cracked his knuckles.

Selvaria hummed to herself as she prepared to handle her duties as general. She was aware her men would sweep the area and look for anything that was out of the ordinary. It only came down to what was to happen with the enemy general.

"Did that woman commanding the enemy army seem at all different to you? Like me?" Raines heard from Selvaria as he crossed his arms across his chest. "I wish for a direct answer. She was a lot more powerful than I expected. She commanded the power to freeze this entire base and all the people around it. I am not sure if I will be able to handle her in combat given enough time. I am still not sure if she had power like me or if I was dreaming." Selvaria stated to which the soldier hummed.

"I'm not as familiar with the Valkyria as you, ma'am. I do know that she didn't seem to have the power you did. She retreated from you as many enemies have. Perhaps she expected an easier fight and wasn't ready for the real type of combat." Raines stated before he took a deep breath to try and speak a few seconds later.

"It all depends on what she was capable of, and I didn't see anything that would show that she's more powerful than you in combat," Raines stated before he crossed his arms.

Selvaria took a deep breath as she seemed to be far more aware of what was to come. The sooner she felt she could handle this problem was the closer she was able to handle this work. She was to meet with her officers soon.

Still? There were soldiers left to handle, calls to make, and a long-standing ideal of security to enforce. The only thing this did was lose them time spent better protecting those who couldn't protect themselves.

Raines waited to be dismissed not only for the fact that he was well aware of what happened when she did so but also aware of the fact that she'd be here a while. Raines didn't wish for the commander of their forces to be spent here wallowing in her hatred.

But if that was what she wanted? He'd not stand in her way at the time. That was her choice, she was still in charge after all.

"There are a lot more soldiers who will be standing by for your orders," Raine said as he crossed his arms and started to cross his arms.

"I am entirely aware. Will they be ready for another assault?" Selvaria questioned which was answered by a nod.

"It depends upon the severity of the assault, ma'am. There could be more soldiers than we expected assaulting the area. I do not know how many will honestly arrive." Raines stated before he tilted his head and rolled his eyes.

He was going to be interested in how they attacked if it didn't bother him at the moment. This was not going to end well and he knew it. That was all there was to this at the end of the day and to pretend otherwise? Well, that was just stupider than doing nothing at all.

"They're ready for when you need them, ma'am," Raines stated before he rubbed at the bridge of his nose. "I still don't think it's entirely wise to be up here. We haven't swept the area for snipers and there could be some waiting for a perfect chance at a headshot." Raines stated which another garnered a nod.

Not a bad sentiment if he was honest. This place seemed to have a knack for drawing up the best in people and their worst. There were going to be times he probably doubted he'd even be able to try and defend the area if given less than full support and resupply.

'Then there's that woman who worries general Bles. I don't know who the hell she is. But if she bothers a damn Valkyria enough for something like this? Oh, there will be hell to pay sooner or later. I just can't fathom what she's planning to do about it, or what is going to happen when we get there. If she is powerful enough to fight the general? Then she's stronger than every single soldier in the General's army and I think she knows that sooner or later. Damn it, why can't anything go right for once?' Raines mentally as he rubbed at his temples.

"Will you be alright to return to your unit?" Selvaria questioned as the soldier blinked and stared at her in confusion at this choice of words.

Author notes

Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out next chapter will be delayed and such. The next chapter will also show Selvaria and Raines talking more as well as more about their battle tactics, until the 900–6500-word chapter in 2-10 months, Lighting Wolf out!