WESTERN BORDER
IMPERIAL ARMY WESTERN GARRISON
UNIFIED YEAR 1922
The dusty air seemed to be almost solid, I couldn't see clear skies for miles above. The fortifications that lay across the hills named upon this border are silent with little to no activity, despite the tension that always seemed to mount the air here. It really is a hellhole. My blonde hair has become a shade of its former self, not like I had cared for it previously anyway. I would have loved to be transferred back to a comfortable spot behind the lines, but I guess Being X is probably messing with my fate once more. Since I had shown some kind of competence in leadership, the brass decided to torture me by placing me here for a much more prolonged period after my graduation, something about gathering experience, which I feel is complete deceit. But hey, there is some good news to boot! I am now a glorious Aerial officer of the great Empire. Bad news, you ask? I am now a glorious Aerial officer of the great Empire. Despite having my hard won commission as a Magic Second Lieutenant, I am still suffering in this barren land, and I am feeling more despair as every day progresses for the coming war. The worst problem is that I cannot tell a single soul about my worries, or risk myself being sent away on terms of being mentally incapacitated.
The only one who would possibly believe me is probably that diabolic child, who is most likely causing trouble in the cadet course as I think to myself now. Actually, now that I think about it, why have I spent so much time in my new life simply monologuing to myself in silence? It must be some type of defense against actually going insane, to have intellectual conversation with my own mind constantly to keep myself from becoming a cold machine like Tanya. I should gather my thoughts into some sort of journal if I survive this war with my mind intact. I hope that it doesn't change me as it's been said all throughout the internet. I remember hearing the horror stories.
Despite my disorganized thoughts, I still find myself thinking about the near future. The clock is counting down with a little more than a year left until the exposition. I'll be honest, I'm terrified. I never thought of myself as someone who could kill another, but I know soon enough I will be forced to destroy another to ensure my own life and future. The thoughts have pained me, but I know that I cannot hesitate once it comes to this point, so I have started to steel myself ever since a few months ago. Despite the fact that I have left the academy, I still find myself gaining knowledge throughout the front that I will soon have to associate with Hell. I continue to learn, and train for the future that will find itself on what is now my doorstep. I have improved, thankfully, in my arithmetic skill thanks to my constant practicing, which has allowed me to better my skills as a mage, which had beforehand been quite lacking compared to the rest of my feats. In fact, I had progressed so much in many different directions concerning combat spells and tactics that my superiors have taken notice, specifically my direct commander Magic First Lieutenant Granten. A little too much notice, if I'll be honest.
"Pay attention Bermanst!" Shouted a gruff voice as the backside of a rifle slammed towards my ribs. Having been tempered by months of this beating, I had swiftly dodged the hit, sliding my figure towards the left as I engaged in a skirmish with my leader. Though I had not found experience through the battlefield just yet, I surely have enough close quarters understanding known through wounds on my body that I will be able to screw over any other mage in direct competition. Really, I had not expected that Lieutenant Granten had practiced such activities in his free time to better his flexibility in the air. The other men in the 107th Assault Mage Company call him a Snake for a reason, as if he could choke me out within moments of grabbing me. It makes me wonder how I had never heard his name throughout any of the mediums I viewed of this world. I guess it would have been an early death, considering the location.
I found myself skidding across the air, grabbing onto the square jewel centered on my chest. The Type 13 was a conundrum to me, if I'll be completely honest with myself. How could such an item work, and how was it even found that such a gem could even cycle magic power into battle like this? Feeling the heavy thump of a rifle against the shield covered in Germanian inscriptions, I continued to evade and spin through the air. Despite the fact that I was in heavy risk of being placed in the kind hands of the nurses in the field hospital down yonder, I still felt like this practice was quite fun. It is especially great that I am preparing for the inevitable future where I will not be using these skills against my boss, but instead against a Francois mage.
Of course, I had not only been preparing with this kind of practice, but also attempting to better my accuracy, which has also worked to my benefit. The Lieutenant being there does not make it any harder, with him being present many times to help me in setting my floating targets and illusions. I really don't know how to thank the First Lieutenant, and in fact, I don't understand why he seems to help me so much. Thinking about it now, that would be a great question to ask.
"Excuse me, Lieutenant." I asked, in between panting after our last session that had just finished with me stomaching yet another strike to my gut.
"My ears are open, Bermanst." The man responded, looking away from the rifle that he had been starting to wipe down for yet the third time today.
"Why are you helping me?" I stated my case, rather bluntly. The Black haired middle aged man simply stared at me with his clear blue eyes. Looking at him now, I can see the wrinkles located on his eyes, on the outskirts of his lips. The battered skin of a military careerist. The somewhat crumpled uniform of a man who had been in the country for far too long.
"Because you remind me of my son." The Lieutenant said, even more frankly than I had anticipated. Right. I had almost forgotten that I was in the same situation as Tanya, a mere child soldier. This man is old enough to have a family obviously, I should have known as such. I had no idea that the Lieutenant was such a passionate man…
"And because it's quite fun to be able to use my skills for once. After all, the rest of the men in the Company gave up after a week or so." The man had immediately ruined this image in my mind as he blasted his character upon me, all fit with a sly smile. Really, I don't even know whether to believe this reprobate got himself a significant other, much less a child. Who made him so charismatic! Oh, the injustice!
But it really does surprise me. An Aerial Mage adept in hand to hand combat. I really do wonder where he was during the ongoing of the series. Unfortunately, he has made a number on me that I do not want to admit. I see him as a friend of mine, and I would surely be distraught to find him dead in battle. Surely, I would continue in wonder if it weren't for the sweltering heat of the July temperature. Despite being in this landscape, the warmth does not miss the unfortunate souls here on the border. I really hope that soon I'll be sent away from this future frontline. I also hope that I haven't inherited the so-called 'Jinx' that the other reincarnate of this series has, but only time will tell.
I find myself cleaning the damned rifle issued to me once more, seeing that mud has once more entered its compartments after my short banter with the Lieutenant. Looking around to this landscape, though I can see green and otherwise nature, I know that there is still only a year before this sight disappears. I have been training and gathering knowledge for as long as I can, but I don't know if it's enough. It will only be known when the first Francois crosses that border. Then, and only then, will I find out. I'm probably going to die. I don't feel prepared at all.
I've been mistreated, really. I was no sociopath or psychopath. I never killed anyone, never cruelly fired anyone, more so because I was never in the position to do so. I had never made blood enemies, insulted the divine, nor had I done anything against the law! I was a citizen that followed after what was expected of me, to the absolute peak I could with my limited knowledge! Is it because I was an atheist? Because I didn't have enough understanding, and not enough faith in something I couldn't prove scientifically? This is an absolute calamity for the rights of human species! I feel that I understand that sociopath more and more as the days go on. This Being, is cruel and unforgiving. Shouldn't he be benevolent? He should have at least given me a chance, maybe talked to me like he did that guy. Instead, I was sent here for no rhyme, no reason, to make thought of it only with my own bearings. Absolutely unreasonable! Should I not feel aggrieved!?
The more I thought of it, the more I felt my teeth clench. I must make that entity feel shame for sending such an innocent bystander to a world like this! Slamming my fists against the air as if the Deity were right before me, I ignored the blank eyes of my commander as I thought the most reasonable phrase that would fit my miserable situation.
"Curse you, Being X! Curse you and all your ridiculous deeds!"
Looking at the young boy beating the air in another one of his escapades, I couldn't help but think back to the answers I had given him. I was honest of course, meaning all that I said. But I neglected to mention the biggest reason for my teaching of these skills. Sure he reminds me of my troubling son, its fun to be able to use my skills that I find unneeded and rare among my kind, and I find it quite fun to fight with someone talented. But what really motivates me to teach him all I know, is the determination. No matter how many times I beat him down, destroyed his ego, or struck his gut, he seemed to always stand back up, ready for even more, though obviously distraught.
It didn't matter what it was, his admirable resolve for completion always stood out to me, ever since the first day he came under my command. His flight members have a close relationship with him, following after his lead with what I can only construe unwavering belief. He took all tasks given to me as if it would be his last, and everything was done with some type of fire in his eyes. It feels uncanny, how much I cannot understand his constant working. Why is he trying so hard? The tension has been growing over the years, I understand that. Conflicts continue to break out locally even here on the border, and I hear the news from my colleagues in the North that its atmosphere has become strained. But its as if this child is preparing for something, but I have no idea what.
Despite my doubts however, the only thing I can do to help him is teach him. After all, this is my duty as his commanding officer. Smiling at this small figure that ruffled his dirtied blonde hair in exasperation, he could not help but think of his future. A moment of pondering though, simply brought me to a single thought, causing my grin to show teeth.
"It seems like you have enough energy for another bout." I stated simply, patting the rifle laying in my lap as the seemingly indignant figure froze. His head turned like clockwork as the green eyes laid upon my obviously malicious smile.
"Lieutenant, you've wronged me!"