Yo people, I'm back again for this update. Welcome to the start of the first arc of this story called "Retaliation", which will be made up of four chapter including this one, depicting the JSDF as they train for the deployment to the Special Region. As I said in the last chapter, the Third Recon Team will be introduced here. Again, just a small reminder, this story is basically a retelling of the original anime, so there will be differences in the characters's backgrounds and personalities, all done for the sake of literal licence.


Retaliation: Reception

Shinjuku, Tokyo

The door was opened after the fifth knock.

"Itami?"

Itami gave a nervous smile at the apartment's occupant. "Yo, Risa."

As like often, his ex-wife looked as if she had neglected proper sleep for the past week or so, dark, heavy bags circling her eyes, her forehead drooping with wrinkles. She yawned. "What are you doing here? I thought the military canceled all leaves?"

"They did, but I still got a few hours before I have to report to my CO. So I thought I would just drop by and check things out with you."

"I see…why don't you come in?" She opened the door fully and Itami stepped in.

The apartment was not large by any standards. It was a one bedroom flat, with a small kitchenette embedded in the already cramped living room. Two old, worn couches accommodated a large portion of space at one end, where an outdated television model was situated as well. The rest of the living room was dominated with shelves and stacks of books, doujinshis, and paper.

"Help yourself to some coffee on the table. I'm still working at the moment."

Not wanting to stand on ceremony, Itami did as suggested and poured himself a cup of black coffee from a press that had seen many years of use. The days to come would be long, might as well start getting some caffeine into his system. He wondered whether he'll be able to get a good night sleep at all in the ensuing weeks.

Steaming cup in hand, he sat himself down on one of the couch facing the TV as Risa returned to her work desk which was on the other side of the living room. Food wraps, empty instant noodle cups, clothes—dirty or clean—laid everywhere, and he noticed the sole rubbish bin of the room was overflowing with a huge pile of crumpled paper. He sighed.

"You still haven't changed, have you?"

"If you mean whether I'll learn to clean up after myself, then the short answer is: probably never. I have things to do and said things does not involve cleaning."

Itami leaned back on his seat, trying his best to ignore the mess of a room he was in. "So how's the manga coming along?"

"Writer block strikes again, I'm afraid. Had to send my editor a delay notice last week."

"That's what—the third time this year?"

"Fourth time."

Another sigh escaped Itami and he took a sip of his coffee, the high temperature stinging his tongue. "I'm surprised that your editor hasn't dropped you yet, you know, like the others did."

"Well, Shinohaza-san is blessed with the patience that comes with his job, as he puts it."

"That's good for you."

"It is."

A long silence settled between them, only broken by the sound of pencil sketching Risa was making. Itami listened to her work intently as he always had before in the past when they had still been living together. A deep regret resurfaced and he frowned at the memories.

"So you're a hero now, huh, Itami?" Itami's eyebrows raised at the question. "I saw your name come up in the news that you directed the evacuation efforts to the Imperial palace. You saved many people."

He sat up, completely expecting this question ever since he made up his mind to visit his ex-wife. "It wasn't just me. There were some who risked their lives more than I did to save those people."

"No, don't downplay what you did. You could have ran, but you didn't; you stayed. Who knows how many more people would have died, if it wasn't what you did." Risa crumpled the paper she had been working on and added it onto the waste pile.

Itami sighed, staring at the back of her seat. "Anyone else could have done that. I'm just glad that people got saved; I don't want a spotlight for it. If the media or anyone wants a hero, they can find someone else. There're plenty of others who can be called that that day."

He leaned forward to rest his head on his hands, running his fingers through his hair. "Look, Risa, I killed my first man that day, and I don't remember what it felt like when I did it. I just grabbed his sword and stabbed his throat. I thought it would be more than that—taking a human life—but it was not."

Risa turned to look at him, concern in her eyes. "He was the enemy, Itami. You don't need to guilt trip yourself."

Itami paused, then shook his head. "No, I don't feel guilty for doing that. I probably saved someone's life because of that. I just feel nothing. It's this emptiness that's creeping me out."

Risa stood up from her seat, and for a moment it looked like she was going to come over to comfort him, but then she sat back down, chewing on her lips. "I don't know what to say, Itami. I don't understand what you mean."

"No, I didn't expect you to. It's hard for me to explain anything to you." He realized he had said his thoughts out loud and bit back his tongue. A look of surprise crossed his ex-wife's face at the sudden spite.

He sighed. "I just don't know."

† † † † † † †

Camp Nerima, Tokyo

"Enter."

Itami closed the door behind him and stood to attention.

"At ease, Yoji."

Lieutenant General Koichiro Hazama had been reading something on the screen of his computer when Itami had entered, and now dark brown eyes of his regarded the junior commissioned officer, a coldness present in those eyes. He was a man in his early sixties, yet still possessed the stature and physique of someone younger. His face was hard as stone, betraying no emotions that could be seen. The lieutenant general stood up from his seat and moved to the front of his desk, still observing Itami.

"Congratulations on your promotion by the way." Hazama extended a hand. "You deserve nothing less for what you've done."

The recently promoted second lieutenant shook the hand, feeling the firm grip of the general. "Thank you, sir."

"I'm sure you're wondering why I called you here today." Hazama waited for Itami to say something, but the second lieutenant kept quiet. "Long story short, you will be transferring to my brigade, the 5th Brigade. Specifically, you'll be joining the 5th Reconnaissance Company."

Itami took the news with a straight face, though on the inside he wondered why he was being transferred. The 5th Brigade, if he recalled correctly, was stationed all the way in the north at Hokkaido. He resolved to ask. "Understood, sir. Permission to ask a question, sir?"

"Granted."

"Why am I being transferred?"

Hazama took his time before answering, leaning back against the front edges of his desk. "The press hasn't got this yet, but the Prime Minister has decided to announce in the upcoming National Diet that he plans to send a task force beyond the Gate. My friends from the Japanese Cabinet has told me that if the motion goes through, the 5th Brigade will be the prime option to be that task force. Do you know why, Yoji?"

The second lieutenant paused to think, trying to remember what else he knew about the 5th Brigade. When he could not think of an answer, he received one.

"Out of all the regional armies of the Self-Defense Force, the Northern Army is the largest. My 5th Brigade is stationed at the east of Hokkaido, an area with a relatively low threat of invasion from other nations.

"With your now former division, 1st Division, continuing its defense of Tokyo and the surrounding prefectures, only the Northern Army has the personnel to spare for the Gate task force. And since 5th Brigade does not occupy a relatively strategic position, we are likely to be chosen for the job."

Hazama picked up a bottle of water on his table and drank a mouthful. "To answer your question though, as far as mythical and magical creatures goes, we don't know much of what lies beyond the Gate besides initial scouting reports. I will need an expanded recon company to explore the place, which is why you are being transferred."

"Understood, sir." Itami didn't know what to feel. He was going to go through the Gate, a land different from anything he has ever seen before. He looked at the lieutenant general, trying to see whether what he had said was all serious. Hazama was serious.

"You will be given command of a team of twelve members including yourself. Your tasks will typically consist of behind enemy line reconnaissance, mapping the area, and engaging first contact with local elements."

"Yes, sir."

Hazama drank another mouthful from his bottle. "Once you fill the necessary paperwork regarding the transfer, which my aide Yanagina will have outside, report to Captain Saza and he'll arrange for you to meet your team. The Third Recon Team, I believe it is."

"Yes, sir."

Hazama returned to behind his desk and sat back down on his chair. He seemed to be about to dismissed Itami, but then his face lit up with a rare curiosity.

"One question, Yoji."

"Sir?"

"Ginza." Hazama pointed to the decorated badge pinned on Itami's left pocket, received from the Minister of Defense for the second lieutenant's valiant efforts during the battle. "What was it like that day?"

For a moment, Itami struggled to find the words to describe, but then it came to him. "A mess, sir. I can't describe it any way else. What I thought shouldn't exist were somehow flying and running before my eyes."

"And what went through your mind?" Hazama leaned back on his chair, curiosity evident in those hardened eyes.

"I can't remember much of what I was thinking, sir. I saw people were getting killed, and I just reacted." He wondered whether he should tell the lieutenant general about the emptiness he felt after killing his first man, but then decided against it. "I just reacted, sir, that's all."

A smile came to Hazama's face, breaking the general's cold exterior. "Ah, I see. Good! There're some people who think too much and do not act enough. I need someone who can react accordingly whenever the situation arises. Glad to have you in my brigade, Yoji."

Itami was genuinely surprised by the general's words and he only managed to croak out his reply. "Thank you, sir. But what I did was nothing special."

"Do you genuinely believe that, or are you just being modest?"

Hazama's question spun the wheels of Itami's mind, and he nodded. "I do believe that, sir. I don't deserve this medal any more than the others who helped with the evacuation. Some whose only reward was death."

"I see." The general stayed silent for the next few moments, not taking his eyes off Itami as he studied the second lieutenant. When he seemed satisfied with whatever he was looking for, he cleared his throat. "Well, you did good by my books. Whether you believe you deserve that medal or not is up to you; I have no part in it. All I ask you now to believe is that we are in a war now, our first in decades, and I hope that you're ready for it."

Itami straightened his back. "I am ready, sir."

"Good. I hope the rest of Japan is too."

† † † † † † †

Narita, Tokyo

It had been raining in the morning, and even though the worst of the downpour had passed, the afternoon sky was still overcast and dark, thick, heavy clouds covering the sun. The August day was cold when it should have been hot and humid, as the season had called for. And now, strong winds stirred through the local temple of the district, making the small crowd gathered shiver in their black garments.

Shino Kuribayashi listened as a priest chanted a Buddhist sutra, his voice droning and the crowd around her keeping respectfully quiet. In her hands, she held a small sheave of lilies, and she closed her eyes as she felt the slight drizzle of rain still falling from the sky onto her head, a feeling of lost simmering inside of her.

Her eyes opened again when the priest finished his chant and she saw him nod towards her parents, who stood next to her in absolute silence. She knew the man was calling them forward to say the final words to the lost one, and she balked. Her father was the first to walk forward, while she lingered behind, hesitant to follow.

Her mother touched her elbow gently. "Come on, Shino, time to say goodbye to your brother."

A sadness welled inside Shino as she nodded and walked towards the casket that contained her brother's body. She peered inside, and saw the face of a person who she had grew up with for the past twenty years, and tears began to leak out of her eyes.

Shino's father stared at her brother's face for a long moment. His eyes were red, and Shino could see that he was trying his hardest to keep composed. He said something to her brother, too quiet for her to hear what it was, and then stepped back.

Her mother stepped forward next, and placed a bouquet of flowers in her brother's coffin, tucking the lilies and white roses beside his head. And unlike her father, her mother began to cry, the tears flowing out without restraints. She sobbed and laid a shaking hand on her brother's right cheek before leaning in to kiss him on the forehead one last time. Once she had done that she stepped back, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe her eyes.

Lastly—and dreadingly—Shino came forward, and placed the sheave of lilies across her brother's chest so that the tip of the sheave—the heads of the lilies—would just brush against the side of his collar, the collar which hid the fatal sword wound on his neck.

"Goodbye, Taki." She leaned forward to kiss him as well and felt the coldness in his skin. He had a neutral expression on his face, showing nothing of the smile he always had when he was living.

She was crying now as well, and with great willpower she stopped herself from looking away as others from the crowd now stepped forward to give their final respect. Relatives, friends, neighbours, teachers, classmates, and all those who the bright young man had managed to charm in his short life.

After the last of the procession had finished, the casket was then sealed, forever enclosing the body of Taki from the world. The priest who had chanted the sutra at the start of the ceremony came forward towards Shino's family, holding a black tablet in his arms. He handed the tablet to Shino's father, then bowed and left.

The inscription on the tablet read:

Taki Kuribayashi. July 12, 1994 – August 17, 2016. Lost in tragedy, survived by loving parents and sister.

Shino clenched her fist. Her mother had told her that Taki had been in Ginza that day because of an anime convention. Despite being the intellectually gifted member of the family, Taki had always been addicted to anime and manga. The amount of focus he had when it came to his exams was the same as the focus he had when reading his favorite manga. She remembered the number of times she had told him that he didn't have a life because of this hobby, and now, she realized how literal the irony was.

She felt an anger boiled within her, against the people of the Empire as the media was calling the enemy from a different world. Why did they attack? Why Ginza, of all places? Why couldn't Taki stay home? These were the questions she had, but the damage was already done.

"Shino, are you okay?" Her mother, despite looking devastated herself, looked concerned for her.

"I'm fine, mother." She looked over to her father, who was gazing off at the distance, deliberately ignoring her.

She had become used to her father ignoring her in these past few years. Ever since she made the decision to join the JSDF rather than go to college like how he wanted, he had stopped talking to her at all. When she returned home during her leaves, they did not speak. During dinner, they did not speak; he would eat fast and then leave the dining table almost immediately. Even when she called home, they did not speak; at the sound of her voice, he would immediately pass the phone on to her mother or Taki.

And even now, after all that had happened, standing here right now at Taki's funeral, they still did not speak.

Shino's mother saw what she was thinking about, and she shook her head, then went over to her husband. "It's time to let go, dear. We already lost one child. Do you want to lose another?"

Her father pondered the words for a while, then gave a slow nod. "You're right." He turned to Shino, and she saw he was holding great sadness behind his eyes. "I'm sorry, Shino. I should have respected your decision."

"It's okay, father." Those words came out more desperately than she wanted. "I should have told you sooner."

"Come here."

Before Shino knew what was happening, her father pulled her into a hug. She could feel the strength in his grip and she didn't want him to let go. With all that had happened to her family, with Taki's death, she realized she wanted her father to embraced her more than ever. And so, despite herself, she cried on his shoulder. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry. About everything."

He somehow hugged her tighter. "No, Shino, you don't need to apologize for anything. It's all in the past. I'm sure your brother doesn't want to see you crying this much."

Shino rubbed her eyes, nodding. "No, he wouldn't."

They stayed together for a while, and only parted the embrace once the ceremony for the cremation of the body began. In silence, they watched the priest set fire to the pyre that held up Taki's coffin. As the fire spread and burned, the crowd slowly fanned out and left, eventually leaving only Shino's family to witness the flames consume the entirety of Taki.

When the fire died down to only a few spots of kindling, Shino's mother took Shino's hands.

"What will you do now, Shino?"

Shino could not take her eyes off the pyre. "I need to head back to base after tomorrow, mother."

"So soon?"

"Yes, I have to go back. It was luck that I managed to get a leave here in the first place."

Her mother nodded, sniffing. "Oh okay."

Her father stepped up to her and placed his hands on her shoulder. "I want you to take care of yourself when you get back, okay?"

"Don't worry, father, I will."

"What's going to happen now, do you know?"

Shino felt a coldness in her skin. "We're in war now, father. An army will probably be sent through that Gate."

"Do you think you'll be deployed?"

"I don't know." She wondered what were the chances that her brigade will be sent through the Gate, and she could not find any surety.

Her father nodded. "Hopefully not, Shino. I want you to stay safe. I don't want to lose you."

"Don't worry, father, I will."

But as she said those words, as she continued staring at the burning pyre where Taki was being cremated, her anger began to build again and she made up her mind.

If given the chance, she would be glad to be deployed and make those Imperial bastards suffer for her brother's death.

† † † † † † †

Camp Obihiro, Hokkaido

The barrack loomed ahead of Itami and he wondered what kind of men and women would he have to lead in his team. A whole list of question scrolled in his mind. What kind of leader should he be? How does he gain his team's respect? Should he be just himself or should he be more authoritative?

He turned to the sergeant major who walked next to him. "So how long have you served for, Kuwahara?"

Kuwahara Soichiro, his second-in-command, answered, "Almost thirty years, sir."

Itami was impressed. Most people would have retired after a decade or so. "Thirty years, wow. So I'm guessing you've seen everything that goes on in the military then?"

Kuwahara nodded. "I've seen all types of men and women, sir. All come and gone. I know who's trouble and who's not, and I also know how to fix trouble."

"I see." He was glad to have an experienced hand in the team, and he made a note in his mind to rely on the sergeant major as he accustomed to the team.

"There's the team, sir."

Itami saw the sergeant major pointing towards a group of men and women gathered outside the barrack, all in full combat kit. From the distance, they all looked pretty young, perhaps around or younger than his own age. He strode forward.

The tallest member of the team spotted him first and called out. "Attention!"

The team, who had been idling and talking amongst themselves, immediately stood to attention, their backs straight and arms raised in salute.

"Third Recon Team reporting, sir!"

Kuwahara joined the rest of the team, standing with them in a line. "Third Recon Team ready for inspection, sir."

Itami nodded, silently thanking the sergeant major for telling him what to do next, and walked to the front of them, where he could view each member without oversight.

The conditions in which they kept their equipment in, he noted, were good, each rifles looking without any decay and defects. Their uniforms were clean, as were their boots and helmet, as though they were freshly issued. Lastly, he noted the faces of the men and women he was supposed to lead, and in their impassive position of attention, he could somehow feel an eager confidence radiating out of them. A confidence that he once felt when he had first graduated from the defense academy. A confidence he knew that would immediate fade after first contact with the enemy.

Once he knew he'd seen enough, he nodded. "At ease."

The team relaxed and Itami wondered what to say next.

He gave a nervous cough. "Umm…introductions; I'm Second Lieutenant Itami Yoji. I am this team's leader." He gestured for them to introduce themselves.

The tallest of the group spoke first. He had broad shoulders and was without doubt the heaviest built man of the team. "Sergeant First Class Akira Tomita, sir. Honored to serve in your team, sir."

"Likewise."

He moved onto the next person. "Name?"

"Sergeant Takeo Kurata. I'm one of the team's driver." The sergeant's grin was infection, and Itami couldn't help but smile back at him. A real confident lad, an essential quality for a driver, someone who can be daring and skilled.

"Good to meet you, Kurata. I hope you don't crash with me in the vehicle any time soon."

The sergeant grin only grew. "Don't worry about that, sir. I've never crashed anything with two wheels or more before."

"Good, because I'm told we're going to be receiving new equipment and vehicles soon, and we should start training with them. Though not officially yet, we're all heading for war, so I don't want any mishaps before we could even get to deploy."

"Yes, sir."

Itami moved on and continued until he learnt all the names of the member of his team, as well as their role and purpose. He stood at their front and center again, feeling more confidence now than before.

"Well, it's good to meet you all, Third Recon Team. Our role, as explained to me, is deep reconnaissance behind enemy lines. We are going to be one of the first to explore the Special Region as they are calling it. I have no doubt that we'll see things that'll make us question everything we've come to know. This is a new world we're going to, a very strange one at that."

He saw the team listened intently to his words, and he felt a secret pride of them even though he had just met them. But as he finished talking, he remembered something suddenly.

"Kuwahara?"

"Sir?"

"There're supposed to be twelve members in this team, including me, correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"I'm counting only ten of you at the moment. Where's the eleventh? Who's missing?"

"Sir, that would be Sergeant First Class Shino Kuribayashi. She's currently away on funeral leave."

"Funeral leave?" He thought all leaves were cancelled.

"I heard she lost her younger brother at Ginza, sir."

Ginza. Itami froze at that word, then he slowly nodded. "Ah, I see. When she returns, tell her to report to me straightaway."

"Yes, sir."

"Well, I think just introductions is enough for today, good to meet you all. Dismissed."

† † † † † † †

Officer barracks, Camp Obihiro

Itami lounged in his small bedroom. The room was bare, except for the essential desk and drawers, for he still hadn't had much time to customized it since he arrived at Camp Obihiro, where the 5th Brigade was currently stationed. Kuwahara sat on a chair opposite him, taking a drag out of his cigarette. The evening was fast approaching, and through the sole window of the room, Itami could see the sun setting on the horizon, bleaching the sky in an orange hue.

"So tell me, Kuwahara, what kind of guys am I leading?" Itami thought it was good idea to ask the sergeant major of his opinion on the team.

Kuwahara finished his drag then spoke, "You don't need to worry too much about them, sir. They're good men and women. They may not be from the best of backgrounds, but they're good men and women. All they want to do is prove that they know what they are doing."

"I see."

"Let them know what is expected of them, sir. We, soldiers, are simple things, we do what is expected of us and we do them to the best of our abilities."

"That's good advice. Thank you."

"You're welcome, sir. I've served under all types of officers, sir, so I know what leadership we respond to the best."

The sergeant major took another drag, while Itami leaned forward on his seat.

"Kuwahara, if you don't mind telling me, what did you mean by 'not from the best of backgrounds'?"

The sergeant major took a moment before answering. "Most of them joined the military because they couldn't make it anywhere else, sir. Highschool dropouts, falling out with family, you know, that sort of stuff." Kuwahara tapped his cigarette on the ashtray. "Take Kurata, for example. His family never really thought he would ever amount to anything in life, say he was too lazy, always watching and reading anime and manga. So he enlisted because he thought that was his only option, and basics soon whipped that laziness out of him."

Itami laughed. "Sounds too much like me. My parents never really thought I could succeed in life as well. To an extent, they're right so far. My paygrade right now is just enough for me to support my hobby as an otaku—yes, just like Kurata."

Kuwahara shook his head. "I disagree, sir. What you did at Ginza—that's something worth accomplishing. You've done more than what your parents could ever hope to imagine, sir."

"Thanks for the pickup." Itami smiled, but deep within he was still uncomfortable with all the praises he had been receiving from all those he met.

A silence settled between them.

"So tell me about yourself, Kuwahara. Why did you stay in the military for so long?"

"The military is all that I ever know, sir."

"You got a family?"

"Yes, I do, sir. Had a wife, and two children all grown up and working now."

Itami raised an eyebrow. "Had a wife?"

"Lung cancer, sir. Lost her six years ago." Kuwahara blew out a puff and watched the smoke floated away from him.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize, sir. I've moved on from it a long time ago already."

Itami nodded, still feeling slightly guilty for bringing up the topic. "So what about your children? How old are they?"

"My son is twenty-five, and my daughter's twenty-one. My daughter is actually engaged right now."

"Oh congratulations!" Itami smiled, but to his surprise Kuwahara didn't smile in return, instead a frown was on his face.

"I probably won't be able to attend the wedding. Not with all that's going on, sir."

"Ah, that is unfortunate." He now understood why Kuwahara seemed sad.

"It is, sir." The sergeant major took out another cigarette from his pack and took the longest drag he had so far.

Another silence settled, which was eventually broken by Kuwahara.

"What about you, sir? Any family?"

"No, not really."

"I thought so, sir, you looked too young to have any children."

"I'm thirty-three, sergeant major!" Kuwahara laughed, and Itami couldn't help but join in the older man's glee. "But yeah, I do actually have an ex-wife."

It was Kuwahara's turn to be curious. "Oh what happened, sir?"

Itami's smile lessened a little. "We were too young when we married, and didn't really think things through. We couldn't figure out what exactly each of us wanted from the other and that eventually drove us apart."

"I see, sir."

"Well, that's the short story." Itami stood up from his seat and went over to close the window for the evening wind was getting strong. "The long story is too much of a hassle to say it."

Kuwahara nodded, tossing his cigarette onto the ashtray. "I like the short story just fine, sir."

† † † † † † †

"Honorable members of the Cabinet, honorable members of the Diet, honorable guests, honorable citizens of Japan.

On the afternoon of the 17th August, our nation suffered a terrible attack on the district of Ginza. Soldiers from a foreign sovereign known to us as the Empire appeared through a mysterious building called the Gate and massacre all civilians in sight.

By definition, this is an act of war. And what we have never expected has happened. But we must not shy away from the unexpected. Since the Empire have made the first move, Japan must now counter with a second. Closing the Gate is not an option, for we fear that another Gate might open in another part of Japan, causing great loss of lives again.

Honorable citizens of Japan, we are in the dark about the strangeness of this new world, therefore we must proceed with caution. From the prisoners captured by the Self-Defense Force in Ginza, we are learning what we can about this different world beyond the Gate, but information has been limited. We do not know the land, the people, and the culture.

I therefore declare, in order to learn what lies on the other side, as well as to bring any forces there to the negotiating table for the crimes committed against the people of Japan, the Japanese Cabinet has determined that the Self-Defense Force will be going through the Gate and investigate the mystery that is the Special Region."

Japan Prime Minister Houjou Shigenori

Address to National Diet, October 5th, 2016


There you go, the Third Recon Team is introduced. Lol I know not every one was introduced, I only chose to introduce the important ones for now and as the story goes on, I'll introduce more. This is so that I don't just dump a bunch of names and backstory onto you people.

Anyway, this was a nice chapter to write. My friend said that he had a lot of fun editing Shino's scene, which is also my favorite scene of this chapter. I just enjoyed writing the intrigues of Shino's past and the relationship she has with her parents.

The first two chapters of this arc are quite slow, but once I hit the third chapter then the pace just goes up. I think so far, I'm looking forward to writing the 4th chapter the most, which is going to be the Battle of Alnus, the big milestone in this story, and right now in my plans, I have an interesting perspective to work with.

And that's all I have to say for this author's notes. Credit to my co-writer and friend for his editing and suggestions, and also credit to those who have already reviewed, favorite and followed, the support is greatly appreciated. Another week or longer for the next update.