Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 5
Chapter 37: Minara's Resolve
(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)
I was up as I was in the dining hall in which I had to deal with another meeting with Ryosuke, who was here in this emergency session in the house I stayed in. Even though the allied forces were overseeing the repairs of Lillium after the assault by the Executive Division, I was having a tough time dealing with dissent amongst both Ryosuke and those who stood by with the rules that the Order had over the centuries. Even though I wasn't fit to be a negotiator, I had to do my part into being an arbiter about Minara's fate in the Order's ranks on the sly. Even Kazuo was not too happy with Ryosuke as the head honcho in the outer part of the Ashizoka System ruffled up a few feathers along the way.
"You can't just bend or break the rules in the Order, Ryosuke," he said. "Minara was born to be in the Medical Corps and he stays firm; there are no exceptions on this part."
"I have my reasons to put him there, Kazuo," he fired back. "Minara was chosen to succeed Lentulus after he was killed at the hands of Julilla Paxton, who still evades death and scrutiny while allowing unsuspecting male victims to screw her just to keep her on top."
"Julilla will get her due the moment she lets down her guard, but as for Minara's predicament, he's not fit to succeed Lentulus, only to still be a part of the Medical Corps."
"And you still run a much stricter and tighter ship than your presecessor, don't you, Kazuo," said Meg as she entered into the dining hall. "In the end, you can't fight the head honchos on all four parts in this vast shelf of planets forever."
"For a long time, I've been a devout follower of the Order and a member of the Medical Corps, but I won't allow one of my subordinates to switch positions because of an Elder's death. Soldiers are forbidden to inherit titles or lands, you know that!"
"And what would the Almighty in doggy clothing say if He saw you going against His will like that? Aren't you also one of His prophets after all or are you defying him like His kids when they kicked Him out of Heaven?"
"The Terran God may have His say to bring Minara into further prominence, but the laws of the Order trump those who bend the rules or a higher power than what we have. You've seen the tragedy that was unfolded on both Claudius and on this planet, but the soldiers in both the Order and the planetary armies must do their part or they will end up like the two that were strung up for no apparent reason."
"Don't be vulgar, Kazuo," I said. "Minara is perfectly suitable to be a great successor to Lentulus after he was cut down by the ice queen of the Executive Division. Therefore, if God says that Minara is suitable for the job, then you should support His decision for it instead of demonizing it. What would your brother say to you? He would be disappointed in your decision to bar his grandson from being a part of the Council of Elders, along with the rest of us. And another thing, don't be a Zod."
It wasn't long until several more dignitaries appeared out of the blue as they were most likely to be attending this emergency session. In a unanimous form of unity, most stood in solidarity for Minara like never before as everyone had their reasons to be there in support for him. Still, there was one dissenter among the group as I spotted Kazuo having intentions to tighten his leash on the High Elf who was flung from his soldier duties and into the limelight of being what he never been before. When I spotted him arriving into the dining hall, he was still in his Medical Corps uniform as he sat down in front of the dignitaries who were waiting for him to show up, for they wanted him to succeed in the role that was given to him by surprise.
"Minara Mitani, son of Shizuo and Pomelia, grandson of Ippei and Makina," said Ryosuke. "You are hereby the next Elder of the Order in the outer part's branch of the Ashizoka System. Serve your position well and may your life be lead very well."
"I am honored to have that privilege," he said. "I will also have my reasons to avenge the former Elder and his daughter, whom I once had ties to."
"This is a travesty!" yelled Kazuo as he was singled out as the lone dissenter in the group. "Minara Mitani, you are still part of the Medical Corps and you will remain there for all eternity; no exceptions whatsoever! Transferring from your duties as a soldier is a disservice that is also detrimental to the Order and what it stands for! Therefore, there are others who will replace Lentulus Varus as his successor, but you will always be a part of the Medical Corps, is that clear to you?"
"Mind your words, Kazuo," said Ryosuke. "You can't just step in and bar Minara from obtaining his new position, can you?"
"Minara was foretold from birth that he will serve the Medical Corps for the rest of his life and giving it up for a much bold civilian decision is a stain on the honor of the group he serves! I won't lose any more of those who have been plucked from what we have! I say to Minara, tow the line in the soldier group you serve or else you will receive no further honor in the afterlife!"
"Damn it, Kazuo, you're making it harder than what it is now. Why can't you accept what God has told you or has His words fell on deaf ears to one of His chosen prophets?"
"I'm aware of a lot of things, whether I'm in the Medical Corps or not, but I won't be a rule breaker in the Order. Minara will remain in the Medical Corps in which he follows the same creed like any other soldier that is handpicked to serve in the group he or she serves. It is the way things are and that will never change, you got that?"
The delegation was stunned as Kazuo's words were a set of nails to the coffin when it came down to Minara's fate into becoming an Elder of the Order. I was also disappointed at the Medic General of the Medical Corps as I saw him leave the dining room the moment I followed him out into the hall. He wasn't ready to give up Minara from his position in the Medical Corps as he was keeping the recently widowed High Elf on a much tighter leash than normal. Still, I couldn't let him get away with what he said earlier as he spotted Chuck standing in front of him with a disappointed look on his face, for there was an internal obstacle that was kept in place, even amongst other members of the Order of Letters altogether.
"You're making a mistake, Kazuo," I heard him say. "How could you do that to Minara in which you keep him chained to the Medical Corps?"
"He's a soldier, not a statesman," he answered. "Every soldier in the Order is forbidden to inherit titles or lands in which they serve their designated group with honor, not shame."
"Thanks for ruining that chance for him, Kazuo. That was really messed up with what you did back there. You were given a chance to offer him gratitude and thanks, but you decided to hurl his reputation down the toilet by keeping him on a much shorter leash like a dog with duct tape on its mouth."
"I do this in order to keep everything as is in the Medical Corps, not break the rules. After what I heard, Ryosuke is playing with fire when it comes to plucking Minara out of his designated group and into the shoes of his predecessor and it can't continue."
"You can't do that to Minara," I said cautiously. "Everyone here had high hopes for him to succeed and you believe that this form of optimism is a travesty? I'm disappointed in your decision to keep him on a short leash and you're trying to keep things as they were by using the Order's rulebook as a weapon?"
"And what about your past self in the Elder Days without your soul, Sam? He wanted to keep everything as is in which it became more complicated when he got it back. After that, chaos ensued and I'm here to keep it that way in the Order and that's exactly what I'm doing!"
"Don't even try to use my past self's guilt as a weapon, do you hear me?!" I was getting much angrier than normal as I was ready to punch at Kazuo for his behavior. "He paid for his mistakes, only to be steeped into more lows than imagined. As for you, you're defeating Minara's purpose to succeed Lentulus, but you believe it to be detrimental to what the Order stands for! And you call yourself the Medic General of the Medical Corps?! You're nothing but a naysayer and a pessimist who thinks that nothing good will come of it and I have faith in what Minara stands for in order to avenge Lentulus and Penelope, who lost their lives to the Executive Division!"
I was ready to punch at Kazuo directly until I was stopped by Castiel, who appeared out of nowhere, as he stood in front of him. Like any other angel, he was determined to protect the Medic General of the Medical Corps. He meant business as he didn't want Kazuo to be harmed due to his status as one of God's prophets after all.
"I won't let you hurt him, Sam," he said. "You overstepped your boundaries into attacking a prophet of the Lord and I won't allow it."
"Back off, Castiel," said Kazuo as he was getting irritated with his presence. "This is between Sam and me, not for a pack of attack dogs from the Terran God's Heavenly Host to intervene."
"A prophet must be protected at all times and if he or she is threatened, an archangel will come forth and strike the attacker down."
"This is a one-on-one battle between Sam and Kazuo, Castiel," said Chuck. "You can't just show up at the last minute to be the punching bag in the middle. And another thing, Kazuo fears the worst in which he doesn't want Minara to end up like Ippei, who died in the Universal Library last year."
"My brother died at the hands of Darbus Toller and Matsuo took over his positon as Elder in which he will soon be put at risk," he said. "I don't want Minara to suffer the same fate in which the Executive Division will be ready to pounce the moment he's caught off guard. I can't let him switch to civilian clothing yet because of what that whore, Julilla, might do to him if he gets the chance to take up Lentulus' former position."
"Then let him be Elder. He is made for it because of the fact that he's got the full potential to not only to stand up against the Executive Division, but to claim the Cetra that was saved from her fate here. It's the least we can all do, can't we?"
Kazuo left the hall as he was in a crisis of his own. I had a feeling that he would be torn between following the rules of the Order and to listen to Ryosuke's decision as there would be one unresolved conflict that wasn't in his favor. Still, he stuck to his guns as he would even defy Chuck of all people, who was heavily concerned about the outcome of this affair. He wasn't about to let Minara get off the hook so readily as there would soon be consequences for his actions, for he wasn't about to let him go that easily right now…
Minara was in Mizuwa's hospital room as he saw her sitting up in which she had fresh bandages that covered her burn wounds. What he didn't expect was that his sister-in-law, Philara, was there as she was busy bringing in some food that was cooked earlier. The woman, who was Janus' wife, was a plus-sized individual with navy hair and green eyes as she was also a stern one who made sure that everyone got fed for the day.
"It seems that you decided to come here to fatten the patient up after what she went through," said Minara. "It's also a godsend that you and Janus are here to congratulate me on being an Elder, but Kazuo's not too thrilled to see me away from my soldier position."
"Well, let him get pissed," said Philara. "You're a gentle soul that cares about plenty of the patients that come and go in your care and it's not fair that you get yanked back into your old duties as a soldier in the Medical Corps."
"How are the children doing?"
"They've been at the mercy of their uncle, who is the brother of your sister's husband. He even mentioned a certain black car parked in the shed of Winchester Castle on Alecrast."
"Dean means well, but he's also knee-deep in his duties as a member of the Hunter Corps."
"Anyway, Janus and I have gotten a letter from the Rakuen Priesthood when you ventured out of Claudius and onto Essos. They said that you have been chosen to marry the young Cetra whose family have been wiped out at the hands of certain enemies and we all know that their ancestor once housed the Colt once."
"Philara…, I would, but I can't right now and I won't. Remarrying and giving a replacement mother to Kunio and Poppea would dishonor Penelope's memory altogether. I can't do that and it would hurt her feelings if I did."
"Minara…," said Mizuwa. "Please, let me into your family. I have no other ones in mine in which demons and vampires have taken their lives. I'm the only one left and I swear that I'll make a good wife for you and a good mother to your children."
"My answer's final and vow to never marry again. I don't want Penelope to be some sort of vengeful spirit and haunt me for the rest of my life and I can't allow such dishonor to taint my image. I don't like it any more than you do, but there are ghosts who kill those who are unfaithful to their spouses and I won't end up becoming a philanderer because of it."
"But, Minara..."
"How could you?!" yelled Philara as she slapped Minara in the face. "How dare you try to wriggle away from remarrying to the sole survivor of the Elkins Clan like that?! For centuries, that clan was considered to be one of the best families of weaponmakers that ever graced all over the place and you're refusing the hand of one of them?! In the Elder Days, very few of the Elkins Clan have hidden in the shadows, but they stuck to their guns into creating weapons that are equally matched to those from the legendary Samuel Colt. The only time that one of Elkins blood fell was that a group of vampires went in and killed him while taking the same weapon that was named after the legendary namesake that we all know today! Therefore, the House of Varus once had close ties to the ancestors that derived from the one who once secured the Colt and this is what you pull by not marrying the last one of that family that's already put to extinction? If Penelope saw you that way, she'll be angry with you for not considering your happiness right now and it shows. You think that remaining a widower for the rest of your days could resolve anything, but it'll do more harm than good on your honor and reputation altogether. Do you want that permanent stain to be on your record for the rest of your life, Minara Mitani?"
Minara didn't say another word as he stared briefly at Mizuwa altogether. Even though she was the last one in an extinct family of weaponmakers, he still stuck to his guns as he vowed to never marry another person again for as long as he lived. By the time he left the hospital room, he was out in the main hall as he saw Kunio and Poppea playing with Carly in which he couldn't let another mother bring ruin to his reputation. He remembered the story of the weeping woman as it was an urban legend to scare unfaithful spouses to remain faithful to their significant others for the rest of their days. Now that he had been a widower, he was lonely as the hole in his heart had gotten bigger due to what he lost in this ongoing war. He couldn't bring himself to be under the microscope as he wasn't about to commit adultery against the one that he lost.
"No…," he said as he briefly stops. "I may take over Lentulus' position, but I will never marry again for as long as I'm breathing. I can't do that to Penelope… I won't have my reputation tarnished as an adulterer for the rest of my days and I will honor the memory of my fallen beloved..."
Just as he was about to oversee his duties in his new position as Elder, he felt a chill in the air as it began to freeze the hall. He had a feeling that something ghostly would punish him for trying to be unfaithful to Penelope as he didn't want to fall under the cracks. He had a feeling that the weeping woman would come in front of him to tear him to pieces as he didn't want that to happen to him, not with the children here. When he saw the curtains unwrap and cover the windows, he bolted towards a door as he saw it closing tightly shut. He feared the wrath of the weeping woman until he spotted a ghostly presence in front of him. It was Penelope herself as she was concerned about his state of mind that was driving him on pins and needles. He saw a sad look on her face as he had a bad feeling that he would soon meet a much fatal end at the hands of the weeping woman altogether, but he was wrong about everything he perceived to be. She was worried for him as she didn't want him to be sad for the rest of his life, for she would soon meet him again in the afterlife in the end.
"Penelope…," said Minara. "I thought that you would be the weeping woman all this time..."
"Oh, Minara…," she said. "You can't go on like this forever. What about our children and the new ones that we hid from sight? They can't go without a mother to look after them and it hurts. And what about you, my love? You're still wanting to avenge me and Father after what that woman did to us, but your thirst for vengeance will be your undoing if you're not careful."
"Julilla will pay for your death, Penelope. She will know what is like to lose someone dearly to her just the same way as me and I will make it so to avenge what was taken away from me. I swear that I will get justice for what was stolen from me, even if it meant by seeking vengeance."
"And what about the patient that is in your care? She has a good heart and will make you happy for the rest of your days. You of all people should be happy for this in which the girl herself has no other family to call her own other than the one that was killed. I beg of you, don't let our children go without a mother and don't let yourself go without a wife to love and care about you, for you are empty inside if you don't have it before it's too late."
"But you are my wife and the mother of our children! I can never let you go!"
"Please, Minara, be happy… for my sake… I don't want you to go down a dark path that will lead you towards destruction. I want you to move forward and not cave into despair, alright? The woman who is the last of the Elkins Clan needs you just as much as you need her and no one should ever be lonely for the rest of their days. I'll always watch over you, but you must move forward for all our sakes. Please, do this for me, Minara… Promise me that you will never go down in the path of despair or else it will harm you in the end."
"I'll never go down that path of despair, Penelope… All I want is to make Julilla pay for what she's done to you and your father. Both of you were precious to me in many ways than one in which we were compatible for a good reason, for it was a bond that can never be broken."
"Please, don't cry, my love..." Penelope sees tears streaming down Minara's face as she wipes them away. "I love you more than anything, but I'm no longer here in life, only in spirit. You have a huge potential to live for, but the bonds of family will never be broken and neither will the threads that brings us together in this life or the next. Mizuwa will be there for you, for she will make you happy in what you have left for you and our children..."
"And I will do that..."
At that moment, Minara saw Penelope disappear as she was going up towards Heaven where she belonged. It was also at that moment that he vowed to protect Mizuwa with his life just as much as his own children in which they in dire need of a mother altogether, for this was something that became a godsend in the form of a ghostly intervention on the sly…
I spotted Kazuo in the courtyard as he was still not too happy with Minara for upholding his duties as the new Elder of the Order. Still, the Medic General of the Medical Corps was too stubborn in his own right to admit that Minara himself was capable and qualified to do the job as he viewed this situation to be a travesty that should've never happened in the first place. He wanted him to remain in the Medical Corps as he vowed never to be like his predecessor till the bitter end, for every single member had to be on board to help treat the sick and injured in this time of crisis on the horizon. Clenching his fists, Kazuo wasn't done with retaining those who were the brightest in the field as he had a gut feeling that the Second Galvanic Uprising will take a toll on those who fought in this ongoing war.
"You're still fuming over Minara's decision, aren't you?" I said. "Still, you feel angry about the decision that Ryosuke made for him, but you can't change the outcome, no matter what you try to say, rule follower or not."
"If you're in any of the four corps groups, you have no other choice but to be on board with dealing with what's been put in front of you," said Kazuo as he was looking at the brandings on his arms. "All of us are fighting in this war that the Executive Division started and it's about time that we've finished it… for all our sakes."
"Just because Minara is plucked out of the Medical Corps at the behest of Ryosuke, doesn't mean that he's not capable of his duties as a doctor on the field. I have faith that he'll succeed Lentulus after what happened on Claudius."
"Ryosuke can't just bend the rules like that and there are very few members of the Medical Corps all over the galaxy tending to the sick and injured while the locals are still digging for leftovers just to bandage an injury or use a bedpost for a crutch."
"There are others who will have the chance into joining the Medical Corps, Kazuo. There are other hopefuls that are willing to put their lives on the line to help people in this crucial time of need. As for Minara's decision, he should be respected for it, not become your personal pariah in all of this. You're much better than that and your reasons to help the needy are far more important than keeping one from maintaining a different duty that was put there in the first place."
"Minara is not just a part of the Medical Corps, he's one of the most compassionate of all in which he even consoled the most unconsolable in this time of crisis. There are no other replacements that will fill his shoes at this time."
"There is… All you need to do is to bring her back into the fold in which she can start over again..."
"Kotori told me over and over that she would never return back to the Medical Corps, but it's hard for her to go back right now after being shamed by both my predecessor and General Wetzel himself. And wearing that deplorable black armband of shame is a detrimental thing to do to someone who had been shamed for no reason but to bow down to her rapist in that terrible manner. As for the situation that we have now, we can't afford to lose any more respected doctors, surgeons, and even psychologists in our field. This galaxy needs the Medical Corps right now in this time of crisis, for it will be a godsend for everyone who has a best chance to thrive in this bleak and beautiful veil of space."
It wasn't long until we spotted Kotori entering into the courtyard as she was finished with her duties of tending to the sick and injured for the day. Still, she wore that same black armband of shame on the labcoat she wore as she had a reason to keep it on at all times. Therefore, I couldn't allow her to live in the shame that was heaped upon her for years as she was most likely to be reinstated by fate intervening in the favor of hope. It was a perfect time to do so as I didn't want Kotori to live in further shame that she already had, for she had to do her part like the rest of us in this time of war.
"What the hell are you doing here, Kazuo?" she said as she got testy.
"You're a part of what you truly meant to be, Kotori," he said.
"And what's it all about?"
"You're still one of us, Kotori. As of now, you're being reinstated."
"No! I will never return to the Medical Corps! You're bonkers all because you want me to relive the shame that I went through under your predecessor! I can't go through that again, no matter what you tell me!"
"And what about you? What about what you once stood for? You were willing to learn from my methods in which examining the psychological state of many patients became key to the overall health of all, not just for the sick and injured. And once again, you keep that black armband of shame on you to wear for the rest of your days, but wearing the damn thing does more harm than good in this matter and it must be stopped immediately."
"That armband will never be torn off, Kazuo. It is the burden that I bear and I will always wear it, no matter what you tell me. I've bore it the moment I left the Medical Corps and I will make damn sure that it stays that way. You can't change this and you can't go past the decision of your superiors, either, for this is the way it will be till my candle loses its flame."
Without further hesitation, I walked towards Kotori as I spotted the armband on the labcoat she wore. The stigma of it all was ready to be torn away as I ripped it off from her arm and threw it onto the ground. I couldn't allow Kotori to suffer much further as she was a much vital asset to this ongoing situation that the Medical Corps were put into, for this was a crisis that needed to be put out of commission for good this time.
"Kazuo is right, Kotori," I said. "You can't just wear that deplorable armband of shame like some scarlet letter for the rest of your life forever."
"And you side with him, too?!" she yelled.
"I'm not siding with anyone right now because of the fact that we all have to emerge from our cocoons, whether we like it or not. You're not the only one who bears a stigma that hangs over your head. Kazuo also bears a stigma that is emblazoned on his arms as punishment for not accepting his purpose as one of God's prophets. When he lost his son and daughter-in-law, he lost faith in everything that God stood for the moment he was chosen to be a chosen prophet, but he felt the consequences for not accepting what was put in front of him. Even though he accepted this over time, the scars that the Brandings of God made took a toll on his arms in which he has to cover up the stigma he has while you wear yours on your sleeve. Both of you need to come to terms about change and it must be met before we all get pulled asunder. And another thing, if Minara is made for change, then both you and Kazuo should also do so in which it can do you good in the near future."
At that moment, we all saw Minara as he was about to take another bout of Kazuo's anger until he saw the latter stay his hand while revealing the Brandings of God. Still, he was eager to change the spectrum as he also vowed to get revenge against the Executive Division for the deaths of the loved ones he lost. The battle against those in the Executive Division's ranks wasn't over as the vow to put our enemies in their place was getting much more heated than ever anticipated. This was our current war that would never end as the Second Galvanic Uprising was taking a toll on what we had within us for no good reason. In the end, there would be a path of vengeance coming as I sensed within Minara a fierce desire to avenge Penelope and Lentulus, who died at the hands of Julilla, for this wasn't over just yet.
"You still wear vengeance on your sleeve, don't you?" I said.
"Even though I am being forced to marry the patient that was found by our allies, that won't stop me from finding and killing the one who took Penelope and Lentulus away from me," said Minara.
"The motto on the beach you drew, 'Nemo me impune lacessit,' is Latin for 'No one cuts me with impunity.' It's also a Scottish proverb that was used in the time of the Middle Days, but that motto was abandoned for centuries until now."
"And it's been used recently in which it's also a rallying cry to bring down the Executive Division before they enact any of the four space stations above any third planet in all four parts of the Ashizoka System," said Kazuo. "In the end, we all have to settle for what's been put here in the first place, but General Wetzel is waiting and biding his time right now. Perhaps breaking the rules to allow soldiers to be Elders of the Order isn't so bad after all, but with one catch with approval from the savior of the Ashizoka System."
"And I approve of Minara to be Lord Varir and master of Varus Hall for his future children and relatives to uphold in times of crisis. You may had children with Penelope, but you were also chosen to protect young Nerva, who is the on the cusp of puberty right now. The boy needs more than just guidance and you've been there to protect him just like his older brothers, who are serving to stop the Executive Division. You have every reason to do so and I support it."
"Wait! That's not all!"
We saw Philara enter into the courtyard as she was carting a stroller filled with a set of twins in it. When I examined them carefully, I noticed them to be High Elves as they had silver hair, but different sets of eyes: the girl had purple and the boy had blue. I never expected them to see them here before as even Minara recognized them on the spot, for they were the twins that were hidden from view of the Executive Division's eyes after all.
"I see that Keisei and Teruko have been let out of the bag," said Minara.
"My Lord," said Philara as she stared at me. "These twins are the flesh and blood of both Minara and Penelope in which they were born three months ago on the second day of May during your absence. These two little mites were hidden from the eyes of the Executive Division and of that from Darbus Toller of all people in which they've joined their bigger siblings so far."
"They're a lot like their parents, but this phenomenon is a rarity," said Kotori. "This is also the first time in a hundred years that High Elves are born with silver hair and it happened with the Mitani Clan, which is a godsend."
"It seems that I have four who share the same birthday as me instead of two," I said. "Looks like that Minara has a lot of reasons to be at Varus Hall after all, but with a good reason to look after everyone due to his medical experience."
"It's a shame that the mites lost their mother, but their presence became so strong that I ended up producing milk for them even after my own children have gone to school," said Philara. "Penelope will never be forgotten, but we need all the resolve we can get. As for what the Executive Division had done, they will get their due the moment they get their balls snipped, but that's not all. From what I heard from the Medical Corps in the house, the woman who was brought in was also a victim from General Wetzel's cruelty in which he did more than just jerk her around. She lost her maidenhead to that bastard and it's high time that he gets his own cock and balls snipped."
Minara was stunned to hear that from Philara as he felt great sorrow for Mizuwa altogether. Even Kotori was angered at what she heard as the onslaught to put General Wetzel in his place was getting more heated than normal. As for me and Kazuo, however, we weren't too happy with what happened to the latest patient who was brought in as the thought of Mizuwa being sexually assaulted at the hands of General Wetzel was the last and final straw. No one should be stigmatized by such trauma as I vowed to make sure that she was treated with the same dignity with all the other patients that were cared for in the infirmary wing. Even Minara was concerned as he wanted to see Mizuwa so badly, for he wanted to know why such an arrogant fool like General Wetzel would violate her for no reason. All the same, he was beginning to care about her even more as he vowed to be at her side for the rest of his life, no matter what was put in his way…
Mizuwa was in the bathroom as she was taking a hot bath while recovering from the burn wounds she received. After what she went through, she felt an internal pain that stigmatized her since last year in which she never forgot the man who stole her innocence. The thought of him unnerved her so badly as she let out a scream that shook the bathroom. She thought that she could erase that terrible time from her mind, but the image of him was the worst that came from what she experienced in the past year, for it was hell for her. By the time she was ready to get out, she heard the door open as she saw Kotori coming in she was concerned about her well-being, for the memory of it was a tough one to get past. With the water draining out of the tub, she was curled up in a fetal position as she became more ashamed about her ordeal, but Kotori had to get her through it, no matter what obstacle that stood in her way.
"You shouldn't scream like that," she said as she saw Mizuwa crying woefully. "Besides, you're not alone in this stigma that we have."
"I should've told Minara…," she sobbed. "I should've told him about how that madman raped me last year… and he was the one who started that war against the Order on Alecrast..."
"Was it General Wetzel?" Mizuwa nods as she sat up. "You're not the only onw who was sexually assaulted by the mad general. I was also one of his victims in which I tried to get past the stigma of being raped by that bastard."
"You were raped, too?"
"It was hell for me in which his presence also made me leave the Medical Corps, but you can thank a certain tall someone for yanking off the black armband of shame I wore in order to be back again. We all have stigmas, even you, but we can't let them define us nor can we let them weigh us down. And another thing, we can't wear our stigma like some scarlet letter, now can we? As for the pep talk I had, I realized something in which we have to keep fighting for what we live for. Even Minara knows about what you went through in which he vows to protect you from further pain, for no one can put us down in detriment. By the way, there's some supper that consists of what is put in the kitchen by the women of the Order. It's better than just sulking, but we are also flawed for what we've got so far."
It wasn't long until Mizuwa stepped out of the bathtub as she dried herself off with a towel and placed it into a hamper. By the time she dressed in fresh clothing, she followed Kotori out of the bathroom as she saw Minara standing in front of her. He was vowing to protect her even more as the sad fact about her being sexually assaulted by General Wetzel was more than enough to put the rest of the Executive Division out of commission for good. He couldn't let Mizuwa fall victim to the stigma that harmed her as he walked towards her and hugged her warmly. He also wanted to keep her safe as it was the last thing that he could do to keep himself from being torn asunder. It wasn't long until his angelic aura awakened even further as his touch began to heal Mizuwa's wounds on her body.
Kotori never expected him to heal a patient like that before as this was a first for someone who was put out of the Medical Corps and into Lentulus' former position as Elder. It was also a crucial time as Minara had a job to do in order to protect the remainder of his loved ones from further harm. He was putting his foot down as he vowed to do so in order to honor the memories of his wife and father-in-law till the bitter end. By the time he was ready to escort Mizuwa with Kotori following, he spotted Castiel in front of them as he was concerned about what was going on so far, for this was a dangerous battle after all.
"You are needed," he said.
"Now is not the time, Castiel," said Minara.
"The allied forces are focusing their concerns towards Alecrast in which General Wetzel and his troops have laid waste to the Order's main headquarters there."
"What?!"
"Were there any survivors from all this?" asked Kotori.
"Two hundred people were killed in the attack, including Jun Kanzaki, who sacrificed herself to get the rest of the people in it out of there."
"Oh, dear God… I've been there to study under the Medical Corps, but to see it be destroyed?"
"Does Sam know?" asked Minara as Castiel shakes his head. "Does Kazuo?"
"Ginryu managed to bring the rest of the members and delegates of the Order to the underground sanctuaries that connect to Winchester Castle in Kanto Village. What happened there on Alecrast is a primal act of war and it won't stop until the Executive Division pays for their crimes."
Minara let go of Mizuwa as he sprinted into the dining hall in which he spotted Kazuo on his knees with tears in his eyes. He even noticed me stunned in shock as I had the letter of the disaster in my hands, for the fall of the Order's main headquarters on Alecrast was a dangerous and deliberate blow to what was stable in all the Ashizoka System. We were at a loss as the news of the two hundred people who lost their lives in that tragedy became more than just a rallying cry. It was a cry for vengeance as we had no other choice but to assist into the effort of the remaining survivors to stop this merciless carnage once and for all. It wasn't long until we saw Ginryu and Reina coming into the dining hall as they used the travelling portal to get here in which the tragedy had hit too close to home already.
"I take it that you saved the rest of our brethren back home," I said.
"General Wetzel went on a rampage after the loss he suffered from," said Reina.
"And he takes his anger out on our people like that?" said Minara as he had more disdain for the Executive Division. "Destroying an institution that protected everyone from dangerous threats is a far more serious crime than that of killing an Elder!"
"Calm down, Minara," said Ginryu. "This isn't the first time that the main headquarters on Alecrast was destroyed and it won't be the last, either. We've been through war and back since the time of the Orc Wars, only to see the wolves in sheep's clothing cling to their dangerous plan to destroy us."
"And what about Jun?!" cried Kazuo as he was unable to contain his anguish. "Was her sacrifice to save everyone there all in vain?! General Wetzel has crossed the line and he'll pay with his life for the two hundred people who lost their lives!"
"That's enough, Kazuo!" I yelled. "This attack on the Order won't be forgotten, nor will the sacrifices of others go in vain, either! We all carry the stigma of our flaws, but we're not the type that can be broken easily!"
"Sam's right," said Reina. "What General Wetzel and his cronies did became a point to bring us together to protect our further brethren in the Order, for it is our own personal resolve to do so."
"Nemo me impune lacessit," said Minara. "No one will cut me with impunity."
The resolve to protect the Order of Letters was much stronger than ever as the time to reflect on the latest danger was more than enough to bring us forward against the Executive Division even further. As for the stemming tragedy that we suffered, it was what brought all of us together to crush our aggressors for doing this deed in the first place, for this wasn't over just yet…
To be continued...