Argent Valley 3

A.N.: A bit of a chapter with some Tanya and how the Citizens of Pelican Town see/interact with her.

Tanya's First Year, Day 11 of Spring

All this time, I focused on getting this cozy home of mine back into a shape where I could call it such without feeling embarrassed. Which involved an ungrateful amount of cutting trees, breaking rocks, and finding a damn blueprint of what I seek for this house, and juggle all that with getting food, foraging is fine and well, but there are times one wants more than plain vegetables or Legumes boiled in water or lightly roasted in the oven.

So after eleven days, for once I decided to check the town nearby, whatever the reason, a Letter from Mike came a day or two after I arrived, giving me a map of the area and some information regarding the region, and the citizens of Pelican Town, the sole place with people, stores, and access to all infrastructure of this area, though it seems the Community Spa was out of access for most because of rubble having blocked the area it was built, near the Railway, nowadays it only served for Trains passing, the old station present being of no use anymore.

Whatever the reason, my house had been built with access to both that area, and if you knew of it, a well-hidden path leading to the area with a lake, a mountain area, which was up north, right above the town. The patch of forest this house was in wasn't in mountainous terrain, but in an area somewhat closer to the level of the town, above it a little.

Pelican Town, what can I say? It is just like any small size place with just enough people to be considered something even if barely. It had one of those so called "mom and pop's shop", a Joja Mart, a so called Multinational Business if their generic looks and souless employees are anything to go by, the rest was… one place with machinery older than some old stuff I had once seen my previous life, the smoke from the large and sturdy chimney did make me guess it was a blacksmith shop, how the locals considered such thing safe to build nearby an all wooden structure was something any Imperial engineer would give a days long ass chewing.

The other buildings were a Saloon, a very small clinic, and a small number of houses, guess that families are the most that remain in such a town, with a few that most likely like the vibes of these places, but those are just the ones located here, in the proper part of the town. Understanding the lay of this place was done, so I check the local store, only place that would buy something as basic as foraged goods.

Door opened, a cliché Bell rang, alerting the person behind the counter, light brown hair, glasses, and a face that was nothing much, though Mike's notes of this new life of mine rang very loudly in my now perfect memory, so for now, I would tread with care on people, last I want is get too friendly with one of the two people that would be trouble to relate with.

"Hello, never seen you before, you new here?"

"Kinda…"

That kind of answer would bring questions, of course.

"So, passing by? Or what?"

"Staying for a while somewhere close to town, but outside its area."

"AH, a forest trekker? Long time since I last heard of one going around these woods."

He took my lack of response as an affirmative, works for me. Walking to him, he was willing to buy foraged goods, and a few other minor items, after some simple back and forth, I got what was as close to the purchase price of them I could, then, with the money, got to buy essentials such as sugar, salt, and a few canned goods. Business done I gave my farewells.

"Man would give some in the Imperial Logistics a run for their money when it comes to trying to skew the pricing."

Whatever, business done, I made my trip back home, storing my wares, then made my way back, to meet the locals. No soon I get back, first person I end meeting is a guy with a nose like those Plumber brothers, that he wore a cap, suspender like pants and a green long sleeve shirt just made him look like the Green Plumber one.

"Hello, are you perhaps the trekker?"

"I guess, and you?"

"Oh, sorry, Name's Lewis, and I am this towns mayor."

Great, just my luck.

"While I personally see no reason to worry about someone with your… looks, I do need to take the safety of the town in consideration, could you provide your ID?"

"About that…"

Who would've guessed this setup of my benefactor had to be used so soon?

"You have no ID?"

"Pretty much, the orphanage I was from ended destroyed at the start of the war with the Gotoro Empire, and my papers ended lost in the burning ruins."

This kind of claim would look absurd given I had looks that screamed that I was at least properly fed, but if my life had been spent learning foraging and fishing in rivers, I guess one could believe that? Somehow?

"I-I see… apologies about that… could you at least indicate what orphanage you come from?"

"It's a small one… I guess the name was… 'Roosenvelt's orphanage'?"

He thanked me and let me go my way, hope that random ass name that was in the papers he left with me when I first arrived exist, else I will be screwed.

The people of the town were very receptive, some were bright and had rather… colorful ways of expressing their tastes, others were more reserved, or just antisocial, the many married women took quite the interest and curiosity about me, blonde hair with blue eyes was nothing super uncommon around the Republic, but I guess my rather eye catching "beauty" attracted their curiosity, I tried to play my past as nothing worth talking about, but from what I gleaned, they may have gotten different ideas about what I meant.

"Peaceful, doesn't even seems like this nation is at a war with another, either it's that this place is so small and forgotten that the government doesn't notice it, or the war itself isn't yet at those stages. Anyways, better for me, I want PEACE after all."

The talks of those I met were all miscellaneous and varied, of them, the more talkative ones were either those at the age of being Bachelors or bacheloretes, or the married women, but this is what should be expected, this isn't the Empire where the talks about the state of War from start to finish was always present to a degree in the daily talks, or my First life in Modern Japan, with loads of information, the Internet and all kinds of topics from people of such diverse age groups and backgrounds.

'I doubt marriage is for me, and getting registration papers would be a pain in the ass at my age.' My thoughts flow, in my first life, marriage after I got one or two promotions before hitting my 40s of age seemed like an ok plan to have, what with my career being a steady delivery of results and ingratiating myself with my superiors. The second one ended way too early, I had just got past the age where I could enjoy alcohol legally in the Empire when that emotion driven brat stabbed me during a shootout. Nowadays? My interest isn't that deep, what with me still in a female body.

For a few days, I decided to build some rapport with the people of this town, wouldn't hurt to at least make some friendly ties.

A few Days later

Lewis POV

When Pierre called me to talk about a sudden new visitor, never would I have guessed she would be a beauty that may have some Heltyrian heritage, even more an Orphan that managed to survive after losing the only roof she ever knew, to that stupid war of all things, he was honestly not a nice person, but he wasn't someone who would kickstart a war for selfish reasons. Walking to the Saloon, he had asked Gus to keep it closed for a while longer, as the people of Pelican Town would be talking about that young lady.

"Lewis, come in, come in. You will want a drink?"

"Some Juice, please."

I pay Gus for the juice, then go to the area to the right, the arcade machines and pool table had been moved to open space for a long table. Everyone was present, or most, a few like Shane and Sebastian had their own kind of issues, others, like Vincent and Jas, didn't need to be here, they better enjoy their childhoods after all.

"Finally you here, was about to ask Gus for some Beer."

Of course Pam was first to complain.

"What you expect? The trip to Zuzu city takes ages since I had to wait the transport to arrive, and you know better than anyone the crap that is Bureaucratic stuff in this 'great' country."

She drops back on her seat, murmuring about how he should just pay for the bus repair. I have to focus now.

"I had to ask some favors to get this, whatever happened where her orphanage was located, it wasn't exactly endearing to our lovable government."

Most snort at the comment, Jodi keeps to herself, understandable after all, her husband is still serving the republic's army.

"What I got was that the Orphanage truly existed, worse of all, it was located in one of the Island prefectures near Contested waters, truly the worst place to be when tensions between Ferngill and Gotoro are at their highest."

"So the poor girl had to live under such conditions? How terrible."

"Well… on that… seems that the cause of the Orphanage becoming a pile of rubble isn't entirely the Empire's fault, not one word to anyone else, but the guy that got the files to me said that there're traces of Military tampering with the files, and that another incident within the timeframe of the orphanage's destruction had been on the Military's ass."

All understood the implications.

"Geez, your friend the governor is merely a governor when he has so many buddies, huh?"

Harvey sarcastically comments, everyone knows I have been cozying with that fat lard guy since forever, but me and him know just how utter insane it is once you get just past the bottom layers of power in this nation, and it was from losing a dear friend to its merciless grinders.

"Yeah, yeah, anyways, seems some idiot in the army caused some kind of incident, that involved large sized Artillery munitions, and structures on the island getting destroyed as result of the incident."

All are speechless, shocked at what I had just said.

"Oh my, that's… horrible!"

Robin is shocked, truly everyone is.

"Anyways, seems her claims of not having any form of documentation is true, more so if she survived that mess, must been a smart girl since young age to realize she was better not having anything to tie her to it for a while… even if that makes it impossible to get documents nowadays."

"True, true." Pierre nods, Harvey is apprehensive, since if he ever needs to take care of her, leaving a blank in the registries could spell trouble.

"Anyways, what else aside such terrible history?"

Jodi decides it's best we talk of anything else about her. For the rest of the meeting, all say what were their impressions of her, if maybe they could get her a house in the town, down to truly things only women would engage in deep talks about, such as what kinds of frilly clothes she would look good on and so forth. (At Tanya's home area, she feels a dreadful sense related to yet more attacks of what little of her male dignity remains).

At the end, they all agreed that it was still early, but they hoped she wouldn't be living so poorly like Linus, most had nothing against the man, but he could at least accept some amount of help.

Year 2, day 7 of Spring

Tanya POV

Spring had returned, at least I had managed to get my House wateproofed and thermally insulated, so no more water puddles from summer storms or horrible temperature fluctuations while sleeping. The townsfolk… I had some shaky moments, but it is progressing, or so I believe. Once more, back for the weekly shopping. The door to Pierre's store opens and its iconic bell rings.

"Hello… Tanya…"

"Hello, Pierre."

I am fine doing business with anyone, big or small, so long there's no blatant dishonesty, and that seems to be present in spades in that guy's attitude and way he runs his shop, little wonders we got into a rather bad situation with each other, not my fault his constant claiming that goods manufactured by ME were made by HIM netted him an infamous mess when I sold him soup with Spatsa mushrooms and he didn't even bother checking if what he bought was safe. He hasn't learnt his damn lesson though.

I just purchased what wasn't acquired from the Black-market merchants, which were things like Wheat flour, Rice, and boxes of matches. Once they were paid for, off to what else needed doing while here. Got a tool I had Clint upgrade for me, read the Week's Journals from Zuzu city, always available for free in the library slash Museum, and got to talk with the people a bit, a crude but still viable way to learn the ways to understanding people, a skill I am severely lacking, that I cannot deny and so I must better myself, that lackluster skill alone must been a source of many of my worst woes in the last life.

The first year was one where many had some sense of pity for my terrible life, even if the Orphanage story could only be VERY GENEROUSLY said to be true to my case, if one can consider the previous life valid for the latest one. But my way of talking and one event or two with some chaotic incidents, most at the cost of either Lewis or Pierre's dignity, did bring me a fame of being a bit of hard to approach person. At least the people understand one or two kinks of my personality, whatever their rationalization of those may be.

"Good afternoon, Evelyn."

"Oh, good afternoon, Tanya."

She was tending the flowers in the town, part of her own routine, counting both lives, Elderly people were a hit or miss with me on a like or dislike basis, and somehow, she was someone I had was willing to entertain a bit, but her husband was able to make even pure sugar taste bitter, somehow, unsurprisingly, disagreements between me and George were… quite the show of sparks. On Evelyn, I guess my cutesy beautiful looks and lifestyle until arriving here turns her into those grandmas that can make you get 20 Kilos of extra body fat in just one weekend, so I had to be smart to make a full retreat before things get there.

"The flowers are as always, looking nice."

"Indeed, right? that's what I love about Pelican Town…"

It was fine letting her tell about the past a bit, but that is the past, the present is here to be lived, so that the future looks better…. Hope those fools of the Kampfgruppe are living proper lives after that messy war… oops, focus, focus…

"… I hope that the next generations help this lovely place, what of you? Tanya?"

"Me?"

It's a kind of place I rather stay only after retiring in my late 60s at the earliest, but places where the peace and calm remain instead of the chaotic hustle typical of bigger cities or even larger, this is what I wanted, right? a place where after the war, I could just be, no Being X, no Mary Bitch Sioux…. Or any of the insanity that are emotion driven idiots… but…

"I do agree, places like these are a dying breed of town, but places like these lack very much what the younger people usually seek… few would be willing to settle in such places."

".. I see…"

"… still, places like these have their own charm, maybe attracting those seeking to settle after working their careers is a better way to keep this place alive and thriving, people who want peace, something this town has in spades."

After such kind of talk, I go my way, greeting Sam, as he walks out of his house.

"Tanya! Doing your routine as always."

"Just like you. How's things?"

His face briefly looks complicated. Guess something has come up.

"Yeah, my dad has finally returned home."

His father… if I heard right, he had been serving this country's army in the war with the Gotoro Empire.

"I see… wars are never pleasant things to be in, can't say what being a soldier doing his tour of duty would be."

"Yeah, anyways, he is at home if you want to meet him."

Better greet the returning discharged soldier, so I go to Sam's house. Once there, a well-built man, blonde hair, a bit messy, but mostly because it's still growing from the typical cut soldiers get, was sitting on the sofa, Jodi was at the kitchen, since the noise of running water was audible.

"Pardon, the intrusion."

He looks at me, a neutral face, but some of it seems… the kind of thing those in the Military should always be on the lookout for.

"Hello, you must be the Young lass my family told me about."

"Pleased to meet you, name's Tanya."

"Kent, it's been just a few days since my return from the Military."

A shake of hands, then I sit on the other sofa.

"The Military, eh? Can't say I had superb experiences with either Republican or Empire soldiers."

"You had bad encounters?"

"I'm an Orphan, the month this silly war started, the orphanage I lived in ended becoming rubble, and seems part of the blame was this cozy republic's military inability to handle explosive munitions… and my time crossing the Islands after that wasn't nice either."

"I see, my time serving wasn't great either."

"Is it that bad?"

"Spent my last two years of service as a POW."

"I'm sorry to hear about that, is the Empire really bad with POW treatment?"

"It was bad, but that was the same for our side. So we soldiers couldn't complain since that was the norm."

Great, a war with just barebones degree of civility, thank Mike that this world doesn't have a branch where women can be forced to enlist or be drafted. The Empire, while a marvel of Rationalism and Meritocracy, was clearly not one to shy away from women enlisting, more so when they have superb Mana values.

A sudden noise starts happening at the kitchen, the popping of popcor-

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH-"

-And here comes a soldier's PTSD… sigh… let's just wait-

"Jodi! Didn't I warn you about my PTSD?!"

"S-sorry dear, but you LOVED popcorn before going out to serve!"

"Things… things… changed…"

Maybe there's a need for Therapy, I can say Harvey clearly has plenty of skills, could earn a cushy spot in a bigger Hospital, but he just doesn't have the personality for that, nor to handle psychiatric work to help a PTSD afflicted ex-soldier.

"Are you calmer? If possible, can we talk?"

Back to reality, Kent remembers I was there, and feels bad that if his sudden PTSD trigger could led him to harm me.

"Sorry, I have shown you-"

"-Something I am very sure is common among any Military man that had to serve in this cursed war."

He looks surprised, ah, yes, how can I explain it? to me, loud thunders, or sudden scream like noises in my sleep are the worst, not to say the occasional nightmare related to the Great war worst moments, but all that is something no one in this world has to know, so how would I know what PTSD even is?

"Your PTSD remembered me of a friend… a fellow orphan that survived that pesky incident, once time she almost got the rest of us all in danger due to one such attack…"

They understood the implications.

"Sorry, did you all got unscathed?"

"That one time, yes, but I that girl isn't here anymore, food poisoning…"

"My condolences…"

"That's the past, I learn from it, regret it at times…. But the present is now, and the future is made of the present… what about you?"

"I…. I…..-"

"-Sorry, Jodi, can I borrow your husband for a while?"

"Sure, anything to help him."

I signal with my head for him to follow me. An isolated and calm place…. And one where his PTSD cannot get triggered…. That may be hard in such a town.

"Before I decide on the place to talk, did you get a doctor to help you?"

"Yeah, why?"

"They got a list of what seems to trigger your PTSD?"

"Popcorn popping, noises like that in general…"

"Woodpeckers?"

"Yeah, had one in the forest nearby."

"Trains?"

"Makes me unease."

…

I asked some options of noises, then I decided it may be better the talk happens in the more silent area that is where my cabin is at, whatever the reason the animals avoid that whole patch of forest. Once there, I just get an extra folding chair, the design was like those super compact folding ones that people use when fishing near the lake or a river.

"Sorry about the chair if it's too small."

"No, it is fine, military APC seats were worse than this."

Not going to ask just what kind of Soviet design the republic is using for such horrible ergonomics, when the design of their infantry guns is so good.

"Anyways, seems to me they just dumped you back to civilian life without even providing some help to treat your… military issues…"

He gestures as if I hit a bullseye on him.

"Dead-on. They just gave me my pay for all my time of service, then fast tracked me to make my trip home."

"How awful, don't they have a Veteran's support program?"

"Not that I know of."

Welp, what little hopes that this country had at least SOME competent management was gone, you don't go throwing people who served an active warzone back into civilian life without first some degree of Therapy.

"Anyways, maybe it's best to seek a psychiatrist, hard to return to a more common life after having experienced so much terrible stuff."

"You… you almost act as if you did experience Military life…"

"… Living a life as hard as mine until I settled here… could be said to be just a rough if not worse than your tour against the Empire, more so when having to try keeping yourself and a bunch of others alive…"

Not much of a lie per say, just that never will I tell anyone of my previous life.

After some more talking, I bid him farewell, last anyone should go through is the pains of getting back to a more normal life after sacrificing so much…

…

Year 6, Summer

"Stupid summer heat…"

Erich was walking to meet with Tanya, a routine that had formed ever since he joined her on that truly crazy plan of hers, which was still in the first stage, building funds and influence to further grow her automated factory even more, by supplying the Black-market merchants with their wares. He hoped that with some careful suggestions, the plans could be delayed for long enough that she loses interest and instead maybe, just maybe, decides to settle down, or at most just kickstart a minor war here and there, in some inconsequential lost chunk of land.

Finally at her cabin area, he is greeted…. With the weirdest scene ever…. Kent, the war veteran that had served a tour of duty against the Empire, talking with Tanya, happily laughing and sharing mugs of some cold drink, and that they are exchanging what clearly are Jokes only soldiers would exchange with one another, quite the shock, given Kent openly states his time in the Military was anything but nice.

"Ah, Leipzig!"

Tanya obviously notices him first, walking towards the two, I shake Kent's hand, and a polite cheek kiss for Tanya, not an unusual custom of how to greet people, but Tanya was someone he rather do the greeting the old Imperial Military way, was more comfortable that way, but alas, they have a third party uninvolved with their mutual past.

"Hello, Erich, you had an appointment with Tanya?"

"Hm? Just visiting. You?"

I have a very bad feeling about it.

"I have been talking with her for over a Cycle now, she helped me get over so many of my woes from my service time, so I still come here to talk with her."

Oh, great, she got him in her web… hopefully he never calls any of his surviving friends from the Military times. Last thing she needs to get is friends with who she can find potential recruits. If there's one thing she knows to do with certainty, is train elite soldiers. The two ended their talk and Kent left.

"I am surprised you seem friends with him."

"It's on the Spur of the moment, he had a PTSD attack when I just met him… made me remember about those in our previous life that would have to live in the civilian sector after the Great War."

"PTSD… that's a concept you came with?"

"Maybe just the name, but there were Military reports in my Military Academy days about such symptoms on Soldiers that returned from service in active combat zones, the name in those papers was… unsuitable let's just say."

"I See…"

Weird, Many in Central HQ did every now and then go check materials in there, but I guess that if it was a niche such as Psychological Papers, odds are high no one would give more than a basic read of a few pages.

"Anyways, your weekend is open?"

She asked.

"My routine is pretty much flexible, so long I tend to all farm chores, I am pretty much free. Why?"

"Kent told me a pal from his Army days decided to visit… or move in… he wasn't sure which."

Something in that made me feel some odd feeling, not danger or anything, but the kind of stuff that usually preceded my damned Stomach Ulcers attacking way back then, during my service in the First Great War, it's unease.

"Sure, will make sure I can go meet his friend."

"Alright, enough chit-chat, time for REAL work."

In no further waste of time, I follow her towards the workshop. The current project for mass production is seemingly humble, but the degree of trouble it's been giving is making even me feel like completing it just because it's proving to be troublesome.

"You have made any progress in this… Anti-Materiel Rifle?"

Her face tells all, not much.

"Just found an Alloy that CAN withstand the pressure and Stress of shooting, problems is… the weight would be stupidly high, and if anything, it will be better to just find Titanium and refine it."

"Titanium?"

She pulls a Chemistry book, opening in the Periodic table in it, Fe column, So part of the Iron family, or so is what my High School level of knowledge from this second life tells me.

"It has many great properties of Iron when refined into Steel but is between it and Aluminum in terms of weight, problem is that my current refinery is WAY bellow what is needed to process it."

"Heat?"

"That's part of it, but we will need a specialist to get the design."

That alone makes the gun a bust, it's one thing to make use the Black market to get blueprints, but if we will be needing to requisition a person that specializes in designing and building these types of facilities, the trail will be far too much. Wait, why am I even considering this bad?

"Perhaps we can check the contacts from that friend of yours."

"Already did, before starting trying to build it, the cost is too high, since that will include track cleanup and secrecy."

Ok, so she was trying alternatives all for this?

"Maybe the mistake is elsewhere?"

She checks the notes, technical data of the gun and ammo, and then she double reads the ammo listing, crap, I gave her a way out… though that smile of hers… I should be having bone chilling shivers, but all this me can feel of it is as if she's like a kid having fun.

"That's right, damnit, little silly me. This ammo design is far too loaded in propellant, let's first find the actual load an actual 12.7x99mm uses."

Putting the gun aside, my task becomes checking the inventory stock, while she takes the prototype ammo that was being used for test firing, taking the bullet out and unloading the gunpowder, checking what is in stock, I find some materials being low, materials to make brass cartridges for example. Inventory done, to speed things up, I also check the delivery schedule and prepare some coffee. She is really immersed in adjusting the ammo, what has changed from this to back then for my view of her to change? From an unrepentant warmaniac to a kid that loves to tinker with stuff an adult like me should be putting out of her diminutive reach….

"Materials for Brass cartridges and primers is getting dangerously low, and if more bullets are to be made, metal supplies may need a restock."

"Thanks."

She takes the cup with black coffee and drinks, looking at the ammo workbench, three of the prototype bullets are already reassembled.

"I cut the load up to half, so we will be testing them to verify how they perform, then we will start fine adjusting to better get the actual target specs."

Making a few notes on a clipboard, this short break is the only one, being honest with myself, there's some odd fun experience doing work of this kind with Tanya. End of the work period, progress had come nicely.

…

Day of the meeting

While the Weather report said there wouldn't be rain today, the sky had some thick, rain looking clouds looming the horizon far away. For now, my focus was on getting to Tanya's house, from the looks, I may be the last one to arrive, hopefully not after Kent's friend as well. Thankfully, I was last to arrive, but his friend was yet to arrive. From there, we as a group walked to wait him at the Bus stop area, the old station nearby was out of operation for ages already, so the only way for his arrival became making a stop a Zuzu city and then getting the Bus to Pelican.

"Anyways, Kent, your friend, what's he like?"

Deciding we could use some idle talk, I ask.

"Him? Being honest, he's a mystery for me. But what I could get from serving alongside him in the same Unit for a while, he's a diligent, talented, if a bit too into getting the thick and thin of battle action."

"Odd, for someone like you to become friends with… such a person. No offense I mean."

"None taken, but I do owe him for getting me up to task, else I wouldn't be here, not walking and alive, but in a casket."

So it's like many friendships born inside a combat zone, the competent soldier who helps the unlucky greenhorn learn the ropes of War, and from there, even if a bit of a clash between personalities, Spirit de Corps takes care of building a friendship between comrades in arms. But a person addicted to combat? Couldn't be Tanya, she's here after all, never been in the Military even, thanks Mika for it. She gets close to me; we had arrived at the Bus Stop area.

"That friend of his reminds you of someone?"

She whispers to me, that smug smile brings a new feeling never would I have guessed that little Pixie was able of making me have, a desire to put a shit brat in her place.

"Yeah, unfortunately, that person I knew was famous for being caustic, happy in using Artillery barrages as training, and was a Picky eater."

I rebuke in whispers as well. She gives a light punch on my arm before moving a bit to wait. A few minutes later, the Bus, being driven by Pam no less, arrived. As always, a single passenger leaves the vehicle. The person that was Kent's friend… made me, and most likely Tanya as well, feel some shock. His expression was minute, but he was also surprised, but quickly recomposed.

"Wilibald!"

"Kent, long time no see."

Kent didn't notice, or at least decided to not bring it up.

"Has the trip been good?"

"A little more time sitting that Bus and I would start calling that thing the Bathtub."

From Kent's laugh, that must be the nickname soldiers use for the Republican mainstay APC vehicle, the RAC-1A2, photos alone made me guess those things are as cramped and uncomfortable as some stuff he saw in use by the Federation in the previous life. To avoid spending any more time in the Bus stop area, our group moved elsewhere, first was a simple presentation tour of this humble town, then the surrounding areas of importance, and last but not least, a place that oddly enough was becoming the place to have meetings whenever Tanya is part of the party. Her own house's front yard.

Wilibald walks to me, my gut feeling says all.

"Erich, so you settled here, huh?"

Kent is surprised, obviously.

"You knew Leipzig?"

"We… we had a brief time in middle school, before my parents settled where they are to this day, we did move a lot, so I met Wilibald during one such period, at school."

"Yeah, short time, but we became friends, but soon I lost contact with this guy."

"Sorry, one of the address changes I forgot to tell you."

Using that as a cue to talk in private, he drags me slightly into the woods. Just far enough so even if Tanya could still use Mage spells, a listening or hearing enhancement wouldn't be enough even if in combination.

"What a coinci-"

'Cut the crap, Lergen."

He was expecting that, but it still cut deep. Koenig, and a small cadre of the 203rd, were part of the core conspirators on an assassination ploy at Viktorya, Operation Valhalla, it ended failing, and all involved, if not killed during arrest, were sentenced to firing squad days later. His words that very day of his and First Lieutenant Erika echo from the depths of his memory.

[I doubt with certainty that Tanya would ever approve what her Adjutant is doing as leader of the fatherland, maybe you will one day realize it, but by then there will be no saving it.]

"Right, Right. Just remembered your words of wisdom that day, you were right, and I should've seen the hints before even you."

"Whatever, that's from the previous life, what are you planning to use the Major for?"

"What?"

I couldn't believe his words, sure, those who began to turn against Serebryakov grew more and more distant with those that either remained Loyalists or too ignorant of the impending doom, and the few meetings up to his execution day had been anything but as allies.

"Don't bullcrap me, why else would you be here, cozying as friends of her?"

"Come on Koenig, you think I want to start some shit here? In such a world so detached of our last one?"

"The global situation is as crap as our previous one, and if I know something, is that she is very much a talent anyone will want control of if they want to do any kind of power play."

My shock is absolute, and it tells on my face for sure. Calming down, I can see his reasoning in part, but me taking advantage of her? As if, SHE approached me first with her insane ideas… when I came to her first to ask for meat….

"And what do I have to gain with taking over this nation or stirring shit elsewhere? Being honest here, I am DONE with Military and Government duties. And I rather just spend my life doing anything else than playing the table even If from the shadows."

"Right. So why you're tagging along her?"

"She asked. Ask her if you don't believe."

That done, it will take time, if even possible, to fix the bridges burnt by my blind belief on Viktorya's rule. But time is plenty this time, at least enough to make right my wrongs with Koenig and whoever else from Operation Valhalla might have ended here. We return back to the group. Some more talking, with Koenig talking about his and Kent's moments in the Military, the good ones at least. When we decided to go each our own way, however.

"You want to talk more with her?"

Kent was surprised. Wilibald's answered with a predictable reply.

"You told me she was the one who helped you with the PTSD, right? Just want to know more about her work on you."

A little more insistence, and my own nudging him, Kent let his friend stay, while me and him went back to the town.

[Tanya's POV]

It had to happen one day, meeting yet more people from the last incarnation, I doubt I know what happened between Erich and Koenig, the way both acted while going around and when talking in front of my house indicated some kind of rift. Probably it's something after I died there. Once both Kent and Lergen were out of view.

"Major-"

"Just Tanya, this isn't the Army anymore, it's an entire new life even."

"Right, Tanya. Did… did he tell you about her?"

A bit shaky, his voice, a surprise, given how reliable and steady he had always been even in the thick of action until the last days of engagements the 203rd did as part of the Kampfgruppe Salamander. Guess the same way my death changed Viktorya, even he did.

"He did, though only what he knew. You up for some coffee?"

"Gladly."

I guided him into my house, to the Dining Table, same where I had my talk with Lergen. After pouring two Mugs of Coffee, and putting sugar, cream, and Milk for my guest to choose, Koenig was a rare one of the Battalion who drank his coffee black, but unlike me, wasn't picky and at times put whatever was available on it. Seated and drinks in hands, he begins.

"I don't even know from where to start…"

"Then how about start from after my death?"

"Right. Truth be told, when you had come with that plan to relocate into the South American lands, no one knew why we would even be doing that, but maybe things changed once that little son of a wh- That Francois brat. "

Yeah, even I have no wish to remember that ugly ass face distorted for some silly irrational urge such as a desire to "Avenge" Arene, nor the weapon used to stab me, hurt like hell, getting fucking stabbed in the chest with a crude wooden stake the boy grabbed being X knows where.

"We did finish all work you set there, and when news of the sorry state the Empire lands were arrived even where we were, the entire Kampfgruppe lost no time getting ready to return, silly, how oddly prophetic your words and predictions were, only then we all realized what you had been planning. Have the US get a black eye in their backyard, getting them to overfocues there, then return back home, equipped and still in shape instead of having become a defanged part of the Army."

"The writing was getting clear back then. And knowing what kind of idiots our enemies were…"

He chuckles, good old Koenig, like the entire 203rd, these comments of mine were taken both seriously and as humor.

"Well, our return was anything but festive, the economy was going as terrible as you expected it would, what with the reparation debts, and everyone around us being pricks. Ambient ripe for someone to play savior and nab the seat of power."

"Yeah, so Serebryakov did it? Never thought she had it in her, to take leadership I mean."

"Neither any of the Kampfgruppe, but she… she took your death the hardest. From start to finish of our little punishment of that kid, she and the core the the Aerial Mage forces were present to deal with every single one. It was easy to get a ticket straight to power, the Black Thursday happened, and with that, the failure of paying the debt."

"Which, the Francois Republic, in all their idiotic wisdom, decided that playing barbarian was the way to get the payment. Their brutality just gave her the golden opportunity."

"And you NEVER wave one such thing in front of the 203rd, right?"

My smile is all he needs.

"Kicking them out, and the massive bad image that would be if anyone backed the republic for this case, let her both get the chancellor seat, and have a vastly more generous renegotiation of the Triano Treaty, the two were feats enough to let her have carte blanche in running Germania."

"I see. On you and the rest of the Kampfgruppe, what went as that happened?"

"Weiss was quickly appointed to organize and train the Aerial Mages, the numbers were harshly restricted, but the focus became something else for them, Special operations, less flying, more using everything else to perform either deep strike infiltrations or assassinations. The rest were all put in similar positions to get the army in shape once again."

"And you?"

The smile was bitter, probably something he came to loathe, I guess.

"Aside the 'Official' army, for some reason, she also opened a not so official branch of such, the nickname became SS, and was meant to serve as a force directly under her command, I... was appointed as the second in command."

"I can guess, from how you are now, that the track record is anything but actually army or secret service like duties."

"Indeed. On my side, it was the usual, but… as time went on, I was no fool, I knew when things were being moved to strip me from authority, and I guess she lost faith that I would agree with what her true plans were. Plans I had been getting privy of glimpses of very small parts of, and all shocked me, made me unsure of everyone around me."

"You got put on the bench, alright, what next?"

"My fears started getting proof of having foundation when… really bad incidents and victims began to appear. First were some men who had been having arguments with chain of command against some SS members, disappearing or dying, all pointed as being traitors on investigations of very dubious integrity. The breaking point was when the head of the Secretarial Department, the Intelligence branch of the Reunified Empire, got the treatment. Said person had been since FOREVER one of her closest friends, former Imperial Intelligence staff mind you."

"You realized she was going down the slope, or was too far gone, right. next?"

"I became cautious, couldn't be sure if even those from the 203rd could be trusted. Once the war turning point closed in, I saw no choice, I began to probe through those of the Kampfgruppe that either haven't been dealt with, got KIA, or were clearly on her side. The results were less than stellar, some friends of Elya, Viktorya's former friend, a few former Mages of the 203rd, most were like Teyanen, they had been discharged due to injuries of the Great War, and a small number of Staff officers stuck in dead end positions but were smart enough to realize what the looming disaster was."

"How grassroots, let me guess, the plan was to get Serebryakov and her innermost circle killed, for that, you would go to a secret meeting, use a Timed Bomb in a briefcase or the likes, and hope for the best. Did i get it?"

His surprised face was all I needed, but he answered.

"Yeah, you nailed nearly all of it, but I doubted a measly briefcase packed with explosives would be enough, so the plan was to deal with her by having me strike her down, or win a fight if worst came to pass. All failed, Operation Valhalla failed, everyone was caught, and if they didn't die fighting the forces that came to make the arrest, died with me by firing squad."

"Quite the way to go, huh?"

A faint smile, not his best moments, but had been probably as thrill inducing as serving under me ever had been.

"About you and everyone else, how… how did things change? After I got killed… how did they… change?"

Even I could feel my voice carried a kind of feeling never would old me allow to be heard. But not current me.

"Weiss… I guess he took the job to rebuild the Mage branch in your honor… and maybe to fulfil your wish of never allowing someone your age become a cog of the Army. Neumann, lost weight, a lot, from the little I met him after returning to the fatherland, he blamed himself for letting that asshole get you, ended in… a 'psych ward' due to soldier's trauma. Grantz… was assigned with me to the SS, and clearly shared many of the ideas Viktorya had come to have… or his love for her blinded his mind to the horrors she, and he, were committing. The rest… I ended losing contact very soon after our return."

Silence, the Mugs were long since empty, cold even. I picked everything, got things more or less in place. And once again, stood with him in the front yard area.

"Tanya."

"Yes, Koenig?"

"My surname is Kolhn now, but Koenig is fine. Did… did you have a plan on how to rebuild the Empire, before being killed I mean?"

"Just a rough sketch, but some of the steps would likely follow what she did if the prerequisite conditions also happened."

"I see… so…"

"My hopes are like yours. If Viktorya hadn't become blinded by irrational revenge, maybe things wouldn't have gone that way. But that's all a bunch of Ifs we cannot make anything about."

"Right. Thanks. For listening…. It had been gnawing at me ever since I reincarnated."

"Worry not, I am also happy, having met yet another acquaintance of old days. You will move here?"

"You are cooking something here?"

"Nothing much, just a business, the product is something you know well enough."

"Can I get in?"

"Sure, but don't expect Terrible pay, horrible work hours, nor just some silly medals and a 'good job' praise."

His laugh was quite the sight. One I was happy seeing once more.

"Alright, Lergen is in that too?"

"Yeah."

"Then I will bother him to get me a bed and roof."

"Sure, see you later."

Farewells exchanged my mood is quite good, so much I will use these last hours with sunlight to do something.

…

[Lergen's POV]

It's a weekend, so that merchant has come, just a habit, but sometimes there's things really helpful or just that tickle my fancy, such as some unique variant of coffee beans. I walk to his cart, where there's the window he attends customers from. And freeze, no fucking way.

"Ah hello, Mr. Far..mer…."

The moment her eyes lock on me, she also freezes.

"So… fancy seeing you… Elya…"

"Same, Lergen…"

And for once, my nonexistent Stomach Ulcers start getting active. This will be a pain in the ass.