Chapter 1: The First Question
Family.
What is family?
Is it the blood or a similar spirit that flows through the veins of people?
Or,
is it the actions one does, that makes them a part of that cherished group.
That is a question that many ask, but few will answer.
The more important question is: 'How much of your soul is comprised of someone's else's essence?'
That sounds like a strange question because it is. But it is a question that you'll come to ask as you move on in life, and a question to a problem you'll encounter later in this book.
That question highlights the dynamic of love, an exchange of souls.
A scarier question, to which many hope they do not have to confront.
'Can the soul within the body live on, when the soul that was lent out to someone, dies?' If it can, how much of the soul needs to remain in the body? When will you be able to tell if the soul is vulnerable to such a struggle?
The last question I will ask you is this: 'What happens to the person who lives in someone else's shadow, when those that they depend on, are forever removed from the world?'
Chapter 1 The question of one soul
1 year since the start of the war.
It's first night of Autumn, the leaves on the trees are blowing and the crowds of people are cheering. People far and wide from within the Giadian Empire have gathered to celebrate the graduation ceremony for the youngest and brightest of the Nouzen War Institute.
The sound of machines whir, as crowd's attention turns an armoured mech that is escorting the graduates.
Murmurs from the crowd are whispering in reservations.
A brown haired man in his thirties, turns to his friend. Why do you think the military is marching a Feldreb down the through the centre of the city? I know they want to celebrate the graduation ceremony, but isn't it a bit much? I heard rumours that they want to crack down on dissent, is it a show of force? Are the royals trying to solidify the war movement? I don't know, but this all seems like a bit too much.
The spectators green eyes are nervous as he though doesn't appear too enthusiastic about the ceremony.
His older friend reassures him.
Paul trust me, with the current political climate, they don't want more civil unrest in wake of the war. They're just trying to make the public feel safe around their new war machines, they don't appear to be looking for trouble. The feldreb is purely ceremonial, and they wouldn't trust the likely ex-cadet piloting that thing enough to give them live ammunition.
But Paul's reservations aren't yet gone.
Howard, I've known you many years, so I trust you, but I need a little bit more than that to be content with this situation.
Howard's worn brown eyes close as the wiser of the two turns one last time to Paul finish his words of reassurance.
When you've lived as long as I have, you see many things, and you develop a keen intuition. Looking back I suppose you would have to, to survive. I while I can't say that for certain that we'll be safe today, I know deep down that good people shouldn't worry about what could be. Today with the way the direction the wind is blowing, I think we'll do just fine regardless of what happens.
Paul, now more comfortable with their situation stands up and turns one final time towards his trusted friend.
Thank you, I needed that. After this event, I don't know if we'll be able to meet again, but I'm glad to have known you Howard. Paul said with an understanding expression.
Likewise Paul! Stay safe, and remember, the future's always brighter!
Look! That's the renowned general from the frontlines, Ernst Zimmerman! And it looks like to behind him stands our soon to be empress!
Long live the crown! A man shouts as the crowd loses its former wariness.
A middle-aged man of military status whispers to his escort before approaching the stage's podium. He grasps the microphone, and with the sound of the microphone's audio feedback alerting the crowd to the black-haired man's presence, the roaring crowds become quiet. And General Zimmerman begins.
Today, gathered behind me, are the most honoured young men, of military renown who, having spent 4 long years in the Nouzen Military Academy, have earned the right to serve the Empress as her sword and shield.
The speaker raises his hand towards the crowd, and continues.
I offer my deepest gratitude to them, for all those attending the event, and for those who are watching, I ask that you do the same.
The man raises both of his hands out towards the crowd and beckons them.
A round of applause to the amazing children of this great nation, and of Clan Nouzen.
The crowd of thousands roars with a single voice of applause. He waits for the crowd to settle before continuing
Now concerning the war effort, while I could say that it's been going well, I feel that it would be most inappropriate and irresponsible to do so. Many courageous young men and women have lost their lives in this conflict, and I have no doubt that many more will lose their lives. So, I cannot allow our youth to die with false hopes that this conflict won't be costly. It's because we have given these young men, our children, the responsibility to sacrifice for our shared future, that we must make the most out of their great sacrifices. I mean to say that if they are to ensure that the Giadian Empire has a future, then we must make sure to make it a bright future for all!
The crowd erupts into applause, and with today's duty fulfilled, he steps back and returns to his chair next to the other ranking members of the Giadian military.
As Frederica steps up to the podium and recites the Giadian Royal Code and begins the process of selecting her royal guard, Ernst begins to think back to that day.
It was almost exactly a year ago to the day, when it had happened.
The first attack on the empire.
Foreign agents from the Republic of San Magnolia and other unknown countries
infiltrated the Imperial Palace and utilized a biological weapon to devastate an entire district of Sankt Jeder,
killing all but one member of the royal family.
The one thing that kept him alive and able to keep going despite failing his duty to the Emperor and Empress was that he had saved their daughter.
Even now, the memory of the metallic gas chasing their heels as he narrowed avoided its reach haunts him.
Maybe he was simply morbid,
but he found it sickening that only place that was completely sealed out from the outside world and the very place that had saved their lives, was the same place the Legion's original 'Kernal' were stored. I suppose I'm glad that Frederica didn't know the significance of that twisted place.
The Imperial Bureau of Intelligence suspected then and still maintains that the shadow organization responsible to be a proxy threat managed by combined arms of the Kingdom of Roa Gracia, and the Alliance of Wald.
The thing that had bothered him most was that there was no closure for the thousands of people killed in the attack.
There was no way to be certain of the scope of the plot as all the perpetrators had been equipped with remotely triggered suicide capsules.
He was shaken out of his thoughts when he heard commotion and he didn't have enough time to process what was going on before a loud sound and the sound of ringing met his ears. His eyes and ears are in unison, and his horror climbs to his face as he realizes what just happened.
An explosion had just detonated a couple dozen of meters in front him,
and not even a few meters in front of Frederica!
End of Chapter 1