Jangbulu Frontline, one hour left until the Christmas Eve offensive.
In the trench occupied by the First Specialized Artillery Division, Major General Kristin sat on a snow-covered ammunition box, letting the medic bandage his head wound.
He had just stuck his head out to observe the terrain when the enemy, clearly reacting to the sunlight reflecting off his binoculars, fired a burst of machine gun bullets at his position.
One of the bullets grazed his forehead, creating a deep, bone-revealing gash.
"General," the medic said, still shaken, "if it had been off by a half inch, it would have gone through your right eye."
Kristin was unfazed; there were no "ifs" on the battlefield.
If you're not dead, you're not dead. If you're alive, you continue to endure this world's suffering.
"Do you believe in natural law?" Kristin asked abruptly.
The medic was taken aback, answering while working, "Sort of, General. But this has nothing to do with natural law."
