We are now around 250 days before war. The tense in the heart of the continent is rising. Two Neighbor country's of Velmaria are in war. Velmaria is preparing for the worst case scenario and started shifting factory's production to help strengthen there defenses in the mountains.
The government is completely paralyzed and divided. Because the parties can't agree how to take on this threat.
The true story will start now
-------------
Two days after the incident:
"Faster, faster!" The wind was crisp, and it was early in the morning – honestly, far too early. It was somewhere between five and six o'clock, and the first rays of the sun were visible on the horizon, giving off a little warmth.
"Faster, faster!"
Once again, the voice echoed along the forest-edge dirt path.
A column of students jogged along. In the middle was Kaede, accompanied by Shiro and Riku.
The man shouting repeatedly wore a green uniform. His hair wasn't visible, but he had black boots on, and around his neck hung binoculars. In his left hand, he held a stopwatch.
Kaede panted loudly, glancing around. Sweat ran down his face.
"Hey, Shiro!"
Shiro remained silent, staring straight ahead.
"What's this? He's ignoring me!" Kaede looked at him annoyed, but Shiro didn't react.
"Can you summon a warrior, please?"
Shiro glanced briefly at Kaede.
Silence. He only stared at him, then turned back forward.
"Hey, don't ignore me! Riku, say something!" Kaede looked at Riku.
Silence.
"You too? Are you guys messing with me…"
Suddenly, a loud voice from Kaede's left:
"IS THERE A PROBLEM, CADET?"
Kaede jumped, turning to see the lieutenant. "Can't this just…" He froze when he saw the man's face.
"From what I see, you have too much energy," the lieutenant said, annoyed.
Before he knew it, Kaede found himself running at the very front. Completely out of breath.
Back at the camp:
Large tents had been set up, each capable of housing at least eight people. The tents were green. Outside the camp area, a space held a few tanks and artillery pieces for training purposes.
Kaede bit into his bread annoyedly, glaring at Shiro and Riku.
"What was that about?"
"What do you mean, what was that?" Shiro answered, annoyed, while eating.
"You ignored me."
"First of all, we didn't, and second, we're in a training camp. This is important."
Kaede rolled his eyes, hoping Riku would agree with him. But Riku just said, "Shiro is right. Focus."
"I'm going to my tent," Kaede muttered annoyedly and left the large mess tent.
Afternoon: Training begins
"First, we'll all learn how to handle a simple handgun," the general announced loudly. Each student was handed a pistol. When one weapon remained, the lieutenant looked surprised. "Did you miscount?"
"No, sir," replied one of the soldiers beside him.
Shortly before, in the tent:
It was quiet. Kaede lay on the bed, staring at his screen when suddenly the curtain was pulled aside, and someone entered the tent.
"Aha, I knew it, Kaede." At the entrance stood Watsukawa. Kaede just looked at him annoyed, as if he already knew what Watsukawa wanted to say.
"What do you want?"
"Me? Nothing. But shouldn't you be assembling soon? The break is almost over."
"No, I don't feel like it."
"That's not how it works, Kaede, and you know that." His voice grew slightly firmer.
Kaede only shot him a brief glance and then returned his attention to his phone.
He didn't want to train. He simply couldn't bring himself to do it. The images of his parents still haunted him. His hand was already shaking.
He didn't even know what he was doing or what he wanted to achieve, and yet he was afraid. Not of himself. No. He was afraid for his friends. Afraid of his magic, which he could always feel.
Then he thought, "Training isn't for me. I'd better hold back. Before I lose everyone again." He kept that last part in his thoughts.
He still feared it all. He still blamed himself for everything that had happened. He still remembered that man's words:
"It's all your fault, Kaede, because of the way you were born."
They consumed him from the inside.
This time, Watsukawa's reaction was completely different.
"I understand, Kaede," his voice was calm, snapping Kaede out of his thoughts.
"If you don't want to use your magic, that's fine." Watsukawa stepped closer. "But don't forget…" His eyes looked down at Kaede. "Running from a problem often only makes it worse."
"I'm only trying to protect everyone," Kaede said quietly.
"Oh yeah? And how are you protecting them if you skip training? That's a contradiction, Kaede."
"But I'm not strong," he said bitterly.
"Excuse me?! You have two types of magic, one at S-rank. Never say you're weak again!" He grabbed Kaede by the shoulders.
Kaede remained silent.
Watsukawa looked at him, then sighed. "What am I going to do with you, Kaede?" He gently tugged at Kaede's ear and smiled softly. "How about a compromise?"
Kaede looked up.
"You can't skip the training here. It's important. Not because it will make you stronger, but because it teaches you survival. You don't need magic for this – it's not an admiral's training.
I have an idea for how you can use your magic in training more safely." Watsukawa pulled a pistol from his pocket. "A custom-made one just for you. I figured this might happen, so I already thought ahead." He smiled. "It has reduced recoil and is more durable, so it can withstand a lot. It's also very light. And it has an improved sight for longer distances."
He looked at Kaede with a smile.
Kaede looked at him, confused.
"What am I supposed to do with a pistol?"
"A pistol specially adapted to you, Kaede," Watsukawa corrected.
"And what am I supposed to do with a specially adapted pistol?"
"Simple: Use your explosive magic inside the pistol and amplify the blast when fired.
This way, you can aim your magic precisely without fear of harming anyone. Deal?" Watsukawa asked.
Silence.
Kaede looked at him.
During training,
"Everyone present?"
Riku and Shiro looked around, surprised. "Where's Kaede?"
Suddenly, a voice from the back row:
"Excuse me, but I'm using my own pistol, specially adapted for me."
The lieutenant frowned briefly, annoyed, then said, "Alright, carry on."
"As you may know, the pistols aren't made of normal metal, but of magic metal. Like almost all military equipment. The bullets are also magically enhanced, albeit slightly…"
"Now that you know the theory, it's time to practice. We've set targets 60 meters away. Line up in five rows and start shooting."
Many shots rang out, most missing, until it was Kaede's turn. He aimed calmly at the target.
"Without harming anyone," he whispered, remembering Watsukawa's words before leaving the tent:
Kaede, and never forget: Only use it when absolutely necessary. And always remember: fear of war and battle is natural, because all that remains is destruction and sorrow. You practice with this weapon to preserve peace, not the other way around.
"To preserve peace." He took a deep breath and fired.
The bullet shot from the pistol with a loud bang – the explosion outside the barrel clearly visible.
The shot was far faster than a normal one, and although it only grazed the target, it completely destroyed it. Only smoke remained.
"What was that, cadet? Name?"
Kaede: "Well, that was predictable, had to happen."
"Kaede, sir."
"You'll clean up that mess afterward, and I suggest you just watch from now on. You already shoot well enough."
"Sir, yes sir."
Quickly, the rest of the day Kaede spent in his tent.
Now that his previous thoughts had settled, he drifted elsewhere.
He stared at the tent ceiling. Who could it be? He paced the tent, repeatedly thinking the same question.
His thoughts returned to the evening in the shed – the pink eyes, the voice, and that peculiar scent. No one believed him, yet he knew it happened. The memories felt too real to be imagined or dreamed.
Then he thought of those eyes again. They made him nervous. He couldn't gauge the situation, but the worst thing, the thing that scared him most:
He had someone far more dangerous than Ichigo who was in love with him.
Info:
Magic Metal: Metal infused with mana collected from the population. The metal has different levels depending on the amount and duration of mana. Today, it's used in almost all military equipment and can even withstand strong magical attacks depending on quality.