The tall windows were thrown open, their blinds drawn to let in late afternoon light. Hoshuro stood with his hands clasped neatly behind his back, his silhouette framed against the wash of pale sky. The room around him was immaculate—bed perfectly made, polished floors gleaming, every surface in order.
Behind him, the faint steps of a servant echoed. Her voice broke the silence, cautious yet straightforward.
"Sir? Are you troubled by something?"
Hoshuro's shoulders shifted slightly, fingers tightening together.
"Riche… has taken a side in the war," he said, his tone measured—but a faint edge cut through. "Their neutrality has been overwritten. Unfortunately, it was not the choice we—the council—would have liked."
He turned then, eyes narrowing as they settled on the servant.
"Riche is now viewed as Memento territory. And to make matters worse… our advancement into Galion has once again been halted. Not by Memento forces, but-"
His voice dropped, the calm veneer cracking as his eyes widened with sudden rage.
"-that devil, Tona Norasachi. He claims himself as a rogue, yet his loyalties and actions remain clear."
The servant bowed hesitantly, her voice slowly escaping her lips.
"Sir, might I suggest some relaxants? I can fetch some from the pantry quickly, if you need."
Hoshuro inhaled through his nose, long and controlled. He took a moment to process her words, before giving a quick nod.
"Yes. Bring me the strongest aromas you can find. I'll devise better plans when I'm not swarmed by thoughts."
"At once sir," the servant slipped away quickly. Her footsteps fading down the hall.
Hoshuro's gaze returned to the sky, his reflection faintly in the glass.
Maro's death should have broken them, he thought. Memento was supposed to falter… but it hasn't. The districts remain strong. Loyal. Even Persetta, in ruin, refuses to yield.
He took a breath, folding his arms into his baggy robes. His gaze drifted to the dying sun before him, casting its orange glow as a final goodbye.
They don't understand… we need unity—now more than ever.
His jaw set.
No matter. The hunting parties will bring me the Final Sephoran's head. As for I…
He turned, giving a soft smile as he made his way back to his chambers.
The APC must press our offensives—and I will not fail.
Elsewhere, the road curved gently ahead through the rolling fields of Riche, where tall grass swayed in the breeze and scattered farmhouses lined the horizon. A small convoy of carriages creaked along the dirt path, the lead wagon carrying Danzo and the members of Phantom Squad. Behind them, more carts rattled with supplies and armed escorts.
Danzo leaned back against the side of the carriage, folding his arms against his abdomen.
"Our support grows by the day," Danzo said calmly. "With Riche joining our cause, we've officially scared the APC shitless."
"HAH!" Hajima laughed in an outburst, startling Valera next to him. She punched his leg and scowled.
"Scream again, and I'll cock my arm next time," she said flatly. Hajima grit his teeth, turning his head to avoid Valera's glare.
"That hurt…" he said quietly.
"Ahem," Danzo cleared his throat. Both sets of eyes returned to the leader—though Hajima gave the wound one final rub.
"Ah, yes. How was the trip to Riche?" Valera asked innocently.
"Gheon and Marienne met us in Persetta, so Tiero and I got a personal escort. A kind gesture to show hospitality I presume."
Danzo cracked the knuckles on his right hand—one by one, before smiling. "Made me give a speech to the citizens. Winged it—and never gave a better speech in my life."
Hajima straightened himself. "Riche was a great addition. Their economic means—resources, rations and arms… everything we need in these harsh times."
"You're really stepping up," Valera smiled, eyes warm. "I just know he's smiling down on you."
"Agreed!" Toko chimed, barging into the conversation from beside Danzo. Her arm leaned halfway out the cart, and her head was turned to watch the passing countryside. She toyed idly with a strand of hair while the sun's rays spilled across the fields in gleaming yellow. Between her lips was a long thistle—always resting like it comforted her.
A grunt followed, and Giji had awoken from a nap. An eagle had perched onto his shoulder, flapping its wings slowly with the wind.
"I get you 'commune with nature' and everything," Toko muttered, "but can you last a moment without that bird?"
Giji chuckled in his usual stoic manner, lifting a finger to the eagle's beak with a scratch. "Animals like me. I'm all natural, just like them."
"Probably why I've never seen you use the bathroom," Toko whispered just loud enough to hear, before returning her gaze to the fields.
"Nature is the biggest—and best—bathroom there is!"
Valera burst into laughter, her voice light over the creak of the carriage wheels. Hajima and Danzo joined in, while Toko made a face as if she'd just bitten into something sour.
The laughter faded, Danzo's gaze drifted toward the skyline. His expression sobered, thoughts slipping inward.
Our plan this time is different. A quiet entry will keep them off balance… immediate access to inner town. Perfect for an ambush.
Hajima noticed the shift. He leaned forward, placing a steady hand on Danzo's shoulder.
"The Igumi underground is perfect for this."
Danzo nodded. "Yes. If intel is correct, these hidden caverns have been used for centuries—cold storage, workshops and ceremonial passages all tucked below. They run right into the inner city—and from what I've gathered…"
He smiled faintly. "Guarded lightly. The officer's maps showed a river basin cave leading out into a coastal delta. We can infiltrate from there—but it needs to be cleared first."
"Cleared?" Valera asked, tilting her head.
"We can't have the APC spot us before the invasion even begins, can we?"
"True. So who's going?"
"You." Danzo started, eyes locking onto Valera's. "And Judgment."
"Us I understand," Hajima said with a questioning tone, "but Judgment too?"
Danzo nodded firmly. "They're more than capable, Hajima."
"If you insist. Your word is final, Danzo. Where will you wait?"
"I, along with the remaining forces, will be stationed along the border of Igumi. Close enough for quick back-up, but hidden enough to avoid being discovered."
He turned to Giji, eyes locking onto him. "Once both squads are inside, Giji—send one of your birds to us. Then, we'll march on Igumi while you draw attention."
Giji puffed his chest slightly, giving a large grin. "Beaky's never let me down, have you boy?"
The bird on his shoulder let out a sharp squeak, as if in agreement. Giji stroked its feathers with careful fingers, his touch surprisingly gentle for a man his size.
"Good. We're counting on you."
Danzo leaned back again, exhaling through his nose. His hands folded on his lap, letting a calm silence fill the gaps between words.
"Hey… Hajima."
Danzo's voice cut through the wagon's rumble.
Hajima glanced over. "What's on your mind, commander?"
Danzo reached into his coat and pulled out a small rune. He turned it between his fingers, tracing the etched marking with his thumb.
"We're heading into a must-win fight," Danzo said quietly. "So tell me… how do you stay calm? Don't you feel fear?"
Hajima didn't answer right away. Then a short chuckle slipped out of him.
"Of course I do."
Danzo's eyes flicked up.
Hajima leaned back, gaze forward. "We all do. You just get used to carrying it."
Danzo exhaled through his nose. "Yeah… I guess."
"If you let fear steer you," Hajima continued, "you're already dead. So you don't fight it. You walk with it."
Danzo smirked faintly, staring down at the floorboards. The rune rested in his palm like dead weight.
"Sometimes…" he murmured, "I wonder how Maro handled it."
Hajima raised a brow. "Fear?"
Danzo nodded. "Every time something went wrong, he wore that same stone face. Like nothing could touch him."
Hajima's expression softened—just slightly.
"That was an act, Danzo."
Danzo looked over.
"He was terrified half the time," Hajima said. "He just refused to let anyone see it… because if the Phoenix panicked, the whole flock burned."
A beat passed, then Hajima smirked.
"So if you're asking how he did it…" he said, "he did it the same way you are right now."
Danzo blinked. "Me?"
Hajima nodded once.
"Quietly. And anyway."
He leaned closer, voice low. "Fear isn't weakness, commander. Running from it is."
Meanwhile, a few carriages behind, a dark brown cart manned by a driver in a straw hat, Judgment sat suppressing their nerves. Azumi and Geo bickered like siblings, locked into a spirited exchange. They traded jabs so quickly, it was impossible to tell who was winning.
Across from them, Tsuki and Hatori sat side by side, watching the scene unravel with faint amusement. The mood on their side was calmer, steadier—the easy contrast between battlefield professionalism and something closer to familial warmth.
"We're getting pretty close to the Igumi border," Tsuki said, eyes following the outline of a recognizable hill formation from the first invasion. "I sure hope this time goes differently than the last."
Hatori shifted his eyes toward her. "It will. We're prepared—and they're unsuspecting."
Azumi and Geo, still mid banter, didn't do as much as glance over.
Tsuki's hands shook slightly, fingers twitching as thoughts of the previous invasion loomed in. A reminder—that comfort is the gateway to loss.
"You know," Hatori started, seeing her emotions spiraling, "I communed with Kaien again the other day."
"Your spirit, I'm assuming?"
"Yep."
That eased her back to reality, even if she hadn't noticed herself. "How'd that go?"
"I'm getting closer to perfecting it… Resonant Flow I mean," he chuckled. "Then, he tried to show me another trick… that one didn't go so well."
Tsuki's eyes lit up. "Chiumali did the same. This weird ability she tried to teach, but I'm nowhere close yet. It's upsetting."
Hatori tilted his head. "Upsetting?"
Tsuki paused, trying to mold words into a clear thought. But she couldn't. Silence filled the gap she meant to speak in.
The other two had quit their bickering, Azumi summoning her sword and brushing the blade's edge. Geo's eyes raised to the sky.
"You're expecting to be perfect… aren't you?" Hatori asked. He didn't need to, he already knew the answer.
Tsuki was about to answer, then her words caught in her mouth. Hatori raised a brow.
"Why?"
"Because… I don't want to lose anyone else."
The horses kept their steady rhythm, and in front of them, the road to Igumi stretched on—sunlight breaking over the distant border.
The carriage rocked gently as the dirt leveled out. For a while, Tsuki remained silent, her hand still shaky and heart racing. The coming battle had already begun.
Geo placed a hand on hers, giving a reassuring smile that temporarily made her worries disappear. But the looming threat didn't. It clawed at her mind—thoughts, worst case scenarios of the coming battle. Thoughts that the people she cared about would leave her behind.
Hatori shifted slightly as though he may say something, but quickly put his head back down. He placed an arm along the carriage's side. Azumi was similarly disengaged, her eyes spilling over the passing fields. Her sword had disappeared into a flurry of Solena particles, now sitting with folded hands and blonde hair swaying with the wind.
Tsuki let her eyes drift for a moment, giving each of the people she called family a good look. It ended with Geo, who was the only one who had noticed, offering a smile before raising her hand for a peck.
"We're not going anywhere," he said softly. "Believe it."
Another silence followed, almost of peace. But beneath it all, an unspoken awareness sat between them: the road ahead led straight into enemy territory, and calm moments like this wouldn't last.
The horses slowed slightly as the driver called over his shoulder, "Half an hour to Igumi!"
No one replied. They all understood—once that half hour was up, the mission began.