Somewhere beneath the piles of houses in the slums, the leader of the Superior Soldier Consciousness (SSC) begins the meeting.
— So... we're gathered. Let's start our first meeting with the plan to bring down Empress Ana Babadar!
— Yes! — everyone present replies in unison.
The place is filled with members of the faction in the city. Some are leaning against the walls, others sitting on makeshift steps or stones scattered around. In the center, there's a table with four chairs. Sitting at it are Shizu, Anin, an unknown man, and the leader herself.
After five minutes of silence, Anin takes the floor:
— Alright, I'll start by explaining how the castle guards operate. Their formations, attack tactics, and the types of guards depending on their positions.
Shizu, arms crossed, adds:
— I'll create a plan based on Anin's information and the number of members in your faction, ma'am.
After speaking, he turns to her:
— Well... it's a bit strange to just call you "ma'am." Can you tell me your name?
She looks at him for a moment and sighs before replying:
— I don't like revealing my name like this, but since we're allies now, I can't hide anything. My name is Anistina Caustin. Eight years ago, I was the third commander of the combat troops under Ana Babadar. But I got tired of the harm she was causing people. I took the soldiers loyal to me and formed this faction: Superior Soldier Consciousness, SSC. We rebelled with the goal of one day becoming strong enough to defeat her. But over time, that became increasingly difficult... and we stagnated.
Shizu looks down at the table, deep in thought.
— Truly a tough situation... good thing I arrived in time to change that.
He lifts his eyes and looks at the man sitting in the fourth chair:
— Ma'am Anistina, who's that guy?
The man stands up.
— Apologies for not speaking earlier. My name is Carlius Aldegran, sub-chief of SSC. I was Anistina's right-hand man when she was still a commander.
— "Was"? You mean you're not anymore? — she asks, confused.
— So I... am I still your right-hand man, ma'am?
With a grumpy expression and looking away, she responds:
— You always were, you idiot.
He laughs, scratching his head:
— Got it... sorry...
Anin stands up with seriousness:
— Alright, now that everyone's introduced, let's get to the point. I'll start by talking about the anti-air attack guards and the troops surrounding the castle.
Everyone stares at her with attention and agrees.
— Alright!
She continues:
— The guards positioned on the castle walls are long-range attack mages and highly trained archers. There are four mages and four archers on each side of the castle.
Anistina places a hand on her chin, thoughtful:
— Hm... they're going to be a big problem...
Anin proceeds:
— The front troops operate on the East, West, and South sides. There are also reserve troops that can move out through the Southeast and Southwest routes. We estimate about 900 soldiers: 300 on each front, plus 250 in reserves.
Carlius raises his hand:
— They're an alarmingly high number compared to our 450 revolutionaries. And that's not counting the mages, archers... the other two commanders, and the empress herself!
— Indeed... — agrees Anistina.
Shizu crosses his arms:
— Do we have mages on our side, ma'am?
She responds uncertainly:
— Maybe three... but it's likely they won't hold up in direct combat with the army.
— Do you have any ideas on what to do? — she asks.
Shizu looks at her and responds:
— Maybe I have a plan... but I still need more information.
— What?! Already?! — everyone asks, surprised.
— Yes... but it might be imperfect still...
— Even if it's imperfect, I want to hear it — says Carlius.
— Me too.
— I do too! — the others say.
Shizu sighs and starts explaining:
— If we have long-range mages, we can start by attacking the tops of the walls, to either bring down or distract the mages and archers. Then, we'll split into four groups. Three will attack from the sides and the front, with 130 people each. The groups will be named A, B, and C.
— Carlius will lead group B, coming from the left. Anistina will lead group A from the front. Group C will attack from the right, under someone else's command. Anin and I will join the fourth group, attacking from behind the castle... and then we'll head straight for Babadar.
Everyone is deep in thought. Anin then says:
— Truly, this plan seems great at first, but you forgot about the First and Second Commanders. Just one of them is more than enough to take down all our men.
Anistina stands up with a serious expression:
— Yes... as much as I hate agreeing with this brat, those two are incredibly strong. So, if they attack together or separately, it could be disastrous.
One of the resistance members, a man with shaved hair and ragged clothes, raises his hand:
— Excuse me... what if we tried to lure one of them away before the attack? Like... as bait?
Shizu thinks, but before he responds, an older woman, sitting farther back, asks:
— What about the mountains? If we corner them there, we could turn the terrain to our advantage?
Anin then unrolls a hand-drawn map on the table, showing the area divided between the slums, the noble district, and the military area. She points:
— This is where they usually roam. This part of the slum is where we have the most access. If we're going to lure one of them, it'd have to be around here... but it's also more dangerous.
Shizu looks closely at the map, but before he speaks, Anistina crosses her arms and concludes:
— For today, we'll end the meeting. Tomorrow night, at the same time, we'll have the second — and final — meeting. I expect the plan to be complete by then. We're all counting on you, Shizu.
They all stand up and begin to leave the room.
Everyone stands up and starts to leave.
Moments later.
Walking through the slums beside Anin as the night fell, Shizu looks up at the starry sky.Anin, who had been watching him, asks:
— Shizu, why do you want to save all of us?
Shizu looks away from the sky, staring at the path ahead, and responds:
— I guess it's because I don't like seeing people suffer, being sad... or dying. Just thinking about the horrible things these people are going through hurts me too. It's just something inside me.In my world, it was almost the same thing... But there, unlike here, I couldn't do anything. So, if I can do something here... I will.
Anin looks at him, then returns her gaze to the front with a faint smile, muttering:
— You really are a softie...
— Did you say something? — he asks.
She shakes her head and continues walking.
After walking for a while, Shizu comments:
— You'd better go back home, right? They might get suspicious if you're missing too long in the slums.
She looks at him and agrees:
— Yes... then let's go.
Shizu looks at her again and says:
— I... won't go.
She stops and asks:
— Won't go? Why?
Shizu sighs, still looking at her:
— Today, when I left your house, someone knocked on the door. It was Oliver.I'm sure he noticed there was more than one person inside. I don't want to go back. I'm scared.Scared of getting hurt... and especially, of hurting you. So it's better if I stay here.
She looks at him, sad but understanding, and says:
— I see... What you're saying makes sense. So... see you tomorrow.
— See you tomorrow — he replies, waving.
She disappears into the darkness of the slums, and Shizu heads to the hideout.
There, everyone is drinking and eating, almost like it's a party. Shizu starts asking where the Chief is, until someone answers:
— The Chief? She's around drinking. Just look for her.
— Got it. Thanks.
Shizu thanks them and starts looking for Anistina, until he finds her playing cards with Carlius and other companions, laughing loudly.
— Hehehe! I won again! — Carlius shouts.
— No way, Carlius! — Anistina complains, drunk.
— You're cheating!! — yells another player.
Carlius retorts, laughing:
— Stealing? Me?? You guys are the ones being unfair! Hahaha!
Angrily, Anistina throws the cards on the table:
— Of course you're stealing! You must have pulled that Ace of Spades from your...!
Shizu approaches and asks what they're doing. Anistina, already tipsy from drinking, replies:
— We're picking up nuts! Want some too?
Carlius, the only sober one, smiles and explains:
— Calm down, Miss Anistina. We're playing cards. Want to join, Mark?
With not much to do, Shizu sits down to play with them. Anistina keeps drinking and comments:
— You have no idea, Carlius! This kid took a beating from me, and still kept getting up and cussing at us! You should've seen it!
She takes another gulp.
Carlius then looks at Shizu:
— Our boss might seem a bit... intense, but even with those flaws, she's a very kind person. If she does something that bothers you, it's not on purpose. She just cares a lot.
Shizu, watching Anistina drink, just replies:
— It's fine.
While grabbing a cup, Carlius asks:
— By the way, how old are you? You don't seem older than me.
Shizu, with the cup in his hand, answers:
— My age? I'm 15.
Carlius's eyes widen, and he shouts:
— 15?! AND YOU'RE ALREADY COMMANDING AND FORMULATING PLANS TO TAKE DOWN AN EMPRESS?!
Shizu, confused, asks:
— Is that a problem? Miss Anin also looks pretty young and she's a commander.
Carlius retorts:
— Yes, but in her case, she was forced into it! And still... you made that plan in seconds! That's not something a kid usually does!
Shizu smiles, embarrassed:
— It's just that where I come from... we were forced to think fast. Think quickly.
Carlius looks at his cup and asks:
— Where you come from... were you all forced to have this kind of thinking?
Shizu, with a more serious expression, looking at the fire, answers:
— Where I come from... if you weren't faster and smarter than the next person... you were consumed by society's disapproval. And that could destroy you in ways you can't even imagine.
Carlius, regretting asking, apologizes:
— I'm sorry... that was rude of me.
— It's fine — says Shizu, standing up.
He goes to a nearby house, chosen by the Boss for him to sleep in. As he lies down, he sighs:
— Rest, huh...? No one's made of iron.
And then he closes his eyes.And wakes up.
— Shizu, are you listening...? — asks Anin, sitting in her chair.
Shizu looks around and sees Anistina and Carlius sitting at the table.And then he realizes.
"What's going on...? I..."
— Mr. Shizu?
"Did I die?"