FOR THOSE WHO SOUGHT HIS WISHES

The legend of Phaedrus is a tale from their ancestors who had witnessed the becoming of their land. Passage of words through the mouth had made every Anshiantiae aware of the story. According to them, it's a symbol of Lord Giansh's undying love for humanity—for he was a deity who disregarded his throne in the heavens to be a pillar in protecting the innocence and existence of the people. To him being one of the divinities, it is in his will to do everything in keeping humanity far from anything that would corrupt them into misery. And to achieve this, the tremendous acts of the other gods shall be stopped at all costs.

Lord Giansh was the one who had given the people clarity to see the truth beneath the lies of the deities. Yet some were still blinded by the beliefs that they had chosen in opposing him. And this has resulted in an outbreak of war between Giansh's people (the Anshiantiae) against the Nemiendlich.

The god of wisdom Giansh had created Anshiantum. And to ensure the safety of the people who decided to stand alongside him, the god used the remains of his heavenly powers to bestow divine protection through the land—a field of barrier that engulfed the whole Anshiantum. Outside it, there resides a vicious place, filled with nothing but darkness that led to Nemiendr.

Only people who carry the blood of an Anshiantiae were allowed to pass through the divine protection. They called it the Phaedrus and it had resided on the land for hundreds of years. It holds an uncanny strength hence not even a single soul had been victorious in breaking through. For if the divine protection had been broken—punishment from the other gods would befall Anshiantum.

Time had passed and people from the younger generations had long considered the ancient tale was only made to create a thrilling excitement for the children. Hence, they had no idea what awaited them outside the land for they had placed their safety and trust on the officials who led them, which had made them less concerned about the danger for themselves.

"General Nephus, don't push yourself!" one of the 7th General's soldiers spoke, aiding Hermes who stumbled on his feet. Yet the General didn't listen to the soldier's plea, shrugging his hands off him and continuing to approach the fissures floating mid-air.

It has been a week since they had discovered the strange rift, and Hermes had devoted himself to formulating solutions to fix the divine protection. The story he was tired of hearing when he was still a lot younger had shown before his eyes.

This was one of the possibilities that he had listed in mind while pondering about what had caused the invasion, even if it was nearly irrational to him. And right now, the 7th General had debated on himself for the acceptance of the proven evidence before him. Researches, experiments, and lab tests had engulfed him to study and find a cure for the Phaedrus. Though nothing had worked nor a percentage had risen to the success of his trials.

"General, I told you that we should immediately report this to the council, they might-"

"They're useless," said Hermes. The dark bags that formed in his eyes had made a good match to his gray coat. New fashion aesthetic is it?

Some troops of General Hiraoka had worked together with them. Being the stubborn man he is, Hermes had told Akaru not to utter a single word to the council unless they had found something valuable for their research in finding the right solution to mend the barrier. But the gadgets and analyses created by them didn't work either. Their energy was also not enough and compatible in sealing off the cracks. And they had no choice but to wreck their resources and wits to try anything that might work, even if it had cost them tons of failure.

Some of the Nephus division's camping tents had been set near where the fissures occurred. And their lives had been threatened by wild beasts from outside the barrier that kept appearing between the cracks as the rifts grew in size each day.

General Akaru Hiraoka was the first man Hermes had talked to about the Phaedrus. The 2nd General is a master of creating defensive barriers and shields made of his prowess. But to his surprise, Akaru had no idea in regards to divine protection. And for compensation for his lack of information, he had offered to give half of his soldiers in assisting the Nephus division.

Soldiers who wore the badge of the Hiraoka division were in-charge of defense against the wild beasts. While the group of Hermes continued researching data. The fate of Anshiantum now lies in their hands.

"General! There's a letter from the council!"

Hermes clicked his tongue in annoyance. If possible, he didn't want to go over and read the contents of it. But he composed himself in refraining from doing so even if he had disliked it when the council had to always interfere with his work.

Receiving the letter in his hands, he removed the seal marked with the council's symbol and his eyes ran through the page as his eyebrows creased.

Nova, who had been assisting the Nephus division had noticed his frustrating sigh and change in his expressions. "Hermes," she called.

The 7th General gave her a short glance. "They want us to immediately report our findings"

"Right now?" said Nova.

Hermes nodded, reading the letter one last time before tearing it to pieces. "Those old hags" he uttered, followed by a silent cursing.

The 7th General had always known of the council's motives—that once they had heard a word about the Phaedrus, they would put the blame on someone and would not let his division further investigate and create possible solutions in restoring the divine protection.

Since the council had always rejected their proposals in furthering technology throughout Riagi. Their beliefs had let them put their whole trust in the traditional art of war and the deity of wisdom. But for Hermes, he had always thought that pure faith to a dead deity wouldn't do anything. Because to him, to have victory—one must advance in the ethics to desert the laws of the heavens.

Soldiers who are busy working with the Phaedrus let out gasps and mutters hearing their General. While Hermes had paced back and forth, thinking of the possible step to avoid the council's orders.

And Nova watched him, she had often seen him like this, being lost in his world. She wanted to approach him, but she had disregarded the thought and had continued to assist the soldiers.

If one would stretch the repeated pacing of Hermes, he might've reached Nemiendr by now. Fortunately, he suddenly stopped abruptly from doing it—rushing towards his occupied soldiers. Hermes grabbed a piece of a bronze circular tool on the table beside the group of soldiers near him. His eyes focused on it deeply as if it was something that he would devour due to lack of sleep and meals.

"General Hiraoka, tell him to come here again" he ordered. The soldier holding notes on a clipboard was startled when the 7th General had suddenly taken a hold of her papers.

"Y-yes General" the girl uttered, as she and her colleagues ran through their camp in search of the 2nd General.

Hermes scribbled through the notes while hurriedly going to his camping tent where he had been working to create multiple tests and keeping track of each result he had gotten. And it was a room where the definition of 'organization' doesn't exist in the least. Papers littered the floor, whether they were crumpled or not, along with them were some books stacked below a chair's leg. Test tubes, beakers, and flasks were placed in a holder and a board filled with written formulas and stuff that would mean no sense to our Raijin lay on the walls.

The 7th General's hand immediately took the tool he had gotten a while back as soon as he had entered inside. He placed it on top of a translucent glass filled with captured energy from the Phaedrus. The Nephus division used their specialized gadgets for taking samples in conducting research, though it could only capture bits of it—unlike our young man's chushin who cages a part of a god's power.

Hermes waited for the reaction as his eyes watched the silent ticking of the bronze tool. But to no avail, after a couple of seconds it made a beeping noise. It echoed into a small explosion as its wires erupted from the outside, self-destructing itself because of the pressure from the captured energy of the Phaedrus.

Everyone grew alarmed by the sudden sound. They rushed towards the General, leaving their unfinished works unattended.

"Hermes, what's happening here?" Nova entered inside the temper tent, running to his aid. She covered her nose as the burning scent lingered from the object that emitted smoke and was shattered into pieces.

"If I could find a similar energy from the barrier, we might fix it but the energy locater had only self-destructed" Hermes answered, dusting off his uniform. "Is General Hiraoka here?"

"I just arrived" Akaru entered inside, approaching them as the soldiers had given their salutes to the General. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Well yes. I need the approval of an upper General," said Hermes, his eyes lingered on everyone that surrounded them and they had almost occupied every corner of the tent. "I'll talk to General Hiraoka in private"

Having heard of his demand, the soldiers turned to their heels.

"Stay here Nova," said Hermes when he saw her about to follow them.

"Do you also need my approval?" Nova questioned. She still needed to immediately assist their soldiers outside.

"No... but yes."

"I'm not an upper General," said her.

Hermes stared at her blankly. He averted his eyes from her, waving his hand as if to shove her off. "Fine, you go woman."

Nova heaved a sigh, turning her back on them and walking ahead.

Once the 8th General was out of sight, Akaru took the chance to get them back on the topic. "What is it?"

"Convince the council to let me enter Nemiendr," Hermes said, lowering his voice. This is the first time he would ask someone to help him deal with the council. Since then, they are on his list of the humans he wanted to mutate into pigs and cows. But he had always kept to himself about their dealings with him.

"I wouldn't ask you if you're crazy, because it seems that you were," Akaru responded, giving him a serious look.

"I need to find something that would repair the barrier and there's nothing here in Anshiantum. Meaning, the only way to find the solution is to search beyond our land," said Hermes, trying to persuade the 2nd General in the most 'endearing' and 'pleasing' way he could.

The 2nd General let out a deep breath, "Let's say that you've found the solution. But there's no certainty that you'll come back alive" he replied, returning his look. "Charging on the enemy's base would mean suicide"

"I might be able to pull it off, we wouldn't know unless we conduct a testing"

"That's not the case. We need someone capable of-" Akaru didn't finish his phrase as if an image of someone had suddenly flashed in his mind. "Hermes..." he uttered.

Understanding the man's point, Hermes' lips curved into a smile coming into the same idea. "Someone capable of works like this. In conclusion, a person who excels in combat and working in silence to guarantee a perfect crime- plan, I should say."

---

Raijin breathed heavily, watching how the 3rd General had flawlessly dodged his repeated attacks. He had been training for days with her and to the extent that he can do right now is to throw balls of lightning in her direction as if they were meant to play a game. He can't even land a single scratch on the woman.

"You've lost again. Then we'll be having our lunch at sweetie sweet" Seratsuki said as she took her sword leaning on the rock.

"No General, I won't be eating lunch" He answered. The desserts they've been eating had made him almost nauseous. Though he knows too well that he had been disregarding his hunger from the training. And he had reminded the 3rd General a couple of times that eating foods filled with sugar would end her legacy sooner. Yet she had ignored his words and continued to force him inside the shop every time.

"Ikabuki Raquel must initiate his meal at sweetie sweet, that's an order from your General" Seratsuki demanded, even if there was a slight averting in her eyes upon forcing herself to sound authoritative.

"General! Can't you see? That's not what you call 'lunch'" Raijin protested. Hoping to get a reasonable response from her.

"Everybody has their preferences and this is mine" turning to her heels, she started to walk ahead of him.

"And this is not my preference," Raijin continued, following her from behind.

"But you're a member of the Noguchi division"

"That doesn't make sense at all!"

Not too long after Raijin's consecutive pleas they had finally arrived in town. The people displayed a smile of greetings and salutes to the 3rd General as the young man's begs were not heard by the woman when they had stopped in front of the sweet shop. Its familiar signage and bright color made Raijin want to give out a loud cry and escape to where he is right now. But even if he had desired to, he needed to endure the penalty of his training.

The ringing of the bell upon entering the shop every day was like the tune of an upcoming attack, which made Raijin prepare himself for another wave of sweets that Seratsuki would give.

"Welcome back Noguchi division!" The owner of the shop approached Seratsuki, showing a big smile to her. There was no point in asking for a specific order since she had been aware of what the General had always wanted.

"Chocolate fudge for him" The 3rd General muttered, giving a glance towards Raijin who had found a seat for the both of them.

Their desserts were indeed mouthwatering, though having those each time had made Raijin concerned about the health of his General. The only thing he could do is remind her a thousand more times and complain about it.

"General, why do you always order chocolate fudge for me?"

Seratsuki sat on the chair in front of him and there was a short silence before she decided to answer. "You don't want it?"

"Uhmm no," he said, followed by a nervous laugh. "It's not that, I'm just curious General" He had wondered that if she favors strawberries, why wouldn't she give him the same order as she has? Nor take him to explore different flavors in the shop to persuade him into going here each time?

"Thank you for waiting! Here's your order"

The 3rd General didn't give him a response. And her attention was quickly driven from the set of desserts placed on top of their table. She took the spoon, scooping a part of the strawberry cake and filling her mouth in satisfaction.

Raijin looked at her and he hesitated at first before taking a portion of the chocolate fudge. The cream-filled dessert melted slowly on his tongue, almost pouring his whole in a cloud of sweetness. He must admit that its first-half spoons would sometimes make him want to dive further into its flavor until he can no longer utter proper words. But its taste had always made him reach through his bottled water to ease the sweetness that creates quite a strain and cloy to his mouth.

A loud beeping that echoed between the two of them disrupted his words when he opened his mouth to say something. The 3rd General paused in eating, as she listened to the vibrations sent by the communication chant.

"Third General Seratsuki Noguchi, the council demands your presence. I repeat, Third General Seratsuki Noguchi, the council demands your presence"

Confusion filled Raijin after hearing the announcement. The idea of his crime being related to the order had lingered on his mind. Raijin recollected the things he had done during the days he had been working under her, finding for a mistake that he had committed again that might put his General in a dire situation. And it made him uneasy about what he might've done to risk the name of the 3rd General.

His faults from the past were enough and he had wanted nothing but to do everything for the person who had helped him change the fate he was in. Though the sweetie sweet part is a different case.

"General!" he called, standing on his feet. "Take me with you"

"What makes you think I wouldn't be taking you with me?" Seratsuki's blank expressions didn't change. Reaching out to her sword, she locked it on her waist and started to pile the dishes they had used on the table.

Taken aback by what she said, Raijin helped her with the plates. And has, later on, ventured to the headquarters.

"Rai"

The badge of the Hiraoka division rested on Hiro's chest as the white military uniform in golden buttons, gloves, and a patch on his shoulders made him receive stares and mutters from women who had passed through the facility. As if he were a prince (I mean he is, technically) out of a fairy tale.

Since then, Hiro had been popular with the people and some nobles who had come to visit the Kazahana household had offered marriages between him and their daughters. Yet the Kazahana heir had always uttered his formal rejections for he had no interest in such things. Such a waste of looks, I must say. One must extend the fine bloodline—but these words should be said to some 'elder sister.'

"Hiro!" Raijin called back, approaching him. The unease he had felt a while back had suddenly vanished when he saw him. It's been some time since he had not spoken to his friends and he had yearned to join them again.

"As usual, you two are noisy as ever"

Their heads turned in the direction of the voice. There, they saw a young lady wearing a blue uniform. The skirt passed by her knees as the coat overlapping it enveloped a blue tie and white sleeves inside. The belt was tied on her waist along with another one crossing the right shoulder down to it. Dark and light blue linings filled the clothing.

"What is it?" Mitsuka said, noticing the silence between the two. Her hair was tied low at the side in a white silk lace.

And how could the two young men be able to put it? She looks quite stunning.

Clearing his throat, Hiro was the first one to speak. "It's nothing. Right, Rai?"

"Ah! Yeah," Raijin said, averting his eyes and having searched their surroundings.

Suspicious of their response Mitsuka disregarded her second thoughts, proceeding in maintaining her composure since the 3rd General was not far from where they were. And she was about to utter another word to Raijin and Hiro when a voice called her.

"Hitomi, let's proceed inside"

Even the calm tone of the 4th General had made them nervous. For she had always worn a straight and formal façade. After meeting her closely this time, Raijin was convinced that General Kazahana can wreck a chill down his back more than General Noguchi herself.

"Y-yes General!" Mitsuka replied, immediately following the woman after taking a final glance at them.

"Hiro..." Raijin muttered. He didn't know if he could still have the guts to joke around the Kazahana boy after meeting the 4th General. In all honesty, he's terrified for his whole being to be frozen in death. Perhaps if he could hinder himself to ask Hiro about encasing the door of sweetie sweet shop in ice to stop a certain someone from entering—General Kazahana wouldn't freeze him.

"Scared?" Hiro teased. "Well, I can't blame you. General Kazahana is a serious person"

Akaru and Seratsuki gave them a look, signaling for the two to follow them inside after they had finished talking, to which the youngsters had complied. They were grateful that their Generals held closeness to each other so that they could resume their conversation while venturing through the halls of the facility as they prepared themselves with the council's words.