OVERCAST

The General's worn-out corpse flashed his despair. Every thump of his heart sent him into an edge that he had known too well. Rage. Grief. There they were again, the feeling of urge pushing him into the corner of emotions.

Raijin remained frozen to where he was that even the calls of his two friends had fallen to the deaf ear. It was horror—the once fair General was replaced with nothing but a gruesome view. Her eyes were wide open, almost tearing to the sockets as her mouth was flowing with blood. Burns and wounds scattered her body. If this would always be the reality for Raijin, he wanted to pull himself into a deep sleep.

"Rai!" Hiro shouted. Searing orbs of flames and dark smoke were quickly charging at him and just about it was near to hitting his whole, Hiro pushed him aside to block the attack.

"Hiro!" Raijin called as he stumbled to his feet on the push. He didn't know, he had no idea who they were fighting but his wonder had been answered when the face of a young man appeared before them.

It was Kato. He wielded his flaming sword, standing before them with nothing but a cold and solemn expression. And the void of disbelief and anger rushed on Raijin that even his voice could not make the words he must be able to say.

He was about to charge on the Guardian but a flash of green light emerged in front of him. Mitsuka shielded them with briars as the leaves swirled on her command to lay Hiro beside them. She took Raijin by the arm, keeping him at bay.

Mitsuka was terrified. And yet, the only thing she could do is ensure their safety. With her briars covering them she left Raijin inside, chaining his feet on the ground in the roots of a tree as she stood in front of Kato who stared at her in the most uncaring way.

"Earth, hear me," she said. It sounded more like a prayer than a chant.

As the young lady muttered her incantation, a forceful shaking erupted on the ground. The whole forest knelt under her command as the towering trees pierced through each other creating enormous arcs of boughs and trunks while they moved along with the wave of her palms. Her eyes were closed, feeling the force of energy around her.

The vast aura and energy surrounding the woods gathered on Mitsuka. "Thy great tree who divides heaven and earth, lay punishment upon those sinners who dare bring corruption to your roots..." The shaking had grown violently, leaving Kato to fall on his knees, piercing the sword on the ground for him to hold. Fissures and cracks emerged from the ground as nature listened to Mitsuka's commands. "Gradia prasi-"

The searing flames from Kato's sword glowed and erupted in a slash of fire piercing through her and the briars that protected Raijin and Hiro burned in ashes in the instant. When the vines had fallen apart, the eyes of Raijin who as if had carried the gray storms of the world witnessed how the contact of flames to Mitsuka's body burned her into ashes that swayed through the wind leaving nothing behind.

Raijin screamed in grief. And bolts of lightning awakened, surrounding his fists to charge their way through Kato who made no effort in evading it. Right now, was nothing but contempt he had felt and he swore to completely end the Guardian.

Flashes of lightning and flame charges crashed into one another. And Raijin chased after the Nemiendlich for he was completely avoiding his assaults. Kato reached to where the Kazahana heir was lying—his breathing was ragged burns and deep cuts pattern him. Yet there was nothing but only a merciless gaze given to Hiro from the Guardian and wielding his broad sword that almost reached into his chest, he pierced through Hiro just as before Raijin could quickly reach and charge. Hiro had shared the same faith as Mitsuka—with a final cry, his body burned to dust leaving no traces behind.

"Kato!!" Raijin screamed.

He had become almost mindless to everything around and had only carried his will of killing the Guardian before him. Though there was nothing he could do without the chushin not even the blocking the enemy's attack could become of him. There was no turning point of a miracle that would come to help him. For in this battle, all he had was himself and the outraging wrath inside him since the beginning.

"You're not human, Ikazuchi Raijin"

---

"Tomato head! When do you plan on getting up?!"

His eyes fluttered open. He saw Mitsuka's face greeting him. And he immediately got up to where he was laying, taking a hold of the young lady's shoulder and glancing at her whole. As the latter stared at him in confusion and annoyance.

"What?" Mitsuka said while Raijin had still checked her everywhere. "The General and half cook went from somewhere to check the- h-hey w-what are you doing!?" Mitsuka pushed him, yet he still stared at her in concern.

"Are you hurt?" Raijin said.

"I'm not. Are you stupid?"

"Mitsuka" he saw how they had died before the hands of Kato. Yet, right now everything was more than alright. There are no wounds and they still look the same as the moment they had started the mission. "Ah- it's...nothing," Raijin replied.

Fixing her uniform, Mitsuka stood in front of him. Her ears were shaded of pink though Raijin didn't notice it for he was focused on whether he should be thankful because everything was just a dream or let that serve as a warning to know what might happen to them. In the entirety, he didn't know. And that it would be impossible to think that someone dead could do something grievous.

"What happened?" said Raijin, trying to push his thoughts.

"You fainted after we entered the mist and we had a hard time carrying you here. Better be thankful to ice queen's Lil bro and her"

Raijin turned to his left, and Hiro and Sertasuki approached them. He showed them an uneasy smile and Hiro returned it while Mitsuka was paying attention to the woman who stood beside her.

Standing on his feet, he kept his nightmare in the back of his mind. For everything right now was clear to him. They're alive and he still has them—that is everything he treasures.

"We're here. This is Nemiendr." said the 3rd General.

Raijin's crimson hair danced with the wind's gentle blow. He walked towards the windows between the trees that show a view. They're now up at a hill, still far from the civilization of Nemiendr. He reached into the gap of two trunks and down, there was a wide peaceful city filled with structures made of stone. Yet some of them were small constructs of mud bricks roofed on top that grouped near the outer side of the city. Buildings that are somehow higher and richer in quality are lined after it and followed by another set of many wealthy ones. Roads and paths branched between the buildings and houses. Each of the constructs seemed to face the center of the land, where a white soaring tower lies that reached the heavens. It was too high that he had no idea where it led or ended. The more the height of its floor reaches the skies, it becomes thinner and thinner until the peak already resembles the point of the needle. And it had reminded Raijin of the manor at the Noguchi land, its roof's tip also had a sharp though it was a bit shorter.

Along with the outskirts of the place, he wasn't sure what those figures were but they were statues sculpted where each was housed in a shrine that seemed to have its own different gardens. One statue was surrounded by torches and even in the broad daylight, the fire blazed brightly that he could see it to where they were. There's a flat-lying beneath the stones and Raijin squinted his eyes to see more of the place but he couldn't make out what was placed on the wooden flats.

After the plain and civilization of the Nemiendlich, mountain hills and green trees where the sun had risen every morning made a graceful blend to the city. And he must admit to himself that this is more beautiful than Anshiantum is. Oh! pardon him Lord Giansh!

"Let's keep going," said Seratsuki, once again walking ahead of them.

"Rai," Hiro called, noticing how the young man was still staring in awe.

"Y-yeah!" Raijin said in hesitation. For he had no idea what he felt when he had a glimpse of another statue surrounded by white glowing cracks on its arc down to the thick silver fences. It was as if he couldn't control the urge of feeling that he was at home.

They resumed venturing through the woods and the gray mist that began at the entrance of the forest was now nowhere to be seen. The chirping of birds echoed made the tranquil bearing of the atmosphere.

"Tell me if you're tired so I could kill you" General Noguchi made no pauses in her words.

"There she goes again," Raijin said in a deep breath. His eyes darted from the trees and he saw the young lady beside him staring into thin air, or perhaps staring at the person in front. "Mitsuka?" he called.

"What?" she responded with a glare that took him by surprise at how quickly she changes.

"You're staring at General Noguchi too much, why don't you just speak with her?" he inquired.

The sudden thought made Mitsuka embarrassed. "I-..." she muttered at loss for words.

"General, Mitsuka said she wanted to-"

She immediately covered Raijin's mouth as muffled noises came out of it. "One more word and I'll tie you upside down till my thorns leave you bleeding" Mitsuka whispered to him, her eyes threatened him with a stare though the slight flush on her cheeks never left her.

Raijin pushed her hand away, "That sounds not too bad unless you also want to get electrocuted"

"General Noguchi" Hiro was the one who approached the General. And the two stopped for if Hiro had spoken, they knew it was of something important for the mission.

"What is it ice queen's, Lil bro?" Seratsuki continued walking, even brushing the small clump of dead plants on her feet.

"Mitsuka had been eager to speak to you, General" Hiro's reply made Raijin let out a laugh at Mitsuka.

The words repeated on Mitsuka's mind that her knees were almost weak and wobbly. Maybe she could even faint at the moment while thinking of what she should do as she curses the two. Shame consumed her for she was again at loss for words when the 3rd General turned in their direction and her eyes landed on her.

"Mitsuka? That's your name?" said Seratsuki.

To Mitsuka's bewilderment (because the General had once stated her name at the council's meeting) she still managed to pull herself together. "Y-yes ma'am," the memory of her childhood when the woman came to save her flashed through her mind and she thought of how timeless she is.

"That's ...a beautiful name," upon saying the words, the General turned to her heels continuing to her tracks.

Mitsuka stood frozen. Her eyes darted to the two boys who gave her a smile and nod of 'good job having a name approved of a higher noble.' She could not almost contain her heart jumping in delight that could turn the forest to smile together with her. "My name is beautiful..." she whispered to herself repeatedly.

"Oh!" Raijin exclaimed. "I never knew you look good when you smile"

"Doesn't she look good every time?" Hiro followed.

Snapping his fingers, Raijin muttered "Blind, are we? geez"

Though Mitsuka had only considered those a tease rather than a compliment. Dragging her feet, she approached the two summoning her briars to lash them with their deadly thorns. But I think she must command the trees first in concealing her burning cheeks before any of that.

"You two!"

Not letting her take the stand, the two boys summoned their prowess to spar. Blocks of ice emerged from the ground hitting their skin with its cold breeze as Raijin swiftly evaded the charges with the use of lightning. They continued their play with each other, disturbing the tranquil rest of the creatures that lived in the woods and every time the charges would run through the trunks of the trees or to a wandering squirrel Mitsuka had a hard time blocking it to shield them.

Their attacks created noises that the General stopped on her feet, unsheathing her sword from the scabbard to face them.

Her slow footsteps and the feel of her menacing aura grew to make the three stop abruptly. Their eyes landed on the sword, its blade glistened through the sun. "Mind if I join?" Seratsuki said. Her blank expression—that is a common part to see upon meeting her made them tenser this time.

"G-general?" Raijin called, withdrawing his lightning as Hiro and Mitsuka had also done the same.

The 3rd General swung her sword in front of them and it reflected their faces that dropped sweat in nervousness.

"A-ah" Raijin stammered. They glanced at each other, silently asking what they needed to do.

Seratsuki waited for their response but she waited no more, for she had easily lost interest in reprimanding the three—knowing that it may drain her in doing so. "Never mind," she said, sheathing the sword. She leaned towards the tree, closing her eyes. "Rest for now, we'll enter the city at night"

---

The green fire on each torch is the only source of light on the corners and halls. The darkness made it haunting. The chandelier that carried candles hung on the ceiling and its light flickered on the sudden blow of the cold wind as if it was an eerie voice that whispered of nightmares. The walls and pillars of the palace were engulfed in gray, even the light from the sky had not shone on them. For only an endless pit of the dark was seen from its heavens.

A figure of a shadow sat on a throne surrounded by bones and skulls. Her face rested on her hands moving the glass of wine on the other and the sleeves of her gown reached beyond the palms encircling her mid finger in a ring. Taking a sip, the woman licked her lips hued black, tasting its flavor and making her mouth slowly form into a mischievous smile.

"Your highness, she had arrived in Nemiendr" the servant bowed before her, three steps away from the throne.

"I'm aware" standing on her feet, she let out a faint laugh walking towards the carpet that led to the hall's entrance. "Don't let her escape and kill the rest" the woman ordered; her gown's trail filled with embedded emeralds reached the ground.

With a final bow to the woman, the man marched to the door.

Her eyes ventured from afar as her lips curved into a smile of satisfaction. "In the end, your daughter is as foolish as her father"

---

Night has fallen and the task force set a campfire in front of them. The three watched it crackle while they spoke to each other about various things such as, "have you tried freezing your sweat Hiro?" and "Does all your family members have red hair?" to which Raijin would answer in an uneasy smile "Yes but I'm not really sure, maybe gray? because they're all dead". Yet the General's silence created an awkward glance between them. Her back was resting on a trunk, arms crossed and her eyes were still shut. They had wanted to approach her but she seemed to be lost at her own pace.

Finding a way to open a conversation with her since they didn't want to make her feel out of place, Raijin was the first one to speak. "General, that's a good gem where did you buy it?" he said, looking at the ruby stone hanging from her waist down the thighs.

The General fluttered her eyes open. She stared at the crimson crystal. "It's given to me."

"By who?" he followed. Hiro and Mitsuka waited for the answer.

Seratsuki let out a deep breath, "By someone important"

"W-was it perhaps your lover?" This time Mitsuka was the one to ask.

Not anticipating the question, Seratsuki was taken aback. Clearing her throat and managing to not stutter she said: "No, just a friend" She noticed the three's nods of forced agreement because of her reaction, and she spoke again. "We'll be entering the city now, prepare yourselves"

On the General's demand, they stood on their feet brushing the dust that lingered on their uniforms as their determination fixed on nothing but completely executing the mission entrusted to them.

"Stop moving you three" even if confusion gathered through them, they abided by the General's words. "They're here"

Before they had realized it, the General was now standing behind their backs and in a swift swing, an arrow had been cut into half. Their eyes didn't catch it charging towards them and if it weren't for Seratsuki one of them might've been swarming in blood right now.

"They're coming," Seratsuki warned.

A single shot of the arrow was followed by numerous numbers of them coming from every direction. It was a struggle to keep their defenses because of its number and speed like bullets fired one after another.

"General! We'll cover you and at the same time look for its source" Hiro said. The arrows are slowly breaching through the ice that emerged from their sides.

"That won't do. They're moving closer to us" keeping up with the shots, her blade successfully blocked and slashed through them.

Mitsuka used the forest's vast territory. Making her briars' length double and had countered the charges upon them as she noticed that the arrows were engulfed in dark steam similar to the gray mist.

They pursued in defending, but the pierced arrows on the ground continuously steamed off mist towards its feathered and steeled ends.

"What-" Raijin muttered as it started to cover his vision. "General! Hiro! Mitsuka!" he shouted. The sudden thought of his nightmare flashed through him. And just as then, the figure of the General and his friends vanished into a shadow until it was washed away by the growing gray mist. The vague trunks of the trees were the only thing he could see.

"Ack-" Raijin cried in pain. An arrow was shot directly at his ankle. The rippling ache was enough to make him scream and along with it, he could slowly feel his body getting tired. The arrow was absorbing his energy and was starting to drain him on the verge of consciousness.

Though he still clawed on the ground, pushing himself to stand. The thought of losing them is more than incomparable to the pain he's feeling. Raijin couldn't value another loss for whatever stake would come at him. He reaches for the nearest trunk, leaning to it and forcing his feet to lay flat on the ground that had caused him numerous grunts. Dragging his feet to walk, he stopped after a step for his eyes stumbled upon something. It shone a bluish light floating through thin air as small zipping bolts of lightning lingered around it. And it was calling out to him. The familiar curved lines and chain of the object had made him sure of its name.

The chushin.