I. CHAPTER 8: THE TRUTH ABOUT THE WORLD

***Somewhere along the North Imperial Highway…***

Lieutenant Marcel Spitz dusted himself from the dirt and blood after his narrow escape from his captors. Once freed by his corporal, he took back his service revolver, which he dropped when the sentry cornered him. To make sure they were safe, he scanned the nearby area before approaching the corporal.

“Did you check the other side?”

The corporal nodded, though he never let his guard down. As Marcel was about to check on the Empress and her companions, however, someone called out to him…

“Sir Lieutenant!”

From the corner of his eyes, he saw his liege and her step-sibling, Ayan, emerged from the armored car. The Count of Sey followed them, reloading his own revolver.

“Still a crack-shot, eh?” the noble commented when they reached Marcel’s position.

Likewise, the lieutenant replied, “The corporal is the one who killed these traitors, but you’re also as sharp as ever, Your Grace.”

“You’d be surprised to know that it is Her Imperial Majesty who took out the guys on our side.”

At that moment, Marcel and Pau’s eyes met briefly; though they never said anything, both started to have growing respect for the other. The lieutenant, wishing to leave the place as soon as they could, went back to the matter at hand. “At this rate, we can’t use that car anymore,” he reiterated. “It’s possible these fools ratted us out, including the plate number. The other checkpoints won’t be as forgiving as this one.”

“Yes,” the count added. “We can’t enter Manila if they will detect us at the checkpoints; we might be better dead. Alright then, I’ll grab some of our things. How about you look for a vehicle we can commandeer, Sir Lieutenant?”

“I’ll get the corporal to do that,” Marcel floated the idea. “That man’s good in hot-wiring, so he’s our guy. Besides, someone has to remain close with Her Imperial Majesty.”

Once they agreed on their contingency plans, Marcel and the Count of Sey went to their respective duties, with Pau and Ayan watching them work. As the lieutenant finished his instructions to the corporal, however…

“!!!”

Much to the Empress’ horror, the armored they were in earlier exploded to bits, with the Count still inside. Then, with a cry, their hidden foes emerged from their hiding spots and started firing. Marcel and the corporal immediately sprang to action; the first shots from their enemy nearly hit the lieutenant to his head. Only his timely evasion saved him from death, and he quickly pulled Her Imperial Majesty to cover.

When they were hidden from their enemies’ view, the soldiers from the 1st Regiment charged at them. One carried a rocket-launcher, and he was escorted by two of his friends. Their unit’s size revealed to the lieutenant that these were the survivors of the platoon that they massacred at the checkpoint.

Not wishing to prolong the fight, Marcel unraveled his bionic eye, and put well-placed shots on either the heads or chests of the enemy. Upon confirming the danger had passed, the lieutenant called on his companions to come out.

“…”

But Pau and Ayan were silent from the ordeal. They could only stare at the burning wreckage of what was once the vehicle they used to escape the Ilocanos. What was even worse was the corpse of the count—at least, part of his hand—stuck out of the hulk and flames, as if he was reaching out to the heavens, clearly seen from where they were.

Marcel took the empress and Ayan aside, and gave them his coat to cover their sights. They never said anything to each other; the silence was enough to tell the lieutenant that they already suffered.

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As the corporal and Marcel deliberated on their options, Ayan remained looking towards the corpses of the people around them. She wanted to vomit, though the disgust was so great, she could only wish and mutter it was all a dream. A nightmare. Soon, she would wake up from this hell, and she would continue her ordinary, peaceful days in Palayan with her Ate Pau…

However, it is not going to happen anytime soon…

“Long live the Emperor and the Orient! Die you traitors!”

“!!!”

Everything happened so fast, Ayan could barely make sense of what just transpired. All that she witnessed was a corpse suddenly moved, pulled a gun from beneath him, and screamed at the top of his lungs. Then, the soldier aimed his gun at Pau, much to Ayan’s initial shock. However, she quickly recovered her senses to let a little yelp and point towards the ‘risen’ corpse. Marcel was quick to notice it, and…

“!!!”

Two shots rang out. The first one came from the dying man, with all his hate poured into that little lump of lead. It successfully land on its target’s head—that of the corporal’s—as he was pulled by Marcel to block the shot. At once, the poor guardsman died.

The second shot came from Marcel himself, after pushing away the lifeless body of his comrade. It also found its mark: the head of the injured soldier, effectively eliminating the danger he posed. Nevertheless, the casualties ‘doubled’ as Pau and Ayan witnessed the lieutenant’s deed.

“…”

Marcel and the empress locked stares for a moment, as she silently demanded answers from him. The guardsman, however, put his back and his revolver to its holster. Then, he continued walking to the sides of the highway.

“S-Sir Lieutenant…” were the first words that came from Pau’s lips. “W-What…did you just…”

“It had to be done, Your Imperial Majesty,” Marcel interrupted her. “You are now the empress of this land, and I, your guard. One does not sacrifice the life of the general, so others lower than them can live. You are our commander, and such decisions will not be a stranger to you from now on. This is how the world works.”

Pau never forgot Marcel Spitz’ eyes that day. It was filled with cold-blooded sadness, as if he had seen the worst, and was willing to get through it just to advance his plans...

The eyes of a reluctant murderer.