Family Ties

After taking a deep breath, he turned to her. The air was thick with unspoken promises.

He said in a strong voice, "I need you to take me to the main fortress."

The stronghold was a well-known landmark in the area, so Lina hesitated, her eyes showing a hint of confusion. Its tall spires were always close by on the horizon. But after a while, she just nodded. They went outside together and started walking toward the fortress that stood out in the area.

Soon, the fortress's tall walls, which looked like they were scraping the sky, took over their vision. Lina stopped and looked at Shen. They met his eyes.

She said, "Shen... thank you," in a voice full of emotion. "I would have... I would have ended the pregnancy if it weren't for you." Her words hung in the air, heavy and raw. But I want to have faith in the hope you've given me. Not right now, but I could never kill someone. She stopped for a moment, then moved closer to him and hugged him tightly. Shen felt a new connection in her strong hug—a flow of trust and gratitude that went deeper than words. Shen had never felt anything like it before: a strange warmth that broke through his defenses and gave him comfort.

When Lina finally pulled away, she carefully took a pendant from her neck and held it out to him. "This is the only thing I have left from my family," she said in a voice that was a mix of sadness and hope. "I want it for you." I think it will keep you safe, just like it has always kept me safe. Please keep it with you at all times.

Shen's hand hovered, and he stopped. But he couldn't say no to Lina's gentle but firm push. He took the jewelry and nodded in agreement.

Shen looked at her, holding the smooth, cold pendant in his hand. With a new sense of determination in his voice, he said, "I promise," and "I'll do everything I can." He carefully put the necklace around his neck, feeling its strange weight against his chest. It was a real reminder of his promise.

Lina nodded, and a small, fragile smile appeared on her lips. She said softly, "I'll meet you at the chapel." He turned toward the gates of the fortress, and she stepped back, still looking at him. Shen walked steadily and purposefully toward the huge door without looking back.

As he walked through the fortress's huge gates and into a wide hallway with very high ceilings and intricately carved stone walls, the air got colder.

After a while, one of the guards broke formation and walked up to him, his hand resting cautiously on the pommel of his sword.

"Who are you?" the guard asked in a stern, questioning tone.

Shen took a deep breath and stood up straight. He said with confidence, "I'm here to see my brother." "I have the name Takeda."

The guards looked at each other in an awkward way, and for a moment their professional demeanor slipped as suspicion and surprise battled for control of their faces. One of them squinted his eyes. "Takeda?" he said again, this time with a hint of disbelief in his voice. "Are you saying that Commander Geno Takeda is your brother?"

Shen stayed true to himself. Without thinking, he said, "Yes." "My brother is Geno Takeda."

The guard who had spoken bowed a little as the tension in their shoulders went away. "The commander said you could come. "Follow me this way," he said, pointing for Shen to follow. His voice was now full of respect.

As they walked through the maze-like hallways, Shen's mind was racing. Geno Takeda was clearly a very powerful person in these walls, even though he didn't know much about this man, who was supposedly his brother. He felt both curious and scared. If he wanted to live in this new place, let alone do well, he would need Geno's help. But first, he had to understand the man.

Finally, they reached a large door with an iron frame. The guard knocked three times hard. A deep, commanding voice came from inside. "Come in."

A big mahogany table was in the middle of the big office when the guard pushed the heavy door open. It was a messy but well-organized monument to the duties of command, full of maps, strategic papers, and plans for battle. Takeda Geno was standing behind it. A man with huge shoulders and sharp features looked like he was in charge of everything, as if he could control the air in the room. When Shen walked in, Geno looked up, but his sharp eyes were on a page. When their eyes met, there was a lot of tension in the room for a long time.

"Shen," Geno said, in a voice as steady and strong as the fortress walls. "You came earlier than I thought you would."

Shen took a deep breath to get his courage up. As he stepped forward, his voice was clear and strong. He said out loud, "Yes, brother." "You were right. As a Takeda, it is my job to keep the people safe. That's why I'm here: to train to be a commander.

Geno's focused stare slowly relaxed, and a tiny smile appeared on his lips. "I've been waiting to hear those words, Shen," he said. "Your determination is impressive." It looks like you're finally ready to take on your duties, and a Takeda never backs down from them.

Geno moved on purpose to the side of the room and unfastened the thick clasp of his command cloak. He turned back to Shen with a serious but happy smile. He said, "I'll take you to the training grounds myself." " There, your skills and personality will be tested. If you can show us that you are valuable, you will earn your place among us.

As they left the main keep and entered a large courtyard that was busy with orderly activity, Shen quietly followed Geno. There were loud clashes of steel, guttural screams, and the steady thump of feet on packed dirt in the air. Soldiers practiced and fought under the watchful eyes of experienced teachers. As Shen looked across the chaotic scene, his determination grew stronger.

Geno led him to a mountain of a man with a face that looked like it had been carved out of granite and an air of unflinching discipline. The man's sharp eyes took in Shen's whole body in one quick glance.

Geno's voice was strong. "This is my brother Shen, Sergeant Raiden." You will be in charge of his training. Prepare him to be a leader.

Sergeant Raiden's full attention was on Shen, and his gaze was so intense that it felt like a weight on his body. His voice was as harsh and unyielding as his body language, but his face was still hard to read. He said under his breath, "Let's hope you live up to the name Takeda."

Shen stood up straight and didn't flinch when the sergeant glared at him. "I will," he said firmly and quietly.

Geno firmly put his hand on Shen's shoulder. He said in a low voice, "This won't be an easy path." "The training will push you to do things that make you uncomfortable. But you'll be stronger after learning from Raiden. You will become the perfect Takeda leader that our people need.

Shen nodded as he thought about what his brother had said and how much it hurt. He said clearly, "I'm ready," in his voice.

Geno's rare smile came back with a small but clear grin. "Okay. Let's get going then.

People had high hopes for the Takeda name, and Shen was determined to meet or exceed them all at any cost.