Responsibilities of a Commander

The meeting had been over for thirty minutes. As instructed by his brother, Shen waited in the darkened chamber, thinking about what had happened. Because the Whisper attack so far east was so unprecedented, it was difficult to declare the kingdom safe until the mystery surrounding it was resolved. His mind wavered between his worries about Lina's safety and the possible diplomatic trip to the Unitas Republic. He thought of her deep eyes and silent prayers. He was deep in concentration when the door cracked open and Admiral Geno Takeda entered, his gaze focused on Shen and his face grim.

With an authoritative tone and a hint of rage, Geno remarked, "Shen, we need to talk."

Shen could tell right away by his brother's demeanor how bad the situation was. Geno walked deliberately over to the big table in the middle of the room and put his hands firmly on it. Standing a little stiff, Shen observed his brother, who appeared eager to express his opinions.

"Is there anything you would like to share with me?" With his sharp eyes fixed on Shen, Geno inquired.

Shen lowered his head a little, but he didn't think twice about speaking because he could tell where this talk was going. "Yes, I have to tell you something." He inhaled deeply while carefully selecting his words. Lina, a former priestess, is the person I married. I also regret not telling you sooner.

Takeda's eyes sharpened, and he interrupted Shen with a jagged motion. He remarked angrily, "That's not the information I was asking for." "How in the world did this happen? Tell me about it, Shen.

Shen was taken aback and adjusted slightly, taking a defensive position. "Brother, that wasn't an abrupt change. I promised her something. I needed Lina, and she needed me. I couldn't leave her because she needed help.

Geno's face softened for an instant before hardening once more. You are now a commander, Shen. Every choice you make has an impact on the kingdom and its citizens in addition to yourself.
You must start acting appropriately since your actions have consequences.

Shen looked bewildered as he met his brother's keen gaze. In an attempt to comprehend Geno's abrupt harshness, he inquired, "What are you trying to say, brother?"

Geno leaned forward, his gaze growing piercing. "Shen, you are more needed than ever by the kingdom and our people. However, you are about to be duped. His tone became harder as he stated, "A general's personal needs shall never interfere with the needs of the majority."

"I wasn't being careless to benefit myself! Although I was imitating your behavior, I never took action without careful consideration. We are coming to defend this realm, as you stated. Thus, I am defending what keeps me safe. I was gaining knowledge to become a commander. With a hint of emotion in his voice, Shen answered.

Geno hesitated for a moment, but it was short. Shen was silenced as he slapped his hand down on the table. "Shen, pay close attention to what I have to say. Masks are worn by persons in the outside world.
And you—now that you are the King's man, the kingdom is dependent on you. Individuals that appear out of nowhere in your life can be foreign spies looking for intelligence. Even worse, they can be someone who lives just for the benefit of others. Do you believe that you are the only individual with a personal life who has an idealized idea of what a perfect daily life should be? This place is populated. Real people who were honed for battle but weren't born for it. Innumerable people begged to flee to safety, even though there must have been someone offering it. When your feelings are irrelevant to the decision that would help you protect your own small, misleading fantasy that could betray you at any time in your life, it doesn't matter how you feel or how sorry you are for yourself." Geno's eyes widened, "You are careless, fooled, and giving yourself opportunities to be deceived. For what you can only safeguard in the future." "You carry your own body, your own dreams, and your own pain," Geno went on. Never make that seem like someone else's success or failure. You ruin not just your life but also the lives of others by not living for yourself, even though we all have relationships that are fundamental to who we are. In addition, everyone is aware that the King gives his commanders awards. There will be plenty of people attempting to approach you with bad intentions. I don't want you to fall into that trap because I'm your brother.

Shen understood that Geno's statements made sense, even though they were harsh. He still had feelings for Lina, though. She seemed to be someone he needed, someone who could support him in ways he was still unable to express. He was aware that everything he felt on the inside, including these words and this particular moment, mirrored his own views about Lina and himself. It was also true that there were facts in what Geno said. However, he had to realize that he needed to know, just like Lina.

Could I apply these truths to my own truths?

My own world?

Did Lina's reality change as a result of other people's facts and lies?

How did Shen's suffering go?

But his brother's steadfast position caused him to reconsider everything.

The tension was broken by a knock at the door before Shen could answer. A soldier came in, standing alert. He said politely, "Sir, the King and the troops are ready to depart."

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Geno looked at Shen. He grabbed his cloak and made his way to the door, saying, "We'll talk about this later." He gave Shen a stern but worried glance as he walked by, then shut the door.

The weight of his brother's words weighed heavily on Shen as he stood there in the chilly, anxious room. Taking a deep breath, he realized that the trip to Unitas was probably the first step toward something much bigger than a simple diplomatic mission.

There was a lot of activity in the fortress. Together, the King, commanders, troops, and Shen prepared to depart for Unitas. The entourage was led by Admiral Takeda, who walked next to the King while his cloak fluttered in the breeze. Shen joined the procession, his eyes focused on the future, his mind still replaying what he had said to Geno earlier.

Everyone in the group understood that the voyage had begun and that it was more than just diplomacy; it might be the beginning of an imminent war.