Between a Kingdom and a Republic

Admiral Geno Takeda, senior commanders, sergeants, and the King rode at the head of the column, their faces determined as they continued. They were riding strong horses, and their silence said a lot about how determined they were. Behind them, rows of regular soldiers, weighed down by heavy armor and weapons, struggled to move forward on foot. This hard trek toward the Unitas Republic was more than just a military march; it was also an important diplomatic mission that would shape the future of the kingdom. The small army moved steadily but slowly, testing their endurance on the steep hills and bumpy paths. They spent hours walking on dangerous paths through the woods that seemed to get harder with each step.

One soldier couldn't handle the stress of being tired and wearing armor. As he walked more slowly, his feet dragged on the rough ground. The heat of the day and the march's constant demands wore him out. Blood from blisters on his feet soaked through his boots. The pain got worse with each step until he finally fell forward, gasping for air.

He turned to another soldier and said in a raspy voice, "I can't go on any longer."

The other soldier ran to tell an officer nearby, worried but not sure what to do.
The commander turned to look at the soldier who was having trouble, and his eyes were cold and uninterested. "He has to keep going. We are only halfway there. The commander said clearly, "He'll be left behind if he can't keep up," and then he turned back to the road.

The soldier's health got worse very quickly. His legs gave out, and he couldn't see clearly. At that moment, Shen, who was in the back of the column, noticed the trouble. He stopped and tightened his grip on the reins of his horse after hearing the commander's rude response. He stopped for a moment to think about what to do. But the image of the struggling soldier inspired him. Shen turned his horse around and rode back toward the guy who was having trouble, pulling the reins firmly.

As Shen got closer to the soldier, his eyes softened when he saw the soldier's pale, sweaty face. Without getting off the horse, Shen reached out a hand. "Come on," he said in a voice that was both stern and kind.

The soldier's tired eyes blinked in surprise when he looked up. It wasn't an order; it was a show of support. He was too tired to talk, so he took Shen's hand and tried to get on the horse behind him. He gasped for air and fell against Shen's back, saying, "Thanks, sir."

Shen nodded quickly to show his thanks, then turned his horse around and rode it back to the front of the column. Even though people were whispering behind his back, he didn't turn around. The soldiers looked at each other in shock. A commander had never chosen to help a soldier who was having a hard time instead of leaving him behind. Because of what he did, the soldiers began to respect Shen.

The column finally reached the Unitas Republic's borders hours later, just as the sun was setting. Shen was both excited and scared because he had never been this far east before. When he reached the top of the hill, he was shocked by what he saw. The city of Unitas, a marvel of intelligence and style, lay below.

The city was well-planned, with wide streets that were always busy. A high-speed train sped along its elevated tracks, cutting through the gaps between skyscrapers without making a sound. It was a beautiful sight as the last rays of the sun hit its silver shine.

Unitas was so big and complicated that it was hard to take in. He said to himself, "I never thought I'd see this." He saw the city as a part of another universe, one that was very different from the simple, traditional ways of life in his home country.

The soldier riding behind Shen said something softly when he saw that Shen was surprised. "Sir, what you're seeing is caused by something called magnetic energy. It gives power to their weapons, vehicles, and a lot of other technologies. They are much better than us in every way.

Shen's forehead wrinkled as he thought. He knew a little bit about these kinds of ideas from past experiences. "Don't they use magnetic fields to make energy?" He cut the soldier off in the middle of his explanation.

The soldier blinked in surprise at how good Shen was. "Yes, sir." That's exactly right.

The soldier was impressed by Shen's intelligence because he hadn't seen many leaders who were this smart before. "It's amazing," Shen said as he headed back to the city. He had never seen anything like the changes that Unitas made. Even though his own country had made a lot of progress in weapons and infrastructure, they were nothing compared to what they had done.

The soldier gestured toward a massive pyramid-shaped building that towered over the center of the city. "That's the main base," the soldier said. "It's a sign of Unitas's power..."

As Shen looked at the huge building, he felt both awe and unease. The pyramid, whose shadow seemed to cover the whole city, showed that Unitas was in charge.

Shen helped the soldier get off his horse as they got closer to the edge of the city. Even though he was weak, the man was able to bow gratefully. He said, "Thank you, sir," with all his heart.

Shen looked at him thoughtfully. Even though you aren't very strong, you have a sharp mind. Thanks for sharing what you know. Shen told his horse to move forward so he could catch up with the other commanders at the front of the column.