Dawn Before the Battle

Clop. Clop. The hooves of the ox dug into the marsh ground. The constant racketing of the carriage almost lulled me to sleep, but the ever-present pothole in the uneven dirt prevented me from doing so. My back was starting to ache from the frequent collisions with the carriage walls. Mr Arakawa seemed unaffected, however. He took this torture in stride, or he had become used to it.

The army of Aogiri was on its way to the base closest to No Man’s Land. We were to make last-minute preparations before the big battle. My heart was now beating faster regularly, anticipating the Sovereign’s Tourney. One more day could pass in a flash before you realise it.

The generals were separated into 3 carriages: one for us strategists, one for Yukino alone and one for both Chiyo and Riku. I prayed for Riku’s emotional safety. Other high-ranking officials rode on horses, whereas footmen walked the entire way. Their endurance shocked me.

It was approximately a 3 to 4-hour journey towards the border, according to Mr Arakawa. That was surprising. It meant that Aogiri, or the entire continent of Argentum itself, wasn’t as big as I thought.

I remained silent throughout the journey, trying to calm my nerves. I didn’t want my incompetence to affect the army in any way. People were relying on me, and I didn’t want to let them down.

—------------------

“This place is smaller than I thought,” I voiced out in the open.

“It’s a temporary base. There’s no reason to make it big,” Mr Arakawa answered.

Several makeshift tents were placed around the area. Most just had tables for planning or eating, while others had futons underneath for sleeping. What surprised me was the colour of the ground. Unlike the lush greenery and bright mud in the centre of Aogiri, the ground was comprised of hard rocks and was pitch black in colour. For a moment, I thought that we had ended up on a volcano.

One by one, the soldiers unloaded their equipment from the horses. They brought the bare minimum, just some rations for tonight and spare armour for the battle, as well as some other things. At the same time, we generals and the majors went to one of the tents to discuss the final game plan. It was the last time we could confirm the strategy to everyone before the big day.

“You’re a sneaky one, aren’t you? These backup strategies are cunning,” Riku commented, but the smile on his face seemed to say that he liked the idea.

“Fighting with brute force would be foolish. We’ll use every trick in our hand to gain victory.” Mr Arakawa was confident with this plan. After all, it was just as much his idea as it was mine.

“Chiyo, can your magic cover this much distance? This seems like a lot.” Yukino asked worriedly.

“I can do it. I’ve been practising long-distance attack magic and support magic, so it should be possible.” Chiyo affirmed her. I saw her practise myself, so I was confident in her abilities.

“So, does everyone agree with this plan? We can still make some changes if you want,” I asked everyone.

They nodded in return. Our master plan had finally been confirmed. This strategy would either be our one-way ticket to glory or an express pass to the depths of hell. As our captain, I had to make sure to steer our ship to victory.

I sighed in relief, but my beating heart had still not wavered. This was just the preparation. In the real battle, none of these strategies could be applied if we were unlucky. That was when my real duty would start.

The majors dispersed to inform their specific squadrons of our strategy. I was at a loss on what to do next. It was only mid-afternoon. War strategies had been completed, and even some backup plans had been finalised. I could either practise my observational magic with Chiyo or my sword skills with Yukino and Riku. All of a sudden, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

“Hey, Aki. Could I have a moment with you in private, please?” Yukino asked all of a sudden.

“Sure. But why in private?” I was curious. This was out of character for Yukino.

“Never mind that. Just follow me.”

She grabbed my sleeve and dragged me towards an area where no one was around, concealing our escape from the other generals. Yukino was acting suspicious, and I was worried about her next words.

“It’s been a while since we were alone together, hasn’t it?” Yukino started the conversation with small talk.

“Right. The last time was probably before we moved to the training grounds.”

Where was she going with this?

“Your hands and legs have been shivering for a while, haven’t they?”

“...When did you realise?” It was no use hiding anything from her.

“Since we left the camp. You’ve been gripping your hands too tightly and tapping your feet constantly,” She said while gazing into my eyes,” You’re scared, aren’t you?”

Her words sent a chill down my spine. My body felt transparent, as though she could see right through me. I wasn’t angry, though. Instead, I was relieved.

“Was I that obvious? Geez, I thought I could hide it better.” I chuckled wryly while scratching my head.

We remained silent. I tried to avert my eyes. I couldn’t stare at her onyx-hued pupils. My self-deprecation prevented me from seeing her as an equal. Yukino was far braver than I could ever be.

“At least, I’ve got some company.”

Her words broke my brain. It was the last thing I expected from her. She turned towards me, trying to hide the tears in her eyes.

“What? You thought I was some fearless woman who fought battles without thinking twice? I’m honoured by your mental image, but I’m still a young girl. Of course I’m terrified.” Her eyes were damp, yet her willpower prevented the tears from falling.

“But that’s not going to stop you, right?” I grinned. I felt like I could guess her next words.

“Obviously! I’m the princess and general of Aogiri. If I wasn’t going to fight, who else would?” She pumped her fists up.

I pumped up my fists and fistbumped her. We both then laughed endlessly at our goofiness.

“I’m glad you’re by my side, Yukino. I don’t think I would have ever been able to do this without your help,” I thanked her wholeheartedly.

From the beginning, Yukino’s support was always to support me. Her presence, whether it was far or near, never failed to warm me up and clear the fear trapped inside my body. She was the light guiding my path.

“That goes for me, too. You helped me choose this path, and I’ll make sure we continue to walk it till it’s over.”

The stars shining above were our only audience. Each blinking entity gazed at us, partaking in this peaceful moment. The fear in my body evaporated, leaving only warmth. We didn’t have more words to convey our feelings. Sharing this time quietly was enough.

—------------------------

“I think I’ll get some sleep now. It’s a big day tomorrow. Good night, Yukino. Thanks again for your encouragement.”

I waved at Aki Kurokawa, his gentle steps moving further and further away. I couldn’t bear seeing his back become smaller in my vision. This may be the last time I will ever see him. I had a lot more to say to him, but I decided to wait till after our battle. I needed to spice up my promise, after all.

After Aki left towards the barracks, I returned to the meeting table. As I expected, the other generals were still here. From the way they stood, I assumed they were waiting for me.

“Did Kurokawa go to sleep?” Chiyo was the first to ask. She adjusted her auburn hair behind her ear, a normal habit of hers.

I nodded.

“He needs it. The guy was shaking so much that I was afraid he’d collapse,” Riku gave his usual cheeky remark with a smirk. He was adjusting the string of his bow.

“A young boy with only 2 months of military experience is going to war. How far we’ve fallen to allow such a thing to happen,” Mr Arakawa sounded disappointed at himself.

“I don’t regret making him join us. I still believe he’s the one who will save Aogiri,” I affirmed my opinion. Without Aki’s help and encouragement, none of us, especially me, would have improved as far as we have.

“Neither do I. I promised to bring him back alive if it’s the last thing I do. His strategies will work, I’m confident.” Riku was serious. His respect for Aki was limitless. I could feel it from his words

“His skill with observational magic is honestly terrifying. The advantage that skill brings us is unparalleled. I don’t see how we will lose this war.” Chiyo’s confidence shocked me. Just 2 months ago, she would have been insulting him nonstop.

“If anyone could pull off the impossible, it’s Mr Kurokawa. He has that type of energy,” Mr Arakawa smiled nostalgically.

Everyone’s reactions brought a smile to my face. We believed in Aki’s strength from the bottom of our hearts. He was our champion, no doubt about it. Though I was terrified of the upcoming battle, I could believe in every single person in this camp to pull through, Aki was no exception.

“You could learn a thing or two from his diligence, Riku. When was the last time you practised something properly? I swear it’s a miracle you haven’t given up on archery,” Chiyo criticised Riku all of a sudden.

“There was literally no reason for you to insult me right now! What gives?!” Riku looked heartbroken

“Just felt like it. Needed something to lighten the mood.”

“That’s not fair!”

I couldn’t hold back my laughter. These two always acted like the comedy duo Father liked. Watching them perform with him was a bright memory of mine. But the banter between Chiyo and Riku usually ended with the stern scolding of a certain someone.

I turned towards him, expecting an expression of pure anger. Instead, he was giggling.

“You kids haven’t changed at all, I swear.”

“Master Arakawa laughed at us, instead of getting mad. It’s a dream come true. Hey, Chiyo! How about we start performing all over the country? Yukino can be our warm-up act.”

“Hell no.” Chiyo and I rejected him immediately.

“The pain in my heart.” Riku dramatically fell to the ground, earning a few more laughs from the three of us.

The rest of the night was spent rekindling old memories. The days when we all practised swordfighting and magic, fumbled basic instructions, and ran away from Mr Arakawa’s punishments. Those moments in the past were only a decade ago, but it felt like a millennium had passed. Our laughter accompanied the breezing wind.

It was as though our lives tomorrow were not at risk.

—-----------------------------

I couldn’t sleep no matter how hard I tried. The constant high heart rate and endless sweat prevented me from feeling even a little drowsy. I continued to toss and turn on the futon, wishing for my brain to shut down for the night.

Endless thoughts zipped through the walls of my cranium. My consciousness failed to catch and put them to rest, no matter how hard it tried. Doubts on my ability and, worst of all, doubts on my allies resurfaced, no matter how much I submerged them. It made me feel terrible.

I trusted every soldier and wouldn’t hesitate to give my life for them. Yet, in the depths of my mind, I wondered whether we were strong enough to win. Were my plans foolproof? Were my comrades' skills and strength enough? These negative thoughts pierced my brain and heart.

But it was pointless to ponder on them. I believed in my comrades. Even if doubt lingered in my heart, belief would always overshadow it. No matter what happened during the battle, I would always believe my comrades would pull through.

Tomorrow was the big day. And we were going to win. I was sure of it.