Chapter 81

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Back in the day, if Anima were to recall her brightest moments—ah, yes, it was when she was still but a tender young lass.

The time spent at the esteemed Phiolia Academy alongside her most cherished childhood friend stood out as particularly radiant.

“Yuri!”

“Ah, there you are, Anima. How was your day?”

“Eh, academy life’s all pretty much the same, ya know.”

Yuri had already carved quite the reputation among her peers by then. The illustrious Einhardt Empire’s top-tier academy, Phiolia, was renowned far and wide. And Yuri? A prodigious talent whose name carried significant weight even within this prestigious institution—the sole daughter of the illustrious Aishias family.

Despite Anima’s humble origins, Yuri never treated her with disdain. In fact, while Anima herself was merely a novice swordsman, Yuri excelled in every field imaginable. To Anima, having Yuri as a childhood friend was nothing short of a tremendous source of pride.

“Yuri, your skills have grown once again.”

“Thank you, Instructor Epinal Rosenkross.”

Young instructor Epinal Rosenkross was one of those who kept a keen eye on Yuri.

“So, would you like to delve deeper into the art of combat? While many see you becoming an illustrious statesperson for the empire, I can’t help but notice your physical prowess as well.”

“Though I appreciate the offer, I lack confidence in my bodily abilities.”

“Hmm? Perhaps it’s just modesty talking… But if ever you change your mind, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll be sure to support you.”

“Yes!”

Then came that fateful day…

Word reached them of the Emperor’s mysterious passing without naming a successor, sending ripples through the nation.

And soon after, shocking news arrived at Phiolia Academy itself.

“Oliver Brance, once a close confidant of His Majesty, has raised rebellion at Anel Castle?”

“What?! Rebellion? Why declare independence now? Is he desperate for death or what?”

Indeed, Oliver Brance, practically second-in-command of the empire, had declared war. Chaos spread throughout the academy.

But back then, everyone thought it was just a fleeting storm—none realized it marked the beginning of an Era of Chaos.

Surely, even without naming a successor, wouldn’t Algord von Einhardt, the eldest son, step up, stabilize the situation, and ascend the throne?

But no.

Instead of Algord’s coronation, rumors of unrest began circulating.

Reports of Ohana Army rising in the southern provinces. Walnut Army raising banners in the west. One after another, vassals declared themselves rulers and began carving out their own territories across the continent.

Thus began the Era of Chaos.

The mighty Einhardt Empire, which once unified the entire continent, started fracturing uncontrollably.

Even the hallowed halls of Phiolia Academy weren’t spared from the spreading flames of chaos. Imperial forces, fully armed, launched a surprise attack.

Speculations swirled—”It was because the principal sided with Algord von Einhardt, so one of his siblings decided to take matters into their own hands”—but Anima and Yuri, mere students, had no way of knowing the truth.

No matter how talented the students or how skilled the instructors, they couldn’t stand against the well-trained might of the imperial army. It was a massacre. Without discrimination of gender or status, the soldiers systematically slaughtered everyone enrolled at the academy.

“Yuri! We need to run!”

“B-but… we haven’t found Seira yet!”

“It’s too late! We must escape now!”

At that moment…

An imperial soldier clad in armor approached them.

“Damn it…”

With no clear escape route…

“Don’t… come any closer!”

The soldier remained silent, his face obscured beneath a blood-streaked helmet.

Anima gripped her sword tightly with her right hand, scanning for any chance to flee alongside Yuri. Even two-on-one, victory seemed impossible—they weren’t exactly battle-hardened warriors.

‘If anything, I need to ensure Yuri escapes… alone if necessary!’

As she tightened her grip on her blade…

In the blink of an eye, the soldier’s blade swept toward them.

“Ughhh!”

Before they could exchange more than a few blows, Yuri’s weapon flew off into the distance.

“!!!”

Raising his sword high…

Death loomed over Yuri’s eyes in that instant.

“YURI!!!”

Without thinking, Anima threw herself forward.

Afterward…

Anima couldn’t comprehend what had happened.

“Wha…?”

When she regained consciousness, everything around her grew dim. Unbearable pain coursed through her body.

“Anima… No, ANIMA!!!”

Beside her, Yuri clutched her tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. Nearby stood Instructor Epinal, watching solemnly.

“Instructor Epinal…?”

“Are you awake, Anima?!”

Ah, yes.

I remember now—I threw myself in front, and shortly afterward, Instructor Epinal dealt a deep wound to the soldier’s abdomen. Before that…

‘Guhhhh!!!’

Pain surged again as I slowly turned my head.

My right arm…

The arm meant to hold my sword…

Was nowhere to be seen.

Or rather…

Far away, a severed limb lay discarded.

“!!!!”

After realizing this, memories remain hazy.

Vaguely recollected fragments:

“At least let’s hide somewhere safe! There are healing supplies there.”

Instructor Epinal hid us in the basement of the academy building, where basic first aid allowed us to survive despite our injuries.

“Hiccup… Anima, I’m sorry. This is all my fault… my fault…”

“Yuri…”

Initially, losing my arm left me wondering how I’d move forward—but if it meant saving Yuri’s life, honestly, I was content with that outcome.

“Anima, I’m sorry. This is all I can do for treatment…”

“No, Instructor, thank you. Your efforts saved my life.”

After spending some time together…

When we ventured outside during a lull, what greeted us was…

“…Dear heavens.”

Countless bodies of instructors and students piled high—a scene akin to hell itself.

“Damn Einhardt bastards… What the hell is happening?!”

Epinal cursed furiously, but rage changed nothing. For whatever reason, Phiolia Academy had been targeted and eliminated.

“Hiccup… Children…”

Yuri knelt and wept for what felt like hours. None survived.

Amidst this sea of corpses, lost in despair, a voice called out.

“Yuri-sama!”

From afar, a man and woman approached.

“Emma… Erhandorf!”

“You’re alive, Yuri-sama…”

Emma and Erhandorf—faces familiar to Anima. Servants loyal to House Aishias. Clearly.

“What about our home? Father… Mother?”

“…”

To Yuri’s inquiry, Emma and Erhandorf could only bow their heads in silence. Realizing the implications of their silence, Yuri collapsed to the ground, shattered.

“Ah… Ah…”

That day…

Anima and Yuri lost everything in an instant.

Their peaceful, ordinary lives; their accomplishments; simple happiness—all consumed by the fires of the empire.

*

After that day…

“Yuri.”

“Anima… hiccup, snivel…”

Every time Yuri saw Anima, tears welled up, her expression eternally sorrowful. Was it guilt over the lost arm? Or regret over being powerless against the tides of history?

Meanwhile, Anima felt differently—she couldn’t continue living like this.

House Aishias may have suffered a devastating blow, but Yuri, its heir, still lived. Two retainers survived. Three survivors from the academy remained: Instructor Epinal, Yuri, and herself.

Five survivors.

We must live—to exact vengeance upon the empire.

In this age of warring vassals, we possess Yuri, the heir to House Aishias. If others can rise, why can’t we?

“Yuri.”

“…”

“Snap out of it, Yuri!”

Anima grabbed Yuri’s collar with her left hand.

“How long do you plan to wallow like this?!”

“B-but… Anima… because of me… hiccup…”

“If you truly feel sorry for me, stop moping and move forward.”

“…Huh?”

“Let’s build a nation. With your own hands.”

Upon hearing this, Yuri’s eyes widened impossibly large. Anima met her trembling gaze unwaveringly, projecting every ounce of determination accumulated through their shared struggles.

“The Einhardt Empire is finished. Haven’t you seen countless vassals carving out their own domains? A new era has begun.”

“I… I…”

“Yuri, we can do this. No—we will succeed.”

Anima reflected on the past—the carefree days at the academy. Now, it was time to step beyond those distant memories.

“You can do it.”

“Me…?”

“And…”

—–I’ll be your wings.

At that very moment, Anima Ingram resolved to entrust her fate entirely to her childhood friend.

* * *

Even as Anima recounted these now ancient tales,

She spoke as though reliving each vivid moment.

“Yuri, Epinal, Emma, Erhandorf, and I… From that moment onward, transcending age and status, we became blood-bound siblings, inscribing the name ‘Aishias’ into our hearts.”

This marked the dawn of the Aishias Army.

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