CHAPTER 2
Paruru never believed she would be a chief one day, not even in her wildest dream. When she had been elected to be The Big Five, she had wondered,
“Why me?”The same question arose on her mind when Takamina called her name as the next chief.
“Why me? Why now?”But then she knew she didn’t have much time. The first thing she did as a chief was forming a Special Force. That was an elite army who would protect Airashi at all cost. There were sixteen of them: Paruru, Jurina, Sakura, Yuria, Renachi, Rena, Kawaei Rina, Mukaichi Mion, Yokoyama Yui, Ikoma Rina together with the formers chiefs: Takamina, Mayu, Yuki, Sasshi, Kojima Haruna, Yamamoto Sayaka. All warriors were from Yumeina clan, except for Ikoma Rina. She was from Odayakana clan who was chosen basically for her excellent aura.
Paruru also commanded commoners from each clan to unite and prepare themselves. Their new routine was filled with combat training. It was common sight in Airashi recently. Their white uniform was long forgotten. Now they wore black uniform with black feathers beautifully tucked on their hair. They also had a black cape as a change for their little wings.
The Faceless Soldiers arrived to the gate of Airashi three weeks later, as Takamina had predicted. They brutally opened the gate with their guns and cannons. The war officially started.
Despite the demi-god power they had, Airashi girls had never been in war. Their super power was on their wisdom and their ability to stay young and pretty. They were never taught to fight until three weeks ago. To make it worse, they didn’t even have guns or swords. They mostly fight with their bare hands.
With the pink swords and guns, The Faceless Soldiers easily assassinated the unexperienced Airashi soldiers who were once commoners. Half-human, the girls could not avoid death. They might be stay young, but they were not immortal. In just a short moment, The Faceless Soldiers conquered Airashi centre.
This was way quicker than what Paruru had in mind.
Burning with anger, Paruru lead Airashi Special Force to the battle field. She closed her eyes before running toward The Faceless Soldiers, screaming. Her both hands holding swords. She didn’t let her fear overshadow her mind. She already accepted her fate.
That evening in The Election Day, she had seen her destiny; something she had hid from The Elders. She had to protect the real chief: an elected candidate other than herself.
Airashi was on fire. The Faceless Soldiers burned the district down. Jurina punched enemies as many as she could. Her hand hurt, but she herself already burned with rage she didn’t feel the pain.
“Noooo!” Jurina heard a painful cry. A voice she was familiar with. It was Mayu’s. She saw Mayu kneeling next to Yuki’s dead body; weeping. Yuki was Mayu’s longtime girlfriend; they both were a couple Jurina adored and respected very much. In fact, they were the ones who introduced Rena to her. Jurina ran to Mayu, desperately trying to save her as she saw Mayu didn’t move an inch over the dead body. But it was too late. A Faceless Soldier stabbed Mayu right in her heart with his already covered with blood sword.
Jurina felt like everything was in a blurry slow motion despite the fact that what happened was in flash seconds. A sudden realisation hit her, she needed to find Rena. She couldn’t afford to lose her. No, never. She looked everywhere but her girlfriend was nowhere to be found.
A hand suddenly held Jurina’s hand tightly.
“Come follow me.”
“Sakura, what are you doing?” Jurina bewildered.
Four Faceless Soldiers came to attack them. Both girls continued their immediate conversation in between their fighting.
“Chief Paruru asked us to leave the battle field. She specifically asked me to bring you out of this place,” Sakura said in indigenous Airashi language, “Now. We don’t have much time.”
“What? No, I will never leave this place. Not when many people died here to uphold the pride of Airashi.”
“Jurina, this is an order. If you really want to save Airashi, you need to listen to me,” Sakura said firmly, kicking an enemy and punching another.
“I can’t leave Rena…,” Jurina stuttered.
“Jurina, everyone here’s sacrificing something, someone. You know that.”
“At least let me check if she’s still alive.”
“No, we don’t have time for that.”
Four Faceless Soldiers were lying on the ground, defeated by two girls.
Jurina reluctantly left with Sakura. She knew she couldn’t argue with her. Airashi was more important than personal matters.
“Are you sure what we’re doing now is right?”
“Yes, sure. Chief herself asked me. She has a plan.”
Jurina and Sakura were already at the border when The Giant Clock rang four times, followed by the release of hundreds of magical white doves. Jurina and Sakura looked at each other, out of words. They learned about this at school, though never experienced it themselves, until now. They knew very well what this meant.
“Paruru!” Jurina rushed back, but immediately held by Sakura.
“You’re not going back Jurina,” Sakura tried to hide her tears, but terribly failed, “She’s gone now. Paruru asked me to bring you out of this place. I only have one job, Jurina. Please make it easy.”
“The Faceless Soldiers will destroy everything! We can’t just run away.”
“We are not running away. We build a strategy, we still have a hope. Do you know what Chief Paruru said to me? She said I must protect the Chief of Airashi.”
“Well, you did a very good job then,” Jurina scoffed.
“Remember her dream on The Election Day? She told me that in her dream, she actually saw you as the chosen one. But she couldn’t say that. She scarified herself to protect you,” said Sakura.
“I…I don’t understand,” Jurina suddenly felt overwhelmed.
“I’ll explain later. Now, Chief Jurina, let me take you to our underground soldiers.”
“We…we have what?”
“They’ll be happy to see you after two years under ground, literally.”
“Wait, what?”
“Let’s go, Chief!”
From afar, Jurina could hear the sound of ruins. Kurowashi’s Faceless Soldiers apparently claimed winning the war. They destroyed The Giant Clock to affirm their victory.
(to be continued)