CHAPTER 3

Binding Fates

1

Glittering in a vivid blue color, it was frozen over.

For the life of him, Iska couldn’t recall where in the world he’d been in this memory. It was when the strongest swordsman in the Empire, the Black Steel Gladiator Crossweil, had brought him along all over the continent, journeying from city to city.

“The Empire isn’t the whole world. Pay close attention.”

“It might take you a decade or two to realize this, but you need this experience.”

Under a certain set of circumstances, Iska and his master had separated partway through their travels. Iska’d headed toward the distant lights of a neutral city, crossing the plains at night. As he rode on a train, a group of wandering beasts had assaulted it for trying to sneak past their territory.

The small sword that he carried for self-defense had snapped in two during the ensuing commotion, placing him in a bind. That was when someone had saved Iska’s life—and it had been a witch.

A vivid-blue ice wall had shielded Iska, while pebbles of hail had knocked away the beasts.

…Did a witch just save me?

…Even though I’m from the Empire?

She was an ice witch. He couldn’t make out her face, which was hidden in the dark veil of night, but he’d guessed she was a passenger on the same train.

The witch couldn’t have known that this boy was from the Empire, seeing as they were so far removed from the Imperial capital. Plus, she’d also been attacked by the beasts, so defeating them was defending herself. She must have just ended up protecting Iska, too.

Regardless of her reasons, it didn’t change the fact that he had been saved by her.

…But the Empire taught me that witches are cruel monsters.

…And yet, she saved me and the others around us, right?

That was the beginning of it. This event marked the moment that Iska started to rethink his perception of witches.

Maybe witches—or rather, astral mages—weren’t bad people. If they could somehow talk to each other, they might have been able to come to an understanding.

Though Iska was of the Empire, he still believed in his intuition, even at present.

Imperial capital. Sector Three. Training area.

Waves of murderous heat beat down from overhead, and a blistering gale pushed the limits of 122 degrees Fahrenheit.

They were in the desert field. Just as the name implied, it was a training ground established for simulating combat in barren lands. The tiny fragments of metals mixed into the gritty sand absorbed the heat of the sun at a higher rate, meaning the facility wouldn’t drop in temperature lower than one hundred degrees, even in the dead of winter.

“Huagh… Haaah… Ah ahhhg… W-water…!”

A group of four shot through the outer rim of the field. Mismis was running caboose with a grim expression, as if it was the end of the world.

“Waaaaaaateeeeeer!” she shrieked in desperation.

“Geez, just drink some. I mean, the purpose of this exercise is to travel by foot with a supply of water.” Jhin turned around as he darted over the sand.

The two of them were carrying backpacks with hydration devices, equipped with a straw for them to drink from while on the move.

“This activity lets us drink in exchange for carrying all this equipment on our backs. You’ve got tons of water on your back.”

“It’s all gone already. Jhin, please, water—please let me just have a sip!”

“You’ll get bloated.”

“Jhin, you’re a big meeeeeanie!” Even though she claimed to be dead-tired, she seemed to have enough energy to screech back at him. “There’s something wrong with this training area, I swear! We’re being boiled alive by the sun while we run and get blasted by hot air coming from a ventilator behind us… Like, come on, we aren’t laundry!”

“They’re both great thermal weapons. I’ve seen them before.” Nene pointed at a giant ventilator positioned to the rear. “We’re able to train in the first place because we can re-create a desert. The researchers in Sector One can gather data from human experimentation and make even better weapons. What a great deal!”

“Nene, I’m scared that your mind would even go there!” The captain squealed upon hearing the term human experimentation. “Uh, ahhh… L-look, Iska… Over there… I can see an oasis… There’s an angel beckoning me ov…er…?”

“Whoa, Captain, wait! You can’t go there! I think!” Iska shouted, trying to get Mismis to stop going into the light. He coaxed her into making the final stretch to the water supply station.

“I did iiiiit! M-my first victory on the desert field!” She dumped the backpack and jumped up and down.

“Wow, Captain. Just a little while ago, we would have needed to call for a stretcher for you halfway through.”

“I know, right? I’ve been working as hard as I can to build up my stamina this past year!” Mismis pumped her fist, even as she was gushing with sweat from her forehead and neck like a waterfall.

From the looks of it, she was so happy that her fatigue had been blasted away.

…That’s really something.

…Man, Captain, after all’s said and done, you’ve really worked so hard while we were gone.

Iska swiped away the beads of sweat clinging to the ends of his hair as he took a stealthy glance at Mismis behind him.

Her baby face and petite frame made her seem no older than thirteen or fourteen. On occasion, her childlike looks caused ordinary soldiers to underestimate her, but Mismis continued working hard without becoming discouraged. Her tenacity had revealed itself in this training exercise, too.

“Ugh. Hey, Iska, you’re ogling Captain Mismis.” Nene puffed her cheeks. “Do you like that kind of stuff, too?”

“…That kind of stuff?”

“Sexy women.”

Mismis had taken off her jacket, revealing a more casual outfit. Her arms stretched out of her white tank top, flushed red from exertion. Slick with sweat, her clothes were taut around her body, hugging her curves and emphasizing her seductive waistline and her chest. As she sat drenched in sweat, her voluptuous form was more than enough to suggest that she was an adult—in sharp contrast to her childlike features.