WHAT’S YOUR AIM?

The calm breeze of the air swept the boy's face as his hair flew by the wind. He was lying asleep worn by yesterday's encounter. Bandages were wrapped all over his body while the man sitting beside him was staring at the skies listening to the quiet chirping of birds as he watches the others fly in freedom.

Raijin's eyes flickered, being greeted by the light of the morning sun. "Where am I?" he asked, surveying the bandages that surround his upper body.

"This is heaven, my child"

Hearing an unfamiliar voice, he turned to his right only to find out a man dressed in the attire of an officer's uniform—a dark amethyst coat with a nameplate on his chest that says "Yozou".

"H-heaven? What?" Raijin was puzzled for a moment but still managed to take the man's words as satire.

The man glanced at the confused expression of the young man beside him. He smiled to himself as an idea occurred in his thoughts. Fixing his tie and collar, he positioned himself in front of Raijin wearing a gentle yet satirical expression on his face. The latter did nothing but watch him kneel to him as the man placed his hands on his shoulders. "Yes. And I am!" he stopped mid-way, dramatically fixing his hair. "An angel" sparkles and glitters seemed to surround him as he said those words.

Yet, Raijin remained staring at him wearing the usual expression that he had, a clueless one. "Ah" was all he could say.

"W-wait! Just like that?" the man asked.

"Like that what?"

"No surprised or even panicked expression you could show me?!"

Instead of answering the man's question, Raijin began to remember what had taken place last night. Just like a movie it all came back to him: Kato's betrayal, his attempt to kill him while trapping them in a circle of flames. He had no memory of what happened after for he had lost consciousness as he fell through the stream. Realization pulled him back into reality, he immediately glanced at the man. "W-who are you?"

Letting out a sigh, he returned to where he was seated pointing out the nameplate on his left chest. "Yozou. Algard Yozou" The man spoke.

Raijin may have determined that he might be the person who had saved him from Kato but bits of uncertainty still lingered over him. Taking a move backward, he left a space between them being aware of a sudden suspicion.

The man had noticed him. He exhaled another breath unbuttoning the four buttons of his sleeves revealing a small diamond badge that shows a 'VI' sign underneath.

Raijin's eyes widen as he let out a surprised gasp. "I-I heard from pops. That the known main protectors of the land are the Generals and to determine if a person is one, there's a badge that symbolizes their position from one to eight" he said in between stutters. His shoulders went stiff as nervousness started to crawl upon him.

Algard gave out an amused laugh. "Boy, you are interesting! I never knew an Ikazuchi like you to be nervous when speaking to a General"

"How did you know that I'm an Ikazuchi?" beginning to be puzzled again, Raijin sat properly to pay respects and honor to the man before him.

Stopping on his snickers, the General gazed at him. His eyebrows creased and were also bearing a confused expression. "I can sense from your aura..."

"Aura?"

"Boy, don't tell me you don't know what's an aura yet?" There was a short silence created by the two of them until Raijin had decided to break it.

"I don't" He admitted, averting his gaze from the general.

Algard Yozou's mouth flew open in shock facing him. "How can-" Stopping abruptly, he continued. "Well, whatever. Listen here, boy"

Focusing on the man again, Raijin quietly paid attention to him.

The 6th General's fingers slipped between the strands of his blue-black hair as if the midnight sky had fallen to his head—Raijin wondered if he ever dyed it though the thought of his hair color made him stop from asking the question. Algard started, "Auras is the one that our energy emits. It doesn't have a physical form like energy that we can generate into our powers but we can sense it. The stronger the aura of the person, the more energy he or she has. And as I mentioned a while back, known clans from the mainland have a unique feel to their aura. That's why I knew right away that you're from the Ikazuchi clan"

Hearing the man, Raijin's unsolved questions have been answered—he thought that maybe it was the aura of the two pursuers that he felt back from their home when he and his grandfather were hunted by them.

"But my grandfather said that our clan was no longer part of the mainland, so how did you know...are you more than a hundred years old mister?" Raijin asked, his eyes glinted in purity.

"H-hundred years old" as if struck by lightning, Algard caressed his face whispering to himself. "Do I look that old? No this can't be, I won't be able to show myself to Yumi if I'm-"

"Mister?"

The General cleared his throat as he heard the boy calling out to him. "Yes, it's true that the Ikazuchi clan was no longer part of the mainland but they're one of the people who guarded the border and some residue of their aura still remains on the station they were posted to guard as well as the ship that they rode on the expedition that was now remade to be still of use" Algard paused for a second, letting out a deep breath. "In all honesty, you're the first Ikazuchi I met"

A glint of happiness was shown with Raijin's smile knowing that their clan's dust of memory still resides on the land. It had made him delighted to serve as a soldier of wisdom and to pursue the upcoming selection. "Speaking of selection," he whispered to himself. "Mr. Yozou, you're one of the Generals, right? How many days till the start of the selection?"

Counting his fingers just like a middle schooler taking tests on a particular topic- "9 days, I think?" Algard answered.

"If that's the case I need to-"

"AH!"

With a scream that almost left Raijin deaf, he faces the man—staring at him with nothing but concern and surprise in his eyes. "What's wrong mister-"

"I- boy! The selection starts after 9 days!" The General exclaimed, shaking the young man on his shoulder. He began to panic, unable to utter the proper words he had to say—but did he even utter some 'proper' words since arriving?

"Yes… you said that to me mister" Raijin felt his world slowly turning with all the shaking and yet his gaze tried to remain at the general.

"I..." Algard trailed off. "Don't know the way back to the mainland"

A look of distress and disbelief were hinted at on the young man's face. "Huh?" even Raijin doesn't have the slightest idea what to mutter about a high-ranking soldier who would lose his direction through the way.

"I was just doing my work at the headquarters then I got bored so I started to get some fresh air-"

"Were you just slacking off, Mr. Yozou?" Raijin interrupted.

"How rude!" he remarked. "After that, I saw Katotsuri stabbing you"

The familiar name made Raijin a bit anxious, knowing that the friend he once knew was not the same Kato who spoke the words of discernment. Still, the thought of reconciling with him again and getting him back had never left his mind. But to save him from who? Or from what?

"Why do you want to enter the selection?" All of his thoughts have been cut off as the General asked him the same question his grandfather has said.

The bits of recollection of the battles he had fought so far occurred in his mind like the gushing of a river's flow. He stood firm, in front of Yozou. "At first, I just got the urge to join. I don't even have a reason for it. I wanted to join, to know what was my purpose in being there. But strong people come in my way and I'm always weak and pathetic. I also can't protect the things that I should be protecting" he answered as the warm smile of his grandfather flashed on his mind. "That's why to be strong and not regret the things I didn't do—I must be a soldier of wisdom to protect the things I wanted to protect. Along with the pride of the Ikazuchi clan. I will continue it General Yozou, the legacy, and will of an Ikazuchi."

There was nothing but a warm smile plastered on the General's face. This time, it was the kind of smile that speaks of faith and acceptance of one's will. He saw how Raijin's eyes shone with sincerity that he found himself wondering on the outskirts of his memory. Algard's hand reached for Raijin as he stood to where he was seated, patting the head of the young man gently. Their height difference is not that far, the general is a head taller. "But Ikazuchi boy, the way you are right now won't work"

As a response Raijin remained his curious stare on him, a hint of melancholy lingered over.

"What I'm saying is that you should know the basics in using your powers and the system inside the headquarters"

Realizing what Algard has said—Raijin was disturbed by the fact that as an Anshiantiae he only knows a little of things about how does the organization and governing on the mainland works—hence, his grandfather had only told him common knowledge about it.

"That's why—I, sixth General Algard Yozou would be your teacher for a while. How about that?"

"But you're a Gene-"

"If you passed the selection, you'll serve under one of the generals and if they had seen potential in you, they can be your guide at times to teach you about their fighting style and strategies. You know it's just the same as this one. But this is only limited for days"

Raijin nodded in agreement, knowing the man are just making excuses to escape his workloads.

"And, let's start with the system inside our headquarters"

"I'm all ears, general," he said. Thinking that he sounded like a legitimate soldier at the moment.

"There are eight Generals who lead the frontlines, in charge of defending and managing the headquarters: eighth General Corvinus, seventh General Nephus, sixth General Yozou, fifth General Voigt, fourth General..." Algard paused for a moment, a small smile lighting his expressions. He cleared his throat before continuing. "Fourth General Kazahana, third General Noguchi, and second General Hiraoka"

There was a short silence after his statement as the young man began to wonder about something—something missing among the rankings he'd been told. "How about the first?"

Yozou's glance has strayed from afar hearing his query. "The position for 1st General is currently empty"

"Why?" Raijin asked.

Algard responded with a small smile. "You'll know soon. That is—if you'll pass the selection!"

Raijin gave out a frown at the man's words while the latter had broken out in a chuckle.

"I'll give you the remaining details later, for now, let's get on your training"

"Yes sir!"

---

Three days have passed since Raijin had decided to train under the General's care. Each day and night he immersed himself in intense fighting and studying the control of his energy. In those times he had felt the changes of what he was back then.

Along with the stream of the water flowing and the gentle blow of the wind, his shoulders relaxed while perceiving the course of his body's energy; eyes closed, knees bent, his hands rested on his lap as his chest had risen and fallen slowly to his breathing. The thoughts that had once lingered on him were now filled with nothing but a void of transparent space. It was a form of meditation taught by the General to suppress the uncontrolled energy within a person and to guide them in initiating balance to one's prowess.

"As long as you have the guts to continue walking, in no time you might even surpass us" Algard whispered to himself, smiling proudly at the young man carrying on his teachings.

It was Raijin's words who pushed the General to guide him on his journey. He may see himself as someone weak—but his words and heart are as strong as the power he wields, or even stronger than that.

The peaceful humming of Algard has been interrupted as a loud beeping noise echoed between them. "Ah!" He complained, followed by a curse. His protests interrupted the young man's tranquil atmosphere causing him to open his eyes that fluttered at the bright light of the sun. Raijin began to grow alarmed by his surroundings when he saw the General stumble to where he was sitting and was covering his right ear.

"General! What is it-" The ringing noise had run through him and it felt like the sound of thousand insects continuously letting out the small beeping chirps encompassing with a straight flush of a heartbeat monitor. His palms went to the sides of his face, covering his ears.

"Don't worry, it's just some sort of a ring to the communication chant we are using!" Algard said, almost shouting every word to be heard by him.

"So how long are you going to slack off?!" as the beeping noise had ended, a loud voice of a woman has been heard. It resounded to only both of them in thin air—a wireless communication spell that can stream along with the laws of technology.

"General who's that?"

"It's my cousin-"

"I am your adjutant!"

Even if the ringing has ceased, it seems like the person on the other side was louder. Making Raijin remember General Yozou's screaming because of the selection's start date. Perhaps, it runs in the blood.

"Get your ass here! Everybody is already preparing—the event starts in the next four days!"

Scratching the back of his head Algard answered: "I still have things to do here-"

"I don't give a thing about that!" the furious tone of the lady continued to reach the two of them. "You're needed to prepare the dome and-"

"Okay. I get it! I get it. I'll be there in a minute" hearing the response, the woman roughly ended the call creating a rough beeping tone.

"If that's the kind of communication you have, wouldn't it be a problem General Yozou?"

Algard let out an exhausted breath. "Not at all, the ring wasn't really like that. I just know for sure she did it on purpose"

Raijin nodded, mouthing an 'oh' to him.

"Now now, let's get going Ikazuchi boy"

The arc of his brows met gazing at the man before him. "Where to General?"

"To the selection isn't obvious? Let's just go back together-"

Raijin didn't take a step from where he was standing, as he had decided on a concrete answer. "I'll stay here for the meantime" glancing at his half-naked body that was quite worn out because of training and the battles he had fought; he spoke filled with conviction. "I still wanted to figure out the things on my own here. But I promise! I'll make it in time for the selection"

General Yozou looked at the young man—his eyes glinted with the purity of determination as if it could breach out the layered walls of a barrier that protects the laws of nature. Algard smiled to himself, reaching for the young man to ruffle his hair.

Raijin froze at the action. He felt the touch with a sense of familiarity in disguise—a touch that had reminded him of his grandfather. The way he would suddenly tousle his hair, laughing his heart out followed by a remark that he has grown taller. The only person whom he could put his utmost trust and someone who had known him from the day his eyes sought the world's grace. If he were to be asked, what was he to him—in no delay, he would utter the words "home"

He had realized how thankful he is in meeting someone like the General. He may not know it, but for Raijin; it was the second time someone had made him genuinely grateful and happy.

Algard turned his back to him in a smile and started to head off. Raijin raised his hand to salute in respect to the General as tears had suddenly come rushing on his face. "Thank you! General Yozou!" he said in between cries.

The latter waved his hand in goodbye as he walked further ahead of him. "Now I know why you didn't teach him the way you taught us. He is something special, right? Master Hideo" it was a silent speech, as his eyes ventured through the skies showing a smile of appreciation. "Thank you, for letting me meet your grandson"