30. Chapter 29: A wounded Princess

« Are you sure we should be going to see her, General?" Asked Yanagida, driving the vehicle slowly through the streets of Alnus. Hazama, sat in the passenger seat, picked up his smartphone to read the message he received one last time. The light from the screen made the dark circles under his eyes all the more visible.

"I agree it's hard to believe, Yanagida, but Dr. Yumeka assured me that this morning, she was in a completely healthy state. After what happened three days ago, it's only right that we go to apologize for what happened."

The car slowed down as they approached the barrier leading to the parking of the hospital. Yanagida opened the window, exhanging a few words to the guard and letting the fresh morning air in. Finishing the conversation, the guard opened the barrier Yanagida voiced his concerns to Hazama once the windows was closed.

"Sir, if I may, you have barely slept since the incident. Couldn't you have at least taken a single whole night of sleep?"

Rubbing his tired eyes, the General fished a protein bar from his pockets, took a bite then spoke to the Lieutenant between each bite.

"Yanagida, what happened is disastrous. Someone managed to infiltrate spies into the highest ranks of the JSDF! We found three of them already, and seven more in the base as a whole. All placed into key positions. Armory managers, tank commanders and even kitchen staff… Add to that that the whole base has been on lockdown since then. The diplomats, the scientists, the civilians, they're anxious. Of course they'd be, they've been locked inside with no explanation. Some of them are threatening legal repercussions, some of them are trying to bribe their way out, some others are to the point of pulling guns on our soldiers because they think they're taken hostage, and I can't reveal anything because it'd give our enemies more ammunition… Tell me Yanagida, how can I even think about sleeping when the whole operation is about to burst?"

Despite the General's answer, Yanagida was still worried. He wasn't particularly a patriot, but even he had to recognize the General was someone who knew his trade and had to be respected. He took a few seconds to properly park the car in an empty spot, picked up his cap and put it on, but didn't immediately turn off the engine.

"But still, what about the team sent to Elbe? Didn't they give us reports? What is-"

Hazama cut Yanagida, rolling the plastic package of the protein bar into a ball before undoing his belt.

"All of the special forces soldier we sent there are dead, should I remind you of it? Our only source of information is from two half-dead policemen and a Siren who had to be hauled back with a helicopter. Plus, I can't send the documents back to Tokyo. If the enemy was able to infiltrate internal security, I don't want to risk the papers to be lost. They're being translated here by trustworthy people, then the translation will be sent once it's done. JSDF high command has approved of the plan. Until then, the lockdown will remain effective. We absolutely cannot allow for more casualties."

Turning off the engine before the silence got awkward, the Lieutenant left the car and smiled at a group of nurses taking a smoke break, then redirected his attention to Hazama, lowering his tone.

"What about the… You know what?"

He was referring to the trucks that had been stopped the same moment the princess had gotten wounded, and given the context, Hazama quickly understood.

The drivers didn't resist when the General had given the order to subdue them, and a thorough research had proved that they were only regular soldiers given the orders to drive the trucks from point A to point B. No more was known about them for the time being, but the nature of their cargo was enough to raise a few eyebrows.

Small arms, ammunition, explosives but also Kevlar vests and helmets. The weapons themselves ranged from soviet-era AK-47's, AR pattern rifles, hunting rifles and shotguns, both civilian and military grade, different pattern of claymore and anti-tank mines... Why someone needed to sneak in through so much diverse weaponry was unknown and outright scary, but it was the rest of the shipment that remained mysterious.

Machined parts, generators and all kinds of mechanical devices for all kinds of machines. Some parts had been identified as parts of miniature factories for ammunition, but also digging tools, terrain scanners, food canning machines… Analysing it all was pretty slow as it was kind of trying to build a giant lego set without the instructions. And of course, bringing in civilian experts meant risking bringing spies who would drive the right answers away. The only clues were a serie of numbers on each crate with no apparent meaning.

The items were so disconnected one from another that it was hard to imagine a purpose to it.

Eying the same nurses Yanagida had smiled to, Hazama sent him a look that meant "We can't speak of this classified information here.", picked up a flat wooden, polished, rectangular box from the car then made his way into the hospital.

Even with the lockdown, the hospital was one of the rare buildings that was allowed to operate at full capacity. Patients couldn't be left like that, and the local Falmartian population benefited greatly from the vaccinations and the medicine. Parents in particular came in numbers when they heard that they could cure and protect their children from common illnesses such as smallpox.

Fortunately, no epidemic struck the base yet. Under the counsel of , the lead medical staff of the base, anyone that presented even the smallest symptoms of an unknown illness or virus were immediately quarantined.

It was still pretty early in the morning, so the empty main lobby greeted them in silence, only broken by a nurse behind the counter quietly tapping on a keyboard. Their steps loudly echoing on the floor, the two soldiers went to talk to her.

She was typing on a computer, completely focused on her work. She stayed focused on her screen for a good minute, however, as soon as she raised her head, her face dropped. Nervous at the idea of having the most important person of the base right in front of her, and having offended him in some way, she gulped nervously.

" Sir, said you'd come, but it's still a little b-bit too early. Tests are being conducted on the P-Princess currently…"

"Then that's perfect! Bring me to her, I'd like to speak with her before doing so with the princess."

Taken by surprise by the General's upfront nature, she nodded and pushed a button on a black phone on her desk, took it to her ear, and exchanged a few words with the person on the other side. Soon after, another nurse came and led Hazama and his aide through the empty corridors.

As they passed in the part of the hospital reserved for soldiers from Earth, mainly JSDF ones, a glint of regret passed in the general's eyes. A few soldiers up early recognized and saluted him. Returning the salute, he couldn't help but notice the dark circles under their eyes, the disheveled hair and the unkempt beards.

The effects from the battle of Alnus still showed to this day. Many soldiers had developed PTSD since, and it was regrettably common to be woken up at night by screams of someone having nightmares. Some other soldiers retreated back into a hollow shell, or even attempted suicide. While Alnus had been Hazama's first real battle, he had a solid mind, anchored with a wife, a family and a stable and healthy lifestyle.

It wasn't the case for every soldier.

Some of them weren't even twenty, for god's sake! Seeing a dragon the size of an airliner burn hundreds if not thousands of men, hearing the thousand of cries of shock and pain when their bullets hit... The worst had been the crying. After the Flame Dragon had been defeated, the JSDF soldiers had checked for survivors. But they were too little, for too much wounded. Many enemy soldiers, some not even twenty of age had died in excruciating pain before help could come, crying and screaming in pain all the while. It was too much for the weakest minds amidst those who fought that day.

With a lingering sadness, they finally reached the room the nurse was leading them to. Inside was a number of doctors in white blouses, shocked, awed and surprised whispers leaving their mouths.

"Ah, General Hazama!" Said a woman's voice, shutting down the whispers.

From the group of doctors came a tall, severe-looking woman. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, a thin pair of glasses rested on her nose and her high heels loudly tapped against the floor each time she took a step.

"Doctor Yumeka." Greeted the General. "I received your message, but it's the first time I witness someone recover so quickly after a gunshot wound."

Yumeka sighed, defeated, surprising the general. He got to know her since the day she was assigned as head medical officer of the base and it was the first time he saw her so tired, so... Done with everything.

"You should come see yourself, sir." She said, pushing the other doctors aside. She picked up an MRI photo and showed him. On it was a regular MRI scan, showing a fractured right shoulder.

"This was taken yesterday, sir. The bullet broke the princess' shoulder, it would have taken at least a few weeks for her to heal that."

She took a second MRI picture. This one had no visible broken bone. In fact, it seemed that the person shot was completely healthy.

"And this was taken just half an hour ago. We have not a clue on how it could happen. If I had to take a guess, it could be… Well, magic, as much as it breaks apart everything I ever learned on medicine and the human body. I suspect there was something, a potion, an item or even someone who had the ability to cure her."

Thoughtful, Hazama put a hand to his chin. The Knights of the Rose had been a pain to deal with to allow Pina to be treated in the base's hospital. Among the concessions he had to make was a clause stating that every meal the princess would eat would be brought by the knights themselves or a personal servant, and no other. Another stated that no JSDF soldier was to be allowed within a certain distance of the Princess.

But that wasn't really what bothered him. If the princess was healed then it was all for the better. No, what bothered him was that something was powerful enough to heal instantly a wound that would normally take weeks to heal. It had to be something small as to not be spotted by the guards. And if something so small could produce such an effect, he could easily imagine something equally small but with destructive powers being sneaked into the base.

He would have to increase security. He still didn't know how, but he put that question back to later. More important matters were to be attended to right now.

"Is she available right now?" He asked.

"She should be. Follow me." Answered Yumeka, putting back the MRI pictures on a desk. Pushing the doctors aside who immediately closed back onto the pictures like a pack of hungry wolves, she proceeded to leave the room, followed by Hazama and Yanagida.

Turning a corner, they spotted a door guarded by two knights of the Rose. As Hazama had made the effort to learn the names of the knights to warm up relations, he recognized Norma Co Igloo on the left, and Panache Fure Kalgi on the right.

Upon seeing the doctor followed by the two soldiers, both knights frowned and put a hand to their blades.

"The term of the contract was very clear, General…" Warned Norma. "No soldier of yours close to the princess. And that includes you."

Hearing that, Yumeka stepped back. This wasn't her problem. Muttering a "goodbye" to the General and his lieutenant, she left them with the two knights.

"I heard the princess is back on her feet, Sir Norma." Said Hazama. "I wish to properly apologize in the name of Japan, and conduct diplomatic talk in an official manner. I also bring a gift as a personal apology. Would you relay that message to the princess?"

Hazama went even as far as bowing to the knight, handing him the box he was carrying all the time as he asked that. Seeing such a show of humility frankly surprised Norma, and slightly took him off-guard. He came to expect a much more selfish behaviour from men with the amount of power Hazama had.

Slightly relaxing but not removing his hand from his sword, the knight retrieved the box, checked its content, then exchanged a few words with Panache who took the box and brought it inside.

Crossing his arms, both soldiers patiently waited as Hazama's present made its effect. And sure enough, after a few minutes, Panache came back and straightened herself.

"You and your servant are allowed inside, General Hazama."

Yanagida noticeably frowned at the mention of "servant", but followed Hazama inside.

The Princess was completely armed, the polished armor reflecting the morning sun through the window and the blade at her side weighting with familiarity. On her hands was Hazama's gift, a straight short blade with no cross-guard, but with its grip made of gold and dark blue, almost black leather. She was examining it closely, playing with the light reflecting on its smooth surface.

She liked it. It wasn't as decorated as her father's ceremonial sword nor as encrusted with jewels, but it had an elegance that was exotic to her. If the imperial style was a roaring lion, tearing to shreds enemies that came close, then this blade made her think of a wolf, calmly sitting in the night, the moon reflecting on a still lake in front of it.

The sheathe bathed in the same feeling. It was made from a polished red wood, with golden runes she couldn't read on its surface.

Behind the Princess was a woman in a white dress with a sewn blue symbol of Elange. She had a light blue hood with golden embroidery hiding her hair, and a short want sticking out of the belt maintaining her dress in place.

As she marvelled at the metalwork in her hands, Bozes at her side greeted the newcomers.

"General Hazama, I am Bozes Co Palesti, I speak in the Princess' name. What brings you in front of Her after this assassination attempt?"

If words could kill, a normal person would have died ten times over. But Hazama wasn't about to be talked down by someone that hid so much uncertainty in her gaze.

"I'm here to officially ask for forgiveness, in Japan's name as well as in my own. What happened was a regrettable incident, the surviving perpetrator has been jailed." He answered.

But a flicker of anger lit her eyes. And this time he could see that it wasn't faked.

"Is that how Japan treats an assassin who organizes a treason against one of its higher commanders and wounds a Princess of a visiting country? I am thoroughly disappointed… Would we be following by the Imperial law, the traitor would be hanged in front of the populace!"

As she shouted, the noise of her shifting armor showed just how much angry she was. She was quite literally trembling in anger.

Hazama internally braced himself. When the storm brewed, it was better to hide and wait than try to fight it.

"And even then, is that how you treat visiting official? A bare room, a white bed? No feast in Her honor?! No magic protection?! This is unacceptable! Lady Pina is the daughter of the Emperor Molt Sol Augustus! Do you know what kind of person gets a similar lodging when visiting a foreign official? The guards. Would you treat royalty the same as you treat-"

Before the knight could continue her ranting, an audible clac cut her voice. The Princess observed one last time the blade she had just sheathed in a swift move, before redirecting her attention at Hazama while Bozes stepped back, defiantly looking at the General.

"It is quite an exquisite blade you've gifted, Sir Hazama. Does it have a name?"

Hazama smiled, relieved that the conversation was taking another turn. He dared a step forward, trying to ignore the short length of blade pulled of its sheathe by Bozes.

"In my country, it is called a wakizashi, Princess Pina. It was a traditional weapon for our country's warrior caste, the samurai. This one in particular has been in my family for six generations, it is named Shibura Buri. Translated in Saderan, it means "Silver Breeze"."

The Princess took the blade out, raised her arms high and brought it down in a swift move. The steel cutting through the air let out a satisfying whistle and earned the Princess a smile. Putting back the blade in its sheathe with ease, she locked her eyes onto Hazama's.

"Are you a samurai, General?"

"For historical reasons, Samurai warriors do not exist anymore in Japan, Princess. Although, my family does own a dojo, a training ground for martial artists if you will. I am one of its instructor when my duties allow it."

Pina spent a few seconds in silence, seemingly deep in thought.

"In the Empire, there's a saying. Merchants speak with gold, scholars with books, and warriors with steel. I'm a warrior, General, head of a whole order of knights. I've trained with blades since my childhood, and I'm much more proficient with steel than words. I believe a conversation of warriors would allow us a much better understanding of each other than one with words. Would you care for a spar?"

"I believe a spar would indeed allow us for more understanding."

Yanagida loudly coughed at Hazama's answer, but neither the General or the Princess paid attention to it.

"Then let us be ready!" Proclaimed Pina. "Let us meet shortly on this flat land!" She said, pointing at the parking that could be seen through the window of the room.

"Let us be ready…" Answered Hazama with a smile.

"YOU CAN'T JUST DO… THAT, SIR?!"

"Lieutenant, lower your tone. We're in a hospital."

Realizing his error and his lack of respect to his superior, Yanagida composed himself as they walked back to the car.

"But sir… Sparring? Against a Princess? A diplomatic envoy? That's…"

Sighing, Hazama put a hand to his temple.

"You're a good soldier, Yanagida. But a poor politician. Have you noticed how armed she was?"

Of course he noticed. But that couldn't be it. Was there something else to it that he didn't realize? Yes, she was fully armed. Her other weapons, a mace and a large two-handed sword were bundled together in a crimson cloth and the plates she ate her breakfast on were nowhere to be seen. Slowly, the basis of a solution formed in his mind, but Hazama completed it.

"She was armed because she was ready to leave, lieutenant. She almost got killed the moment she set a foot in our base. If she had left, any chance of diplomatic relations between us and the Empire would have disappeared. My gift and approval for a spar is what convinced that maybe it was worth it. Don't forget that the people here have a very strong warrior culture. Should I have refused, we would have been seen as weak and our relations lukewarm at best. Now, I need to prepare. Lieutenant, go get my wooden sword, it's in my office. Bring some coffee too."

Still not sure about the whole idea, Yanagida saluted the General and left the hospital.