April 18h 1912, Industrialis District. – The Federal Republic of Ayster
It is a quiet spring day. Three-year-old Izumi Miyato sits in his room drawing beside his small dinosaur-themed bed, surrounded by stuffed animals. Suddenly, the front door pounds with urgency.
Himari, Izumi’s mother, opens the door to find two Aysterian Military Officers in formal dress.
“Good afternoon, Mrs Miyato. I am Staff Sergeant Zheng, and this is Corporal Aiza.”
Himari, surprised to see two officers at her house, steps aside. They enter the house, looking around at the family photos adorning the walls, the sound of their boots filling the air with each step.
Upon entering the living room, they softly examine the room around them, finding more pictures of Himari and her husband filling the walls, the polished shelves filled with ceramic foxes.
In the corner of the room, a replica Aysterian Bolt Action Rifle hangs from the wall, its wooden body shining in the daylight. Next to it, an Aysterian flag proudly stands, swaying slowly in the breeze from the open window, next to a desk where a photo of her husband holding a small baby sits.
“Lovely home you have here,” Aiza says as he sits on the red leather couch. “You are quite the patriot!” Aiza says with an approving nod.
Himari smiles, looking over to the Aysterian flag. “I love my country! It's a shame those disgusting Mountainians want to ruin it...” she scoffs “I wish this wretched war would end...” her voice grows soft, holding her hands to her chest.
“Well... we have actually come here to discuss that,” Corporal Aiza says with reluctance.
The air grows cold as Himari’s eyes glisten with hope.
Corporal Aiza takes a deep breath and pulls a small wooden box from his satchel.
“We have news from the front line,” Aiza says with an uncomfortable tone.
“We have started to push into Mountaine after their retreat from our shores. We predict our military operation will conclude within the next few weeks...”
Himari looks at the box in Aiza’s hands, which begin to tremble softly.
“So... is Kosuke being deployed to Mountaine?” she softly asks as her eyes meet Aiza’s.
Corporal Aiza’s eyes shift away, examining the photos of the happy family around him. He takes a deep breath and looks towards Himari, clenching the box in his hand unsure of how to phrase what he must say.
“Lieutenant Colonel Kosuke Miyato... has...” Aiza drags on, taking a deep breath, handing the box to Himari.
“Miyato has lost his life in the war.” Zheng finishes with a stern tone as if he had done this a hundred times before.
Himari’s eyes open in shock. She tries to speak but the words can’t leave her mouth. She just sits there, wide-eyed, yearning for an explanation.
“He fought well and led his battalion to greatness. Without his brave soul we would’ve struggled holding off against the Mountainians.” Aiza chimes in.
Himari looks over at the photo of her, Kosuke and Izumi at the beach. Its chiselled golden frame holds her gaze as she stares at her reflection in the glass’ reflection. She looks down at the box and opens it, a photo of his battalion with a large coin with ‘Honouring Kosuke Miyato’ engraved onto its golden surface, sits atop a neatly folded Aysterian Flag.
“How...” Himari asks as tears quickly fill her eyes. “Who was the bastard who killed my husband?!”
The officers awkwardly glance at each other. Aiza musters up enough courage to speak once more,
“Nobody did,” he reluctantly announces, his voice falling quieter.
“After we captured Queen Isabella, the remaining Mountainians retreated. Kosuke was on the beach...and stepped on one of our landmines. Killing only him. He was the only death among our fielded Commissioned Officers...”
Himari looks up at Zheng with hollow eyes. She tries to speak but can’t seem to formulate a sentence. After letting out a small series of half gasps, she shakenly points towards the front door as tears start to build.
“Get out...” she says with a faint, shaky whisper. “Thank you for your news, officers but, I think it’s time for you to leave.”
“One more thing Mrs. Miyato, before Kosuke died, he came up to Corporal Aiza and told him something?”
Corporal Aiza rubs his knees and scratches the stubble at the bottom of his chin, taking a piece of paper from his jacket pocket.
“Kosuke told me to tell you to ‘Go to The Grand Cabaret and ask for Diego.’ I don’t know what that means. But I am assuming you might?”
Himari stares at the officers, still trying to process what she has just been told
“No.” she faintly whispers, “I do not.”
The officers exchange glances before standing up to make their way to the front door “If you need anything, here is my contact, you will receive the funeral detail in the post within the next few days.” Zheng says while passing her a business card. “We will be in touch soon.”
Himari slowly stands up, staring down at the ground and makes her way towards the front door. Slowly opening the door letting the summers sun inside. “Sorry...” Aiza whispers to Himari as they leave the house.
She slams the door shut and lets out a blood curdling scream. A scream so loud, so painful, so full of despair. One couldn't even begin to imagine the horror of what has just unfolded.
“Mama?”
Himari looks up at the top of the stairs with tears rolling down her face, and sees her son, Izumi, stands at the top, hiding slightly behind the wall.
“Your eyes are wet” Izumi asks in a tone only a young child who knows nothing about the cruelty of life could hold as he slowly makes his way down the stairs to his mother.
Himari looks up at Izumi and smiles through the tears holding him tight. Izumi gently stands back and hands her the picture he drew to try and cheer her up. She glances at the picture and notices it is a drawing of Her, Izumi and Kosuke. “Look! Me you and Papa!” Izumi shouts before letting out an innocent giggle. Himari breaks down in muffled tears, thinking of ways to tell a 3-year-old child that his father is not returning home from the trenches, and his body in-fact has littered the Aysterian beaches of Industrialis.
The tears fall down her face as she looks into Izumi’s eyes, glistening with innocence and hope. She gently ruffles his hair and gives him a kiss on the forehead.
“Izu, your father will be gone for a little longer than we expected.” she whispers.
“Mama... when papa comes home...” he hiccups “Can we go to the big beach? And watch the sunset like we did before he went on his trip!”
Himari can feel the next wave of tears filling her eyes more as she holds Izumi close, trying to keep strong for him.