The journey to the city of Zin was a harsh one. The mountain weather was cruel and unforgiving. The snow and freezing winds pierced through everyone like lightning bolts. Naga squad left the horses at small village just at the base of the mountain range. They made the perilous journey upwards.

  Multiple near-death experiences happened. Remi nearly slipped off the edge of a cliff. Clara almost got crushed by falling snow. Gil almost froze to death, but Clara managed to keep him alive with her medicine and fire. Shoyo fought off and killed two Yetis that wandered into their camp. Ren helped in this matter as well. A handful of beast encounters were quickly dealt with.

  It was night time and Naga squad was holed into a cave on the side of a mountain walkway made thousands of years ago by monks. Remi was making the fire diligently as he whistled more Orc songs to himself. Shoyo was overlooking the map feeling a bit annoyed by the weather. Ren peered over the map curiously as she sat next to him.

  Shoyo remarked, “If you’re wondering, we should be about three days away from Zin.”

  “Hmm.”

  “However, the weather is too much so we may lose two to three days as a result.”

  “Lovely.”

  “You’re so blunt and accepting of things.”

  “And you’re one to state the obvious.”

  “Hmm,” Shoyo smiled as rolled the map up. “Most I heard you spoken in a long time.”

  “It’s only been a week of me not talking.”

  “It’s been two months of this journey so far. A lot of detours and a lot of memorable, dumb moments that are funny in hindsight.”

  “Your point?”

  “Most people would regale in their adventures and moments. You tend to stay quiet.”

  “Insulting?”

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  “No. The opposite.”

  “…”

  “You know… When I requested you to be transferred to this unit, I had a very long corresponding talk with General Argos about who you are and your personality and why you are the way you are.”

  “Hmm,” Ren said with shocked eyes whilst maintaining her stoic demeanor. She thought to herself, “I hope Argos didn’t dote over me like I was his daughter.”

  Shoyo said leaning back on the cave wall, “Honestly, the way he talked of you was like… Well, it was like… I could be very wrong in remembering, but he described you like a mischievous rebel who kept things to herself.”

  Ren stared harshly at Shoyo feeling slightly insulted by the remark. Shoyo sensed the anger in her stare and shrugged. Ren sighed and asked, “What else did he say?”

  “He said that despite your tendencies to lock yourself off from the world, there is a heart that truly cares for others. You’ll never admit, but Argos swears that you do. Honestly, he talked of you like you were his own daughter. I think he’s the only general I know who cares about his subordinates more than himself.”

  “Yeah… He is like that.”

  “But the real reason I asked for your transfer is simple…”

  “Go on? Why the pause,” Ren asked now looking at Shoyo. Shoyo closed his eyes as he pulled a blanket over himself. He said through a yawn, “Because you are the best swordsman in the land and because I remember back in… Never mind. Good night.”

  “Night I guess,” Ren said curiously to Shoyo’s response.

  She wondered what he was trying to say or if he was saying something in order to get a specific reaction. She knew that he was a well-read man who researched everyone thoroughly. She knew that he knew of her and her background. But there was something there that she could not figure out about him. There was a strange familiarity to him, but it was next to impossible to explain why. The only memory she could recall was a kendo tournament that she won when she was younger. She wondered why that was the only memory she kept recalling.

  Gil sat nearby and said through shaking teeth, “Sho tends to do that a lot. Fuck it’s cold!”

  “I see.”

  “Well major… Whatever he was about to say. There was a reason for it. Everything he says has a meaning.”

  “So what do you think of him?”

  “He’s an arrogant know-it-all who cares. He’s a lot more skilled than he lets on. He’s very cunning hence his high rank at his age. Then again, I know you’re cunning as well because you’re a major at twenty four, ma’am. He’s always planning something. I may be a… Damnit, please don’t tell him, that I’m a book-worm who reads damn near everything… But I know that he always means well and in my humble opinion… He’s the smartest man I’ve ever met.”

  “Hmm… I do wonder sometimes.”

  “Come again?”

  “Nothing, Gil. Good night.”