Weltkrieg: A Youjo Senki Fic

The sun has descended, leaving the city in the revelry of other light sources. Candle, lamp, waxes breathes lives inside the city as people passing-by with laughter, unaware.

Tavern filled to the brims, laughter, shouting, and a beat of punch from the drunkard.

Some talk with their friends, A mug of beer rose up high in a toast.

Another intertwining their hands, a child to her mother, a wife to his husband.

Soldiers passing through, they went unnoticed, making another round at the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e house.

One only need to look a bit further if they wanted to experience the horror, harrowing war in the front.

Unaware, no, perhaps I'm wrong. They want to forget, a respite from all of these experiences.

Everyone is laughing, The drunk, the young, the old. They were smiling.

"Hey, Violet," I called to the companion beside me if people need a light to guide their path. Then, I daresay, she was my light. "This is what we are fighting for, right?" I asked her.

We sat there, beside the bridge, under of it were flown the Rhine river.

No blood nor corpses streamed from the battlefield in the front, yet I can hear their screaming.

Hallowing, begging to be released of their misery.

No pity one could see from my eyes, I could not.

How could I?

"I don't know," She said, before pausing, staring at a girl with her hand occupied carrying gift boxes as her mother leading her the way, "But, seeing those smiles…it felt…right?" She tilted her head slightly.

"I see…" a tug of a smile escaped my face, sigh, I shouldn't think too much.

Best to make the day with a smile, rather than brooding in the corner.

It would be such a waste.

I kicked my boot, standing up. Offering my hand to Violet, "Let's go, Violet, how 'bout we see the city?"

"Ehm," She replied with such simplistic nod.

We didn't have the slightest clue of the city. Only some brief visit to the train station for Berun, before.

Following the laughter, the light, and the stream of people, not long after, we arrived at what it seems like a market?

Various stalls erected beside the roads, like food, clothing, pieces of jewelry, or trinkets lining up inside it.

Without much thought, we were attracted to its light. The constant brightness it emitted.

Taking a step, we were savoring every sight we met.

Like a child, omitting the part that we were indeed children, to the candy store.

Delicious meat, grilled on top of fire as its crisp smell wafting through the air. Inviting everyone with a slight hunger in their stomach.

Trinkets from far east, lining up a stall.

"How about it, brother, interested?"

I was startled by the voice. A young man with a business smile said behind the counter.

"No, it just made me curious." I taking glances to the trinkets, I don't even remember what these is.

A sleek thin sword, what they were called again? Samurai no, I thought this what you called as wakizashi? Is it katana? I don't remember it at all.

"Ah, I got it. This is rather exotic after all, exclusively imported from Akitsushima Dominion."

He nodded his head, with a smile as he held his chin.

Akitsushima dominion, huh. The equivalent for Imperial Japan in this age.

What kind of nation that name its nation as dominion? Empire, perhaps it was given.

But dominion? Do you expect people will tremble when hearing that name?

Is it supposed to be a nation to be filled with tyrants and corrupt only to be toppled by a group of revolutionaries?

Like Churchill, what kind of insane man that coined his names as Churbull?

Or the fact that Francois capital city is Parisii not Paris, Plus 1 letter at the end. how lazy.

I shouldn't judge them, with our capital named Beruun and not Berlin. Seriously Beruun? That's not even remotely sound German to me.

It was like, a lazy author only to use the derived name as a way to avoid censors.

"Oh, is this even real?" I tried to pick the sword up, only to be held by the shopkeeper.

"No, no that will be dangerous, you know? This is a genuine steel sword after all." He said, chiding me.

My face scrunched up in confusion, "What? You don't see my uniform?" I eat steel like breakfast, I dodge bullet-like morning shower.

I earn the highest honor that is, inside the empire. Hearing that slightly wound my pride.

"Hmm, I get it you were enthusiastic about the war. But you won't trick me, with that costume of yours, brother."

"Listen, there are too many people that tried to trick honest folks in here with soldier getup. Demanding stuff and free drinks. I don't know where they get the clothes, but we know that ain't conduct of Empire soldier. Heaven forbid, for they will receive heavy punishment for harassing civilian."

He continued, as I stop whatever I was thinking.

"Still, most people can't distinguish between the two, and I'm just a fledgling merchant anyway. Some people here, even hold grudges between you soldiers. So, I won't take any chances, even if you are a real soldier." The young shopkeeper said, before diving to his counter searching for something.

"Even that, you're just a child. A child duty is to grow up, and do childish things. Not holding a rifle or swords, so cheer up." He handed me some sweets, encased in a steel container.

"Fine…thank you," I grumbled. Still, who dares to impersonate Empire soldier? Cowards.

"Right, it's your girlfriend, but she was off wandering somewhere you know." He rubbed his stub.

"Eh?" I looked over my left and right, only to see violet has vanished somewhere.

In a rush, I left the stall, "Thank you, uncle!"

"Be safe!" He waved to me while grinning before returning to his stall.

The light smeared the night in brilliant hue, as people still minding their own business. I constantly switched my view, left, right, left and right.

There she is, standing on the front of a stall.

"Violet!" I called to her.

"Major." Her head turned to me.

"What're you doing, going like that before telling me."

"…I'm sorry." She widened her eyes, before deflating again.

"It's fine, so, what makes you curious?" I soothed her, ruffling her silky hair.

"No, it just…I saw your eyes." She said, straight looking to me.

Hmmm…what did she mean by that, "my eyes? What of it?"

In response, she just turned her head to the stall display.

Colorful Jewelry lining up the shelves, encased in intricate accessories.

One particular, among the other necklace, pendant, and rings. A brooch caught her eyes.

Like a shiny demonstration, the emerald of the brooch glistened and danced in the light as it was begging to be noticed.

"How about it, young lady, a beautiful brooch isn't it?" The shopkeeper who has been keeping silence this time spoke up.

"Beautiful? Is it like snow?" She asked, filled with a child innocent and curiosity.

"Well I don't know about that, but how do you feel, just see and listen to it." The shopkeeper smiled, as found Violet question amusing.

"See and listen…" Her attention shifted back to the Emerald brooch, "I don't know what I am feeling, but…" Then her eyes turned to me, emerald meet Azure.

"I feel calm," She stated, without any blinks.

"Then that maybe your definition of beautiful." The shopkeeper said, still keeping a gentle smile.

"Is that so…" She contemplated, still looking at the brooch.

I am, with a sigh instead turned to the shopkeeper, I said with a tug of a smile on my lips, "How much is it?"

"Well, what an inquisitive man we have." She said, teasing me.

Before I took my wallet behind my pocket, she stopped me, "No, please don't be."

I scrunched up my eyebrows, "But…"

"No, just let her take it." She said with a final, "You two are soldiers, right? I don't know what kind of circ.u.mstances befell both of you, much less a pure girl like her, but just take it as a sign of my gratitude of protecting us in this dark time."

I nodded hesitantly, "Is that so."

Accepting someone pity, it felt wrong but right at the same time.

In other time my pride wouldn't let me do such a thing, but I couldn't let her kindness go away.

"Yes, it is so." The shopkeeper nodded, still smiling.

I turned away, "Let me put it for you." I offered my hand to violet.

"Yes."

"Here Violet, you put it like that." I put the Brooch on her collar band, on the middle.

"Beautiful isn't it?" My lips rose in a twinkle.

"Yes, thank you major." She said clutching to the brooch, with the sincerest voice I've ever heard.

I paused, unexpected of her response.

Something moved within me, stirred of her gratitude.

Thank you, such a simple gesture of her was enough to make me tremble.

How many times I've been thanked before.

"Thank you major." She said again.

"Hmm," I stirred, "Your welcome, Violet." Instead, with a beam, I ruffled again her soft hair.

At that night, we held our hand together staring at a distance of the city. For one day, we gained a brief respite away of tomorrow conflict and agony.

For one day, I feel peace.