Such a sunny day – just the perfect weather for some tea while I enjoy the serene breeze as I laze around the shade of a grand ol’ tree – is what I thought. Contrary to my desires, I am leading a charge to reclaim what is ours – my heritage and my people’s kingdom, Yamato.

At the head of a five hundred strong cavalry, I rest my gaze on the map sitting on the saddle of my horse, Bismarck. My subordinates had their eyes on me and I could feel the intensity of their gazes. The majority of my troops were in high spirits but one cannot discount the fact that at this juncture, at this critical moment in time, a single mistake could cost us not only our lives but the safety of the entire kingdom. One could say that the fate of our country rests in the shoulders of the five hundred fools who decided to follow the biggest fool of them all – me.

I say that I am the biggest fool because I am. I am described by the people of the court as a god-send or as ‘that genius strategist’ or whatever their silver tongues can come up with. I have never had the patience for the many fallacies or corruption that has befallen Yamato’s modern day politics, however, this too is a game I must play well and eventually win if I want to ensure my Kingdom’s safety.

My kingdom has been fighting a civil war for years now and none of them- none of the generals or the miserly old men could do anything to halt the enemy’s advance. With a handful of loyal men, I broke through Yamato’s political scene and won some allies over using my unorthodox stratagem and wit and waltzed into the battlefield that is strategic warfare.

Battle after battle, casualty upon casualty, we have finally come to this. What’s in the past is in the past but right now, I am here to take back my people’s future.

I brush my long silver hair away from my eyes as I gazed into the midday sky.

With the sun at its zenith or at its peak, the beauty of the land before me is reflected through the heat and quite ironically, through the burning rubble that surrounded the imperial city. We have been facing a civil war for years now and routing the rebel elements has taken its toll on both my people and my kingdom itself – and right now, we are the last glimmer of hope for my people.

“..So this is it.” I calmly say.

Due north is a towering structure that can only be described as crude. It is at least 100 meters tall and is made of what seems to be wood and some concrete. It looms over the destruction that the war has caused and this is the enemy’s final frontier – their final stand.

“Heron, looks like you were right. Your strategies were always surprising but this one…this one is quite something, boy.” Said the man to my right.

I lightly laugh at his jab. Of course my strategy was correct, it was something we worked on together, Hanzo.

“You think too highly of me friend.” I bow my head “However,”

“However?” He asked.

“This is the final battle. There will be some casualties…” I cast my eyes downwards.

“Friend, I sense that bitterness in you again. All good things come at a price and it is your – no, our job to ensure that the price we pay is the best we can pay.” He smiles, “and that is something you have done superbly these past couple of months. Be proud of yourself, Heron.” Said Hanzo.

I look at the rest of the men supporting us, supporting the restoration of our kingdom and all of them had fire in their eyes as they nodded their affirmations at me. I can feel their passion as I started feeling the fire of justice consuming my chest.

However, there really was a fire arrow stuck at my chest. It came faster than I could have ever imagined and it came from the ranks of the soldiers I brought with me. I could hear the panicked shouts of Hanzo and the rest of the soldiers as everything around me was consumed by a blur. Time seemed to slow as the only things I could feel were the fires consuming me and the numbness overwhelming me.

A few moments passed and there, at the end of a path was luminescence – light brighter than the sun’s. I can feel my body being pulled out of a cavern as I distinctly hear an infant’s cries and a woman’s anguished moans.

““*******, ***** *******!”

"****!"

“****!”

Huh? What tongue is this?

A few more moments passed and finally, the light is at its brightest. I am finally free – or so I thought. I am dangling from my ankles and the world has gone topsy-turvy and surrounding me are the loud cries of an infant. What is this madness?

I feel a sharp pain in my buttocks and the infant’s cries grow stronger. The hand carrying me shifts and I am surrounded by an inexplicable warmth as I am held close by a Woman’s sweet scent.

“*****, ******…Heron.”

Wait. If the woman is holding me just how big is she? Well, of course not. Logically speaking that is improbable. I think back to what has happened and came up with a highly unlikely answer to this bizarre scenario. It involves a long and is unnecessarily complicated however, I have a short version which is the more likely to have happened.

I died before I could save my kingdom and then I was reincarnated in a strange new world.

Strange but not impossible.

“**********, Heron! *****!” Said a handsome young man

“**** ****** Dada, Heron..” Cried the woman with a very proud look on her face.

But if I am a child, why do I have my memories? My knowledge and most importantly, my wisdom? Is this a second chance at life? Can I still save my kingdom? I…I have to…

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