Chapter 2

Tadashi: “What.. did.. I… tell… you”

There’s an inhale of air with each breath and each word comes out struggled as Tadashi, Shoto and Daisuke are forced to scale the fields with bales of hay strapped to their backs. The fields are long but in the far distance there’s a line of tall trees, drawing nearer the further they walk. They have just made it back to the base grounds, their third length before struggling to turn to walk back towards the treeline.

Daisuke: “Punishment” - an exasperated groan escapes him.

Shoto: “More punishment..” - he sighs in agreement.

Tadashi: “Not the hot box yet..”

A few struggling steps, the boys halt their movement as a larger figure trains his horse in their direction, feet clobbering the earth beneath its hooves, creating a dust pile.

Zero: “You boys should have known better” - there’s disappointment in his tone as he stops his horse.

Dark eyes dart over to the female Cadet who has just been marched over from trying to injure another Cadet with a bow and arrow, missing by inches. The females face like stone as she glared at the bale set in front of her - she scoffs.

Girl: “He had it coming..”

Zero: “Sasaki, we are all on the same team, your attitude needs a step in check.

Six lengths of the field, then the hot box for added measure that you will not do it again.”

Zero pauses and looks at his Comrade.

Zero: “Who was she aiming at?”

Sergeant Toru: “Squad Leader Takao - with one of the electrical arrows, Commander”

Shoto glares over at Nori - the three boys struggling, sweat beading off their brows as they look between the girl and Zero who tenses his jaw, Zero notices they have stopped.

Zero: “Three more!

Get moving!”

Daisuke, Tadashi and Shoto: “Yes Commander”

Their feet drag beneath them as they heave. Nori, now joining their sides with the hay bale, as it’s her first length - she holds the bale high - no struggle as she walks, grin evidently splayed as she shot a look at Shoto who was still struggling.

Nori: “It was Tet’s idea, he says you’re in trouble when you get back”

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Sticking her tongue out at him as Shoto reached his foot out in front of her, causing her to fall on her face. The hay bale rolled off her back.

Shoto: “Nori, you’re such a troublemaker!…”

Zero: “TAKAO! Two more minutes in the hot box!

MOVE!”

Shoto: “Worth it” he mutters.

Daisuke: “Do you have to?

Youknow Zero will add more punishment on for all of us if you carry on”

Nori struggles onto her knees as she pushes herself up onto her feet, spluttering from the grass that caught her mouth.

Nori: “Tch, low blow Shoto..”

Wiping her face with the back of her hand before reaching the bale. Quickly catching up to the other three. The sun was bright in the sky as eventually, they reached the bottom end and back, only to be sheltered at the bottom end again by the tall trees - they’re more exhausted - proving the punishment to be hard on them.

Woodlands take shape ahead, the same rumbling sensation beneath their feet as the ground began to quake.

Nori: “What do you think is out there?”

Nori stepped forward, the bricks protecting the woodlands like a barrier to keep people out.

The earth trembles beneath the fields they’re on.

Tadashi: “Zero once told me it’s the dark void, People get lost and they die out there”

Tadashi holds no expression of fear, simply retelling what he has heard to the group.

Even as they continued to look - the void between them grew darker, fog seeping in - shielding the woodland path until the shaking stopped.

Daisuke: “I heard it’s The Inbetween.

The giants without souls live there.

They’re the type of creatures that have lost themselves when they were given abilities”

Daisuke pauses, brows furrowing - curiosity as his emerald eyes glance down at the earth, he reaches one hand down - holding the shaking bale of hay with one arm as he presses a hand to the earth.

Daisuke: “Feel that?..”

They all go quiet. The rumbling started again, speeding through, shaking the earth beneath them.

Daisuke: “That’s when they get mad” - a small reaction of fear held on his features.

Nori laughs as she leans against the hay bale she had placed at her feet before lifting it again over her shoulder.

Nori: “Tch, that’s just a tale the town came up with to scare you”

Daisuke: “Could be true”

Nori groans and turns on her heel.

Nori: “Whatever,… I’m hungry..” her stomach evidently churns, they all look at her before turning to head off back down the field to their starting point again.

Tadashi: “So much for a tale….

I can’t stand the hot box..” he groans before going into copying one of his Commander’s speeches

Tadashi: “It widens your senses.

Maintains your strength.

It trains your body to any kinds of punishment that Liberty will bring upon you”

Tadashi continues, wrinkling his nose, curling his lip as he pulls a face clearly mocking the Commander as he drops the bale to do the salute in mockery.

Daisuke: “I can’t take you seriously when you make fun of Zero”

Shoto: “Don’t let him catch you, or he’ll throw you in with the Giants”

Tadashi: “Oh no - not the Giants, whatever will I do”