Two people emerged from the treeline.

A young man, wearing a slightly rusted breastplate, patted off the leaves that had settled upon his head and moaned, "Huaaaaah... This is terrible, did you see the food they served at the army camp? It looked miles away from the slop we get at ours! Hurk-" He covered his mouth and let out a dry heave. "...And I swear that chowder isn't meant for human consumption."

Beside him walked a young woman, who seemed to be more occupied with her surroundings than listening to his complaints. Even when he tapped her on the forearm to grab her attention, she only gave him a glance before shortly turning back around.

Nevertheless, he continued, "Not to mention those army boys are all just taking it easy all day, and they shove all the patrolling to us! What's with the discrimination!?"

A sigh escaped from the woman's lips as she finally replied, "There's nothing we can do about it, we're just Milice Citoyenne. On the bright side, we aren't joining the frontline when the battle starts."

"Nrgh..." He turned away, dissatisfied, grumbling, "It's not like I wanted to join the milice..."

"Who does?" She shrugged.

"Next year, I'm passing the army trials, no matter what!"

"What, like last year? Isn't a second try enough? Ever thought that you're just not cut out for it?"

"Grrrr...! Just you wait! One day, I'll be slacking off and eating tasty food with some mates, and I won't be sharing any with you!"

"Err... good luck?"

What's the point of joining the army if that's all you want to do anyway...?

Their patrol route followed the edge of the Great Ealdenshire Forest, at the southeastern border of Rafale. Keeping close to its shadow provided them some sense of security - in case they meet Easter's scout cavalry, they could use the dense vegetation as cover.

Despite this, she kept swivelling her head as though she were looking for something.

To the right, ancient trees concealed everything behind them like an impenetrable curtain. While to the left, the horizon was blocked away by the one prominent feature overlooking most of the Flanneries - a great hill, atop which stood a wooden fortress.

And there they were, walking along the flat land in between.

There was something unnerving about being sandwiched like that. As if she always felt a gaze at the back of her neck, no matter which way she faced.

Eventually, that bottled-up anxiety overflowed. She thus turned to her companion and muttered, hesitantly, "Hey, do you... feel like we're being watched?"

By this time, the pair was ascending a shallow incline, and the effort they took with each step reflected in the weight of their breaths.

"Ehh, I suppose so? I mean, all of Easter's garrison is holed up in that fort over yonder. Wouldn't it be strange if they weren't?"

"N-no," She shook her head. "That's not what I mean."

Soon, they crested the hill, arriving at a hilltop meadow where a couple of goats grazed.

"Ahh," The man snapped his fingers, before pointing over his shoulder. "It's that isn't it?"

Following with her gaze, she shortly meet eyes with a young girl, with a wicker basket in hand, standing beside her mother who was tending to the animals. In an instant, the child gleamed with a warm smile, hopping up and down as she waved at them, dropping a few of the vegetables she carried, much to her alarm.

The woman chuckled.

"It's that kid again," he added, as he returned the girl's wave, "she's pretty quick to notice us, isn't she? Heheh!"

Unable to muster any further words to explain herself, she just gave up and let out a sigh. "Never mind."

By the time she lifted her arm, though, the mother finally picked up on what was happening. Like so many times before, she wrapped her arms around her child and whisked her away back to the village, leaving the goats alone to graze.

"Ah..." Seeing that reaction once again, she felt dejected.

She always welcomes us, that girl. I wonder what her name is...

"Ahh-ahh." He placed his hand on her shoulder. "Don't let it get to you. Technically speaking, we're 'enemies', after all. It wouldn't look good if someone saw them interacting with us."

"...I know. It's just..." She shook her head. "Anyway, why aren't they evacuating? They ought to know that our army is mustering nearby. Their village could be a battleground."

To this, the young man could only turn his head away.

"Maybe they actually don't?" she opined, "There are no Eastals holed up in the village itself, if we can-"

"Mika." He interjected with a harsh tone, making her flinch. He looked her in the eyes, poised to say what's on his mind, but at the last minute pulled away and gave her a tap on the shoulder instead. "Look. It'll be best if you don't think about it too much."

"What's with that…" She frowned, averting her eyes and crossing her arms.

"If you go to those villagers - if you say anything to them - you might get hammered for fraternizing with the enemy..."

"Enemies..." Her fingers rolled into a fist. "These were our fellow Raffalians no more than a few years ago...!"

His head tilted down, pressing into his fingers which, in turn, rubbed his forehead. "I know... But that's how things are. Please. I won't ask you to understand. But remember - you're a soldier right now. You have a duty."

"I didn't train under the milice to just stand and watch while a defenseless village is sacked...!"

"Mika..." He scratched his head, speechless, but unmoving.

Alas, the two broke off and returned to camp to end their patrol.

This uneventful routine repeated day in and day out until, one morning, the girl and her mother had stopped coming to that meadow entirely. Even the goats had gone. And yet, in spite of her hopes, the village itself - that is, its inhabitants, still remained.

What happened? Did only their family evacuate? But why not the rest...!?

Her train of thought was interrupted, however, when she felt a hand over her shoulder.

"Hey, Mika-"

Her body stiffened, taken by surprise by his urgent tone of voice. "What is it?"

Clutching his belly, he then said, "-sorry, but can you wait here for a minute?"

"...huh? Why?"

"Aah, I think this morning's soup hit me the wrong way and-" His face contorted as a loud rumble permeated the air.

She winced. "Are you serious? We're this far from the camp, too!"

"N-no biggie. There's a perfectly good forest-"

"Aaaaaah!" She plugged her ears and yelled, "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! I don't care, just hurry up already!"

"T-thanks. Augh-!" And without saying anything else, he ran off with the most awkward gait.

She sighed.

He could be a complete goof sometimes. A tiny smirk formed over her lips. He's still the same after all these years.

"Well." The girl sat herself down at the crest and looked out into the distance, where the far-off peaks of Easter's Kannenberg Mountain Range peeked over the imposing fortress-hill, forming a jagged horizon.

The breeze swept across her skin, luring her ever into drowsiness as she took in the cool air.

Hmm... that girl...

Well, even if it's just the two of them, I'm glad someone was able to escape.

At that moment, she became acutely aware of her surroundings.

...I'm alone. What if I snuck in and told the villagers to flee? How long will Phil be gone?

Nrgh... but even if he doesn't know... what if some other patrol behind us sees me?

She then pulled her legs in and held them towards her chest. "I could even get him in trouble."

'We can't do anything', huh?

Her eyes became heavy.

...That doesn't sit right with me.

But just as she was about to fall asleep, she heard a rustle coming from behind her.

It sent shivers reverberating across her skin, snapping her wide awake.

Wha- He can't be done that fast.

She leapt onto her feet.

"Who's there!?" Her eyes darted back and forth, scanning the edge of the forest.

Damn...! What is it!? A deer? A wild boar? And right when I'm alone, too...

She swallowed a dry breath.

Dear gods, please don't let it be an enemy soldier...

The following moment, a familiar face flashed from behind the foliage.

That's...!

Her eyes squinted hard.

It's that girl!? But why-

But before she could even sort through her thoughts, the child turned away and ran off into the forest.

"W-wait!" Going entirely from instinct, she leapt onto her feet and chased after her.

Why is she still here? Where is her mother? And why did she run into the forest!?

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

These thoughts resounded in her head unanswered throughout her pursuit.

I don't understand. Did I spook her? Aaagh! Whatever! First of all, I need to catch that child or she'll get herself lost!

She sprinted at full speed, though upon reaching the precipice of the treeline, she hesitated. Nerves at the edge, she pored over her surroundings in search for her missing partner, but to no avail.

Aaaagh! Geez! That really had to happen right now!?

Time, however, was ticking, and without further consideration, she firmed her resolve.

I know I'll get yelled at for this, but I can't just leave that girl alone!

Dirt splashed off her boots as she dashed in.

The terrain was mired with fallen trees, rows of impenetrable shrubbery and many such obstacles. But what was rough for her must have been doubly so for a small child, and with this thought in mind, she soon caught the girl's trail, weaving through the forest.

"Hey! Wait! Come back!" she screamed, "I won't hurt you!"

The chase was long and arduous, netting her a few scratches and bruises, but eventually, the path opened up, and the next thing she knew, she had arrived at a clearing.

Yet, despite that, there was no sign of the girl.

The tracks, too, ended abruptly at her feet.

"Wha..." she muttered, in between heavy breaths, "Where did..."

She walked a bit further, in hopes of finding more clues to go on, but only found herself surrounded by dark, eerie woodland.

Her eyes darted from side to side.

She felt it again.

The gaze at the back of her neck.

It was close.

"Hey!" Hey voice trembled. "Are you there? Come out! You're lost, aren't you?"

There was no response.

The only thing she could hear was the canopy swaying lazily to the breeze above.

Unfazed, she tried again, "I'm Mika Picasso! Won't you tell me your name?"

But still, there was no response.

Is she gone?

No matter where she looked, each side was an indistinguishable cluster of trees and vines arrayed around her. Indeed, if it weren't for the trail marked by her and the girl's footsteps, she would have been lost herself.

Still, the eerie silence was getting to her, and she soon felt as if the forest was closing in on her.

She clutched her arms together to stifle the trembling in her body.

What am I even doing...?

Clearly, the girl did not wish to be found. When this thought finally crossed her mind, she threw her hands down in defeat.

However, just as she was to turn around and leave, the foliage right in front of her rustled.

She lifted her head, to the parting of a dense bush, out of which emerged a brown boot.

Ah!

In that instant, her eyes regained their glimmer.

But when she actually laid her eyes at the person before her, she instead shriveled in terror.

Calling it a 'person' may have been a misnomer. Its face certainly resembled, at least superficially, that of the girl. But more accurately, it resembled how she looked from afar.

Indeed, at that short distance, shallow contours formed the sparse details of its flattened face, almost like a picture stretched out over a ball.

"Eeek!" She shrieked.

As if that weren't enough, the figure approached, red cloak wisping in the breeze. Amidst this, its face and hair melted away like a grotesque ooze, splashing flesh onto the ground, though without any blood.

In her fright, the young woman stumbled backwards. But the moment she lost her balance, a shadow whipped over her eyes, blinding her as it violently clutched her head.

"Hic!"

And with great force, her neck then snapped sideways, letting out a loud crack that tingled the deepest part of her ear.

Alas, everything soon faded into an all-encompassing wash of black.

A young woman laid on the ground; her neck, twisted past its natural limits. By her feet stood two cloaked figures, looking over her lifeless body with indifference.

"Haah," one said, wearing a diagonally broken mask, "that went well, didn't it? Kiya."

Meanwhile, the other ran her fingers across her face and wiped off the remaining flesh, exposing her own mask - one that was split vertically. "With this, we can gain access to the Raffalian camp," she said, climbing down to one knee. She then peered out with an eye of deep amethyst, scanning the young lady's face.

"Make sure to get every detail right. There's no point in killing her if you're discovered anyway... Ah. No, we would have had to kill her either way, huh?"

She ran her hand across the girl's cheek and with her fingers, pulled open her eyelids, studying the even color and pattern on her iris. Satisfied, she then muttered, "I'm ready, Lady Aster."

Stepping spryly away, the first woman replied, "Go ahead."

With her permission, Kiya placed her other hand over her mask.

In but a moment, the otherwise solid material, halfway between wood and steel, melted beneath her fingers, turning into bubbling goo that stuck to her skin. Gradually, more and more of it gathered, shifting in form and color as she ran it across her face, and then all over her hair.

It sizzled as it reduced, solidifying once more and taking form. When it had finally simmered down, the mask, and the goo had disappeared. In its place, the Kiya's entire face was replaced with that of the woman on the ground. Her eyes, her mouth, her complexion, even her hair had transformed itself to match that of her 'subject'. And unlike the blurred image that was etched over her face earlier - this one was a high-resolution replica, accurate to the last eyelash.

"Hmm..." Aster inspected her face and, after a few moments, snickered, saying, "Good! No one will tell you apart! Now, you did learn her voice and mannerisms, right?"

She nodded, her now short, blonde hair bobbing with every moment, "Of course. Observing her these past several days, I have also come to understand her relation with this 'Philippe'. I believe I can use him to our advantage to further blend into the camp itself."

"Alright, now let's get you dressed!"

After divesting the girl of all her clothes, right down to the undergarments, Kiya stood in attention for a final inspection. The attire, as they had hoped, was a near-perfect fit; only being slightly loose around the chest, though tighter near the waist. And while her arms and legs were a bit darker than the girl's, the difference was small enough that it was hardly noticeable.

"Mm!" Aster nodded. "Great!"

It was at this point that a distant voice resounded in the air.

"Mika!" A man called out, "Hey, where d'you go? Okay, I'm sorry I took so long! I couldn't find anything to wipe and..."

"He's here." Kiya said, "I shall take my leave, Lady Aster."

"Yeah. We'll take care of the body, so good luck!"

She then saw her subordinate off as the latter stepped past the edge of the treeline and, finally, revealed her disguised self to her mark.

"Oh Mika!" The man's scream reverberated against the thick forest canopy. "Good grief, I was so worried...! I was starting to think something happened!"

A low tension simmered in Aster's blood as she overheard their conversation - with her subordinate pulling off an eerily convincing mimicry of the girl they had just disposed of.

"I thought I saw something moving in the woods while you were gone," Kiya replied, emphasizing her last couple of words, "But when I checked it out, it was only a wild animal." She then shrugged.

For a moment, the guy stared blankly at her, like he was trying to make something out.

The eavesdropper clutched her chest as though she was about to have a heart attack.

But soon enough, he was all smiles once more and, rubbing the back of his neck, he responded, "A-ahh... s-sorry, I guess...? Anyway, let's head back? I'm famished all of a sudden!"

"This, right after fouling your stomach on camp chowder? You don't know when to quit, do you?"

"Eeehehehe! You mean soup, right?"

"Whatever. Hurry up."

"Ahh, but that chowder the other day was ghastly, wasn't it?"

And thus, the pair walked off and returned to the Raffalian camp.

Immediately, a wave of relief washed Aster's anxious face as she, too, turned away.

Haaaah. Success... Well then, I guess we've got our own job to do.

Back at the clearing, three more cloaked entities were already carrying the dead body deeper into the forest, with one in particular holding over his shoulder a lightly rusted spade.

Okay, this side is taken care of. Since Kiya won’t be back for a while, I guess we’re infiltrating Easter’s fort the old-fashioned way!

Her lips widened into a toothy grin.

I can’t wait!