The answer to why the assistants were asked to take up arms was answered in a matter of days, when news came from a town farther away that people were choosing to oppose the royal family. In light of none of the heirs receiving silver hair and the things they did to supposedly remove them of the right, people were willing to take up arms against the descendants of gods. Seiko’s voices assured her, albeit coldly, that is was a useless endeavor.

Seiko maintained her work, and eventually the voices dulled enough that she could do the work well. They convinced her to play with the small knife she had been given, however, encouraging her to use the thing, quiet them down, then witness the blood and cause them to scream—she never quite realized it until a few of the servant girls would ask when she was cut.

Only a week after a threat against the royal family was confirmed, she found herself wandering into the training area under the voices’ suggestion. Seiko simply pulled out one of the training dummies, circling it and occasionally making a few aggressive stabs with her knife. She wasn’t needed at the moment—they were wary to let Prince Kyuru play outside, and Princess Maenomi’s new assistants practically replaced Seiko—so she didn’t expect to be interrupted.

Then came Lord Ozuru, and oddly enough her voices grew louder to make sure she knew he was present before a few of them fell silent. Seiko stopped, turned towards him, and bowed in respect. “I will leave this area to you, sir.”

“Stay for a minute, Tsujihara,” Lord Ozuru replied firmly.

Seiko waited obediently, although at first he just walked past her to get a weapon to train with.

“Do you have much experience fighting?” Lord Ozuru asked, never looking directly at her.

“No,” Seiko said. She turned towards him, watching as he picked up two spare bokken from a small box near one of the trees.

“Do you have any desire to fight?”

Her voices gave her the answer. “On occasion.”

Although Lord Ozuru turned towards her, he didn’t look at her. “Did Mikka ever give you a reason to fight?”

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“We’re an honest family,” Seiko replied calmly. She could guess what he was trying to get to, but he sounded accusatory. A few voices whispered negative comments about the regent. “There’s no reason for a daughter to take up arms, when there is no threat nearby and our needs are cared for suitably.”

Lord Ozuru didn’t make much of a comment, instead tossing her one of the wooden swords. Seiko caught it, albeit barely, and put her knife back in its little sheath. “I don’t think you’re much of an assistant,” Lord Ozuru told her firmly. He looked her in the eyes, albeit briefly before looking away again. “You have a certain strength to you—a fighting spirit. You have a reason to fight now, Tsujihara—in defense of the royal family. Show me if knowing that gives you any kind of skill.”

Seiko only nodded, and Lord Ozuru moved forward without hesitation. As soon as there was a threat, her voices grew louder and she wasn’t quite aware of what she was doing. Lord Ozuru swung at her, she responded by stepping away and retaliated. He hadn’t been prepared for a reasonable fight, it seemed, because she actually drew blood from him fairly quickly. It only made the voices louder.

After a few minutes, Lord Ozuru make a quick stab at Seiko, the first time he had drawn blood from her after he had a few small cuts. He caught her left arm, and the pain made her wince. She dropped the bokken before she had a chance to look at the blood, the voices growing silent during the pain but screaming when she did glance at the blood.

“For a beginner,” Lord Ozuru said, almost laughing, “That was impressive. Greater than impressive, even. What did Mikka put you through, that you fight so harshly?”

“Mikka is quite kind to me,” Seiko replied defensively.

“I assume she’s married by now. What of her husband, then?”

“Kyou Ujuro is the same.”

Lord Ozuru laughed again. “Given your performance, I somehow doubt it. There’s something…manicabout you, Tsujihara Seiko—more than I thought at first. A normal man would send you back home in an instant.”

“And you won’t?” Seiko asked curiously.

“I assume Mikka sent you here for a reason, and I won’t stop that from happening,” Lord Ozuru mused. He smiled coldly. “And besides, we need fighters. You’re too good at that to pass up.”

Although Seiko herself wasn’t sure of the praise, all of the voices agreed. Yes, you’re quite amazing. You’re very strong. Very stubborn. A beautiful, broken soldier.

You are perfect.

Lord Ozuru interrupted the voices before they could say more. Rather casually, he went to where the spare weapons were, picked up one of the cloths, and wiped down his blade. “Maenomi needs another guard; watch over her, even when you’re not feeling well. If there’s a battle, however, I expect to see you front and center—I want to see you here every morning until then, training. You will be the one to end this little war; I know it.”

He put his katana down among the other weapons, then turned to her and smiled coldly. “I trust that won’t be a problem, Tsujihara Seiko?”

The voices gave their answer instead of letting her use her own words. “No, of course not. I will fight, Lord Ozuru.”