Each One's Desires
As late night fell, the streetlamp light filtered through the kitchen window of the major's home. In her small kitchen, the sound of a knife chopping on a cutting board echoed a few times. Soon, Sophie added the chopped ingredients to the pot, tasted them with a ladle, and broke into a satisfied smile.
'This should be good enough...?' It wasn't like before, when she could throw in all sorts of ingredients. But inside the barrier, things had stabilized enough now.
Beyond the kitchen door, in the living room, Bell slept curled up on the sofa. She must have been exhausted, snoring softly. Sophie listened to the sound with quiet pleasure as she added the prepped ingredients to the pot.
That's when a soft knock came from the front door—two light raps—and a small hologram window popped up from the optical particle network terminal in the kitchen. It was the one downside Sophie noted about living in the military officers' quarters, despite all its perks. After the Aria network's reintroduction, they'd preemptively installed the optical particle networks everywhere.
The hologram window appeared quickly, but Sophie tucked the pistol from the dining table into her back pocket and peered out the side window by the door. She was one of those who still needed time to fully trust Aria.
Outside the window stood a familiar figure: a middle-aged man with a sharp jawline that belied his age and a stern, edged impression. Sophie opened the door right away.
"Please come in, Brigadier General."
Jack handed her the juice pouch he'd been holding as he took in Sophie, apron and all. She accepted it with a faint smile at her superior's habit of always bringing something.
"Yeah. Sorry for showing up at a lady's place alone again. My apologies."
"You always say that. Please, come in."
"Makes me feel ashamed, since it seems like you do this every time you're on leave."
As the brigadier general scratched his nose, Sophie suppressed a laugh and replied softly.
"Hehe, then make some friends, Brigadier General."
"Getting older makes it hard to make friends, you know."
"You're just making excuses because you're getting older."
Brigadier General Jack William and Sophie traded words as if it were routine. She didn't mind these visits where he came to vent after handling work alone during her leaves. If anything, it meant she was a trusted adjutant. And deep down, she found his actions endearingly cute.
Jack paused just past the entryway when he spotted the living room sofa. There was Bell, curled up at the end, asleep. Her damp hair hadn't fully dried, and half her face was buried in the sofa corner. He muttered under his breath at the comical sight.
"Bell's here, huh. I figured she'd be at the management bureau."
"You've finally come for a housewarming."
"Ha—never even crossed my mind."
The brigadier general chuckled cynically, but his gaze lingered on Bell. She hadn't said a word to him lately, but seeing her sleep so obliviously was still cute, even to him. Yet that's why he stood frozen.
A flicker of hesitation crossed his face. Sophie caught it, turned, and smiled at him.
"Coming here this late, knowing I'm on leave... means you've got a lot to vent about, right?"
Jack pulled his eyes away and nodded.
"She looks fast asleep, so don't worry—just say what you need and go."
"Wouldn't want to wake her and have her see my face."
"Looks like even you aren't as fearless as you seem, Brigadier General."
Sophie gave him a reassuring look at his worried eyes and led him to the kitchen table. Jack quietly pulled out a chair, sat, and set down the documents from his arms.
"Related reports. On Lieutenant Ri and the recon platoon incident."
"That came out fast."
"Yeah. Everyone from the barriers was paying attention."
Sophie removed her apron and sat. Jack handed her the report and continued.
"Autopsy showed no anomalies beyond Dist gunfire. Ruled as a typical ambush."
Sophie nodded as she flipped pages.
"...So it'll just get buried like that."
"Yeah. Intelligence Analysis Department is pushing to increase external recon drone numbers."
"Oh, Stein'll be thrilled—more work for Tech Management."
Sophie let out a small chuckle.
"That guy's happy only when he does what he wants. He'll probably be pissed about making useless drones right now."
"Speaking of, that could get awkward. Isn't this great for the Intelligence Analysis Department?"
Jack smirked at Sophie's sharp question.
"Exactly. They're already acting like the real power in the management bureau. They won't miss a chance like this. Oversight? They'll laugh it off."
"And the Guard seems even more aligned with them now."
Sophie feigned worry, and Jack, watching her closely, lifted a second sheet.
"Don't worry too much. If they cross the line, I won't stay quiet."
Even past fifty, the brigadier general exuded a sharp, youthful edge. He was still like a proud lone wolf—perfectly matching his White Wolf moniker. Sophie smiled warmly.
"Don't push yourself. Oh, this document..."
Sophie paused on a page marked Recurrence Prevention Measures. Jack's immediate scoff came.
"Useless desk-jockey bullshit, worthless in the field."
Sophie scanned the documents at length. Drafts filled with the Intelligence Analysis Department's future plans, demanding one-sided "cooperation" from the tech barrier city Omotenashi for scientific support. She shook her head.
It's really gotten so peaceful. The absurd thought that they had the luxury for power struggles flitted through her mind.
Sophie quickly gathered the finished stack and handed it back. As Jack took it, anger surged; he crumpled the papers.
"Rice-bowl fights even now... Fucking lunatics."
Jack's hand began to warp, veins and joints twisting like a wolf's paw. Sharp claws shredded the report, and he exhaled, reverting his hand to human form.
"My apologies. Ugly sight."
Sophie shook her head.
"No, I like wolves."
Her capable yet occasionally silly response cleared Jack's complicated thoughts a bit.
"Can't imagine what I'd do if you'd left the adjutant post too."
Sophie gazed quietly at him. Beneath his firm tone lay the helplessness of an adult.
"I'll always help you."
Jack chuckled dryly and nodded. Sophie pointed to the torn report.
"Just help me clean this up, then."
"...Sure."
As Jack bent to gather the pieces, Sophie leaned down too and asked,
"Not staying for dinner?"
"Don't wanna see Bell wake up and chase me off. I've vented enough anyway."
The brigadier general's face had relaxed.
Lumen Guard Operations Command, central conference room.
The heavy door sealed shut, holograms flickered to life around the room, and the meeting began in earnest. At the head of the table, the Supreme Commander scanned reports with a blank expression. His gaze alone tensed the air.
General Hasel spoke first.
"Operation results confirm Fraction forces' mobility and response time exceed regular army by over 17%."
He glanced at the Supreme Commander before continuing.
"Your judgment was sound, sir. We wrapped up the key engagement with minimal losses."
The Supreme Commander stared at him slowly, expression unchanged. Just the look made Hasel flinch. He knew better than anyone how the Supreme Commander swept away Dists.
"Losses."
An officer behind Director Annet muttered lowly.
"Nearly twenty dead. Some of them..."
"Regular army would've piled up more bodies," General Hasel cut in firmly. "Field judgment, decision speed, survival rates—all in the numbers."
The officer's face twisted. Phenex Cristel, Intelligence Analysis Department's deputy director observing, spoke up.
"Everyone knows Hasel's troops are elite. Pointless to say it."
His voice was cold as ice. Eyes turned to him. Despite his title, Phenex was young, with blue-tinted hair and a sly, ever-smiling impression that hid his thoughts. If asked who embodied the department, it'd be him.
Phenex tapped his terminal, projecting a hologram, then tossed it to the center.
"Pre-op, oddity in security core access logs. Tracking the user, but they're a pro—hard to pin."
The room chilled instantly. Yet Phenex continued casually.
"Worried there's an internal force threatening the barriers."
Someone spoke.
"No chance it's your department's fault? You control all comms analysis."
Phenex raised a brow, then replied smoothly.
"Fair point. We admit shortcomings. So..."
He paused, glancing at the Supreme Commander, then stated clearly.
"As per the countermeasures report: expand drone deployment, activate surveillance if needed. Safely, through Aria."
Jack glared sharply. Phenex flinched briefly but smiled back leisurely.
"Why not rename it Surveillance Department outright?"
Jack sniped, and barrier reps murmured. Exactly—empowering one department in the military management bureau, especially intel, felt uncomfortable.
Then the Supreme Commander spoke.
"Amusing words, Deputy Director Phenex."
His massive frame and presence were overwhelming.
"Talking like there's a traitor inside."
Short words, but laced with freezing pressure. His glare at Phenex was like a beast poised to pounce, air shifting around him.
Phenex, unexpectedly pressed, opened his mouth steadily.
"Misunderstanding, sir. Aria's a public info system—accessible to barrier heads. Sharing intel we handle exclusively will preempt threats, rationally investigate suspects."
He added adeptly,
"It'll help you greatly too, sir."
The Supreme Commander still looked displeased.
"Enemies are always external. No time to suspect internals—analyze intel to kill one more Dist."
Jack was surprised by the rejection but agreed here. Silence fell.
General Hasel smirked at Phenex and spoke.
"Then, sir, shall we formally table Fraction force expansion?"
"Compile and report. Review by week's end. And Deputy Director Phenex—compile yours too."
As Hasel and Phenex's fortunes crossed again, the Supreme Commander turned to Rain Code barrier chief Innocent Remar.
"Rain Code Chief Remar. Given the situation, quash those protests fast."
Rain Code. A specific religion was protesting there, claiming military suppression of faith. Remar had dragged on resolving it for months.
Jack glanced at Remar, who bowed politely with a kindly face.
After the incidents, Lumen Guard buzzed. Access checks tightened subtly, recon drones doubled patrolling the skies. Two weeks passed.
Under gray skies threatening rain, the memorial park teemed with bereaved families. Twenty dead—the most since total war.
Front-row families sobbed; comrades clenched eyes after laying wreaths; uniformed officials bowed silently, offering flowers.
But no family before Siarin's tombstone. No relatives qualified her for a proxy successor. The bitterness hit Bell again.
Today, she wore winter duty fatigues, not her black proxy coat. Beside her stood Major Sophie Marso. As the ceremony ended, Bell headed straight for Siarin's stone.
Ri Siarin. The name carved in black granite. No family, no kin—just colleagues leaving simple flowers.
Bell laid her flower and turned with Sophie to descend the park.
'If I die, who'll come besides Sophie... and Brigadier General Jack?'
As they walked silently, the thought crossed her mind.
Clack-clack.
Heels approached from the opposite side, near Siarin's grave. Curious who, Bell turned slowly—and regretted it instantly.
Black coat, neatly groomed golden hair. Eligos Caliela stood there.
Eligos placed a single white flower before the stone, sensed the gaze, turned—and locked eyes with Bell.
Proper place or not, she wouldn't rush over for madness, but she stared at Bell with that repulsive smile.
Bell stared back piercingly, then whipped her head away, fleeing in thought.
Unwanted memories crept in, soaking her mind. But this time was different.
She sliced them off sharply. Gripped Sophie's hand tighter.
'Can't ruin more. No more regrets.'