《The War of Left and Right》


 Chapter 1: Where Everything Started

    ''Where Everything Started''


    Day 1, 14:27


    The sun stood high in the sky, its golden rays filtering through the canopy of slender birch trees, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. In the heart of the birch forest, where the trees gave way to a small, open clearing, an old wooden house stood. Weathered and quaint, it looked like it had witnessed countless seasons, its wooden planks darkened by time and elements.


    Outside the house, in the middle of the clearing, a young adult girl in worn, light green clothes was deep in concentration, practicing her magic skills. She was not an ordinary girl, but a Gorgineh¡ªan anthropomorphic wolf with an air of both mystery and power, (as all inhabitants of these lands were the same kind of creature). Her fur, pristine and white, glimmered softly in the sunlight. Tall and lithe, she moved with the grace of a predator, every motion fluid and precise.


    Her ears, pointed and alert, twitched at the slightest sound, while her eyes, a mesmerizing shade of powder blue, remained closed, focused on her task. A long, bushy tail, covered in the same white fur, swayed gently behind her. As she raised her hands, delicate but strong, a blue aura of light began to form around her. The light pulsated gently, enveloping her in a serene glow that contrasted with the earthy tones of the forest.


    She stood there, in the magical cocoon of light, embodying a perfect blend of human and wolf-like features. The blue aura flickered and danced around her, casting an otherworldly glow over the clearing, as if the very air was charged with her magical energy.


    As she was in deep focus, another Gorgineh with light gray fur emerged from the woods. His name was ¨¹lven. At twenty years old, he wore a sky blue T-shirt and black shorts, and his eyes gleamed with a mix of worry and determination. In his hand, he clutched a freshly hunted rabbit.


    As he approached the girl, he kept a safe distance from the shimmering blue aura that enveloped her. He called out, his voice urgent, but filled with an underlying warmth.


    "Sefidan. Sefidan!"


    Sefidan had closed her eyes the whole time, her focus entirely on her magical practice. The noise from the aura drowned out ¨¹lven''s voice, rendering it inaudible. Growing more concerned, ¨¹lven moved closer, reaching out to touch her shoulder.


    The moment of contact was explosive. A sharp electric shock surged through his hand, disrupting the aura and sending both of them flying back. They landed on the forest floor, coughing and disoriented.


    Sefidan''s eyes blazed with a mix of surprise and anger as she struggled to catch her breath.


    "What the hell were you thinking?!"


    ¨¹lven''s frustration was palpable as he retorted, trying to steady himself.


    "You were blind and deaf! How did you expect me to get your attention?!"


    Her voice was sharp, tinged with irritation.


    "I''ve told you to not interfere when I''m practicing magic!"


    ¨¹lven''s eyes narrowed, his voice rising with exasperation.


    "What if Revia was in my place, Hm? Do you intend to kill us?!"


    Sefidan glared at him, her annoyance bubbling over.


    "You siblings always interrupt my works!"


    With a look of sheer aggravation, ¨¹lven''s voice dropped to a stern whisper.


    "Shut up, Sefidan. Just shut up."


    Sefidan stood up, brushing the dust off her clothes before extending a hand to help ¨¹lven to his feet. As she pulled him up, her expression softened slightly, but her voice remained firm.


    "By the way, you don''t have the right to talk to me like that. I''m five years older than you."


    ¨¹lven looked away, his ears flattening slightly in submission. "Sorry. Cousin."


    Sefidan stood directly in front of him, placing her hands on his shoulders, her eyes locking onto his with a mix of authority and concern.


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    "You and your sister are your mother''s entrusted to me."


    ¨¹lven''s frustration bubbled to the surface as he responded, his voice rising. "But I''m right. I do everything for us three in order to survive, while you do nothing."


    Sefidan''s gaze hardened. "I take care of you."


    ¨¹lven shook his head, his voice thick with defiance. "I don''t need your protection."


    Her expression softened, but her tone was resolute. "Maybe you don''t, but she does. Even you, yeah, you too. You need me in order to survive. You don''t have the skills to even light a candle."


    ¨¹lven''s eyes flashed with irritation. "There is no need for magic while there is science. It''s dangerous, and what happened just now is a good example of that. Besides, the furless ones track down all mages and terminate them. I... I''m worried."


    Sefidan''s expression softened slightly as she placed a hand on his cheek. "Don''t. It all happens on the east coast. There''s no such a thing that they would just attack a thousand farsakhs inside the holy lands."


    ¨¹lven sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. "I hope so."


    Sefidan pointed at the rabbit hanging from ¨¹lven''s hand. "Now, take that home and prepare it. I''ll bring firewood once I''m done with practicing."


    ¨¹lven nodded and began to walk towards the house. At that moment, Revia, his four-year-old sister, burst out of the house, running towards him with joy. She hugged him tightly and then pulled back, her eyes sparkling with excitement.


    "Brother, look what I can do!"


    Revia opened the palm of her hand and began to focus intently. For several seconds, she stared at her palm with unwavering concentration. ¨¹lven and Sefidan watched her with a mix of confusion and curiosity. Suddenly, a tiny spark of flame ignited in her palm, flickering briefly before extinguishing.


    Both ¨¹lven and Sefidan exchanged looks of surprise. ¨¹lven looked at Sefidan as his expression turned into a frown. Sefidan immediately interjected.


    "I swear I didn''t teach her."


    ¨¹lven sighed and gently took Revia''s hand. "Come on, let''s go inside."


    They went in. As Sefidan was left alone, she resumed her magic practice. Suddenly, a sense of unease washed over her. She looked up quickly, scanning the sky. Formations of large and smaller aircraft were flying overhead, unlike anything she had ever seen. She stared at them with wonder and confusion for several seconds. Birds? But they didn''t flap their wings. And they were so loud.


    Realization dawned on her, and a surge of fear coursed through her veins. They were here! What she had feared was now happening. Knowing their intent, she quickly dissipated the magic aura. But it was too late. The humans had already detected the supernatural activity. One of the aircraft, an attack plane, separated from the formation and dived towards her.


    Sefidan had cheated death on several occasions, but this time it felt different. The chances of surviving an encounter with a plane armed with a 28mm autocannon seemed slim. She froze, her feet glued to the ground out of terror, as the black, bird-like machine approached.


    Inside the house, ¨¹lven sat at the table, expertly skinning the rabbit. Unaware of the impending disaster, he spoke calmly to Revia, who sat on the table, swinging her legs.


    "Look, Revia. Magic is dangerous. It has the power to harm and destroy. I don''t want to lose you."


    "But I just..."


    "Never do magic again, okay? Promise me."


    "It''s called ''performing'', not doing."


    "That''s not important. I need you to promise me."


    Revia remained silent, her eyes downcast. ¨¹lven repeated softly but firmly.


    "Promise me."


    Suddenly, a deafening noise erupted from outside. The rapid, explosive shells of the attack plane''s autocannon hit the ground with a terrifying rhythm, each impact sending shockwaves through the air. The ground shook violently, and the sound of the shells tearing through the earth was like a monstrous roar. After the barrage, the plane roared away, its engines screaming as it ascended back into the sky.


    Revia uttered a yelp, her small body trembling with fear. ¨¹lven, though equally frightened, tried to remain calm for her sake. "W-wait here," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos. He ran to the door, flinging it open and stepping outside.


    The scene before him was a nightmare. The once peaceful clearing was now a landscape of devastation. The ground was torn apart, craters and debris scattered everywhere, mixed with the dark stain of blood. But it was the sight of Sefidan''s body, torn apart by the blast, that made ¨¹lven''s stomach churn. He fell to his knees, retching, his mind a whirlwind of horror and disbelief.


    As he struggled to regain his composure, he heard the aircraft again. He looked up just in time to see it fly over the house and drop an incendiary bomb. There was no time to react, no chance to save his little sister. The house exploded in a fiery inferno, the force of the blast throwing ¨¹lven backwards.


    Lying on the ground, he watched in helpless despair as the house burned, flames consuming the last remnants of his family. The possessions, the memories, and Revia¡ªall turned to ash and dust, carried away by the wind. The flames reflected in ¨¹lven''s eyes, a haunting image of his loss.


    Weakly, he stood up, his body trembling. He looked up at the sky, watching the aircraft that had taken everything from him fly away to rejoin the formation. Rage and grief welled up inside him, and he screamed at the planes, his voice raw with pain and fury...


    To Be Continued¡­

 Chapter 2: Prelude to War

    2 Days Ago¡­


    ''Prelude to War''


    3rd Lt. Sevilay ''''Shahrbanu'''' Harrison


    Confederation of Yollka Allied Sky Force


    Inside a bustling military airbase, human officers walked and talked in the corridors, their footsteps echoing off the sterile, white walls. Sitting on a waiting bench in the corridor was a 22-year-old female pilot, her nerves evident in every movement. She repeatedly bounced her leg, the restless motion betraying her stress. Her fingers drummed lightly against the bench, a silent cadence to her mounting anxiety.


    Her brown eyes flicked to the clock on the wall, watching as the seconds ticked away, each one dragging her closer to 18 o''clock. She sighed, looking away, trying to distract herself from the impending moment. The walls bore cheerful decorations, with a banner proclaiming ''Welcome 100,000!'' and another stating ''Happy New Year!''


    The seconds slipped by, and finally, the clock showed exactly 18 o''clock. At that precise moment, the door of the briefing room swung open, and a junior officer stepped out, his expression neutral yet professional.


    "Shahrbanu."


    She didn''t hear him, as she was rubbing her left eye.


    ''''Shahrbanu!'''' The officer said again.


    She straightened up immediately, her heart racing. "Yes."


    "Please come in."


    Stepping into the briefing room, the young pilot found herself facing a long black rectangular table. Chairs were arranged along both lengths of the table, with another chair placed at one end, opposite a large screen. The room was filled with the quiet hum of conversation, which ceased as she entered.


    She glanced at the officers seated at the table, her eyes tracing the insignia on their shoulder epaulettes. Each one bore higher ranks than hers¡ªtwo captains, a major, and even a second brigadier general standing by the screen. The junior officer who had called her inside, left by the order of the general officer. Now the young pilot was left with four people in the briefing room. There wasn''t a single lieutenant among them, let alone a third lieutenant like herself. She felt a mix of awe and anxiety as she realized the weight of the company she was keeping.


    Her gaze drifted around the room, taking in the details¡ªthe stern faces, the crisp uniforms, the air of authority that filled the space. She was momentarily distracted by the magnitude of the situation, her mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead.


    "Third Lieutenant..." the general officer called.


    She didn''t reply. She was still looking around, unaware that he was calling her.


    "Third Lieutenant Shahrbanu!" he called again, this time with more emphasis.


    Shahrbanu quickly turned to face the general and snapped to attention, saluting crisply. "Yes, sir!"


    He nodded slightly. "Take a seat."


    She moved to the end of the table and began to pull out the chair. Just as she was about to sit down, the commander''s voice cut through the room.


    "No. That''s the lieutenant colonel''s place."


    "Oh... Sorry, sir. I just thought... Okay, where''s my place?" she stammered, feeling a flush of embarrassment.


    The brigadier sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. A female pilot, the major, gestured to an empty seat. "Over there."


    Shahrbanu nodded, quickly moving to the indicated chair and sitting down next to a male pilot with glasses, a captain. He greeted her with saying a warm welcome. She thanked. The brigadier looked around the room.


    "Alright?"


    "Yeah," everyone responded in unison.


    "Where is Adder?" the general officer asked, his tone slightly impatient.


    The major replied, "Sir, he said he''s coming."


    Shahrbanu rubbed her left eye again.


    Suddenly, the door opened, and a male pilot in his mid-30s strolled into the briefing room, casually munching on a chocolate wafer.


    "Evening, sir," he said nonchalantly, heading straight for his seat. The commander, however, stopped him in his tracks.


    "Evening, sir? Who do I look like, Adder? Your teacher?!"


    "I''m sorry, sir, okay? There..."


    Adder slowly snapped to attention and saluted. The general stepped closer, peering into Adder''s eyes.


    "Have you been drinking?"


    "No, sir."


    The commander''s gaze shifted to the wafer in Adder''s hand.


    "Give me that."


    "No. I paid for this."


    "I said give me that!"


    Adder shrugged and bit the last remaining piece of the wafer, then handed the empty wrapper to the general officer. The brigadier''s face reddened with anger as he whispered furiously,


    "Go sit down!"


    "Sir," Adder replied sarcastically before sauntering to his seat.


    Shahrbanu asked the captain:


    ¡®¡¯Who¡¯s that?¡¯¡¯


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    The captain whispered:


    ¡®¡¯He¡¯s our squadron leader. Call sign, Adder.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Oh.¡¯¡¯


    Adder took a look at the room. A new face caught his eye. He looked at Shahrbanu¡¯s shoulder epaulette and smirked.


    "Oh, great. A lieutenant. Besides, a third one!"


    The major chimed in, her tone light but pointed.


    "Yeah. She even tried to sit at your place."


    Adder raised an eyebrow. "Did she?"


    Shahrbanu wasn''t paying attention to the conversation at first. She was busy rubbing her eye again. But upon the realization of her being the center of attention, she quickly spoke up, her voice a mix of embarrassment and defense.


    "No. I just thought the order of the sitting was-"


    The commander''s voice cut through the room, sharp and commanding.


    "Enough!"


    A heavy silence settled over the room. Second Brigadier General Sauvage took a deep breath before continuing.


    "Okay. Now since everyone is here, shall we begin?"


    "Yes," Adder replied, his tone almost flippant.


    "First of all, I congratulate your new year. I am Second Brigadier General Sauvage."


    Adder interrupted, his impatience evident. "We know who you are. Just tell us our mission so we can go. I''m out of wafer."


    "Adder!!" The brigadier''s tone was one of warning.


    "Okay..." Adder muttered.


    Sauvage pointed at Shahrbanu, his expression serious.


    "Anyways. Today we have a new pilot officer joining the brigade. Third Lieutenant Sevilay Harrison. Her call sign is ''''Shahrbanu''''. She is the top graduate of her country''s Air Force Academy. Now she will serve for the Continent. Shahrbanu, allow me to introduce your new group... Allied Sky Force 707th Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance Squadron. Named, ''Ekrezhdon''. Look carefully at your comrades. Most of them are ex-fighter pilots."


    Shahrbanu scanned the room, her eyes falling on the other pilots. The captain beside her had his elbow on the table, his head resting on his hand as he stared at Shahrbanu with an intense, almost curious look. When Shahrbanu¡¯s gaze met his, he quickly shifted his eyes to another place, avoiding her. The other captain was snoozing. Adder and the female major were winking at each other and speaking in inaudible way.


    The general officer continued, "Don''t let their some... specific behaviors fool you. They are the best our brigade has to offer."


    Turning back to Shahrbanu, he said, "From now on, your role in the squadron is ''Ekrezhdon Five''. You will do exactly as you are told by your superiors. Clear?"


    "Yes, sir!" Shahrbanu responded with determination.


    "Good."


    He then addressed the whole room, "Everyone listen up! Upon the request of the locals, The Confederation has ordered Allied Armed Forces to send regiments of Ground, Ocean, and Sky Units to the northern territories, where a new anarchist movement has emerged, spearheaded by a cultist group. Their damaging and divisive ideology is spreading quickly. If not dealt with promptly, they will cause serious problems in the region, blah, blah, blah..."


    Shahrbanu raised her hand, her voice tentative. "I have a question."


    Commander Sauvage glanced at her, his tone sharp. "Did I ask you if you had one?"


    Shahrbanu¡¯s face fell, and she quickly lowered her hand. The brigadier continued, his voice commanding.


    "The strategic airlifters will depart at 20:30. The end. Dismissed. Move your asses!" he barked, as if shooing a flock of chickens.


    All the pilots stood up. The captain sitting next to Shahrbanu leaned in, his eyes gleaming with interest as he whispered, "See ya outside..."


    Shahrbanu noticed her bootlace was loose. She quickly kneeled to re-tie it while the captain and other pilots walked towards the exit. From the back of the room, Sauvage''s authoritative voice rang out,


    "Lieutenant Colonel..."


    Adder stopped and turned around, a slight smirk playing on his lips. The general officer''s eyes narrowed as he said, "Meet me in my office in 10 minutes."


    Without a word, Adder''s smirk faded, and he left. Shahrbanu hurriedly tied her bootlace, her fingers fumbling with the laces as a sense of FOMO gnawed at her. She didn''t want to be left behind, especially in a room with someone she was uncomfortable with. After securing her bootlace, Shahrbanu stood up and started towards the door. Just as she was about to leave, Commander Sauvage''s voice stopped her in her tracks.


    "Third Lieutenant..."


    Shahrbanu¡¯s heart raced as she stammered, "Y-yes sir."


    "Come closer," the general ordered, his tone firm but not unkind.


    Shahrbanu panicked internally, but she maintained her composure, anxiously approaching the commander. The general officer gestured for her to come closer, stopping her just a meter away. Shahrbanu stood where Sauvage wanted her to, her nerves on edge. He looked directly into her eyes, his gaze scrutinizing. Her right eye was normal, while her left eye was slightly red.


    Commander Sauvage''s eyes narrowed slightly. "Hm. Your eye is red."


    Shahrbanu¡¯s voice wavered, trying to sound composed. "Y-yes sir. Maybe I have rubbed it too much, sir."


    The general''s expression softened. He extended his hand to Shahrbanu, his voice unexpectedly kind. "Welcome to the 66th Air Brigade, Third Lieutenant."


    Shahrbanu stared at the commander¡¯s hand for a moment, then quickly shook it. "Oh- Yes, yes sir, thank you. I won''t let you down."


    The general officer''s tone turned stern once more. "Not me. The Confederation."


    Shahrbanu nodded quickly. "Got it."


    She saluted, then left upon Sauvage''s permission. Outside the room, the captain was waiting, his posture relaxed.


    Shahrbanu closed the door, then asked, "You were waiting for me?"


    The captain''s gaze was steady, and he replied, "Actually, yes."


    "What is it?" Shahrbanu asked, curiosity piqued.


    Then realization dawned on her, and she remembered the hierarchy. "Oh! I completely forgot... Sir."


    The captain chuckled softly, his tone friendly. "Be comfortable, please. I will not play the superior-inferior game with you."


    Shahrbanu nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. "I understand."


    The captain looked at Shahrbanu¡¯s eye with concern. "Are you okay? Your eye is red."


    Shahrbanu blinked rapidly. "Oh, don''t mind it. It''s spring allergens, I think."


    ¡®¡¯Okay,¡¯¡¯ the captain nodded. ¡®¡¯I¡¯m ¨ªntegro. I saw how the others treated you. Maybe we can be friends? I will watch your back on the ground and in the air."


    Shahrbanu smiled slightly. "Thank you, captain."


    As they were talking in the corridor, the female major brushed past Shahrbanu, intentionally bumping to her. "Oh, sorry," she said, then continued on her way. ¨ªntegro turned back to Shahrbanu.


    "Don''t worry. They already like you."


    Shahrbanu furrowed her brow. "What can you tell me about her? Is she an ex-fighter pilot too?"


    "No," ¨ªntegro replied. ¡®¡¯Her call sign is Blaze. She used to fly a hypersonic bomber.¡¯¡¯


    "Hypersonic bomber?" Shahrbanu echoed, surprised.


    "Yup. Men of her family lineage had been bomber pilots for six generations. Each generation had only one child. Now it''s her turn to follow their path.''''


    He leaned forward and said in low tone:


    ''''You''re no stranger now. Rumor has it that her great grandfather was the one flying the infamous bomber, which dropped the atomic bomb on Aigroya Town decades ago."


    "My town..." Shahrbanu¡¯s voice trailed off, her eyes widening.


    "I''m sorry. I didn''t know," ¨ªntegro said softly. "But don''t let this affect your relationship. Remember, we''re all on the same side here, and of course she''s a major. Which means¡ª"


    He stopped talking and tapped under his eye twice, signaling to Shahrbanu that something was not normal with her eye.


    Shahrbanu touched her left eye and felt it was wet. She blinked several times and said, "Excuse me. I need to go."


    "Okay. Don''t forget. We''ll depart soon."


    "Got it."


    Shahrbanu left, walking down the corridor with a hurried pace, her hand harshly rubbing her left eye in frustration. She made her way to the bathroom, glancing around to ensure no one noticed her discomfort.


    Entering the bathroom, she quickly moved to stand in front of the mirror. "Damn it..." she whispered under her breath. She glanced around the bathroom, making sure she was alone ¡ªor so she thought¡ª before washing her fingertips thoroughly. With a nervous glance at the door, she approached her index finger to her left eye and carefully removed the brown contact lens, revealing her natural blue eye. Bending over the sink, she rinsed her eye with water.


    Just as she finished, she heard a noise. Shahrbanu immediately straightened up and looked toward the toilet stalls'' doors, her heart pounding. Convinced she was still alone, she took out a contact lens case from her pocket and opened it. She carefully took out another brown lens and placed it on her left eye. After ensuring it was securely in place, she closed the case and put it back in her pocket.


    Shahrbanu moved to a small litter bin by the exit door, her back turned to one of the stalls. Unbeknownst to her, the door of the stall opened slightly, and someone observed her discreetly disposing of the old lens in the bin. Without looking back, Shahrbanu left the bathroom.


    As the door swung shut behind her, the person who had been spying on her, stepped out of the stall and walked over to the litter bin. She opened it by pressing her foot on its pedal and looked in it. By seeing what there was inside, she smiled. She was Blaze, the major...