The Shards of War: Balancing Power

Chapter 77

TWO DAYS LATER

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Matsu calls Aria and she picks up, he asks how she's going and she says she's doing fine, but the training is kicking her ass. Matsu laughs and then asks how Illiyas is holding up and Aria is snickering as she says he's miserable. He has to pick up after the trainees and help all the new recruits learn how to aim and fie correctly, all without being able to get near them.

She laughs as she says that he also has to manually move around the targets they put up for practice and clean all the weapons so they look spotless.

Matsu listened intently as Aria's voice crackled through the phone line, her laughter echoing in the background. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction at the thought of Illiyas grappling with the mundane tasks of military training.

"Sounds like he's getting a taste of his own medicine," Matsu remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "But how's he handling it?"

Aria chuckled, the sound rough and tinged with bitterness. "Oh, he's not too happy about it, that's for sure. But he's tough, I'll give him that. Still, I don't think he expected this kind of punishment."

Matsu nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Well, he brought it upon himself," he said firmly. "Maybe this will give him some perspective."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Aria spoke again. "Yeah, maybe," she said quietly. "Anyway, enough about him. How are you holding up?"

Matsu sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm... managing," he admitted. "It's been a rough couple of days, but I'm trying to stay focused."

Aria's voice softened. "Hang in there, Matsu. You've been through worse. And hey, if you ever need someone to talk to, you know where to find me."

"Thanks, Aria," Matsu replied gratefully. "I appreciate it. Take care of yourself, alright?"

"You too, Matsu. You too."

With a click, the line went dead, leaving Matsu alone with his thoughts. Despite the challenges that lay ahead, he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope stirring within him. With each passing day, he was one step closer to finding peace and closure, not just for himself, but for those he cared about as well. And as he gazed out into the distance, he knew that no matter what trials awaited him, he would face them head-on, with courage and determination.

Then Calie gently took the phone from Matsu's hand, her touch warm and comforting as she leaned in closer to him. "You heard Aria," she said softly, her voice tinged with concern. "Illiyas is getting what he deserves. There's no point in worrying about him now."

Marie nodded in agreement, her expression serious as she reached out to gently poke Matsu's cheek. "She's right, Matsu," she chimed in. "You've been stressed enough as it is. Let's focus on taking care of you for a change."

Matsu sighed, feeling the weight of his exhaustion settling over him like a heavy blanket. He knew they were right, of course. Worrying about Illiyas wouldn't change anything. But old habits died hard, and the guilt still gnawed at him, no matter how much he tried to push it aside.