Sora no Revenge: Yuusha no Sho

Prelude

Prelude: The Calm Before the Storm

~~~

  February 9th, 2018 — London, England.

  Every morning at 5 o'clock, the young man goes training in the garden, at the rear of the mansion, to keep both his body and his mind in good shape. His name is Lightning Falcon, 4th heir of the Lightning family. It has already been 17 years since the first time he held a sword.

  After his graduation from the British Academy in summer 2010, Falcon joined the British Army as a soldier and became an official mage knight. It was considered as the strongest mage class and the most suitable for close-range fighting and long-period battles. 

  Gradually he has moved up the ranks over these past years: beginning from 12-man squad commander to 5000-man regiment commander. At his late twenties, he might be the first ever officer that was promoted to the rank of 'Colonel'. A born genius of war blessed by God himself.

  On account of his recent achievements from Nigeria, well-known to be one of the most hazardous countries though the world, British Army HQ ordered him to stay on the sidelines until further notice.

  Meanwhile, most soldiers have to keep their position on the battlefield to battle against terrorist groups and rebel factions. The Alliance tries to weaken enemy forces, by prolonging the campaign, so as to crush them in one blow. 

  However, this sort of plan requires financial and human resources. But the main problem concerns both the lack of experimented soldiers and the morale of the main forces. To train new recruits and make them real soldiers in a short time, they have to be prepared as well as physically as mentally once they have succeeded two years of intensive training. 

  Among thousands of volunteers who wish to be enlisted to the Alliance forces, only 1 out of 5 succeed at the final tests every year. In spite of that, about a hundred men commit mutilation or even suicide, owing to extremely hard living conditions at war and few permissions to come back home. If we also included those who bravely fell on the battlefield, it would be roughly equivalent to a battalion on the dead list.

  Since the year before, over four million people have been dramatically killed, plus thirty or so towns severely or completely devastated by war ravages. From the bottom of his heart, Falcon would like to prevent any unnecessary losses and to bring the war to a close, as soon as possible, by keeping fighting at the risk of his life for the sake of mankind.

  Therefore, the senior officer couldn't afford to waste his precious time to enjoy his life at his fullest in that period of crisis. Training laboriously every single day is, indeed, the fastest way to become stronger than he was before in order to protect people. No matter how long it takes, this dream will come true someday. That is what Falcon truly hopes for.

  [... 997... 998... 999...]

  Holding his sword straight, Falcon has been strinking consecutively and so fluidly in the air. 

  [... 1000 strikes!]

  The blond-haired genius finished his daily training and decided to take a little break. He called the two female servants who were standing over there. 

  The eldest maid with light blue hair approached first. She handed him over a warm towel with a bright smile. 

  [Good work, master! You are surely tired. You better need to wipe your face not to catch a cold.]