Chapter 6: Chapter 6: The “Good” bad news.

The town center was full of families all nervous by the sudden appearance of the Imperial army in their small secluded village. It was rarely a good sign for any small settlement to get a visit from imperial forces. At the head of the crowd standing on a makeshift platform stood Captain Takeda, a look of delight at the amount of people this small village had.

 

Captain Takeda was the complete opposite of most of the men in the village; he was tall and lanky, the complete opposite of their outdoorsmen bulky builds. This didn’t mean the Captain was weak; he was well trained if one were to look at how he carried himself alone.

 

“Good evening, loyal citizens of the empire!” he smiled showing his large white teeth “I’m sure many of you are wondering why we had you all come out here in the middle of the night, but I promise that is indeed good news for you all not at all grave news. So please relax. My name is Captain Takeda from the Imperial army of the Sato empire. Specifically the rangers division.”

 

The tension in the air didn’t disperse despite his words of assurance which he promptly decided to ignore. “Today, I am here to inform you that the empire finds itself on the brink of a bloody conflict with a rival nation. We are here for two reasons, one a draft of all able-bodied men throughout the empire are to report to join the imperial armed forces” before the news could sink in he continued “secondly is that we are to find promising youth to be enrolled into the imperial academy at the capital” revealing a big happy smile he looked at the frowning faces and listened to the murmurs between the various villagers his face twitched slightly at the lack of reaction “what?!? Do none of you desire to serve honorably in the Emperor’s army?”

 

Not a single sound from the crowd was uttered as the news settled in on them, this declaration was supposedly ‘good news’ and forced conscription was never ‘good news’. The Imperial army only did such things when they expected a particularly long, bloody, and brutal conflict.

 

Captain Takeda pinched the bridge of his nose. I really hate this damned job he thought to himself. “Alright if there are no questions…will all men sixteen years, but no older than fifty please go to the left and register with Lieutenant Kim. We ask you all not to make this too difficult and I would highly recommend considering signing up for the ranger division that I will be heading up.”

 

Kijuro signed to himself he was worried ever since the news of the conflict was brewing that this would happen, but he never imagined they would come so far out to the outer reaches of the empire to conscript. He knew that one day the empire would turn its eyes towards Naebashi; it was impossible for it to remain unnoticed forever. The fact they went this long with more and more merchants coming every year was shocking the local regional Lord didn’t exert his influence on the village let alone the empire who wasn’t fond of letting settlements go without taxation for so long.

 

Turning to his daughter he looked down at the nervous girl and knelt down to her eye level staring into his eyes that were like oceans. “Rize” he said gently.

 

“Yes papa?” she said as the words of the Captin began to make more sense to her and her tears built up ready to break the barrier of his lashes and roll down her cheeks.

 

“Remember what I have taught you when we go hunting in the woods. It will be a few years before I see you again and I need you to be strong for your mother.” he looked down at her as he stood back up to look into his wife’s eyes.

 

“Nyoko go find Mr. Itakura and have him take you to the capital he can give you some work until you can contact your family. Watch Rize as best as you can. If she enters the academy she will need your support as much as possible.”

 

Nyoko nodded, she knew her duty and always understood the risks of being so far away from her family when she first met Kijuro.

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“Alright ladies” he knelt down again and gave them both a strong hug that felt to Rize like a comforting blanket on a cold winter night. “I am going to go register and pack up what I can bring. Be sure to sell what we have and shut up the home before you leave with Mr. Itakura, he will help you with everything.”

 

Nyoko spoke up quickly “be safe and come back to us.”

 

“I will. Don’t worry I will send letters often. After all I survived the wilderness I’m not easily taken down. I promise.” he called back over his shoulder as he got in the line to register for the ranger division.

 

Rize watched as her father walked away, not turning back and was shuffled away to be processed with the rest of the young men in the village; a few wives and mothers wept as their husbands, fathers, and sons were taken to fight in a far off conflict. A single tear had finally rolled down her slightly chubby cheek as she finally understood that she may never see her father again. At this moment her disdain for the imperial army was fairly high. The small thread that previously was squeezing her heart from fear was now tightening from melancholy. Her ice blue eyes staring after her father.

 

Before Rize could react further the man known as Captain Takeda turned towards what was left of the crowd. “I understand your frustration and anguish. In these hard times it is difficult for all people of the empire. Please know that yearly stipends of rice and copper coins will be sent as compensation for their military service.”

Scanning the crowd he estimated that there were about forty children older than five, but younger than ten which was the age in which children were allowed to go be tested in the academy entrance exam any that didn’t pass that exam would be offered to sent home or join the imperial academy for youth.

 

“Any children under ten and over five years of age please line up and get on the wagons. If you pass the academy entrance exam your family will not have to worry about money and will be offered to be moved to the imperial capital. Those who do not pass will be sent back to your village free of charge.”

 

Nyoko let out an exhausted breath and turned to Rize “Minako Rize you need to get in line. I will be going to Mr. Itakura’s shop in the capital will reach out to you if you pass the exam or don’t pass it. Don’t worry about me and just focus on what you are told. Do you understand?”

 

“Y-yes Oma!” Rize said.

 

“Rize…the city is not like Naebashi here people tolerate your eyes much more than they will in the city. You had the benefit of people knowing us and trusting us and knowing you personally. There…they will only view you as an outsider and cursed.”

 

Grasping Rize’s shoulders firmly she stared into her eyes “you must be strong and not cry. No matter what is said about you or your father and I.”

 

Rize nodded, not understanding what to say, tears poured from her eyes as she was pushed towards the wagons that would be taken to the capital.

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