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The room was silvery white. Walls, floor, even furniture was made out of metal visually reminding some kind of aluminum. Few sofas around the table in the middle of the room were coated with artificial white leather as if not to break the colour palette. The light diodes attached to the wall engulfed the room in soft light. Only the dome shaped roof made out of hardened glass remained pitch black, as the light was unable to penetrate the dark waters above Umi Koriyama. A man wearing a navy blue Japanese navy uniform entered a room, followed by a small blue haired girl. Completely ignoring her, he went to the shower room.
He was reading a book. A small and thin just like the ones made for small kids. Yet every page took him ages, as if he was rereading it over and over again, while sipping a whiskey from the glass occasionally. The girl was sitting nearby, playing with her fingers and looking at him from time to time. With the mixture of boredom and anticipation on her face, she seemed to think about a reason to turn his attention to her. Somehow.
“Which one are you reading now?” Miku, the superficial cyborg decided to break the silence.
“Even a life-long prosperity is but one cup of sake;
A life of forty-nine years is passed in a dream;
I know not what life is, nor death.
Year in year out-all but a dream.
Both Heaven and Hell are left behind;
I stand in the moonlit dawn,
Free from clouds of attachment.” Soldier recited calmly. “Uesugi Kenshin wrote it on his deathbed.“ He added, while turning the page.
“Kenshin? But he lived for far longer than 49 years, hasn’t he?” She looked at him surprised.
“Did he say it because he knew others would not understand the longevity of his life? Or was it a mistake of old man’s dementia? I do not think we shall ever found that out.” He answered. After a long pause a man closed his book with a deep sigh. “I do not think you’re going to let me read anything peacefully, will you?”
Miku giggled cheerfully and moved her seat toward him. “You should know well enough that woman interested in someone isn’t going to let him go easily.”
“Woman, you say? I’m not even sure if you’re a human to begin with.” His voice had absolutely no emotions attached. As if he was some kind of robot as well.
“That was really mean, you know?” She complained. “I simply wanted to talk to you.”
“I doubt it. Whatever, let’s have it your way. What do you want to talk about?” He looked at the dome for a moment then turned his gaze toward cyborg.
“About that reconquest campaign. You managed that really well.” She seemed to wait for a long time to say these words.
“It wasn’t anything extraordinary. Egypt has been focusing on land forces for a long time. All I had to do was to sink some ships in order to reclaim our cities.” He did not expect her to discuss such petty topic. No. He knew it was just an introduction.
“Sink some ships. That’s quite a vague description of the biggest sea battle in the world’s history.” Blue haired girl laughed. She stood up, picked a whiskey glass from the cupboard. “Do you have any wine maybe?”
“Which doesn’t place it even close to the biggest land battles. It’s a meaningless discussion and you know that strange girl. Get to the point. And no. I do not drink wine.”
Girl poured some whiskey into her glass with a sigh of disappointment. Then, as if moving an emotion switch, she turned to him and spoke with a note of acknowledgement
“You are more far sighted than I anticipated. As expected... of dragon.”
A man raised his head and looked at her calmly. “That’s a name I haven’t heard in a really long time.”
“Of course. I do not think anyone else has been aware of it.”
“Except you. Or should I say your master?”
“How did you find out about him?” She straightened out and squint her eyes.
“I can feel the flow of things. Also the flow of information. I know you two are sending him data all the time.” He admitted simply, while looking at his glass.
“And you don’t do anything about it?”
“No. I’m in no situation to care about observers, no matter how far do they come from. There are more important things to deal with right now.”
“For example?” She sat down in a sofa closest to his one and turned it toward him.
„The Egyptian fleet has sunk, but it does not mean we are safe here. The bottom of the ocean may become peaceful, but that’s for a few years at the very best. We will get attacked again and this time we have to defend on all possible fronts. It’s just a matter of time before Egypt switch their full production to the navy and that point is a timer... of our doom.”
“And what will you do about it? It is your domain, isn’t it?”
“It is. But I cannot destroy a fleet. I know how to manage at the sea. I know how to organise our navy to have a strategic advantage over enemy. I can use currents and other sea aspects, but this is all. Against sheer numbers it’s just a matter of time before we fail anyway.”
“So you will not bring a miracle to Japan?” She looked at him somewhat disappointed.
“In order to have a miracle two things are necessary. First is the extremely hard work of people and the second is a sheer luck. I’m not responsible for either.”
“But what are you going to do? Unite the remains of your nation? You are their leader. You are their true master, even if these people never knew about you. That’s why you became an admiral, right?”
The man looked first at the roof and then at the glass again.
“They did know about my existence. It was me, who made them stick to the sea instead of searching for luck on the frozen wastes. I sent them the schools of fish as signs for good places to build a city. I used the sea to ease the season so they could survive on this freezing continent during the settling campaign. They knew about it. Long time ago, before Perun took action. There was a huge cult around me and everyone knew about me and prayed to the sea for its blessings.”
“Then why you let him take your country? These are your people you know?”
“I am neither fit not interested in being a ruler. War? Peace? It is all utterly pointless from my point of view. I did not care about such petty issues. That’s why when he started taking care of this country I willingly left it to him.”
“And you would not be able to work with him... no. A god of thunder, war and partially fire against the god of water and ocean. You knew it would never work out, am I right?”
“At the same time you are wrong and correct. It’s true I knew we wouldn’t work well together and at the same time I did not intend to do it anyway. I left my country in hands of someone more ambitious. Fortunately, due to my nature he never found out about me.”
“And what now? in the middle of the despair you take your country back?” Miku asked carefully.
“No. I told you I wasn’t interested in being a ruler and nothing has changes since then. People asked me for help. I simply did what I could. I did not act as god, but as human soldier. That’s all.”
“So you will abandon Japan again and let it be conquered?”
“I told you I do not like wars. For the ocean itself such conflicts seems foolish anyway.”
“You may not like wars. But what if war finds you whenever you wish for it or not? Be it Egypt or... something else?”
“If that happens... I shall decide what to do. It is not the time for that now.”
They were sitting in complete silence for a moment. Miku seemed busy thinking up about additional questions. The soldier, seeing the concern on her face sighed with resignation.
“But are you really a dragon?” Miku asked with a smile on her face, ready to unleash another bombardment.
“Who knows?” He shrugged.
“That’s not an answer, you know?” She puffed her cheeks in disappointment. “I recall reading the Theban University essay about how dragons never existed. What about it?”
“People may think whatever they want to. You cannot stop it, haven’t you figured it out already?” He took a last sip and stood up to refill his glass. “Why should you care about it?”
“I’m interested. There were already few dragons in Japan. Dragon of Echigo. The one eyed dragon. Still these were simply nicknames. Titles. But I do not think that’s the case with you.”
“So your master doesn’t know everything, does he?”
Miku laughed. “Of course not. If he did there would be no reason for me to be there.”
“True.” He nodded. “Then maybe you will figure it out. One day.”
“So this is your excuse to let me stick to you? Being this indirect isn’t romantic at all, you know?” She giggled again and winked her eyelashes times.
He raised his brew and looked at her.
“Oh come on.” She joked. “You were supposed to say something now.”
“Sorry to disappoint you.” He smiled gently and looked away.
“Seriously...” She stopped for a moment then as if another switch was pushed, she changed her tone and asked seriously. “Kaito isn’t your true name, is it?”
“Why do you think so?”
“A feeling... I guess?”
“Tell your master that he guessed right. It’s not my true name.”
She looked at him with a mixture of surprise and wary. “Then what’s your name?”
“Ryujin” He answered shortly. “My true name is Ryujin.”
“Do you think that other masters may find out about you?” Hearing the answer she changed the topic.
“No. I am part of the Ocean itself. You cannot feel or find me easily. Not this deep and this far to the south. If I would try to approach them... maybe in such case. Moreover they are focusing on something else happening. There is a big change happening to the north.”
“So you know about it?”
“I told you. I can feel the flow. I see it clearly when it turns or... changes.”
“What do you think will come out of this?”
“Time will tell.”
“You’re boring!” She yelled at him disappointed.
“Unfortunately I’m not Perun or Haruhi. You will have to live with that.”
He was reading a book. A small and thin just like the ones made for small kids. Yet every page took him ages, as if he was rereading it over and over again, while sipping a whiskey from the glass occasionally. The girl was sitting nearby, playing with her fingers and looking at him from time to time. With the mixture of boredom and anticipation on her face, she seemed to think about a reason to turn his attention to her. Somehow.
“Which one are you reading now?” Miku, the superficial cyborg decided to break the silence.
“Even a life-long prosperity is but one cup of sake;
A life of forty-nine years is passed in a dream;
I know not what life is, nor death.
Year in year out-all but a dream.
Both Heaven and Hell are left behind;
I stand in the moonlit dawn,
Free from clouds of attachment.” Soldier recited calmly. “Uesugi Kenshin wrote it on his deathbed.“ He added, while turning the page.
“Kenshin? But he lived for far longer than 49 years, hasn’t he?” She looked at him surprised.
“Did he say it because he knew others would not understand the longevity of his life? Or was it a mistake of old man’s dementia? I do not think we shall ever found that out.” He answered. After a long pause a man closed his book with a deep sigh. “I do not think you’re going to let me read anything peacefully, will you?”
Miku giggled cheerfully and moved her seat toward him. “You should know well enough that woman interested in someone isn’t going to let him go easily.”
“Woman, you say? I’m not even sure if you’re a human to begin with.” His voice had absolutely no emotions attached. As if he was some kind of robot as well.
“That was really mean, you know?” She complained. “I simply wanted to talk to you.”
“I doubt it. Whatever, let’s have it your way. What do you want to talk about?” He looked at the dome for a moment then turned his gaze toward cyborg.
“About that reconquest campaign. You managed that really well.” She seemed to wait for a long time to say these words.
“It wasn’t anything extraordinary. Egypt has been focusing on land forces for a long time. All I had to do was to sink some ships in order to reclaim our cities.” He did not expect her to discuss such petty topic. No. He knew it was just an introduction.
“Sink some ships. That’s quite a vague description of the biggest sea battle in the world’s history.” Blue haired girl laughed. She stood up, picked a whiskey glass from the cupboard. “Do you have any wine maybe?”
“Which doesn’t place it even close to the biggest land battles. It’s a meaningless discussion and you know that strange girl. Get to the point. And no. I do not drink wine.”
Girl poured some whiskey into her glass with a sigh of disappointment. Then, as if moving an emotion switch, she turned to him and spoke with a note of acknowledgement
“You are more far sighted than I anticipated. As expected... of dragon.”
A man raised his head and looked at her calmly. “That’s a name I haven’t heard in a really long time.”
“Of course. I do not think anyone else has been aware of it.”
“Except you. Or should I say your master?”
“How did you find out about him?” She straightened out and squint her eyes.
“I can feel the flow of things. Also the flow of information. I know you two are sending him data all the time.” He admitted simply, while looking at his glass.
“And you don’t do anything about it?”
“No. I’m in no situation to care about observers, no matter how far do they come from. There are more important things to deal with right now.”
“For example?” She sat down in a sofa closest to his one and turned it toward him.
„The Egyptian fleet has sunk, but it does not mean we are safe here. The bottom of the ocean may become peaceful, but that’s for a few years at the very best. We will get attacked again and this time we have to defend on all possible fronts. It’s just a matter of time before Egypt switch their full production to the navy and that point is a timer... of our doom.”
“And what will you do about it? It is your domain, isn’t it?”
“It is. But I cannot destroy a fleet. I know how to manage at the sea. I know how to organise our navy to have a strategic advantage over enemy. I can use currents and other sea aspects, but this is all. Against sheer numbers it’s just a matter of time before we fail anyway.”
“So you will not bring a miracle to Japan?” She looked at him somewhat disappointed.
“In order to have a miracle two things are necessary. First is the extremely hard work of people and the second is a sheer luck. I’m not responsible for either.”
“But what are you going to do? Unite the remains of your nation? You are their leader. You are their true master, even if these people never knew about you. That’s why you became an admiral, right?”
The man looked first at the roof and then at the glass again.
“They did know about my existence. It was me, who made them stick to the sea instead of searching for luck on the frozen wastes. I sent them the schools of fish as signs for good places to build a city. I used the sea to ease the season so they could survive on this freezing continent during the settling campaign. They knew about it. Long time ago, before Perun took action. There was a huge cult around me and everyone knew about me and prayed to the sea for its blessings.”
“Then why you let him take your country? These are your people you know?”
“I am neither fit not interested in being a ruler. War? Peace? It is all utterly pointless from my point of view. I did not care about such petty issues. That’s why when he started taking care of this country I willingly left it to him.”
“And you would not be able to work with him... no. A god of thunder, war and partially fire against the god of water and ocean. You knew it would never work out, am I right?”
“At the same time you are wrong and correct. It’s true I knew we wouldn’t work well together and at the same time I did not intend to do it anyway. I left my country in hands of someone more ambitious. Fortunately, due to my nature he never found out about me.”
“And what now? in the middle of the despair you take your country back?” Miku asked carefully.
“No. I told you I wasn’t interested in being a ruler and nothing has changes since then. People asked me for help. I simply did what I could. I did not act as god, but as human soldier. That’s all.”
“So you will abandon Japan again and let it be conquered?”
“I told you I do not like wars. For the ocean itself such conflicts seems foolish anyway.”
“You may not like wars. But what if war finds you whenever you wish for it or not? Be it Egypt or... something else?”
“If that happens... I shall decide what to do. It is not the time for that now.”
They were sitting in complete silence for a moment. Miku seemed busy thinking up about additional questions. The soldier, seeing the concern on her face sighed with resignation.
“But are you really a dragon?” Miku asked with a smile on her face, ready to unleash another bombardment.
“Who knows?” He shrugged.
“That’s not an answer, you know?” She puffed her cheeks in disappointment. “I recall reading the Theban University essay about how dragons never existed. What about it?”
“People may think whatever they want to. You cannot stop it, haven’t you figured it out already?” He took a last sip and stood up to refill his glass. “Why should you care about it?”
“I’m interested. There were already few dragons in Japan. Dragon of Echigo. The one eyed dragon. Still these were simply nicknames. Titles. But I do not think that’s the case with you.”
“So your master doesn’t know everything, does he?”
Miku laughed. “Of course not. If he did there would be no reason for me to be there.”
“True.” He nodded. “Then maybe you will figure it out. One day.”
“So this is your excuse to let me stick to you? Being this indirect isn’t romantic at all, you know?” She giggled again and winked her eyelashes times.
He raised his brew and looked at her.
“Oh come on.” She joked. “You were supposed to say something now.”
“Sorry to disappoint you.” He smiled gently and looked away.
“Seriously...” She stopped for a moment then as if another switch was pushed, she changed her tone and asked seriously. “Kaito isn’t your true name, is it?”
“Why do you think so?”
“A feeling... I guess?”
“Tell your master that he guessed right. It’s not my true name.”
She looked at him with a mixture of surprise and wary. “Then what’s your name?”
“Ryujin” He answered shortly. “My true name is Ryujin.”
“Do you think that other masters may find out about you?” Hearing the answer she changed the topic.
“No. I am part of the Ocean itself. You cannot feel or find me easily. Not this deep and this far to the south. If I would try to approach them... maybe in such case. Moreover they are focusing on something else happening. There is a big change happening to the north.”
“So you know about it?”
“I told you. I can feel the flow. I see it clearly when it turns or... changes.”
“What do you think will come out of this?”
“Time will tell.”
“You’re boring!” She yelled at him disappointed.
“Unfortunately I’m not Perun or Haruhi. You will have to live with that.”
The Celtic empire changed players twice already (it's been taken over by the former Roman player recently), but the game grinds on... and it's much less one-sided than the one we played with you 
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