Shina Mariposa knocked gently on the door in front of her. It was a solid, polished piece of premium wood—clearly built for someone of rank. A nameplate was neatly fastened at eye level:[Lieutenant General Guntur Arcemedes]The bold, steel-engraved letters gave off a stern, commanding presence. The kind that told you this wasn't just an office—it was a place where decisions were made, where careers could rise… or fall.
But Shina didn't hesitate.
She stood tall, her crimson cape draping behind her like the wings of a hawk, and her silver buttons glinting under the corridor's pale ceiling light. Her knuckles, still bearing faint marks from her last battle, relaxed at her side.
Then, the door creaked open just a crack.
A pair of uncertain eyes peeked through the gap. The face behind it was young, unfamiliar, and only partially visible—half of it hidden by the edge of the door.
"Who are you?" the girl asked, voice soft and uncertain. There was a strange mix of caution and awkwardness in her tone, as if she didn't know whether to be polite or wary.
"I'm Shina, from the Red Star Corps. I believe this is Lieutenant General Guntur's office?" Shina replied, her voice calm and level.
"Shina? What do you want with my brother?" the girl asked, almost instinctively shrinking behind the door. Her eyes widened in recognition, and for a second, her whole posture changed—tense, almost fearful.
Brother?
Before Shina could ask more, the door swung open fully.
The man who emerged behind the girl was unmistakable. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a scar cutting across his left brow—Guntur Arcemedes had the air of someone used to command. His uniform, crisp and battle-worn, barely contained the pressure his presence gave off.
"Xana, stop fooling around. I called Shina here," he said sternly, lightly pushing his sister aside.
There was a strange sort of gentleness to the reprimand, as if he was more concerned about her getting in the way than actually angry.
"And instead of just standing around, how about you be useful and make something for our guest?" he added with a faint sigh.
Xana pouted slightly but didn't argue. With a small nod, she turned and walked off—her footsteps soft and swift as she disappeared toward the kitchen.
Guntur stepped aside, holding the door open with one hand. "Come in. We have a few things to talk about."
Shina gave a brief nod and walked in, taking in the room with a single sweep of her sharp gaze. It was exactly what she expected: clean, utilitarian, and organized. Several medals and plaques hung on the wall, but none were placed in vanity. There was no extravagance—just evidence of hard-earned merit.
He motioned toward one of the sofas.
"Please, sit."
She did. And so did he—across from her, with a measured distance that felt both respectful and strategic.
The silence that followed was heavy, not quite hostile but certainly awkward. Their last meeting hadn't exactly ended on the friendliest of terms. The Cerberus incident still loomed over both their memories.
Guntur was the one to break the silence.
"Sorry for calling you in on short notice—especially when you just finished recovering. How's your health?"
"I've made a full recovery, sir. Thank you for asking."
He leaned back, shoulders loosening slightly. Still, there was a shadow behind his eyes—some inner weight he hadn't yet put into words.
"I owe you an apology. Last time... I was a bit too harsh, Captain Shina. The state of the capital after Cerberus's attack—it... unhinged me."
"You don't have to apologize, sir. I understand." Shina's tone was sincere.
With that, the icy wall between them began to thaw—just slightly.
Before the conversation could continue, the door creaked open again.
Xana returned, holding a single cup on a small tray.
She approached quietly, then gently placed the teacup in front of Shina.
"I'm sorry, Captain Shina. I didn't get the chance to ask if you preferred coffee or tea... So I picked tea. Everyone likes tea, right? Even coffee lovers," she said nervously, fiddling with her sleeves.
"It's perfectly fine. I drink both. Thank you... um, what's your name again?"
"Xana," she said quickly, then gave a polite little bow. "I'm Lieutenant General Guntur's younger sister. Nice to meet you."
"Xana, huh? I'm Shina Mariposa," Shina replied with a small smile. The girl's demeanor had shifted quite a bit from when they first met—less guarded, almost cheerful.
"I know who you are, Captain. The instructors at the Academy couldn't stop talking about you. You were always the top cadet, the prodigy everyone else looked up to."
"Ahaha… really? I'm not that impressive," Shina replied with a chuckle, scratching her cheek in embarrassment.
Guntur didn't let that stand.
"Don't be so modest, Captain. Xana only graduated a few months ago, but your name is still echoing through every corridor of that academy. Among the new recruits, you're practically a legend."
Wherever she went, the name Shina Mariposa carried an unmistakable weight—one she never quite got used to.
Suddenly, Xana tilted her head.
"Wait… why did I only bring one cup?" she asked herself aloud. Then she turned toward her brother. "Oh right. You already had coffee this morning. You shouldn't be drinking more—you'll get sick from too much caffeine!"
Guntur gave her a withering look, then reached over and pinched her cheek—gently, but firmly.
"Sick? Hey, your brother's is the Great Guntur Arcemedes, remember? You brat."
Even as he grumbled, he was clearly holding back. If he'd used full strength, her cheek might have fallen off.
"Ahhh! I'm sorryyyy!"
He let go, and Xana took a step back, rubbing her cheek with both hands and pouting exaggeratedly.
"Go on now. I need to speak privately with Shina," he said, waving her away.
"But—ugh, fine…" She hesitated for half a second before relenting and trudging out the door.
Once the room was quiet again, Guntur gestured toward the cup on the table.
"Please, go ahead and have some tea," he offered before they start the heavy business.
{Chapter 56 end}