It was an early morning for everyone.
Everything was already packed. A quick bath and breakfast were already prepared. The sun hadn't fully risen yet — the sky was still a pale, sleepy blue, with streaks of orange just beginning to bleed over the horizon.
Hiro stood beside Yurei and Marian as she faced the rest of the unit.
The girls were lined up in the courtyard — Daisy yawning, Elira leaning against the wall with her eyes half-closed, Bailey standing at perfect attention despite the early hour.
"Today," Yurei announced, her voice crisp and clear, "we leave for the first base on the inspection list."
She turned to Bailey.
"Bailey, you're in charge while I'm gone."
"Yes, Captain."
Bailey's response was immediate. Professional. But Hiro caught the flicker of something in her eyes — pride, maybe. Or responsibility.
"I hope everyone follows Bailey's orders," Yurei continued, her crimson gaze sweeping across the group, "and that I come back to the base still intact."
"Yes, Captain!" everyone responded in unison.
Daisy's voice was the loudest.
Marian quickly jumped into the jeep and started the engine. It rumbled to life — a deep, throaty growl that echoed off the courtyard walls.
Yurei turned to Hiro.
Before he could ask what she was doing — she leaned in.
A quick peck on his lips.
Warm. Soft. Brief.
Then—
Whoosh.
The transformation hit him like a wave. Heat flooded his chest. His vision sharpened. The world expanded — colors brighter, sounds clearer, smells more intense.
When the light faded, he stood on four legs.
White fur. Crimson markings. Nine tails fanning behind him.
His fox form.
"Could you at least warn me next time?" he asked telepathically, his voice echoing inside her mind.
"Where's the fun in that?" Yurei replied — and he could feel her smiling, even without seeing her face.
She vaulted onto his back with practiced ease, settling just behind his shoulders. Her weight was familiar now. Comfortable.
The jeep's engine roared.
Marian whooped from the driver's seat. "Let's gooo!"
Seconds later, the vehicle shot forward — tires screeching against the pavement.
Hiro ran alongside it.
Four legs pounding. Tails streaming behind him like banners of white fire. The wind rushed past his fur, cold and sharp and alive.
The main roads of the URG stretched ahead — wide, clean, lined with cherry blossom trees that hadn't yet bloomed. Streetlights flickered overhead. Early morning traffic parted to let them pass.
No sirens. No barriers.
People simply moved.
Because when an Imperial princess traveled — the world made way.
"So… are we going to visit every base in this region?" Hiro asked telepathically, his breath steady despite the pace.
"No," Yurei replied. "That would be a complete waste of time and resources. We're only going to the four main bases."
"Four? I thought there were would be more?"
"There are."
She paused — and he felt her shift slightly, settling more comfortably against his back.
"The United Regions of Gaia is divided into thirteen territories. Each one is vastly different."
She tapped the final one.
"The 13th Region — Exile Zone. Where eccentric and defective soldiers and beast slaves are sent."
Hiro's ears twitched.
"That's… us, isn't it?"
"Yes."
Her voice was calm. Matter-of-fact. But he felt her fingers tighten slightly against his fur.
"Each region has many towns and cities within it," she continued, "but they all have a Central City — the main hub where the princesses are based. The princesses control and supervise the Imperial units within their region while being monitored by a General."
"Wait… so every region also has four main bases?"
"Not true." Yurei shook her head. "Each region varies in size. The number of main bases it has depends on its territory."
"Then how does a princess manage everything?"
"Vassals."
The word hung in the air.
"To make a princess's job easier, the region is controlled by her vassals — the main bases, usually led by four or five-star soldiers."
"So… we're going to all the main bases today?"
"No." Yurei's voice was patient. "Just one base at a time. We need to be thorough with the inspection."
"What's the base we're going to like?" Hiro asked.
He felt her shift again — and caught a flicker of amusement through their bond.
"Hey, Marian," Yurei called out loud. "Please tell Hiro about the base we're going to."
Marian glanced back from the driver's seat, a wild grin spreading across her face.
"Oh, you're gonna love this, Hiro."
Her pink eyes sparkled.
"We're heading to the delinquent base."
"Delinquent?" Hiro repeated.
"Every member of that base," Marian explained, swerving around a slower vehicle, "was a criminal before joining the army."
Hiro's ears flattened.
"Criminals?"
"Petty stuff, mostly," Yurei added. "Theft. Assault. Brawling. Desertion from other units."
"And they just… let them become soldiers?"
"The Imperial Army doesn't have the luxury of turning away able bodies," Yurei said quietly. "Aether-users are rare. Even flawed ones are valuable."
"Flawed is putting it lightly," Marian snorted. "Last time we visited, someone tried to steal the Captain's spear."
"What happened to them?"
"They woke up three days later with a concussion and a newfound respect for personal property."
Hiro glanced up at Yurei. Her expression hadn't changed.
"You knocked someone unconscious for stealing?"
"I knocked someone unconscious for touching Longinus without permission," she corrected. "Theft was secondary."
Marian laughed — loud and bright.
"But seriously, Hiro — don't show weakness in front of them. They smell fear like dogs."
"That's… reassuring."
"They're not bad people," Yurei said — softer now. "Just… broken. The army gave them a second chance. Most of them are trying to earn it."
"Most?"
"Some are beyond saving." Her voice hardened. "Those ones we discharge. Permanently."
Hiro swallowed.
The jeep turned onto a narrower road — lined with barbed wire fences and watchtowers. The buildings ahead were older than the ones in Central City. Rougher. Covered in scuff marks and faded graffiti.
A gate loomed in front of them.
"Welcome," Marian announced, "to the doghouse."
The guards at the gate didn't salute immediately.
They stared.
At the jeep. At the fox. At the pink-haired princess riding him.
One of them — a tall woman with a shaved head and a scar across her cheek — stepped forward.
"Captain Skyfall." Her voice was rough, almost challenging. "Didn't think you'd actually come."
"And yet," Yurei replied coolly, "here I am."
The guard's eyes flicked to Hiro.
"New slave?"
"New partner."
The guard snorted — but stepped aside.
The gate groaned open.
And Hiro got his first look at the delinquent base.
It was chaos.
Soldiers lounged on rooftops. Others sparred in the courtyard — no mats, no rules, just fists and grunts. Someone was playing music from a second-story window — loud, aggressive, the bass vibrating through the ground.
A group of women near the entrance stopped what they were doing and turned to watch.
Not with respect.
With assessment.
Like predators sizing up new competition.
"Don't stare," Yurei murmured through their bond.
"They're staring at us."
"Let them. We're not here to make friends."
Marian parked the jeep with a screech of tires.
"We're here," she announced cheerfully, "to remind them who's in charge."
Hiro's tails flicked nervously.
This was going to be a long day.