Ashen Dragon

Erin stared at the bruises on the girl's wrist and said nothing more.

"Dong—"

Just then, a loud bell sound came from afar, waking the workers on the assembly line with a start, making the workshop somewhat noisy.

"What happened?"

"It's the bronze bell in the square; it's only rung at important moments, like Coronation Day or Christmas Day!"

"But there's no holiday today, right?"

"Then there must be something big going to happen! Could it be—"

Listening to the discussion among her coworkers, Erin had somewhat guessed what was about to happen. She couldn't help but recall some sad memories.

The last time the bell rang outside of a holiday was two years ago, when His Majesty Cassius personally gave a speech, transforming into a massive magic image in the sky above the city, declaring war on the abyssal demons.

Shortly after that speech, her husband disappeared—until Erin learned that he met his end in the jaws of a demon.

Though saddened by her husband's death, Erin also felt a deep sense of pride, for her husband died in battle against demons, sacrificing himself to protect the imperial people, a hero.

Right then, the crisp sound of boots on the ground was heard, and the factory manager strode into the workshop, clapping his hands saying, "Alright, you can stop work!

There's a big announcement from above today, everyone gets a half-day holiday; gather over by the city square."

"That's great!"

"We've been working continuously for eleven days, finally can rest a bit!"

Upon hearing this news, all the workers were overjoyed, and Erin was no exception. Ever since those urgent orders days ago, she hadn't rested for a long time.

Even when stepping out of the factory, seeing the sun amid heavy smoke, Erin still felt a bit dazed, as if she just came out from another world.

She boarded the train, heading straight to Hector City District, where she bought a property a year ago with the benefits her husband left behind, living there with her children.

Due to the burdensome work, Erin hadn't gone out with her children for quite a while, and this holiday was a perfect opportunity.

...

Hector City.

Beside the fountain in the Municipal Square, Erin caressed the Silver Cross Medal left by her husband on her chest, tightly holding her eldest son Little Daniel's hand.

Little Daniel looked at the surging crowd in front and curiously asked, "Mom, why is everyone here?"

"Because the Empire wants to announce something important."

"What thing?"

Erin smiled gently, "I don't know either, but I guess... it's probably that the war is going to begin."

Little Daniel drooped his head, speaking softly, "If that's the case... then Dad isn't coming back again, you said he's a great hero, always fighting for the Empire."

Erin sighed lightly, reaching out to stroke the child's head, "Yes, your Dad should be preparing for the battle now, let's not disturb him."

Little Daniel's voice choked a bit, "Then, then when can we see him?"

"Maybe after the war is over, when Dad becomes a world-renowned Great General, he will come back to see you."

"When will the war end then?"

Erin shook her head, reluctant to see Little Daniel's eyes full of anticipation, she gazed distantly, "Child, I don't know either..."

Maybe the Empire's war will never end—she just knew her husband wouldn't return either.

"Look quickly!"

"It's the steam tanks!"

"Move aside, hurry up, don't block the way here!"

The crowd in front of her suddenly became noisy, then parted like a wave, mixed with the City Guard Army's angry reprimands.

The whistle sounded, only to see twelve steam tanks slowly moving across the square, their tracks grinding over the hard road, making a muffled noise.

These steel beasts were extraordinarily large, over four meters tall and nearly ten meters long, like moving small mountains, giving a huge sense of oppression. The especially smooth alloy armor gleamed brilliantly under the sun's shine.

"This is the heavy tank produced by Hector City!"

"Haha, only our City of Cast Iron can forge such giant war monsters!"

People discussed fervently, all amazed by its mighty aura, feeling proud because of it.

And in a slum two kilometers away, behind a window pasted with Misha's sacred image, eight-year-old Thomas was peeking at this monster with a telescope left by his father.

"So beautiful, I want to be a tank soldier in the future too!"

"Let me see it!"

"Humph, you little sprout want to be a soldier, I want to become a Wyvern Knight!"

The kids in the slum were noisily fighting over the telescope, all wanting to feast their eyes on the parade in the distance.

"Look quickly!"

"What is that?"

"It's the Empire's Wyvern Knight! No, there's a big guy too!"

The sound of air being torn reverberated through the sky, everyone looked skyward; only to see bipedal wyverns clad in armor flapping their wings.

Subsequently, an even more awe-inspiring scene appeared, one after another giant beast soared through the clouds like a group of whales roaming the cloud sea, casting shadows that enveloped people below.

Their underbellies were sharply angled, extending robust cannon barrels, and the massive balloons above were spray-painted with the Empire's emblem of vertical pupils and flames.

"By Cassius, even big guys like that can fly now!"

"It's the airships! That's the Empire's airship cluster! I saw in the military promotion manual!"

Gazing at the swarming "giant whales" in the sky, even Erin couldn't help but marvel at their grandeur, her mind wandered—when these giant creatures drop bombs and pour artillery fire, what sort of devastation will unfold?

Little Daniel tightly clung to Erin, trembling under the might of these killing machines.

Erin sensed her son's fear, quickly consoling him, "Child, don't be afraid, these are all weapons of our Ashen Empire, they are to protect us, they are Dad's comrades."

Little Daniel pointed at the airships in the sky, timidly asking, "Mom, you said you work at the military factory, are these things—made by you?"

Erin laughed and shook her head, "Of course not, everyone has their own responsibilities, and Mommy is in charge of making bullets."

"That's how it is..." Little Daniel pondered for a moment, then looked up again at the sky, "I want to be a glorious soldier like Dad in the future, the heroes in the newspapers!"

Erin's smile froze on her face; she recalled her deceased husband, unable to help but advise, "Child, that's too dangerous, and enlisting requires passing strict tests, not everyone can become a soldier."

"Is that so..." Little Daniel pondered, then clapped his hands, "Then I'll be like Mom, making lots of powerful weapons and equipment, so Dad fights more effectively on the front line!"

"..."

Looking at the child's innocent and naive expression, Erin became momentarily dazed and felt conflicted.

She knew very well that what she did was murderous, capable of shattering a head in an instant, turning it into mush.

Her job was also not dignified, requiring nonstop repetitive labor day and night in a dark factory until exhaustion, with only less than ten hours of rest each day.

Does her child have to walk the same path?

"Clang—"

At the center of the distant square, five hundred apprentice officers simultaneously drew their swords, while Half-Dragon General Hohensohlen tapped the review stand with his cane.

"Soldiers! Residents of Hector City! Today, we are about to witness a sacred, glorious moment—the supreme His Majesty Cassius is about to personally give a speech!"

"Long Live the Empire!"

"Long Live His Majesty Cassius!"

The fervent cheers of people echoed to the skies; in such an atmosphere, those not excited became anomalies, so Erin too followed the crowd in shouting.

Even Little Daniel was infected by this atmosphere, waving his little fists, emitting a childish voice.

"Long live His Majesty Cassius—"