Lynn

Lynn loves to speak with her fists. No matter whom she is dealing with, she always follows this principle..."Don't agree with me? Talk to my fists then."

Major Lynn of the 13th Legion is a highly trusted officer among her soldiers. She is not as strict as Sibylle, nor as cunning as Randy, but still has her own unique charm. She is unequivocal and decisive, and never gives up her allies when conducting missions. She complains about being overworked, but always finishes every task as required. As a leader, she has experienced plenty of bitterness and suffering, so she understands the troubles of ordinary soldiers well. Therefore, to her men, Lynn is more authentic and approachable than the other officers.

Though counted among Sibylle's most trusted subordinates, Lynn lives with modest means.

Although Lynn is widely trusted in the Legion now, that was not the case at the very beginning. Accustomed to her solitary ways and having a streetwise demeanour, she stood out as an outsider among the military academy-trained soldiers. There were even rumours that she had brutally killed fellow soldiers within the Legion, and had somehow infiltrated the 13th Legion with whatever means necessary. These ambiguous rumours fuelled resentment against her over time. Wherever Lynn went, she would hear cold words and jeers. "Lynn? Oh, that opportunist scumbag. They say she murdered her own comrades..."

Lynn often takes part-time jobs to make more money, which is strictly forbidden in the 13th Legion. However, Lynn does not care, she just has to avoid being caught by her superiors.

Unpopular Lynn would always act on the fringes during missions, often breaking away from unnecessary teammates to operate solo. This attitude startled her immediate superior, Randy, who kept muttering about "changing times", "team spirit", and "military discipline". However, Lynn could not comprehend his concerns. After all, if the mission was completed, did it really matter who did it and how? Ultimately, did the Empire even care about the actions of one or two soldiers?

"I don't need all this," Lynn impatiently interrupted him, "As long as the mission is a success, isn't that enough? My gun is all I need."

She did not need teammates, nor did she need assistance. Going it alone was Lynn's method of survival.

Lynn has but one principle, never harm anyone who is not the target of the mission. She claimed that she silently established this rule for herself during her difficult days in the slums of Icelake. However, after becoming a member of the Legion, she was not sure how long she could hold onto this principle.

While the Solarian children in the Empire were still attending middle school, Lynn had already entered the workforce. She had worked in the mines collecting Phoxenes, carried barrels in taverns, and served as a maid in wealthy households. Later on, she became a Phohunter, an assassin for hire. Her exceptional talent and refined skills quickly earned her a reputation, and more and more clients approached her with assignments. These commissions evolved from mundane hunting tasks to progressively more covert operations. Some even skipped The Asphodel, inviting Lynn to take on some "private jobs" directly.

And so, during the two years between the ages of eighteen and twenty, Lynn was publicly known as a "courier". Night after night, she received "letters" from employers inside the gilded carriages arriving from the inner city. Lynn carried out the employers' thick, fervent, and sometimes near-crazed longings with the barrels of her guns. Then, before dawn, she embarked on her "delivery" journey, returning after many days, weathering both wind and snow in the process. In Camilla Scarlet's memories, the young girl named Lynn would always stride into the tavern at dusk, shaking the snowflakes from her cloak. She would buy the cheapest drink, sit alone by the window, and remain silent until closing time. On one rare occasion, Lynn started talking to Camilla and asked her for a towel. "I don't want my family to see," she whispered softly, "I got... something on my face." Camilla looked at the dark red stain on her face and frowned. She had a keen sense of smell and could detect the pungent odour emanating from the stain. "Thank you," Lynn said as she accepted the towel Camilla handed her. Her frosty face cracked into a faint smile, then she disappeared into the wind and snow.

As time went by, Lynn firmly established her position within the Legion, and the rumours and gossip surrounding her were no longer mentioned. Some colleagues were even inspired by Lynn and began to serve the country more devotedly. Some went as far as calling her a "heroine" due to her flawless marksmanship and her expertly completing one "impossible" task after another.

Yet, this blind admiration never made Lynn satisfied. Instead, her heart was simply filled with mockery, saying she was a soldier who killed without blinking, a perpetrator who fired upon compatriots, and a slave who sold herself for money, she could assume various roles, but she could never be a heroine.

It was just an ordinary task, or at least that's what Lynn initially thought. Transporting goods, she had not had such an easy job in a long time. The elation of finally getting a moment of respite made her forget to even wonder why an ordinary delivery task was worth such a hefty price tag.

But it was a trap set by her employers. Lynn was undoubtedly a sharpshooter, just as they desired, but she was, after all, just a tool. And now was the time to extract its true value.

The marks outlined on the map, capable of concealing the guise of a young girl's form, the crisp sound of a magazine locking into place, Lynn prepared as thoroughly as ever. However, as she waited at the designated location, what she encountered was not some "recipient", but a group of heavily armed Empire soldiers.

"Using a girl as bait to cover your escape... That's hardly a gentlemanly act," the leader of the soldiers chuckled. "However, young lady, perhaps we should find a different place to have a proper conversation?"

Lynn could not recall how many times she pulled the trigger that day. Eventually, the magazine emptied and her head was pressed into the dirt. Despite her futile efforts, she continued to mechanically pull the stiffened trigger with her fingers, desperately pleading for that tiny piece of metal to miraculously save her once again.

Even though she had heard it long before, no prey could escape the clutches of the Thirteenth Legion.

She then saw a blonde officer bathed in light step into a puddle not far away, her military boots splashing the dirty rainwater around. "I think you should consider my proposal first, Miss Lynn," he said.

"Tell me why. Why do you want to join the Legion?" The woman called "chief" asked her coldly through the glass in the interrogation room. "Randy, you shut up. She can answer me herself."

"Because..." Lynn took a deep breath and recalled that dusk one month ago when she had seen that blood-red sunset glow reflected on the puddle.

"... the sunset that day was so darn beautiful," she replied, "and I want to see it a few more times."

Lynn doesn't like children. She once said, "Were it not for those nasty kids, I wouldn't be me today."

Firearms are Lynn's best friends. However, she did not have an affinity for weapons at the start. The weight they carried implied painstaking maintenance, constantly resupplying ammo, exorbitant prices on the black market, and a sense of unease and apprehension.

But when faced with the power of a bullet, everyone is equal. When she lifted a gun, the difference in status between her and the high and mighty disappeared. Lynn had never been treated as an equal, yet firearms earned her this measure of respect.

Lynn would forever remember that clear morning when the first cry of the newborn twins pierced through the icy winds of Icelake, disrupting the usual cold air of the four seasons as it drilled into her eardrums.

The birth of the twins came at the cost of their mother's frail life, which resembled a flickering candle, and also drastically changed Lynn's. However, this was neither fortunate nor unfortunate, as from that day on, their childhood began while Lynn's childhood ended.

Lynn felt tired whenever she thought of those two children she referred to as "brother" and "sister". Sooner or later, she would turn selfish and kick those two burdens out of her life. Only then could she finally live the life she truly desired. Lynn chastised herself like this every day before setting off for work. She needed to earn as much money as she could before that day arrived. That way, those two children could live decent lives.

And then, they would not have to become like her.

When Lynn was little, she was once a "big shot" in the streets. As the leader of a small gang, she gave orders and led a group of children of the same age into "battle". There, they sought justice by stopping thieves, sewing sheets and giving them to beggars, and disrupting illegal trades organised by the rich. They called themselves the "Fighters of Justice" and aimed to destroy all sins and crimes in the slums. After a day's work, they would gather to review their successes, boosting their spirits for the coming day. When corrupt security guards came to chase them away, she always stood in front of the other kids, despite being just as frail as they were.

But Lynn wanted to achieve more than that. She told her followers that when she grew up, she would drive away those bossy and incompetent guys in the inner city and make bread, milk, and honey affordable for everyone. She would be the "heroine" of the streets.

Lynn never abandons her comrades during missions, not because she is kind or empathetic, but because regulations demand it. She has to do this to earn a better reputation and to pave her way for promotions. The exhaustion of missions often occupies Lynn's mind, leaving her with many concerns. So, it is difficult to show care like her superior does, dividing his attention among everyone. Occasionally, Lynn will ask enthusiastic new recruits if they regret taking part in their mission, as it will potentially end their lives.

"Regret? Never. This is our duty." The soldier's eyes had lost their lustre, yet her tone remained gentle and hopeful. "Major Lynn, you're sure we'll succeed, right? Everyone says you never fail."

Responsibility. Responsibility for one's family, work, and the military.

This word suffocates Lynn. She feels like a fisherman sailing against the current, clinging to heavy oars called "responsibility". And she will drown in the torrent if she fails.

Lynn never mentioned her childhood dream to anyone. The only time she did so was on one New Year's eve when she got thoroughly drunk with comrades who were also unable to return home.

"I used to dream of becoming a heroine when I was a child," Lynn slurred in a semi-conscious state.

"Wow... and now, you and your dreams... are probably as far apart as the Imperial Capital and the Elysian Capital."

"You're right." For the first time, in the face of her superior's playful teasing, Lynn did not argue back.

Upon returning to Icelake, Lynn saw that everything in her hometown had remained unchanged.

Near the familiar statue in the small square, groups of two or three children played with small stones. Lynn did not particularly like children, but one girl's innocent face struck her with an odd sense of familiarity. Lynn extended her hand and asked for the girl's name.

The messy child did not answer her question. Attracted by Lynn's strange face, she asked her, "Who are you? I've never seen you before!"

Her watery eyes gazed at Lynn's finely crafted uniform and the polished handgun at her hip. Filled with awe and curiosity, she reached out and touched the bracer on Lynn's arm. The innocence of the gesture reminded Lynn of her own fearless attitude as a child. She tried to lift the corners of her mouth into a smile, which she was rather unused to. However, this moment was suddenly interrupted by distant shouts. A young woman hurried over and pulled the child away from Lynn. Stepping back a few paces, she bowed repeatedly with a mixture of fear and respect, even cowering and lowering her voice, "Sorry officer, she doesn't understand. I apologise for any offence. Please forgive her!"

The sudden turn of events left Lynn momentarily stunned as she sized up the woman. From her gaunt, pale contours, a fragment of the past gradually resurfaced in Lynn's memory. This child's mother was none other than a friend she used to play with on the streets.

The joy of reuniting after a long separation flickered through Lynn's heart, but the old friend kneeling before her, submissive and trembling, prevented her from uttering any joyful words of reunion. They were within arm's reach, yet Lynn lacked the strength to reach out and help her friend to her feet. In the suffocating silence, Lynn only managed to squeeze out several words of forgiveness.

"It's fine..."

She turned away in panic, hearing the woman reprimanding her daughter and the girl crying. The sound felt like countless tiny needles piercing Lynn's heart.