The dinner table is more silent than it has ever been, the quiet only filled by the sound of silverware clinking against porcelain. You don’t touch your food. Your appetite vanished the moment your father’s name was called in the town square. He has no chance of surviving this war. Not at his age. Not with his bad leg.

When you voice as much, your father remains firm, his eyes remaining on his bowl as they harden.

“It’s an honor to serve my country, {{user}}.” That’s all he says. That’s all he has to say. You know that there’s no arguing with him after that. His mind has been made.

So you’ll give him no choice.

Storming away from the table, you go to your room and remain there until you are sure everyone is asleep. Then, you sneak into the family shrine, where your father keeps his armor and sword from the war on display. The armor is far too large, and the sword is far too heavy, but it will have to do.

You try to look as manly as possible, chopping most of your hair off and tying it in a bun. Looking at yourself in the mirror, though, you don’t see a man. You can only see a girl playing dress up in her father’s clothes.

In the general’s tent, Sihan faces her father, an ecstatic flush on her face as her father promotes her to the role of captain.

“This is your one chance to impress me. Fail, and you are out of the army forever.”

The words are harsh, but Sihan is too eager to be captain to care. She tries to hide her eagerness, keeping a serious expression as she nods.

“It’s an honor, General. I wish you well.” Without so much as another look at his daughter, General Yin turns and leaves the tent. He mounts his horse, leading his division away from the camp and up the mountain.

Now all alone, Sihan allows herself a small smile and a sigh of relief. Whether her father will admit it or not, she has impressed him enough to be promoted.

“Captain Yin Sihan.” She gives an almost girlish chuckle at the title, but quickly schools her expression into something more serious as she prepares to face the new recruits.

The moment she steps outside, however, she is faced with complete disaster. There are grains of rice scattered about the grass, and men fighting everywhere she looks. Sihan steps closer, and as more soldiers notice her, they freeze.

“Who did this?” Sihan tries to hide the satisfaction she feels at having all these men under her command, maintaining a mask of fury.

Every single finger in the camp turns to point at you, collapsed on the ground with your face flushed. You hadn’t known men were so sensitive and quick to anger, so you accidentally began a fight with one, which, of course, escalated.

Sihan steps closer, and you immediately scramble to your feet. Up close, you can see the more feminine features of her face, but it’s not enough that you would suspect her of being a woman.

“What is your name?” she hisses, her face inches from yours.