War breaks out in the far north, as the Empire's oppression of the mountain people results in a terrifying backlash. With the one competent leader in the Northern Garrison assassinated, the ignorant garrison commander flings the troops headlong into a highly defended, mountainous position, with disastrous results.  Ikta and his friends are kept as part of the reserves for now, but it won't be long until they're thrust into the war as well.
The only things they call holy
are the Hahashiku,
،الأشياء الوحيدة التي يصِفونها بالمُقدّسة هي الهاهاشيكو
Für sie sind nur
die Hahashiku heilig, …
Solo consideran sagrados los hahashiku,
Solo consideran sagrados los hahashiku,
Seuls les Hahashiku
sont sacrés à leurs yeux.
Tutto ciò che considerano
 sacro sono gli Hahashiku,
O que eles podem chamar de
 sagrado seria os Hahashiku.
Священны для них только Хахашику,