Eight Shining Generals

**Eight Shining Generals** 「八輝将 *Hakki-shō*」 are a group of prominent military figures within the Diamond Kingdom.

## Overview

In past times, the Eight Shining Generals were the strongest Mage Warriors of the Diamond Kingdom, with the military authority and command of large numbers of soldiers, with respect that left them unquestioned and unopposed by their subordinates. Their skill and raw power placed them at the same level as the Clover Kingdom's Magic Knight Captains, skill and power that was defined by their label as part of the 'Old Generation' or the 'New Generation'. The latter consisted of soldiers that had been modified and experimented on to increase their natural ability and power, giving them access to unique abilities through modifications that placed them higher than the typical Mage Warrior. The former, however, obtained their skill and power through training, practice and experience on the battlefield, usually consisting of soldiers that have become used to the life of the military instead of coming fresh out of a lab. As time went on, Generals of the Old Generation and New Generation often found themselves in conflict with each other due to their natures, and by the time of the Erebus' appearance, all pre-Erebus Generals had been wiped out.

The Eight Shining Generals now are defined leaders, soldiers who are extremely faithful to the monarchy, its aid and the country it leads. While Generals have earned their power through either the traditional manner of training and practice, or enhanced through modifications and experiments, Generals are now picked based on their specialisations, experience and overall power. These soldiers represent the heights that the Mage Warriors of the Diamond Kingdom can reach, with a level of power that cannot be questioned being close to the likes of the Magic Knight Captains that they have been compared to in the past. They are also expected to be role-models to the soldiers that they lead, physical representations of how the normal Mage Warrior should aspire to be when representing their country not only outside of the Kingdom's borders but within. This has given the generals a sort of celebrity-like image among the normal citizens of the Diamond Kingdom, as depending on their specialisation and division, the Eight Shining Generals may find much of their work helping all over the country and its settlements.

The pressure of the Erebus and the extremely low resources of the land have also caused a shift of responsibilities for the Eight Shining Generals, who originally all worked together in the same military with the same authority and command over the army. Under the instruction of Charlemagne, the Diamond Kingdom's current ruler, the military had been split into a total of nine different divisions, eight of which the Generals separately command. The ninth division is the country's foot soldiers, their general military, which all Eight Generals have authority and command over. The eight divisions the Generals lead are easier to dedicate tasks to and locate special talent that is in accordance to the specialisation of that division. They also become easier to monitor, and give the Generals a space where their authority and commands cannot get intervened or contested by other Generals who may not be just as specialised in the same area.

While being prominent soldiers and leaders, the Eight Shining Generals also serve as the monarch and its aids' bodyguards during the Kingdom's last stand, staying by the side of their king until there is no longer a threat to the Diamond Kingdom's throne. In times like these, command is relinquished to that of the **Khan** (), the strongest of the Shining Generals and so the strongest Mage Warrior in the Kingdom. The Khan is a seperate entity to that of the Eight Shining Generals, but has total command and authority over ever division that serves the Diamond Kingdom.