“…This is all, Your Majesty…” The commander completed his report on the mysterious explosion in Russin-Solvo.
Larnet didn’t say anything and remained quiet, thinking calmly.
“It is unbelievable that an explosion of such scale happened out of nowhere…” Laminar spoke, looking at the map.
“There were reports of avalanches and heavy casualties as well near the mountains…” The commander added.
“Did our spies discover anything?” An official asked.
“They couldn’t, sir. The Eclipse was swift. Through various observations, they also speculate that Eclipse had a big hand in this explosion.”
“We can’t do anything based on mere speculation…” Laminar said and looked at Larnet.
‘Why is he quiet? Moreover, why hasn’t he asked anything about the ambush?’
Larnet closed his eyes and fell into deep thought.
‘What is he trying to do? Test me or teach me? I can’t read minds…’ Laminar sighed.
“Leave…We will discuss this later…” Larnet said, opening his eyes.
“Yes, sir!” The commander and the official shouted.
“Yes, Your Majesty…” Laminar nodded, hand on his chest, and left.
Creak
The hall door opened, and Laminar stepped outside.
Tap, tap, tap
He walked through the vast corridors, feeling uneasy.
‘It’s been six days since I became Larnet’s student. Yet he never told me whether the ambush was successful or not.’
As he turned right, he saw a familiar face.
“What are you doing here, Torkia?” Laminar smiled, hiding his uneasiness.
“Nothing, sir. Just strolling around. I was feeling bored sitting in my room.” He folded his hands behind his back. “Would you like to join me in my stroll?”
“Well, sure…It wouldn’t harm me…”
Torkia and Laminar walked through the brightly lit corridors and arrived in the central grounds.
“What happened, prince? You feel uneasy…” Torkia asked, walking around the grounds.
“Hmm? You can tell?”
“I have been with you for twelve years; of course I can tell this much…”
Laminar remained silent for a while.
“You know the classes I am getting from the king.”
“Yes, I know…What about them?” Torkia asked calmly.
“It has been six days since I answered that we ambush the Cerfisian targets. And there’s been not a single response from him regarding that.”
“And that is making you uneasy?”
“Correct. He isn’t very angry normally, but sometimes he loses his mind and starts scolding for hours. The higher the rank, the angrier he becomes.” Laminar said with a gloomy face.
“Didn’t you say that he had already planned the ambush and he was testing you?” Torkia asked, thinking.
“Yes…I said that…”
“Then why are you tense? There is nothing to be worried about. You passed the test. Focus on what he is telling you, and all will be well…” Torkia tried to relax Laminar.
“Hmm…I guess you are right. I am worrying for no reason.”
“Now, forget all your worries and enjoy nature…” Torkia said, taking a deep breath.
“Hah…I think I should…”
They walked for half an hour on the vast grounds and arrived at a rotunda. Two ladies were present there.
Laminar looked at the young lady dressed in a white floral dress and a long frock. A maid was sitting beside her.
“Floretta, when did you come here?” Laminar asked happily.
Floretta remained seated and greeted Laminar. “Hello, Laminar…”
Laminar sat beside her and smiled.
‘I wish she could see me smiling…’
“You should have sent someone to tell me about your arrival…”
“I heard you are training under King Larnet. So I didn’t want to disturb my prince…” She smiled.
“Greetings, Lady Floretta…”
“Ah! Torkia, you are here as well…”
“Yes, my lady. The prince and I were strolling on the grounds…”
“Hmm…Strolling in the middle of the day…Oh!” Floretta covered her mouth. “Did you run away from the class?”
“No, no, no, no…” Laminar immediately replied.
Everyone laughed at Laminar’s response.
“You two have a great time. I will take my leave…” Torkia said and left.
“So, what brings you here?” Laminar asked, holding her hand.
“Hmm…Father said he was going to the palace, so I decided to accompany him. Why are you asking? You don’t want to meet me?” Floretta smiled.
“Don’t jump to conclusions…I was just asking. Very unusual of you to come unannounced.”
“I was bored in the mansion. So I thought of meeting you…” Floretta kept her head straight. “I can’t see, so I thought maybe your voice would refresh me.” Floretta laughed…
“Hahaha…Very thoughtful of you…It’s good that you came. I was bored myself…”
“How’s your training going?” She turned her head towards Laminar.
“Good…Just good. The king is hard to understand. Sometimes I feel like a five-year-old taking part in a university-level examination.” He smiled.
“Hahaha…Of course he will be hard to understand. If it weren’t the case, then he wouldn’t be the king for a century.”
“True…” Laminar nodded.
“So don’t worry. You are learning, and I hope you will exceed his expectations.”
“Torkia said the same thing.”
“Then I don’t need to say anything, because he was totally correct…” Floretta exclaimed.
“Aha! You two are here…My intuition was correct…” A middle-aged man said as he entered the rotunda.
“It’s you, Father.” Floretta stood with the help of Laminar.
“Archduke Ramond…” Laminar said, shaking the Archduke’s hand.
“Nice to meet you after a long time, Prince Laminar…” The archduke smiled. “You have been giving my daughter company, I see…”
“That is the least I can do as her fiancé.” Laminar smiled.
“Heh…Great! The time has come when Floretta will have to say goodbye…”
“You are leaving already?”
“I came to meet the king to talk over some things. And the talks were successful. So I would go back and continue my work…”
“I hope we meet again soon…” Floretta smiled and left, walking with the assistance of her maid.
Laminar watched his guests leave, sighed, and headed back to his room.
…
“Ugh…My head” Roosevelt woke up, grabbing his head.
He sat up and leaned his back against the pillow.
‘I feel dizzy. I guess I shouldn’t move too much.’ He wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He looked around and observed the room. In front of his bed was the door to the hallway. Beside his bed was a side table and a chair. Seeing a glass full of water, he picked it up and took a few sips. He placed it down quietly and looked outside through the window on his left.
‘It’s raining…I wonder how long it has been since I got some rest…’ Roosevelt leaned back, staring at the falling raindrops.
At that moment, the door opened, and a Falvarian officer entered the room.
“Unit commander…” Roosevelt whispered, looking at the officer’s badge.
The unit commander sat in the chair, crossed his legs and placed his hands on his left knee.
“Lieutenant Roosevelt of the Vanguard 8’s Assassin Battalion, I presume?” The commander asked politely.
“Yes, sir…” Roosevelt replied, straightening his back.
“Relax…This is not an interrogation. I am just checking on an injured soldier…”
Roosevelt calmed his upper body and sighed.
“How are you feeling, soldier?” The commander asked with a smile.
“I feel good, sir. Though my head still hurts…”
“Well then…I will let you rest. The head hurts more when you talk…”
Roosevelt nodded and looked down.
The commander stood up and went for the door. He grabbed the door handle and looked at Roosevelt.
“According to the law of the military, you will be questioned for running away from the battlefield, but if you give a proper reason, you might be spared.” The unit commander took a deep breath. “Don’t lie at all, and I will forgive you completely…” He said and left the room.
‘Why would I run when I didn’t do anything wrong?’ Roosevelt sighed inwardly. ‘I should sleep now…”
Roosevelt adjusted his pillow and lay down. Staring at the ceiling, he closed his eyes.
Later at night.
Roosevelt slowly walked to the unit commander’s office, heart racing.
‘Relax…It will be alright…’ He said to himself.
Roosevelt raised his hand and knocked twice on the door.
“Come in…” The Unit Commander’s voice came from inside.
Hesitating, Roosevelt opened the door and entered the room.
The commander was busy with some documents and signing papers. He lifted his head and saw his visitor.
“You came…This means you are feeling better?”
“Yes, sir…” Roosevelt stood behind a chair.
“Why are you standing? Take a seat…” The commander pointed at the chair in front.
Roosevelt slowly pulled the chair and sat in it. He looked at the commander, waiting for him to start talking.
“Now, Lieutenant Roosevelt, I am going to ask you several questions. You will tell me the essential points, nothing unnecessary. You understand?” The commander put down his quill.
“Yes, sir. I do…”
“Let’s begin then…What was your mission and who was supervising it?”
“Three days ago, our squad captain, Captain Tiller, received a letter from Faskerlis. We were ordered to assassinate Marnis Gorbin in Qaeristisk, who was en route to Russin-Solvo.”
“Okay…” He flicked his hands, and his quill rose and began writing Roosevelt’s words on its own.
Roosevelt was amazed.
“This is just a simple trick I had to learn…Now, how many members did you and the enemy have?”
“Our squad numbered ten, and the enemy had six members, including the target…”
The quill wrote it down.
“Details on the enemy?”
“Sir, the enemy had two guards, a Cerfisian Captain and a special guard. The captain and the guard were the major threats…” Roosevelt told all he could remember.
“Were you able to identify the captain and the special guard?” The commander asked, leaning forward.
“Captain Tiller identified the captain as Irnik the Wind Rider. But we couldn’t identify the special guard. He was wearing a cloak.”
“I see…” The commander grabbed his chin, thinking.
‘Irnik the Wind Rider…Former member of the Eclipse. He is in the Cerfisian Military now…’ The captain thought.’
The quill wrote the next words and hovered again.
“Now, tell me what the reason for your failure was?” The commander asked, leaning back on his chair.
Roosevelt was about to speak when suddenly the creature appeared in his mind. The creature's snarl and screams echoed in his mind, paralysing him with fear. He couldn’t utter a single word, cold sweat running down his face.
The unit commander immediately noticed and got concerned.
“What’s the matter, soldier?”
Roosevelt kept staring at the wall, spaced out.
The unit commander banged on the table, and Roosevelt came back to his senses.
“Ye-Yes, sir…” Roosevelt blurted out, tensed.
“What’s the matter? I asked a question. The reason for the mission’s failure.”
Roosevelt took a deep breath and controlled his thoughts.
“I need to tell it. I must not hold back any information…” Roosevelt whispered.
He took a deep breath and explained everything from the explosion to the creature and its death.
The commander tensed and stood.
“Soldier! I told you! NO LIES!” The commander shouted, furious.
“Si-Sir, I am telling the truth. The whole squad was killed. I only survived because I was in the forest to provide sniper backup…”
‘We had received reports of a powerful explosion and shockwave. But a creature? Was the information regarding it withheld from the public? The Eclipse must know of it. I must inform the capital.’ The commander thought.
“I am trusting your words, lieutenant. If it is found that you were lying, then there will be a heavy punishment.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Unit Commander grabbed the paper on which the quill had written down their conversation. He folded it, placed it inside an envelope, and sealed it with his office stamp.
“You will go to the District Commander of the Vanguard 8 and give him this envelope. Tell him that Unit Commander Allaisi Oscar sent it.”
“Yes, sir!” Roosevelt stood, saluted, and rushed out of the room.
…
Maska, after sunrise.
Felmer, Anderson, Zendaya, and Efkil walked into a vast ground with Irnik right behind them. After they had walked far enough, Irnik stopped them.
“Stop!” He ordered.
The squad followed his order, stopped, and turned towards him.
Irnik observed them from head to toe. Except for Anderson, all stood lazily. Anderson was stiff because he was nervous.
‘This is going to be a long work…’ Irnik sighed inwardly.
“From today, we will begin our training.” Irnik folded his hands behind his back. “Firstly, we will introduce ourselves.”
Irnik cleared his throat and said, “My name is Irnik Karlin, age 25. I was born in Cerfis. I have five years of education in Magic Weaponry and Strategic Studies from the University of the Tarsin Hills. I served as the unit captain of the Eclipse for four years. And for the past three years, I have been serving as a captain in the Cerfisian Military.” Irnik introduced himself like a soldier.
“Wait…” Felmer spoke, trying to process the information.
“You did all that…and you are still 25?” Zendaya asked, surprised.
“I joined the Eclipse when I was in the second year of my education. At the age of 22, both my education and career in the Eclipse ended.”
“The Eclipse kicked you?” Efkil asked, smirking.
“No, I resigned,” Irnik replied instantly. “Then I took a test for the military, and now I am a captain in the Cerfisian Military.”
Irnik took off his robe and sat on the ground. “Now, your turn…Name and age only.” He said, pointing at Efkil.
“Efkil Dresh, and my age is 14,” Efkil said, looking at his nails and rubbing them.
‘The son of Aristocrat Thomas Dresh…” Irnik recalled Efkil’s father's name.
“Next…”
“Zendaya Zerith is my name, and I am 14, too…” Zendaya said, eyes half closed.
‘From the looks of her, she might fall asleep at any moment…’ Irnik observed the young girl.
“Do I really need to announce ‘next’ every time?” Irnik stared at the nervous Anderson.
“I-I am Anderson Gold. My age is 14…” Anderson replied like a mechanical device.
“Relax, kid. I won’t eat you…” Irnik smiled.
Felmer looked at Irnik and exhaled.
“My name is Felmer Gorbin. Just like them, my age is 14 as well. Nice to meet you, captain…” Felmer nodded.
‘Hmm…My fellow countryman and the heir. He is well-mannered.’
Irnik patted his knees and stood up. Dusting off his clothes, he stared at the squad for a few seconds.
“Nice to meet you all…As the pleasantries are over…We will now start…” Irnik took off his monocle.
“Your training begins!”
Chapter discussion