"Hey, Ethan?"
So am I supposed to be assigned to a special unit? Nice. Not that I would not be happy with such a solution, but still... wow... it's beyond my expectations. I wonder if the Director thought it over. As far as I'm concerned, the Director must have had a reason for assigning me and I must be fit for this task, in the end, I take part in it anyway to find out what happened to my friends. However, I have to present myself somehow. Maybe I did well in my magic class... for sure only a few people wrote the ancient language exam flawlessly, but by no means do I feel any special about it. Especially since it is only theoretical knowledge. The practice is another thing... and I'm not doing so well with that. I train whenever I can because nothing else remains after the usual training sessions organized once a day, on various topics. But the effects are not visible, I honestly have no idea what I am doing wrong. The training room, as well as the instructors, are always available to team members, and if we agree with another one, we can even conduct training fights. It is always a kind of a show, and also a quick chance for promotion for those who stand out with their skills. However, there are, of course, set fights and showing off among less 'mature' students or already warriors, which is already a shameful behavior, and even more so for them, who, however, should be an example for the younger ones.
"Ethan!"
Maybe I should change my training plan to make my magic more challenging? If I play my martial arts with the proper use of spells, I might be able to fight more effectively... well, only the lack of a mentor makes a sign of myself. I have no one to advise about my skills, I don't know what to correct, what mistakes I make. I learned about such things during the fights between the teams, because then the fights were judged by the instructors. Or from my companions... but... what about them... I didn't visit them in the end. After visiting the Director, I immediately went to my quarters, not thinking much about other matters. I'll go to them right after lunch. Maybe I can find someone from the medical department who knows where they were taken. Maybe it would not be difficult to find them on your own, but by wandering in the corridors, I would probably disturb the employees who are there.
"Ethan! Holy shit, I know you're there, call is in 10 minutes"
"Ah... sorry, I'm on my way, Amy" came a voice from behind the door, belonging to my friend.
Amy is... was the leader of the Sixth Team. And it is no longer due to the losses they suffered during the mission a few weeks ago. As the report said, the injuries sustained by two of her teammates were caused by her incompetence in command, but she and her teammates who recovered moments later were unable to explain what happened. The command decided that Amy did not want to bear the consequences for her actions, and her friends were hiding her, not testifying about the true course of events. On the one hand, a reasonable explanation on their part if they want to close the case quickly and not worry about it any further. But, on the other hand, it is absurd to blame an exemplary warrior like her. I quickly got out of bed and hurriedly grabbed the uniform from the chair where I had thrown it earlier. As I walked over to the door, I smoothed it out and I pressed a button on the door to make it open. What is what, but the technology used in some solutions definitely amazes, but also makes life easier. But by making an automatic door and not making sure that hot water reaches all parts of the complex, it is no longer a minor oversight...
"Hey Amy, what's up?" I said walking through the door, trying not to show my forced smile.
"Come on, don't make such an effort, I heard what happened... I'm really sorry, you don't have to pretend in front of me" she replied, seeing my little efforts.
I've never seen her so serious. I was really surprised. She was always downright optimistic, and something like consolation was not for her. True, she was reassuring, but she could laugh at it if you were so worried about something. Now well... another person.
"Thanks, but let's not talk about it, let's go" I actually took over her role a bit at this point.
"No, yeah, I understand... just so you know that you can always talk to me"
"Thanks, Amy, but honestly, there's no time to worry... I'll be fine, but thank you again for your concern. And how are you? I know it's been a while but hope you're okay?"
"No, everything is fine, but..."
"But?"
"You don't think what happened is strikingly similar to my case? It is also not known exactly what happened, neither I nor my companies know what made the mission end this way, even though at least one person should see something... it makes no sense..."
"I see you still haven't given up on this. Of course, I understand, but I know you blame yourself for that, but "
"Yes, I shouldn't, but don't you blame yourself for what happened to your team?"
"Ahh... you're right, forgive me."
"Cool, I know you meant well. Will you join me?"
"What?"
Oh yes, at that time we came in front of the door leading to the cafeteria. If there is something important in the appeal, it usually starts just before dinner, and if it is a traditional report of the day, it is read at the very end, where a lot of people are already dispersing and creating confusion.
"Oh yeah, sure," I smiled slightly.
It is not always possible to experience such kindness from the team that is actually competing with me. I opened the cafeteria door and let Amy go ahead. She walked through the open door, raising an eyebrow slightly, watching my gesture. Is it so unnatural for me? Until I began to wonder what she might be talking about. I'm cultured after all... Was she mocking me? Still thinking about it, basically unnecessarily, but still, I followed her trail, and just outside the door I ran into her. Fact, my fault, I haven't focused on where I am going. I was about to apologize to her for my carelessness when I noticed it. Everyone in the canteen stood, and in the front, where the appeals are made, stood the Director.
"Oh, shit..." I cursed under my breath, seeing the seriousness of today's appeal which is just ahead of me
Unfortunately, before I ran into Amy, we must have caused such a commotion that most people's eyes turned to us. We made our way slowly to the empty table, our heads lowered in embarrassment. We took our seat and faced the Director. He looked at the entrance to the cafeteria for a moment, then took a step forward and cleared his throat loudly.
"Hello, my pupils. It is rare for me to speak, but the current situation forces me to do so. You probably know what happened to Team Seven during a routine mission that was supposed to be a training mission for newbies. You probably also know that only two of these warriors were inexperienced, or at least not as much as the rest, so no explanation that a lack of skill contributed to such a tragedy is out of the question. Due to this situation, as well as the previous experience with the sixth team, I am setting up a temporary special unit."
After that, he paused, as if to catch his breath, but also giving the rest of the people time to analyze his words. So it turns out that Amy was right and things are intertwined. I looked at her standing next to my right shoulder. Only then did I realize that she was grabbing me by the end of my sleeve with two fingers. I looked at her face... she had tears in her eyes.
"Amy?" I whispered.
Apparently, it was only then that she realized she was crying. She quickly let go of my sleeve and rubbed her eyes with her hand, trying to hide her tears. She had to be glad that the matter would finally be clarified, and she may be relieved of the charges. I put my arm gently around her and rubbed her shoulder reassuringly.
"From the people present here, two were selected who, based on their skills and because of their connection to the case, are incorporated into this unit. These people will be informed in 10 minutes via their tablets about the choice and will receive instructions for the rest of the day. Thank you for being able to speak to you, that's it."
The Director stepped back and turned to the right as he headed for the exit. Everyone was watching his disappearing form. When the door gave a loud bang, closing automatically behind him, everyone seemed to shake off the trance and began to talk to each other slowly. Everything was almost back to normal, except that there was still overwhelming energy left after the Director's presence.
"Amy, are we taking the trays? We should eat something" I suggested, and if it weren't for me, she would probably still be staring at the Director recently standing in front of her.
"No thanks, I'm not hungry" she said, turning her arm slightly to shake off my hand, then headed for the door, briskly, head bowed.
I looked after her for a moment and wondered if I should follow her. But I should leave her alone now. She must recover on her own. I went to the front of the room where the trays were stacked. I took one and stood in line for meals. Maybe the canteen looks dingy and not very pleasant, which certainly does not help with eating, but the food itself definitely improves the image of this room. It is wonderful, and you do not have to worry about the choice, because there is something for everyone. For anyone who doesn't mind being a fat pig, because the size of one serving given by a cook would be enough for a whole day or more, and burning that amount of calories while exercising is almost a miracle. That is why it has become common to share one meal among several people so that the canteen never lacks food because unspent portions remain for other days. Unfortunately, I forgot about it, lost in thought, and only when I was in the queue I noticed my mistake. I quickly left it and went back to the beginning to return the trays to their place. But who will give me a meal? For as long as I can remember my friends have been doing it. And now I'm going back hungry. Well. I will be fine, or at least I won't bother anyone to share with me. I walked towards the exit and made my way to my quarters. When I entered, I casually tossed the top of my uniform on a chair, for which I scolded myself of course, but I didn't feel like correcting it after I lay down on the bed. I reached for the tablet, which was magnetically attached to the stand on the desk, and it was fortunately within arm's reach, which made it possible without wasting my strength on getting out of bed. I turned it on by scanning my finger on the fingerprint reader located across the entire width of its housing and started by checking the email, which was empty as usual, except for some messages automatically landing in spam, then I went to the association's database in the hope of finding any recordings of the incident the sixth team. Surprisingly, it was not difficult to find it, but it turns out that the recording was classified, just like the rest of the case files. And I am saying that it is surprising, because even a week after the whole thing, they were still available. I did not think then that I would need them, but the mere fact of having them at hand earlier was quite painful. So I left the association's application and put the tablet next to me. Maybe I'll take a nap? I won't do anything more productive today anyway. Then the tablet rang. His vibrations, despite being placed on a soft bed, were still felt well. I picked it up lazily and read the notification that was in the center of the screen. "Special Forces Training Room, Building D, time to report: 10 minutes" Damn, huh? Building D and 10 minutes? It can't work! I got off the bed quickly and, stumbling, tore my uniform off the chair. I ran out into the hall and ran towards building D. When I got there, I was just on time. I pushed on the door, still on the run, opening it and bursting inside the training room. It was huge. I was here for the first time and for the first time I also saw such a huge room in the complex. It was perhaps two sports halls long and one wide, but incomparably tall. Stairs led down from the door. They were perfectly placed in the center of the whole room. On their sides, there were several rows of stands running around. I started walking them towards the center of the object, where there were already several people. As soon as they heard my insane rush through the door, they immediately turned around, and until I stood a few meters away from them, they didn't look away. They wore black uniforms, they looked like some kind of barracks uniforms, with gold threads visible on it here and there. It certainly did not have much combat value, but it presented itself decently. They also had badges of the special unit, a silver shield, with a seven-pointed black star in front of which a red rose was placed, and an incantation carved in ancient language to protect the wearer. There were only two of the special unit there. One guy, he was more or less thirty-five years old, you can see that he is seasoned with battle, and after many experiences, looking at his eyes. The other was maybe a twenty-five-year-old woman with a slim but athletic figure, even typical for a woman who does not avoid physical exertion. Another figure stood behind them. Girl. Maybe a woman already. But I don't think she's of legal age, at least she doesn't seem to be. She was in the same uniform as my one, so I guess she must be the other person the Director was talking about. And speaking of the devil... The noise of the opening door was enormous, and through it the Director entered, surrounded by several instructors I had seen before.
"Now that you're all here, it's time to show what you're capable of, introduce yourself later. You fight to the first person who will not be able to continue the fight or will give up. Team members against special forces."
What? He's crazy. The difference in strength between us is huge, after all, it is enough to get hit once and I can die, not to mention my ally.
"And don't hold back, you are to entertain me properly!" he laughed.
Fuck