It was the turn of the full moon when the ominous hours of darkness begun. It shines on the acre field of countless sinister sepulchers that eerily lie on the bitter surface of the burial grounds. Everything is quiet and serene that very evening. And only the nocturnal beings are the bravest ones to wander off in the thrill of the night. Yet on a secret cavern that lies in the deepest parts of the forbidden forest glade just next to the cemetery's unvisited ancient churchyard, where the shrilling voice of a woman, painfully screaming, panting, and struggling.
"PLEASE DON'T! HELP! AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"
The next morning, the first light shined to the group of drunken people unpleasantly snoring and drooling on the chairs, tables, and onto the floorboards. The bartender man left his post and began cleaning their mess and bottles. Lieutenant June and Major are exhaustingly resting their heads on the comfy velvet chairs while General Maslow was sleeping between the two of them on top of the table.
And on the other corner is where Lilliane and Nurse Polar Bear stacking on each other sleeping gracefully feeling like at home. Whilst, the two denial love birds, Quiante and Zeku, are sitting next to each other and heads leaning against each other snoozing fast asleep on the floorboards. And not long, when a rushing footstep hurried over the door and passes through the worn out soldiers. The martial officer went straight to the rear table and faced the hangover drowsy Superiors.
"Captain Schimer is on a report, Sir!" the Captain loudly saluted and stomped his foot to call the General's attention.
"(Huffs in surprise) And Captain Schimer wins! (Stretches out and yawns) Captain!? S-since when are you here?" General woke up in surprise getting caught in the thought in their game last night.
"Just this seconds, Sir! And you are scheduled on a conference with the Senators today, Sir!"
"Oh shoot, I forgot! Please send a memo immediately Captain that I'm on my way within five minutes."
"Sir yes Sir!" Captain follows his order and proceeds first.
General quickly took his belongings and rushed towards his quarters to wash and change for their conference today. He left his comrades lying everywhere and paid for the bill. The clatter of his footsteps woke up Quiante and he proceeds to his matter immediately. Quiante slowly opened her eyes and adjusted her vision to the light. She straightens her head and suddenly, Zekuno's head gradually fell on her shoulders.
Quiante didn't react at first because her head is still dizzy about what happened last night. She squint her eyes, slaps her face, and cluelessly grabs the head of the person by the hair to move him away from her. She stretched her arms and mercilessly hangs Zekuno's head while gripping him by the hair to know the person whom she is with. And not long that she regains her full consciousness. To her surprise, she recognized Zekuno's face and suddenly became very red.
"(Yawns) Hi, polar bear, (smirks) you enjoyed our love last night?" Zekuno unexpectedly wakes up and greets her while his head is hanging by her grip.
"(More blush) Grr… enjoy this hen-tai!" she yelled aloud and punched him right at his abdomen.
"Oof!" Zeku coughs by the sudden attack and crouched down in pain, "Ouch."
Everybody wakes up by the commotion but never did they ever know that Candace is already awake for so long. She is silently observing them at the other side of the corner, enjoying the sight of the love quarrel first thing in the morning. Quiante immediately stands up and walked away from Zekuno while he is rubbing his aching abdomen. Subconsciously, Lieutenant June and Major stands as well and forgot about the battle last night. They silently leave the room and proceed to their respective responsibilities.
"Bye guys…" Lieutenant June and Major drowsily said in chorus.
"Ok!" Candace cheerfully responded.
"(Scratches his head) my, what happened last night, did I win?" Zekuno tries to remember.
"Pfft! How ambitious, you probably have lost Psycho!" Quiante corrected him.
"Hmm... 'probably'? Then that means you're not sure about it, right?"
"No, I mean yes I'm sure about it…"
"Uhuh…" Zekuno stares at her suspectingly.
"What!"
"(Laughs) I won, right…"
"Did not…"
"Oh yes I did…"
"Did not!"
"A-ahem, guys! I think I know exactly what happened to the both of you," Candace interrupted.
"Yes! Excellent Candace, I knew I could always count on you. So, who won?" Zekuno asked her immediately.
"Who won? Well, you see it's actually kind of too complicated to decide, Colonel. And I guess maybe… it is best for the both of you not to know."
"How complicated Slime," Quiante insisted.
"Well, if I were to rate from one to ten... it's definitely twenty."
"What? But that's way over ten." Quiante exclaimed.
"And that's why it's too complicated, alright."
"Whew this is so intriguing and I badly want to know. How about a hint Candace," Zekuno asked.
"Geez, you really don't remember do you?"
"I'm sorry but I think I had an amnesia and FYI this happens most of the time, genius." Zekuno explained.
"Hmm… not what I exactly expect though, but ok, if you really wanted to know that badly, then here's a hint. Colonel, before the game even ended… you confessed that…"
"Wait, stop!" Zekuno immediately stops Candace afraid of losing.
"Huh? Just what is that reaction, Psycho?" Quiante mocks him, "Hmph! I see you're losing, ha-ha! Please carry on, Candace."
"Ok… then after Colonel confessed, you Quail also confessed that…"
"Stop! (panting)" Quiante quickly shushed her.
"What is wrong with you people? Do you really want to know or what?" Candace furiously complained at them.
"Um, uh… I remember Lilliane still needs to go to school right? Yup that's correct." Zekuno changed the topic and called out to his sister, "Lilliane, Lilliane, wakey wakey goldilocks, it's time for school."
"(Yawns) but I still don't wanna go to school…"
"Come on now, aren't you going to your ability test today?" Zekuno reminded her.
"Oh yes, I forgot! Oh pudgy bear, why didn't you wake me up early," Lilliane blamed him.
"Well, I just did, didn't I?"
"But it's too late. Ugh! Come on Lily we're going to school."
"Lily?"
"Oh yes, she's my Nurse Bear brother, I named her Lily."
"Well, that's cute." Zekuno praised her.
"Yah, I know right."
"(Smiles) Mm-hmm… so, can we go now?"
"Sure! Bye Big Sis! Bye Urchin!" Lilliane bid her farewell.
"Bye!" Candace and Quiante uttered in chorus.
Zekuno successfully convinced her and escorted Lilliane to his quarters to change clothes and ready to school. And now's the person left in the chill-out-bay were Candace and Quiante.
"Um, Candace… do you know where I can take a call?" Quiante asked her.
"Sorry Quail, but outside communications within the martial grounds is strictly prohibited. And if we were caught violating the fundamental rules, for sure we will be severely punished."
"Well, that's threatening. And it's Quiante not Quail, alright!?"
"Ok Quail…" Candace teased her.
"Ugh! Just why are you so into name calling, Slime?"
"I'm not name calling you Quail, it's an endearment you know, as a friend."
"Ok… but you make it sound so stupid. And I'm not a bird, idiot!"
"Alright, alright, come on, let's go to our quarters."
"Yeah, you're right. But wait a minute; I didn't know where my room is!"
"Nah, don't worry about it. Usually when you're a cadet, you sleep on a tent together with your group. But, we are not doing that because I'm a higher ups and I am assigned to assist you, Quail. So be grateful about it."
"Yeah thanks,"
Candace led her the way to their personal quarters and immediately they bathe and changed their robes into uniforms. After which, together they then proceed to the training grounds to attend the next work out session. And just in time, when they got there, it was already an hour for breakfast meal. They lined up and took their fill.
Afterwards, they were told to assemble at the field and line up accordingly for the firing training session. Quiante and Candace are always next to each other and not long that it was now their next turn to take over the preceding cadets. Quiante went straight to her position while Candace was recognized by the commanding officer in-charged.
"Candace? Why are you here?" the commanding officer in-charge asked.
"Oi, Chap! How you doin'?" Candace replied.
"Fine, but why are you here anyway?"
"Nothing, just change of duties Chap,"
"Since when?"
"Since yesterday,"
"Well, that's rather fast. I'm sorry but I am not allowing you to join the firing session unless I know the reason, Candace."
"My how meddlesome! (Sighs) Ok you want to know, by high authority of Colonel Mag'ladroth I was ordered to babysit Cadet Broeker."
"Babysit? Is she that immature?"
"Not really, more like I'm nurturing the greatest anti-weapon against the KINGS in the history, Chap."
"Uh… the Greatest Anti-Weapon? Are you referring to that Shorty cadet that passed by before you just now?" he means by Quiante.
"Yup!"
"Um, is this for real or I am just mishearing things?"
"Nope, you just heard it loud and clear buddy, don't doubt about it."
"Are you serious? She's a noob Candace and a paper Shorty. Have you lost your specialty in appraising stats?" he underestimated Quiante's looks.
"Nah, never. Look Chap, she may not seem much, but she's a lot more powerful than you think."
The commanding officer in-charged was silent and allowed Candace to pass through. She positioned just beside Quiante and competed with her to a battle of head shots. Quiante had a difficulty from here and there for having the first time holding out a real rifle and in short she unfairly lost to Candace wits. After that, they proceeded to the next training session, the combat instruction.
They entered another portion of the field, but this time it is not an open space. The environment there is mild, filled with riveting bonsai and pine trees, and there was a wide rectangular wooden floorboard at the center of the grounds. By and by, their combat instructor went out from the dome shaped tiny house and ascended the rectangular stage. For an hour they were taught and oriented of the basic moves and fundamental self-defenses whenever they are caught in close combats.
This gave them a lot of useful lessons but not most of them are paying attention. The instructor called a representative from the group and let him demonstrate what he learned. Well, unfortunately he is one of those that slacked off during the discussion and as a consequence he was trampled easily by the instructor. Next, Quiante was called and everybody laughed at her size. She may not be too petite but she's the shortest among them.
The instructor scolded them and ordered Quiante to take the first move. So, instantly she applied what she learned and unexpectedly everyone hold their breaths because she almost hit the instructor. But he was just so mastered in his fighting style that in a nick of time he was able to defend. The instructor praised her for her attentiveness and encouraged her to practice more. The rest of cadets get what they deserved and kept it as a lesson for the day.
The commanding officer in-charged called their attention and they assembled back to the field. They were told to have another hour of break and take their lunch meal back at the camp. And afterwards, they were informed that at the struck of three in the afternoon, they will be assigned to new commanding officers to undertake a special training. So after which, they then proceed back to the camp and take their lunch.
Time passed by and finally the hour hand has struck at three sharp. The cadets gathered at the court and get to consign to different chambers. Quiante and Candace are still on the same team and eight more new cadets came with them. Together they went to the chamber that they are assigned to and head straight inside. The two friends were the last ones to enter and to their surprise Zekuno was already there standing at the platform like a true superior.
"Attention!" the officer beside Zekuno called their attention, "Soldiers, are you ready!?"
"Sir yes Sir!" everyone vaguely replied.
"What a wimps! Is that all you've got you squealing little pig sh*ts, cowards, weaklings! Again, are… you… ready!?"
"Sir yes Sir!"
"Louder!"
"Sir yes Sir!" finally they said in chorus.
"Good! Today, be grateful that your commanding officer in-charged is Grand Archduke Colonel Zekuno Salamander Mag'ladroth. He personally volunteered to be your instructor to prepare you for the incoming great battle. So do not idle and not just give your f*cking best but give your all f*cking sh*ts and surpass your limits. Your group is lucky enough to have the chance to be trained by the higher ups. This is just no mere opportunity, but a great honor Soldiers. The Region is counting to all of you, so let our nation proud and strong. Now, are we clear!?"
"Sir yes Sir!"
"Sir Colonel Mag'ladroth Sir, I now give you the authority to command," the officer saluted to him and Zekuno signaled him to leave the room immediately.
As soon as the officer left the room and closed the doors, right away Zekuno reiterated with immense intimidation says, "NOW, ARE YOU READY SOLDIERS!"
And all together, "SIR YES SIR!"
OH THIS IS GOING TO BE SO BAD. SH*T WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE HIM!? (Quiante over thinks)
(Smirks) EXHILIRATING, THE PSYCHO IS BACK. (Candace thought)