Alex, who was almost completely absorbed by Sergeant Wang, had gone blank, his gaze one of loss and defeat, as if the effort they had been making until now had been in vain.
Wang kept his smile; he knew the boy had already given up, so he felt it was not worth continuing the charade.
"Well, little cadet, the time for reflection is over. Give me the package."
Alex tightened his grip on the package and looked at the smiling man in front of him. A boiling anger rose throughout his being, but as soon as it appeared, it was gone.
Haaa… it seems that this is as far as we have come, Alex.
"Sergeant Wang, even if it is our defeat now, we will learn from it and win."
Closing his eyes and opening them again, Alex sighed lightly and looked at Sergeant Wang, extending the package with both hands.
"He he he, that determination is what keeps you alive, cadet…"
****
Huu, I didn't want to be here. These people are crazy, even now they are knocking my classmates unconscious like they were chickens.
Amira Saadi, the first girl to be called to the training program, had not stood out among her classmates this week. Even before all this madness, she went unnoticed.
It was not because of her physique—one could say that Amira was quite pretty, with shiny black hair resembling polished obsidian and emerald eyes shaped like a half-moon. She was not very tall, five-foot-five at most, but all this was hidden by her scared personality.
Amira was currently hiding in the gym bathroom. She had heard a classmate yell at the five of them that they were wasting their time playing cards. She had also seen how two men, covered from head to toe with what looked like special forces equipment, knocked their classmates unconscious.
And now that she had decided to leave, she held her breath. She saw how her completely exhausted partner was slowly losing his determination. Even she felt desperate. It was not fair; except for her, they had worked very hard to get here. Amira unconsciously clenched her fists, and tears threatened to come out.
But when everything seemed lost, her partner pulled himself together and told the terrifying sergeant that they would win next time.
But... why not now?
That dangerous thought was like thunder in a dark night, rumbling in the depths of her mind. Little by little, determination took over her mind.
What was it that Mom told me to calm me down? Oh, yes.
Amira put her hands together and whispered, "He makes the day break, and has made the night for rest, and the sun and the moon for counting. That is the decree of the Irresistible, the Knower."
Her mother always whispered this phrase to her before going to sleep. Her half-singing in a low voice made Amira relax and sleep peacefully.
After taking a deep breath, Amira opened her eyes. Just then, she saw how her partner was about to drop the package. With all the determination and courage she could muster, Amira ran out of the bathroom.
****
"Th-this, captain, aren't you going to say anything to the sergeant?"
Elizabeth was enjoying the sight. She knew the girl was praying. Of course, religion was not prohibited in the Confederation. Although they focused more on scientific and technological advances, many people maintained their religious customs. Even so, listening to the lieutenants made a mischievous smile appear on her face.
"Haven't I told you already, that luck is an unknown that appears where you least expect it?"
The lieutenants shook their heads. They could say that this time, the plan was executed wonderfully. Considering that the sergeants were people who had been through a thousand battles, this was a simple walk.
But as the captain says, luck is also a kind of advantage.
****
"Don't give him the package!"
Alex was startled by the sudden shout, which made him knock the package out of the sergeant's hands. Wang was also startled by the shout. While the two were looking for where the shout came from, a girl Alex didn't remember ran to the table and pressed the button.