Amara gazed sadly at the massive iron gate opening before her.
Her steps were hesitant, as if each one pulled her farther away from the life she once knew. The memories of slavery had left a deep scar, and though she was free now, she had no idea where she truly belonged. The spacious courtyard, the disciplined movements of the students, and the imposing academy buildings all seemed foreign to her.
Deep down, she felt lost.
As she entered, the wind gently tousled her hair, as if the shadows of her past were following her.
She looked around wearily, feeling out of place in a world where everyone seemed to know their purpose. Her journey had been one of survival up to this point, but now what came next?
Her gaze met that of a young woman walking confidently toward her. The woman appeared serious, but there was a warmth about her.
Amara braced herself for the harsh and strict treatment she expected from the first day, just as she had experienced as a slave. She was ready for her superiors, but things didn't unfold quite as she imagined.
As the woman drew closer, her smile widened and she squealed with excitement, throwing her arms around Amara in a hug. She began to panic, unsure of what was happening as Liora squeezed her tightly.
"You're Amara Elaris, right? I'm so happy to meet you!" She said, hugging the poor girl even tighter as Amara, blushing, stood there holding her bags. "I'm Liora Sacre, and from now on, I'm going to be your best friend." She said, leaving the girl even more stunned.
"Uh... pleased to meet you..." Amara replied, glancing at Liora's uniform, unsure of her rank. "...Ma'am." She lowered her gaze to the ground, fearing the consequences of showing disrespect.
But Liora hugged her again.
"You're so cute, but just call me Liora. Now, come on! I'll show you where you'll be living, and introduce you to your mentor." She took her bags, though Amara hesitated, knowing that Liora must be her superior, but eventually let go.
As they walked toward a huge building beside the main building, Amara couldn't understand why she was being assigned a mentor, or why they weren't heading toward the dormitories.
Approaching the magnificent building adorned with grand columns, she looked up and noticed the sign: Division Command Headquarters. A surge of anxiety hit her as they entered the bustling offices.
Seeing Amara hesitate, Liora grabbed her hand and pulled her along, leading her up to the fourth floor, where a special door awaited them. She was stunned as she read the golden inscription above the door "Investigation Office."
Her mind raced, wondering if something from her past as a slave had caught up with her. But as the door opened, all her thoughts vanished when she saw a man lying on the floor. Liora throwed Amara's bag at the man..
Startled, the man, quickly sat up, yawning and rubbing his head, leaving a red mark.
"I told you to be prepared!" Liora yelled, though Amara had no idea what was happening. Vallen quickly composed himself, lighting a cigarette.
"Nice to meet you." Vallen said in a bored tone, blowing out smoke, to which Liora snatched the cigarette from his mouth and stubbed it out.
"I'll introduce you properly if you can't do it yourself." Liora said with a huge smile, like she had two personalities. "Amara, this is Colonel Vallen Caius, head of the Investigation Office." She turned back to Vallen, now fuming, "Vallen, this is Amara Elaris, your apprentice."
Amara extended her hand, keeping her gaze fixed on the ground, her voice trembling as she whispered, "Nice to meet you, Colonel Vallen.."
Suddenly, a warm and firm hand grasped hers, and she realized she wasn't dealing with an ordinary person. His hands reminded her of a swordmaster, strong and seasoned, making her even more nervous. Her palms began to sweat, her hands trembling with the fear that this might be worse than anything she had imagined.
But then she realized it was all just in her head.
Without warning, Vallen's other hand touched her face, and she flinched, thinking she was about to be hit.
But Vallen lifted her chin, staring directly into her eyes. "Eyes as beautiful as these shouldn't be staring at the floor, Amara."
Looking into the Colonel's eyes, however, Amara saw nothing, just emptiness, as though his soul was filled with darkness.
"Okay, enough with the compliments from out of nowhere. You've never complimented me in all these years." Liora grumbled, pushing him away and hugging Amara. "Don't be scared."
Vallen sat down in his leather chair. "Alright, let's get this started so I can sleep.. Show her the room and uniform, then come back."
And so they left the office through a side door that led directly to the living quarters, where Amara and Liora would now live together. When she changed to her uniform, her demeanor changed instantly. With her black hair falling to her shoulders, she now looked serious and disciplined, like a veteran officer.
Upon returning to the office, Amara was met with a surprise, General Dracon and the academy's principal were there. The two people who were the reason she was accepted into the academy.
Then the next step came.
"Stand before my desk, heels together, and place your right hand over your heart." Vallen instructed. He turned to Liora. "Are you ready?" She nodded. "Alright, now repeat the oath."
"Oath?" Amara asked softly, tilting her head in confusion.
"Well, since Vallen is a colonel not only within the academy but in the Kingdom's military, you must take a military oath." Explained General Dracon. Without hesitation, Amara placed her hand over her heart, signaling her readiness.
"Alright then, repeat after me." Liora began.
Amara repeated the words of loyalty and dedication to Vallen and the kingdom, pledging to serve with honor and to follow Vallen's guidance. She vowed to be ready to make any sacrifice, even unto death, to protect her kingdom and her comrades.
General Dracon looked at her seriously. "I want to clarify something, Amara. You will not just be part of the academy. You are entering the Kingdom's military service as Colonel Vallen's assistant."
Amara blinked in surprise. "Assistant? What does that mean?"
"It comes with responsibilities." He explained . "and also a salary. Your work will be recognized."
Her heart pounded as she processed the words. "A salary? But... I was a slave... I've never had such a thing."
Dracon nodded, understanding her struggle. "This is a new beginning. You will be valued for your contributions. You will not just survive, Amara. You will thrive."
Tears welled up in her eyes, not from sadness, but from the weight of the opportunity before her. "Thank you, General." She whispered and then an emotional moment was interrupted by Vallen's gruff voice.
"Alright, enough of this. That's enough emotion for this office for a few years." He muttered, lighting another cigarette.
General Dracon laughed, and Liora handed Amara her sword, decorated with the monogram and crest of the Investigation Office.
Amara looked down at the sword, still feeling overwhelmed. "There are still a few things I don't understand, Colonel," she said nervously.
"First, put your sword on the side. Second, my name is Vallen, don't call me sir or colonel." He said, taking a drag from his cigarette, at which Amara looked surprised.
"Uh... Val... Vallen, what does it mean that I'm an assistant?"
"There are four ranks, corporal, captain, major, and division commander. You hold the special assistant rank, which is higher than all of them, but also... not quite." He said as he put out his cigarette. "Simply put, you can eat the food meant for the staff, which is much better than the students' meals. You have access to places I do, and the noble kids can't mess with you because if they mess with you, they're messing with me." He leaned back and closed his eyes. "But you're still technically a corporal, you just don't have to live like one."
"Isn't this a bit of a cheat?"
"No, because those little noble pricks are treated like they're somebody." Liora chimed in. "Also, don't forget, since you're part of the Investigation Office, you'll have to deal with cases too, and if anyone insults or harms you outside of a duel, you can request a military tribunal review." She smiled, and Vallen sat up.
"Nah, forget about that, too much paperwork." He leaned back again. "We'll talk more tomorrow so relax for now, explore the academy, or do what I do and take a nap—"
Liora threw a book at Vallen, hitting him in the chest. "Want me to show you around?" she smiled at Amara with bright eyes, but she wasn't expecting the answer she got.
"I think I'll listen to Vallen and take a rest. I traveled a lot and I'm quite tired." She answered, wiping the smile off Liora's face, but she understood.
Amara settled into her small room, the door softly clicking shut behind her. The quiet felt foreign yet comforting. She took a moment to breathe, letting the weight of the day slowly lift from her shoulders, the quiet of her new room wrapping around her like a soft blanket. The walls, adorned with simple decorations, felt foreign yet comforting. She gazed out the small window, watching the sun dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the academy grounds.
A sense of disbelief washed over her. Was it really possible that she could forge her own path? She had once dreamt of freedom, but this was more than she had ever hoped for. It wasn't just about escaping her past, it was about building a future.
As she closed her eyes, Amara envisioned herself in the academy, standing tall beside Colonel Vallen, not as a slave, but as a valued member. She could feel the weight of her uniform on her shoulders, not as a burden, but as a badge of honor.
The thought brought a smile to her lips. She took a deep breath, letting the hope fill her. No longer defined by her past, she was ready to embrace whatever challenges lay ahead. With determination igniting her spirit, Amara realized that she wasn't just surviving, she was truly living for the first time.
The next day her boots echoed against the marble floors as she walked through the academy halls the next morning.
Students bustled past, some engaged in heated debates, others in quiet focus. Amara's eyes scanned the familiar faces, noble and commoner alike, all bound by the same rules, yet separated by invisible lines she could no longer see as clearly.
Ahead, she spotted Colonel Vallen in conversation with General Dracon. His presence, as always, commanded attention, and Amara couldn't help but straighten her posture as she approached. For the first time, she didn't feel like an outsider looking in. She was part of this now this life, this world.
"Amara," Vallen's lazy voice broke through the hum of the corridor as he turned to face her. "I have a mission for you."
Her pulse quickened. A mission? This was it. Her chance to prove herself, not just to the academy, but to the world that once only saw her as a slave.
"Yes, Colonel!" She responded, her voice steady, her heart racing. She braced herself for a complex task, perhaps a reconnaissance mission or a critical briefing. But Vallen's next words made her blink.
"Fistly I said yesterday to not call me colonel, just Vallen" He looked deep into her eyes but without any seriousness secondly I need you to head down to the staff market and get me a pack of cigarettes. Got it?" Vallen's expression didn't change, but General Dracon shook his head, amused by how he was making the girl run around for such trivial tasks.
Amara froze, confused. "A pack of cigarettes?" She repeated.
Vallen nodded, "Yeah. one pack of the Royal Blend." He handed her a pouch of coins.
For a moment, Amara didn't know what to say, first she was surprised that Vallen trusted her and gave more than enough coin to buy a whole house and also everything she had been through, after clawing her way out of slavery and into this academy, her first "mission" was to buy cigarettes.
She could feel the heat rising in her chest, but instead of questioning him, she nodded sharply.
"I'll get them right away, Vallen"
As she left, her mind raced. This wasn't what she had imagined, but if this was the task given to her, she'd complete it perfectly. Even if it was something as trivial as fetching cigarettes, she would prove herself capable.
She felt like an outsider as she approached the market that was behind fences and guards who stopped her at the entrance. Her heart started racing again, but they just asked for her identification card.
"Oh you Colonel Vallen assistant?" One of them asked which she nodded. "Usually Liora comes to buy cigarettes for him, but I guess you're new here. This palace is huge and crowded, the cigarettes are far back at the drugstore ." He smiled at her and handed back the id card.
The marketplace as the guard said was buzzing with the staff of the academy, professors, instructors heaving their morning coffees and breakfast. She felt like an outsider as a student but headed in the directions she was told.
Amara weaved her way through the narrow streets, eyes sharp as she searched for the drugstore. Her focus was unbroken, determined to complete her mission, no matter how small it was.
As she entered the drugstore, the middle-aged woman working there immediately spoke up.
"Colonel Vallen always gets the cute girls." She said while resting her head on the counter with one hand, stirring her coffee with the other.
Amara just smiled and was amazed how many and different medicines were in the store. She never saw this much in her life.
"One pack of Royal Blend right?" Asked the woman.
"Yes please." She said while opening the pouch that was filled with gold and silver coins.
"1 silver, darling"
She handed over the coins, pocketed the cigarettes, and turned back but there was a question in her mind that she was quite curious about.
"Can I ask how do you know that I'm with Colonel Vallen?" She asked which the woman started laughing a bit.
"Your rank patch, the assistant rank was only created for him and his staff. Also the Investigation Office emblem on your sword, you know Colonel Vallen, a well known person among the staff, everybody knows how great a person he is and how he fought fiercely in the war."
Amara was surprised by what she heard. War? Fiercely fought? It was then that she realized she actually knew nothing about her superior and mentor.
"I see your expression is indeed what Liora's expression was when he first came here, but don't be angry, he sent you here for a reason, probably because me as tend to I talk a lot, and he, well, how should I put it, doesn't really like to talk or open up to others, especially not about the past."
"Thank you, but if Colonel Vallen is not comfortable talking about the past or simply doesn't want to, then let it be ." She smiled at the woman that was set back by the answer and pulled at a document.
"You performed excellently, Amara. Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Luca Penelope. Colonel Vallen uses me to test his people." She signed the document and handed it over to Amara who just stood there, not understanding what was happening.
"You're still absolutely adorable, even when you're confused. But I can't explain what this was all about. When you return to the office, he will explain it. You can be sure of that."
Back at the academy, Amara returned to Vallen's office. He was reclined in his chair, boots propped on his desk, looking as disinterested as ever. The pack of cigarettes landed with a soft thud on the desk in front of him.
"Your cigarettes, Vallen. " Amara said, She said with a slightly irritated tone.
Vallen glanced at the pack, then up at her with a lazy smirk. "Fast. Efficient. Good." He picked up the pack and lazily flicked it open, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it with a match.
Amara placed the document on the table, catching Vallen's glance for a moment. His face lit up with life, and for the first time, Amara saw and heard Vallen's smile and laughter.
"Not only did you break a record, but you also resisted temptation. Sit down, relax, and let's talk." He smiled at her, even if it was only a half-smile, but it was enough for her to smile back.
As soon as Amara sat down, her first question was straight to the point: What was all this about? Vallen leaned back in his chair and extinguished his cigarette, even though it was only half-smoked. Amara immediately realized the seriousness of the situation, as it was unheard of for the colonel to put out a cigarette before finishing it.
"When I gave Liora the same task, she came back two hours later and immediately bombarded me with questions. In other words, she failed. You spent half an hour there, and you even got a signature. Well done." Vallen words filled Amara with warmth no one had ever told her she was capable before.
Seeing her emotional reaction, Vallen quickly continued. "We are an Investigation Office where trust in each other is paramount. Believe it or not, we rarely get cases that are quite horrific, and trust is crucial for handling them. It's important that we can share our feelings with one another, and this is especially true for you because, unlike with Liora, I am your mentor. Absolute trust and emotional sharing between us is vital. Don't forget that."
Amara nodded.
"So, you passed because you didn't ask questions about me behind my back, and your written response is simple and perfect." Amara struggled with her emotions even more, trust, a feeling she had never experienced before.
"Thank you, Vallen." She said, smiling at the colonel with teary eyes. To her surprise, Vallen quickly stood up from his chair and turned his back to her.
That beautiful smile reminded Vallen of a lost friend and he couldn't hold back a few tears that rolled down his face. "Go wash up. We'll discuss the rest after you are fresh." He said.
Amara stood and, with only a few steps toward the bathroom, was already crying.
Upon returning to the office, Vallen acted as if nothing had happened, lounging back in his chair with a cigarette dangling from his mouth. Amara walked in, freshly composed, just as Vallen pulled out a stack of documents and tossed a dozen in front of her.
Glancing at the top one, she realized it was the syllabus.
"So, since I'm your mentor, we need to align with each other," He said, exhaling a puff of smoke. "Starting tomorrow, you'll have combat training every day from 6 am to 8 am, followed by strategy from 10 am, and then various other classes until 5 pm. I wake up at 10 am every day, so you'll be skipping the 6 , 8 , and 10 am classes because I'll teach them to you myself."
Amara felt a bit alarmed at the thought of already skipping the most important classes, especially ones taught by experts, right after being rescued and brought here.
"Don't worry." Vallen reassured her. "If you're wondering what I can teach you in combat, strategy, and tactics, just look at my background." Amara perked up, intrigued. "During the war, I was the commander of the Fourth Order of Knights. That's all you need to know."
She had expected more, but that was enough for her to realize that Colonel Vallen wasn't just anyone, you didn't get to lead knights, especially not the Fourth Order, which represented the Royal Knights without being significant.
"I'm in." She replied.
"Alright, our goal is for you to be the division commander in six months."
Amara suddenly blacked out, staring blankly into space with her mouth agape.
"Hello? Are you here?"
"Sir, how—" she began, but Vallen cut her off by raising his hand.
"First of all, call me Vallen. Secondly, it's easy. While I shape you into a real commander, Liora will help you with your studies, since she has the academy's first royal scholarship. You'll be the second in the academy's history, skipping ranks and levels like it's nothing which will allow you to enter the Royal Library, making you stronger. Plus, with the combat skills I'll teach you, you'll be able to take down every noble brat who thinks they're better than you, earning more points. You will be the greatest here.
She couldn't respond at all. She had just begun her new life, and already the bar was set high for her. But one thing was certain, Colonel Vallen was the first person to speak about trust with her, a feeling she had long forgotten.