Amara woke up with an unusual sense of calm. Her first real day at the Astoria Military Academy had arrived.
She strode confidently towards Colonel Vallen's office, recalling his instructions from their last conversation. "I'll be in my office tomorrow morning. Drop by, and I'll teach."
As she approached the door to his office, the sound of silence greeted her. She knocked softly. No answer. After waiting a moment, she tried again, louder this time. Still nothing. Her brow furrowed, and a slight pang of doubt crept in. Had he forgotten?
Liora appeared from around the corner, her boots tapping sharply on the stone floors. "Looking for Vallen?" She asked, almost as if she already knew the answer.
"Yes," Amara replied, glancing back at the closed door. "He said he'd be here."
Liora's lips curved into a wry smile. "Vallen was supposed to be here. But General Dracon came in personally to drag him to a meeting."
"He didn't want to go?" Amara asked.
Liora laughed, folding her arms. "When does he ever? If he had his way, he'd spend the day sleeping."
Amara couldn't help but smile at the image. "So, what should I do now? Vallen said that he will teach me."
"Forget about what Vallen said today?" Liora suggested. "Go and sit in a class that you want to."
Amara paused, unsure of where to start. She had never been in a formal educational setting before. The idea of just walking into a class felt foreign. "A class? Like, which one?"
"Go to Professor Sehr's Military history lesson. She's a good start. Knows her stuff and can be... entertaining." Liora winked.
With a nod of thanks, Amara turned and began navigating her way to the lecture hall. Each step she took made her feel a bit lighter, despite the unfamiliarity of it all. She wasn't sure what to expect, but the idea of learning, truly learning, for the first time thrilled her. This was more than she'd ever had in her previous life chance to grow beyond the limits she once knew.
The lecture hall was spacious, the seats arranged in tiers that allowed everyone to see the professor clearly. At the front, a woman stood with her back to the class, scribbling something on the massive board. Amara's eyes were immediately drawn to her Professor Sehr.
Amara took a seat near the middle, her back straight, eager to absorb whatever came next. She noticed the other students lounging in their seats, some barely paying attention, as if this was just another day in their routine. But for Amara, this was anything but ordinary.
Professor Sehr finally turned around, revealing her sharp features and striking outfit or lack thereof. Amara never thought that a highly educated professor would dress like that. Sehr's clothes were form fitting, leaving little to the imagination, but her demeanor was confident, almost as if she dared anyone to question her authority. And by the way she commanded the room, no one did.
"Today, we'll discuss the Kingdom's first ever victory," Sehr began, her voice smooth but commanding. "I know most of you couldn't care less, but try to keep up."
As Sehr spoke, Amara found herself entranced. This was more than just facts and figures; it was a story of leaders making decisions that shaped history. For the first time in her life, Amara was truly learning and it felt like the world had opened up.
Her hand moved almost unconsciously, scribbling notes as fast as she could. The wars, the key figures every word Sehr said was gold. Amara could hardly keep up, but she didn't care. This was what she had been missing, and she was going to make the most of it.
As she wrote, she noticed a few of the other students glancing her way. One of them, a boy a few rows up, nudged his friend and whispered something, both of them looking at her with raised eyebrows. She ignored them and kept writing, but she couldn't shake the feeling of standing out.
When the lecture ended, Sehr closed her book with a satisfied snap. "Class dismissed. If you weren't paying attention, that's your problem." She glanced around the room, her eyes scanning the faces of the students. Then, her gaze fell on Amara.
"You," Sehrn called, pointing directly at her. "New face. You seem to be taking this seriously."
Amara froze for a second, then nodded. "Yes, professor. It's... my first time learning about this."
"Really?" Sehrn walked over, crossing her arms as she studied Amara. "And here I thought you were just another slacker. What's your name?"
"Amara."
Sehrn's expression totally shifted. "Ah, Vallen's new assistant, right, you so cute girl." She petted her head. "I'm sorry for my rude behavior. I didn't see your rank patch from that far." She smiled and got too close to Amira like with Vallen.
She said nothing, just blushed, thinking about how someone could have watermelons that big. She was kinda jealous, not just because of the size but the professor's whole body was perfect.
"Oh darling, you like this?" She backed up and started posing.
Amara blushed more and covered her eyes. Sehrn professor burst into laughter.
"Vallen finds the cutest girls to be with him, you are still growing and my body is an outcome of a Royal Library book."
She looked astonished; she knew that books could provide strength if one was able to learn them, but she didn't know they could also change the body. She was fired up thinking about the first book he was going to learn.
"Goddess of Beauty. There are actually three copies if you fast with Levels you might get it." Said professor Sehrn, seeing the light in the girl's eyes. "But there's a catch to it, you can't have kids."
Amara's expression suddenly changed, and she realized that the professor valued beauty above a child.
"I see the judgment in your eyes, but I couldn't have had a child anyway."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be, but let me ask a question about Vallen, do you like him?" She went again closer to Amara pressing her melons to her.
"I don't know him well enough for any feelings to develop, but so far he seems like a good person." She answered.
"I suggest that you don't get to know him better because you'll just fall for him like I did. So, what I mean is, you know, outside of class, we are or will be rivals, that's up to you." She let go and started towards the exit, then turned back. "Oh, and Vallen likes the big ones." She stuck out her tongue.
Amara couldn't quite comprehend the whole situation, at least not the part where the professor was definitely at least ten years older than Vallen. The other thing is that she really changed her to who's gonna get Vallen's heart first. She thought about everything that might happen, but for this to happen was simply unbelievable, as if she were dreaming.
Meanwhile, Vallen was in General Dracon's office as if he owned the place, casually sitting with his legs up on the polished desk without saying a word.
"So, what?" he finally asked.
"You can't use your sword." Dracon stood up and opened a hidden wardrobe, revealing his battle-worn sword. It was a little dusty, but when he unsheathed it slightly, it still gleamed. "Take it."
"What do you mean?" He asked while puffing out the smoke.
To that Dracon started laughing and said "You lied to them right?" He laughed more. "You don't even know who Count Heimfell is."
Vallen sat still trying to be invisible.
"And what?" Dracon stepped closer. "You really want to give me your sword, the one that's slain so many enemies?"
"I mean, just for the duel. I know there's a 'myth' that if you take a warrior's bloody sword, it curses you with the souls of the soldiers it's slain, but don't worry—it's been sitting there for years now." He gestured to the wardrobe, which also housed his battered armor.
Vallen reluctantly took the sword. "It's heavy."
"Yeah, it is."
"So, does it come?" Vallen asked as Dracon made his way back to his chair.
"Not yet. But the Count surely will send—" As Dracon glanced back at Vallen, his expression shifted to one of seriousness as he realized what he was asking about "How do you know?"
"Do you think I'm dumb? I saw the Emperor's Messenger carriage so tell me." Vallen replied.
Dracon said nothing but leaned back in his chair and sighed, staring at the ceiling.
"So?" Vallen pressed.
"It's bad."
"How bad?" Vallen asked, his gaze locking onto Dracon's eyes.
"They are already in your office."
After the experience Amara had she was headed back to the office, where she could barely enter because all the high-ranking officers were inside, starting with the principal who was the first to notice her.
"Go congratulate Vallen" He said, handing over a champagne glass.
Amara, confused, walked toward the table where Vallen sat, completely drained of energy and nearly dozing off, dressed in a completely different uniform.
"They told me to congratulate you." She said, extending the glass. Vallen looked up at her like a zombie and reached for the glass.
Amara took a sip of the champagne and quickly realized it was alcoholic, so she spit it back out, causing Vallen to cough. Then Liora arrived.
"Get it together! Everyone is celebrating you, and you look like a corpse." She grabbed Amara's hair and shook her head.
At that moment, she felt a pang of doubt as she thought about how it was Vallen's birthday, and he didn't even know it.
"Can I ask what we're celebrating?" She questioned, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Vallen was promoted to general." The principal said from behind.
She looked at him with her mouth open, wondering how it was possible.
Liora voiced her confusion as well, as she didn't understand it either, she was just there to drink.
The truth was that his promotion was a war ready rank which meant there will be a battle in the near future that he will command.
After the celebration Liora and Amara were sitting with him and chatting when Vallen realized that Amira was in a class, and it was that one.
"Please, Liora, you didn't send her there, did you?" He asked, then let out a big sigh.
"Why, she's a really good person."
"She is an emotional manipulator and a shapeshifter and was a spy. So don't listen to her outside of class."
There was silence after Vallen told the girls, but Amira with a quiet tone asked.
"But... do you love the big one, don't you?"
Vallen had no idea what Amara was talking about, but Liora was very aware, enough that she stood up blushing and pulled Amara away to their room.