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.
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..." She 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, Amara 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. and Liora throwed Amara's bag at that 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, she 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 put on the 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 Imperium 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 Imperium, 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 homeland 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 Imperium 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.
She 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.