"This is outrageous!", a shout came from the room I was standing in front of. My new commander didn't sound all too pleased about the new development of her regiment. As one of the 12 ones associated with the Crown, directly serving the Imperial family, having the funding reduced must be a shock. Getting a replacement captain she didn't select couldn't be a great feeling either. I sighed and knocked on the door. There was silence suddenly, but no answer.
It wouldn't do to just enter without permission, so I looked around. This used to be one of the palaces of the former King's many paramours. He kept them relatively close to his own palace where the current King and Queen reside with their children. As such, the opulence of the base was...a bit overwhelming. Although not as well maintained as it used to be, it didn't show many signs of wear. High ceilings were still adorned with sparkling golden chandeliers. Red carpets sprawled on the long hallways. Heavy crimson curtains covered huge windows. I did notice a few creaking floorboards but nothing like the ones in the house I live...lived in. Every member of the regiment is required to live on base, to be mobilized on as short notice as possible. The silence stretched on, so I cleared my throat and knocked again. "Commander, this is Aranel, the new sorcerer sent to -" I was cut off by the door swinging wide open.
A man stood in front of me, slightly taller than my 170cm. He had short cropped hair, wasn't in uniform, but clearly he was one of the captains, my new colleagues. It was evident based on his casual demeanor and more than that, the insignia ring only given to captains as proof of their position. This one was weird though, he had a smile plastered on his slightly round face. It seemed genuine enough but I didn't smile back.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbFIWtO4mV
"Hello!" he near shouted at me. "Welcome, welcome, please come in" he said and gestured behind him into the room in a theatrical bow. Behind him, in a sunshine lit room, was a huge mahogany desk, near which stood a short man with glasses, and seated at the table, a lanky but obviously strong woman with shoulder long hair. She had piercing brown eyes and observed me intently as I moved across the room to stand in front of her desk. 198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEL4dlUWFj2
"You will receive 10 soldiers that will report to you tomorrow" she said, and her voice sounded so tired. As if she needed a couple decades of rest. She was formidable, only 33 but already a commander. I've heard stories, but now that I saw her in person, I could feel her Aura clearly. It was overwhelming almost, and I resisted the urge to drop to my knees in respect. Instead, I bowed at the waste, one hand on heart "It is an honor to be here" I would've said something more, but the little man on my left snorted into the papers he was holding. It was a task to be shorter than me, considering I'm on the shorter side of the average for women, but somehow he managed. Not lifting my head I threw a glance at him, and he looked away, the rat.
"It's good to have you, despite the circumstances of our meeting", the commander said and I stood straight to look her in the eyes. "I apologize for the shouting, it's not you really, it's this...situation" she carefully chose her words. She didn't trust me, which was understandable. I came from one of the biggest regiments in the Imperial army, and this one, although the first one established was the smallest...and the most neglected one. Small wonder she would be wary of me, and my attitude. I smiled at her with my most practiced smile, just wide enough to be a smile, but not wide enough to come off as threatening. No teeth. "The pleasure is all mine, commander" and she smiled back. Despite her strict look before, when she smiled she looked soft, caring even. Weird, but it must be fake. All the commanders and captains in the 4th regiment were after all, and no matter how much I tried to not have prejudice against anyone, my experience so far hasn't been favorable towards any one of them.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoh8Pi6Dim
"Call me Kos, Aranel. And go rest, Breyan will show you around the place tomorrow and tell you what is needed of you as a captain, other than training your soldiers, and us as a regiment" she kept smiling, as if she's glad that I'm there. When i just nodded, her Aura wavered for a moment, and her smile dropped slightly. She then looked at the man near the door and he opened them. They must have been working together for a while then, if no words are needed for him to know what she wants. I saluted her shortly and went down the long hallway to one of the rooms on the third floor, assigned and shown to me previously by one of the clerks working for us.198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdu9ZAce6D
I already hate it here.
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