ã€ŠSongs of Legacies: Tiesã€‹


 Bootcamp 1

    [Ties] Bootcamp 1

    A little girl wearing a servant''s uniform bowed before a little boy smaller than her. The little girl had black hair that only reaches her shoulders¡ªa bob cut, dark brown skin that seemed charred from the sun''s merciless rays, and brown eyes that complemented her round and cheerful face.

    "Greetings, Young Master Malachi. My name is Arlianne." said the little girl, "I will be taking care of you from now on."

    The little boy, Malachi, was seated upon a chair and wore tan-colored overalls with a white shirt. Similar to Arlianne, he had short black hair and his skin, although brown, was of a lighter shade than Arlianne''s. However, one thing stood out when it came to Malachi; it was his unnatural red irises.

    Malachi, with his wide red eyes, looked upon Arlianne from his seat. Beside him was a table and a book lay opened beneath his right arm. Malachi returned his attention to the book, lifted it up with both of his hands, and hopped off his seat. The book, seemingly as large as his chest, wobbled from his small arms and was brought before Arlianne.

    "Hey, hey!" he said, "Can you read this for me?"

    Malachi requested Arlianne with great vigor, and the girl was surprised at his request. This surprise was especially true for once she took a look at the contents of the book.

    "Umm, Young Master... What is this book?"

    "I don''t know! I can''t read them!"

    Arlianne frowned.

    "Forgive me, Young Master. I cannot understand much of what is written here. I can read them, but they''re all too difficult for someone of my age."

    "Oh..."

    Malachi was saddened by her answer. Seeing this, Arlianne looked around the room to look for a more suitable piece of literature. Eventually, her gaze fell upon a small shelf of books placed at a corner of the room. Looking closer, the spines of the books were more colorful than the rest of the books within the room. The bright colors should have given her a hint.

    ''I wonder if those are children''s books?'' she thought.

    Arlianne placed her hand upon Malachi''s head, and gave her a reassuring pat.

    "Young Master, while I may not be able to understand much yet, I can still read you books that are easier to understand."

    Hearing this, Malachi looked up to her with a wide smile and nodded vigorously. Arlianne went to the small shelf and pulled out a random book. Inspecting the title, it was indeed a children''s book.

    ''The madam must have made this especially for her child.''

    Arlianne sat on a nearby bed and gestured to Malachi to come sit next to her. Malachi did as he was told, and thus began an afternoon of storytelling.

    ///

    Well into the evening that same day, Malachi and Arlianne were seated upon a table. With them was a young adult woman. This woman had an appearance that was strikingly different from both Malachi and Arlianne. She had waist-length white hair, and her skin was of an equally white tone. Her pale white hair and skin would have, undoubtedly, mistaken her for a sickly woman or a spectre in the night. Despite her worrying appearance, her eyes, which were also unnaturally red, gave off a lively brilliance.

    The young adult woman was seated before the two children, and together they ate their evening meals. Although, Arlianne was stiff as a rock.

    "Arlianne, why are you not eating?" asked the woman, "Do you dislike the food?"

    Arlianne vehemently shook her head.

    "No, ma''am, it''s not that." replied Arlianne, "It''s just that I doubt I should be eating with my employers."

    The woman smiled softly at her answer.

    "Oh, worry not. Arlianne, everybody within this home is family. The moment you came into this home, you had become a part of us. So, go on and eat to your heart''s content."

    While Arlianne was deliberating on whether to make herself at home, she sent a glance at the little boy seated next to her. Malachi, seemingly oblivious to her predicament, wolfed down everything on his plate with reckless abandon. Suddenly, he looked at Arlianne, noticing her glance, and gave a smile full of food.

    "Pfft." stifled Arlianne a laugh.

    Seeing Malachi''s stupidly cute action swept her worries away, and finally ate her fill at a regular pace.

    While they were eating, a bell resounded from a corridor. Hearing this, the woman stood up.

    "Hmm, they''re early?" she muttered, "Wait for me here, you two."

    The woman left the dining room and went to the corridor. Turning her heels, she faced and went towards a door. She took a peek through the peek-hole that clicked and opened, and found two brown-skinned bearded men wearing leather coats.

    "Bashia? It''s us." said the bearded man in front.

    The woman, Bashia, also saw that the other bearded man gave a thumbs up at the peek-hole. She smiled, and happily opened the door.

    "Emmanuel, welcome home."

    Bashia greeted the bearded man before her, and gave him a loving hug. The bearded man or, rather, the disguised man returned her hug. The man, Emmanuel, had long black hair and brown eyes. Similarly, the man behind him had the same coloration despite having a sharper appearance.

    "Gregory, welcome." greeted Bashia to the other man.

    Gregory nodded in return.

    Still wearing their coats, they removed the unnatural beards and extra hair on their faces, and gave their chins a soothing scratch.

    "Ugh, remind me to find a better set of beards." said Emmanuel, "Garm fur is really itchy."

    "At least it smells better than Garuda and Manticore fur." replied Gregory as he fixed his coat.

    Curiously, the way Gregory fixed his clothing was unnatural as though there was something hidden underneath. The way he walked as well hinted that there was something that prevented him from walking properly.

    Emmanuel raised his head, and sniffed the air.

    "Oh, were you having dinner?" he wondered, "Do you think you have enough for two more?"

    "I always have more than enough, Emmanuel." she replied as she smiled.

    "Mama? Who they?"

    Suddenly, Malachi''s voice came from behind her. Bashia turned to see Malachi with Arlianne behind him holding his shoulders. Arlianne, however, was staring straight at Emmanuel.

    "Oh, is she...?" wondered Emmanuel, "I''ve heard about her from you, but I didn''t think she would be so cute."

    "Ababa...baba...baba..." stuttered Arlianne, "Y-y-your..."

    "Oops, she recognized me." said Emmanuel.

    Emmanuel gestured to Arlianne, with a finger on his lips, to stay quiet about, most probably, his identity.

    "Now, now, Little One, I am here in secret." he said, "Keep it quiet, okay?"

    Arlianne, with eyes opened wide, darted her gaze from Emmanuel then to Bashia. Bashia had a mischievous smile as Arlianne''s gaze landed on her. The gaze went back to Emmanuel, and the man gave a smile, then Arlianne suddenly dropped her gaze at the little boy below her.

    "Shocking, I know." uttered Gregory, "Well, you''ll just have to get used to it... If you want a peaceful li¡ª ow!"

    "Gregory, shut up. Don''t scare her."

    Emmanuel gave Gregory a kick on his shin to stop the girl from breaking out in tears. Especially since Arlianne stood stock still at this interesting revelation. Bashia suddenly clapped her hands together, and brought everyone''s attention to herself.

    "Okay, everyone, let''s stop dallying in the corridor, and return to our dinner." she announced, "Come, come. Let us finish our still heated meals."

    ///

    The next day,

    "I''ll come again next week." said Emmanuel.

    Emmanuel and Gregory stayed the night, were now wearing their disguises, and were at the entrance to a, surprisingly, a small villa built upon a wide plateau. The plateau had sparse greenery and towered over a vast savanna-like environment.

    Although the greenery was sparse, there were a lot of tall rocks and large boulders littered across the flat area. Aside from the rocks, crevices and small caves where small animals lived in dotted the rock faces. Over the distance, a large city could also be seen with tall structures and pillars of smoke.

    "Take care as you travel." said Bashia to Emmanuel, "You take care as well, Gregory."

    "Mn." replied Gregory with a nod.

    Emmanuel crouched down before Malachi and rubbed the little boy''s head.

    "I''ll see you again, my child." he said, "Take care of Mama, alright?"

    "Yup!" answered Malachi, "See ya, Papa!"

    Emmanuel chuckled at his son''s energetic reply. Next, he faced the quiet Arlianne.

    "Heh heh, now you... I hope you''ll treat them the same as usual, alright?" he told Arlianne, "Forget the fact about my status and just live with them like you would with your family."

    "Family?" wondered Arlianne.

    "Yes, family." repeated Emmanuel.

    Bashia crouched down next to Arlianne and brought her, together with Malachi, closer in an embrace.

    "Emmanuel and I had a little talk as you slept." she announced, "We know that you were an orphan, and we thought, ''Why don''t we adopt her as well?'' as we had discussed about you working here. Would you like to become part of our family?"

    Arlianne stared wide-eyed and mouth agape at Bashia. Her eyes darted back and forth between the the couple. Malachi, naturally, heard the conversation and looked at Arlianne.

    "Arlianne? Family?" he wondered.

    "Yes, Malachi. Would you like to have an elder sister?" inquired Emmanuel.

    "Sister?" repeated Malachi, "Okay!"

    "Pfft... Haha!" chuckled Emmanuel, "Such a happy child."

    While the family was happily spending a few more moments together, Gregory watch watching the surroundings with a wary eye. Sensing and hearing that Emmanuel was about to finish, he turned around and focused on the family behind him.

    Suddenly, sensing something amiss from the wind,

    "Huh? GET DOWN!!" he cried as he pushed the family through the doorway.

    PS-SHANG! PAK!

    A sharp noise tore through the air, and a small object pierced through the frame of the door.

    BANG! BANG!

    Two more small explosions resounded from the distance, and more small objects gouged the wooden door.

    "Shit! How did they find us!?" bellowed Emmanuel.

    "Forget that!" cried Gregory, "Get the others to safety first!"

    "Bashia, you heard Greg. Hide inside for a while." advised Emmanuel, "Greg and I will try to get rid of them."

    Bashia silently nodded, and carried the two children, with surprising strength, with her. The three others went deeper inside the villa, and Emmanuel returned his attention to the attackers outside.

    "How many?" he asked.

    "From the sounds... Just one." replied Gregory.

    Emmanuel and Gregory removed their disguises, including their coats, and revealed shining plate armor hidden beneath. Their armor, made of unknown metals, protected most of their bodies while giving them enough mobility to move. Strapped to their legs were long pipe-like weapons with a handle on one end.

    Their weapons were firearms.

    "Just one, huh?" muttered Emmanuel, "Same as usual?"

    "Mn." answered Gregory as he nodded, "You spot, I shoot."

    Gregory kicked the door open and the two dived into a firefight.

    ///

    Deep within the villa, in an unknown cellar.

    Bang... Bang...

    Sounds of gun-fighting echoed through the building, and Bashia kept the two children deep in her embrace. In the darkness, Arlianne freed her head and gasped some air.

    "Ah, I''m sorry." apologized Bashia, "Are you uncomfortable?"

    "Never mind that, Ma''am!" shouted Arlianne, "His Highness, His Highness...!"

    "Shh, Emmanuel and Gregory can take care of it." reassured Bashia, "Gregory¡ªSir Grigorio¡ªis the Phoenix of the Kingdom, and the best friend of Emmanuel."

    "But still! But still!" pestered Arlianne, "Shouldn''t we call for the Royal Guards!?"

    Bashia''s expression grew solemn and shook her head.

    "It is because of Malachi and I that they cannot be called upon."

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    Arlianne became silent and quickly realized why.

    "But the war was already over so long ago!" she cried, "Even the king gave a Royal Decree regarding the treatment of Eskurs!"

    "Yet, many people still remember the scars of war." argued Bashia, "You are young, younger than those who personally witnessed the hatred of my kin. The aged and the descendants of those lost lives still find it hard to forgive and forget. Even if we, the defeated, were forgiven... As long as our past is not forgotten, as long as they vehemently remember that part of our past, we are never forgiven."

    Arlianne quietly stared at Bashia in silence for a while as distant gunshots roared outside.

    "That is why, Arlianne..." continued Bashia, "Do find it in your heart to be with Malachi despite any tribulations you may encounter in the future."

    Arlianne gazed upon the little boy next to her, sleeping in his mother''s arms.

    "I... I will do my utmost to stay with the Young Master." she declared, "I will stay by his side as his servant... no... as his family, his sister. I swear, Ma''am."

    Bashia smiled and placed her hand on Arlianne''s cheek.

    "But first, we have to change how you address me, right?" she said, "You have to call me, "mother" or "mama", yes? Hmhm."

    "Mo... mom." stuttered Arlianne, "Yes, mom."

    Soon after, the firefight outside audibly died down. Bashia brought Arlianne closer to her embrace, and even woke Malachi up with her tight squeeze.

    "Ma... Mama?" groaned Malachi.

    "Shh, quiet." advised Bashia.

    After a while, footsteps could be heard coming closer and closer. A moment later, a voice was heard.

    "Bashia, are you well?" said Emmanuel, "We got rid of the assassin. It''s safe to come out now."

    The wall before Bashia and the two children opened up and light seeped through. The other side of the wall was the dining room where they ate their meals. A hidden cellar behind a small cabinet.

    Emmanuel was perspiring, his clothes tattered, and his armor scratched. Despite his haggard appearance, there were no visible wounds nor noticeable injuries. Despite the dirt, Bashia flew towards Emmanuel into an embrace, and the couple warmly received one another.

    "Are you sure it''s fine already?" inquired Bashia as she caressed Emmanuel''s face with her hands.

    "It''s fine." reassured Emmanuel, "Though, as a precaution, Greg is sweeping the area for other assassins. Ah, he''s here."

    Just as announced, Gregory appeared in the dining room carrying a small bag and another firearm.

    "Mn." said Gregory, "Apart from his fusil and ammunition, I found nothing else that could be a clue to his identity."

    "His identity doesn''t matter, anyhow." declared Emmanuel, "It''s already obvious that Elijah had a hand in this."

    "Yet, we have no evidence that directly points to your brother." rebutted Gregory, "And that''s what we need the most in this ridiculous faction war."

    Just then, Malachi and Arlianne had followed Bashia out. Arlianne was still holding onto Malachi''s shoulders, but the little boy himself had a different expression than that of the people around him. The others had expressions of relief, yet Malachi, however, had an expression of shock. The first to notice this was Gregory.

    "Mn? What is it, Young One?" asked Gregory.

    Following the boy''s gaze, Gregory found that Malachi was staring at the fusil in his hands.

    ''Is he interested in this fusil?'' he wondered, "Would you like to see?"

    Gregory crouched down and presented the fusil to Malachi. The fusil was a bit short of two meters in length, and its girth was three-quarters of a grown man''s arm. At its end was a wide piece of wood, curved to be held by a hand. The fusil was wholly metal, and seemed lighter than expected when held by Gregory.

    Malachi tottered slowly towards the fusil that was held out. Arlianne let go of his shoulders and watched as the little boy inched closer. Bashia and Emmanuel curiously watched their child arrive in front of the fusil and hold his hand over the metal frame.

    A few moments after Malachi made contact with the now-cold metal, he collapsed.

    "Malachi!?" screamed Bashia.

    His mother darted towards his limp body and held him close to her. Bashia noticed something strange, and placed her palm on his forehead.

    "A fever? His body is so hot!?" she announced, "Call a doctor, quick! Arlianne, get a basin of water as well!"

    Gregory bolted out of the house as soon as Bashia ordered. Bashia and Emmanuel carried the boy with them upstairs, and Arlianne did as she was told. Malachi was then placed in his room, and all the windows had been opened to let the breeze through.

    ///

    Eight hours later.

    Bashia and Emmanuel were within the dining room, anxiously waiting for the report of the doctor Gregory had brought prior. Arlianne was within Malachi''s room assisting the male doctor that appeared similar to Bashia¡ªwhite hair, pale skin, and red eyes. As for Gregory, he stood watch by the windows with his fusil, ready to engage the uninvited, if ever.

    "This is baffling." commented the doctor, "I''ve spent almost all of my antipyrectics and poisons that should drop one''s body temperature, yet I see no change in his condition. Even the anti-flammatory medicines had no effect. I had to stop administering them lest I risk his life."

    Arlianne''s body froze and her face teared at the doctor''s word. The doctor noticed this, and placed his palm upon her head.

    "Worry not, child." he said, "I will do my utmost to see him cured." ''I was shocked at first when the Royal Phoenix came to my clinic, of all places, and brought me here before the Prince. Ah well, I am sworn to Eqarian secrecy. Haha. Still, this child, to be so anxious for one who is born as a half... It would be nice if this generation will guide our future.''

    Without warning, Malachi''s body twitched, and his voice gushed out like a broken dam.

    "Kh... Urr... aaAAAAHHH!!!"

    A roar, unbefitting of a child, burst from his small body. His body writhed, his hands balled into fists grasping and nearly tearing the sheets.

    Alarmed and panicked, the doctor stood and tried to hold Malachi down. Soon, footsteps erupted from the outside, and the door swung open in full force. Bashia and Emmanuel stormed the room in response to Malachi''s cries.

    "Malachi!? Malachi!?" cried Bashia.

    Bashia dove onto Malachi and brought him to his embrac while Emmanuel stood next to the doctor, unsure of what to do.

    "AAAAHHHHH!!!" screamed the child.

    Bashia broke out in tears, unable to quell her son''s pain. Seeing that things might turn for the worst, Emmanuel gave an order to the doctor.

    "Put him to sleep! Put him to sleep, now!!"

    Without another word, the doctor pulled out a syringe with clear liquid. With the aid of Bashia and Emmanuel holding Malachi down, the doctor administered the drug.

    ///

    ''Where am I?''

    A life drifts in the void.

    ''Who am I?''

    Floating...

    Fleeting...

    ''I... am...''

    Light emerges from the darkness...

    ///

    "Ghuaahh! Kaa... Haa... Haa..."

    A little boy gasped as he awoke. Panting for breath, he stared at the bed where he lay.

    "This place is...?" he wondered, "Urgh..."

    Realizing he was somewhere unfamiliar yet very familiar, he held his head as a sharp migraine coursed through.

    "The... Hell...?"

    As he got up from the bed, the door of the room opened an a little girl walked in with a basin of water.

    "Young Master, pardon me while I¡ª"

    The little girl stared wide-eyed in shock. Fortunately, the basin in her hands did not fall. The little boy and the little girl at one another for quite some time.

    ''Who?'' thought the little boy.

    However, before he could figure it out...

    "Young Master!"

    The little girl wailed, dropped the basin of water, and charged forward.

    "Huh!? Wai¡ªoof!!" groaned the little boy.

    "Young Master!!!" she cried as she embraced the little boy, "Young Master Malachi!!!"

    Footsteps, again, were heard outside. At the very least, the door was left open, and four adults appeared one after another. Taking care of avoiding the puddle of water, Bashia was the first¡ªsecond¡ªto notice that the little boy, Malachi, was finally awake.

    "Malachi... Malachi..." repeated Bashia as she covered her lips with her hands.

    Like the little girl, Arlianne, she embraced Malachi as well.

    "Oh, Malachi...!" she cried, "We were so worried!"

    "Kuh... Who..." struggled Malachi, "Urgh! Ahh!"

    Malachi grasped his head with one hand, and shoved the girls away with the other. Shocked, Arlianne and Bashia stared agape at his actions.

    Still screaming in pain, the doctor was about to administer the same drug that put him to sleep until...

    "Out! Get out of the room!" cried Malachi, "Leave me alone!!"

    Malachi grabbed hold of the doctor''s hand, snatched the syringe, and threw it onto the floor. Emmanuel was about to go forward to hold Malachi down, but he received a punchwith surprising strength to his chin that he fell to the floor instead.

    "Emmanuel!" screamed Bashia.

    "Your Highness!!" cried Arlianne and the doctor.

    "Out! Out! Everyone out!"

    Unable to do anything further, and seeing Emmanuel down on the floor, the doctor could only pull Emmanuel out of the room with the two girls in tow.

    "Let''s do what he says for the moment." advised the doctor, "I''m not sure what will happen if we do but, at this rate, something worse may happen if we force him to do something else."

    ///

    "What do you think happened?"

    The members of the household, along with the doctor, were downstairs in the dining room. By now, Emmanuel was awake with Gregory behind him, still a bit groggy from that punch. For the moment, the doctor was checking up on Emmanuel due to him collapsing from earlier, and Gregory asked for the doctor''s opinion.

    "Frankly, I was surprised that such a small child could knock out a grown man so easily." replied the doctor, "The Young Master, despite being in pain¡ªhis consciousness clouded by pain¡ªwas able to accurately deliver a blow to His Highness here. As for being knocked out, I''m not sure about the principle of such a strike."

    "Ugh, I have high hopes for his future now." commented Emmanuel, "The way he swung that fist was surprisingly smooth, as though he knew how to properly execute whatever he just did. Ooh, my head still hurts..."

    Arlianne poured a glass of water and gave it to Emmanuel to drink. Receiving the glass, Emmanuel gulped down the water, momentarily easing the pain in his head.

    "For now, I don''t see anything alarming in your condition, Your Highness." declared the doctor, "But, just in case, you may have to avoid strenuous activities for a few days."

    Just as the doctor was about to finish diagnosing Emmanuel''s condition, a voice came from the hallway.

    "He''ll be fine." said the voice¡ªa boy''s voice.

    Alarmed, the people within the dining room looked towards the source and found Malachi leaning on the doorway.

    "Malachi!?" cried Bashia.

    "Are... Are you well?" inquired Emmanuel.

    Malachi struggled forward, one hand still on his head, and sat on an empty chair.

    "I''m fine." he replied, "Kh... My head''s a mess, but that''s it."

    Bashia quietly stared at the little boy who had rested his chin on the table sloppily. Malachi noticed her stare, and turned his gaze towards her direction. Locking eyes, Malachi made a wry smile.

    "I''m not acting like the Malachi you''re used to, huh, Mama?" he said.

    Bashia was taken aback.

    "Who..." she uttered.

    Malachi raised his head.

    "Man, that gun was real shocking to me." said Malachi, "Who knew that seeing a gun would actually trigger my recollection of memories from a past life. Haha!"

    "What?"

 Bootcamp 2

    [Ties] Bootcamp 2

    "The same name, huh?" said Malachi to himself, "Coincidence or convenience?"

    Looking down in his own body,

    "A child''s size..." he commented, "A reincarnation or a takeover?"

    He looked around, got off his bed, and went to a nearby mirror. Facing the glass pane that reflected his image, he saw a small boy no higher than a meter. He felt his entire body disbelievingly, especially when it came to his facial features.

    "Red irises..." he muttered, "But my skin and hair are different."

    Malachi closed his eyes, and focused his consciousness within his mind. Searching and sifting, he scoured the memories "Malachi" had. He "recalled" many things, in the past and in the present lives. Opening his eyes, he arrived at a probable conclusion.

    "Possibly, my past memories were merely sealed." he uttered, "I don''t feel anything different from when my memories were locked away, nor anything afterwards... Apart from a shift in personality, I am ''myself''."

    Then, he had a moment of realization.

    ''Oops, if I recall correctly, I knocked out my dad.'' he thought, ''Hmm, so I''m the son of a Prince... Nice background...''

    As he thought such, he unknowingly revealed a wry smile.

    ''First, though... Do I divulge this information? Then again, seeing that gun earlier... Uncle Greg called it a fusil, huh? Fusils, like those old Earth muskets?''

    From his wry smile, it became a grin.

    "Haha!" he laughed, "Good thing Father... Father...? Why... Why can''t I remember his face? ... Never mind, I''ll just use the skills I learned from back then and improve this kingdom''s war potential."

    Malachi went towards the door and left the room. In the hallway, he pondered once more.

    ''Recalling correctly, Pops is a Prince. Judging from the incident before, an assassin came to take his life. Therefore, there should be a faction war or something similar to that currently in progress... I''ll have to verify it from Pops... Yeah, forget about hiding my past. Let''s charge forward instead. Improving this kingdom''s technology will be easier if I do so...''

    Remembering the layout of the villa, he went downstairs towards the dining room,

    ''They should be there, if not, outside or the lounge hall.''

    Thinking that the others were gathered there. Arriving at his destination, he found his father, Emmanuel, being diagnosed by the doctor. With them were Bashia, Arlianne, and Gregory as he expected.

    "Just in case, you may have to avoid any strenuous activity for a few days." said the doctor.

    Malachi leaned onto the frame of the doorway and spoke.

    "He''ll be fine." he said.

    Hearing his voice, the others in the room turned their gazes towards him and thus the present situation.

    ///

    Everybody in the room became quiet at Malachi''s revelation. Memories of a past life came to him with the fusil as a trigger.

    "What do you mean by that?" asked Emmanuel, "Are you my son or are you not?"

    "Are we going to be philosophical here?" clarified Malachi, "Pops, I am your son. Birthed between you and Mamita. The one before the fever was also ''myself'' only with sealed memories. If you were able to shock Arlianne with your identity, why can''t I shock the rest as well? Haha!"

    Bashia stared at Malachi momentarily, then stood up. The others watched her go to Malachi''s side, and effortlessly lift him up with both hands.

    "Wah!?" cried Malachi from surprise, "What''s up, Mamita?"

    Bashia brought Malachi to her face. Face to face, Malachi made a grin and said such. Bashia then turned Malachi all over, inspecting his entire body, making the scene fairly surreal yet strangely amusing.

    "Mamita, I''m not a strange animal." whined Malachi.

    Bashia replaced Malachi onto his seat, and went back to her own seat. Facing Emmanuel, she spoke.

    "It is our child." she said, "Only, if we were to take his word with regards to past memories, nothing else is different."

    "Mamita''s rather calm about this." commented Malachi, "Any reason for doing so?"

    Bashia''s expression became serious, and brought her face before Malachi. Malachi recoiled from the suddenness of her action. Bashia stared at Malachi sternly in the eyes.

    "Mama." she said.

    "Huh?" uttered Malachi.

    "Call me Mama." she repeated, "Do not call me ''Mamita''."

    Noticing the intensity of her gaze,

    "Ma... Mama..." said Malachi.

    "Again. Clearly." she ordered.

    "M-mama... Mama." repeated Malachi.

    Bashia stared at him for a while longer. Then, her expression softened, and turned into a smile. Bringing her arms forward, she brought Malachi to an embrace.

    "Yes, you are my child." she declared, "No matter what happens, you are my little Malachi."

    Emmanuel and the others were silent as they watched Bashia overpoweringly embrace the small boy before them. Emmanuel, still having a disbelieving expression plasterer on his face, could only look on dumbstruck at Bashia''s actions.

    "Ma... Mama... Can''t... Breathe..." said Malachi struggling.

    Bashia loosened her embrace, but did not let go. Sensing his mother''s grip loosening, Malachi slipped out of her embrace, and went to the other side of the table.

    "Aww... Malachi..." whined Bashia.

    ''That fever of mine must have flipped a switch.'' thought Malachi, ''Scary...''

    Malachi his behind Arlianne''s chair, and the girl looked at the boy behind her. Malachi locked gazes with her, and revealed a grin.

    "Hey, sis." said Malachi, "Were you able to understand everything so far? Haha!"

    Arlianne was still staring at Malachi, unsure of what to do.

    "If... If the madam is fine with with..." said Arlianne, "If mom is fine with it, then..."

    Malachi smiled and hugged her.

    "Kaaaa... So cute." he said, "Ahh, this will be a nice life~ Such a cute sister~ Too bad you''re older than me, but, whatever. CUTE IS CUTE~"

    "Eep!" shrieked Arlianne, "Y-young Master!?"

    "Gah! The way you get flustered! Yes! Mama! Pops! Finalize her adoption! Guh!?"

    Just as he was about to go on a rampage, he snapped out of it.

    ''Woah! Did I just?'' he thought, ''Kh... I have to restrain myself...''

    "Like mother like son." commented Gregory, "Eman, remember seven years ago?"

    Emmanuel turned to Gregory, then gazed at Bashia, and finally staring at the boy beside him. Emmanuel stretched back, and placed an arm over his eyes, then released a long and deep sigh.

    "Yeah, I remember." he replied, "Bashia went nuts when I gave her that doll... I will never forget that."

    "What about it?" questioned Bashia with a pout, "At least we now know that he inherited my tastes for cute things! Hmph!"

    "Kukuku, hahaha!" laughed Emmanuel, "Ahh, it will take time for me to sort this out. I, however, shouldn''t dwell on this too much. I still have bigger problems to deal with. Fine, fine. Malachi, you are my son."

    "You sound like you just forced yourself to believe so, Pops." commented Malachi.

    "Pops, Papa, I don''t care anymore." said Emmanuel, "Doc, I suppose you can keep these secret?"

    Everyone looked at the doctor.

    "Well, I had a vow of Eqarian Oaths." said the doctor, "Frankly, between my curiosity as a doctor and my sense of professionalism, I would like to study this phenomenon. However, since you requested its secrecy, for all of your identities, I will uphold the oath."

    "Thanks, doc." said Emmanuel, "I need a drink..."

    "Pops, you may want to hold off on that drink for a while longer." advised Malachi, "It has been a day since my collapse, right?"

    Malachi then turned his gaze to Gregory, and the person raised a brow.

    "In your panic, Uncle Greg, you''ve been followed." announced Malachi, "The outside had gone so quiet all the while we conversed."

    "What?"

    Alarmed, Gregory went to a nearby window facing the front yard. In the shadows of the rocks and crevices, he found a group of people trying to hide their bodies. If not for the glint of the sun''s reflection n the metal, he wouldn''t have found them.

    "Damn! Forgive me, Eman." cursed Gregory.

    "Pops, you may need to ensure the doc''s safety after this." advised Malachi, "Also, do you mind if I assist you in spotting the enemy?"

    The expressions of all the adults became grave, their gazes stern.

    "No!" denied Emmanuel, "I don''t give a damn about your past life, but I won''t risk your present life!"

    Emmanuel immediately stood up, and went to get his fusil. Along with Gregory, they went to the doors and windows, preparing for a firefight.

    "Dammit, how many are there?" inquired Emmanuel, "I can see at least ten of them. This place is no longer safe. Bashia, hide again with the kids and the doctor, the aftermath will be very annoying."

    Bashia immediately stood up, and was about to carry Arlianne and Malachi. Before she could pick up Malachi, the boy instead stared intensely at his mother.

    "What is it? We need to go, now." ordered Bashia.

    "Mama, let me help out Pops." declared Malachi, "I promise you that I won''t put myself in harm''s way. After all, I got a second chance at life, for whatever reason."

    Mother and son stared at one another for a while, gaugin each other''s sincerity. The silence, which felt like an eternity, was broken by Gregory.

    "Could you hurry up, the situation is tense as it is." he berated, "One way you could help is to get out of our way, Malachi."

    "Fine." said Malachi, "But if you take too long, I''m helping out by spotting whether you like it or not."

    "Do you even know how to spot?" questioned Emmanuel.

    "I am your son, after all." answered Malachi, "The way your eyes are moving, the signals you''re giving Uncle Greg. You''re most likely the spotter and the other''s the shooter. By the way..."

    Malachi went to a nearby window.

    "You said there were at least ten of them." he said, "There are actually twelve. Six pairs of enemies, spotter-shooter fireteams. Two behind that rock, two inside that cave, two below that crevice, two between that broken boulder, and two behind that bush."

    "What? You just said five teams." argued Gregory, "Those are the ones we found."

    Malachi revealed a wry smile.

    "Because the remaining two are already stuck to the wall." he declared, "Don''t you hear the sound of small rocks being crushed underfoot and the scraping of armor on the walls nearby?"

    Everyone became silent. Emmanuel and Gregory strained their ears to listen. Bashia and the doctor, too.

    "Scritch... Scritch... Shaakk..."

    "There... There is noise..." said Gregory disbelievingly, "How did you..."

    Malachi grinned and spoke with arms spread open.

    "I am Malachi. A Hunter and the Deliverer. In the past, in my past, I grant deliverance upon my enemies."

    ///

    Outside.

    "Are you sure this is where Lord Grigorio went with that Eskur?" asked an assassin to another assassin, "This villa doesn''t seem all that grandiose as you might expect from royalty."

    "No idea, let''s just kill the target and get our bounty." replied assassin, "500,000 Pearls for a job... Can you think of the amount of booze!? So much booze!"

    "Hey! Keep it down over there!" whispered another assassin from behind a rock, "The operation starts once those two break inside."

    In front of the villa, near the entrance, stood two cloaked and armored people. The two were on either side of the door, leaning onto the wall with their fusils. One assassin locked gazes with his partner, and the other nodded. Immediately, the assassin on the left of the door moved and proceeded to kick open the door.

    "BAM!" the door broke open, and the two assassins stormed the building.

    Inside, one watched the back of the other as they carefully searched the villa.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    "The downside of using long firearms indoors is giving their wielders limited movement."

    "What!?"

    A voice spoke and the assassins went alert. Before an assassin could move and point the fusil, it suddenly received a blow to the chin with an uppercut of another fusil.

    "Shit!"

    The other assassin panicked when he saw his partner fall but, before he could react, Gregory appeared behind him with a kitchen knife, and slit the throat. Silent kill.

    "Damn, that was bloody." commented Gregory, "I can''t believe a kid would suggest that... Then again, he''s not a kid at all... Phew, good thing Bashia had taken Arlianne away already."

    "I agree, I can''t believe it as well." added Emmanuel, "Is he really my son?"

    "I am your son, Pops." said Malachi, "You may want to get rid of the other guy and loot their guns. Man, this thing''s heavier than a Garand, it''s not even wholly made of wood."

    Gregory and Emmanuel watched a surreal scene of a seven-year old child looting the corpses for weapons and ammo. Human corpses were before Malachi, a supposed child, yet he didn''t flinch at the sight of it.

    "So, are you going to get rid of this guy?" said Malachi as he pointed at the knocked out assassin, "I could kill him, myself, but my body lacks the strength to do so."

    The adults with him rubbed their foreheads.

    ''I don''t care anymore.'' thought Emmanuel, ''We have to make use of his suggestions if we want to get out of here alive. Being outnumbered sure is a pain.''

    ''I wonder if this is a blessing?'' wondered Gregory, ''Emmanuel''s son just had to be well-versed in combat. Would be nice if he inherited the Eskur''s wisdom and intellect.''

    "I''ll do it." said Emmanuel, "Give me the knife, Greg."

    Emmanuel, then, dispatched the assassin.

    "I have to ask, though." said Gregory, "Why can''t we take them as prisoners?"

    "Because they are assassin''s, hired assassin''s." replied Malachi, "I can surmise that these guys were sent after Pops and, judging from what they have on their bodies, they were merely ordered by an intermediary. Hence, the limited equipment. We''ll get nothing from them, even if we capture them alive. Might as well get rid of them."

    "The others outside should begin to notice something wrong." said Emmanuel, "Either they storm the place, or we''ll be exchanging potshots at each other."

    Emmanuel and Gregory got rid of the bodies.

    ///

    The assassins outside waited for those who entered but, one of them was getting impatient.

    "Hey, those guys are taking too long." said an assassin, "Think they got into trouble?"

    "Not sure." replied another assassin, "I mean, it''s too quiet. Maybe there''s no one inside?"

    "Still, they''re taking their sweet time. What say we also go in?"

    "Tempting... Especially since nothing''s happening yet. I''ll check with the others."

    An assassin raised an arm and made gestures towards the other assassin teams. More than half gestured the same, while the others gestured something else. The majority had voted, they proceeded to leave their positions, and they approached the villa.

    Once they were out in the open,

    "BANG!"

    A gunshot roared from a window, and an assassin fell as it''s head blew open.

    "Scatter!" yelled an assassin as it ran for cover.

    "BANG! BANG!"

    Two more gunshots erupted, and hit two more assassins. One died, but one merely got hit on the leg. The surviving assassin limped towards a rock to hide.

    ///

    "Four down, eight to go." commented Gregory, "They really thought to storm inside."

    "Now, the potshots can begin." added Malachi, "Pops, care to take the second floor? You should get a nice view from above."

    "Yeah, got it." affirmed Emmanuel, "Greg, I''ll leave Malachi to you."

    "Roger that." replied Gregory, "Now, then, their forces should be confused momentarily. Should we rain down fire?"

    "That depends on how much ammo you have left." argued Malachi, "Seeing the fusil''s performance, it packs a punch with such a large caliber but it can''t travel far and reloading is a pain."

    "I guess we''ll have to pick our shots, is that what you''re saying?"

    "More like, make your shots count, Uncle Greg. When you shoot, make sure it will stop the enemy. The stopping power of the fusil should make it so that a shot to the torso will stun the target momentarily. Isn''t that why you still wear armor despite its weight?"

    Gregory stared at the boy next to him.

    "How old are you, really?"

    "This life plus my past? Around thirty?"

    "Mn... So that makes you as old as Emmanuel and I."

    As they were talking, an assassin came into view.

    "Let''s put my self aside. A curious enemy is approaching."

    Gregory brought his attention to the assassin. He crouched before the window, and brought his fusil up, its barrel rested upon the windowsill.

    "While Pops is still relocating, just knock that guy''s movements out." suggested Malachi, "If you can hit the shoulder, shoot the legs afterwards. If not, take a few shots at the torso then the legs. Seal their movements, then aim for the head. Since reloading takes a while, use another loaded fusil to fire the next shots."

    "Heh, I can''t wait for you to grow up and train our troops." chuckled Gregory, "I hope you plan to enter the Military Academy in the future."

    The assassin crept closer, unhindered.

    "BANG!"

    Gregory''s fusil fired a shot, and the bullet accurately landed on the assassin''s shoulder. When it hit, just as Malachi suggested, Gregory shot the assassin''s leg, and subsequently blew away the head with the fusil they looted from the first two assassins.

    "BANG! BANG!"

    The assassin fell as it died.

    "Five kills, seven more." announced Malachi, "Pops should be ready anytime now... Oops."

    "BANG!"

    A shot zipped towards the window where Malachi and Gregory were. Malachi, fortunately, saw the muzzle aimed at him, and ducked immediately. More gunshots arrived at their location.

    "BANG! BANG! BANG!"

    Malachi lay on the floor, covering his head, and calmly took a peek afterwards. However, his curiosity was abated when Gregory pulled him down to the floor.

    "Are you out of your mind!?" he berated the child, "I get that you''re used to situations like this, but hell, don''t forget the promise you made to Bashia!"

    "Sorry." apologized Malachi, "We may have to relocate to another window, and also barricade the door."

    Just then, gunfire erupted from above and a shot killed an assassin hiding behind a rock. The same assassin that got shot in the leg earlier.

    "Now, we relocate while Pops got their attention." advised Malachi, "Bring something heavy to block the entrance, too. Six down, six to go. I wish we had grenades."

    Gregory stood up from his nest while Emmanuel was laying down fire from above. The assassins were then preoccupied with Emmanuel''s height advantage, and a pair attempted to reach a higher rock. The other assassins also gave covering fire by shooting Emmanuel''s position.

    "Faster, Uncle Greg." advised Malachi, "Two assassins had split from the main force and are climbing a rock."

    "Gotcha." affirmed Gregory, "Is this place good?"

    Gregory and Malachi had arrived at another window, still facing the front yard. From their position, they were now looking at the assassins from an open angle.

    "Very good." replied Malachi, "Take this chance to get rid of at least two of them. Their heads are exposed from here, but the distance requires adjustments to your aim."

    Gregory crouched before the window, and raised his fusil. The same stance he used earlier, and took time to aim properly.

    "Don''t be too excited." whispered Malachi, "Control your breathing so the fusil won''t shake. Once you''ve fully breathed in, pause, then take the shot. After taking the shot, release you breath, then repeat."

    Gregory turned his eyes towards the boy next to him. Malachi, with his red eyes, sternly gazed upon the outside, and his breath was steadier than Gregory''s.

    ''This guy...'' thought Gregory, ''What did he do in the past to know all of these?''

    "Don''t let your mind wander, Uncle Greg." advised Malachi still looking outside, "Once you''re ready¡ªthen again, we are never ready¡ªtake the shot."

    Gregory closed his eyes.

    ''I am the youngest Royal Phoenix. The leader of this kingdom''s military. To think I would receive advice from a child¡ªno, not a child...''

    Opening his eyes, Gregory revealed intense concentration. Taking Malachi''s advice into consideration, his breathing became steady, and his focus became better. His arms also shook less, and was able to move as intended in an ironically relaxed state. Gregory''s finger pulled the trigger.

    "BANG!"

    Gregory''s shot flew straight and true towards an assassin hiding behind another rock. The head wasn''t hit, but the neck blew open from the large bullet, leaving the assassin to bleed to death.

    Seeing their comrade fall next to them, the assassins shifted their attention towards Gregory. That was, until Gregory grabbed the next fusil and let loose another shot, hitting an assassin''s torso dead center.

    "BANG!"

    The assassin fell on his back and had difficulty breathing. The two remaining assassins were now panicking and were about to retreat.

    Above, on the second floor, Emmanuel was watching the events unfold.

    ''Unbelievable.'' he thought, ''Is this Gregory''s or Malachi''s?''

    He also watched as the two remaining assassins on the ground were about to flee. Taking aim, he shot one assassin on the back, pushing him on the ground.

    "BANG!"

    "BANG!"

    Another shot erupted from Gregory''s position, and landed on the second fleeing assassin, incapacitating his legs. The two assassins that split from the main force watched helplessly as their comrades fell one after another. Turning around to flee, Malachi shouted.

    "They are fleeing! Don''t let them do so!" he ordered, "Let none reach their employer!"

    This time, Gregory broke the window open, and jumped outside to chase the fleeing assassins. Emmanuel ran back downstairs, vaulted over a makeshift barricade, and went after the assassins together with Gregory. As for Malachi, he had to stay to keep his promise with Bashia.

    ///

    "Is it safe?" asked Bashia.

    Malachi went towards the cabinet where they first his together. Malachi knocked and called or the others.

    "For now, yes." replied Malachi, "Pops and Uncle Greg went after the remaining assassins to ensure that they won''t return alive."

    "What!? Wouldn''t that defeat the purpose of ensuring his safety!?" cried Bashia, "Emmanuel!"

    "Mama... Mama! They can handle the two remaining assassins." assured Malachi, "Judging from the panic in the enemies'' eyes, they wouldn''t pose a threat."

    "How... How can you be so sure?" questioned Bashia, "Did you do something?"

    "I merely advised Uncle Greg." answered Malachi, "How the enemy felt after that, I had no hand in it."

    Soon, footsteps were heard in the hallway.

    "Bashia! Malachi! We''re back!" shouted Emmanuel, "We got rid of them all!"

    Malachi smiled at his mother.

    "See?" he said.

    Bashia squeezed Malachi harder, and carried him off to meet Emmanuel. In the entryway, Emmanuel and Gregory stood next to a pile of fusils and ammunition that they had looted from the corpses. Twelve fusils and twelve bags of ammunition.

    "Pack your things." said Emmanuel, "We will be leaving this place as it is no longer safe. We can''t be too sure that absolutely no one else knows of this place. Doc, you''re coming with us, as our family''s physician."

 Bootcamp 3

    [Ties] Bootcamp 3

    After the incident, Malachi''s family relocated from the plateau villa to a village on a plain. Interestingly, over the horizon, the same large city that could be seen from the villa could also be seen from the village.

    This village, that had no name, was an interesting village. It only had one ethnic group, apart from Malachi and Arlianne, living within. It was a village of Eskurs¡ªpeople with red irises, and pale white skin and hair.

    "Malachi, help out with unloading our belongings." said Bashia, "We really have to thank Dr. Ibrahim for providing a new home close to the capital. Though, we have to apologize for making you lose your job in the city."

    Malachi''s group, after fleeing the villa, had arrived at a small house within the Eskurs village. This house''s owner was the Eskur doctor that helped them out, Ibrahim Skrima. Ibrahim was helping out the family with unloading their belongings from a truck. Curiously, Emmanuel and Gregory were not with them.

    "No worries, Bashia." consoled Ibrahim, "I''ll just take it as an honor to serve the Royal Prince. I am, after all, an Eskur and a supporter of Prince Emmanuel''s faction. I mean, look at you, to be so fortunate to be the Prince''s lover. Forget morals, as long as your love is true, I will support you."

    "Thank you, doctor." said Bashia.

    Malachi and Arlianne were busy helping each other take their belongings off the nearby truck. The truck was similar to Earth''s trailer trucks, if not for its size being twice than it normally would and for the fact that it had a huge engine jutting out in-between the tractor and the loading bay.

    When Malachi first saw it,

    "That... is one BIG truck..." he commented, "A tank?"

    One of its wheels was as big as a grown man with a diameter of two meters. The wheels of the truck were, in total, just four. Yet, even with such a small number, the load it could carry was equivalent to that of a 16-wheeler because of its huge wheels that were completely made out of metallic materials. In fact, it was less of a wheel, but a giant and wide gear.

    The house where they were bringing in their belongings to was made out of white stone. Actually, all of the buildings in the village were made of similar materials. Malachi noticed something when he saw the buildings. Going forward, and feeling the structure, he came to an assumption.

    "Adobe bricks?" he wondered.

    "Oh, you can recognize the material?" said Ibrahim, "Yes. All of our structures are made of adobe. Can you identify where the white pigment came from?"

    Malachi inspected the building material again. Touching it, smelling it, gazing at it, tasting it, hearing it. It took him a while but to no avail as he finally shook his head.

    "No, I don''t recognize it." he answered, "I can say that it''s not paint, though."

    "We mixed some limestone to make it white." clarified Ibrahim, "Limestone was abundant in the area, and around the capital, Rhiamalka, making it part of our architecture. That said, you should see the Royal Palace. It''s so white, you''d question the amount of limestone used in its construction."

    Malachi nodded in understanding. Looking around, the others in the village were fairly white as well. That was until he saw a peculiar structure in the middle of the village.

    "Hey, what''s that over there?" asked Malachi, "That building with the metal bindings and chimneys."

    Ibrahim looked at where Malachi was pointing at.

    "Ahh, the village furnace." he answered, "It is where all of our metalworks are created. From vehicles, to household good, to weapons and armor. Of course, when it comes to weapons and armor, only those allowed for civilian and self-defense use are manufactured."

    "Uh-huh..." nodded Malachi, "That reminds me, I need to learn everything I can about this world. Say, could you teach me what I need to know?"

    "Sure, why not?" affirmed Ibrahim, "Though, I can''t teach you everything apart from everyday necessities and medicine."

    "That said, mind if you teach me reading and writing first?" requested Malachi, "I realize that we could speak and understand one another for some reason, possibly from before I regained my memories, yet I recall that I couldn''t read your letters... though, the letters seemed extremely familiar too."

    "Reading and writing? Alright." agreed Ibrahim.

    "Good." said Malachi, "Oh, right. Arlianne, you''re learning with me."

    Arlianne, who was busy with her share of the work, paused when she was called.

    "Eh?" she said, "Um, thank you, but..."

    "No buts." denied Malachi, "I intend to have you learn with me, especially if you''re staying by my side."

    ///

    Everyday Life 101

    After settling down and arranging their goods, Malachi and Arlianne, together with Ibrahim, were in the living room. Malachi and Arlianne were seated behind a long table, while Ibrahim stood before a chalkboard.

    "I didn''t think I''d actually experience this again..." commented Malachi, "And the environment is exactly the same... It''s creepy..."

    "Oh, how was it in your past life?" inquired Ibrahim, "Are there any differences?"

    "For a typical classroom environment?" clarified Malachi, "Not really. It felt like it doesn''t matter wherever the place is. Rather, if it''s merely transmissive learning, this set up is okay."

    "Transmissive?" asked Ibrahim.

    "Yes." affirmed Malachi, "Transmissive is traditional learning and teaching. Whenever a teacher passes down knowledge to students, by mouth or by text, it is called transmissive teaching. The passing down of one''s knowledge from one generation to the next."

    "The way you put it... It feels that you have another way of learning." commented Ibrahim, "I understand what transmissive learning is, but I feel that you mean to say that there are other forms of knowledge acquisition. Does self-teaching fall outside of transmissive learning?"

    "Yes." affirmed Malachi, "While studying and learning in a typical classroom environment gives the intended results, another form of teaching or learning can be more effective with regards to certain individuals. Experience is one such example that falls outside of transmissive teaching. This sort of learning is called transformative learning. Constant application of the things one has learned will build up one''s experience and should enable one to better understand the principles of whatever subject. In a way, it answers the why and how questions."

    "Hmm, interesting." said Ibrahim in understanding, "Personally, we''ve been satisfied by taking in students. Of course, as you have said, others can learn better than most depending on the teaching method. Even though I will be teaching you, I feel like I have learned more from you."

    "Discussion of subjects of interests and the exchange of ideas broadens one''s mind." added Malachi, "Give or take, we never stop learning."

    "Zzz..."

    While Malachi and Ibrahim were discussing about learning methods, one student failed to grasp what they were talking about and went to dreamland. Arlianne, unable to catch up, fell asleep on her desk, and snapped the two "intellectuals" from their already diverted topic.

    "Oh dear, we''ve gone off topic." commented Ibrahim, "Wake her up so we can proceed with the intended task."

    Malachi poked Arlianne''s waist, and the girl jolted as she woke up.

    "Hiyaa!" shrieked Arlianne.

    "Oh, good! You''re ticklish!" cheered Malachi, "Heh heh, wake up if you don''t want me to tickle you."

    "I''m awake! I''m awake!" cried Arlianne, "Don''t tickle me, Young Master!"

    "Now that you''re both ready, let us begin." announced Ibrahim, "First, let us tackle the basic scripts. Here... are... the 23 characters... of the official Perlasian script."

    "Perlasian? Is this the name of the kingdom?" asked Malachi.

    "Actually, Perlasian is the adjective, and Perlas is the name of the kingdom."

    ''Pearl?'' thought Malachi, ''Is this really a different world, then? But the words used are familiar...''

    "Moving on, these characters are read as..." said Ibrahim as he read each character one by one.

    As Malachi listened, his expression became more and more shocked.

    "Hold up." said Malachi, "Can you re-read each one for me again?"

    "No problem..." said Ibrahim.

    Ibrahim then did as he was requested to do, then Malachi leaned back and nodded in understanding.

    ''An abugida script.'' he thought, ''Twenty three characters, complete with the individual vowels, but it seems lacking. It didn''t cover all of the current spoken pronunciations. Unless...''

    "Now, we place additional marks to change the way each character is read." continued Ibrahim, "From ''TA'', it becomes ''TE'' if we place a mark like this..."

    ''I knew it...'' thought Malachi, ''It''s a sort of Kawi script, but the number of characters are too few... It must be a variation. Now, I really have no idea if this world is Earth or not.''

    "All that''s left for you to do is to memorize these." concluded Ibrahim, "It may take you a while, take as much as you need, especially since we have the luxury to do so."

    ''Yeah, I can deal with this, easily.'' thought Malachi, ''I''ll just have to get used to the writing part. That said...'' "Question, does this world have a unified language or do barriers exist?"

    "No, we do not have a unified language." answered Ibrahim, "I''m pretty sure the Taijun Empire and the scattered tribes use different languages. I''m not too certain about the rest."

    "Taijun Empire?" inquired Malachi.

    "A large empire to our north." answered Ibrahim, "Eskur treatment is inhuman there. For a half like you, it is hell."

    "I really should start reading once I learn how to do so." commented Malachi, "Being the son of a prince, I feel that I should know a lot more than my age cohort should."

    ///

    After their lessons, they ate their lunch. Afterwards, Malachi was now exploring the village, with Arlianne behind him, with permission from Bashia.

    "Hoo, is it just me, or is this place really hot?" said Malachi, "Well, considering the whole region is one big savannah. Interestingly, I''m not sweating as much as I would expect."

    "Um, Young Master, where are we going?" asked Arlianne.

    Malachi looked back at her behind him, and didn''t stop walking.

    "Everywhere and nowhere." he replied, "The thrill of adventure, exploration, and getting lost!"

    "Eh!?" squeaked Arlianne, "Lost!? But, but..."

    Seeing Arlianne''s flustered expression and worry made Malachi reveal a wry smile. Malachi reached up to her head, and gave her a pat.

    "You really are so cute." he commented, "I can''t wait to grow up and grow taller so I can make fun of you more. Haha!"

    "Young Master!" shouted Arlianne as she blushed, "I can''t believe you..."

    "I''m just joking but..." he continued, "Jokes are half meant, you know? Hehe. As for getting lost, we''re not. Navigation is one key skill that I will have you get used to."

    "Huh? What do you mean?" asked Arlianne.

    "There may come a time when either of us would get lost." replied Malachi, "Be it deliberately or accidentally. Knowing how to get from one location to another, with minimal assistance, is a necessity even for everyday living. One way to navigate in daylight is to take note of landmarks. I''ve made that bakery and that inn, as well as the park we walked past, as landmarks. Cross referencing their locations and directions, the distance and time spent, you can find out how to get home if needed. Once you''ve got these down, plus once you have a destination in mind, navigation becomes easy... but only for daylight. Nighttime or the darkness makes navigation much more difficult and a pain. One thing you can rely on in the dark, especially when outdoors, is the night sky. If not, then we''ll have to sharpen our senses. Capiche?"

    "Ka-kapish?" stuttered Arlianne, "Huh?"

    Malachi stared at Arlianne.

    "Sorry, it was a slang from my previous life." apologized Malachi, "I meant, did you understand my explanation?"

    Arlianne quietly gazed at Malachi, the corners of her lips twitching a bit.

    "I''ll take that as a ''no'' then." he said, "Hmm, anyhow, just take note of anything that can be used as landmarks and their directions. For the moment, we''ll head for the village furnace. I''m curious about this world''s level of technology. The fusils were one thing, but the armor and logistical equipment piqued my interest."

    "Umm, what did you do exactly in your previous life?" asked Arlianne.

    Malachi stared at her then faced forward and resumed walking.

    "I fought." he said without facing her, "I killed. I was a soldier."

    When Arlianne heard this, she became rooted where she stood. Neither going forward to Malachi nor retreating back where they came from. Not hearing her footsteps behind him, Malachi faced her again.

    "But that doesn''t mean I regretted it." he added, "What I regret was being unable to save my Father. Even now, despite remembering most of my past, I can''t remember his face. Why I''m here now, I won''t even bother thinking about it. I''ll just live my life, or lives, however I want to live it."

    Facing forward again, Malachi went towards the direction of the village furnace. No longer bothering whether Arlianne followed behind him or not. Mere moments turned to seconds, and no footsteps were heard. Only, once seconds turned to minutes, faint footsteps that grew louder caught up to him.

    "So, what do you think?" he asked his companion.

    "You are living ''this'' life now." answered Arlianne, "I may not be able to understand most of what you''ve told me but, over time, I will as I grow alongside you."

    Malachi softly smiled at her answer.

    "For a nine-year old, you sure have a way with words." he commented, "You sure you''re not like me? A reincarnated?"

    ///

    At the village furnace.

    The structure was a three-storey white building with metal frames, pillars, and beams supporting it. Jutting out of its walls and rooftop were a myriad of chimneys of varying sizes with smoke rising out of them.

    At the entrance was an open doorway with Eskur villagers and non-Eskur merchants going in and out of the structure. Surprisingly, despite a place where much of their technology was manufactured, including weapons, there was no presence of guards. Interestingly, amongst those who went in and out, many kids around Malachi and Arlianne''s age were also going with the traffic of people carrying a variety of goods aside from obvious weapons.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    "For an industrial site, I would have thought that access would be restrictive." commented Malachi, "Although, looking closer, every one is just disciplined with what they''re doing and towards what others are doing. Let''s go, Arlianne."

    Malachi led Arlianne through the doorway into the structure. Inside, what greeted them was an intense heatwave.

    "Gah! I feel like my face is melting!" cried Malachi, "Sheesh, despite the heat, this body sure is sturdy. You okay, Arlianne?"

    Looking behind him, he found his companion unfazed by the heat. Arlianne just looked at him as if nothing was wrong.

    "Did something happen, Young Master?" she asked, "Is it too hot for you?"

    Malachi just blinked in disbelief.

    ''What the hell are these people''s constitution?'' he thought, ''This temperature is enough to send a child to the hospital!''

    Looking around him, he found that the others were also sweating. However, that''s just it, they were all just sweating and all were unfazed by the intense heat. Even those who were close to the sources weren''t showing any sign of discomfort.

    The sources, as one would see, were large furnaces that exuded enough heat to warp the scenery around them. However, one thing was unnatural about the furnaces.

    "Where''s the fire? Why are there no flames?" he said in disbelief.

    An Eskur male of relative build overheard what he said.

    "Is it your first time here?" asked the Eskur male, "I suppose you have no idea about pyrocite furnaces, do you?"

    Malachi turned to the Eskur male.

    "Pyrocite?" he wondered, "What is that?"

    The Eskur male left his post and brought over a peculiar crystal. The crystal was big enough to be grasped by a grown man''s hand, and was scarlet in color. The Eskur male handed the crystal to Malachi for him to see.

    "That there is a piece of pyrocite." said the Eskur male, "A crystal of unknown origin that packs a lot of heat when struck by another pyrocite shard."

    "It packs heat? Wait, I don''t understand." said Malachi, "How can a rock contain heat?"

    The Eskur male shrugged.

    "That''s the thing." he said, "Nobody knows how it happened, or happens, but one thing for sure is that can convert flint into pyrocite, I hope you know what flint is. For some reason, after conversion, it produces heat instead of sparks. The heat is maintained for a long time as long as it comes into contact with an already heated pyrocite. Leave it a bit, and the heat dies down. Otherwise, two or more pyrocites will ''burn'' each other until whatever causes them to heat runs out."

    "That''s like a freaking magic stone!" cried Malachi, "You can use magic?"

    The Eskur male raised a brow.

    "Magic? Hahaha!" laughed the Eskur male, "No way. Magic doesn''t exist! Maybe in stories and folklore, but not in reality. Though, now that you mentioned it, maybe pyrocite is a piece of magic. Then again, why is it that none of us¡ªEskur and non-Eskur¡ªare able to cast such fantastical things?"

    ''Magic doesn''t exist? Then how do you explain this crystal?'' thought Malachi, ''It''s already interesting that the materials I know exist in this world, yet this particular material is absolutely foreign to me. Much of the food are the same, the materials for construction, the concept of the engines and thermodynamics, even the weaponry... The weaponry? Wait...''

    "Hey, this pyrocite, are there any other uses apart from heating in furnaces?" asked Malachi, "Can it be applied in weapons?"

    "Ooh, sharp kid." complimented the Eskur male, "Yes, we use it in our fusils, repeaters, siege weapons, infantry, and armored cavalry."

    "I realized that there wasn''t any smoke discharge from the fusils my uncle used before, are pyrocite the reason?" asked Malachi, "That said, the only smoke I see are from the materials being burned and not the pyrocite itself."

    "Yes, pyrocite produces enough heat to expand steel from one explosion." explained the Eskur male, "Actually, when struck normally, it produces a small spark, like flint with steel. However, pyrocite can actually be ground to dust by other materials, like whetstone, and that dust becomes explosive when a piece of already heated pyrocite makes contact. Come with me, I''ll show you the village armory."

    "Uh, are you sure it''s fine if kids like us enter such an important place?" asked Malachi as he remembered Arlianne was with him... Silently with him...

    "It''s fine. I like curious kids like you." said the Eskur male, "Oh, right. I guess I should tell you, being Ibrahim''s benefactors, I''m the Head Chief of this furnace. Meeting someone as inquisitive as you, despite being a half, lit a fire in my heart."

    "Heh?" muttered Malachi.

    "I don''t know what made Ibrahim come back here despite making it big in the city, and I don''t know why he brought home a family like yours despite him saying you''re not his children..." said the Head Chief, "Seeing him smile is enough of a reason for me to trust you. Besides, your mother is really beautiful. Eskur females are known for being beautiful, but hell, that''s the first time I''ve seen someone as beautiful as your mother."

    "I hope you don''t lay your hands on her." declared Malachi, "I may not have the power to go against you, yet, but my father definitely does."

    "No worries, kid." said the Head Chief, "Though, you can''t stop many of us from admiring from afar. Though, now that you mentioned your father, I''m curious as to who he really is. The fact that that little girl behind you is wearing servant clothes, and the fact she''s not a half, tells me you''re of noble descent. A bastard child?"

    "I only count as a bastard child if my Pops was married to another woman before I was birthed." countered Malachi, "Due to circumstances, my Pops cannot openly declare his copulation with my Mama."

    "Hoo? Those are some big words." commented the Head Chief, "Now I really want to know who you are."

    "Don''t worry, you''ll know when the time comes." continued Malachi, "For now, let me see how your weapons work."

    The atmosphere became tense. Only when the Head Chief noticed Arlianne about to burst into tears did the situation calmed down. Malachi, of course, did not notice Arlianne as she was behind her.

    "Fine, fine." said the Head Chief, "I won''t try to dig any deeper, unless I make the Little One behind you leave a bad taste in my mouth."

    "Huh? Arlianne?" said Malachi.

    Only then did he turn to see the girl shivering, about to panic, behind him. Malachi took a step back, stood next to Arlianne and suddenly gave her a hug, surprising her.

    "Ah, you soft child, you." commented Malachi, "Ah, yes, so soft."

    "Y-y-y-young Master!?" cried Arlianne, "Stop it, please!"

    "That''s better." he said as he let her go, "Yep, a flustered Arlianne is the best Arlianne."

    The Head Chief watched the scene play out.

    "What are you, really?" he asked the child.

    Malachi turned to face him.

    "Just as you said, a noble''s child." he answered.

    ///

    At the village furnace, the Head Chief toured Malachi and Arlianne to the armory where the weapons were, obviously, stored. The armory itself was a factory, a storage facility, and a testing ground all rolled into one.

    "On my right, you will see the manufacturing facilities where civilian-use weapons are made. Civilian-use because the firepower delivered is at the most minimum accepted power for self-defense. Village and town manufacturing facilities can only produce civilian-use level armaments. If you want military-grade armaments, you need to go to large cities, like the capital, and also have a permit to carry high powered weapons."

    ''Technology level is at the Industrial Revolution.'' thought Malachi, ''But the type is late 1800s. If I remember correctly, rifling should have been thought of at that time, yet the barrels are smoothbore. Guess I''ll have to "pioneer" most of this kingdom''s tech once I get the chance. For now, training this body and learning about this world take precedence.''

    "And this area on my left is where we test out the weapons." said the Head Chief, "Oh, good timing, a batch of fusils is ready for testing."

    The Head Chief, Malachi, and Arlianne watched as a group of Eskur personnel brought out one fusil after another. Lined up, they faced what appeared to be a firing range.

    "Load up!" ordered an Eskur.

    Five other Eskurs loaded ammunition into their fusils.

    ''Yeah, the method of loading is similar to those of muskets.'' thought Malachi, ''Very inefficient, but the power is destructive.''

    "Aim! Fire!"

    "BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Kasssshhhh..."

    Out of the five fusils, one didn''t fire a shot. The Eskur holding the defective fusil subsequently placed it on another pile, then grabbed a new one. The four effective fusils were placed in a box, and were then delivered out.

    "What do you do with the failed products?" asked Malachi.

    "We dispose of them." answered the Head Chief.

    "Eh? So wasteful." commented Malachi.

    "Well, it''s a flaw in the design, I suppose." added the Head Chief, "But, any other variation of ours ends up as useless. So, we make do with what works."

    ''Hmm, if that''s how this world operates...'' thought Malachi, ''I''m gonna have a lot of profit. Haha...''

    "Next up are the crossbows and pneumatic guns." announced the Head Chief, "The crossbows we have are lever-action. We needed to do so since manual loading takes time and effort. As for the pneumatic guns, as long as the gas tank doesn''t rip during pumping, it can keep shooting. Power and range are average, though, but it''s useful for stopping the enemy as you run."

    "By the way, I get that these weapons are available for civilian use..." said Malachi, "But I don''t see much war nor discord happening."

    "Well, aside from the occasional bandit along the roads..." answered the Head Chief, "We also get caught up with monster raids."

    ''What?'' thought Malachi, "Monsters?"

    "Oh, yes." affirmed the Head Chief, "Big and nasty beasties that eat naughty children."

    Malachi directed an annoyed gaze at the Head Chief.

    "Er, jokes aside... Man, are you a kid or not?" added the Head Chief, "There are huge creatures that we need to take care of. Huge ants the size of houses, giant black dogs that can crush anything with their jaws, large cat-like beasts that move fast despite their size, and flocks of giant birds with talons that can tear through steel, among many others. The military and militia already have their hands full handling subjugation requests. Heck, even officer cadets get sent out to thin the monster population."

    ''No concept of magic, pyrocites, and huge monsters?'' thought Malachi, ''Technology on par with the latter half of the Industrial Revolution, but has enough firepower to rival early World War I technology. A fantasy or not?''

    "While the crossbows and pneumatic guns don''t have enough penetrating power, civilian-use fusils can penetrate even a Fire Ant''s carapace." added the Head Chief, "Oh, Fire Ants are the huge ants native around the Perlas Kingdom. They also spew out fire from their abdomens."

    "Ha?" said Malachi stupidly, "Fire-farting ants? What?"

    "Yeah, they''re like spiders and silkworms that eject silk, only with fire." said the Head Chief, "Well, once you''ve encountered one, pray you have a fusil with you. Though, at your age, I''d order you to run. Not suggest, but order."

    Malachi stared at the Head Chief with his mouth agape. The Head chief, ignoring Malachi''s stupid expression, continued the tour.

    "Up next, we have the storage facilities." said the Head Chief, "You can see the containers being moved from one place to another by steam knights."

    "Say what?" uttered Malachi, "Steam knights?"

    Before Malachi were dozens of three-meter bipedal mechs. Each movement done by these machines, a gust of steam was spewed forth by what appeared to be exhaust vents jutting out of the back. These steam knights were operated by more Eskur engineers like an exosuit, and were carrying steel boxes that were otherwise too heavy to lift without assistance.

    "These steam knights, although are called knights, were disarmed for factory use." explained the Head Chief, "Military-grade steam knights are equipped with a large pyrocite blast hammer that can pulverize tanks in one hit."

    "Explosive-tipped sledgehammers? How big are these hammers?" asked Malachi.

    "Hmm, the handle is around two meters long, and the hammer head is around a half-square meter." answered the Head Chief, "As for its weight, it is as heavy as a box of five fusils, so around 40 kilograms."

    ''That''s as heavy as two 105mm high-explosives put together.'' thought Malachi, ''Now, I wonder how thick a tank''s armor is.''

    "Well, that''s all for the civilian-use weapons." concluded the Head Chief, "If you want more, you''ll have to head to the city. At the least, you''ll have to enter the military to get ahold of anything military-grade."

    ///

    By the time Malachi and Arlianne had left the village furnace, the sun had already begun to set. Malachi had his head down, pondering on what he had learned, while miraculously dodging the passersby around him. Arlianne, who was just following Malachi, had a bit of difficulty weaving around the crowd of people.

    ''That does it.'' thought Malachi, ''This definitely isn''t Earth. Although the a lot were similar, the language and writing are different. The level of and type of technology are different. Even the concepts are different. But, something is still gnawing the back of my head, and that something is the existence of Eskurs.''

    As he reflected upon what he learned, Malachi and Arlianne eventually arrived home in time for dinner.

    "We''re home!" announce Malachi.

    "Ah, you''re here." greeted Bashia, "Wash up for now, and wait with Dr. Ibrahim for dinner. Arlianne, you too, wash up before helping me out."

    "Yes, Mama."

    "Yes, Ma''am."

    Malachi and Arlianne went their separate ways to respectively clean up. The two of them also finished cleaning up at the same time, and went to the dining room to eat.

    Malachi''s daily life continued like this peacefully. Learning from Dr. Ibrahim and Bashia, occasionally shooing the Eskur males around Bashia, visiting the village furnace, and exploring the other parts of the village. That was until his tenth birthday when Malachi would be allowed to visit the capital city of Rhiamalka.

 Bootcamp 4

    [Ties] Bootcamp 4

    "Are you ready, Malachi?"

    "Yes, Mama."

    Malachi and Bashia, along with Arlianne and Ibrahim, were outside their home in the Eskur village. Hanging on Bashia''s arm was a pair of linen bags, and over Ibrahim''s back was a rucksack. Malachi and Arlianne also had their personal bags. However, Malachi''s bag was different from the rest.

    "Are you sure that ''zipper'' thing can hold heavy baggage?" asked Bashia, "Actually, Mally, how much can that bag of yours carry?"

    On Malachi''s back was a backpack. Unlike the linen bags and pouches that others had, he had a robust-looking bag with many pouches and compartments. Apparently, apart from studying and exploring, Malachi had shared his knowledge with the others. The Head Chief of the village furnace had one thing to say:

    "Beautiful." he said, "Because of this bag, the number of items we could carry with just one of them had increased to five times the amount from mere linen sacks. How the heck does a kid like you come up with these?"

    By now, many of the workers and couriers in the village had each their own backpacks of similar designs, adjusted to their body''s build. Malachi, although he gave the design, had a smaller version suitable to his young body.

    "Mama, you''ve seen the guys'' reactions." answered Malachi to Bashia, "Don''t you want to have one?"

    "Hmm, even if it makes item transportation easier..." said Bashia, "Somehow, I feel my back will hurt in the long run."

    "Then, how about a wheel cart that can be strapped to the back?" asked Malachi, "I could design one that could be pulled on the ground or carried on the back¡ªa stroller suitcase. You can put more items in it, and just pull it along the ground."

    Bashia clasped her hands.

    "In that case, we will see in the next outing." replied Bashia, "I''m really curious about all of your past''s technologies. That stove you had the engineers make was a hit for the village''s families. The merchants have also been asking for you, you know?"

    "Just making life easier for, ultimately, me. Besides, that adjustable stove, it took me a year and a half to perfect it with the available resources." said Malachi, "Though, truthfully, I would rather improve this kingdom''s engineering instead, especially the military''s. The fusil''s design was too wasteful and cumbersome that it could be fatal to its wielder. This intent of mine is especially for the kingdom as a whole."

    "I understand, Mally. However, for now, do enjoy your new youth, okay?" suggested Bashia, "It would make me sad if you were to leave home while being so young."

    Although Bashia was smiling as she said that, her eyes said another thing entirely. Despite giving Malachi relative freedom, he was still her son, and her eyes were filled with worry and sadness.

    "Yes, Mama." affirmed Malachi, "I''m sorry if I ever made you worry. I promise, that until I enter the academy, I won''t enter the world of combat."

    Concluding their agreement, the household left their home, and rode on a truck going to the city over the distance.

    "Still, though, it wouldn''t hurt to make these trucks more efficient, right?" wondered Malachi.

    ///

    Rhiamalka, capital of the Kingdom of Perlas.

    It was home to 400,000 citizens, Perlasians and non-Perlasians alike, and covered an area of 60 square kilometers. The city itself, shaped like a circle, was surrounded by tall and robust white walls and towers. Its outlying lands were covered with farmland, surrounding what few sources of water it had, and had a fairly rich agriculture. Within the city proper were large structures of stone, wood, and metal, grayed out by the soot and ash carried away by the smoke that formed pillars high atop the cityscape.

    At the center of the city was a majestic palace, built upon a small hill overlooking the entire city. The palace, reaching heights of well over 100 meters, only covered an area of 3 square kilometers. However, the most prominent characteristic of this palace was...

    "A pearl in the middle of a wasteland." commented Malachi, "A fitting description for the ''Perlas'' Kingdom."

    Indeed, the palace itself was kept as white as it could possibly be despite the city''s pollution. Its brilliant presence could easily steal a visitor''s gaze and admiration amongst all the seemingly dull sights in the city.

    "Right? It could be called as the pride of the kingdom." said Ibrahim, "I knew you''d be surprised by the palace. That''s where His Highness is staying."

    "Hmm, but, can it withstand a siege?" asked Malachi.

    "Oh, right, we hadn''t really touched on the subject of military history, have we?" remembered Ibrahim, "Er, let''s say that my elders, during the war, were unable to breach the inner walls before they were pushed back."

    Ibrahim said no more as it seemed to be a touchy subject.

    "As for other wars, there are probably none that were recorded." he added, "This palace was built only after the Unification War 300 years ago."

    "300 years? That''s sturdy." commented Malachi, "Although, I can be sure that it had been repeatedly renovated and improved upon since then, right?"

    "The official count stated that the palace has been renovated and reconstructed ten times in the past." answered Ibrahim, "But that''s, like I said, the official count. I cannot say for the rest."

    Bashia suddenly clapped her hands and called for the men''s attention.

    "All right, you two. Time to get to work." said Bashia, "Dr. Ibrahim and I will be going to the commerce district to buy our necessities. Mally, I know you can take care of yourself, but do be careful, okay? Don''t get Arlianne into trouble as well."

    "Got it, Mama." replied Malachi, "We will just walk along the main roads. Good thing the cobblestones used for the main roads are differently colored than the rest."

    "All right. Then, before the sun sets, we will meet back in this plaza." added Ibrahim, "Oh, right. Malachi, will you be wearing your goggles?"

    "Ah, thanks for reminding me." replied Malachi as he pulled out a pair of goggles with a strap from his bag and wore it.

    His goggles, which were tinted to a degree, hid his red eyes from the others. He had done so as he was unsure of the treatment regarding halves. Learning about history from Ibrahim, he had learned that Eskur and non-Eskur relations were strained because of a war a few decades ago. This war was dubbed as the Eskur Uprising. The cause of which originated from a distant continent where Eskurs also lived. Lived, but were oppressed.

    The Eskurs took revenge upon those who had made them suffer and exploited their talent for engineering, and turned the world upsidedown. The war spread to the other continents, nations, kingdoms, and empires and lasted for a mere three years before the Eskurs in certain locations were defeated. The only Eskur group¡ªalso known as a Clan¡ªthat was victorious was Clan Skali, founded far to the west.

    Those who were defeated, especially in the still existing Empire of Taijun, were thoroughly punished and unforgiven. Here in the Kingdom of Perlas, the late king that ruled before made a treaty with the surviving Eskur Clans. One of the clans were, as Bashia had told him when they were discussing the war, was Clan Skaria¡ªMalachi''s elders. The treaty was successful, only because Eskurs were not as oppressed in the kingdom as other states. Yet, even with the treaty, the embers of war still remained in the hearts of Perlasians that suffered greatly.

    ///

    Malachi and Arlianne walked along the city''s roads. With a map from who knew where Malachi had gotten it from in hand, they were heading towards the huge stack of smoke in the distance¡ªthe city furnace.

    "If I recall correctly, the boss said that the city''s furnace handles any request of any nature including the military''s." uttered Malachi, "Let''s go, Arlianne."

    "Yes, Young Master." replied Arlianne succinctly, making Malachi turn back to her.

    "Just call me ''Mally'' or ''Baby Brother'', Arlianne." said Malachi, "It''s just us, after all."

    "You say that, yet the truth is that you are older than me." replied Arlianne, "Besides, you don''t even call me ''Big Sis'' or ''Elder Sister''. No, wait, it feels wrong, for some reason."

    Malachi stared at Arlianne.

    "You''ve changed." he said, "Maybe I should tickle you?"

    "I''ve merely matured, Young Master." she replied, "A grown man shouldn''t do such childish things. It is very demeaning to one of such intelle¡ªkh!? Young Master!?"

    Malachi slid beside her as she spoke, and jabbed a finger at her side. Malachi poked her repeatedly, and her defenses crumbled forcing her to stifle a laugh.

    "Young... Master... Stop it!" shrieked Arlianne, "Malachi!"

    "Oh, how I miss your screams~" sang Malachi, "So young, so inno¡ª!? Who threw that rock!?"

    "What the heck are you doing to a girl, you pervert!?" shouted a voice.

    Malachi guarded himself from an unknown attacker. A rock, that was thrown at him, landed at an empty area by the roadside. At a nearby alley, a child came out while tossing a rock from one hand to another. The child seemed younger than both Malachi and Arlianne, and wore linen overalls atop a cotton shirt. The child''s appearance was typical for a Perlasian boy.

    "Who are you?" asked Malachi, "You''ve got a nice throwing arm, but your aim sucks."

    "The name''s Axel, and this is my territory!" said the child, "I don''t like seeing indecent acts within my territory!"

    "A street urchin?" wondered Malachi, "Geez, just my luck to get into unwanted trouble. Come on, Arlianne."

    "Hey! Where are you taking her!?" shouted Axel.

    Just as Malachi was about to turn, Axel threw another rock at him. Only, rather than evading, Malachi executed a roundhouse and deflected the rock next to Axel''s feet. Axel froze up when it happened.

    "We''ll be leaving your territory." stated Malachi, "I''m taking Arlianne with me because she is my cute little sister."

    " ''Elder'' sister, Young Master." retorted Arlianne.

    "I thought I told you to stop calling me that?" snapped Malachi, "Anyway, don''t cause too much trouble, kid."

    Malachi and Arlianne resumed their trip to the city furnace, and left Axel rooted where he stood. When Malachi and Arlianne were out of sight, Axel let out a sigh of relief, and a young man came out from behind.

    "Are you all right?" asked the man.

    "Why didn''t you come out sooner?" questioned Axel.

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    "I deemed that the situation was merely a petty squabble between kids." said the man, "Besides, I didn''t feel any intent to kill from that boy."

    "But to deflect a rock with a kick, his body is also good." commented Axel, "I wonder if he''s a noble''s child?"

    "Are you interested in him?" inquired the man with a wry smile.

    Axel didn''t notice the smile and answered calmly.

    "A bit." he answered, "Still, a sister or a servant? The way he treats her is appalling, though."

    "Hnn~?" snickered the man.

    "What is it?" said Axel.

    "Nothing, really." replied the man, "However, to not introduce himself despite you doing so upon asking... questionable ethics."

    ///

    Malachi and Arlianne had arrived at a dome-shaped building in the eastern part of the city. The building had many chimneys and vents jutting out all over it, similar to the village furnace. It was the city''s furnace. That said, just like the one at the village''s, its entrance had an insane amount of traffic of, not only people, but also large transportation vehicles. Its entrance was more like a gate that could seemingly hold off a number of attacks just from the sight of its pure metal doors. The doors weren''t hinged, but slid along a railway by a pair of Steam Knights.

    "Ya know, with the present level of technology, especially with the Steam Knights, why not have the damned gates operate mechanically instead?" commented Malachi as he watched the entrance, "Thermodynamics, pressure, pumps and whatnot?"

    "How would you suggest to move something of that size?" asked Arlianne, "I don''t think the engine used for the knights would be enough."

    "The first thing I would do is to get rid of that damned gate entirely." he answered, "Something of that size is useless once I recreate the weapons of my past life. Even if it could stop the attacks of this world''s weapons, I cannot say the same once I get my hands on a factory."

    "You plan to mass produce your technology?" she asked.

    "As the future king, I have to." answered Malachi, "Though, I may have to deal with my uncle, first. I will ''revolutionize'' this kingdom''s military might. Heh heh heh."

    Malachi and Arlianne mixed in with the crowd, and entered the city furnace. As usual, a wave of heat greeted them as the entered but, having gotten used to the village''s, Malachi was unfazed. Except...

    "Why do I feel cold air coming from somewhere?" he wondered.

    "Is it your first time here?" asked an old man.

    The old man was a Perlasian. Despite his age, his body was chiseled, and wore a thick apron. Wearing leather gloves, he placed a large box away as he greeted the two children.

    "Why am I getting a mad sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu?" commented Malachi, "I''m not even drifting."

    Like how the village''s Head Chief met with Malachi, the old man did the same.

    "Are you the head chief of this furnace?" asked Arlianne, "You seem to look like one."

    "Ohohoho! No, I''m not the head chief." replied the old man, "I''m merely one of the engineers working here. I usually hang around the entrance looking for fresh meat to invite into the business. Though, looking at you, I don''t think you''re the type to tinker around with... That bag...?"

    The old man pointed at the bag on Malachi''s back, his eyes wide in surprise. Looking closely, a number of engineers also had the same packs on their backs as they went from one place to another. Some engineers even used them as utility bags where they kept all of their equipment in.

    "Are you also an engineer?" asked the old man, "But, you''re too young."

    "Actually, sir... um..." said Arlianne.

    She was about to point out that Malachi was the creator of the backpack but was stopped the person himself. Malachi raised his hand to silence Arlianne.

    "Nah, I''m not. Though, I am interested in machinery and technology." said Malachi, "I used to regularly visit the furnace in our village, and the head chief there told me to visit a city furnace to see more than what the level of a village could offer."

    "I see, I see." affirmed the old man, "Your head chief has a good, well, head on his shoulders to guide a hopeful like you. So, how long will you be staying here?"

    "Not for long, I apologize." said Malachi, "My family just went to the commercial district to buy some goods, and we will go home afterwards. As for us, a bit of adventure fitting for the youth."

    The old man raised a brow.

    " ''Youth'' you say?" he said, "You sound like someone older than how you look."

    "I get that a lot." replied Malachi, "Anyway, I''ve also heard that we could see military-grade equipment in the city. Where is it, exactly?"

    "Are you interested in serving the kingdom?" asked the old man.

    "In a way, yes. I am¡ªwill be serving the kingdom." he answered.

    Although the old man couldn''t see Malachi''s eyes, he could hear the conviction in Malachi''s voice.

    "Huu... Quite serious, aren''t you?" commented the old man, "Well, unauthorized civilians aren''t allowed to go into the armory but, hearing what you said, I could probably let you slip in."

    The old man led Malachi and Arlianne deeper into the city furnace. Passing by a doorway, it had a sign that said "Armory" hammered screwed onto a wall. They arrived at a long corridor,and were already halfway when they heard a loud explosion.

    "BOOM!"

    The explosion, although relatively muffled, was still enough to make the corridor reverberate from the shockwave.

    "What was that?" asked Malachi.

    "Haha, just in time." laughed the old man, "They''re in the middle of testing the blasthammers. Anti-tank weapons, so to speak, carried by Steam Knights."

    Passing through another doorway, the trio arrived at a large open area within the city furnace. To call it an armory was an understatement. The sheer size of it was enough to call it a weapons bunker. Over a square kilometer in size, with an open height of 20 meters, it had a myriad of military equipment. From handheld fusils and guns, to massive tanks the size of three houses. Each area had a team of engineers, Eskur and Perlasian, working together manufacturing and testing the equipment. A little while later, another explosion erupted in the middle of the area.

    "BOOM!"

    "OKAY! NEXT BATCH!" ordered an engineer that covered his ears.

    Stacks of blasthammers were shipped out by a group of Steam Knights. Soon, a new stack of blasthammers came from a conveyor belt. Another group of engineers with a Steam Knight outfitted the knight with a blasthammers. The Steam Knight walked towards the space provided, lifted the hammer overhead, and brought down a meteor onto a stack of metal plates.

    The hammerhead, upon impact, released a bright red-orange glow, before exploding in a split-second. The stack of metal plates, a total thickness of one meter, splintered and turned into shrapnel, blasting all over the place. The blast was strong, but was stopped by the barriers deployed around the testing site.

    Malachi and Arlianne, being inside the armory, felt the brunt of the shockwave and the both of them were knocked back. The old man smiled as he watched the two children get up fro the ground.

    "Powerful, isn''t it?" commented the old man, "This is the pride of Perlas. The weapons that pushed back the Eskurs during the Eskur Uprising."

    "Too cumbersome." stated Malachi, "Too much power, not enough mobility. How do the knights fare against armored cavalry?"

    "Eugh... You know how to hit where it hurts." said the old man, "Yes, mobility is our problem, but our defense against infantry is unparalleled. Against siege weapons, though, the knights need to be escorted or transported closer to the target. But, it is how we''ve fought our war, it may even remain as it is in the future."

    While the old man conversed with Malachi,

    "Hyaa!?" shrieked Arlianne.

    A woman sneaked up on Arlianne and gave her a hug.

    "Hey, Gramps." greeted the woman, "I thought I told you to stop bringing in unauthorized personnel into the armory?"

    "Ah, Chief. Come on, this guy is a hopeful for the academy." said the old man, "He will be serving the kingdom in the future. Ah, right. Kids, this is the Head Chief of Rhiamalka''s Furnace."

    The head chief, a woman seemingly in her late twenties, lifted Arlianne effortlessly. She wore a thick leather apron over linen overalls. Despite being a woman, her body was well-toned and could be compared to the male engineers in the furnace. That said, she had to be, being the head chief.

    "I can see that the boy can handle himself quite well, but this girl needs to put on some muscle, first." said the Head Chief, "Hmm, are you planning to enter the academy as well?"

    "We-well..." stuttered Arlianne, "I intend to follow Yo¡ªmy brother into the academy."

    "Siblings, huh?" said the Head Chief as she had Arlianne, a twelve-year old girl, sit atop her shoulders, "Must be nice. Anyway, Gramps, this will be the last time I''ll allow this, okay? Hey, kid."

    The Head Chief approached Malachi.

    "If you''re entering the academy, what do you plan to work as?" she asked, "I''ll personally give you a tour of the facility."

    "Any reason for this?" asked Malachi, "It seems unbelievable to allow a pair of kids tour around a restricted area, even if you are the Head Chief."

    "Let''s say that you remind me of a certain old friend of mine." she replied, "When that friend of mine was as young as you, he did the same thing with Gramps here. Now, he is so high up above society that I rarely see him anymore."

    Malachi scrutinized the Head Chief. Not finding fault her words, nor her expressions, he shrugged.

    "Well, okay." he affirmed, "As for what I aim to be, something that focuses on good power and mobility. I prefer being able to hit hard and fast, harass the enemy for a bit before bolting for safety. All else, be able to pursue the enemy without pause, and swiftly ending the hunt."

    Arlianne, the Head Chief, and the old man stared at the ten-year old boy before them.

    ''Is this kid really a kid?'' thought the old man, ''His tactics are rather brutal...''

    ''I... did not expect that...'' thought the Head Chief, ''He''d be perfect to be a Duelist, but somehow it''s not that. He seems to mean something else...''

    ''Malachi...'' groaned Arlianne in her thoughts, ''I give up.''

 Bootcamp 5

    [Ties] Bootcamp 5

    "If you want speed, we''ve got some repeaters here." said the Head Chief, "They''re mostly used by Machinists because of their complex structure. Especially since the ones we have are just mere imitations of the original."

    The Head Chief had taken the old man''s role as Malachi and Arlianne''s tour guide. Although, during the while, Arlianne was still seated atop the Head Chief''s shoulders, seemingly giving herself up to fate. Malachi, although he was genuinely interested in the equipment, occasionally glanced at Arlianne whenever possible. The old man, however, was no longer with them and had returned to his post at the entrance.

    "Imitations? What do you mean?" asked Malachi.

    "The originals were actually of a larger caliber." replied the Head Chief, "Able to punch through armor with ease, and deliver enough bullets to stop a knight dead in its tracks. Occasionally, even by sheer luck, it could penetrate tank armor. Sadly, the recoil was huge so it could only be shot for a few times per minute."

    "How big were the bullets?" asked Malachi, "And how strong was the recoil?"

    "It was around this big." replied the Head Chief, "The recoil was enough to numb a soldier''s arm."

    The Head Chief showed an approximate size of the bullet''s caliber. It seemed around 18 millimeters in diameter. Greater than that of a .50 caliber, even greater than the Soviet PTRS-41. What remained was how repeaters worked.

    "Here''s how we load a repeater." said the Head Chief.

    Before she grabbed a repeater off a shelf, she dropped Arlianne by Malachi''s side. After doing so, with the repeater in hand, she snapped open the repeater''s chamber and exposed the mechanisms inside.

    ''What?'' thought Malachi as he raised a brow, ''It''s just a revolver. Then again, there were Selecta guns in my past life. Still, around 18 millimeters? That''s a freaking semiautomatic musket. No wonder the recoil was a pain.''

    "This part here holds the pyrocite ignition, and over here is where the propulsion powder is placed." explained the Head Chief, "After that, load up the bullets through here, snap it shut, and rain hell on your enemies. Watch."

    The Head Chief went towards a nearby firing range, waving a few engineers off. Seeing the repeater in her hands, they immediately relinquished their stations. The Head Chief, like a veteran in her field, deftly placed the repeater atop a table and leaned over her body. Curiously, the repeater, like the fusil, didn''t have a stock to help stabilize it.

    "Firing!" announce the Head Chief.

    "BANG! click, BANG! click, BANG!"

    Three shots were fired consecutively in 9 seconds. With each shot, her body shuddered from the recoil, and the repeater retreated bit by bit. The table, at the very least, helped in stabilizing her aim, but was still insufficient in restraining the monster of a recoil.

    "What do you think!?" shouted the Head Chief, "Pretty powerful, yeah!?"

    "No need to shout." replied Malachi, "I can hear you fine. The power is too high, this causes a drop in control and, ultimately, mobility. I just realized this, all of your guns are huge. Any reason for this apart from punching armor?"

    "Apart from punching armor?" said the Head Chief as she cleared out her ears, "We need the bullets to go far, farther than what this range allows."

    Malachi nodded in understanding.

    ''Huh, so I need to extend the barrel, maybe even make a bullpup, and add rifling.'' he thought, ''I also need to change somehow the loading mechanism. This world doesn''t seem to use gunpowder, I wonder if I could just recreate the assault rifles back in my time? Their guns could just be refitted as bolt action or semiautomatics.''

    Malachi pondered to himself while the Head Chief replaced the repeater on a shelf.

    "Well, that''s it for the repeaters." she said, "I''m pretty sure you''ve seen a fusil already, but we also have the pistol variant of the fusil."

    "Pistols?" repeated Malachi, "What, just sawed-off fusils?"

    "Not entirely." replied the Head Chief, "The pistols are of a smaller caliber, around this big, but the loading is like this."

    The Head Chief broke open the pistol''s breech, and chambered a bullet. Seeing this,

    ''It''s like a single-barreled shotgun.'' though Malachi, ''But... It seems smaller than what I''m used to.''

    "The pyrocite ignition is over here, and the powdered form goes through here." she explained, "Now, we fire the pistol."

    The Head Chief went back to the range, and raised the pistol with one hand. Her body was parallel to her arm, and her feet were evenly spread.

    "The pistol is easier to use because of its size, but the recoil is roughly the same." she said, "Firing!"

    "BANG! click."

    The shot by the pistol went wide, but was still embedded into a stone wall. The Head Chief, after firing her gun, shivered a bit and massaged her wrist.

    "A hand cannon, basically." she added, "Most people would have this as a backup weapon."

    ''No kidding, I may have to retrain everybody from scratch because of your form.'' thought Malachi, ''That is NOT the proper way of shooting a large caliber. So fusils are manual loaders, repeaters and pistols are break-action guns. Either I make a lever-action version... No, I may have to change everything and bring about the advent of FMJs and JHPs, cartridges and magazines. The tech right now is too inefficient. The repeaters can stay, though.''

    While Malachi was planning his future, an audible release of steam was heard behind them followed by a deep rumble.

    "FFSSSSSHHHH... RRRRRRRRRRRRR."

    A tank(?) was moving behind them, and an engineer was seated on top of it.

    "Hey, Chief!" shouted the engineer, "How about we show those kids the power of our siege cavalry?"

    While the Head Chief displayed their equipment to their visitors, the other engineers also noticed this fact. This led to the present situation of a siege cavalry being moved from where it was parked further out to the back where nobody seemed to be occupying.

    The siege cavalry was 12 meters long, 8 meters wide, and 6 meters high. It had a large cannon fixed on top of it like some sort of artillery howitzer, and it ran on wide gear-like wheels. Its engine, where the steam was coming from, was built into its rear and had a huge exhaust vent jutting out of it.

    ''Did I just travel back to the late stages of World War II?'' thought Malachi as he saw the siege cavalry, ''Or did someone reincarnate before me and create a working Panzer VIII? Then again, it''s not turreted... Unless they actually removed the turret... Still, that cannon is a freaking naval gun! IT. IS. HUGE. Too huge for land battles! Then again, considering that it IS called a SIEGE cavalry, maybe it is used to breach walls?''

    Indeed, the siege cavalry''s design was similar to the German World War II-era Panzer VIII Maus, a super heavy tank. The gun affixed to its hull was around 200mm big, and was similar to the 200mm cannons used by the Imperial Japanese Navy for their battleships.

    ''Industrial Revolution, Civil War, World War II...'' thought Malachi, ''And here I am planning to fast forward this world into Cold War, Gulf War, and Modern War technologies... Maybe even World War III level. As a future king, I need to secure a foothold in the political arena, even by force.''

    The siege cavalry rolled into position. Over in the distance, a group of Steam Knights set up a stone target. With a height of 10 meters and a width of 8 meters, it replicated a small fortress wall. The siege cavalry, with its lack of a turret, had to traverse its entire body to aim its gun at the target.

    "Loading ammunition!" announced an engineer inside the siege cavalry.

    A hatch opened up from the tank''s hull, and a huge cannon ball was manually loaded into it by a pair of Steam Knights. When the ball of metal went in, the hatch was sealed shut, and every unarmored personnel scattered.

    "The cannons of the siege cavalry are similar to the smaller cannons we used to have." explained the Head Chief, "Only, think of it as a giant version of the fusil. Cover your ears!"

    After shouting a command, everybody, except Malachi, braced for impact.

    "Range, 200!" shouted an engineer, "FIRE AWAY!"

    "KA-BOOM!"

    With an audible click that was heard from inside the siege cavalry, an explosion tore through the mouth of the cannon. Subsequently, the large cannon ball that was loaded flew in a wide arc towards the stone target.

    "BA-GANN!"

    The cannon ball crashed like a meteor into the wall. The wall, unable to bear the kinetic force and weight of the cannon ball, shattered shortly and left a huge compromising gap.

    "Haha! Yeah!" cheered the engineers, "Feast your eyes on that!"

    While the majority of the people present were cheering, Malachi went close to the siege cavalry to inspect it.

    "Hey, kid!" shouted the Head Chief, "Be careful!"

    Everybody was alarmed at Malachi''s action. Everybody except Arlianne. Arlianne even went to Malachi''s side.

    "What do you think, Young Master?" asked Arlianne, "Is it awe-inspiring?"

    "I need to see the blueprints of this thing, first." replied Malachi, "Because of how long it takes to deliver an attack, I''ve already simulated in my mind the things I could do to negate it. It took them 5 minutes to load the cannon, 3 seconds to actually fire the thing, and the flight lasted for 10 seconds. Not including that they have to move the entire body just to aim, I could destroy this 12 times over."

    "Is it really that bad?" added Arlianne.

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    "The power is good for this level of technology." answered Malachi, "But the efficiency is too low, especially once I recreate my time''s weapons. Depending on how this thing was built, I could create a smaller cannon that could punch through 150 millimeters of armor, maybe even more depending on the materials. Sadly, computers don''t exist yet, so I have to settle for certain designs."

    "Kom-pyu-ters?" repeated Arlianne, "What are those?"

    "Complex machinery with certain circuits and codes that can execute a variety of tasks." answered Malachi, "Just think of them as human-like machines that are all logic and no ego, just pure brain power."

    "Uh-huh..." uttered Arlianne, "I don''t get it."

    "No need to." commented Malachi, "Hmm, might as well settle for 1945-1960 era designs for the time being."

    Malachi and Arlianne left the siege cavalry and went to the Head Chief.

    "Thanks for the show of force." said Malachi, "But we have to go, now. We still need to meet up with our Mama."

    "Oh, well. Okay." said the Head Chief, "Well, come back anytime whenever you like, all right? Do you need someone to guide you back?"

    "Thanks, but no need." replied Malachi, "I know the way back. Farewell."

    Malachi and Arlianne waved goodbye to the engineers of the armory. The Head Chief and the rest, after Malachi and Arlianne had gone through the exit, went back to their previous duties. A few minutes later, after getting the siege cavalry back in its garage, a familiar man appeared behind the Head Chief.

    "Hey." said the man, "What happened here?"

    "Hm? Oh, Lord Grigorio." greeted the Head Chief as she turned to meet the man, "What are you doing here?"

    "I''ve received a report about an unplanned performance of a siege cavalry." said Grigorio, "Know anything about this?"

    "Ah, sorry about that." she apologized, "There was just a pair of hopefuls earlier that got brought in by Gramps. The boy wanted to enter the academy, and the girl planned to follow after him."

    "A boy and a girl?" he said, "That is still no reason to do an unauthorized activity."

    "Oh, relax." she said, "This was a special case since the boy reminded me of You-Know-Who."

    "Hmm? Really now?" he said, "Have you gotten either of their names?"

    The Head Chief shook her head.

    "Sadly, no." she answered, "They were your typical brats, except that the boy wore a pair of tinted goggles. Seeing that this was the furnace, I assumed that it was just protective wear. The girl didn''t have anything distinct, though... Ah, except that she seems to act with respect to the boy, despite being seemingly older."

    "Interesting." he commented, "Any reaction from them?"

    "The girl was expected, but..." she said but momentarily paused, "The boy''s reaction was unexpected. I mean, his reaction was flat, like he was unimpressed. Actually, I can''t really say, he didn''t smile nor have his mouth hang open like the rest."

    Grigorio covered his mouth, like he was in thought, and made a wry smile.

    "I see." he said, "I might have some sort of idea, but I can''t say for sure."

    "Oh? You know the boy?" she asked.

    "Maybe, just maybe." he answered, "I''ll probably know for sure once he enrolls in the academy."

    Right before Malachi stepped through the exit, he felt something strange once more.

    ''There''s that cold breeze, again.'' he thought, ''Where is it coming from?''

    ///

    By the time Malachi and Arlianne had left the furnace, it was already a few hours past noon. The sun had already passed its peak, and many of the city''s populace had food in their hands.

    "You have our money, right?" asked Malachi, "Want to grab a bite to eat?"

    Arlianne opened a city map, and traced their location.

    "Then we will need to pass by Axel''s ''territory'' again to get to the commercial district." replied Arlianne, "Unless you plan to break your promise, it is the only way available."

    "Ehh? Seriously?" he groaned, "Whatever, let''s just sprint through it."

    The two of them went back through the road they met Axel.

    Although Malachi wanted to avoid Axel,

    "Hey! You''re back again!"

    Axel didn''t avoid them.

    Malachi ignored the boy, and pulled Arlianne with him. Going through another direction, they weaved away from Axel''s position. Except, the boy leisurely followed from behind.

    "Where are you going?" asked Axel, "Hey, wanna be friends?"

    Malachi and Arlianne stopped in their tracks, and looked back at the boy.

    "What are you planning?" inquired Malachi, "I don''t want to waste my time with someone who attacks strangers like you. Heck, you threw rocks at me twice, then you request that we be friends?"

    "Why not?" replied Axel, "You''ve got nothing to lose, right?"

    ''I could lose time and effort.'' thought Malachi secretly, "What''s in it for you, though?"

    "Nothing, really." answered Axel, "Only, I guess I''ll have a friend of the same age?"

    "Same age? You look younger than me, though." argued Malachi, "Besides, it''s hard to trust someone who previously held ill will against oneself. Why not apologize first, eh?"

    "Urk... Before that..." muttered Axel, "Is she really... Are you REALLY siblings?"

    Malachi raised a brow. He went next to Arlianne and hugged her.

    "I''m not giving you Arlianne, if that''s what you''re after." he said, "She''s mine."

    "Young Ma¡ªmmph!?" cried Arlianne but was silenced by Malachi.

    "Hey! What are you doing to a girl, an elder especially!?" shouted Axel, "I knew it, you are a knave!"

    Axel picked up another rock, and was about to throw it when suddenly,

    "Nope." muttered Malachi.

    Malachi released Arlianne and swiftly ran to Axel''s position. He grabbed the boy''s hand, and Axel''s grip on the rock loosened.

    "You need to have a stock of rocks hidden away." said Malachi as he lifted Axel''s hands, "Just picking them up will waste a lot of time."

    "Unhand me!" bellowed Axel.

    Malachi released his grip on Axel, and retreated back to Arlianne. Axel massaged his wrists, and warily watched Malachi''s next action. Occasionally, Axel would also glance behind him. Malachi noticed this, though.

    "You have someone watching you, huh?" commented Malachi, "You attack me, you have secrets, and you want to be our friend. What do you think, Arlianne? Is he trustworthy?"

    "I cannot say since I am not the victim of his attacks." she replied, "Although, I am a victim of your attacks. I would like to have a friend that could oppose you, though."

    Malachi frowned at Arlianne. He then looked at the the place behind Axel.

    "I won''t do anything bad to Axel." he said, "Just keep watching from a distance if you don''t want to be known."

    Silence permeated their surroundings, except for a low gurgling noise from Axel''s stomach. Hearing that, Axel blushed at his hunger.

    "Y-yo-you heard nothing!" he shouted, "I''m not hungry!"

    "Arlianne, let''s go." declared Malachi, "I''m getting hungry."

    "Hey! Come back here!" shouted Axel.

    Malachi turned to leave and pulled Arlianne with him. Axel was left behind, but the boy hurriedly got up and went after the other two. As for whoever was watching Axel, the same young man secretly followed them.

    ///

    In the commercial district, Malachi had Arlianne in tow, along with Axel who just followed behind them.

    "What do you wanna eat?" asked Malachi.

    "Anything is fine." answered Arlianne, "Just as long as it is within the allotted budget."

    "What about you, Axel?" he asked, "Got anything you''d like?"

    "I''d like to have some blackfowl stew... Wait..." answered Axel, "That''s not what I meant, hey!"

    "That''s some pretty high class taste for ya." commented Malachi, "Let''s see, it seems to be within the budget if we get one each. Oh, but will your bodyguard be fine?"

    "Wait! Why are you treating me?" asked Axel, "You hadn''t even accepted my offer to be friends."

    Malachi stopped looking around for a place to eat, and strode towards Axel. He leaned forward and brought his face close to the boy. Axel froze and, with Malachi''s face too close for comfort, paused his breath.

    "Fine then, rather than being just your friend, seeing as you were hostile earlier..." whispered Malachi, "Are you a friend today and an enemy tomorrow, or will you be a friend now and forever?"

    "Huh?" muttered Axel, "What do you..."

    "As it is." said Malachi, "Just from the existence of your bodyguard, I can draw multiple conclusions about your identity. Depending on which conclusion is true, and on which actions I take, our interactions and relationship will most definitely be affected. Whether it be now or far into the future. This is true, especially in my case."

    "Your case?" asked Axel, "So you are a noble''s child?"

    Malachi smiled.

    "Hoo? So that''s the conclusion you drew up, eh?" said Malachi, "I''ll tell you this now, even if we do become friends, we will still be keeping secrets from one another. Only, depending on your answer from my earlier question, these secrets may gradually come to light. Understand?"

    Axel nodded carefully.

    "Y-yeah, I understand." he affirmed, "I... I am a friend... Now, and forever."

    Malachi smiled, his lips forming into a grin.

    "Right then, I''m Malachi." he introduced himself, "Glad to meet you, Axel. Betrayal will end deliciously."

 Bootcamp 6

    [Ties] Bootcamp 6

    "And now, we seal the deal with a kiss." declared Malachi, "Pucker up."

    Arlianne''s eyes went wide with shock. Axel froze, and even his bodyguard was stunned. Malachi held Axel''s right shoulder with his left hand, and carressed Axel''s cheek with his right palm. He then brought his face closer to Axel''s, and prepared his lips. The boy, still frozen, snapped out and delivered an uppercut.

    "What the hell!!!?????" screamed Axel.

    "Haha!" laughed Malachi, "Nice uppercut!"

    Malachi jumped back in the nick of time and avoided Axel''s uppercut. He landed next to Arlianne, who was still shocked, and hugged the girl.

    "Just kidding, I already have Arlianne." he said, then he looked at Arlianne, "Hey, Arlianne? Hello~? Yoo-hoo~ Arlianne? Malachi to Arlianne?"

    Malachi waved his hands before the stunned girl''s eyes. The repeatedly attempted to call for her attention. Each of his actions were futile, and Arlianne was still stunned, the light in her eyes were seemingly gone.

    "All righty." said Malachi, "Poke."

    "Hiya~!?" shrieked Arlianne, "Malachi!?"

    "Welcome back to reality, my sweet." greeted Malachi, "Was it so shocking that it wasn''t as shocking as my revelation years prior?"

    "Wait, what?" wondered Arlianne, "What do you mean? What happened?"

    Malachi blinked twice.

    ''Selective memory loss?'' he thought, ''I''ve heard of it before, but to think I''d witness it today, and in this life of all times. To exploit or not to exploit? Nah, something bad might happen to her... Still, the effect was pretty quick. Must have been so traumatic. As for Axel...''

    Malachi turned his gaze to Axel. The boy was crouching and had his head down. He also held his face in pure embarrassment, not once glancing at Malachi. Malachi looked behind Axel and seemed to have heard something as he tilted his ear towards its direction. Not hearing anything further, he shrugged.

    "So, Axel, my dear friend." he said, ignoring Axel''s embarrassing experience, "Want some blackfowl stew?"

    ///

    Three children were seated in a circle on a table for four. They found a small inn that served their intended lunch¡ªblackfowl stew¡ªand were waiting for their dishes to be delivered.

    "Are you sure your bodyguard doesn''t need to eat?" asked Malachi, "We still have a free seat."

    "No, I''ve done that before, but he keeps telling me that it is a bit safer if I were truly incognito." replied Axel, "Also, why the hell did you do that earlier? I almost thought you were ''that'' kind of guy."

    " ''That''? What do you mean?" asked Malachi with a wry smile, seemingly having figured out what Axel meant.

    "Um, you know... that ''that''..." answered Axel, unsure of how to explain.

    "Ah, you mean men that like other men?" declared Malachi.

    When Malachi said this, Arlianne twitched, but Malachi didn''t notice this. Axel did, though, as his eyes momentarily glanced at Arlianne.

    "N-no, I mean... yeah..." said Axel, "There should be no other reason... so... yeah..."

    "Haha! I just wanted to see your reaction." said Malachi, "And I got a good one, that was a nice uppercut. Too bad it missed, though. Haha! Besides, I also got a good reaction from other people. Hehe."

    "That''s really cruel, though." argued Axel, "Having fun with other people''s embarrassing moments..."

    "Don''t worry." replied Malachi, "I only do it between friends. Man, I am so going to burn that image of a frozen Axel in my mind."

    "Wah!?" cried Axel, "No! Forget it! Forget everything you saw!"

    "Hahahaha!" laughed Malachi, "Okay, let''s all calm down. Our food''s here."

    "Grr..." growled Axel, "Fine!"

    ''Haha, he''s too cute to be a boy.'' thought Malachi, ''Ah, my habits are coming back. I have to be careful.''

    With their meals on the table, the three children ate their fill. Blackfowl stew, like its name, was a bird-like animal with black everything, including meat. Blackfowl were similar to the Ayam Cemani chicken from Indonesia, except that Blackfowl are as big as a turkey. Their feathers were black, their crown, beak, meat and intestines, everything was black.

    The inn where they ate their blackfowl stew were true professionals. Seeing that their customers were children, their servings were adjusted to suit their size for a cheaper price. The stew was served in a large bowl with a ladle, and each of the children were given their own tableware. It was similar to a restaurant than an inn.

    When Axel had eaten some of his stew,

    "Hey, why are you wearing such heavily tinted goggles, anyway?" he asked, "You also have a backpack... Are you aiming to be an engineer?"

    Ever since Malachi had shared his past life''s knowledge in the village, his products eventually spread all over the place. This was due to the merchants that went to and fro at the village. Seeing the potential and utility of the backpack for the engineers, other furnaces eventually bought and copied their own packs. Indeed, many tried to copy the design from Malachi''s own bags. However, Malachi didn''t mind this. Instead, he ignored it.

    "Yes, and no." answered Malachi, "What the engineers do is part of what I planned to be but my aim is not to be an engineer."

    "Hmm? Then what is it that you plan to be?"followed up Axel, "Judging from the direction where you were headed earlier, you went to the city furnace, right?"

    Malachi smiled.

    "Before I tell you my plans for the future, why don''t you tell me yours?" answered Malachi, "You act like a street urchin, yet you have a bodyguard trailing behind you. No, forget about your origins. What do you want to do in the future?"

    "Well, if all goes well with my father..." answered Axel, "I will be serving this kingdom till the day I die. If not, I don''t know."

    Malachi raised a brow.

    ''A noble''s child, huh?'' he thought, ''I already said to forget about his origins, though...''

    "Apart from that, I don''t know what else." added Axel, "Oh, wait... I also plan to get rid of the Eskurs."

    Malachi heightened his attention.

    "What did you say?" he said, "What about the Eskurs?"

    "I plan to rid the kingdom of the Eskurs." repeated Axel, "It was their fault that my eldest sister died."

    Axel''s expression was grave, then became solemn. Malachi realized that this was a sensitive topic, so,

    "I see. I''m sorry." he apologized, "Let''s talk about something else."

    "Well?" said Axel.

    " ''Well'' what?" repeated Malachi.

    "Aren''t you going to tell me your plans for the future?" answered Axel, "I told you mine, now tell me yours."

    "Oh, that." said Malachi, "I plan to enter the academy, then serve the kingdom. Like you, we may even get to work together in the future."

    Axel''s expression brightened.

    "Really!?" he said, "I also plan to enter the academy! Maybe we could be classmates, as well! Ah, but, what about Arlianne?"

    "I plan to follow him." she answered, ''I made a vow, after all.''

    "Wonderful!" cheered Axel, "I can''t wait to grow up!"

    They continued with their lunch and chatted happily for the remainder of the afternoon.

    ///

    After lunch, the three bid their farewells as the skies were about to go dark.

    "Hey, how often will you be coming to the city?" asked Axel, "I''m sorry I can''t visit you instead."

    "No worries, Axel." said Malachi, "I suppose, for now, once a week? We could increase the frequency as we grow older, though."

    "Yes, once Malachi becomes twelve, he will be able to come here on his own... Well, with me, of course." added Arlianne, "There won''t be a time when he is alone, unless it is deliberate."

    "Yes, yes. I love you, too." declared Malachi, "You really can''t keep your distance from me."

    "Malachi!" scolded Arlianne, "Be serious."

    "I am, though?" replied Malachi.

    Axel watched their exchange in silence. Malachi noticed this and,

    ''Ah, he did have an elder sister.'' thought Malachi, ''Hmm, what to do?''

    "Hey, so we''ll see each other in a week, okay?" he said, "Stay safe, Axel."

    "Huh? Oh, yeah." affirmed Axel, "Stay safe, as well."

    The three children waved each other off, and went their separate ways. Malachi and Arlianne went to the plaza where they agreed to meet with Bashia and Ibrahim, and Axel went through an alley and met up with his bodyguard.

    "So, what do you think, ''Axel''?" asked the bodyguard, "Hah! The face you made earlier was priceless!"

    "Shut up." snapped Axel, "Still, to think he would believe me to be a boy."

    "Why not clarify, eh?" suggested the bodyguard, "Hee hee, having his left hand on your shoulder, his right hand on your cheek... Oops."

    Axel suddenly kicked the bodyguard''s shin.

    "Silence!" scolded Axel, "I''m ''Axel'' when I''m not within the estate walls. I''ll keep this act up until I can''t anymore. Just let me have some friends I could call my own, okay?"

    The bodyguard sighed.

    "All right, all right." he said, "Anything for the little princess."

    "Once they know who I am, they might keep their distance from me." said Axel, "Even if we keep secrets from one another... Secrets, huh? Didn''t he say something about that?"

    ///

    "Here they are." said Ibrahim, "Over here!"

    Ibrahim waved towards Malachi and Arlianne. He was with Bashia with a large amount of goods with them, mostly food and medicinal ingredients.

    "Good evening, Mama, Gramps." greeted Malachi.

    "Good evening, ma''am, doctor." greeted Arlianne.

    "So, how was your trip to the furnace?" asked Bashia, "Did it meet your expectations?"

    "Well, the furnace was huge, as expected from the city..." answered Malachi, "But, I didn''t think the military-grade weapons would be that bad."

    Bashia went wide-eyed.

    "You went into the armory?" she said, "I thought I told you..."

    "Relax, Mama." said Malachi hurriedly, "We got toured by an old engineer and the Head Chief. The old engineer thought I was aiming to be an engineer, but heard my plans to enter the academy. When he got us inside the armory, the Head Chief showed up and played with Arlianne."

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    "She didn''t play with me." clarified Arlianne, "She just treated me like a baby, even though I''m already twelve."

    "That''s because you lack muscle." argued Malachi, "Of course, I plan to have you exercise with me, even if it''s just stamina training. If you do plan to follow me into the academy, I need you to be able to catch up with me. Anyway, I didn''t think a Head Furnace Chief could be a woman, with all the machinery and dirt in the workplace."

    "A woman? Did she give her name?" asked Bashia.

    Malachi shook his head.

    "No, she didn''t." he answered, "Her body was pretty well-toned, and she was able to resist the recoil of a repeater and a pistol to a certain extent. They also showcased the siege cavalry."

    "The siege cavalry? So, that''s why." muttered Ibrahim, "A loud explosion rattled the city, you know. I should''ve guessed that you had a hand in it. So, how was it."

    "Too inefficient." he replied succinctly, "It''s funny, though, that it resembled an old tank from my past life. The siege cavalry, however, didn''t match the expected performance. Given the right equipment, I could take it out 12 times in a minute. I might have to change a lot of the kingdom''s technology."

    "Hmm, anything else?" wondered Ibrahim.

    Malachi held his chin.

    "Oh, right." he said, "Arlianne and I made a new friend."

    The two adults were surprised, and looked at one another.

    "Huh, and, is it a boy or a girl?" interrogated Bashia with a smile.

    "His name''s Axel, and he seems younger than me." explained Malachi, "He has a nice throwing arm, too, but his aim sucks."

    "Throwing arm? What do you mean?" asked Ibrahim.

    "He threw a rock at me." answered Malachi.

    "Are you okay!?" cried Bashia, "I told you not to get into trouble!"

    "Easy, Mama." said Malachi, "Like I said, his aim was bad, and I was able to dodge."

    Bashia stared at her son. Malachi just smiled back.

    "Fuu... Fine, then what happened next?" sighed Bashia, "How did you become friends, anyway?"

    "We almost kissed." answered Malachi.

    Bashia and Ibrahim froze, not to mention Arlianne that suddenly twitched and went blank. Ibrahim''s mouth opened and closed, not knowing what to say while Bashia retreated back a bit and massaged her eyes.

    "It was a joke." added Malachi with a wry smile, "You weren''t seriously thinking I''d do such a thing to someone younger than me, do you? Before I forget... Poke."

    Malachi poked Arlianne at her waist.

    "Hiya~!?" she shrieked, "Malachi! Not again!"

    "Your fault for becoming a zombie." he argued, "After that, we ate lunch and went our separate ways."

    Ibrahim snapped out of his stupor.

    "Uh, any particular reason why you made that joke?" he asked, "No, wait, what am I asking? Never mind, forget I asked."

    "Truthfully?" said Malachi, "He was too cute to be a boy."

    Arlianne twitched again.

    "Poke." announced Malachi, "Seriously, get used to it."

    "Ma-la-chi!!!" screamed Arlianne.

    "Yes, yes." he said, "I love you, too."

    Later that night, in their home at the Eskur village.

    Bashia and Arlianne were seated in the dining room with nothing but a candle to light their surroundings. Malachi was not with them, presumably asleep, and they had serious expressions on their faces.

    "Arlianne." said Bashia, "Tell me what happened with that Axel boy."

    Arlianne relayed the events that happened earlier to her as accurate as possible, despite the gaps in her memory. After finishing, Bashia released a deep sigh.

    "I have a feeling that Axel is a noble''s child." she declared, "While I do trust Malachi, a few mistakes in judgment could be fatal."

    "What do you plan to do, mom?" asked Arlianne, "Will you stop this friendship of theirs?"

    "No, let''s not." replied Bashia, "Since Axel has anti-Eskur sentiments, Malachi will be careful in hiding his lineage. Besides, from what you said, Axel seems likes decent boy despite his past experiences with my kin. I hope I''m not thinking too deeply on this, but I hope Axel will change his views in the future."

    Bashia stood from her seat.

    "Well, in order to nurture their friendship, I''ll allow Malachi to go to the city in the following weeks." she said, "Although there are risks, I''m quite optimistic about how this will go. For now, remain friends with Axel. Give him a nice childhood as friends with you and Malachi. All right, let us retire for the night."

    "Good night, mom." said Arlianne.

    "Good night, sweetie." replied Bashia.

    ///

    An unknown estate in Rhiamalka.

    Three men were seated in an office. On the largest desk were stacks upon stacks of papers. One of the papers had Emmanuel''s name on it¡ªEmmanuel Arkansius Perlas. The three men were discussing about a particular topic.

    "How goes the negotiations?" asked the most affluent-looking man, "I hope the Count finds things satisfactory."

    The affluent man, surprisingly, had similar features with Emmanuel. Only, he wasn''t as fit as Malachi''s father. Wearing fur cloak that seemed inappropriate for the climate, his jewelry reflected light from the candles.

    "The Count still wouldn''t budge, sadly." replied a uniformed man, "We may have to... move... a hand."

    The uniformed man was actually wearing beige-colored military attire. On his sleeve was an insignia of a silver hawk, and on his shoulders were heads of golden eagles.

    "Hrm... Any idea where his daughter is?" asked the affluent man, "Maybe we could ''persuade'' her into joining our cause."

    "We''ve found where she''s hidden." answered a black uniformed man, "Only, we await your orders to execute the plan."

    The black uniformed man''s attire was similar to the military man, only, it was purely black. The only things different from his uniform were the lack of insignias and what seemed to be a serial number printed onto his left chest: B-0113.

    "Do it." ordered the affluent man, "It doesn''t matter if she breaks. Just get the ''support'' of the Count."

    "Sir." affirmed the military man.

    "Sir." as well as the black-garbed man.

    The two men left the office, and the affluent man was alone. A while after that, a knock was heard on the door.

    "Enter." said the affluent man.

    "Good evening, father." said the visitor. It was Axel.

    "Ah, my child." greeted the affluent man, "Why have you come home so late?"

    "I was with Lakeng, father." answered Axel, "We were out in the city."

    "Again?" muttered the affluent man, "Haa... Well, I did allow you to go out every once in a while. So, did something happen earlier?"

    "Well, the furnace did an unplanned live-fire of a siege cavalry." answered Axel, "I also made a new friend."

    The affluent man''s interest was piqued.

    "Oh, and who is this new friend?" he asked.

    "Well, actually, ''friends'' would be more accurate." added Axel, "His name is Malachi, and his sister was Arlianne."

    "Is he a noble''s child?" he asked again.

    "I''m not sure." answered Axel, "He does seem to have plans to enter the academy, though. He told me of his plans to serve the kingdom, too. We might be able to work together, as well, in the future."

    The affluent man watched as Axel revealed a smile without his child having realized it.

    "Malachi, huh?" he repeated the name, "Would you like me to find out more about him?"

    "No need, father." replied Axel, "He didn''t want to find out about where I came from, so I won''t ask about his. Oh, he also noticed Lakeng following me."

    The affluent man raised a brow.

    "He ''noticed'' Lakeng?" he said, "Lakeng is one of our Shadows, how did he get found?"

    "Well, it was my fault, really." answered Axel, "He found me glancing back at Lakeng''s location. Oh, but he didn''t really know about Lakeng, he only assumed he was an ordinary bodyguard."

    "I see." said the affluent man, "Well, if needed, I''ll just ask Lakeng about it."

    "Then, good night, father." said Axel.

    "Good night, my beloved child." replied the affluent man.

    Axel left the office, and was soon replaced by the bodyguard, Lakeng.

    "So, about that new ''friend''." interrogated the affluent man.

    "Do you really want to know, sir?" clarified Lakeng.

    "What do you mean?" replied the affluent man.

    Lakeng scratched the back of his head.

    "Uhh, how do I say this?" he uttered, "Well, they almost kissed."

    "THEY WHAT!?" bellowed the affluent man, "BRING ME HIS HEAD!"

    "Woah! Woah! Relax, sir!" said Lakeng panickingly, "It was apparently a joke by the boy, Malachi! I mean, they were talking about being friends and stuff, and things just went into that direction, and, and... I was shocked, too. Heck, here I was believing that Malachi ''believed'' Lex to be a boy, and he just, well, yeah..."

    "Say that beforehand!" scolded the affluent man, "I almost killed a potential recruit."

    Lakeng was surprised.

    "A ''recruit'', sir?" he repeated.

    "Yes, I''d like to hear about how he ''noticed'' you." affirmed the affluent man.

    "Well, first things first..." said Lakeng.

    Lakeng told the affluent man what happened with Axel and Malachi, from their first meeting up to their separation. The affluent man held a serious gaze the longer he listened to Lakeng''s testimonies.

    "He plans to enter the academy, huh?" muttered the affluent man, "I would love to have someone tail him, but I have to respect my child''s wishes. Maybe, just maybe, those two remind my child of the past. Hmm, well, just resume your usual duties, for now. It might become a good form of therapy."

    "Sir." said Lakeng before he left the office.

    Alone in his office, the affluent man turned his gaze on the stack of papers on his desk.

    "Emmanuel, Emmanuel." he said, "My dear brother of another mother. How much longer will father live before he chooses his successor?"

    The affluent man then retired for the night.

 Bootcamp 7

    [Ties] Bootcamp 7

    "So you made a friend, and a boy younger than you? What''s his name?"

    "Axel, Pops. He told me his name was Axel."

    A few days after Malachi''s visit to the city of Rhiamalka, Emmanuel took a break from his duties and visited his family. Of course, he was in incognito and was with Gregory. Currently, the entire household was having breakfast.

    "I''m not really sure about his age, though." added Malachi, "I just assumed he was younger because he was smaller."

    "By the way," said Gregory, "I received a report regarding an unannounced siege firing. Did you have anything to do with it, Malachi?"

    Malachi grinned.

    "Yup." he replied, "Actually, though, the engineers got too excited about showing off."

    "And?" added Gregory, "What did you think of it?"

    Malachi frowned.

    "Truthfully?" he said, "Pathetic."

    Emmanuel and Gregory flinched.

    "Ouch..." commented Emmanuel, "That''s a harsh assessment, why do you say so?"

    The men of the household, except Ibrahim, quickly finished their meals, let go of their utensils, and began to engage in serious discussion. Bashia and Arlianne looked at one another, and both women sighed and shrugged. Arlianne got off her seat and took the men''s plates to the kitchen while Bashia patted Ibrahim''s shoulder and signed to leave the three men for a while.

    Malachi, Emmanuel, and Gregory, not minding the disappearance of the others, discussed the flaws Malachi had found and proposed possible remedies for the time being while Malachi was still young.

    "First and foremost, I need to see the designs of all available weapons, armor, and other military equipment." declared Malachi, "I really can''t wait to grow up and get my hands on the needed tools and manpower. I included the manpower because there are some things that I cannot do alone at my age."

    "Do we provide only the military-grade equipment?" inquired Gregory, "Or do we include the civilian-use as well?"

    "For now, the civilian-use are fine." replied Malachi, "This is especially since most of them are merely for self-defense. Military-grade, however, since the soldiers of the kingdom will be using them, having an edge in the realm of technology is a must. This is especially true since this world has a crap ton of conflicting interests and ideologies. Heck, we have an empire way up north and, in the past, the existence of a warmongering Eskur Clan. The tech we have now, even if they have been proven since then, needs to be improved upon even in the time of peace."

    "Even in peace? What do you mean by that?" wondered Emmanuel, "How can better weapons help the peace?"

    "Well-developed weapons can act as a deterrent to war." answered Malachi, "The world I used to live in was well-versed in warfare. Over 10,000 years of recorded history were filled with war. Just because a nation is peaceful, it doesn''t mean that others won''t invade. As long as there is a driving force behind the invading party, peace is useless. Peace is merely the prelude to war."

    Emmanuel had a serious expression. Gregory, too, was silent. The two adult men looked at one another and nodded to each other.

    "I suppose, this includes internal wars as well?" clarified Emmanuel, "For example, a civil war."

    "It''s my uncle, Elijah, isn''t it?" inferred Malachi, "If you want, I will work with your¡ªour faction¡ªto deter any effort for rebellion by my uncle."

    "For the time being, the thought of rebellion hasn''t entered our minds." said Gregory, "Especially for Eman, here, who wouldn''t stoop down to Elijah''s level."

    "I''ve heard some rumors, Pops," said Malachi, "But, is there any particular reason between your bad blood with one another?"

    Emmanuel sighed.

    "Frankly, I didn''t even have any ill will towards him." explained Emmanuel, "It was only because I was born from a mere concubine."

    "Huh?" uttered Malachi, "Wait... What?"

    "It''s true, though." affirmed Gregory, "Eman was a concubine''s son. Of course, it wasn''t publicly announced, only those of the inner palace and highest echelon know about it."

    "Elijah''s mother, the late queen, hated my mother." said Emmanuel, "It''s a typical royal drama that you''ll see in many books. She always tried to find fault in her and in my upbringing, only for me to show my ability in the fields of war and diplomacy. Though, most of the ''war'' part was thanks to Gregory."

    "Elijah also had potential with regards to war." added Gregory, "You should be familiar with the kingdom''s ranks in the military, right?"

    Malachi nodded.

    "Yeah, " he answered, "There are eight ranks, five officer and three enlisted ranks. From the highest to the lowest: Phoenix, Eagle, Buzzard, Goshawk, Falcon, Saber, Scimitar, and Rapier. What about it?"

    "Then you should also know that this kingdom has two Royal Phoenixes." added Gregory, "I am one of them, the other is in Elijah''s camp. The reason I mentioned this was, while I rose through the ranks side-by-side with Emmanuel, the second Royal Phoenix was personally trained by Elijah."

    "Personally trained?" inquired Malachi.

    Gregory nodded.

    "Elijah created a special forces unit that answers his every beck and call." explained Gregory, "The highest ranking officers in this unit are three siblings, including the other Royal Phoenix, and this unit specializes in sabotage and subterfuge."

    ''Oh? So they''ve gone that far already.'' thought Malachi.

    "Each one of them were personally handpicked and trained by Elijah." added Gregory, "While Elijah isn''t THAT well versed with diplomacy, his underhanded tricks can already make up for it."

    "Then, those people that trailed you years ago, were they part of this unit?" asked Malachi, remembering the assassins from three years ago.

    Emmanuel shook his head.

    "We thought about that, too." he said, "But their skills we not up to par from the reports about Elijah''s special unit."

    Malachi leaned back on his chair.

    "Hmm, I may have to change my approach if it''s like that." he said, "For now, I just need the designs for each existing equipment. From there, I will think of how to help this kingdom while avoiding uncle''s prying eyes."

    In the nearby corridor,

    "It''s really surreal watching a pair of grown men discuss seriously about the kingdom''s affairs with a ten year old boy." said Ibrahim, "Although, he isn''t really a ''boy'' in the strictest sense."

    "Frankly, I would rather have my cute Mally back." pouted Bashia, "Hey, Arlianne, make sure he doesn''t stray too far, okay?"

    Arlianne smiled.

    "Er, well, I hadn''t really gotten any chances to reel him in, myself." she said, "Rather, he just keeps teasing me."

    Bashia placed her hand upon Arlianne''s head.

    "Well, at the very least, we have the same tastes in cute things." added Bashia, "Mm~ yes, I was right in adopting you."

    "Ma''am, urk, I mean mom..." said Arlianne hurriedly.

    When Arlianne kept being polite with Bashia, Bashia tightened her grip on Arlianne''s head. Ibrahim, who was nearby watching the two, had cold sweat run down his back.

    ''Bashia is one strange kin...'' he thought, ''I pray that Malachi isn''t that possessive.''

    "By the way." said Emmanuel, "The military recently got new equipment. Courtesy of the Eqarian Merchant Union."

    As Emmanuel said this, he lifted his bag that was below him and placed it onto the table. Inside his bag, he pulled out a particular piece of machinery.

    "The EMU wanted us to have this piece of technology that they found from the Empire of Taijun." explained Emmanuel, "Here, take a look, and try to guess what it is."

    Malachi received the box-like machine. The machine was small enough to be held by one hand. On one of its faces were two screen-like surfaces¡ªone above, and one below. At the top was a long metallic rod that was about 120 millimeters long. On one side was an array of buttons, and on the other was a switch. Despite its clunky and rough design, Malachi immediately had an idea.

    "This... This is a radio, isn''t it?" he said, "You said that the Empire produced this?"

    "So you do know, what is it that you do NOT know?" commented Gregory, "I still find it interesting that almost all of our technologies, you''ve already known about before. Since you know what this is, I suppose you know how it works?"

    "A bit, actually." answered Malachi, "How far is the distance? Do we have to build transmitters for it?"

    Gregory revealed a wry smile at Emmanuel. Emmanuel caught onto it and just shrugged.

    "Transmitters and receivers. Yes, we were told about them as well." replied Gregory, "As for the range, it is a bit small, but we can increase the distance using wires and lines, and relaying the signal."

    "By the way, do telephones exist yet?" asked Malachi, "I was surprised by the radio that it reminded me of the telephone."

    " ''Telephone?'' " repeated Emmanuel, "Is it like this radio?"

    "Yes, only, it is wired and can only communicate with another telephone on the line." explained Malachi, "Do you have such a thing?"

    Emmanuel thought about it.

    "Ah, yes, we do have something like that." he replied, "Only, we don''t call it a ''telephone'' but a vocal transceiver. The ones to create this was the old Industrial Union before Clan Skali overthrew them."

    "Do you have an available device?" added Malachi.

    Emmanuel shook his head.

    "Right now, no." he said, "This is because the construction of such a device requires a certain crystal, and this crystal can only be found where the Industrial Union used to be and in some parts of the Empire. All other available vocal transceivers could only be bought by the affluent. We have a set in the palace, but only for work."

    "Another crystal?" said Malachi, "Is this different from pyrocite?"

    "Yes." affirmed Gregory, "Ah, good thing, too. That radio also has the same crystal used for vocal transceivers. Here, let me open it."

    Malachi handed the radio to Gregory. Unknown from where he got it from, Gregory had a screwdriver in hand. Deftly unscrewing the bolts from the radio, Gregory opened the radio and revealed the circuitry inside. Along with the circuits, however, was a curious yellow-orange crystal.

    Gregory showed and pointed at the crystal fixed inside the radio.

    "See that? That''s the crystal." he said, "It''s called an electrocite, and it, for some reason, holds and discharges electricity."

    Malachi reached out and touched the crystal. Upon contact,

    "ZAP!"

    "Woah!" yelped Malachi, "The heck!? It''s more dangerous than pyrocite!?"

    "Oops, ah, yeah." said Gregory, "Forgot to mention that. Anyway, we need to handle it with insulation to prevent getting the shock of our lives. Good thing, though, that this is only a small piece. Imagine if it was as big as your head."

    Malachi, instead of his expression going pale, merely had a curious gaze upon the crystal.

    "Okay... That''s the second weird thing I''ve learned about AND have encountered." commented Malachi, "Any particular reason why I haven''t learned about this from Dr. Ibrahim''s lessons?"

    "Well, there are reasons why knowledge about electorocite is limited." said Emmanuel, "It''s expensive and dangerous. Think about it if this thing was turned into a weapon, the ones who discovered this kept all information in turning this into a tool for war a secret. Apart from utility, there was nothing else."

    "Whoever found out about this has it right." commented Malachi, "I can, actually, turn this into a weapon. With the right materials, I can recreate many more of my past life''s technologies."

    "Even with the existence of pyrocite... Where did you come from, really?" said Emmanuel disbelievingly.

    "A world with over 10,000 years of recorded warfare." answered Malachi.

    ///

    The next day, early morning.

    "Um, why are we here?" asked Arlianne, "And why are we wearing this?"

    Malachi and Arlianne were wearing fairly light clothing¡ªboth of them were wearing sleeveless shirts, a pair of shorts, and the most comfortable shoes they had. They were at the village''s perimeter, and were actually attracting glances from the villagers with their attire.

    "We will be doing stamina and endurance training." answered Malachi, "For now, just do what I''m doing."

    Malachi was busily stretching his body. His legs, arms, back, head, every limb he has. Arlianne, unsure of what he was doing, did her best to copy Malachi. Malachi, however, finished his stretching and went to Arlianne, who was struggling.

    "Here, do it like this." said Malachi, "Tell me if it hurts."

    "Ah, eh?" muttered Arlianne, "What do you mean if it hu¡ªOw! Owowowow!"

    Malachi grabbed hold of Arlianne''s arms, and pushed it one way and another. Her arms, unused to the exercise, could only stretch so far, and was immediately in pain after a short while. Malachi weakened his force and found a sweet spot where Arlianne could stretch without being in too much pain.

    "Next, sit down and stretch out your legs." said Malachi.

    Arlianne did as she was told, albeit reluctantly, and sat on the ground. Malachi went behind her, and pushed her back forward, this time more carefully. Pushing her back only up to the point before she was in pain, he repeated what he did to her.

    "Um, why... why are we... doing... this...?" asked Arlianne, "Is this... part... of the... exercise...?"

    "This is to prevent injuries from occurring during exercise." answered Malachi, "It''s also to loosen up the body to a certain extent and make some movements easier to do."

    Malachi and Arlianne continued their stretching exercises until Malachi deemed it was okay.

    "Okay, that was a good warmup." he said, "Now, jog with me. Since this is still the beginning, you can rest for a while and get used to the exercise. However, in the future, when I tell you to run, you will keep running."

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    When Malachi said the last statement, his voice became grave and his gaze became serious. Arlianne, seeing this strange change, nodded in fear.

    "All right." said Malachi, "We still have a few years before we can enter the academy. Let''s use this time to hone our bodies for future hellish training."

    Without a word, Malachi took off and left Arlianne behind. Arlianne panicked, and ran after Malachi, doing her best to catch up to him. After jogging for approximately half a kilometer, Arlianne became tired, and took a break next to the village fence.

    "Hmm, yep, you need a lot of stamina and endurance." commented Malachi, "Since we are only jogging, we need to increase your endurance. Soon, we will be doing sprinting exercises to increase our stamina. Okay, I''ll just go on for the remainder of the lap, then we''ll call it a day."

    Malachi left Arlianne to rest where she lay, and ran around the village perimeter''s remaining diatance. That said, the entire perimeter spanned a total of 80 kilometers. Actually, even though Malachi said he would continue jogging the remaining distance, he only lasted for 8 kilometers. A tenth of the total.

    "Fuu... Haa... Okay, I overestimated myself... Fuu... Haa..." he said, "I should... find a... smaller area... to exercise at... Fuu... Haa... Time to go back..."

    Malachi rested for a while before walking back where he left Arlianne. After they met up, they went back home to wash up and rest. Not before shocking Bashia with their current state, and answering her interrogations about what they actually did.

    In the future, they would exercise routinely twice a week, and would eventually last the entire stretch. It goes without saying that the following weeks became hell for Arlianne but she''ll get used to it.

    ///

    The next week, when Malachi and Arlianne had gone again to the city of Rhiamalka.

    "Then, it will be just like last week." said Bashia, "We will meet back here when we''re going home. I suppose you will be meeting with Axel?"

    Malachi nodded.

    "That''s the plan." he answered, "We will just go through the road heading towards the furnace. We''ll meet him along the way."

    "All right. Well then, let''s go, Ibrahim." concluded Bashia.

    "See you, kids." bade Ibrahim, "Don''t get into trouble."

    Malachi and Arlianne waved the two adult Eskurs off before heading towards the direction of the city furnace.

    "Hmm, ah, there he is." said Malachi as he looked for Axel, "Axel~"

    Malachi found Axel sitting atop a crate at the fa?ade of a shop. Axel was just minding his own business, lightly swinging his legs and watching the passersby coming and going. When Malachi called for him, Axel turned his gaze and found Malachi a few meters away. Axel hopped off the crate and went to Malachi and Arlianne''s location.

    "Oh, hey." greeted Axel, "You actually came back."

    "You wanted a friend, you got a friend." said Malachi, "I tend to like keeping my promises that I can achieve easily."

    "Hello, Axel." greeted Arlianne, "Were you always here?"

    "Nah, I bet he''s just lonely and was excited to see us, so he waited where we first met." interjected Malachi, "I''m right, aren''t I?"

    "Wha-!? No, I''m not!" retorted Axel, "I already told you that this was my territory!"

    Malachi laughed.

    "Haha, yes, yes." he said, "I know you miss me."

    "Shut up!" yelled Axel.

    Axel threw a small pebble at Malachi but, as usual, Malachi evaded it.

    "Oho, your aim got better." commented Malachi.

    "Malachi..." groaned Arlianne with an annoyed expression, "Don''t get in to trouble."

    "Fine, fine." replied Malachi, "So, what are the plans for today? Personally, I don''t mind getting lost in the city... Wait..."

    "Hmm? What is it?" asked Axel, "Why are you staring at me like that?"

    Malachi thought of what to do for the day. Upon saying his earlier statement, he stared at Axel.

    ''Axel is a citizen of this city, while Arlianne and I are mere visitors.'' he thought, ''Apart from having a map, and going to the furnace, we know nothing else.''

    "Malachi." said Arlianne as she placed her hand on his shoulder, "Axel''s getting nervous, stop staring at him like that."

    "Hmm? Ah, sorry." apologized Malachi, "Say, Axel. Do you mind if I ask something from you?"

    "Yes? What is it?" replied Axel, "If it''s a prank, I''m going to deliver a stone to your head."

    "I''d like to see you try... No, that''s not it." said Malachi, "Do you mind if you tour us in the city? Arlianne and I are mere visitors, after all, and we know nothing much about it. Aside from the city furnace, we only have a map to rely on."

    Axel lowered his head and thought about it.

    ''Well, it''s true that I can tour them.'' he thought, ''But I can only take them to the places I know of.''

    "Well?" asked Malachi.

    "Is it fine if I just take you to places I can only go to?" asked Axel, "There might be some places you want to visit, but I''m not allowed to step foot in."

    Malachi glanced at the place behind Axel. He then shrugged and agreed.

    "Sure, why not?" he said, "We are still kids, after all, and I do believe that there ARE some ''places'' where kids should not enter."

    Arlianne and Axel became confused.

    "What do you mean by that, Malachi?" asked Arlianne, "And why were you putting emphasis on some words?"

    Malachi revealed a wry smile.

    "No need to think too deeply about it." he replied, "Well, Axel, lead us away~"

    Axel turned to leave, and Malachi and Arlianne followed behind. Lakeng, Axel''s bodyguard, also secretly followed from a distance. A group of three kids and one adult went into the nearest district: the commercial district.

    ///

    "By the way, why is it that you can only visit once a week?" asked Axel, "Is your village far?"

    "Not really." answered Malachi, "It''s just a 6-hour drive away with a truck. We just go weekly just to replenish our stocks."

    "You own a shop?" wondered Axel, "You don''t look like a merchant in that getup."

    "Not entirely." replied Malachi, "We live with a doctor, you see, so we spend a lot of resources making medicine."

    "Ooh, can you make medicine?" added Axel.

    "Nope, I know nothing about it." answered Malachi, "I know the simplest first aid, though."

    "I see."

    Arlianne watched on as Malachi and Axel conversed. Remembering what Axel felt about Eskurs, they had to be careful about the fact that they live in an Eskur village. Even the fact that Malachi was a half-Eskur was kept secret. With Malachi''s goggles, most would just assume he was an aspiring engineer, especially since he often visits the furnaces.

    At the moment, they were on the road to the commercial district. Quickly passing by the plaza where Malachi''s household would be meeting later, Malachi made a swift scan of the area to look for someone.

    ''Good, they''re not here.'' he thought, ''Guess they''re still shopping. Then that means...''

    The fact that Axel is leading his two visitors to the commercial district means that the chances of them meeting Bashia and Ibrahim will be high. Prior to this, Arlianne had already told Bashia about Axel and his sentiments. Hopefully, when they do meet, Malachi had already thought of a way to divert Axel''s attention.

    As the passed the plaza, the group had stepped foot into the commercial district.

    The Commercial District.

    Like what it was called, it is the part of the city in which the primary land use is commercial activities¡ªshops, offices, theaters, restaurants and so on¡ªas opposed to a residential neighbourhood, an industrial zone, or other types of neighbourhoods. This district, which made up at least a quarter of the city of Rhiamalka''s walled area, was the busiest district with the huge number of establishments catering to the needs of the huge number of people that transact with them.

    Of course, there were a few establishments that didn''t found themselves within the commercial district. Spread across the city happen to be small inns that cater to many travelers and citizens in need of good places to rest. Just by having all establishments concentrated in one area would be detrimental to the flow of people due to the intense traffic.

    That said, it was still before lunchtime so many people were out and about buying and selling goods.

    "Sheesh, the place sure is bustling." commented Malachi, "Let''s stay away from the middle of the roads so we don''t get separated."

    Malachi''s companions agreed with him and went near the edges of the road.

    "Well, here''s the commercial district." said Axel, "From here, there are only a few places I personally know of. For now, the nearest will be this one shop I like to go to."

    "Lead on." said Malachi.

    Axel led his visitors to a nearby shop with a jar for a sign hanging outside. When they arrived at the shop''s doorstep, Malachi saw an interesting view and raised a brow. The shop was mainly visited by children, young girls, and some women.

    "Uh, Axel, where are we?" asked Malachi.

    "Welcome to Max''s Candy Emporium!" announced Axel, "This is one place I always visit when I get the chance, heh heh."

    Axel opened the door, and pulled Malachi and Arlianne inside.

    "Out of all the shops in the city, Max carries only the best of the best." explained Axel, "From hard sweets, to soft and sugary goodness, he has it all!"

    ''So candies exist here.'' thought Malachi, ''Didn''t she also...''

    Malachi thought back to his past life''s memories. Before, he looked similar to the other Perlasian of this life¡ªbrown skin, brown eyes, and black hair. With him was a young girl of similar color eating candy happily as they idled the time away. Next to the girl was another man, a head taller than Malachi, who was also laughing with them.

    "Hey, what''s wrong?" wondered Axel, "You''ve gotten silent all of a sudden."

    Malachi snapped out of his nostalgia.

    "Hmm? Ah, sorry." he apologized, "I just remembered something from long ago."

    When Arlianne heard this, she thought back on what Malachi''s expression was. He appeared to be looking at a far away place, farther than what seemed to be not of this world. Arlianne approached Malachi, and placed her hand on his shoulder.

    Malachi didn''t look at her, and just held her hand with his left. With a jerk, he pulled Arlianne into an embrace, and buried his face onto her arm.

    "Hyau!?" cried Arlianne, "Malachi!?"

    "Ahh, you smell so good." he commented, "I really miss the scent of Old Spice, I wonder if I could recreate it?"

    "I assume you''re okay, now?" inquired Axel, "So, got anything you like?"

    Just as Axel asked, a jolly fat merchant appeared behind them.

    "Ohohoho! If it isn''t li''l Axel, eh?" greeted the merchant, "I see ye ''ave friends with ye, eh?"

    "Ah, hello, Max!" greeted Axel back, "Got anything new in your stores?"

    "Aye, that I do, laddie!" answered Max, "Say, how ''bout I give ye and yer friends a discount, eh? Just think of it as a way of me making sure ye keep coming back, eh? Especially fer new customers like ye, eh?"

    "Are you sure?" asked Malachi, "Well, if you''re offering, then I''m buying. Ah, wait, Arlianne. Do we have enough allowance?"

    Arlianne looked in her pouch.

    "Hmm, not sure." she replied, "I''m not familiar with the market price for sweets."

    "Ah, dontcha worry, lassie!" said Max, "Ye kids just have as much as ye can ''ave fer today, eh? Tis a special offer for future customers, aye?''

    "Well, all right." acknowledged Malachi, "We''ll just spend as little as we can so we can buy others apart from candies."

    "Good to ''ave ye on board, laddie!" cheered Max, "Now then, come to the front with me to see the new arrivals, eh?"

    Max the Candy Merchant brought the three kids up the counter. Max went behind it, and placed a box for them to see. The box was 50 cubic centimeters big, and seemed to be sealed by a lid up top. Max opened the lid, and smoke came out of the box.

    Well, rather than smoke...

    "Smoke...? No, it isn''t... Wait... That''s..." said Malachi, "Cold vapor? It''s a cold sweet?"

    "Eh? Ye know about this?" asked Max shockingly, "Ah... And ''ere I was ''opin that nobody knew ''bout this yet. Aye, laddie, you got it right. Tis a cold sweet called iced candy."

    "Ice? But the heat here is intense." said Malachi, "How do you maintain the optimal temperatures to keep it cold?"

    "Er, well, haa." sighed Max, "C''mere laddie, you''ll see it in this box."

    Malachi went behind the counter and climbed up on it using a stool nearby. Bringing his gaze inside the box, apart from the tubes and casks of frozen delight, he found translucent blue-white crystals lining the insides of the box.

    "This crystal ''ere is a glacite." explained Max, "A rare crystal ''ere in the kingdom, but is in abundance in the coldest regions of the Empire of Taijun. There are also glacite deposits down south, but the nomads down there rarely trade with us, ya see."

    Malachi froze, pun not intended, at the sight of another strange crystal. He was about to reach inside the box to touch it when Max suddenly caught it.

    "Ye better take care when ''andling that, laddie." he said, "Frostbite will be the least of yer concerns when ye do."

    Looking closer, right next to the box, Max had prepared a set of tongs. Presumably for taking the sweets out and not risk touching the glacite.

    Pyrocite, electrocite, and glacite. Three crystals that were foreign to Malachi appeared to him. These three crystals seemed to be the core of this world''s technologies. Pyrocite, being the safest but the most volatile to handle, and electrocite and glacite being the most dangerous but relatively safe materials.

    "Are there any other crystals that I should know of?" asked Malachi, "Please, shock me more."

 Bootcamp 8

    [Ties] Bootcamp 8

    "Mmm~! So cold~!"

    "It is actually soothing in this heat."

    Axel and Arlianne were busily eating the cold sweets they purchased from Max the merchant. As for Malachi, he was conversing with Max the merchant about the peculiar crystals that existed in this world.

    "Can you tell me more about the world''s economy with regards to these crystals?" asked Malachi, "Also, had anybody made a study regarding the origins of these?"

    "Well, I thought ye were just a wee lad," commented Max the merchant, "I thought ye''d ''ave known ''bout these before seein'' yer getup. I''d ''ave thought ye''d ''ave been taught by yer seniors in the furnace."

    "No, I haven''t." replied Malachi, "I did learn about pyrocite from my village''s furnace, but I learned about electrocite from a family friend. As for glacite, this is my first encounter with it."

    ''Hmm, must ''ave been a sheltered lad.'' thought Max the merchant, "Ah, all righ''. I''ll jus'' summarize the details, ''kay?"

    Pyrocite, glacite, and electrocite. Each of these crystals had befuddled the greatest minds this world had to offer. Pyrocite, as known by Malachi before, seemed to be a variation of flint. Unknown of the cause and process, flint that surrounded a piece of pyrocite slowly become pyrocite as well. This led to the construction of special "farms" that mine flint and place the flint in pyrocite "ichors". Pyrocite was more abundant in the hotter regions of the world.

    Glacite, however, were mostly found in the colder expanses of the northern and southern regions of the world. The Empire of Taijun, that controlled much of the northern regions for example, is the prime exporter of these crystals as opposed to other producers of glacite. Like pyrocite, glacite has the peculiar ability of turning certain minerals in its area into more glacite. The mineral, in question, happened to be fluorite (or fluorspar). The empire also has "farms" that produce more glacite as long as they could mine as much fluorite as possible.

    Finally, electrocite. Strangely, electrocite deposits were scattered all over the world. The largest deposit of electrocite was found in the former territory of the Industrial Union that was founded on a continent on the other side of the globe. Now, it became the territory of Clan Skali, a large Eskur clan that overthrew the Industrial Union. Clan Skali had closed off all trade with the outside world, allowing only purely Eskurs or a select few to initiate trade with them. The Empire of Taijun, due to its large territory, has a few deposits of electrocite. Similarly with the other two crystals, electrocite could turn topaz gemstones into more electrocite. This gave rise to large Imperial "farms" to produce more.

    "So, Perlas has pyrocite farms, while we import the other two from the Empire?" asked Malachi, "Have you tried talking to the Southern Nomads to enter their territories?"

    "The Eqarian Union is still in the middle of the talks." explained Max the merchant, "Frankly, His Majesty also wants ta trade with the Southern Nomads so he added the pyrocite veins we ''ave as bargaining tools. ''ere, ''ave a look at this map."

    Max the merchant pulled out a scroll of paper from below the counter. He unfurled it and revealed a map of the world.

    Malachi whistled in awe.

    "Woah, I''m not wrong to assume that this world doesn''t have efficient naval technologies, right?" he asked, "No wonder it''s so freaking hot."

    "How do ye know ''bout naval concepts?" wondered Max the merchant, "I''m pretty sure the Kingdom is a long way away from the nearest shoreline."

    The map of the world displayed three supercontinents separated by unusually small bodies of water and surrounded by numerous archipelagos. The largest body of water that was mapped was only a quarter of the continent where the Kingdom of Perlas was situated in. All the rest were small pools, lakes, and rivers. This is merely what can be seen from the surface, however, and the depth of the largest bodies of water was yet unknown. Not to mention whether there were underground sources of water that exist or not was known.

    Three names were printed in large texts on the map: Hasea, Oropafri, and Mereka. These were the names of the three continents. All the rest were the names of the countries, nations, empires, and kingdoms along with their geopolitical boundaries. In a way, it was comparable to the maps of modern Earth that students learn in world history and international studies, except that it wasn''t as colorful.

    Smack dab in the middle of Hasea was the Kingdom of Perlas. It actually was just a medium-sized kingdom in the middle of a hot region. It was still larger than the others around it. In contrast to it, however, was the large Empire of Taijun. Controlling the entire northern region of Hasea and more than 60 percent of the northern region of Oropafri, the Empire of Taijun was the largest international body that currently existed.

    As for Mereka, there was one hegemon that controlled much of the continent. Apart from small nations and kingdoms that scattered within the south central and southern regions of Mereka, the entire north-central and northern region of Mereka was dominated by Clan Skali.

    Despite being the largest international bodies, the Empire and Clan Skali do not necessarily own all of the land adjacent to them. In fact, large areas of land were still unconquered by this time. Judging from the recorded geopolitical boundaries, 40 percent of the land in this world was still untouched.

    "Only the Empire and Clan Skali, along with the other waterfront nations, ''ave naval crafts." explained Max the merchant, "As for ye, how does a laddie like ye come ''bout this, eh?"

    "I read." answered Malachi succinctly, "There were a lot of books at home, and one of the books mentioned naval crafts."

    Suffice to say, this was a lie. Malachi panicked when he learned that naval technologies existed but were not spread out. Not really having a clear idea about how the world was like, he blurted out a thought from his memories.

    "I see..." replied Max the merchant, seemingly satisfied, "Well, tha''s all there is to it."

    "Mn, thanks for the lesson." said Malachi.

    "So sweet~" sang Axel.

    While Malachi and Max the merchant were having a serious discussion about the state of the world, Axel and Arlianne were still in the middle of gorging on the iced sweets and candies. Malachi just stared at the two before him before getting back to Max the merchant.

    "Well, do you mind if I come by from time to time to ask about the world?" he asked.

    "Eh, I''ve got nothin'' to lose." replied Max the merchant, "As long as ye ''ave a question that I can answer, you can come by as much as ye want... and as long as ye buy from me shop, why not? Hohohoho!"

    Malachi thought for a while.

    "Hmm, rather than ''buy'' from you, why don''t I sell some recipes to you?" he proposed, "Since we have glacite, I have a few things in mind that might help your business flourish further."

    The light in Max the merchant''s eyes suddenly changed. Once Malachi mentioned business, the air around him turned serious.

    "I''m... listening." he said as he brought his face forward, "How profitable will it be, and what do ye want in exchange, eh?"

    Malachi merely smiled.

    ///

    Right after meeting with Max the merchant,

    Malachi and company left the sweets shop and headed north.

    "Wanna check out the royal arena?" asked Axel, "It''s just to our north."

    "We have an arena?" wondered Malachi, "What for? Gladiatorial battles?"

    "Historically, it used to be." explained Axel, "Now, the Royal Military uses it to showcase their power to the public. Right now, though, it is merely a tourist attraction. A lot of people come from all over the kingdom to see it just once in their life, especially during the Martial Competition."

    "What does the Martial Competition normally have?" asked Malachi, "Wait, is it for martial arts or or troop movement?"

    "Both, actually." answered Axel, "There are events for 1-on-1 matches, and there are squad-focused matches. The Martial Competition expresses the importance of individual power and group coordination. That said, anybody with military training can sign up to compete."

    "Interesting." commented Malachi. He inadvertently looked at Arlianne beside him.

    ''In that case, even if she might hate me for it...'' he thought, ''If ever she was to uphold that vow she made years ago...''

    "Malachi, why are you staring at me?" asked Arlianne, "Please stop whatever you are thinking."

    "I won''t stop." refused Malachi, "You do remember that vow/swear/promise you made years ago, right?"

    Arlianne furrowed her brows.

    ''What vow?'' she thought, ''Vow... Swear... Promise...? Ah... He remembers that!?''

    Her eyes went wide upon her realization.

    "You... You heard that?" asked Arlianne, "But, you were asleep."

    "Well, Mama was hugging me tightly, after all." he commented, "I can''t exactly be in deep sleep with her crushing my head."

    "But... But..." she stuttered, "Does that mean you remember ''everything''?"

    "Yup." affirmed Malachi, "E-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. If you ever plan to stay by my side, I will do my utmost to make sure you can catch up to me."

    "What''s going on?" wondered Axel, "Is it family matters?"

    "Yeah, just some internal family matters." acknowledged Malachi, "Just about a promise we made three years ago, a promise about staying by each other''s side."

    "Ohh, I see." understood Axel, "I envy siblings like you."

    Malachi and Arlianne were surprised by Axel''s comment.

    ''Ah, his sister died, after all.'' remembered Arlianne, ''Siblings still seems to be a taboo topic for him. What will you do, Young Master?''

    Malachi tilted his head to the side, and snapped his head to other side making a cracking sound. He then held both of Axel''s shoulders with both of his hands with relatively heavy grips.

    "How about this, buddy of ours." he said as he smiled, "Why not treat Arlianne and I as your elder brother and sister?"

    Arlianne and Axel were shocked at his out of the blue proposal.

    "Eh?" let out Axel, "What? Why?"

    "Why not?" asked Malachi back, "What''s stopping you?"

    "But... But we''re not even related?" answered Axel.

    "So? How is that supposed to stop people from one another as family?" argued Malachi, "Look at Arlianne and I, we aren''t even related by blood, yet I treat her as family."

    Arlianne smiled when she realized what Malachi was planning.

    ''A sort of "therapy", is it?'' she thought, ''But, isn''t this a bit too radical?''

    Axel looked at Arlianne and found her smiling back.

    "You are, after all, my first friend that is close to my age." explained Malachi, "Arlianne is an exception since she was unanimously adopted without hindrance into my family. Of course, even if I do tell you to treat us like your siblings, I''m not telling you to come live with us. We will still live with our respective families, yet still treat one another as siblings."

    "Then, why ''elder brother''?" asked Axel, "I can understand Arlianne as she is older than me, but how old are you, anyway?"

    "I''m ten (although I am past that, mentally) and I always wanted to have a younger sibling." he explained, "Arlianne is getting close to puberty and I may not be able to do the things I usually do to her."

    "What do you mean by that?" asked Arlianne annoyed, "Don''t put weird ideas into Axel''s head, Malachi."

    Malachi stared at Arlianne. Without warning, he poked her side with his finger.

    "Poke." he said.

    "Hyau!?" she screamed, "Malachi! Ooh!!! Hmph!"

    "See, she gets angry, now." he commented.

    "Well, when you do it so often, of course I will get tired of it!" argued Arlianne, "Grow up already, why don''t you?"

    "Never!" shouted Malachi proudly, "I will make the best out of this youth! Poke."

    "Hyaa!?" she screamed again, "Ahhhh!"

    "Wee-hee-hee-hee-hee~" laughed Malachi as he hid behind Axel, "Of course, I won''t be doing that to you, Axel. Even if you''re cute, I''m afraid your family may not agree with my ''methods'' of endearment."

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Malachi looked back behind them. Apart from the crowd of people, no one else was visibly following them. Of course, Lakeng was doing his duty of watching over Axel. Somewhere in that area,

    ''Sheesh, stop looking for me.'' thought Lakeng, ''Creepy kid.''

    "C-c-cute!?" cried Axel, "What the hell are you...!?"

    "Cute is cute." concluded Malachi, "Especially your round face. Squeeze."

    Malachi held Axel''s cheeks from behind and squeezed them softly. He rubbed Axel''s cheeks round and round.

    "Ahh, why are your cheeks so soft?" wondered Malachi teasingly, "Such is youth."

    "Amumumimimumi! (Let go of me!)" amumied Axel, "Amumumimimumumi! (Stop playing with my cheeks!)"

    Axel tried to stomp on Malachi''s foot, but Malachi released his hold on the child and jumped away.

    "Woohoo! Success!" he cheered, "Well, what do you say?"

    "Grr... I''ll have Arlianne as a sister, instead, if that''s the case." groaned Axel while holding his cheeks, "Having you as my elder, a brother even, would be bad for me."

    "I''ll take that as a ''yes'', then." said Malachi.

    "Shut up." countered Axel.

    ///

    The Royal Arena.

    A coliseum with a radius of 222 meters, it has an area of approximately 155 thousand square meters, and has a height of 66 meters. The Royal Arena can hold as many as approximately 100 thousand spectators, and could effectively host a large group of participants. The structure itself was built with dense and robust adobe bricks while being supported by large metal beams and pillars. This made the Royal Arena the second largest building in the city, just after the Royal Palace.

    Similarly, the Royal Arena was colored white. As white as the Royal Palace, and seemed out of place with its intended use as a venue for combat. This, however, made the Royal Arena an effective tourist attraction during the off-season despite having no events being scheduled. Currently, there were droves of tourists flocking the Royal Arena.

    "So... How do we get inside?" asked Malachi, "Never would I expect THIS many people to be here. Are they all from outside the city?"

    "Judging from the bags they have with them, apparently so." confirmed Arlianne, "Look, someone from a mining town."

    Arlianne pointed at a group of people being led around by what appeared to be a guide. The group of people seemed out of place with their heavy clothing, and with one man wearing what seemed to be a hardhat with a light. The light, however, was broken, and seemed to be just worn as an accessory.

    Rhiamalka, despite having a large furnace, didn''t seem to have any mining sites nearby. Especially since the nearest mountain needed a day by truck to get to, assuming that there were mining sites on a mountain.

    "Follow me." said Axel, "I know my way around because I''ve been here since forever."

    Malachi held his hands, each, out to Arlianne and Axel. The two stared at him.

    "It''s so we don''t get separated." explained Malachi, "With the volume of people here, it will be easier to get lost that in other districts."

    Satisfied, Arlianne held Malachi''s right and Axel held Arlianne''s right.

    "Hey, I offered you my hand." complained Malachi, "Why did you hold Arlianne''s?"

    "Because you might do something to me." replied Axel, "I''m just making sure."

    "An axe through my heart, my dear Axel." cried Malachi, "Ah well, guess I''ll stick close to Arlianne."

    "Malachi, what are you doing?" inquired Arlianne.

    Malachi went close and embraced Arlianne''s arm, holding it close like a lover would to another.

    "Shh, do you not like my warmth?" asked Malachi.

    "It''s already hot enough in the Kingdom at this time." answered Arlianne, "Please let go."

    Malachi retreated, surprisingly.

    "All right, I''ll just hold your hand." he said, "Well, Axel? Lead on!"

    Like a train of children, the three wormed through the crowds of the arena. Like Axel had stated before, he really knew how to get around. Similarly, a small distance behind them, Lakeng was effortlessly weaving through the crowd. Curiously, though, it appeared that no one noticed him despite being surrounded by many eyes and ears. Not once did he even bump into a passerby.

    Four people passed through an insane amount of people in record time.

    ...

    "So, who needs a massage?" asked Malachi.

    Having been pulled around by Axel, they arrived at an arena entrance. Arlianne was rotating her shoulders repeatedly from Axel''s "guidance" and Malachi''s "anchoring". Because of this, Arlianne felt the brunt of two opposing forces.

    "Are you sure you didn''t intend this?" wondered Arlianne.

    "Easy there, how was I supposed to know that Axel could move like that?" argued Malachi, "I guess he really knew how to thread around a dense crowd."

    "Sorry, Arlianne." apologized Axel, "It was usually just me, alone, to go through that."

    "It''s fine, Axel." said Arlianne, "I''ll probably get used to it."

    "Get used to it?" wondered Axel, "You plan to go through it again?"

    "No, not that." denied Arlianne, "It''s something else, but somewhat similar."

    "Wanna know about it?" asked Malachi with a smile, "Wanna know what she''s talking about?"

    Axel became quiet for a while. He switched from watching Arlianne relieve her shoulders to seeing Malachi smiling mischievously at him, and back to watching Arlianne.

    "No." he answered.

    "Come on, you plan to enter the academy, right?" said Malachi, "We''re doing this to make sure we don''t fall behind the rest."

    "I''ll just tell him." added Arlianne, "Malachi had me train with him. Although I say "train", we aren''t really doing anything too serious for our age. Just stamina and endurance training, and some exercises."

    Axel raised a brow.

    "For stamina, we''re doing sprinting exercises." explained Malachi, "For endurance, we''re just jogging for as long as we can. In the future, depending on the results, I may have to change the menu. From adding weights, to adding obstacles. At the moment, I can jog for 8 to 9 kilometers before tiring, and I can sprint a distance of 100 meters in 13 seconds. I don''t have to mention Arlianne''s, yet."

    "I get it." groaned Arlianne, "Well, you ARE also doing it for my sake."

    "Haha!" cheered Malachi, "Good, good! So, Axel, wanna join us? We could dedicate our future visits to exercise for some time?"

    "But, even if I do join you, where would we do it?" inquired Axel, "The city is as crowded as ever, and rarely are there wide open spaces."

    Malachi looked around.

    "Well, why not here?" he said pointing at where they were standing, "Why not use to arena for it? Besides, it seems that even with the number of people outside, the ones inside are pretty small in number."

    "Oh, good idea." agreed Axel, "Well, why not begin now?"

    "Let me see how to get around the place for the time being." suggested Malachi, "I''m not yet familiar with the passages and the field of the arena to think of an exercise menu."

    "Why not ask the arena personnel while we''re at it?" proposed Arlianne, "Do you think they''ll allow us to use the facilities without supervision?"

    "Hmm, good point." agreed Malachi, "Is the arena maintained by a civilian body or by the military?"

    "Both, actually." answered Axel, "They have the administrative quarters at the top overlooking the field. Let''s drop by."

    Axel led Malachi and Arlianne to the top floor where their destination was, which happened to be on the 7th floor. This was where Malachi was surprised, once more.

    "So we have lifts, eh?" commented Malachi, "I never expected this."

    "Did you expect three children to climb up 7 floors on their own?" inquired Axel, "From what you said before, I wouldn''t find it hard to believe you could climb all that, but what about Arlianne and I, huh? Are you willing to carry the both of us if we get tired?"

    "... Could be good exercise for me, heh heh." answered Malachi with a grin, ''I could give Arlianne a Bridal Carry, maybe...''

    "What are you thinking as you stare at me?" asked Arlianne, "Stop it, seriously."

    "Yeah, yeah." he replied as he shrugged, "Let''s get on, then."

    Three children entered the lift, and went up to the 7th floor. Lakeng, however, took the stairs. Surprisingly, he could climb the flight of stairs swiftly and effortlessly. In no time, he had already surpassed the lift, and waited for the children from a hidden location.

    At the 7th floor,

    "Nice view." commented Malachi, "I can see everything from here. Too bad I need binoculars to recognize whatever is down there."

    "Is that a sort of telescope?" asked Axel.

    "Yeah, in a way." affirmed Axel, "Can be held with one hand, but magnifies for both eyes. Helps with measuring distance, too, and gives depth perception. Twin telescopes precisely aligned in a single body."

    "Hmm, interesting." commented Axel.

    After that, Axel led them to a lone office situated nearby. On the door was a sign that said, "Administrative Quarters" in bold text. Axel knocked on the door, and entered before any reply was given.

    "Hello, chief!" greeted Axel, "You''ve got visitors!"

    Inside the Administrative Quarters were three people, two had their own desks and work-related equipment and one standing before the person seated at the back of the room. At the very front, near the door, was a bespectacled woman in formal attire. The bespectacled woman stopped whatever she was doing and greeted Axel.

    "Good day, do you have an appointment with the Arena Chief?" inquired the bespectacled woman, "If not, I would have to ask you to wait for a while."

    "Is that Little Axel, I hear over there?" said a man''s voice, "It''s all right, Clara. Lord Grigorio and I were just about to be finished."

    ''Grigorio?'' thought Malachi, ''Uncle Greg?''

    Two men emerged from behind the bespectacled woman, Clara. One was wearing formal civilian attire and another was wearing a military uniform. The one in military uniform was none other than Lord Grigorio Perez also known as Gregory to Malachi and Arlianne.

    Once Gregory came to full view, he glanced at Malachi and Arlianne but didn''t say a word of greeting to them. Instead, he acted as if he met them for the first time. Similarly, Malachi also acted indifferently towards Gregory, and also glanced at Arlianne subtly to keep her quiet.

    The other man, who seemed to be the Arena Chief, welcomed the children into the office.

    "Welcome, welcome. Little Axel, is there something you need?" asked the Arena Chief, "And who are these with you?"

    "Ah, right. These are my friends: Malachi and Arlianne." introduced Axel, "Malachi, Arlianne, this is the Arena Chief who handles all civil affairs in the arena, from tourism to competitions."

    "Hello." greeted both Malachi and Arlianne.

    "Hello to you, too." greeted back the Arena Chief, "I suppose this is the first time you have met Lord Grigorio, right?"

    "Grigorio Perez, Royal Phoenix at your service." introduced Gregory, "Well then, Chief, I shall take my leave."

    "All right, all right." said the Arena Chief, "I''ll get back to you once the negotiations have been settled."

    Gregory nodded to the Arena Chief, to Clara, and to the children. Before leaving, however, he ruffled Malachi''s hair as he passed by him.

    "What the?" commented Malachi, "Seriously?"

    "Do you know each other?" asked Axel.

    "No way, this should be the first time we''ve met." answered Malachi, "Maybe he found me cute? Heh heh."

    "Yeah, right." said Axel, "Then he should have done that to Arlianne instead of you."

    "Thank you, Axel." thanked Arlianne.

    "Now then, kiddos. What do you need?" asked the Arena Chief.

 Skirmish 1

    [Ties] Skirmish 1

    Skirmishes are side stories.

    ///

    At home, in the Eskur village.

    "Mama, what are you doing?"

    "What does it look like I''m doing?"

    "It feels awkward, Mama."

    Malachi was in his room, lying in bed and facing a wall. Behind him was, relatively embarrassingly, Bashia. She had gone into bed with him, hugging him close to her. Now, if one were to look at this objectively, it would seem to be a mother doting on her son. But, as it was, Malachi was mentally mature for his age due to being reincarnated. A beautiful woman, his mother especially, being in close proximity that both would feel the heat of their bodies is lying in bed, hugging him close.

    One of Malachi''s mental capacity would be flustered.

    "Do you feel embarrassed?" asked Bashia, "I''m just your Mama, right?"

    "Mama, huh?" mumbled Malachi.

    Malachi became silent for a while and let Bashia do what she wanted with him. However, he suddenly spoke and told her a story of his past.

    "I never had a mother to call my own, back then." he said, "The first memory I had was the face of my father or the person who claimed to be my father, but a father nonetheless."

    Bashia silently listened.

    "Father had told me once that I suffered from amnesia, saying that it was the cause for me not remembering anything before our meeting. The first time I met him, I was 18 years old. Already an adult by then, but treated as a child as well. Maybe, due to my ''amnesia'' I really was a child."

    "There were two others with me. An adoptive sister who was younger than me, and an adoptive brother who was older than me. Father introduced us to one another to become family. Although I did have a father and siblings, not once did he speak about me having a mother."

    "Maybe it was a memory so painful that he didn''t want to remember. Maybe I never had a mother and was like my adoptive siblings, one who was adopted. Time passed, and my father adopted more children into our family."

    "When I asked him, ''Why did you adopt so many?'' He replied, ''It is for this world''s future.'' I never understood what he meant by that. I asked my adoptive siblings as well, yet they didn''t understand much. All we know was that father educated us, raised us, took care of us. Not once did we ever think to betray his trust... His... Love for us."

    "What was your father, if I may ask?" interrupted Bashia.

    "An academic, a philosopher, a radical, a statesman, a revolutionary. Take what you will. Others just saw him as a madman, bent on destroying the world. And that''s what he did, destroy the world."

    "... If... If he said that... You were held the future of the world..." said Bashia, "Then why?"

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    "Because the world destroyed him. Before the end began, he tried to destroy the false peace that was a cancer to the prosperity of man. The ''peace'' we had before was an illusion made by the greedy to feed on the poor. He once told us, ''Peace breeds corruption, corruption breeds contempt, contempt breeds conflict, conflict breeds war.'' but the peace we had was stagnant, never moving, never evolving. If mankind needed a common goal to act, then a goal was given to mankind."

    "Father proclaimed to the world, to take it upon himself, and become the one enemy they must unanimously defeat. Yet undefeated he became. He gave a test to each of the world leaders, yet each of them failed despite being given the chance to work hand in hand. He gave them three weeks to pass his test before he delivered his ultimatum."

    "In his struggles, we, his children, helped him achieve his vision of a new world order. A grand sacrifice, a great martyr that will be remembered for generations to come. Yet the world failed him. The world still failed him. Political infighting between international leaders hindered the progress of all, profits over losses even when the losses had already outweighed the profits due to their greed. Blinded by greed, corrupted by greed."

    "''This world has no need for leaders who only think of themselves.'' said father, ''Even if I had appeared to the masses as the enemy of all, cowards are still cowards.'' That''s when the world was beginning to end. A drastic plan for a drastic future that, if it succeeded, would change the world and humanity for all eternity."

    "Yet, even with all that, I had yet to meet my mother. All I could recall was my father. My brothers and sisters, none of us had mothers to call our own. In the end, I died, unsure of what happened afterwards to the rest, to my siblings, to my father, and to the world. Was my father defeated, or did he succeed in the rapture?"

    Both of them were silent for a while.

    "If there is a god, I wonder if this is compensation to my longing for a mother?" wondered Malachi, "Yet, this world will be in turmoil whether I want to or not. With Pops being an heir candidate to the throne, and my uncle as well, politics never seem to change wherever the place may be."

    Malachi turned to face Bashia, and embraced her.

    "Let me be like this for a while longer, Mama." he requested.

    Bashia stroked Malachi''s hair, and pulled him in closer.

    "You''ve had a long and hard life." she said, "Use this chance to take a break from all your troubles. Sleep, and rest your weary soul, my child."

    <hr />

    Cavaron never happened here.

 Bootcamp 9

    [Ties] Bootcamp 9

    "Now that I''m personally here..." said Malachi, "Man, this place is huge."

    Malachi and the rest had received permission from the Arena Chief to use the field. The Arena Chief, Axton, hearing the children''s enthusiasm with regards to entering the academy, was moved to the point that he even had some arena personnel, soldiers assigned to the arena, take part in the children''s plans.

    "Pretty awesome, ain''t it?" commented a soldier, "Two to four small squads could duke it out here."

    "Aye, been a while since the last competition." said another soldier, "So, I hear you kids will be exercising here?"

    "That''s the plan." answered Malachi, "For the moment, though, I plan to have stamina and endurance training."

    "Huh, good choice." commented the first soldier, "I remember my time in the academy. I was pretty lanky back then and couldn''t keep up with my class. Would be nice if other potential recruits were as enthusiastic as you."

    "What do you plan to do, specifically?" asked the second soldier, "For your age, I would suggest running and jogging until you get enough to expend on tougher exercises. You''re still young, after all, and enrollment for you will still be a few years later."

    "Yep, that''s what we will be doing." agreed Malachi, "Sprinting for stamina, and jogging for endurance. After that, I plan to add weights, obstacles, and others that might come to mind."

    Malachi was grinning from ear to ear as he said the last line. The two soldiers raised a brow at his expression.

    ''This kid seems to be TOO enthusiastic.'' thought the first soldier.

    ''Does he plan to drag the other two in that training plan of his?'' thought the second soldier as he looked at Arlianne and Axel warming up.

    "It would be nice if you sirs were to accompany us." suggested Malachi, "Having models to catch up to would surely be beneficial for us."

    The two soldiers looked at one another and shrugged.

    "All right, we''ll jog with you." replied the first soldier.

    "Aye, works for us, too, since we''ll be moving our bodies." added the second soldier, "My body has been aching for a chance to let loose."

    Malachi rejoined Arlianne and Axel with warming up, while the two soldiers prepared themselves on their own. Although the soldiers had their own regimen, they sent curious glances at Malachi''s exercises.

    "What do you think?" asked the first soldier to the other.

    "About what?" asked back the second soldier.

    "I dunno, impressions?" clarified the first, "I still remember when I was at that age a decade ago, I doubt I could match up to that kid. I don''t think that was mere enthusiasm, too."

    "You noticed, huh?" commented the second, "Aye, it feels like he is dead set on serving in the military. I wonder why? Many boys his age would want to be a soldier, but all of this seems to be far too planned out."

    "Planning? I see." commented the first, "Yeah, I doubted when I heard his plans, at first, but seeing how naturally he moves himself doesn''t seem to be fake. The other two with him, I can see the hesitation, but his eyes show clear resolve."

    "I wonder what he went through to get here..." wondered the second, "Being able to get permission from the chief..."

    ...

    "Well, I didn''t think you''d be able to last THAT long, kiddo." commented the first soldier, "Twenty laps, 400 meters each lap. That''s eight kilometers, in two hours, too."

    It was already half past noon by the time they finished jogging on a 400-meter track that was made for them. Malachi had everybody jog for as long as they could until the last one, the last child running stops for a rest. Naturally, Malachi lasted for eight kilometers. The first to stop was Arlianne at two kilometers, and the second was Axel at four.

    The two soldiers, who were witnesses to this, could only give praise to Malachi for lasting eight kilometers. Malachi, who was panting before them, replied.

    "Yeah... phew... well, eight... kilometers... is my limit... haa, phew..." he said, "I aim to... increase it... bit by bit. Going out... all at once... will kill me... fuu... haa..."

    "Well, take a breather for now, then." suggested the second soldier, "There''s a water dispenser over there if you need a drink."

    "Thanks." replied Malachi, "One mistake... though. Forgot... to bring a set... of clothes to change into... after..."

    Looking at the two soldiers, despite visibly sweating, they didn''t seem tired at the least. Even when Malachi was the last to remain jogging, the two of them had their usual expressions. Well, except for the moment that Malachi went past ten laps, they had their brows raised and interests piqued.

    Malachi did as he was told and went to have a drink. The two soldiers chatted for a while until Malachi finished drinking water. After drinking his fill, he walked around for another half lap, 200 meters, before rejoining Arlianne and Axel to bid farewell to the two soldiers.

    "Thank you for your time." said Malachi to the two soldiers, "Expect us to return in a week or so."

    "You really plan to keep doing this?" inquired the first soldier, "I''ll be impressed if you did."

    "Definitely." affirmed Malachi, "We did make a promise, after all, as friends that we''d prepare ourselves to enter the academy."

    "Yeah, we did make that." added Axel, "Keep the chief and Miss Clara posted for our arrival by then."

    "Aye, will do." affirmed the second soldier, "Well, then. Pretty sure you''re all hungry. Better grab a bite for lunch. See you, soon."

    Malachi and the other two turned to leave. Lakeng, who had just been watching from a distance, followed soon after unnoticed. After the three children were out of sight, the two soldiers headed for the lifts to the Administrative Office.

    ...

    The Administrative Office of the arena.

    Arena Chief Acton and his secretary, Clara, watched from high above the field Malachi and the others'' training. Looking down at them, yet not with a domineering expression but with a curious gaze, he had a satisfied smile.

    "So that''s His Highness''s son, eh?" he said, "I foresee a bright future for this kingdom. What do you think, Clara?"

    "As much as I would like to agree with you..." she replied albeit hesitantly, "The fact he made friends with ''Axel'' without knowing their true relationship leaves much to ponder upon. Will we be telling His Highness about this? I believe Lord Grigorio knew already, but seems to keeping it a secret."

    "I don''t know what they plan with regards to those children..." he said, "... but I doubt that he wishes them harm with regards to ''it'' just from seeing them."

    "Do you mean to say that His Highness wouldn''t mind?" she wondered.

    "I mean to say that His Highness probably already has knowledge of this." he clarified, "Assuming he already knew, yet allowed his son to continue and hadn''t done anything to prevent it, I believe he has something in mind. Even Lord Grigorio, despite their relationship, seems to be keeping everything low key."

    ...

    "Why are we taking the longer route?" asked Axel, "I''m hungry."

    The three of them, after their exercises in the arena, went towards the commercial district in a roundabout manner. Naturally, after one had expended their energy, one would instinctively regain it through eating food. However,

    "We need to cool down our bodies for a bit." explained Malachi, "Even if we''re still young, we might get injured or worse after every exercise. Has your heartbeat stabilized yet?"

    "It feels normal for me." answered Arlianne.

    "That''s because you were the first to break away." rebutted Malachi, "Axel and I had gone on for a longer time and distance than you so we need to stabilize our heart rate. We might risk cardiac arrest if we didn''t."

    "Kardiyak arest?" wondered Axel, "What''s that?"

    "Cardiac arrest." repeated Malachi, "It''s when the heart stops beating due to numerous causes, especially overwork."

    Arlianne and Axel froze.

    "We can get killed doing this!?" cried Axel, "What the hell!?"

    "Relax." replied Malachi, "Which is why we''re cooling down. We walk to stabilize our heart rate, we also drink water to rehydrate. Other times, we can stretch to relax our muscles, too. When we walk, apart from our normalizing heart rate, we also lower our blood pressure to prevent dizziness or nausea. Walking is also the easiest for us since we don''t need to do much."

    The two behind Malachi pondered for a while about his explanation, but the cries of their stomachs were louder and interrupted their thoughts. Looking at one another then at Malachi, the two of them saw him smiling wryly, signifying that he heard their growls.

    "Well, let''s go to the nearest inn, shall we?"

    ///

    A throne room.

    Three men were present, an aged man sat upon the throne and faced the other two men before him. The aged man wore silver vestments and had a crown upon his head. A king, the King of Perlas, Eleazar Arkansius Perlas the 9th. Before him stood Emmanuel and Elijah.

    "Your Majesty, reports of famine have been coming up from our southern towns and villages." reported Emmanuel, "I wish to receive permission to survey the area to draw up a suitable plan of action."

    "Which ones, specifically?" inquired Eleazar, "I may be able to think of a plan once I know which areas are requesting help."

    "For the time being, Your Majesty, the towns of Tikamas, Zarabia, Golorea, and Socorro were unable to draw water and the villages that dot the region had many of their cattle die of unknown causes." replied Emmanuel, "I wish to have a team of doctors to come with me to survey the damage."

    "Drought and famine?" wondered Eleazar, "The wells must have dried up. I recall that the springs that were being utilized were found over a decade ago. Might as well bring a team of engineers to look for a new spring or water source. For the time being, have other available cities export water to the afflicted areas. The dying cattle must have also stemmed from the lack of water, check to see if the cattle had drunk any water before they died."

    "As you command." saluted Emmanuel.

    "Your Majesty, banditry have been sighted with a rise in beast herds on our western territories." reported Elijah, "I would like to request an increase in funding to support in policing the region."

    "The western territories are near the nomadic border, right?" said Eleazar, "Don''t move much of the military and call for the nomadic representatives for an inquiry. If we move too much for mere bandits and monsters, the nomadic tribes might misinterpret it as preparation for war. Give them a heads up, first, to let them know of our plans. After they have given their affirmation, search and destroy as you wish. Keep in mind that bandits may leave the border and we may have to work with the nomads in subjugating them."

    "Acknowledged, Your Majesty." said Elijah.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    "By the way, how goes our trade with the Empire?" inquired Eleazar, "They should be sending an envoy to talk about the terms soon."

    "Ever since Your Majesty had been enamored by the electrocite technologies, we have begun drafting an increase in pyrocite exports as a tradeoff for acquiring electrocite." answered Emmanuel, "However, with our current production, we may only be able to receive as much as we give, one crate of pyrocite for a crate of electrocite. With our still standing glacite trade with them, we may have to increase the farms to meet the demand."

    "Hadn''t the Empire founded a pyrocite farm in Oropafri?" wondered Elijah, "With a new farm, they should be able to lessen their demands from us."

    "Let''s keep that in mind for when we meet the envoy." suggested Eleazar, "For now, look into the records and see if we really do need to increase the farms. Has there any headway in the research about which other minerals turn into pyrocite aside from flint?"

    "Coal and charcoal proved fruitless." answered Elijah, "The mines had also been delivering new ores and deposits that they had found to the research facilities. So far, there hadn''t been much results since the first discovery of pyrocite."

    "A millennium since then yet still no progress." commented Eleazar, "If there is one thing we''ve learned from mining, it is that most earth-based minerals don''t grow back. Once we run out of flint, we may have to cancel much of our trade agreements. And, with the Empire breathing down our necks, we can''t afford to have a war with them."

    "Well, Your Majesty, as consolation." added Emmanuel, "The southern mines have found rich deposits of topaz and fluorspar. We could use the glacite and electrocite we get from the Empire to jump start our own farms."

    "Hmm, that''s good news." commented Eleazar, "All right, let''s have a talk with the ministers about that in the next meeting. Now then, are there any more matters left to discuss? No? Then, you are free to go."

    Emmanuel and Elijah, at the same time, saluted their father and left the throne room. Outside, two military men stood waiting. One was Gregory, who wore a uniform emblazoned with a golden phoenix, and the other was someone wearing the same uniform. Two Royal Phoenixes that serve the Kingdom of Perlas, two of the highest ranking military officials just under the Royal Family.

    The two Royal Phoenixes, upon seeing the two princes appear, saluted to their... respective... superiors. Gregory saluted Emmanuel, and the other saluted Elijah. Emmanuel and Elijah nodded back to their companions, and without looking at one another, went their separate ways. Gregory followed after Emmanuel, and the other followed after Elijah.

    Once the two groups could no longer sense one another,

    "Haa... The tension from keeping up appearances is killing me." sighed Emmanuel, "Well, at least father is still able to give some advice. To think Elijah wants to move his faction into the western territories. How accurate is the information on those bandits, anyway?"

    "Our own sources seem to be pointing at it being a farce." replied Gregory, "While the beasts are actually active in the area, the bandits seem to be too well-organized to be mere bandits. I may have to assume that it''s a syndicate established by Elijah''s Shadows."

    "What is it that he found in there for him to find a need to move the military?" wondered Emmanuel, "Apart from small towns and villages, the local lords their are all neutral... wait... Has Elijah been increasing his influence lately? Who are the lords in the area?"

    "The Count of Eress is the most powerful lord in that region." answered Gregory, "I heard of rumors of him sending his daughter to a monastery for religious duties."

    "Monastery? Have they ever been religious?" wondered Emmanuel, "I''m certain they don''t believe in the nomadic gods, no matter how close in proximity they are with the nomads. Unless..."

    "He had foreseen the consequences of staying in power despite being a neutral force?" concluded Gregory, "If that''s the case, then his daughter would be the key to getting his cooperation."

    "I hope we''re wrong." said Emmanuel, "But, just in case, send some of our own men to look for and protect his daughter from a distance. Damn, somehow, I wish I could just give Malachi the things he needs. Maybe we wouldn''t be having this much trouble."

    "And receive the wrath of Bashia? Haha." chuckled Gregory, "Even if he came from another life, I can see something common in the two of you."

    "And, what is that?" urged Emmanuel.

    "Heh heh." laughed Gregory without answering clearly, "Something. Just as how he inherited something from Bashia, he inherited something from you."

    "Out with it." ordered Emmanuel, "Does this have something to do with Bashia?"

    "Maybe." answered Gregory, "Ah, right. I met the him and Arlianne earlier, they were with ''Axel'' at the arena."

    Annoyed by the sudden change in topic, Emmanuel begrudgingly listened on.

    "Well?" urged Emmanuel.

    "I listened for a while before leaving, and it seemed they wanted to use the arena for training." reported Gregory, "Though I say ''training,'' they were just running laps on the field. I wonder how Bashia will react upon seeing their disheveled state?"

    "Malachi''s running laps with Arlianne and ''Axel''?" repeated Emmanuel, "Well, hopefully it all works out for them. Wouldn''t you agree?"

    "Provided that nothing happens, I wish for the same good tidings for the children." said Gregory, "At least for Arlianne and ''Axel'', I wouldn''t wish upon them the conflicts we have now."

    "And Malachi?" asked Emmanuel, "We will most likely need his help."

    "Indeed." affirmed Gregory, "If the stories he told us are true, he knows a lot more that what he appears to exhibit. Although, I am curious how he will act if he knew."

    "... I can''t imagine it." said Emmanuel, "I''ve made up my mind."

    "About what?" asked Gregory.

    "Bashia and I will become official whether or not father chooses me as his successor after Malachi has entered the academy." declared Emmanuel, "By then, Malachi will need to move on his own while receiving aid to improve this kingdom''s war potential."

    "If you become the Crown Prince, and you do that, you know the consequences, right?" inquired Gregory, "At best, Elijah won''t mind if he becomes chosen instead. Otherwise..."

    "I know." interjected Emmanuel, "It won''t be surprising if he raised hell for it."

    ///

    "Well, if you had told me you were going to sweat it out today, I would have brought you a spare change of clothes." sermoned Bashia, "Let''s go to an inn and have you two take a bath before we go back home."

    After lunch, Malachi and Arlianne bid farewell to Axel and went their separate ways. Right now, they had met with Bashia and Ibrahim in the very same plaza they''ve always come back to. However, like how Gregory had predicted it, Bashia did react disapprovingly at how disheveled Malachi and Arlianne appeared before her. Only, rather than being a demoness, she had a seemingly icy cold aura emanate from her.

    ''Oh, geez.'' thought Malachi, ''Never thought I''d see Mama like this. I am so screwed.''

    Malachi felt fear. Looking at Arlianne, she could only remain silent and be left to Bashia''s judgment. Ibrahim revealed a wry smile and snickered at the sight of Malachi cowering beneath Bashia.

    "There is an inn here that caters well to both Eskur and non-Eskur." said Ibrahim, "I''ll take you there since I also know the innkeeper."

    "Oh, good." cheered Bashia, "Come now, children. Time for a bath."

    Malachi could only nod as he saw Bashia''s icy glare. Even though she''s smiling, the chill that ran down Malachi''s spine rang alarms for him as he subtly shivered under her.

    ''Is this what it''s like to have a mother?'' he thought.

    ...

    "You do know that I have the mind of an adult, despite how I currently appear to be, right?" inquired Malachi, "This is so awkward..."

    Malachi, Bashia, and Arlianne were together in an inn''s bathhouse. The bathhouse had individual showers, and tubs that could fit a small family of four. The bathhouse was reminiscent of ancient Roman and Greek bathhouses, but catered to smaller groups of people and were more private, instead. That said, Malachi was with the other two naked in the bath. Ibrahim, however, conversed with the innkeeper.

    Malachi didn''t really know where to look, and settled on staring at the wall. Bashia was just giggling at his expressions, and Arlianne seemed bored.

    "Why are you acting all shy all of a sudden?" wondered Arlianne, "I didn''t expect you''d be so shy when seeing Mama naked with us. What about me? You always get touchy-feely with me."

    "That''s because a little girl''s body won''t get me excited." argued Malachi, "Even if I look younger than you, my mind is more mature than you."

    "Really now?" wondered Bashia, "Do you mean to say you''re getting excited with this body of mine? Hmm?"

    "Honestly, Mama, you are very beautiful." complimented Malachi, "I can see why Pops fell for you. Even with just your superficial beauty, and how the guys at the village try to chat you up, you can make heads turn with the right circumstances. As for me, you ARE my mother, and I do believe you shouldn''t be saying such things to your own flesh and blood."

    Bashia pouted, not really expecting such a mature answer from him.

    "Boo, you''re no fun." she whined, "I miss my innocent Mally from before."

    "Innocence is a fleeting characteristic, Mama." said Malachi.

    "Then why do you keep sticking to me if you don''t even feel that way about me?" groaned Arlianne.

    "Because you''re cute." he answered succinctly, "The ways you react whenever I do something is entertaining for me."

    "What!?" she cried, "You just treat me like a toy!? Mom!"

    Bashia giggled a bit.

    "Hmhm, I can see why Malachi likes you." said Bashia then she went close to Arlianne''s ear, "Then, we''ll just have to make sure he will never leave your side."

    "Mama, what did you whisper to Arlianne?" wondered Malachi, "This sucks, I wish Pops was here so we could discuss whatever comes to mind. Then again, he might just go dumb at seeing you, Mama."

    "Hmhm, I can see him doing that." replied Bashia, "Well then, let''s finish up so we can go home. Since you''ve talked with the Arena Chief, I assume you will be training with Axel weekly?"

    "That''s how it is." affirmed Malachi, "Not sure for how long, but please expect it to go on for who knows until when."

    "All right, I would have given you my permission to do so if you had told me beforehand." she said, "But since you were supposedly touring the place, and got it all into your head all of a sudden, I can let it slide. HOWEVER, all future plans before you enroll must be known by me, okay?"

    "Y-yes, Mama." acknowledged Malachi.

 Bootcamp 10

    [Ties] Bootcamp 10

    Two years later.

    A lot has happened since then. Malachi, Arlianne, and Axel kept their promises to work on preparing for the academy¡ªat home and at the arena¡ªand the three of them have come a long way.

    For Arlianne, her upper limit had already gone past 40 kilometers, while Malachi had become able to jog one full lap around the Eskur Village. As for Axel, with the field in the arena as a measure, he had become able to last for 120 laps around the 400-meter track. Afterwards, Malachi had added handicaps such as weights and obstacles to their training while maintaining stamina and endurance training, and adding flexibility and agility training, sit-ups, pushups, and other exercises to their menu. So to speak, Arlianne and Axel had gotten used to Malachi''s lead that they had visibly improved since then.

    Arlianne, especially, had her body develop because of puberty. While her body was not that toned nor chiseled despite their exercises, there were no traces of unneeded fat, and thus gave her a lithe figure at 14 years old. Malachi''s body had become lean as well. He didn''t have a large and stocky build, but was evenly distributed across his body. At 12 years old, he had begun his puberty, and a lot of his features began to develop¡ªhis height, especially, as he was beginning to catch up to Arlianne''s. Axel, though, at 10 years old, his build became similar to Arlianne''s lithe body but also had similarities to Malachi''s lean body type. A little bit of both.

    While the children were training, with them were the two soldiers assigned to oversee their training by Axton the Arena Chief. Whenever these two were bored, they would train together with the children and learn bits of information from Malachi with regards to the exercises they were doing. Over time, though, a question did come up with regards to Malachi. It was about his goggles that he had never took off ever since they had met. Malachi briefly answered that his eyes were hypersensitive to the light, and he would turn blind in daylight.

    Apart from those, Malachi had also learned much from Bashia and Ibrahim''s Eskur knowledge with regards to medicines. There had been times when Malachi had connected some medicines to Earth''s own medicines. From the sources, to how they were manufactured, many had similarities. However, since Malachi had no knowledge in making Earth''s medicines, he couldn''t do much to improve the kingdom''s technology on health. All he could do was take to heart what he learned from compounding medicines with the Eskur kinsmen.

    Malachi''s life wasn''t the only one that changed. The kingdom''s and the world''s international political and economic arena had moved from time to time as well. Wars were fought by the Empire of Taijun within its boundaries, and Clan Skali showed movement by devouring some scattered Merekan nations. The other sovereign bodies of the world and the nomadic tribes weren''t lifeless. More deposits of the much needed "cites" were found here and there, and the Kingdom of Perlas had successfully established small glacite and electrocite farms within its borders.

    As such, new technologies surged forth and improved much of everyone''s lives. Be it everyday civilian life or specialized military equipment. All the more for the kingdom''s military since Malachi had received from Emmanuel and Gregory the designs of the Kingdom''s current technology. From there he pointed out design flaws before a Prince and a Phoenix for them to keep in mind for the future. With each flaw, he gave out advice on how to turn those flaws into strengths, if possible, or to get rid of them completely.

    Malachi had also presented to Gregory designs of weapons from Earth, as much as he could recall. The designs he gave for the vehicles were mostly post World War II designs where much of modern Earth''s weapons stemmed from. Even with the existence of electrocite, Malachi had told them that computers would still be a pipe dream unless he gets the much needed minerals to build the needed components to build better weapons. As far as conventional designs went, the best that he could improve on were the Kingdom''s hand-carried firearms. From phasing out the lunky fusils and pistol cannons, to bringing over an era of mechanical firearms¡ªautomatic weapons, large caliber rifling, autocannons, gatlings, and the like.

    Of course, much of these were still on paper, as neither Emmanuel nor Gregory had an inkling nor an understanding how the principles worked. They needed to wait until Malachi had enrolled so they could pull all the stops hindering themselves from seeing Malachi''s visions come to fruition. Naturally, these "stops" were Bashia. It would seem that she was the sole perpetrator in preventing the "men," aside from Ibrahim, from carrying out their plans.

    Speaking of men and women, Bashia and Arlianne had been going off on their own during their free time. At times, they would shop for clothes and accessories. Other times, they would visit the market and inns for food and recipes. Malachi had thought that women, no matter where, would do such things given the opportunity. Be it back on Earth or here in this world. Additionally, the variety of Arlianne''s clothes had increased. While the girl, herself, thought it as burdensome, Bashia repeatedly insisted on it, often times turning Arlianne into a dress up doll. Whenever Malachi came across such a session, Bashia would ask for his opinion, and he would just quietly stare at Arlianne for a while before leaving.

    Bashia would be annoyed, but seeing Arlianne''s reaction and Malachi''s new expressions would leave her relieved. Arlianne, having been stared at by Malachi with unfamiliar expressions, would flush just like any other girl. Arlianne''s clothes, coupled with her body, would exhibit a "refreshing" appearance. A deadly combination for some men. Some, including Malachi who had inherited Bashia''s taste for "some things".

    All the while, a myriad of events played out. Whether they were aware of it or not, only time would tell if they will ever be affected by such things. For now, at present, Malachi and company stood before a company of soldiers competing in the arena. It was the time of the ever popular Martial Competition held in the capital city.

    ...

    "This is our second time watching, no?" said Arlianne, "It''s always such an amazing sight even though we''ve seen it before. Who do you think will take the top spot this time?"

    Malachi, Arlianne, and Axel were together as usual, and were seated side by side at the arena seats. Each and every other person in the audience around them were cheering for their respective groups. While there were cheering, one would notice a few people here and there exchanging money for bets. Wherever there is a contest, gambling was almost always present. As such, even Axel made bets as to who would win the present competition.

    "I believe the members of the 3rd Regiment of the Border Guards will win." replied Axel, "They''re one of the most battle-hardened groups in the military. All of the people posted at the borders had already been through a few skirmishes despite the peace we currently have."

    "Maybe for the squad-based competitions, sure." added Malachi, "However, for individual combat, the 1st Engineers should be able to take home the crown. If not them, the Royal Guards should sweep away the competition. Engineers have powerful bodies that could blow away an opponent effortlessly, but the Royal Guards that are tasked with protecting the Royal Family should live up to their name as the so-called Wall of Thorns."

    "Individual competition, huh?" repeated Axel, "When you put it like that, I may have to agree. But what about the Intelligence Division? They seem to be able to hold down both pretty well."

    "Oh, right. That." said Malachi, "The special division Prince Elijah established, right? I haven''t seen nor heard much from and about them to conclude anything, though. Don''t they almost always stay in the shadows?"

    "Well, since they are part of the military, I''d thought that they''d participate." clarified Axel, "Although, since they are a special group, it wouldn''t be surprising if they didn''t, no?"

    Just then, they heard the bugle resound over the distance. This called the attention of all to focus at the prime terrace in the arena. The terrace where the King and his family would be watching from.

    At the terrace, out came King Eleazar Arkansius Perlas, and behind him followed Princes Emmanuel and Elijah. Eleazar wore the same silver vestments, while Emmanuel and Elijah wore military uniforms of their status. Right after the princes, the two Royal Phoenixes strode forth after¡ªRoyal Phoenix Grigorio Perez, and the other Royal Phoenix subordinate to Elijah.

    Eleazar, Emmanuel, and Elijah sat on their respective seats, Grigorio stood a bit behind Emmanuel, and the other Royal Phoenix went behind Elijah. Everyone present waited with bated breath for Eleazar to officially start the competition.

    Eleazar swept his glance all over the arena, Emmanuel and Elijah, too. Emmanuel looked around until his gaze stopped at a certain place amongst the audience. He was looking Malachi and Arlianne. His two children also locked gazes with him, and both nodded in acknowledgement. Malachi, however, noticed someone else looking at them. Going unnoticed by Emmanuel, Elijah also looked at Malachi''s direction. Not Malachi himself, specifically, but at Axel.

    Elijah glanced a bit and found Arlianne looking at his direction, not at Eleazar, but at Emmanuel. Never mind Malachi''s line of sight since he wore a pair of tinted goggles. Malachi tugged at Arlianne a bit, and the girl broke eye contact with the people at the terrace. Elijah also broke off eye contact since Axel didn''t react to him. Malachi noticed this, though.

    ''Now, why would Uncle look at Axel?'' he wondered, ''Do they know one another?''

    Malachi glanced at Axel beside him eating the packed snacks they bought beforehand. Axel didn''t seem to notice the Royal Siblings gazing at their direction, and just ate his snacks.

    ''I must be imagining it.'' he concluded.

    Eleazar suddenly stood up, and all attention went to him. He approached and stood before the edge of the terrace.

    "I will not say much." he said with his voice reverberating over the arena with help of the vocal transceivers erected all over the place, "All I want is for all participants to give it all they''ve got. With pride, and with honor... Let the Martial Competition officially begin!"

    The crowd cheered, and the drums and bugles went off to open the competition.

    "That was... anticlimactic." commented Malachi, "I didn''t think it''d be the same one as last year, is he running out of creativity?"

    "Shush, Malachi." said Arlianne, "King Eleazar is already old. Did you really expect him to make a long speech just to start the event?"

    "Aren''t all old people long-winded windbags?" wondered Malachi, "He pretty much ruined my image of a long-winded elder."

    Eleazar took a few steps back, and took his seat. Now, all the people present focused on enjoying the competition.

    ...

    "Ooh, that''s gotta hurt." commented Axel, "Wasn''t that a foul blow?"

    "If this was a real fight, Axel, there wouldn''t be any ''foul'' blows." replied Malachi, "Okay, there''s the foul report. That took a few points off their score."

    The event they were currently watching was the squad-based matches. A participant from one team delivered a swing of his fusil to the groin of another. A low blow, so to speak. The one that got hit couldn''t handle the pain that exploded and collapsed on the spot while holding his crotch. The victim twitched in pain and had to be carried out by the orderlies. As for the one that did the hit, he was disqualified, and was abandoned by his teammates to receive a stern sermon from their Commanding Officer.

    "Sucks for both of them." commented Malachi, "Image is everything in this competition, and that deed just ruined their public opinion. As for the other guy, his family jewels may no longer be as effective anymore."

    " ''Family jewels''?" repeated Axel, "What are those?"

    "Just euphemism, my dear Axel." replied Malachi, "No need to think too deeply on it."

    Arlianne listened to their exchange and just blushed. She seemed to realize what Malachi was talking about.

    Suddenly, Malachi''s expression turned strange.

    ''What the... Where''d this headache come from?'' he thought as he held his head.

    "Hmm? Malachi? Is something wrong?" asked Axel, "Hey, does your head hurt?"

    "Urgh, I suddenly have a slight headache..." replied Malachi, "I think I''ll be well after drinking some water."

    Malachi reached for the tin cup of water before him, but paused momentarily. The water in his cup formed small ripples. Malachi looked around to see if there was anything that made the ripples form, and found no one making excessive actions that would make the cup shake a bit.

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ''These are...'' he momentarily thought, ''No, it can''t be... Must be just my imagination.''

    He reached for his cup and drank all of the water in it. However, even after a few moments later, his headache didn''t cease.

    "Argh, excuse me for a moment." said Malachi''s he stood up.

    "Malachi?" wondered Arlianne, "Need help?"

    "No, no need." he answered, "I''ll just be taking a small break in a restroom."

    Before he could leave them, though, a flock of large birds flew overhead the arena. Everyone who was in the middle of watching stopped to look at the strange sight. The flock of birds had wholly black feathers, and were as large as a full-grown man.

    "What the?" said a person, "That''s a large flock of garudas, did they come from a nearby mountain?"

    "Looking at where they flew from, I''d say you''re right." said another person, "The nearest mountain is the plateau nearby."

    Malachi was also watching the flock of garudas fly overhead. Garudas were one of many beasts that occasionally needed culling to control their population. Large winged beasts that take anything smaller than them as prey, and were known to have abducted people before. Seeing a large group fly overhead naturally stalled the people in the arena.

    Malachi still held his head, still in pain. He trudged on for the exit, but suddenly stopped to see a chandelier hanging above his head make small swaying motions.

    "Oh, crap." he cursed, "Arlianne! Axel! Get to cove¡ª"

    Before he could finished his cry, a low rumble erupted from beneath and shook the surrounding area. What Malachi wanted to warn them about was a coming earthquake. The arena shook and toppled many of those who were standing. The sudden event threw the people into a panic, and all those who could stand ran for their lives.

    "Dammit!" cried Malachi, "Arlianne! Axel!"

    Malachi''s small body fought through the tides of stampeding people in hopes of reaching the other two. As for the rest, the soldiers especially, had to keep everyone calm. However, seeing that this was their first time in an earthquake, they were at a loss on what to do.

    Amongst those in the arena, Eleazar stood, albeit uneasily, and grabbed hold of the vocal receiver.

    "All of you calm down!" he bellowed, "Stop running, and get down on the ground!"

    Without any explanation, all of the people dropped on the ground as ordered. Malachi was shocked at Eleazar''s charisma in forcing the people to obey him. He watched as waves of people subsequently dropped onto the ground, and finally found Arlianne and Axel hugging one another. Seeing that they were safe, Malachi approached them while the ground shook.

    "Are you all right?" inquired Malachi, "Good thing the quake was a bit weaker than I expected."

    "Malachi!?" cried Arlianne, "Earthquake? What did you mean?"

    "I thought I was imagining things, but the headache I had was a sign of a coming quake." he answered, "I also saw minute ripples being formed on the water. The escaping garudas were one thing, but that swaying chandelier affirmed my guess. For now, let''s keep our heads low until the shaking stops."

    Just as he finished saying so, the shaking stopped, and the surroundings were calm. Eleazar spoke once more.

    "All arena personnel, escort the citizens to safety." he ordered, "For the engineers, survey the area and give me a damage report. Ensure that none of the structures are damaged and block all dangerous passages. All the rest, remain on standby. I suspect that there will be another quake sooner or later. Deliver the same instructions to the rest of the city."

    All personnel involved affirmed Eleazar''s orders. Emmanuel looked towards the audience seats, towards where Malachi and the rest were. Elijah, as well, looked at the same location. The two of them found Malachi embracing both Axel and Arlianne, trying his hardest to keep them calm. Relieved that they were safe, both spoke to their respective Phoenixes to give out orders.

    "Gregory, think you could get the kids to safety?" inquired Emmanuel, "Looking at how Elijah is acting, he seems worried about his child. Although there is little risk of him finding out about Malachi, I can''t help but worry."

    Gregory glanced over Malachi''s location.

    "Hmm, this is gonna be tricky." he commented, "I may have to use a roundabout way to get to them, just to avoid suspicion."

    "It doesn''t matter." said Emmanuel, "If father is right, this is just a foreshock meant to announce the main earthquake. We can''t risk dallying too much since we don''t have a clue when the next quake will hit."

    Emmanuel glanced at Elijah, and found that the other Phoenix finished receiving his orders. Emmanuel watched him leave first before urging Gregory to do the same.

    "Your Majesty, let us get to safety for the time being." advised Emmanuel, "Leave this place to Elijah and I."

    "Yes, Your Majesty, I agree with Emmanuel." affirmed Elijah, "The people will be relieved if they are able to see you well."

    Eleazar nodded to his two sons, and left the terrace. Once the two brothers are alone, they looked at one another.

    "I know your child is here, Elijah." said Emmanuel, "For the time being, let us work together to stave off any disaster falling upon our people."

    Elijah silently stared at Emmanuel for a while before speaking.

    "I won''t forgive you if any harm befalls my child due to your actions." declared Elijah, "However, am I right to believe you have a child here as well?"

    Emmanuel remained silent, his expression was the same as before. Neither fearful nor shocked.

    ''Did he notice Malachi and Arlianne locking gazes with me?'' he thought, ''I doubt about Malachi since he''s wearing his goggles, but Arlianne...''

    Emmanuel didn''t answer Elijah.

    "Well, no matter." said Elijah, "Just this once, I will help you get the children to safety. Seeing as they are... friends... with one another."

    Emmanuel let out a deep sigh.

    "Let us not have our children get into our fight for the throne." declared Emmanuel, "You should know that I loved my nieces, I hope you''d find it in your heart to do the same."

    Elijah was silent, but revealed a smile.

    "For now, Emmanuel." he said, "For now."

    ...

    "Come on, let''s get out of here while the quake has stopped." said Malachi, "Come on, Arlianne, Axel."

    Malachi helped the two on their feet. Arlianne and Axel, unused to experiencing earthquakes, wobbled on their legs. With Malachi as their support, they struggled to walk towards a nearby exit.

    However, it didn''t seem thaf earthquakes were their only worry.

    "Hey! What''s going on in the field?" shouted a person, "There''s a mound forming!"

    With the person''s announcement, everyone nearby turned to look. The soldiers on the field saw the growing mound, and an officer with a falcon crest shouted in alarm.

    "Fire Ants! Fire Ants emerging!" shouted the officer, "All Fusiliers and Engineers, prepare to repel the beasts!"

    "Fire Ants!? Underneath the city!?" cried another person, "A nest must have been built without our knowledge!"

    Chaos enveloped the arena once more, and an eight to ten-meter crimson ant emerged from underground. The fire ant looked no different from ordinary ants, but its carapace had a fiery red gleam.

    "Snip, snip." went its incisors.

    The first fire ant to emerge scanned the surroundings, and found a large group of soldiers taking aim at its body.

    "Fire!" bellowed an officer.

    "BANG! BANG! BANG!"

    "BABABANG! BABABANG!"

    Gunshots roared in the middle of the field, and the bullets landed on the fire ants carapace. Sadly, not all shots penetrated the armor, and most were deflected away. Soon, a grind of a large gate opening was heard, and a squad of steam knights trudged forward carrying massive blast hammers.

    "Smash it to bits!" roared an engineer.

    The fire ant, seeing that it was surrounded, raised its antennae and did a strange gesture. Soon, more mounds emerged from the ground, and a large army of ants flooded the field. The first wave immediately turned on their backsides and had their abdomens point towards the soldiers.

    "Damn! Take cover!" roared a solider.

    Soon, fire spewed out of the abdomens, creating a wave of fire raging towards the soldiers. The each stream of flames reached a distance of ten meters and spread out like a cone. The steam knights that had gone to the front deployed their shields, and the unarmored soldiers hid behind the knights.

    "Someone flank the bastards!" cried a soldier.

    As though someone heard his plea, gunshots roared from another direction. A group of engineers with repeaters appeared from the audience seats and laid down fire upon the fire ants. Having been shot at, the ants'' turned their attention to the reinforcing engineers, giving the ones on the field some space to breathe.

    ...

    "Damn! This is the worst." cursed Malachi, "Come on, we need to get out of here!"

    Malachi pulled both Arlianne and Axel who had gone frozen due to fear away from the arena. They passed by squads and platoons of soldiers that were to reinforce the presently fighting units within. Soon, they were about to reach the entrance.

    But it would seem that their luck did not last.

    A mound formed before them, and the head of a fire ant popped out. Malachi and the rest had to stop before it unless they risk harm to fall upon them.

    "Oh, dammit all!" cried Malachi, "I could use a battle rifle right now! Let''s get away from here!"

    Dragging away Arlianne and Axel, Malachi went to another direction while looking for soldiers.

    "Hey! There''s an ant in the southern entrance!" he shouted, "That way is no good!"

    Soon, a large man crossed their path, and the man had eyes filled with surprise.

    "Little ones!" cried the man, "Are you kids okay?"

    "Chief Axton!" cried Malachi, "Get some soldiers to the southern entrance, an ant emerged there!"

    "Will do, you guys, get rid of the ant!" he ordered a few of the soldiers with him, "Come, let us go somewhere safe."

    Malachi and the rest joined Axton the Arena Chief, and went anywhere safe. Rather, it would seem that the safest was with soldiers. They were being escorted by a small squad of Fusiliers and Engineers with repeaters towards another arena entrance.

    Suddenly, Malachi had another headache.

    "Oh, no." he groaned, "Another quake is gonna hit!"

    Like a prophet, the chandeliers overhead shook and swayed. Soon, the earth rumbled, and all those who stood or ran toppled over. The ants were seemingly unaffected, and those in steam knight equipment had trouble staying upright.

    "I gotta hand it to the architects of this place." commented Malachi, "Not one wall nor ceiling collapsed."

    "Yeah, that''s good and all, but those ants are still chasing us!" screamed Axel, "Shoot it! Shoot it!"

    The soldiers who were still struggling to get up, panicked at the sight of a charging fire ant. Once the fire ant was within range of its flamethrower, a Fusilier got up and shot the fire ant''s abdomen. A lucky shot that penetrated the carapace and whatever seemed to be producing the flames. The fire ant''s abdomen buldged, and exploded subsequently.

    Seeing this, the escort cheered, but their happiness was short-lived when three more ants appeared from a corner.

    "Ah, hell!" cursed Axton, "We need a siege engine in here!"

    "Too late for that, chief!" cried a soldier, "More ants incoming! Guah!"

    The soldier was suddenly impaled from the side. A large ant pierced him with its massive incisors, and tossed away the dead soldier''s corpse. Axton, in a panic, pushed Malachi and the others away into another corridor.

    "Run, kids! Find safety somewhere else!" bellowed Axton, "You damned ants won''t be killing anymore of us!"

    Axton grabbed a fusil, and fought against the waves of fire ants in the corridor.

    "Run, Malachi!" he screamed.

    Malachi did as he was told, and pulled Arlianne and Axel.

    "Goddammit, you two!" he cursed, "Snap out of it and run!"

    Malachi slapped both Arlianne and Axel back to reality.

    "Ah!" cried Arlianne, "Malachi, what...?"

    "Ow!?" cried Axel, "What the...?"

    Malachi shook both of them. The severity in his expression cleared out their minds.

    "Life in danger." he said, "Run!"

    ---

    A/N: What? Did you think I''d spend another five to ten chapters writing down what happened in two years? Get real.

 Bootcamp 11

    [Ties] Bootcamp 11

    "BANG!"

    A fusil roared in a corridor. A lone soldier was running here, and this soldier wore a Phoenix insignia. It was Gregory. Gregory fired and reloaded his fusil as he ran around the arena''s passages.

    "Just our luck to have Fire Ants breach the catacombs." he muttered under his breath, "Hope the kids are all right. So much for going at a roundabout manner."

    Just then, a fire ant came from a corner. Gregory and the fire ant were just a few meters away, enough for both to reach either with their weapons. Gregory finished loading his fusil, while the ant turned on its backside to spew flames.

    "That ass of theirs really shows its full potential in a cramped place like this." he commented, "However, it just makes the wind very still and my shots will be more accurate!"

    He took aim for the fire ant''s abdomen, right at the place where the flames would shoot out from. Not wasting any time, Gregory pulled the trigger and a large metallic ball shot out of his fusil. In just a split second, the ball lodged into the fire ant''s orifice, preventing it from shooting flames. Instead, though, the sudden blockage built up pressure on its abdomen that it visibly buldged from the lack of an exit.

    With no way for whatever was used to shoot flames, the fire ant''s abdomen blew up, and the fire ant died immediately after. Insectile body parts and fluids painted the hallway, and nearly covered Gregory.

    "Eww, never thought that would work." he said, "At least I know, now, that their holes are weakspots. Now then, where to go?"

    "Beep! Beep!"

    As he thought about his next destination, a beeping noise came from underneath his uniform. Reaching inside, he pulled out a boxy device similar to the radio he showed to Malachi years before. Pressing a switch on a side,

    "Kssh, Greg, you hear me? Kssh." said Emmanuel, "Kssh, I''ve received reports of a group of children running around the west block. I suspect it''s Malachi and the rest. Kssh."

    "Gotcha, I''ll head on over." replied Gregory, "Let''s see, the west block is over here."

    After receiving information from Emmanuel, he went through another corridor. Gregory ran for a while with nothing to hinder him. Passing by a few windows, however, showed the events in the field.

    "We might have an infestation..." he commented, "Damn! This arena is hard to maintain as it is."

    In the field, multitudes of gaping holes on the ground could be seen. From them, hordes upon hordes of fire ants poured out into the open and reinforced the fallen fire ants. From the sight of the soldiers, they had become hard-pressed just focusing on survival.

    Gregory pulled out his radio, and twisted a knob. Pressing on the switch, he roared an order.

    "This is Royal Phoenix Grigorio Perez!" he said, "All troops at the Royal Garrison are to deploy and engage the Fire Ant army here at the arena! Situation critical and expect heavy resistance! All Royal Engineers are to dispatch all available Steam Knights and Siege Engines to provide heavy assault and cover for the infantry! Move!"

    As he gave his order, all radios in the area resounded with his voice, and all soldiers affirmed the order. Over the distance, a muffled blaring of sirens could be heard and the gates of the arena opening its doors was audible.

    "This should buy us some time." he muttered under his breath, "Hope the kids are all right."

    He turned and left, running through an empty corridor, hoping to reach Malachi and the rest.

    ///

    Meanwhile,

    "Where do we go now!?" cried Axel, "Fire Ants are crawling all over the place!"

    "Just keep running, anywhere untouched is better than being found." replied Malachi, "Arlianne, anything behind us?"

    "No, it doesn''t seem like anything followed." she replied, "I hope Chief Axton is well."

    Malachi and the other two were in another corridor. A pathway somewhere in the arena. Before, they had just been pushed away by Arena Chief Axton who had engaged a group of fire ants with their previous escort.

    "Hey, wait a minute..." paused Axel, "This is the armory. Hey, let''s grab our own weapons for self-defense."

    Malachi looked at a nearby door. They were, in fact, before a large sign that had the word "ARMORY" bolted to the wall beside them. Malachi looked at Axel and Arlianne.

    "You''ve seen the carapace of those things, right?" he asked them, "Except for a few lucky shots, we need a Steam Knight rather than a fusil or a hand cannon. If we really want to punch through their defenses, we need to get up close and personal."

    "Yeah, but you can''t expect us to survive without a chance, right!?" cried back Axel, "Anything is better than being unarmed!"

    Malachi went into deep thought.

    ''If I just had the chance to make armor-piercing rifles, we would have much of a problem at the moment.'' he thought, ''At best, we''d just fling bombs at the ants, but I wouldn''t want to cause a collapse in a tight place like this. Dammit, what to do...?''

    While Malachi was thinking about what to do,

    "Sshk, sshk."

    "Fire Ant!" cried Arlianne, "A Fire Ant is in front of us!"

    Opposite of where they came from, a fire ant turned from a corner and began charging at them.

    "Dammit! Inside, now!" bellowed Malachi.

    Malachi pushed Axel and Arlianne into the armory, struggled to close the large doors, and bolted the doors shut.

    "CLANG! CLANG!"

    Fortunately, the armory doors were made from pure metal, and the fire ant futilely tried to bash it open. Malachi pushed the other two deeper into the room while knocking down a nearby shelf before the doors. Malachi looked around and inspected the armory.

    "Well, we''re here." he said, "Now what?"

    The armory was huge. With just the three of them, three adolescents, the armory could fit another two siege engines before getting cramped. Rows, columns, and shelves of fusils, hand cannons, grenades, crossbows, and blast hammers lined up before them. There were also stacks of crates and piles of metal sheets scattered around, and sacks of ammunition were neatly placed in one corner next to a shelf of crossbow bolts. Parked at the back were empty Steam Knight suits.

    "I suggest we arm ourselves." said Axel, "Who knows how long those doors will hold, or how else they might enter here."

    Axel stomped on the floor a few times to check on the material.

    "Pang! Pang!"

    "At least we know they can''t go through metal that easily." he said, "Do we just sit here?"

    "We still need to get out to contact the others." said Arlianne, "Our parents are likely worried right now."

    Hearing her, Axel paled.

    "Damn! Lakeng! Are you there!?" he bellowed.

    A young man in military attire appeared behind a shelf.

    "You called~?" he said.

    Axel let out a sigh of relief.

    "Why didn''t you speak out earlier!?" cried Axel, "I totally forgot about you."

    Lakeng shrugged.

    "I figured Malachi here would be able to protect you." replied Lakeng, "Well, since I''m out here in the open..."

    Lakeng stood up straight and saluted both Malachi and Arlianne.

    "Greetings, Royal Falcon Lakeng Baraco at your service." said Lakeng, "I''m Axel''s bodyguard."

    Malachi raised a brow and Arlianne was speechless.

    "You have an officer for a bodyguard?" commented Malachi, "Now, I''m curious about your clout in the kingdom. Judging from how you move, you''re lightly armed. Either with a hand cannon or some other small weapon."

    "Sharp kid." said Lakeng, "I''m only armed with a pneumatic fusil to protect Axel. It can''t do anything against Fire Ants, though."

    "A pneumatic weapon?" inquired Malachi, "Do you mind if I take a look?"

    Lakeng was hesitant for a while.

    "What will you do, exactly?" he asked.

    "I will touch it, inspect it, test it, and taste it." answered Malachi, "Just kidding, I will just see if we can use it to get out of here."

    Lakeng skeptically looked at Malachi.

    "I have a lot of ideas now that we''re in an armory." added Malachi, "Just trust me on this one, okay?"

    Axel watched the two. He looked at Lakeng, and Lakeng met his gaze. Axel nodded and gestured to give the pneumatic fusil.

    "Well, here." said Lakeng, "Don''t wreck it."

    Malachi received the fusil.

    "Thanks." he said, "Is it too late to say that I may have to wreck it, though?"

    Lakeng immediately reached to grab his fusil back, but Malachi just hugged it closer to him.

    "Chill! If ever, I''ll make you a new one!" yelled Malachi, "Just give me a workshop and I''ll make it even better than what you have right now."

    Lakeng frowned.

    "Really? You can make it better?" he asked doubtfully, "How can a kid like you make a better weapon?"

    Malachi bent forward and placed a finger on his lips, gesturing a "silence" sign.

    "That is a trade secret." he replied with a light playful smile, "Just trust me on this one."

    Lakeng still looked at Malachi skeptically.

    "... Fine." he finally said, "I''ll hunt you down if ever you go back on your word."

    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    With consent, Malachi tinkered with the pneumatic fusil in his hands. Its size was one size smaller than ordinary fusils that used pyrocite. While it was smaller, though, the ammunition used was the same but was propelled by high air pressure that was fed from a detachable tank beneath the body. Unlike pyrocite fusils that were muzzle-loaded, the pneumatic fusil had a canister that loaded the ammunition from the side.

    Inspecting the body, Malachi found a sweet spot and disassembled the entire fusil right in front of the others.

    "Hey!" shouted Lakeng, "You wrecked it!"

    "No, man. I just disassembled it." consoled Malachi, "I can easily reassemble this."

    Like he said, Malachi only took twenty seconds to reassemble the pneumatic fusil to working condition. He even fired a shot to prove his point. With proof before his eyes, Lakeng hesitantly withdrew next to Axel and left Malachi to tinker around with his fusil.

    Disassembling the pneumatic fusil once more, Malachi inspected the inner workings of the gun. The gas tank was attached to a pump that feeds the air into another small chamber connected to the trigger. When the trigger was pulled, high air pressure was released, launching the ammunition.

    ''A BB gun!'' he thought cheerfully, ''Only it''s an ouchy BB gun!''

    Smiling at the pneumatic fusil, Lakeng raised a brow.

    ''The heck is this kid?'' he thought, ''That is one creepy smile.''

    Since the fusil used air pressure, it didn''t have the danger of its body spontaneously combusting. However, if the pressure kept building, the gun would rupture making it useless.

    ''Maximum pressure of the reservoir tank is at... 40 megapascals!?'' he mentally screamed, ''That''s huge! And the firing chamber...?''

    Malachi removed all ammunition from the pneumatic fusil, and placed his palm on the muzzle. Letting the pump put air in the firing chamber, as much as it could, he pulled the trigger to get a feel of the pressure released.

    "Pak!"

    "Ouch!" cried Malachi, "Damn, that hurts."

    "The hell are you doing!?" yelled Lakeng, "That gun can puncture skulls, much less your hand!"

    "I just wanted to feel the pressure." replied Malachi as he massaged his palm, ''Damn, didn''t expect it to be that strong. Felt it around... 40 kilopascals?''

    "Well, what can you do with it in this situation?" inquired Lakeng.

    Malachi reassembled the pneumatic fusil and went to a nearby stash of ammunition.

    "I need some time, but I can modify this to punch through Fire Ant carapace."

    ///

    "Get squads 8 through 14 down the catacombs!" roared Emmanuel, "Get rid of any Fire Ant you see!"

    "Sir!" replied a group of officers.

    "Any report from the first platoon?" inquired Emmanuel.

    "Squads 1 through 7 have reported no anomalies and have completed getting the civilians to safety." replied another officer, "However, none have reported seeing a group of three children in their AO."

    "All right, reassign them from escort to search and rescue." ordered Emmanuel, "Elijah, any report from your Intelligence Division?"

    While Emmanuel handled the ordinary infantry, Elijah was busy operating a radio array.

    "I heard reports about the remainder of Chief Axton''s unit." replied Elijah, "His escorts said something about the Arena Chief bring a group of children with him in the west block."

    "Do you think...?" said Emmanuel without finishing his sentence.

    "Highly probable." affirmed Elijah, "They are, after all, patrons of the arena."

    "Got it." said Emmanuel as he pulled out his radio, "Beep, Greg, you hear me? Beep. Beep, I''ve received reports of a group of children running around the west block. I suspect it''s Malachi and the rest. Beep."

    "Kssh. Gotcha, I''ll head on over. Kssh." replied Gregory.

    As for Elijah,

    "... Got it? Work with Lord Grigorio if you meet. Beep." he said over his radio, "Beep. Do not let even a hair be harmed. Also look for Lakeng, he should be with them. Beep."

    "Kssh. Yes, milord. Kssh." replied a man.

    Elijah paused for a while.

    "Beep. Also, we''ll send some reinforcements on your way. Beep." added Elijah, "Use them as you see fit."

    Emmanuel pulled over an officer.

    "Get squads 1 through 4 to the west block." he ordered, "Have them work with the Royal Phoenixes if they rendezvous."

    "Yes sir!" replied the officer.

    Suddenly, all of their radios lit up.

    "This is Royal Phoenix Grigorio Perez!" said Gregory over the radio, "All troops at the Royal Garrison are to deploy and engage the Fire Ant army here at the arena! Situation critical and expect heavy resistance! All Royal Engineers are to dispatch all available Steam Knights and Siege Engines to provide heavy assault and cover for the infantry! Move!"

    The two brothers looked at one another, and both ran outside. Passing through a doorway, they emerged at a terrace overlooking the entire arena and the battlefield below. Having seen what Gregory had previously seen,

    "It''s an infestation!" cried Emmanuel, "Connect me to the Royal Garrison, now!"

    ///

    "Aim for their eyes!" roared Malachi, "Anything not covered by their carapace is a sweet spot!"

    Malachi finished modifying Lakeng''s pneumatic fusil. Its changes on its body were greatly visible. The automatic pump was switched out with a manual pump, and the reservoir was directly connected to the firing chamber. The reservoir was also reinforced, increasing its maximum pressure, and the loading mechanism was changed to a makeshift spring loader allowing a greater amount of ammunition to be loaded.

    Having much of its parts changed or removed, the pneumatic fusil was lighter than before, and allowed Lakeng to take aim quicker than expected.

    "I never thought you''d modify it to this extent." commented Lakeng, "With all the available equipment, you managed to turn this into a much more lethal weapon! The new ammo is also phenomenal!"

    Indeed, rather than ordinary ball ammunition, the bullets loaded into the pneumatic fusil had a conical shape and a flat butt. Aside from the weapons in the armory, a small workshop was present, used to fix broken equipment or replace broken armor. Malachi used everything present to create, or carve, armor piercing ammunition. However, since it wasn''t used for a rifled gun, Lakeng had to go closer to the target to ensure a hit. Nevertheless, the increased air pressure meant that it had enough force to push the bullet out the muzzle, and let it fly straight to its target while maintaining enough force to puncture soft targets.

    "Pak!"

    "Pschwit!"

    The round fired off by Lakeng accurately landed on a fire ant''s eye, lodging deep inside. Having been blinded in one eye, the fire ant flailed around in rage, attempting to strike Lakeng. Only,

    "Now!" ordered Malachi.

    Arlianne and Axel each held a crossbow. Their crossbows were the same ones that were mass produced. However, the only difference was with its ammo¡ªthe crossbow bolts had bolt heads that weren''t pointed. Instead, once the bolts landed on the fire ant, the bolts detonated into small explosions. The small explosions cracked its carapace, and revealed a soft and flesh-like interior.

    "There!" roared Malachi as he pulled out his own crossbow with a larger than usual bolt head.

    Firing his crossbow, one would expect a small explosion. Nay, his bolt went deep into the fire ant''s body, instead. Except, once a few moments had passed, the fire ant''s body shook and exploded into hundreds of gory pieces.

    "Booyeah!" cheered Malachi, "Feast your eyes on that!"

    "Why can''t we just use the explosive bolts?" asked Lakeng, "Less danger for me, to be honest."

    "Well, we need to stop them from charging us." answered Malachi, "We also need to blind one side of its vision so we could safely flank it. However, this tactic is only effective for lone ants, we will have to change a few things if we get mobbed. Which is why we had to arm ourselves since we chose to go through with guns blazing."

    Hanging on Lakeng''s back was a repeater, while the others had hand cannons, ammunition, and some grenades. Malachi had a crossbow, a hand cannon, a pack of makeshift ammunition, and a single grenade. Axel also had what Malachi carried, except for the hand cannon, and had more grenades at five pieces. Arlianne was the only one to carry a pure crossbow loadout.

    "The bolts should be safe to handle." said Malachi, "... as long as the tips don''t receive too much impact."

    Axel was curiously looking at the explosive bolts Malachi made. Hearing Malachi''s comment, he immediately stopped touching the bolt head.

    "Where do we go now, Malachi?" asked Arlianne, "We should head towards the others, soldiers especially."

    "Yeah." agreed Axel, "Since we got to the armory, we should be in the west block. The exits are on the north and south blocks, but the south entrance is currently flooded by Fire Ants. That only leaves the north entrance."

    "Then, we''ll head north." said Malachi, "Watch your surroundings for enemy ambush."

 Bootcamp 12

    Having drills jammed up (or down) your molars gives a strange sensation.

    //////////////////////

    [Ties] Bootcamp 12

    Deep underground, a place called the catacombs. Old ruins sprawled out and created complex networks of caves and passageways. Along the walls were crypts and coffins, long emptied out as the dust had settled in. The reminders of death in this place had long disappeared and pyrocite lamps provided dim illumination to anyone venturing within.

    "Kashhk, kashhk."

    "Kashhk, kashhk."

    A nest of Fire Ants had made a part of the catacombs their home. Hordes of ants passed through the passageways and even dug out caves for their own use. Amongst the networks of these passageways, a large stone structure was erected. Made from large stones piled on top of one another, a large Fire Ant, larger than the rest, was perched upon it.

    Around this large ant were the regular Fire Ants working to bring food in and, expectedly, larvae out. The large Fire Ant was the Queen Ant, and this was her nest.

    "Shhck, shhck."

    The Queen Ant moved around its mandibles and antennae, and the Fire Ants around it stopped moving and raised their heads. Immediately, in unison, they all filed into a tunnel until the Queen was only left with a small number of other ants, presumably for its protection.

    "Shhck, shhck."

    Suddenly, as though the ants had some semblance of intelligence, took up formation around their queen. Lines and groups of Fire Ants formed a tight enclosure that protected the Queen Ant. As soon as they finished moving,

    "Boom!"

    "It''s here!" shouted a soldier, "The queen has been located!"

    "Get me reinforcements," ordered an officer, "I''m not sending my men to their deaths here!"

    Voices of affirmation echoed throughout the catacombs as each and every squad that was sent down here moved to surround the Queen Ant.

    "Set up defenses around those rocks!" ordered another officer, "Avoid any tight corridors!"

    "Move that pillar out of the way!" shouted an engineer, "Get me some bombs in here! Topple that thing for cover!"

    As soon as the soldiers poured into the nest, they all set up their respective defensive zones to protect themselves from the Fire Ants as they awaited reinforcements. Not to sit idly, the first wave of ants came forth.

    "Kashhk, kashhk."

    The first line of ants turned on their backsides to spew out flames. As soon as they did this, all of the exposed soldiers dove for cover behind rocks, debris, and Steam Knight shields.

    "Incoming flames!" warned a soldier, "Take cover!"

    A large fan of fire swept forward, burning everything that was unprotected. Fortunately, the soldiers that had arrived properly took care of their cover and were spared from being cooked alive.

    "As soon as the flames die down," said an officer, "throw out some bombs to knock''em out, then let it rain steel!"

    ...

    High above, back in he arena.

    "Lakeng! Run behind that pillar!" yelled Malachi, "Axel, take position behind that counter with Arlianne but lob a grenade, first! Support the troops!"

    Malachi and the rest had arrived at the northern entrance of the arena. Currently, they had met up with a squad engaged with a group of Fire Ants occupying the entrance. Lakeng moved as ordered to a pillar a short distance away from the nearest Fire Ant taking fire from multiple directions.

    "What are kids doing here!?" cried a soldier, "Hey, you! What the heck did you bring them here for!? Why are they armed as well!?"

    The soldier screamed at Lakeng taking aim with his pneumatic fusil. Lakeng replied by pointing on his sleeve, the patch that displayed his rank. Looking around, all the other soldiers had blades on their sleeves. Apart from Lakeng, who was an officer, they were all enlisted personnel. This caused most of the soldiers to quiet down. There were, however, curious gazes being sent to Malachi who was directing Lakeng and the rest, questioning the background of the boy.

    Nevertheless, such thoughts were unimportant in the middle of a battle. The soldiers once again resumed fighting the Fire Ants.

    Axel''s grenade flew in a high arc and landed right in the middle of the group of Fire Ants.

    "BOOM!"

    The resulting explosion deafened much of the soldiers, but those who were still standing took it as an opportunity to shoot the Fire Ants'' exposed soft interiors, successfully neutralizing the threats. While a number of Fire Ants were taken out, there were still some more that had intact carapaces that successfully deflected much of the bullets.

    Like how Malachi had told him before, Lakeng aimed for the Ants'' eyes and shot them. The makeshift armorpiercing ammunition made by Malachi pierced and blinded the ant that was hit, having its body flail around in confusion.

    "Axel! Arlianne! Explosive bolts!" shouted Malachi, "Fire!"

    The two hiding behind the counter took aim at the flailing Fire Ant. As soon as an opportunity presented itself, the two launched their explosive bolts. Like before, the bolts detonated upon impact, and small explosions blanketed the fire ant, destroying much of its carapace.

    "Eat this!" cried Malachi as he aimed his crossbow.

    His timed explosive bolt dug deep into the Fire Ant, and like the victim before it, bulged and exploded into many pieces of nasty insectile gore. The soldiers who saw this couldn''t believe their eyes as a small group of children, despite being with an officer, took down a Fire Ant on their own with unfamiliar weapons.

    "The fight''s not finished yet!" bellowed Malachi, "More creepy-crawlies incoming!"

    Like he said, another horde popped out from underground and reinforced the then dwindling Fire Ants in the northern entrance. Right before the clash, however, a muffled noise of hammering steel could be heard from the entrance.

    "Knock, knock!" shouted someone from the other side, "Pest extermination!"

    "Boom!"

    The gates of the arena entrance blew back, and a squad of lumbering Steam Knights came into view. As soon as the doors went open, a Steam Knight charged forward with a Blast Hammer in hand, and took a swing at a Fire Ant. The pyrocite tip of the hammer lit up and subsequently detonated, creating a powerful crushing force on the Fire Ant''s body.

    "Royal Engineers, reporting for duty!" announced the Steam Knight, "Search and destroy!"

    "Ura!!!" cheered the other Steam Knights.

    Malachi and the rest stood back and watched as much of the Fire Ants were blown away by the onslaught of Steam Knights. The rest of the soldiers followed behind to provide supporting fire. One Steam Knight, however, approached Malachi''s group.

    "Civilians? Eh, a Falcon?" wondered the Steam Knight, "Well, you''re safe now. The Royal Garrison has been deployed, and this mess will be cleaned up shortly. Best if you evacuate to a nearby shelter for now."

    "Yeah, we''ll do just that," replied Malachi, "Thanks for the rescue."

    "No problem," affirmed the Steam Knight, "Well, you''ve got a Falcon with you, so I doubt you''d be in any more trouble than this. Well, sir, I''ll leave everything to you."

    Lakeng replied with a salute, and the Steam Knight did the same.

    "Come on, let''s not tarry any longer," said Lakeng, "The nearest evacuation center is a guard post north of here."

    Yet, despite being saved by the garrison, another problem came up. The floor shook a bit, and the chandeliers swung around.

    "Oh, hell," cursed Malachi, "Aftershocks! Take cover!"

    The earth shook once more, stronger than before, and even collapsed much of the walls and pillars around them. The Steam Knight moved to cover the rest from any falling debris until the shaking stopped. Unfortunately, Malachi was watching the northern entrance, and saw that the entryway collapsed, sealing them inside.

    "Oh, man, this sucks!" cried Malachi, "Hey, can you blast that rubble away?"

    The shaking stopped, and the Steam Knight looked at the collapsed entryway.

    "Too dangerous." replied the Steam Knight, walking over and inspecting the remaining structure, "That last quake weakened the frames and foundation, a blast would make the entire area cave in, instead."

    "Rumble."

    A low rumble came from behind them. They all hesitated to turn around, but the audible noise coming from behind them had blood drain from their faces.

    "Kashhk, kashhk."

    Another horde of Fire Ants emerged from underground, pinning their group against the wall. The Steam Knight operated his radio, and yelled into it.

    "Hey guys," said the Steam Knight, "Double back and help me out here!"

    "Kssh, no can do," replied a soldier over the radio, "Kssh, we have our hands full with a horde ourselves! The last quake opened up the abyss! Oh, god!"

    The signal was cut off, and the Steam Knight readied his shield as the Fire Ants turned on their backsides.

    "Get behind me, now!" ordered the Steam Knight.

    With his shield deployed, three kids and one adult hid behind the Steam Knight in a tight squeeze. The Fire Ants spewed out a wall of fire, and Malachi could see and feel the rising heat around him.

    ''Hot damn!'' he thought, ''The pressure and heat is amazing!''

    Without realizing it, Malachi was grinning from ear to ear. Arlianne saw this, and slapped Malachi out of his trance.

    "Malachi!" she cried, "What are you smiling for!? We''re in the middle of a deathtrap here!"

    "Ah, eh, sorry," he apologized, "Nothing, just remembering some things."

    "I don''t know what''s going on behind me," said the Steam Knight, "but seeing you have weapons on yourselves, I suggest that you get ready to fight! As soon as the flames die down, I''m charging forward with my hammer. Cover me!"

    As the Steam Knight said, the flames had begun to die down. Once the flames dispersed, the Steam Knight threw away the already bright red shield at a Fire Ant, pulverizing it, and charged forward with a hammer overhead.

    "Lakeng, let that knight get all the aggro," said Malachi, "Flank to the sides, and blind any ant you see!"

    "Aggro?" wondered Lakeng, "What?"

    "Er, just let the knight get the ants'' attention," clarified Malachi, "Just do the usual, and watch your surroundings. While we are pinned to a wall, it''s good since we don''t have to watch our back. Now, go! Axel, Arlianne, spread out behind Lakeng to and shoot any ant he shoots at! We will take them down one by one!"

    While the Steam Knight jumped into the fray and went nuts, Lakeng skillfully took out the stragglers, and the rest took them out. Slowly but surely, the Fire Ants were reduced to half, and further down to a third by the efforts of the Steam Knight. Fortunately, due to the Steam Knight being in close contact with the Fire Ants, none of the ants could successfully shoot out flames lest they provide an opportunity to get crushed by the Blast Hammer.

    However, once the Steam Knight had swung down the hammer on the next ant, the pyrocite tip didn''t light up, and just produced a dull sound of metal smashing onto a hard surface.

    "Argh," cried the Steam Knight, "I''m out of juice!"

    "Axel! Lob a grenade!" followed up Malachi, "Knight, fall back!"

    The Steam Knight didn''t hesitate to jump back and, in its place, a grenade landed in time. Axel''s grenade detonated, and crushed much of the remaining Fire Ants'' carapaces, giving the rest of them to shoot the soft insectile interiors with their explosive bolts and other weapons.

    "Forget the rest, shoot the unarmored parts!" cried Malachi as he shot his handcannon.

    Lakeng switched to a repeater, and unleashed a rain of bullets. Axel and Arlianne shot their crossbows, and their bolts'' explosions tore away much of the ants'' soft interiors, effectively killing them.

    "Just a few more, and we''re clear!" announced Malachi, ''As long as no other hordes pop out for the time being. Having these things as enemies suck, though I would love to capture one alive to know more about it.''

    While hiding his motives in his thoughts, Malachi and the rest finished off the stragglers.

    ...

    Back underground.

    "Cover the left flank!" screamed an officer, "More coming in from above! Pull the wounded out of the line of fire!"

    Chaos ensued in the catacombs as the soldiers fought to eliminate the Queen Ant and the remaining Fire Ants. However, due to the architecture of the catacombs and the tightness of the dug out caves, the flames of the Fire Ants were showing their full potential. The battlefield was littered with burns and molten metals. Bright red shields and armor lay here and there, and burnt corpses polluted the air.

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    The Fire Ants were initially surrounded when the nest was found, then the small number slowly dwindled. However, as time passed by, a portion of the Fire Ants that left earlier came back, and ambushed the defensive encampments made by the soldiers. Thus, creating havoc in the rear lines.

    "Get me some cover fire!" shouted a Steam Knight, "Move in formation with me!"

    Three Steam Knights lined up together, two had their hammers out and one deployed a shield. The Fire Ants before them shot out flames, and blanketed the three Steam Knights. Unable to go through the shield, the Steam Knights moved forward, closing the distance, and crushed any ant that came their way.

    "Up top," shouted a soldier, "Fire Ant on that ledge!"

    A Fire Ant shot another stream of flames from an elevated position. One of the three Steam Knights, one that carried a hammer, switched out with a shield and blocked the flames coming from above. This left only one Steam Knight to destroy the surrounding ants.

    "Fall back!" shouted an engineer, "Your shields can''t take much more, fall back!"

    "Another ant in a cave to the right!" cried another soldier, "Cover their retreat!"

    The lines of battle shifted forward and back repeatedly into a stalemate. The sudden onslaught of Fire Ant hordes that took them by surprise ruined their chances for a decisive victory. Adding the uneven terrain and the Fire Ants'' advantage to scale the walls, the soldiers out on a hunt had become the prey to be hunted.

    Suddenly, a small group of lightly armed individuals came from behind the soldiers. The first to react was a Royal Buzzard that oversaw the operation.

    "Your Majesty!?" cried the officer, "What are you doing here, sire!? This place is dangerous!"

    Eleazar strode forward with his entourage. The soldiers holding their positions were momentarily stunned at the sight of the highest ranking person in the entire kingdom being in the battlefield. Behind Eleazar was a group of light-skinned and light-haired individuals carrying bizzare weapons, and had metallic augmentations attached in their bodies.

    "Graham, ensure that the ''Vault'' is secure." said Eleazar, looking at the place where the Queen Ant was perched, "As for the rest of your ''Family,'' eliminate all that threaten our peace."

    "Understood." said a man of seemingly the same age, "Anything for our Savior."

    The man who appeared to be the same age as Eleazar, Graham, sauntered forward and pulled out a pair of cannons, larger than any soldier had and what Malachi carried. Actually, it was less of a hand cannon, and more of a handheld swivel gun that most would find on medieval ships sailing to and fro the New World. His guns were each mounted below his arms, and gripped in his hands were some sort of trigger device with buttons and switches.

    Curiously, even though he had a large build, his back was unnaturally bulky, as though there was something hidden underneath his clothes. As soon as he flexed his muscles, his clothes ripped and revealed horrific modifications on his body.

    Graham was half machine. While not cybernetic, the machines augmented into his body were independent from his bodily functions, and were more of attachments permanently sutured into his flesh. The soldiers around him were aghast at the sight of this and turned to look at Eleazar. Eleazar gave them a stern look without saying a word, and gestured with his hands to silence them all or face the death penalty.

    The soldiers paled, and returned their focus on the fire ants.

    After Graham, a young woman of similar color stepped forward. Unlike Graham and his bulky equipment, the young woman had a sleek and long weapon attached to her right arm, and a tube ran from her weapon into a box on her back. Cold air leaked out of the barrel of her gun, and each movement she made had cold air escape her lips.

    Finally, a young man stepped forward with most of the machinery attached on his legs. This allowed him to run faster and scale the walls of the catacombs with ease. His weapon, however, was a metallic rod that emitted sparks of electricity when struck. The zapping of his rod was unnerving for some of the nearby soldiers as they imagined the effects of getting struck by it.

    Graham and the other two leisurely strode forward, leaving Eleazar and the other soldiers behind.

    ...

    Topside.

    "Kssh. Have you found them yet?" asked Emmanuel over Gregory''s radio, "The Royal Garrison has arrived, but that recent quake has me worried. Kssh."

    "Apologies, " replied Gregory, "I just arrived at the west block and met up with Axton. His left arm got torn off. The shock knocked him out, but he''s still alive. I just handed him off to a nearby squad."

    "Kssh. I see," said Emmanuel, "Oh, damn! Reports of another horde coming in had arrived! Wait! There''s a report of kids fighting in the northern entrance! It must be them! Hurry, Gregory! Kssh."

    "Never a dull moment." commented Gregory, changing his direction as he ran into another corridor.

    ...

    "Keep moving!" roared Malachi, "Ignore the corridors and meet up with the Royal Garrison squad!"

    Finally eliminating the threat that pinned them at the collapsed entrance, Malachi and the rest, including the lone Steam Knight, went on to meet up with the squad that broke through earlier. Due to the aftershocks, more corridors were filled with Fire Ants, and a number of scattered soldiers were hard pressed in fighting back.

    "Where is this route leading to?" asked Malachi, turning to the others.

    "Into the east block," replied Axel, "This block houses much of the arena''s personnel. It''s also where the Administrative Quarters are, up above."

    "The south entrance is flooded by ants," muttered Lakeng, "No sign of soldiers down there. The north is also sealed up due to the quake. The west is pretty much a dead end, might as well go to where there are more soldiers and add to their efforts."

    "Axel, Arlianne, can you still keep up?" asked Malachi, "I think you can get a ride on Ms. Knight here."

    "Oh? How did you know I was a woman?" asked the Steam Knight, shocked at Malachi''s suggestion, "My voice should be muffled at best being inside this can."

    "The way you swung your hammer reminded me of the other female Knights," replied Malachi, "A lucky guess, I suppose. Well?"

    "I''m fine." answered Arlianne, ironically gasping for breath, "I can still go on."

    "Me too." added Axel, also gasping for breath.

    "Don''t push yourself too much, " followed Malachi up, "This is your first time fighting for your life, being too tired will put you, and the rest, at risk. Miss, do you mind helping them up?"

    "I don''t mind, but what about you?" asked the Steam as she lifted Axel and Arlianne up, "Aren''t you tired?"

    "I''ve prepared myself for situations like this," answered Malachi, "If I ever want to be in the military, this is but an obstacle I have to overcome."

    "Oh, yeah, " said Lakeng, "You did say you wanted to enter the academy. Seeing your performance today, and the makeshift weapons you''ve made, you will be a boon to our military."

    "Makeshift weapons?" wondered the Steam Knight, "Those explosive bolts?"

    "Yeah, those and these pointy ammunition." added Lakeng as he showed the makeshift armorpiercing bullets Malachi had carved, "It''s the reason why I was able to punch through those ants with relative ease. He said some other things, but I was too amazed at them to listen attentively."

    "For a Falcon to praise you," said the Steam Knight, "Who are you, really, anyway? Those goggles make me think you want to be an Engineer, but the way you throw out orders and make snap decisions is befitting for an officer."

    "Let''s leave that for the future." suggested Malachi, "If we get out of here alive, and we have time to tell stories, I''ll answer some of your questions. Hmm? Firefight, dead ahead!"

    As soon as Malachi tried to finish their conversation, a squad fighting against Fire Ants appeared in his sight. A member of the squad closest to them saw the Steam Knight bringing kids with her.

    "Why the hell are there kids here!?" cried out a soldier, "What the¡ª"

    "Shut up and fight, goddammit!" roared Malachi, "Forget us and fight for your lives!"

    Pissed off at the fact that the soldier had the moment to notice them being kids, Malachi scolded the soldier and pulled out his handcannon.

    "Bang!"

    Malachi let loose a shot at a Fire Ant that was closing in on said soldier. The soldier roared himself as he relocated to flank the ants. Like before, Malachi had his group take down the Fire Ants one by one with their weapons. Each time he delivered his orders, with equal or greater efficiency than the present officers, the soldiers could only stare in awe at Malachi''s judgments.

    "What the hell are you staring at!?" shouted Malachi, "Fire Ant at your left! Lakeng, blind that thing! Lobbing a grenade!"

    As soon as Lakeng was in position for a shot, Malachi primed his grenade. In unison, Lakeng shot his pneumatic fusil and Malachi threw his grenade. With great precision and timing, an ant was blinded and had its carapace blown away in quick succession.

    "Kill that thing, now!" ordered Malachi.

    Never mind the soldiers, the quick reactions of Axel and Arlianne due to being with Malachi the longest killed the ant as soon as Malachi''s orders left his lips.

    "Miss, knock that ant away!" ordered Malachi, pointing at an ant about to turn on its backside.

    The Steam Knight, having regrouped with a squad, swapped out her consumed pyrocite with a new one, and was ready to kill. With brute force and fury, she blasted the ant''s abdomen before it could fire a wall of flames in the area.

    "Stop gawking and start killing!" bellowed Malachi.

    It must be noted that ever since Malachi was surrounded by soldiers, his demeanor had changed significantly. Although, due to the situation, none of his companions noticed this as they, too, were as tense as the others were.

    "Taking a shot!" announced Malachi as he raised his crossbow loaded with a timed explosive bolt.

    A Fire Ant was hit in the eye, and the bolt went deep inside. Lakeng''s eyes widened as he witnessed this and turned his gaze at Malachi. Unable to see through his goggles, he couldn''t see that Malachi''s eyes hadn''t blinked even once. Malachi had complete focus on the task at hand.

    The Fire Ant that was hit had its head explode into insectile gore. The soldiers were also surprised and turned to look at the boy who was in the middle of reloading his crossbow and shouting out orders one after another. As he reloaded, though, he wasn''t even looking at his weapon and loaded the bolt with perfect movements as his head turned to survey the area repeatedly. Even when an ant was about to approach, he reacted quickly by pulling out his handcannon, used its stopping power to stop the ant from moving, and shot it with an explosive bolt afterwards.

    Malachi''s fluid movements made many give praise and earn fear for such a young boy.

    "Another horde, incoming!" reported a soldier, "Right side corridor!"

    "Fusiliers, line up along the left pillar!" ordered Malachi, "Flank the left side as they funnel through! Repeaters cover the right and do the same! Lakeng, snipe as you see fit! Axel, Arlianne, send them all to hell! Steam Knights, protect the flanks! Let the ants funnel through to their deaths! Engineers, prepare to lob grenades to smash their armor!"

    Morale was at an all time high, and no one bothered anymore to question Malachi''s orders despite being a child and a civilian.

    ...

    Down below.

    "Fall back! Fall back!" roared Eleazar, "The Queen is rising! Fall back!"

    In the area around the Queen Ant, scorch marks and frozen ants littered the place. Graham and the other two augmented individuals had already arrived next to Eleazar, and all the others stood back to watch the Queen Ant rise from its perch.

    The ceiling of the catacombs crumbled fro the force of the Queen Ant, and created a large cavern overhead. The rocks fell like bombs and crushed much of the remaining ants underneath. Fortunately, Eleazar had ordered a retreat, and none of the soldiers died in vain.

    "Connect me above ground!" ordered Eleazar as he grabbed an Engineer, "Report that the extermination failed and the Queen is surfacing!"

    The Queen Ant bisected its body and left behind its egg-laying organ. Its legs spread out, and its mandibles dug deep into the stone, digging its way out of the catacombs and up to the surface.

 Bootcamp 13

    [Ties] Bootcamp 13

    "Move forward!" roared Malachi.

    Malachi had met up and worked together with a Royal Garrison squad. At the moment they were slowly but surely advancing through the passageways of the arena, cleaning up any and every ant they came across.

    "Shields up, weapons forward!" ordered Malachi, "Bombs away!"

    As soon as he gave the order, the Engineers hiding behind a line of Steam Knights lobbed their grenades at a horde of Fire Ants.

    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"

    In spacious areas like rooms and lobbies, Malachi gave full freedom to use explosives. However, in the narrow passageways, he let the Steam Knights take point to crush the Fire Ants'' carapaces. Like before, as soon as the soft interiors were exposed, a stream of bullets were let loose.

    "Oh, man..." commented Axel, "Is that... Is that really Malachi?"

    Ever since Malachi took de facto control of the squad, Axel and the rest had taken a back seat in the clearing operations. They stared at the young boy barking out orders like a madman on crack.

    "I... This..." stuttered Arlianne, "This is the first time I''ve seen him like that..."

    "Okay... Creepy kid from before, " said Lakeng, "had gone full-blown who-the-f*ck-are-you and what have you done?"

    Since Malachi was completely engrossed in the squad,

    "Let''s just watch the back for any ambush." suggested Axel, loading his crossbow and prepping his grenades, "Even if we''re moving forward, these things can pop out from anywhere."

    Arlianne and Lakeng nodded at his suggestion.

    "Another squad up ahead!" reported a soldier.

    "Reinforce and clear the area!" ordered Malachi, "Steam Knights, forward!"

    Once another squad was in view, and as soon as Malachi gave the order, the line of Steam Knights at the vanguard separated from them and charged forward with their hammers.

    A soldier in the other squad saw the incoming Steam Knights.

    "Reinforcements incoming," reported the soldier, "north corridor, watch your fire!"

    The entire squad adjusted their positions. Some relocated closer to the north corridor and created a path for the Steam Knights to pour out from. The rest widened their arc of fire as soon as their backs hit the wall. All soldiers were now at the northern half of the room, and the ants were coming in from the east, west, and south.

    "Raaagh!" roared a Steam Knight with a blast hammer overhead.

    The pyrocite tip lit up and detonated, crushing one ant out of the way. The rest of the Steam Knights followed suit and cleared out much of the room of Fire Ants. As soon as the rest of Malachi''s squad arrived, the other squad noticed the child running together with the reinforcing squad. However, none bothered asking about him once they saw the eyes of the reinforcing squad.

    Malachi''s squad had their eyes strangely entranced. Not one was blinking, and all were moving at a feverish pace to destroy, not just simply kill, the Fire Ants.

    "Steam Knights, fall back!" roared Malachi, "Engineers, lob your grenades!"

    The Steam Knights fell back from their assault, and grenades took their places. The number of grenades carpet bombed the part of the room where the Fire Ants were, and destroyed much of their carapaces. Like machines, the soldiers in Malachi''s squad fired upon the exposed interiors without even waiting for his order.

    The other squad stared with mouths agape seeing their fellow comrades systematically destroy the Fire Ants. One soldier, however, noticed Axel and the rest following behind. Seeing as they weren''t in a frenzy, he approached them.

    "H-he-hey, w-what''s up with them?" asked the soldier, "A-an-and who''s the kid barking out orders?"

    Lakeng faced the soldier.

    "Frankly, I''d like to know as well, " he answered, "For now, just work with them."

    Lakeng looked around and found that he was the only officer amongst all of them.

    "Where''s your CO?" he asked the soldier.

    "H-he should be heading towards the field, " answered the soldier, "Saying something about the biggest horde being in there."

    "If we follow this route, " added Axel, "We''ll end up there, eventually, seeing as the other corridors are blocked... Unless the route to the field gets blocked as well."

    ///

    "For the love of... When will they stop pouring out!?" cried Gregory as he dispatched one ant after another. His uniform was already tattered, revealing a sort of armor beneath, and had multiple burns on his body, "Out of my way!"

    Eventually, after running around the corridors, he met up with another squad.

    "You! Where is your CO?" he asked them.

    "Sir! Our CO has been killed in action, sir!" replied a soldier, "For now, we are acting independently, sir!"

    "Damn, any other casualties?" inquired Gregory further, "What of your supplies?"

    "Apart from our CO, two Fusiliers and one Engineer were killed, " responded the same soldier, "For our ammunition, we still have a few hundred bullets and two extra pyrocite crates. Our medical supplies, however, had been cut in half due to the unexpected amount of Fire Ants pouring out."

    "All right, " said Gregory, "I''m taking charge of your squad. Follow my orders to the letter, got it?"

    The soldiers looked at one another.

    "Sir, yes, sir!" they all affirmed, "A pleasure to work with you, sir!"

    Gregory nodded at them. He looked at a nearby window to assess the situation outside and another to see the field.

    "Not much of a problem outside the arena, " he commented, "The problem is that these bugs are concentrated inside the arena instead."

    Gregory looked back at the squad.

    "By the way, " he said, "Have any of you seen a group of children running around?"

    The soldiers looked at one another.

    "Er, children, sir?" repeated a soldier, "I hadn''t noticed anything like that. How about you guys?"

    "Not really, " said another, "Too many ants around to notice anyone smaller in size."

    "Children, huh?" said an Engineer, "Hey, when we broke through the north gate..."

    "Now that you mentioned it, " chimed in a Steam Knight, "I vaguely recall seeing three kids there."

    Gregory grabbed hold of the Steam Knight. Though, he climbed atop it to be accurate, not minding the heated parts of the metal armor and exhaust vents.

    "Yes! Them!" said Gregory albeit too excitedly, "You said the north, yes? Squad, move out!"

    ///

    "Sir! I''m receiving a message from the squads sent to the catacombs!" reported a radio operator, "Oh, my lord... It''s His Majesty! His Majesty is underground!"

    Emmanuel and Elijah looked at one another, and both rushed to the radio operator''s sides. Elijah flipped a switch on the switchboard, and what only the radio operator could hear was transmitted through the speakers.

    "This is Eleazar Arkansius Perlas!"

    "What the hell is he doing underground!?" shouted Emmanuel in disbelief, "Wasn''t he supposed to be escorted back to the palace!?"

    "That''s what we knew as well, Your Highness." added an officer behind him, "We even received confirmation from the Royal Guard stationed in the palace upon His Majesty''s arrival."

    "Forget how he got there, " interjected Elijah, "The fact that he''s broadcasting a message himself means that whatever he''s broadcasting is important."

    Everybody in the room focused on the radio.

    "This is Eleazar Arkansius Perlas! The subjugation of the Queen has failed! I repeat, the subjugation of the Queen has failed!"

    Everyone''s eyes widened in disbelief.

    "He personally oversaw the subjugation?" wondered Elijah, "I get that the catacombs has some important history in it, but not to this degree that the King, himself, has to get involved."

    "Wait, there''s more." said Emmanuel as he increased the volume.

    "All troops above ground are to prepare a welcoming committee for the Queen!"

    Silence enveloped the command room.

    "Are you f*cking kidding me!?"

    "Is he insane!?"

    Shouted both Emmanuel and Elijah respectively.

    "The Queen is surfacing! All troops above ground are to prepare a welcoming committee!"

    "Argh!"

    "Dammit all!"

    Again, the brothers shouted respectively.

    "Uh, Your Highnesses, " said the radio operator, "Do we, uh, relay to all squads?"

    Emmanuel and Elijah went to their respective radios and shouted their orders.

    "All troops, prepare for the fight of your life!" shouted Emmanuel, "Her Majesty will be making an appearance, and I need all of you to double your efforts! The urgency of the situation calls for all to do anything and everything we can to ensure the peace of our home! That means, I will also take part in this fight! A pleasure to be working with you all!"

    Emmanuel gave a speech, but Elijah shouted a long string of numbers. Never mind the stares he received, but the severity of his expression made everyone else who did not understand disregard it.

    The string of numbers Elijah had said,

    80 117 116 97 110 103 32 73 78 65 32 110 105 121 111 44 32 109 97 103 115 105 98 117 104 97 121 97 110 32 107 97 121 111 46

    Although those under Emmanuel didn''t understand why numbers were used, those who subordinated themselves to Elijah changed their expressions. With the same thoughts, they looked at one another and separated from their squads unnoticed. Those who separated met up and formed new squads to operate under the same orders.

    Emmanuel and Elijah looked at one another before leaving for their respective squads.

    ///

    "Knock that pillar down on top of them!" shouted Malachi, "Engineers, flank the left side and bomb them to oblivion!"

    Slowly but surely, ever since Malachi had taken de facto command of a platoon, they had moved through the arena and utterly crushed any Fire Ant in their way. This was also the time they received the area wide broadcast of both Emmanuel and Elijah. However, rather than reacting to follow the broadcasted order, everyone under Malachi ignored it and continued to search and destroy.

    "Hey, hey, " said Lakeng, "Hadn''t they heard the broadcast? I heard it loud and clear from here!"

    "How the heck can they hear it?" argued Axel, "Look at their faces! They look like they know nothing but to follow Malachi''s orders! Malachi, too, look at him! He''s gone mad!"

    "We need to do something to snap him out of it, " suggested Lakeng, "Hey, Arlianne, know anything we could do?"

    "I... I can''t say, " replied Arlianne, "This is the first time I''ve seen him like this. I wouldn''t know what to do."

    "Hold on, " interjected Axel, "At the pace we''re going, and where we are headed, isn''t this...? This is bad. We have to wake him up, now!"

    "What do you expect me to do!?" cried Arlianne, "I''m as much at a loss as you are!"

    Lakeng thought for a while.

    "Hmm, since the two of you are rarely separated, " he said, "Try screaming his name. You know, a scream like you''re in trouble."

    "Eh?" uttered Arlianne, "How do I go about that?"

    "Imagine a Fire Ant is right behind you, and Axel and I are unable to assist in time." he suggested with matching motions of acting out a Fire Ant behind her. "Scream his name for help, a voice with urgency. Enough that will make his head turn towards your direction."

    "Lakeng, " said Axel, "Your imagination is creepy."

    "What?" he replied, "You got anything better?"

    Arlianne watched Malachi for a while. Then she thought back on the earlier broadcast.

    "I''ll try it, " she said, "No, I''ll do it."

    She faced Malachi and took in a deep breath.

    "Malachi!" she screamed with a voice as suggested by Lakeng, shutting her eyes and letting out her voice with great vigor.

    As she did so, Axel who was right next to her covered his ears.

    Fortunately, Malachi, who was in the middle of moving the platoon, heard her scream and turned his head. His reaction momentarily halted the platoon right after, an absence of direct orders stalled their efforts.

    "Arlianne?" uttered Malachi.

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.Seeing his confusion, Lakeng took this opportunity,

    "Hey, brat!" he shouted, "I hope that knocked some sense back into your head! Didn''t you hear the broadcast!? The Queen Ant is su¡ª"

    Unfortunately, before Lakeng could finish his sermon, the earth shook again. This time, however, with greater intensity as the walls visibly crumbled from the force. Though, something was strange. A single part of the arena had crumbled. Only the area where Malachi and the rest were affected.

    With the walls destroyed, the field came into full view, and a battalion of soldiers could be seen fighting against a horde of Fire Ants. The situation in the field was worse as bodies of soldiers were clearly strewn about, whole bodies and decapitated limbs. Those behind the walls, however, had no chance to react.

    The ground beneath them sunk in, and a deep depression grew bigger and deeper. That was, until a while later, when the depression was more than 10 meters wide and deep, and finally opened into a huge gaping hole.

    "Damn, fall back! Fall back!" A soldier in Malachi''s platoon shouted as he saw what was within that hole. "Fall back! The abyss has opened up! Fall back!"

    Those closest to the hole''s edge panicked and retreated, leaving behind a few confused soldiers at the rear lines and Malachi. Their confusion merely lasted for a moment once whatever was within the hole emerged from the darkness.

    "Kashhk, kashhk."

    The Queen Ant''s mandibles tore through stone and dirt, raising its body through the ground, and greeting all who stood around watching it. Without warning, a wall of flames spewed out of its abdomen and burned everything in its way.

    The Steam Knights who were able to react by raising their shields could do naught but melt away. The flames from the Queen Ant were stronger than ordinary Fire Ants; anything that was metallic melted a few moments after contact.

    Malachi stared at the massive ant before him.

    "... Crap." he cursed under his breath.

    "Malachi! Get out of there, now!" shouted Lakeng as he ran to grab him.

    The Queen Ant turned its body, and its abdomen swept the flames across a wide arc. Man and insect were burned in its unprejudiced fury. Lakeng ducked behind a collapsed part of a wall, just in time, to dodge the incoming flames. Fortunately, Axel and Arlianne were at an unreachable part of the inner passageways, and were kept from harm. Only, they watched with fear from the onslaught of flames that were unimpeded save for a few stone walls.

    "Malachi!"

    "Lakeng!"

    Cried Arlianne and Axel respectively.

    Lakeng eventually reached Malachi and wrapped his arm around Malachi''s waist. Soon after that, Lakeng carried Malachi off to a safe location. Only, until he found a Fire Ant gunning for them the moment he turned his body to run.

    "Damn!" cursed Lakeng, "Sorry ''bout this, Malachi! Uraagh!"

    Lakeng twisted his body, brought Malachi back, and threw the boy towards Axel and Arlianne. Lakeng, as expected of being a soldier, effortlessly propelled Malachi over a long distance. Malachi landed on the ground with a groan, and painfully stood up to see Lakeng''s leg torn off from his body by the Fire Ant''s mandibles.

    "Argh!" cried Lakeng.

    "Lakeng! No!" cried Axel.

    Axel grabbed hold of his crossbow and was about to run to help. Malachi, instead, pulled him back and a stream of flames greeted their faces.

    "Goddamn, that snapped me out, " said Malachi, "Don''t kill yourself, Axel."

    "Shut up!" roared Axel back at him, "If you hadn''t gone senseless, this wouldn''t have happened! Let me go!"

    Malachi slapped Axel on the cheek, and Axel stared in shock.

    "I admit, " said Malachi, "I lost myself in there, but that does not mean I should send you off to your death! Lakeng is still alive, I was able to see him blind the ant, and the ant raised its body in a fit of rage. The flames hit the Fire Ant, and if you''ve seen what happened outside, you''d know nothing could effectively live after getting hit."

    Malachi thought for a bit after saying all that, ''Still, to think it would carry over to this life. Time to train on it, after all this.''

    Surely enough, after the flames dispersed, they found Lakeng slouched on a collapsed wall and breathing haggardly in a state of shock. Only then did they rush over to his side.

    "Lakeng!" cried Axel.

    Malachi crouched next to Lakeng,

    "Damn, left knee down, " he commented, "Lakeng! Wake up!"

    He tried to get Lakeng awake by slapping his cheeks a bit. Seeing no reaction,  Malachi frowned and looked at Lakeng''s torn leg.

    "We have to stop the bleeding, " he advised, "Quick, look for a stick or a hard rod. I''m going to make a tourniquet."

    "A what?" asked Arlianne.

    "Just look for a damned stick!" yelled Malachi as he ripped off Lakeng''s sleeve, "Since he''s in a state of shock, or ''acute stress reaction,'' we don''t have to mind him being in pain too much. I appreciate throwing me out of harm''s way, Lakeng, let me repay that by cutting the blood flow to your leg."

    Axel and Arlianne dug through the debris to look for a stick or a rod. Eventually, they found a metal shaft, a part of a blast hammer''s handle, and gave it to Malachi. Malachi was in the middle of tying the torn cloth around Lakeng''s thigh when he received the shaft. The cloth was a bit loose, but he inserted the shaft between the cloth and Lakeng''s thigh, and wound it up tight. As tight enough until the blood stopped flowing out of his leg.

    "Phew, now, to get him out of here." He said while moving Lakeng''s back, "Come on, you two, help me carry him out of he¡ªdown!"

    Malachi pulled the other two closer to him and Lakeng. Soon after, a stream of flames gushed out overhead. He hugged the two tightly until the flames dispersed. After the flames were gone, he let go of the two of them, and ignored their flushed faces.

    "Come on!" he shouted, "Let''s get him out!"

    Malachi lifted Lakeng''s torso, while Axel and Arlianne helped each other by carrying Lakeng''s waist and legs. Three children relocated a wounded adult out of the line of fire.

    "Just a bit more!" he shouted, "Just a bit fur¡ªdammit, Axel!"

    They had arrived at a corridor, but what greeted them was another Fire Ant. The Fire Ant swung its head and hit Axel''s side, flinging him far away into the Queen Ant''s line of fire. Malachi was late to respond, but still shot an explosive bolt into the Fire Ant''s eye, killing it in the resulting explosion.

    "Axel!" he cried.

    Time was of the essence as he found Axel lying limp next to a collapsed wall, but his position was still exposed to the Queen Ant''s flames. The Queen Ant let loose yet another arc of flames, still wreaking havoc in the field.

    "Arlianne, stay here with Lakeng." he said.

    "Wait! What do you plan to do!?" she asked.

    Malachi just smiled back at her.

    "Something stupid." He answered then ran towards Axel.

    "Malachi!?" she shrieked, "We just got you out of danger! You''re rushing back in there!?"

    "We made a promise, Arlianne, remember!?" shouted Malachi back, dodging obstacles that were in his way to Axel, "We made a promise that he''d be our friend, now and forever!"

    "At the risk of your life!?"

    "Friendship is worth risking our lives for, Arlianne! A luxury I rarely had!"

    Malachi vaulted over a collapsed pillar and landed next to Axel. Unfortunately, the Queen Ant''s flames were just a hair''s breadth away, approaching fast from the corner of his eye.

    "Yep, definitely stupid!" he cheered despite his predicament, "This will hurt, a lot. Graagh!"

    He flung Axel and himself over a low, collapsed part of a wall. Just high enough to protect Axel, who was underneath Malachi, but was still too low to completely cover Malachi''s back. The flames finally swept above them, and the wall successfully protected Axel but not much of Malachi''s body.

    "Graahh!" he roared in pain, "Pain! That''s a f*ckton of painnnnnnnnnnn!"

    "Malachi!" cried Arlianne as she watched his clothes and back burn from the flames, "Malachi!"

    As he burned, Axel woke up from Malachi''s groans of pain.

    "Malachi? Malachi!?" he cried from the shock of seeing Malachi protecting him, "Malachi! Get off me, quick! Mala¡ª"

    Just then, the straps of Malachi''s goggles burned away and snapped. His goggles fell off, and Axel had full view of Malachi''s red irises. Axel''s jaw went limp, and he stared at Malachi dumbfounded.

    "... R-red..." said Axel.

    Finally, the flames dispersed, and the pain lessened momentarily for Malachi to speak.

    "Guess... the cat''s... out of the bag... eh?" he said, "Urgh, sorry... about this... Axel... don''t hate me... for my race... Ugh..."

    Right then and there, Malachi fainted on top of Axel, and Axel was at a loss at what to do.

    "Malachi? E-Eskur...?" he repeatedly said grasping Malachi''s remaining clothes, "Wait, Malachi! Wake up!"

    "Oh, no... Malachi!" Just then, a man''s voice roared over the distance, "Knock that b*tch down!"

    Another battalion of soldiers, mostly Steam Knights, marched forward with shields raised. A few moments later, more wall sections collapsed, and Siege Engines rolled in with Engineer escorts. Soldiers with Fusils and Repeaters flooded the audience stands and seats, and completely surrounded the Queen Ant. Almost at the same time, soldiers carrying small cannons filled the terraces and the arena''s rooftops. These soldiers assembled the cannons and aimed them at the Queen Ant.

    Gregory appeared with the reinforcing Steam Knights, the other Royal Phoenix stood next to the cannoneers on the terraces, Emmanuel joined the incoming Siege Engines, and Elijah commanded the soldiers on the audience stands. They all had one command, with fire in their eyes,

    "Kill that damned b*tch!"

    ///

    The aftermath of it all resulted in over 300 soldiers dead, and over a thousand injured. More than 2000 pieces of materiel expended, over 40 Steam Knights destroyed, and two Siege Engines knocked out of commission. Civilian casualties were, thankfully, only over 100 injured and no deaths. The arena personnel, Chief Axton especially, lived albeit still knocked out. Lakeng was sent away with the orderlies and medics, and Malachi was sent to a civilian hospital.

    Not much was known about what happened to Axel after he was separated from Malachi and Arlianne, but the other Royal Phoenix was found to have personally overseen the escorts. Arlianne was brought back by Gregory, and followed after the medics that sent Malachi to the hospital.

    ...

    In a closely guarded hospital room.

    Emmanuel stood next to Bashia as they watched Ibrahim, with the other doctors trusted by Emmanuel, administer medicine to the unconscious Malachi. Arlianne sat next to Gregory, waiting anxiously for the results.

    " ''Friendship is worth risking our lives for'' huh?" said Arlianne softly to herself, "If that''s the case, if I will ever uphold that vow..."

    "Arlianne?" said Gregory, "What''s wrong?"

    She looked at him with strange resolve in her eyes.

    "I... I will protect Malachi, " she declared, "I will protect him, with all my might, like how you protect His Highness... like how you protect... father."

    Gregory silently stared at the girl before him and his expression was unreadable.

    "Then, what do you plan to do?" he asked.

    "What do you suggest I do?" she asked back, "Truthfully, I know that more harm will come his way and he will wholeheartedly meet it. Apart from knowing that, I don''t know what else I should do. I doubt the training we''ve been doing until now would ever be enough, and, after that incident, I doubt Axel would be allowed to meet with us ever again."

    Gregory leaned back and let out a sigh.

    "All right, do you have the heart to undertake whatever you need to do?" he inquired with eyes closed.

    Arlianne just silently stared at him, her expression unchanged from before. Gregory smiled and didn''t bother looking at her.

    "Silence means consent, " he finally said, "Prepare for a harsher training than Malachi''s."

 Bootcamp 14

    Oh, yay. My first useful review. Not that I''m saying the others are useless, just that this one let''s me know what you like and don''t like about it.

    Yeah, that was an oversight of mine, but looking at my fellow cadets (and cadet officers... Why?)back then makes me think otherwise.

    Anyway, thanks for that.

    ///

    [Ties] Bootcamp 14

    A lone man stood before a vast city atop a tall building. The city was a concrete and glass jungle illuminated by lights within glass orbs. Flickering, flashing in sporadic intervals before going out and letting the darkness blanket all to their sleep.

    Behind the man was a door that opened after the darkness had fallen. Through it walked through two other individuals, another man and a young woman.

    "Brother, sister, " said the first man, "do you need something?"

    The young woman approached the first man and stopped by his side. She had waist length black hair evenly parted in two before her brown eyes. With just the moonlight for illumination, one could notice her fairly tanned skin blending in with her cream-colored dress.

    "Nothing, really, " answered the young woman, "Just that Father seems to be looking for you."

    The first man looked into the eyes of his sister, his image reflected fro her eyes. Similar to her, he had short black hair and brown irises, albeit his skin had a lighter shade than hers. Being a head taller, he placed his right hand and caressed her head.

    "Is that right?" He replied, "If need be, he could easily find me without much effort."

    This time, the other man approached and stopped by behind the two. A tall man, taller by two heads than the first, with similar features but a darker skin tone. He leaned forward and brought the other two to his embrace.

    "Considering that it is dinner time, " said the tall man with a smirk, "I''m not surprised. You don''t like tonight''s dinner, no? Though, you never get tired of this view, do you?"

    The two within the tall man''s arms looked upon the dark cityscape. For a long time, darkness ruled, but was then swept away once daylight had come. At first sight of light, the city had gone abuzz with life as people filled the streets. The three upon the tall building gazed before the rising sun over the horizon together.

    ///

    A large group of black clothed people filled a battlefield. With their unnatural white skin and hair, and red irises, they tore their enemies asunder with technological marvels yet to be produced by man. Their enemies, people of various flags and races, soldiers of modern armies and armor that could be comparable to another of a different nation lay powerless before the group of black clothed people.

    Three people were within an unknown facility in an equally unknown location. Around them were arrays of machines being operated by the same black clothed people. Monitors on the machines displayed events that were happening outside and the movements of certain individuals denoted by a myriad of symbols upon the world map.

    "Malachi, Father intends for my Family to take the missiles and rockets from the target bases in America, " said a tall black clothed man, "You, on the other hand, were tasked with securing all operational Soviet-era bases around Eurasia. As for Carmel, you''ll be on standby while overseeing the construction of the GODS."

    "Ismael, I know it no longer needs to be said, but, " said Carmel, "Do take care of yourself and our siblings. Father would be devastated if you were to perish due to your carelessness. That especially goes for you, too, Malachi. Knowing how reckless you can get when you''re too excited."

    Malachi raised his hands in mock fear and surrender.

    "Easy, sister, " he said, "I understand the importance of this. Besides, I''m more fearful of Father than the possibility of getting killed. We are, after all, his Children."

    ///

    Malachi stood before the figures of Carmel and Ismael chatting happily with one another. He watched them from a distance and was approached by another pair of individuals, a well-dressed man and a black-dressed woman wearing a veil. Malachi heard their footsteps approaching him and turned around.

    "Ah, Father, " greeted Malachi, "How are yo¡ªoof!?"

    Malachi''s Father gave him a roundhouse kick to his left temple, knocking him down to the ground. He struggled to get up and massaged his head before snapping his attention to another approaching kick.

    "Father!? What are you doing!?" cried Malachi as he dodged another kick, "Hey!?"

    Malachi''s Father, dressed in a white suit, had fairly tanned skin, short black hair, and brown irises. Heavily contrasting to Malachi''s, and his siblings, appearances. Despite wearing a suit that was difficult to move around in, each kick he delivered never tore his clothes. While Malachi was busy dodging his Father''s kicks, the veiled woman from before appeared behind Malachi with a headlock.

    "Ah!?" cried Malachi, "What is¡ªoof! Ah! Guh!"

    Malachi''s Father repeatedly beat him up with a flurry of kicks. Only when Malachi had gone bloody did his attacks stop, and his Father grabbed the hair on his scalp to lift his head. With Malachi''s face before his Father''s,

    "Wake up, you damned brat." said his Father, "Your dreams are over."

    "Whuh?" muttered Malachi in confusion, "Whuh vo foo nn? (What do you mean?)"

    Malachi''s Father whipped his beaten head down.

    "Foolish brat." he said, "Kali, if you would."

    The woman giving Malachi a headlock placed her lips next to Malachi''s right ear and uttered a whisper. As soon as whatever was said entered his ear, his vision blurred and he lost consciousness. Kali released her hold and Malachi''s body slumped on the ground.

    "A dangerous deed, Lex, " said Kali, "but one that was needed to be done."

    Their surroundings suddenly became a vast empty, but white, space. The figures of Carmel and Ismael disappearing along with it left Malachi with his Father and Kali. As soon as they were alone, Malachi''s Father crouched next to the unconscious body and caressed his head with an ironically endearing smile.

    "You are my legacy, " he whispered, "It is time to wake up."

    Malachi''s Father left and, with him, was a large black cat following closely from behind.

    ///

    Arlianne was busy tending to Malachi''s unconscious self. She brought with her a basin of water and a cloth for her to clean his body with. From the clock that was present in the room, the time shown was on the eighth hour in the morning. Arlianne placed the basin of water on a nearby table, and proceeded to loosen Malachi''s clothes. However, she paused as she heard something leave Malachi''s lips after getting his shirt off.

    "Whuh... Fa... ther..." said Malachi in his sleep, "Why..."

    "Malachi? Are you... Are you awake?" she asked him, "Hey, Malachi?"

    Arlianne intensely watched his face for any sign of consciousness. She held his hand close to her body as she waited for a response. Finally, after a long while, Malachi''s hand twitched in hers, and her eyes widened in surprise.

    "Malachi? Malachi!?" she cried repeatedly, "Please, please wake up."

    Slowly but surely, Malachi''s eyes opened, revealing his crimson irises to her. However, a surprise came to Arlianne afterwards.

    "Hmm? Carmel?" said Malachi. His first words upon his awakening were not her name, but of someone else. A stranger''s name first left his lips.

    Arlianne''s gaze shook upon hearing this, and dropped the hand she held on the bed. Once Malachi''s hand abruptly dropped, he became fully awake.

    "Ah... Ar... Arlianne?" he said, "Where... am I?"

    Malachi raised himself from the bed, his blanket sliding off to reveal his well-toned body. He held his head with a hand, and steadied himself with the other. He looked to his right at Arlianne that had a strange expression.

    "This place is... not my room, " he said as he surveyed his surroundings, "I''m half naked with bandages and... uh, wait... How did I get here, Arlianne? Also, did you somehow change from before? Wait, what about the ants?"

    Wondering about his present situation, he tried to get answers from Arlianne. Arlianne, however, sharpened her gaze, and stared directly into his eyes.

    "Before that, Malachi, who''s Carmel?" she asked, "Why did you call out to her when you saw me?"

    Malachi was surprised.

    "Huh? Did I say that?" he replied in confusion then he thought back, ''Wait, was that all a dream before?''

    Arlianne frowned.

    "Yes, you did." she said monotonously, "You said, ''Carmel,'' when you looked at me once you opened your eyes."

    "Ah..." muttered Malachi, "Carmel, huh..."

    Contrary to her expectations, Malachi had a saddened face. Even more so when he explained who she was.

    "Carmel was my sister from my life before, " he said, "As I slept, I had a dream of the past, and I guess I still thought of those dreams when I woke up."

    Arlianne made a complicated expression, and her face softened.

    "I see..." she said, "I''m sorry for asking."

    Her previously stern expression changed into an expression of worry. Naturally, Malachi noticed this and asked with a wry smile,

    "Could it be, " he said, "are you jealous?"

    Arlianne became angry.

    "What!? No, I''m not!" she cried.

    Malachi smiled.

    "Yeah, right, you''re jealous, " he said persistently, "You''re jealous because I remembered someone else''s name rather than yours when I saw you."

    "Hmph!" she said as she turned her head away with a pout.

    "Haha, you''re so cute, Arlianne." He said as he pulled her close to an embrace, "Heh, don''t struggle so much."

    Malachi poked Arlianne''s cheek in jest, and the girl struggled to escape his grasp. For a man who had been unconscious, he had surprising arm strength to be able to hold her down. Realizing that her efforts were in vain, she just left her body to his whims.

    Malachi hugged Arlianne close to him, and nestled his face on the back of her head. Arlianne''s hair moved as Malachi breathed in and out. As soon as it became quiet, Malachi whispered into her ear.

    "I''m sorry, " he said, "I''m sorry, for worrying you."

    Arlianne glanced at Malachi''s head that was rested next to hers, and brought her hand to rub his head in response. Quietly, they remained like that for a while. The next moment, though, the door to the room opened, and a woman walked in with a basket of clothes.

    "Arlianne, I have Mally''s clothes here with... Eh?" The woman stared at the half-naked man and young woman on the bed.

    "Hmm, Mama?" said Malachi, "Uh, this isn''t what it looks like."

    The woman, Malachi''s mother, Bashia, covered her mouth in disbelief. Tears suddenly formed and fell down her eyes as she looked upon Malachi.

    "Mally!" she cried, running over to him and tackling him on the bed. Malachi''s breath was knocked out of him, but Arlianne safely evaded from getting hit.

    "Ma... Mama..." he groaned, "You... You''re crushing... me."

    Bashia ignored his please for repose, and kept her tightened embrace on him.

    "Mally! Mally!" she cried repeatedly, "Mally! You''re awake! You''re awake!"

    Bashia poured out her tears as she embraced her son, and her bawling was noticed by the guards and doctors outside the room. The first to come in after was a male Eskur doctor, Ibrahim.

    "What in the world is happening here!?" he cried in alarm, "Bashia!? What... Malachi? You''re awake?"

    "Doc... Help..." said Malachi, reaching his hand out to Ibrahim, "Lack... of air... Failing..."

    Ibrahim panicked and tried to pull Bashia away from Malachi.

    "Bashia! Bashia!" he called out to her, "Calm yourself! I understand your frustrations, but your son had just recently woke up!"

    "Ah!" cried Bashia as she was pulled away by Ibrahim, assisted by a guard.

    With liberty to breath, Malachi tried to stabilize his breathing before turning his attention to his visitors.

    "Phew... I suppose whatever happened to me warranted that?" he asked, "I also see that you all seemed to have changed a lot since I last saw you. How long was I knocked out?"

    His visitors looked at one another with complicated expressions, even Bashia didn''t know what to say as she was held back by an accompanying guard. Interestingly, even the guards wore complicated expressions upon hearing his inquiry.

    Ibrahim let out a sigh before giving an answer.

    "Malachi, before now, we never thought you''d wake up." he said, "When you had gone unconscious, you had an intense fever that lasted for a month. Strangely, though, you weren''t in pain, nor were you showing signs of discomfort. Despite your body being on fire, everything about you was normal."

    Malachi listened intently. When he heard that he had a month-long fever, he was surprised, but he didn''t interrupt Ibrahim.

    "After that month, " continued Ibrahim, "your fever subsided, but you still hadn''t regained consciousness. You still breathed, despite being unable to take in much nourishment, and maintained a healthy body. Although your body did shrink a bit due to malnutrition, not once were you showing signs of any illness. Long story, short... You were asleep for a year. Being able to live that long without anything to eat is baffling, Malachi."

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Malachi knit his brows as he observed the changes that occurred on his body. Despite having a well-toned figure, he evidently had gone thinner than before. Not enough to be skin and bones, but just enough to see his lack of meat.

    As he turned his body around for inspection, Ibrahim and the rest showed shocked expressions once he turned his back to them.

    "Malachi! Wait!" shouted Ibrahim, "Take off your clothes and bandages, all of them!"

    Malachi tilted his head in confusion, but did so, anyway, seeing the severity of Ibrahim''s gaze and the expressions of the others. Malachi got off his bed, tried to keep his balance, and removed all of his clothes. He then turned around, and showed his back to them.

    "What''s up, doc?" asked Malachi.

    Ibrahim placed his fingers on Malachi''s back, and touched it from all over. Ibrahim became even more confused the longer he stuck his hand on Malachi''s back.

    "Doc, it really feels awkward having you touch me like that, " commented Malachi, "I understand that you''re a doctor, but..."

    "Malachi, do you recall being burned?" asked Ibrahim, "Your entire back had a large burn even as you slept."

    "A burn?" wondered Malachi, "What do you mean, doc? Well, yes, I remember becoming crispy."

    Ibrahim stepped back, and let Malachi get dressed. He pulled out a knife from his carrying case.

    "Malachi, us Eskurs have a strange recovery ability unknown to other races." said Ibrahim, "I want you to observe what I''m about to do."

    "Doc, what are you... Doc!?" cried Malachi in surprise.

    Arlianne and the guards also gasped in alarm, but Bashia remained unaffected.

    Ibrahim, with knife in one hand, cut the palm of his other hand. Blood naturally poured out, and he placed his knife on the table before using his free hand to cover the wound. For a while, his blood poured out onto the floor, until it trickled to a stop. When there was no more blood, he revealed his scarred palm to Malachi.

    "Our wounds close faster than normal, and this scar will only remain for a few days." explained Ibrahim, "Scars of this severity would only take a day or two before it disappears. Any worse, and we would take months for it to completely mend. Your wound, however, was a very severe burn that our own Eskur Engineers have a hard time to heal from."

    Malachi pondered on his words, and made a face of realization. Ibrahim nodded.

    "A burn that resulted from a Queen Ant, of all things, would take an entire lifetime to heal." added Ibrahim, "You, however, took only a year and no wound nor scar could be visibly seen."

    Malachi reached back and felt is flesh. He suddenly sat back on the bed in wonder. The flesh on his back was smooth and healthy, with no scar to remind him of his past.

    "Do you have any idea what could have caused this, Malachi?" inquired Ibrahim.

    Malachi stared at the doctor that stood before him. He momentarily glanced at the guards with them, and Ibrahim noticed his intentions. Ibrahim signaled to the guards to leave them alone for a while. Once the guards left and closed the door, Malachi answered.

    "I... I cannot say for certain, but..." he said, "I feel that my past abilities carried over to this life. I cannot explain how or why, but it seems the only possibility that exists."

    " ''Abilities,'' Malachi?" repeated Ibrahim.

    "In my past life, I was an ordinary human being." explained Malachi, "That was until my Father from before touched upon a strange power and changed me and my siblings."

    Ibrahim and the rest silently listened.

    ''Changed him?'' thought Ibrahim, ''Human experimentation? His father did so?''

    "My appearance from before was, to be honest, similar to how Perlasians looked like." He said as he pointed at Arlianne. "Black hair, tanned skin, brown irises. Whatever my Father had done to us, our appearances changed to those similar of this world''s Eskurs: white hair, whiter than fair skin, and red irises. With those changes, we became superhumans that were more powerful than ordinary humans."

    "Why the need to alter yourselves?" asked Ibrahim, "Did your father also change with you?"

    Malachi smirked.

    "Heh, out of all the people, though, " he replied, "Father changed the most. Not by his appearance, but his entire being. He declared war on the world."

    Although Malachi was smiling, like it was a joke, the rest didn''t know how to react. For one to declare war on the world, no matter how stupid it was, that shouldn''t be treated as a joke. A global war on a massive scale.

    "Ah, I''ve gone off-topic, " commented Malachi, "Anyway, with those changes done to me, I''ve become comparable to the Eskurs of this world."

    Ibrahim stared at Malachi for a while. He hung his head, let out a deep sigh, and massaged the back of his head.

    "Bashia, Arlianne. Please call for Emmanuel, " he said, "Malachi''s awake now, and he would love the good news. For now, let us all keep this conversation just among us. Anyone else wouldn''t take him seriously, after all, and he might just be treated as a lunatic or, worse, a monster. As for you, Malachi, we will need to get you up to speed."

    ///

    Rhiamalka, the Royal Palace viewing terrace.

    Rows of Steam Knights, Fusiliers, Engineers, and officers lined up on either side of a terrace overlooking the city. Between them, the two Princes stood behind the reigning king, King Eleazar Arkansius Perlas. Both Emmanuel and Elijah wore ceremonial dresses while Eleazar wore his royal garments. All of them were in audience with the entirety of Rhiamalka''s citizens.

    "I welcome all to bear witness, " announced Eleazar, "The time has come for the next generation to inherit our kingdom''s legacy as its rulers and its protectors."

    Eleazar''s booming voice resounded throughout the city through loudspeakers spread out all around. It was the time for Eleazar to abdicate the throne and officially choose between his two sons who will be the next king. Loud cheers of support, each for Emmanuel and Elijah, erupted from below the terrace. Enlisted personnel had been deployed to keep the peace within the audience.

    Emmanuel and Elijah straightened themselves when they heard the people cheering for their names respectively. Both had large beads of sweat pour down their face, and the hot winds were not helping in relieving them of their anxiety.

    ''For all the years working and training myself for this day, '' thought Emmanuel, ''depending on how it plays out...''

    Emmanuel glanced at his brother beside him.

    ''Ever since the incident with the Queen Ant, Elijah had become even more secretive. I wonder what happened.''

    "Emmanuel, Elijah, come." called out Eleazar.

    The two princes simultaneously walked towards Eleazar and stood on either side, facing the masses before them. Once more the crowd cheered for their respective prince as support. Their hearts beat fiercely in anticipation of Eleazar''s decision.

    "Generations before, " continued Eleazar, "the heir was either the sole child or, in the case of my two sons here, the most successful in a myriad of fields. Governance, military, politics, just a few critical necessities as this Kingdom''s ruler and protector. The next kings must be able to, not just sit on the throne and look appealing, but also be an effective leader and guardian to his people."

    The crowd had gone silent, pondering on his words. A few let out snickers from hearing Eleazar''s words.

    "This time, however, the decision has come with great difficulty. Both of my sons may have contrasted one another, but both had performed wonderfully with their respective strengths. I tell you this, as their father, I am proud of them."

    Eleazar stepped forward, turned around, and gave a wry smile to both of his sons.

    "No matter what they had done to get here."

    Emmanuel and Elijah looked at Eleazar with surprised expressions.

    ''He... couldn''t have known... could he?'' This thought ran through both their minds. Each of them, however thought of different things.

    ''Father is, as expected, a force to be reckoned with.'' thought Emmanuel.

    ''No wonder he is still alive and kicking.'' groaned Elijah.

    Eleazar returned to face the crowded audience.

    "Yet, only one may be chosen to rule, " said Eleazar with a solemn voice then became booming once more, "With great amounts of thoughts and time of contemplation, I hope that whichever of them becomes chosen wouldn''t disappoint, not me, but the people of this kingdom."

    Eleazar raised a hand, and the palace gates down below opened.

    ...

    In the crowd, Malachi and the rest stood as they watched the event of a lifetime.

    "Someone refresh my memory on how the kingdom does its successions, " commented Malachi, "Judging from how gramps worded out his announcement, he seems to be planning something else."

    "Well, your great grandfather and forefathers often chose their heirs on their own, " explained Ibrahim, "There was the occasional diversion from the norm where the sons would compete for the throne. Others just killed the rest or usurped the throne. Although, for this one, His Majesty does seem to be planning something."

    "How many generations has it been since the first king?" asked Malachi, "I lost count at thirty."

    "His Majesty Eleazar should be the 67th king, " answered Ibrahim, "Well, that''s what the official records say. In the span of 300 years, however, a lot has happened since the unification."

    "The war that united the Perlasians as one and gave birth to the first king." uttered Malachi, "A 300-year lineage, I doubt it remained pure even until now."

    "Can''t say much with just what the official records show, " said Ibrahim as he shrugged, "Huh? The gates are opening."

    The gates to the place opened to reveal a large group of people carrying boxes and papers. The people from the palace went out and lined up before the crowd.

    Eleazar begun speaking again.

    "I had a hard time choosing between the two, " he said, "I had gotten to the point of waiting for either of them to just usurp the throne. Who knew I would actually reach old age to abdicate."

    Eleazar laughed at his words, but the two princes went slackjawed instead.

    ''What are you saying, old man?'' thought Emmanuel, ''How were we supposed to usurp someone who could still fight like he was thirty?''

    ''Usurp!?'' thought Elijah, ''How would I usurp you if poisons won''t even work with how tight your guard is!?''

    "I even thought to continue ruling until I die, haha, but I am already growing tired, " continued Eleazar, "That said, I thought of a different way to choose the heir."

    Malachi held his head.

    "Don''t tell me..." he commented

    "What''s wrong, Mally?" wondered Bashia, "Do you know something?"

    The others looked at the boy holding his head. Malachi let out a dry laugh.

    "I understood how much freedom was given to certain generations, but this amount is ridiculous." he added, "Is this still a monarchy?"

    Eleazar''s voice was heard once again.

    "I leave it to you, citizens of the kingdom."

    Silence flooded the city. Even the soldiers that kept the peace turned their heads and stared at their abdicating king.

    "Not only will the people in the capital be choosing the next king, the other cities, towns, and villages will take part in it as well. Let us have a vote to see which one the kingdom''s people want the most. Just write down either of my sons'' names on the paper, and place it in the box."

    Eleazar turned and walked back into the palace, leaving many astonished people behind. Astonished, plus one laughing boy.

    "Mally, it''s not nice to laugh." scolded Bashia, "His Majesty surely must have a reason for doing this."

    "Sorry, Mama, " apologized Malachi, "Even so, I think gramps just got lazy. I mean, knowing Pops and uncle? If possible, I''d have the both of them fuse as one person. With the size of their respective factions, and seeing what kind of people are in it, you''d probably understand what gramps meant to do."

    "His Majesty wants to remain neutral in this matter, " guessed Arlianne, "and ought to just have the two factions compete with one another?"

    "That''s one possibility, " said Malachi, "just tallying the scores is going to be entertaining. The only thing that gramps will be responsible for is a fair election, whatever it may take since, if you look at some of the guards, the way they move suggests his own faction."

    Apart from the soldiers keeping the peace, the guards posted next to the supposed election officials had stern expressions unaffected by Eleazar''s announcement. It was as if they already knew beforehand what he had planned to do.

    "Gramps has his own faction separate from Pops'' and uncle''s factions, " said Malachi, "The way gramps thinks is awe-inspiring. Even if he does abdicate, I think he still has a nice grip on power."

 Bootcamp 15

    Forgot to upload this one...

    ///

    [Ties] Bootcamp 15

    The Kingdom of Perlas, a large nation situated in the middle of the Ashan Great Continent. A powerful entity established in the desert region of Asha. Home to 127 million Perlasians, it has a rich history of prosperity and turmoil. Lasting for well over three centuries, it had more than 60 generations of rulers.

    Eqari Year 332.

    A historic event had occurred during the reign of its 67th ruler, King Eleazar Arkansius Perlas. For the first time in its history, the Kingdom of Perlas elected their next king. Out of 127 million, 72 million people of age voted for their respective princes, Prince Emmanuel Perlas and Prince Elijah Perlas. This sudden change in succession made itself distinct from hereditary inheritance and usurpation of the throne.

    The citizens of the Kingdom of Perlas, Perlasians and Eskurs, spent three days to vote. Usually, this would give enough time for either candidate to cheat. Nevertheless, the voting went by peacefully due to the efforts of the Royal Army and the Royal Guard. After voting, tallying the votes lasted for an entire week. Again, it had gone by peacefully. Manually counting 72 million votes by hand, errors were absolutely not permitted, and was personally overseen by the abdicating king.

    A week after the voting had ended, the results were immediately declared.

    ///

    Two youths stood before one another surrounded by a crowd of soldiers and Eskurs. In the crowd stood an Eskur woman, an Eskur doctor, a Perlasian man, and a Perlasian officer. The crowd formed a circle around the two youths, a young man and a young woman.

    The two youths wore light clothing, and were in stances.

    "Malachi, it had only been half a year since you woke up, " said Ibrahim, "do take care to not push yourself too hard."

    "I''ll be fine, doc, " replied Malachi, "Besides, I''m really curious about how Arlianne did with Uncle Greg''s ''Special Training'' while I slept."

    "Well, we''ve got the medics and orderlies on standby in the off-chance you do collapse, " added Ibrahim pointing over to a tent set up nearby, "ah, maybe Bashia could do a better job at persuasion?"

    Ibrahim looked at the woman beside him. Bashia was just watching the two with a smile.

    "No need for that, Ibrahim, " denied Bashia, "I''m sure I''ve done enough to make him think twice about being reckless."

    When Malachi heard her, chill ran down his spine.

    ''If this is what it''s like to have a mother, " he thought, ''I don''t know whether I should laugh or cry...''

    This time, it was Emmanuel''s turn to speak up.

    "Think about it this way, " he said, "at least we could see whether or not Malachi is fit to enroll in the academy or not with this. I know his ability had relatively dwindled as he slept, but let''s just see the end result."

    "Ahem, Your Majesty, we are burning daylight, " interrupted Malachi, "Can we get it on already? The heat from the high noon sun will easily sap our stamina."

    Emmanuel, the new king of Perlas, stared and shrugged at Malachi.

    "Well, Your Highness, feel free to start anytime, " he replied with a smirk, "Greg, if you would."

    Gregory stepped forward with a flaglet and stood in-between Malachi and Arlianne.

    "All right, here are the rules, " he announced, "No lethal blows and that''s it. You may throw, bind, pin, smack, or do whatever to your opponent. Just no killing strikes or lethal techniques. You will spar for as long as you can until one side becomes tired or resigns from the match. Any questions?"

    Malachi raised his hand.

    " ''Anything'' is allowed?" he asked, " ''Anything'' apart from killing blows?"

    "Yes, that is right." affirmed Gregory, "You may spit at your opponent if that''s what you''re getting at."

    A few people from the crowd let out stifled laughter and displayed slackened jaws in surprise. Others even chatted with another whether the Royal Phoenix before them was serious or not. Malachi just stretched his body and leapt around in his place excitedly.

    "Brilliant." He commented.

    "Mally, don''t go overboard." Warned Bashia with a frown, "Arlianne, feel free to put him in pain, if you must."

    "Yes, Mama." Affirmed Arlianne, "Malachi, I don''t know what you plan to do, but do know that I plan to beat you."

    A malicious grin floated on Malachi''s face in response to both Bashia and Arlianne.

    "Oh, don''t worry, Mama, " he said, "I have a way of ending this fight swiftly and safely. Just thinking about it makes me tingle."

    Bashia stared at Malachi.

    "Never mind. Arlianne, beat him black and blue for me, " she ordered with a cold smile, "Eman, Greg, stay put."

    "Er, okay?" Replied Emmanuel, "Uh, Malachi, good luck."

    Malachi ignored everybody else and focused on Arlianne. Gregory looked at both of them before raising the flaglet.

    "Well, seeing as both of you are feisty, " he said before dropping the flaglet and leaping back, "Begin!"

    The first to move was Malachi. Charging forward, he faced Arlianne squarely for a tackle. Arlianne responded with a charge of her own, and thirsting her right palm forward. Malachi dropped his body mid-charge, leapt forward for a lunging tackle, and nearly grappled Arlianne''s legs.

    "Tch, quite fast, aren''t you?" He commented, "Wonder what you did with Uncle Greg?"

    Arlianne dodged his tackle by leaping to the right. Afterwards, she delivered a kick aimed at Malachi''s waist.

    "How about you?" She inquired, "You move like you hadn''t slept for a year. Ah, darn it."

    Malachi did a backflip, and Arlianne missed her attack. She, then, jabbed her left fist towards Malachi''s head as he landed, but Malachi ducked in time and swept his leg beneath her.

    "Even in my sleep, I practice as I dream." He replied, "It''s a phenomenon called ''lucid dreaming'' where you''re in almost complete control of your dreams. Oops."

    Arlianne somersaulted and brought an axe kick upon Malachi from above as she evaded his leg swipe. Malachi twisted and spun his body to the left to evade since he was low enough to launch himself.

    "Is that another ability from your past?" She wondered, "Your stories from your past life were already unbelievable. Then again, seeing you, doubts would naturally be dispelled. Grgh, take this!"

    Arlianne swept up some dust to blind Malachi. Surprised, Malachi leapt back and ran around the perimeter.

    "Haha! So close!" He laughed, "You know, after all these years, I have yet to do one thing with you."

    Malachi''s gaze sharpened, and a chill ran down Arlianne''s spine.

    ...

    The crowd around them neither cheered nor jeered. Simply watching the two youths spar to their hearts'' content.

    "Hmm, Malachi hasn''t rusted a bit." commented Gregory, "To think he could fight for this long despite his year-long sleep."

    "Hold up, " interrupted Emmanuel, "Since when did Malachi practice combat? Before he slept, all he had done was stamina and endurance training, right?"

    "If you listened closely, he said something practicing in his sleep." Said Ibrahim, "Then again, is it even possible to be in control of the subconscious?"

    "Do you mean... rather, does he mean to say he practiced as he slept?" Wondered Gregory, "If so, it wouldn''t be surprising. Although, for it to reflect on his body in reality... Is it really possible?"

    "You''ve seen his scar... or the lack of it on his back, " argued Ibrahim, "Frankly, I''d rather believe it to be from the mix of being a half. On the topic of dreams, we can only believe him since only he experiences it. We all have dreamt, yes? Some are vivid, most are just vague, others are just plain strange."

    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Those watching just analyzed the fight and conversed amongst themselves.

    "Looks like Malachi''s getting serious." said Emmanuel.

    "Does that mean he wasn''t serious before?" wondered Gregory, "Any ideas?"

    "Anything goes, right?" inquired Emmanuel, "No clue, but judging from Malachi''s personality, it shouldn''t be too bad."

    ...

    Malachi''s gaze sharpened, and he made a wide grin. Arching his body forward, he mimicked the form of a wild beast. Arlianne''s brows furrowed as she watched Malachi change his stance.

    ''He must be getting serious, no?'' She thought, ''What are you planning to do, and what is that one thing you have yet to do with me?''

    Arlianne shook her head to get rid of unnecessary thoughts, but that momentary action gave Malachi the chance to strike. Malachi dropped his body and pounced towards Arlianne like a beast, his arms stretched forward to grapple her again. Arlianne prepared herself to dodge, but Malachi shifted his trajectory with unmatched agility like a wild cat. His arms had become akin to a beast''s forelegs, while his legs propelled his body forward.

    This sudden change in style caught Arlianne off guard as she failed to react on time to dodge Malachi''s attack. She tried sending a kick towards Malachi, but Malachi openly received the attack and latched himself onto Arlianne. Panicking, she tried to kick him away with futile effort.

    Malachi, as he was on Arlianne, unbelievingly snaked his way around her body. Using centrifugal force to move around, he effectively pinned Arlianne to the ground.

    Seeing this, Gregory was about to call off the match as Malachi was evidently the victor, but Emmanuel held him back.

    "Not yet, Greg, " he said, "The match isn''t over yet, look at her eyes. Those aren''t the eyes of someone who had resigned herself. Besides, anything goes, right?"

    Malachi pinned Arlianne down, almost effortlessly, and the two were literally face to face with one another.

    "Remember what I said?" He spoke as he bound Arlianne''s body, "There was one thing I have yet to do with you all these years."

    "Guh, you just said it a moment ago, " she replied, "How could I forget? You mean this?"

    Malachi grinned.

    "Not quite, " he said, "But what I''m about to do next."

    He did the deed, and her eyes went wide with shock. She couldn''t speak a word but only stare at the young man before her. The surrounding gazes also froze. Bashia, Ibrahim, Emmanuel, and Gregory could only stare dumbfounded at what Malachi had done.

    Arlianne ceased her struggling, and her limbs went limp. Her eyes swam, and her breathing momentarily stilled.

    Malachi retreated with a gasp of fresh air. He released his grasp on Arlianne, and her body fell on the ground. Standing up, he spoke.

    "Well, guess I win this one, " he said, "Anything goes, after all."

    ...

    Bashia gleefully hummed as she hugged Arlianne. Arlianne was still in shock, trying to figure out what had happened. Emmanuel could only snicker, while Gregory let out a sigh. Ibrahim just shrugged and let time go by.

    "Hey, it wasn''t that bad, was it?" wondered Malachi, "We could go for another round until you find one that you like?"

    Arlianne hid her face behind Bashia''s sleeve.

    "Mally, stop bullying her." Scolded Bashia, "Still, to think you''d actually do that. I wasn''t expecting it, but I''m quite happy."

    "Mama..." Groaned Arlianne, "Ooh..."

    "Haha, silly child, to think you were this shy." Said Bashia as she caressed Arlianne''s head, "I always knew that Malachi had always gone reckless, but not to being so upfront like this. Heehee."

    "But, you know, that was pretty embarrassing to do in public." Commented Emmanuel, "Ah, but I may have to do it with Bashia in the future."

    Everybody looked at Emmanuel.

    "What? I plan to let everyone know about us, " he explained, "Sooner or later, it will be known one way or another."

    "Er, Pops, " interrupted Malachi, "Do you think you could hold that announcement off for a while?"

    Emmanuel raised a brow.

    "What do you mean?" He asked.

    "I plan to enroll as a Skaria, not as royalty." Explained Malachi, "I want to establish my recreations as an Eskur, first, before the big revelation as the prince. I''ll have less problems that way, too."

    "Wait, wait, wait." Interrupted Gregory, "What do you mean by ''less problems''? Shouldn''t being a prince give you a lot of privileges that an ordinary student wouldn''t receive?"

    Malachi frowned.

    "But that''s too boring, " he argued, "I want to experience life as a commoner in the academy. How about this, the academy hosts an inter-class competition, right? How about if I win that, only then you will officially announce us to the kingdom. That way, people will know that I will be a force to reckon with."

    "Are you sure that''s your plan?" Wondered Bashia, "Mally, knowing you, you''d just rather see everyone''s shocked expressions by the time of revelation, right?"

    "You know me too well, Mama." Affirmed Malachi.

    "Hmph, you make it sound like you weren''t born from me, " she said, "At least we have Arlianne to keep an eye on you, right, sweetie?"

    Arlianne tightened her grip on Bashia''s sleeve as she nodded her head behind it. Seeing this, Malachi just laughed happily.

    ///

    In an unknown location, Elijah was with three other individuals. The first individual had a phoenix insignia emblazoned on his sleeve. The second individual wore a wholly black uniform with a serial number printed on his chest. The last individual wore a uniform with a falcon insignia emblazoned on his sleeve and had a metal leg.

    "What are your plans now, milord?" Asked the Royal Phoenix, "Will we be moving to our castle?"

    Elijah just sat in his seat, hands clasped together beneath his chin. He stared straight at the door across him, not minding the query of his subordinate.

    "Milord?" the Royal Phoenix called him out.

    Elijah let out a sigh, and turned his attention at the black-garbed man.

    "Any news from the other side?" He asked.

    The black-garbed man pulled out a folder and handed it to Elijah. Opening it, his eyes narrowed to slits from what was written on a stack of reports.

    "So the child was his son, " he murmured, "Hrmm, keep an eye on the boy, but don''t do anything to him just yet."

    "Sir, if what the reports had said were true..." Interrupted the Royal Phoenix.

    Elijah stared back, then moved his gaze on the man with the metal leg. The man with the metal leg shifted his legs uncomfortably when he met Elijah''s gaze.

    "Just keep an eye on the boy, " he repeated, "Merely as a simple repayment for the both of them. That is one mercy I will give to a Tainted."

    "Then?" Urged the Royal Phoenix.

    Elijah nodded.

    "Continue as planned, " he said, "It was a shock to have lost by a slim margin. With this, however, we will make them remember the sins of the past."

    Elijah dropped the folder on his desk. In it was Malachi''s profile, along with Arlianne''s, Bashia''s, and Emmanuel''s.

    "I will wait for an opportunity to wring the majority''s support from him to my side."

 Skirmish 2

    Will it be just a mere civil war?

    ///

    [Ties] Skirmish 2

    Grigorio Perez''s crash course.

    During the time Malachi was in a coma, Arlianne had undergone Gregory''s supposed "special training" to boost her capabilities. In an unspecified location, Arlianne went through what most would claim as hell.

    "Right then, Arlianne, " said Gregory, "How far can you run?"

    " ''Run,'' not ''jog?''" verified Arlianne, "Around 5 kilometers if I don''t push myself, and 7 if I give it my all."

    Gregory nodded in understanding.

    "All right, change your clothes into these, " he handed her a set of clothes, "Afterwards, come back here so we could get started."

    Arlianne received the clothes, went into a changing room, and came back after a while. The clothes she was given was the kingdom''s military uniform or, rather, a battle dress uniform that the rank-and-file wear. Her uniform was tailored to her size, and she turned her body around to inspect herself. The uniform had a lot of straps to clasp around her body, but it was baggy overall.

    Gregory nodded in satisfaction.

    "Good, it fits you, " he commented, "It''s a good thing we have people with good eyes."

    Arlianne raised a brow in doubt.

    "You have people watching me, Uncle Greg?" she asked, "That''s rather..."

    Gregory waved it off.

    "Never mind that, " he said, "By the way, in here, you address me as ''Sir Perez'' or ''Lord Grigorio.'' Got it?"

    "Got it, sir." She affirmed, "What do we do now, sir?"

    Gregory walked behind her.

    "Now, you run." he said before pushing her back.

    Arlianne stumbled.

    "Eh, wha¡ª" she said before getting interrupted.

    "RUN!" bellowed Gregory as he chased her with mad eyes.

    Arlianne panicked and ran immediately.

    "You call that running!?" Roared Gregory, "You''re running so fast that a Rockfort Lizard could catch up to you, twice! Faster!"

    Having been pushed to the limit so suddenly, Arlianne ran out of juice after 6 kilometers. Gregory looked at her with disdain when she collapsed from having run ragged. After this, she was given 2 minutes of rest. After resting, Gregory had her resume her exercises.

    "Get up, we''re not done yet, " he ordered, "Time for pushups, a lot of ''em. Be glad Malachi had taken the initiative to condition your bodies from an early age. Now, get up and push yourself off the ground!"

    Arlianne struggled to get off the ground, her clothes already drenched with sweat. Positioning herself for a pushup, Gregory still reprimanded her. Going even as far as joining her exercise, he spat out extreme harshness that one wouldn''t have found from him before this.

    "Maintain your form as you push your body!" Shouted Gregory, "Back straight! Legs straightened out! One, two! One, two! Faster! Push it all out!"

    Since she had been told to run as fast and for as long as she could earlier, she hadn''t enough stamina to do as much as she could. Breaking herself at 42 pushups, her arms felt like spaghetti as she struggled her next pushup. Not being able to deliver the next one, Gregory gave her another 2 minutes of rest. Even with her bits of rest, she had still gasped and panted for air. Her heart rate was at an all-time high, and she literally swam in her sweat.

    "Now, sit on the ground, " ordered Gregory, "Time for sit-ups. As many and as fast as you can without stopping. Go!"

    Arlianne did as she was told, and Gregory even gave motivational comments.

    "Is this all that Malachi could bring out of you!?" He roared, "Come on, put your abs into it! Feel the burn as you move! One, two! One, two! Put more effort! Faster! Crush your guts until you can feel no more!"

    Once more, after 52 sit-ups, Arlianne collapsed by slamming her back onto the ground. Panting and gasping for air, her chest visibly rose and descended as she breathed. Another two minutes of rest was given to her. This time, though, Gregory crouched down next to her head and brought his face close to hers.

    "What are you thinking about, little girl?" He whispered in a mocking tone, "What dark thoughts would be floating in your mind right now, eh?"

    Arlianne, unable to answer him, still tried to bring as much air as she could into her lungs. Her eyes, however, looked straight into Gregory''s eyes without flinching. Gregory smirked in response to her gaze.

    "Good, " he said, "We will be doing this everyday with increasing intensity, repetitions, and length of time."

    Days passed into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Arlianne was brutally trained by Gregory''s hellish exercises, a level or two above Malachi''s own training menu. By the sixth month, her training had changed. She still had to go through the usual exercises, but then came combat exercises.

    "The soldiers of the kingdom, " said Gregory, "are merely not just well-versed in the usage of heavy weaponry. When the situation calls for it, one must be able to defend oneself from harm without the use of weapons. With thousands and millions of lives behind us, it is our duty to fight until we could no longer fight to protect the ones we hold dear."

    Under the blazing heat of the sun, Gregory and Arlianne faced off one another. Wearing nothing but their respective uniforms, and wielding nothing but their fists and kicks, Gregory introduced Arlianne into a world of hurt.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    "When fighting against an enemy, armed or unarmed, anything goes, " he explained, "Don''t expect your enemy to give you time to prepare nor assume that they will be honorable. Honor saves no one but the victor. Be it you, or your enemy, only one may come out alive and well. In a firefight or a fistfight, the aim is to neutralize your enemy as fast as possible to minimize the damage that would be dealt unto you or upon your comrades."

    Without warning, Gregory charged forward with a clenched fist against Arlianne.

    "And, the best way to learn, is to be in a fight itself!" He shouted, "On your guard!"

    Gregory ran forward and unhesitatingly sent a kick going to Arlianne''s head. Arlianne reacted too late and was unable to Dodge. Instead, she raised her left arm, supported by her right, to block his kick. Unfortunately, Gregory''s kick delivered enough force to still blow her away.

    Arlianne was thrown far away by Gregory, and tumbled across the ground. Groaning in pain, she struggled to get up and prepare for the next blow only to see Gregory''s fist already on her gut. Her breath left her, and she spat out phlegm and saliva from his hit. Rather than training, it was a one-sided slaughter. Arlianne dropped to the ground and clenched her body in pain.

    "Fight for survival." Said Gregory suddenly, "We don''t fight to win, we fight to survive. There are only two kinds of people on the battlefield¡ªalive and dead. There are no good people, nor are there bad people. Mercy and honor are useless before us and our enemies. Of course, the unknowing would say we fight to kill, but we are soldiers tasked to protect our kingdom, our home. If there is someone who wishes harm upon our home, we will fight that someone to protect our home. Men and women, elders and children, royalty and commoners. We will fight to protect them all."

    Gregory crouched down next to Arlianne.

    "And for us to fight, we must survive."

    ///

    "Ouch, you went through all that?" Said Malachi as he listened to Arlianne.

    Arlianne nodded.

    "Yes, " she affirmed, "I ended up with a lot of bruises, cuts, broken bones, and other wounds all over my body. Mama was mortified when she saw me... trashed beyond recognition by Uncle Greg. Mama was about to blow her top when she confronted Uncle Greg, but I stopped her, telling her that I wanted to do this. I wanted to change, I wanted to do everything to protect you, to be with you, Malachi."

    Malachi gazed at the girl beside him. He saw the minute scars that were faintly visible on her exposed skin. Thankfully, due to Eskur medicine, they were able to minimize much of the scars from showing conspicuously. Malachi gazed up, and massaged the back of his head. Letting out a sigh, he embraced the girl beside him tightly and ruffled her hair.

    "I did say that I will make sure that I will have you stay by my side, " he said, "but not to this extent. I wanted you to grow with me, by my side, as well. Now, it seems I have to double my efforts to catch up to you, now."

    Arlianne blanked, then looked down in shame. Seeing this, Malachi pressed her head closer to him, and further caressed her head. A moment later, Malachi looked up, and released Arlianne. Confused, Arlianne turned her gaze to where Malachi was looking and found Gregory walking by with a squad of soldiers.

    "And I think I have an idea how..." Said Malachi as he stood up.

    Malachi left Arlianne and approached Gregory. First was a walk, then it became a jog. After a short distance, the jog became a sprint, and his footsteps attracted Gregory''s attention.

    "Malachi, wha¡ª" before Gregory could finish his question, he immediately raised both of his arms to block Malachi''s jab.

    "Spar with me!" Yelled Malachi, "You did all that to Arlianne, let me have a taste as well!"

    ...

    The impromptu sparring session ended with a draw. Both Malachi and Gregory merely collapsed from loss of stamina and fatigue for sparring¡ªbut was actually closer to an all-out fight¡ªfor a straight hour. The Royal Phoenix and a young man were both gasping for air, lying on the ground, and were watched by a squad of soldiers and a young woman.

    "Are you... satisfied...?" Asked Gregory as he gasped for air, "When you... said Arlianne''s name... I expected this..."

    "Satisfied?" Questioned Malachi, "Barely... Uncle Greg... You did this... with her for a year... You expect me... to be satisfied...?"

    "You... You mean to say..." Wondered Gregory.

    "Oh... yes... I will ''train'' with you... " replied Malachi, "Train... until I land a damned hit on you..."

    Gregory smiled.

    "Haha... Hahahahaha!" He smiled and laughed.

    "Hahahahaha!" Laughed Malachi as well.

    Due to their noise, a crowd of people formed. With them was Emmanuel who was greeted by two men on the ground laughing like idiots.

    "What is going on here?" Asked Emmanuel, "Arlianne?"

    Arlianne turned to look at Emmanuel with a stiff smile and she let out a dry laugh in response.

    Unfortunately, after that, Malachi wasn''t able to avoid Bashia''s wrath.

 Campaign 1

    A new arc, yay!

    Anyway, this site takes a full minute to load. Why?

    Also, good job, Philippines. Take that, filthy Chinese mainlanders! (Except those that take care of pandas. Pandas are cool.)

    ///

    [Ties]Campaign 1

    Chugga-chugga-choo-choo went the train on the tracks. A railroad spanning over a great expanse of the Great Ashan desert region. This train, that came from the capital city of Rhiamalka, was headed towards the western region of the Kingdom of Perlas. Passing by many cities, towns, and villages, the one destination it was headed for was one of the kingdom''s most important places.

    Perlas Martial Academy.

    Standing tall for three centuries, the Perlas Martial Academy was also the kingdom¡¯s only military academy to train cadet officers. Records of the academy¡¯s location show that it was not built from scratch, but was in fact built into a large mountain, carving and mining much of its facilities, and then adding new expansions like the training grounds and the residential buildings that sit upon wide ridges on the mountainside.

    Here, cadets drill and study tirelessly to live up to the standards set by those who have gone before. The school motto, never far from their thoughts: Courage, integrity, loyalty.

    Cadets were graded by a credit system, and are thus able to graduate within three years. There are two ways in which one could get in¡ªeither by getting scouted by academy personnel, or by direct application. Regardless of how one were to apply, all have to pass a series of tests¡ªboth theoretical and practical¡ªbefore one would be added into their ranks. Naturally, the tests of non-scouted applicants are much stricter.

    Since graduates are immediately promoted to officers¡ªor Birds of Prey¡ªin the Royal Army, the thought of having a diploma is very tempting for those who wish to serve the kingdom further. Because of this, the ages of the cadets vary widely despite the minimum age of acceptance being at 15 years old. The cadets of the Academy vary from 15 to 30 years old or even older.

    Built from a mountain, it houses more than 300 cadets, faculty, and miscellaneous personnel. On average, the academy receives more than 15,000 applicants, and from those, only as few as 10 to 50 become cadets and even less come graduation.

    ///

    Inside the train heading towards the Academy,

    "Malachi, would you like to eat?" asked a young woman to the young man.

    The young man, Malachi, dressed in travel wear was gazing at the drylands from the window with his head lazily rested upon his palm. Hearing the girl''s question, he stood up and went over to her.

    "Thanks, Arlianne, " he said, "I hadn''t realized that the trip to the academy would be this long and uneventful."

    Arlianne giggled at his comment.

    "Good thing Papa and Uncle Greg warned us about that ahead of time, " she said, "Mama and I had prepared much food for this occasion."

    With the current level of technology of the kingdom, a train ride from Rhiamalka to the Academy¡ªa distance of approximately 300 kilometers¡ªwould take a day of chugging on the tracks. That was, if one were to exclude the stops along the way for refueling and maintenance, then it would need another day of travel.

    "The first thing I''m gonna fix in this kingdom is the damned transportation, " whined Malachi, "Two days! We needed two days to get from home to the academy, and with almost nothing to entertain us on this junk heap!"

    "Well, aren''t you glad that Mama lifted the ban of tinkering from you?" asked Arlianne jokingly, "Still, to think that the first thing you''d do would be going to the Furnace and making these weapons. If not for the soldiers escorting us through security, we would have been held up and be late for our trip."

    Arlianne pulled out an L-shaped metal object from her waist. The object was reminiscent of the handcannon pistol, only smaller and lighter. It was a replica of a modern Earth handgun, albeit of a different design due to Malachi''s preferences and this world''s available technology.

    "This handgun really is worlds apart from the kingdom''s handcannons, " she commented, "With the ''magazine'' and the way bullets are loaded into it, one could carry a lot of ammunition on their person and not have much trouble reloading. The one thing I''m more surprised about was this switch, do we really need safety switches?"

    "Arlianne, imagine if that was holstered anywhere on your body, " he said, "You''ve seen its performance, right? Now imagine that going off on its own by accident while holstered. A rather painful experience, yes?"

    Arlianne made a face of realization.

    "Not only that, " he added, "If there was no switch, if you were to mishandle it, you may have shot yourself or the person before you without any harmful intention. It was one thing I got alarmed by with the current equipment of the Royal Army, but, at the very least, the weapons would go inert with one shot. Yet with the caliber, that same shot would be lethal no matter where it hit."

    Malachi pulled out his own handgun from the bags nearby. Speaking of the bags, there was a long carrying case leaning on their compartment''s wall. Long enough to be a fusil, but less bulky.

    "These handguns of mine, of my old world, of my old life, is a great improvement over this world''s current technology, " he said, "that, quite frankly as I thought, should have been made into this world''s reality. Instead, due to everybody wearing armor, this world needed a bigger punch rather than numbers and reliability. Of course, I already compensated the smaller caliber of the handguns with specialized bullets."

    Malachi pulled a magazine from his belt, and popped out a bullet. It was also a replica of an armor piercing bullet with a shell casing.

    "Despite the fact that I needed a long time to design and redesign the bullets to adapt to suitable pyrocite dust weight, " he said, "I''m rather satisfied with how it came out. To think that a small amount of pyrocite could propel something as small as this to great distances and deliver enough penetrating power. Other than that, I needed to change the way bullets and guns were made. Their hardness, malleability, heat resistance, and the like just to make sure they don''t fragment nor warp upon firing. Pyrocite sure is a scary material."

    Malachi then looked at the long carrying case.

    "Even more so for automatic rifles, " he added, "The rifling and cycling I made are subpar in contrast to the ones I know. I need better tools to perfect it."

    Suddenly, they felt the train slow down and heard it skid to a halt.

    "What''s going on?" wondered Arlianne, "Excuse me, did something happen?"

    Arlianne asked a passing train personnel. The train personnel was making rounds ensuring that the passengers would be rest assured. At the right timing, he was about to knock on Malachi and Arlianne''s compartment.

    "Ah, greetings ma''am, " said the train personnel, "We were just having a bit of difficulty on the road. The guards stationed on the train are dealing with it as we speak."

    "Now, what trouble would need soldiers to¡ª" before Malachi could finish his question, a chorus of growls and roars could be heard outside, "Oh..."

    Malachi approached their window and opened it. Sticking his head out, he turned his gaze to the front of the train where he saw a pack of giant dogs circling around something unseen from where he was.

    ''Holy crap, are those Garms!?'' He thought, ''I''ve heard about them before, but I never thought they''d actually look like those! Heck, the Garudas were one thing, but the Garms also exist here? What''s next? The Manticores?''

    "Malachi, what did you see?" asked Arlianne, "It''s surprising to see you this silent."

    "Er, a pack of Garms is blocking the train, " he answered, "They seem to be surrounding something that I can''t see from here."

    Just then, the radio on the train personnel''s waist lit up.

    "Kssh, to all guards, a pack of Garms and Manticores have blocked the railroad, kssh." It said, "Kssh, all guards are to deploy to deal with it, kssh."

    "Did he just say Manticores?" muttered Malachi under his breath, "Why, why do they exist here?"

    "Malachi, what''s wrong?" asked Arlianne as she placed her hand on his shoulder.

    "Hmm? It''s nothing, " he said, "Garms and Manticores, huh? Arlianne, we''re going out."

    "Huh? Wait, what?"

    Malachi brought out a number of weapons and ammunition from their bags and handed some of them to Arlianne. Handguns with their respective bullet-filled magazines, rifle-sized magazines filled with larger bullets, and a bunch of cylindrical canisters. Malachi also went to his long carrying case, opened it up, and revealed a replica of a modern Earth bullpup assault rifle.

    The train personnel, that was standing in the doorway, watched as he saw to youths arm themselves in less than five minutes. Although armed, they were still unarmored.

    "E-excuse me sir and ma''am, " called out the train personnel, "What, who..."

    Malachi was already finished equipping himself, and was then helping Arlianne equip herself. Having finished both of them, he turned to the train personnel.

    "Tell the soldiers that they will be receiving reinforcements, " he said, "and leave some for us, as well."

    ///

    Outside.

    "Clive, take Jos¨¦ and Mark to flank around them, " ordered an officer, "Make sure they don''t pick up your scent and they keep their attention on the Manticores."

    Three soldiers carrying a fusil and repeaters deployed from the train heading towards the left flank. A Steam Knight was also on the train and was on standby as steam was exhausted steadily through its vents.

    "Cruz, take Nico and Miguel to flank the other side, " added the officer, "Like Clive''s group, be careful. The rest will proceed forward carefu¡ª"

    "Sir, too late!" reported a soldier, "Clive''s group is under attack!"

    Over the distance, a pair of Garms separated from the main pack and attacked the earlier flanking group. Gunfire resounded as the three attempted to fight back. Immediately after that, another shot roared on the other side as another group of Garms separated to attack the other flank.

    "Damn! Their sense of smell is seriously annoying!" cursed the officer, "Dammit! Clive! Cruz! Fall back!"

    Ba-ba-bang!

    Just then, three gunfires roared behind the squad of soldiers. When the officer turned to look, he saw a young man with a gun sitting atop the train engine.

    "Hey! Who are you!?" questioned the officer, "Civilians shouldn''t be here!"

    Malachi jumped down and was replaced by Arlianne.

    "Rather than ask who we are, " said Malachi, "Why don''t you take a look at your squad members'' situations?"

    The officer raised a brow, and turned to look at the two flankers'' situations. What greeted him was the sight of three dead Garms and one injured Garm. His eyes, and the other soldiers'' eyes, widened in surprise. A few shots from the young man killed three large dogs.

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    "Of course, that was because they were shot in the head, " explained Malachi, "If not, I''d need more hits on their body to take them down."

    ''But still, '' thought the officer, ''From this range?! Our repeaters need to get closer just to land a hit!''

    That said, the distance between the train and the pack of Garms was approximately 100 meters. To land an accurate hit using the kingdom''s current weapons, one would need to cut the distance by half.

    Malachi watched the officer''s facial expression in amusement. Not minding the other soldiers, a stepped forward and aimed his rifle at the remaining pack members that were already facing him.

    "At the very least, this could be considered as a hunt, " he commented, "Arlianne, watch the surroundings and lay down fire where you see fit!"

    Malachi fired off another shot, and accurately hit a lone Garm on its head at the vanguard. The Garm that was hit subsequently fell, and was stared at by its fellow pack members and the soldiers behind Malachi. Without missing a beat, Arlianne also fired a shot, but merely hit another Garm''s torso instead of its head, but still successfully injuring it.

    Seeing this,

    "Hmm, might need to improve the sights a bit, " commented Malachi, "Don''t worry too much, Arlianne, just consider these dogs as target practice!"

    The soldiers around them stared gobsmacked at his comment. Garms as mere target practice. Garms that even the soldiers of the kingdom would have trouble with.

    At the next moment, the remaining Garms separated from the Manticores they had surrounded and turned their focus on the small group of humans next to the train. A squad of 10 soldiers plus two youths versus a pack of 20 minus 4 dead and 2 injured Garms.

    Ba-ba-bang!

    Bang! Bang!

    A three-round burst of bullets left Malachi''s gun while single shots left Arlianne''s. While each of Malachi''s shots landed squarely on their targets, Arlianne had to settle for taking her time to adjust her aim with single shots. Once the Garms were close enough, the Steam Knight behind the squad whirred to life as it sauntered forward with a blast hammer in hand.

    "Eat high-explosive pyrocite!" roared the knight.

    The knight swung down his hammer indiscriminately. The pyrocite tip lit up and exploded, creating a huge cloud of dust blinding both sides from one another. Still, the explosion was large enough to crush a lone Garm underneath it, splattering much of its gore all over the place.

    Despite the others being unable to see much of their surroundings, Arlianne could still faintly see the Garms through the dust from her higher position. Laying down supporting fire, she effectively neutralized three other Garms.

    "Bombs away!" yelled Malachi, "Cover your ears!"

    Malachi lobbed one of his cylindrical canisters after pulling its pin. The canister rolled into the dust cloud, and detonated in three seconds after being thrown. The explosion that resulted afterwards blew away the dust cloud, and a group of Garms close to the point of detonation. The Garms that were hit were knocked down due to the blast.

    "Hmm, not enough to kill Garms, eh?" commented Malachi, "Should be enough for antipersonnel, though. Should adjust how tightly I should pack it, maybe add more pyrocite?"

    With their efforts, the pack of 20 Garms had dwindled down to three. The three remaining Garms, noticing their remaining numbers, stopped attacking and howled before running away. Malachi and the rest remained on guard while the three Garms ran away at inhuman speed before they decided to approach the remaining beasts¡ªa pair of Manticores.

    ...

    At the place where the Manticores were surrounded by the pack of Garms, lay a large cat guarded by another similarly sized cat. The Manticores had wholly black fur that was contrasted by what seemed to be white and bony exoskeletons on their head and spine.

    Malachi, Arlianne, and the squad approached the two Manticores. The standing Manticore went on guard, and delivered a low growl. This caused the approaching party to stop, and be on guard.

    ''It really is a Manticore, '' thought Malachi, ''I can''t believe it. Even the Garms were reminiscent of my Father''s creations. Why do they exist here?''

    Malachi and the standing Manticore''s eyes met one another, and both were locked for a while.

    "You... You want us to leave?" he muttered, "Is that what you want?"

    "Malachi, who are you talking to?" asked Arlianne as she doubted what she had heard.

    ''Huh? She didn''t hear it?'' thought Malachi, ''Does that mean...''

    Malachi stowed away his guns or, rather, he left them on the ground. The people with him wondered what he planned to do until he went to the Manticore unarmed.

    "Malachi?!" cried Arlianne out in alarm, "What are you doing?!"

    Not listening to her words, Malachi still approached the Manticore, both of their gazes locked on one another.

    "I won''t hurt you, " he told the Manticore, "and you won''t hurt me."

    The Manticore, hearing his words, stood in place and waited for Malachi to approach. The rest could not do much unless they risk Malachi''s life. Nevertheless, a few fusiliers and engineers aimed their fusils and repeaters at the Manticore in the off-chance it does attack.

    Malachi finally arrived before the Manticore. Being so close, one could see how gigantic the Manticore was. Malachi''s height was just a bit over 170 centimeters, but the Manticore still towered over him at more than 2 meters. The Manticore''s size alone could say how little effort it would need to kill Malachi at that range. Arlianne and the rest watched on anxiously, waiting for the end.

    Still gazing upon one another, Malachi slowly and carefully reached for the Manticore. The Manticore tended, and its golden eyes revealed a wary glint. Malachi paused for a bit, but resumed until he was able to feel its rough fur and bony exoskeleton.

    "You really are like them, " he whispered, "Why is that so?"

    "Rrrrr..." growled the Manticore.

    "You... You understand my words, don''t you?" asked Malachi, "And I... I can understand your eyes. This... He was your mate, wasn''t he?"

    Unknown when he had known its sex, Malachi had strangely understood what had happened to the Manticore. Even so, the strange way the two of them could communicate, Malachi''s thoughts had gone back into the past. Far back, back into his past life.

    ''It''s just like Father''s creations, '' he thought as he remembered the past, ''So many questions are flooding my mind...''

    "Rrrr..." growled the Manticore again.

    "Your mate''s corpse is blocking the railroad, " said Malachi, "Do you mind if we move it away so we could go through?"

    "Rrrr..." replied the Manticore.

    The Manticore moved away from Malachi, and went next to its mate''s corpse. Riddled with wounds, the corpse was being nudged away by the Manticore.

    "Wait, let us help you with that." offered Malachi.

    He made a gesture for the others to come. Seeing that it was safe, the others approached, while some remained on guard. Arriving at his location, he explained that the Manticore was harmless and would like to have help moving its mate''s corpse off the tracks. Baffled, the soldiers and Arlianne were unsure of what to do. Yet, because of Malachi''s urging, and the train that was stuck behind them, they could do naught but move the corpse out of the way.

    "Malachi, how did you do that?" asked Arlianne, "How did you turn that Manticore into a docile beast?"

    Before Malachi could answer her, the officer from before approached him to ask a few questions of his own.

    "Young man, " said the officer, "Mind if I ask, do you have Eskur lineage?"

    Malachi blinked twice at the officer''s question.

    "How...?" he muttered, "I''m pretty sure these goggles are tinted heavily from the outside."

    "I see, no wonder." affirmed the officer, "It is also of no surprise if you''re confused. Your Eskur ancestry hadn''t told you of their special gift, hadn''t they?"

    "What special gift?" asked Malachi, "Is it being able to communicate with Manticores?"

    The officer nodded.

    "Not just Manticores, " added the officer, "but also with a myriad of beasts that inhabit our lands. Over a decade ago, it was because of this ability that much of your elders had easily overpowered the kingdom in the war. Ah, not that I discriminate against your kind, mind you."

    "So, Eskurs can ''talk'' to these beasts?" verified Malachi, ''Then, they really are like Father''s creations. But why in this life as well? Is this the same world? But so many things are different, even the geographical traits and conditions are too extreme.''

    "Well, let us bury the corpse as a gesture of goodwill towards it." suggested the officer, "Rarely do we have the chance to come close to these beasts without getting mangled."

    ...

    Malachi and the rest were about to board the train, until Malachi felt a nudge on his back. Turning around, he saw the Manticore following behind him.

    "You want to come with me?" he asked the Manticore, "I''m sorry, but I doubt they''d allow you on board, and much of the passengers would panic at the sight of you even with the reassurances of the guards."

    "Rrrr..." growled the Manticore in response.

    "I''m sorry, but even so..." he suddenly paused as he looked into its eyes again, "You have no place to return to, is that it? Still, I don''t know what I should do in this case. Can you even live with humans?"

    "Rrrr..." growled the Manticore again as it rubbed its head on Malachi''s face.

    "Oof, hey, stop it." he struggled, "All right, I get it. Geez, let me talk to the train personnel."

    Malachi went back inside and had a heated debate with the train personnel. Even with the guards backing his claims, the only time the train personnel budged was when Malachi revealed his Eskur ancestry to them. The train personnel, seeing the guards backing Malachi up wholeheartedly, could only agree to letting the Manticore into one of the cargo carriages where it could fit.

    The Manticore happily got on board, and was visited from time to time by Malachi, Arlianne, and curious personnel. The Eskur personnel, especially, had a good time visiting the Manticore as they, too, had the ability to communicate with it. While the Manticore could not speak, it could deliver its intentions through its gaze, and those of Eskur descent could somewhat understand it.

    ///

    So, we have a pet. Fun times with this pet lie ahead. Also, will be using this "ability" often.

 Campaign 2

    [Ties]Campaign 2

    "Malachi, it''s time to wake up, " said Arlianne, "Get off Shyama already. We''ve arrived."

    Arlianne had gone to the carriage where the Manticore, who was given the name "Shyama," was riding. With Shyama, though, was Malachi who was peacefully sleeping in its fur, embracing the large cat''s body.

    "Rrr..." growled Shyama as she nudged Malachi awake.

    It appeared that Shyama could also understand Arlianne''s intentions, yet the girl herself could not return the understanding.

    "Nn?" Mumbled Malachi as he awoke. "Arrived? At the academy?"

    "Yes, " affirmed Arlianne, "and the train personnel are anxious about unloading the cargo with Shyama still here with you."

    Behind Arlianne was actually a group of Perlasian train personnel. While they still stood from a distance, staring at the large Manticore, the Eskur train personnel didn''t mind as they got to work.

    "All right, all right, " said Malachi, "Come on, Shyama. Let''s go to our new home."

    "Rrr..." growled Shyama in response.

    The large Manticore raised its body, its two-meter tall body, and nimbly left the carriage through an open doorway. Shyama stretched her body once she got outside, and was followed by Malachi and Arlianne who already had their belongings with them.

    The first sight to greet Malachi and the rest was the large mountain looming over them a small distance away.

    "Woah, this is the academy, huh?" He said arcing his head back to take in its entirety. "Now then, where do we go from here? Ah, I see it."

    Malachi looked for the place where students came to apply. After a short while, he found the front gates where large crowds of people came to and fro. The people around the gates wore one uniform, the standard uniform of the Perlas Martial Academy.

    "Hmm, seems like we need to wear the uniform even when we''re applying, " he commented, "Come on, you two, let''s go apply."

    ...

    "Excuse me, who, or rather, why do you have a Manticore behind you?" asked the gatekeeper, "The mere presence of the beast is disturbing the other applicants."

    Malachi and the rest had arrived in front of the gates where students would apply to enter the academy. Of course, with such a large beast following behind two youths, one would normally be alarmed. The gatekeeper, despite showing a disinterested front, one could notice the tense eyes as the gatekeeper stared at Shyama.

    "Shyama is a companion of ours, " explained Malachi, "As proof, I''ll show you my lineage. I will have to show it eventually."

    Malachi removed his heavily tinted goggles, and revealed his crimson red irises. He received the gasps of surprise from the surrounding crowd that circled around them from avoiding Shyama. The gatekeeper stared at Malachi for a while before going in close for a whisper.

    "Are you Prince Malachi?" Whispered the gatekeeper.

    "Are you of father''s faction?" Whispered Malachi back.

    The gatekeeper smiled and drew back without answering.

    "All right, get in, " said the gatekeeper, "applications are in that building over to your left. Also, please leave your, uh, companion where the guards can, well, see it. For formality''s sake, all right?"

    "Gotcha, thanks, " said Malachi, "Let''s go apply, Arlianne."

    The crowd of cadets and cadets-to-be watched as Malachi''s group gained entry into the academy. Just the mere sight was enough to circulate news and rumors around the academy. A Manticore, tamed by a half-Eskur and accompanied by a Perlasian, had entered the academy to apply as cadets. With just this, all attention had been drawn to Malachi''s group.

    Malachi asked Shyama if she could wait for them outside. Shyama understood Malachi''s intentions and obediently sat in the middle of the road where the patrolling guards ran into a panic at the surprising scene. Only when they asked the gatekeeper about the Manticore did they calm down and deployed the usually reluctant, but suddenly ecstatic Eskur guards. Interestingly, rather than just watch the Manticore, the Eskur guards even communicated with Shyama and also gave her some food¡ªlarge slabs of meat.

    Inside the designated applications building, Malachi and Arlianne were handed their own set of uniforms after passing in their needed documents. After changing their clothes, they were then sent to examination rooms to take the written exam.

    "Hmm, this looks pretty much like any entrance exam I''ve seen before, " commented Malachi when he received his papers, "Language proficiency, arithmetics, analytical aptitude, and general information. Well, it seems normal that they''d test one''s accumulated knowledge."

    "Do you think you''d be able to take the top spot, Malachi?" asked Arlianne, "Or do you plan to take it easy and just settle for passing the test?"

    "Well, Arlianne, I already attracted a lot of attention with Shyama, " he explained, "What''s the use of averting that attention by now, might as well give it my all. You should, too."

    "Huh, no wonder those voices sounded familiar, " said a young man''s voice behind them, "It''s actually you two."

    Malachi and Arlianne turned their attention to the Eskur male seated behind them. Seeing him, Malachi was the first to react.

    "What in blazes are you doing here, Levi?" He asked the Eskur, "Are you stalking us?"

    Levi Skana, an Eskur that lived in the same village as Malachi and his family as Malachi grew up. One of the few village children that met with Malachi and the rest. Known for being a loner even amongst his fellow Eskur peers. A loner with a sharp tongue. He doesn''t know about Malachi''s royal lineage, though, which is why,

    "Get real, you damn fool." Bit back Levi, "I''m here to work my way up."

    "By being an officer? All right, hope we can work together in the future." said Malachi reaching out for a handshake.

    Levi, however, slapped Malachi''s hand away.

    "I will work my way up without your help." said Levi, "Now, the both of you, shut up. I can''t concentrate on the test."

    Malachi rubbed his hand.

    "Sheesh, no need to get so hostile, " he commented, "Who knows, you might even fall under my command."

    Levi glared at Malachi.

    "I must admit, though, " added Levi, "You are a wunderkind. Different from the rest of our age. However, even with your successes, don''t expect me to follow you as you may expect it to be."

    Malachi turned his entire body to face Levi. Listening to Levi''s comments, Malachi suddenly licked his lips before Levi. This made Levi retreat a bit when he saw Malachi''s meaningful gaze.

    "I accept that challenge, old friend." He said, "I''ll strive to make myself worthy to command you, heh heh."

    "Malachi, that sounds so wrong." commented Arlianne, "Levi, the best of luck for all of us."

    Levi only gave Arlianne a glance.

    "There is no such thing as luck, " he argued, "only sheer willpower and effort."

    A door of the examination room suddenly opened, and a faculty entered with an angry glare.

    "Those at the back, silence!" ordered the faculty, "The test will begin in a few minutes! Sit down and straighten up!"

    Both Malachi and Levi retreated from one another, while Arlianne could only shrug. Meanwhile, in their surroundings, due to Malachi and Levi, whispers were abound.

    "An Eskur and a half, more of them want to enter our military?" Whispered an examinee.

    "Hey, is that the guy with the Manticore?" Whispered another, "I nearly wet my pants at the sheer size of it. Why did they allow someone with a Manticore in here?"

    "I said silence!" Roared the faculty once more, "The test begins now!"

    The examination room became deathly silent, with only the flipping of pages and scritches of pens to break it.

    Two hours later.

    "Pens down, papers forward!" Roared the faculty shaking the examinees up. "The test has ended! Dress up and get the hell out to the field for your practicals!"

    After collecting the exam papers, the faculty left the examination room.

    "Well, that test was... ''Eh...'' for me, " commented Malachi, "Nothing new if not for the different subjects and information, but generally the same thing. Wonder how the practicals will be?"

    "Malachi, the rest have left already, " said Arlianne, "Let''s go, we shouldn''t be late. We should also get Shyama on the way to the field."

    Malachi and Arlianne, being the last few in the room, left and picked up Shyama who was surrounded by curious onlookers and happy Eskur personnel. Shyama, sensing Malachi''s presence, stood up and stretched her body as she waited for Malachi. Seeing a large Manticore suddenly move, the curious onlookers panicked until they saw that Shyama was merely waiting for someone. That said, Malachi attracted even more attention to his group.

    ...

    In the training grounds.

    Malachi and Arlianne had a surprise in store for them. In the middle of the field, dressed in battle uniform, a lone man with a missing arm stood before the ranks of cadets-to-be.

    "No way, " commented Malachi, "He''s a drill instructor?! Wasn''t he a civilian?!"

    "Well, well, " said the drill instructor, "Long time, no see, Malachi, my boy. Have you been well?"

    "Chief Axton?" said Arlianne, "Your arm..."

    Axton, the Arena Chief, was now the drill instructor for their practical examination. Axton looked at his torn arm, and shrugged at Arlianne''s shock.

    "Ah, well. My arm may have been torn off, " said Axton, "but I''m still fit to teach you from the ground, up. Now, line up, both of you."

    Malachi left Shyama on the edge of the field and lined up with Arlianne. They waited for a while for the others to line up with them before Axton began the practicals.

    "I''m Cortez, that''s ''sir'' to all of you." Announced Axton, "I''m the facilitator for your practical exam. Your practical is simulated combat against your seniors and faculty. Form teams of three and get ready."

    "Well, isn''t this a harsh exam." commented Malachi, "what a way to weed out the weak-willed. Pitting us against veterans in the field."

    "Seems like we need to use the standard-issue weapons, Malachi, " added Arlianne, "It doesn''t seem like we''d be allowed to use your weapons."

    "It should be fine, " assured Malachi, "Now then, let''s get member number three. At the very least, we get to choose our members."

    Malachi held onto Arlianne''s hand like it was normal, dragging her around as they looked for the final member. Arlianne was, however, sought after by the others but were deterred by the sight of Malachi''s grip on her hand. Unfortunately, nobody wanted to group up with them. That, or the others already had groups of their own. There was one, though, that the other cadets-to-be avoided like a plague.

    "Well, looks like the loner has no group of his own, " commented Malachi, "Want to join ours?"

    "Why does have to be you?" barked Levi, "And why do you keep sticking with me?"

    Malachi looked around mockingly. The others avoided his and Levi''s gazes.

    "Why? Because Arlianne and I need just one more member, " explained Malachi, "and, seeing you, you need two others to have a full group. What do you say? How will you achieve whatever your dream is, eh? I''m pretty sure that just merely climbing your way to the top isn''t your true goal. Once you reach the top, what will you do?"

    Levi silently stared at Malachi, then sighed.

    "Fine, " agreed Levi, "I''ll just use you as a stepping stone."

    "Good, now we have three people, " said Malachi, "Now then, let''s get equipped.

    The three of them went to a nearby armory to borrow the guns being lent out for simulated combat. It was similar to the armory in the arena, but had lesser weapons and were smaller in size. It also had the lack of Steam Knight equipment and grenades.

    "Just fusils, repeaters, crossbows, and handcannons." muttered Malachi, "Just right for a mob of cadets-to-be going through mock battle."

    He picked up a bullet.

    "Practice rounds, " he said, "Still, it could kill if you''re not lucky. One shot at the wrong location could be lethal."

    Malachi faced his two companions.

    "Well then, take your pick."

    Malachi and Arlianne picked up crossbows and handcannons, while Levi chose a handcannon and a repeater. Malachi watched Levi inspect his chosen weapons. Levi popped out the chamber of the repeater and deftly inserted the bullets. With his handcannon, however, he brought out a strange looking glove with small rings and pockets, and inserted the handcannon''s ammunition into the glove.

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    "Nice speed loader you have there, comrade." commented Malachi, "Did you make that?"

    "What''s it matter to you?" replied Levi, "Oh, right, you make things. Yeah, is it surprising for another Eskur to make something, apart from you? And, ''kom-rad?''"

    "Comrade, take your pick: cohort, companion, compatriot, compeer, associate, crony, fellow, hobnobber, mate, running mate, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera."

    Levi glared at him.

    "Are you freaking serious?" He asked Malachi, "I may be working with you, but don''t you ever call me your comrade."

    "Don''t worry, comrade, you will learn to accept your destiny, " replied Malachi, "Whether you like it or not, we get in and you will acknowledge me as a comrade. That goes with our future comrades in the academy. You may be a loner, but you will have a hard time achieving your dream all on your own."

    ...

    "Now then, first up," announced Axton, "Levi Skana! Arlianne Skaria! Malachi Skaria! You three, on the field, now!"

    Hearing their names, their fellow cadets-to-be, especially the older applicants, perked up.

    "Skaria? Isn''t that..." said an applicant, "Isn''t that the clan that rebelled against the kingdom?"

    "A half-Eskur of Clan Skaria?" said another, "Are they planning for another uprising?!"

    "What''s a potential threat doing here?!" voiced out a middle-aged applicant, "Even the girl took on the name! A traitor!"

    Malachi and his group naturally heard their peers'' misgivings. Surprisingly, Levi became concerned since he, too, knew about Clan Skaria being an Eskur himself.

    "Malachi? I never thought you were a Skaria, " he said, "Since you lived with Doctor Ibrahim, I thought..."

    "Hush, comrade, " interrupted Malachi, "Ignore the wailings of the unknowing and unforgiving. Let them cry all they want, and we will silence them with our results, not words. Although, Skaria, huh? Needs some looking in to."

    "You don''t know much about your lineage?" asked Levi disbelievingly, "What did you do all your life?"

    "I never found the need, " replied Malachi, "There is one concern, Arlianne, are you well?"

    Arlianne shrugged.

    "Not like they could do much in the future, " she answered, "Let''s hurry, Malachi. Chief Axton has been staring at us for a while, now."

    The three ignored the roars of damnation they received from their fellow cadets-to-be and went to meet a platoon of senior cadets and faculty.

    The platoon of academy seniors and faculty were patiently waiting for them. The field where their practical took place was littered with hills, crates, containers, debris, trenches, and other obstacles. Its magnitude could seemingly accommodate over 100 people at once. Over the distance, though, were a few siege engines parked side by side, and one could assume that tankery was also done on the field.

    "Right, the task for your practical is, " announced Axton, "Make your way through opposition and capture the opposing base within 120 minutes. You will be disqualified from entering if you: let your base be captured, all three of you are out, or the time limit is up. Any questions?"

    Malachi raised his hand.

    "Are we allowed to do anything and everything to reach the goal?" He asked.

    "Er, I suppose, " answered Axton, "Wait, where''s your armor? You can''t possibly be thinking of going out there unarmored?"

    Despite wearing a cadet''s battle dress, Malachi had evidently removed the plate armor around his uniform. Unlike Levi''s who was wearing light plate armor. As for Arlianne, she only wore the minimum for her torso.

    "Don''t need it, " replied Malachi succinctly, "Armor will only weigh me down. Besides, we ARE allowed to do anything, right?"

    "Uh, I did say that, " said Axton, "Well then, as long as you don''t do anything lethal, it''s fine. All right, deploy!"

    Malachi and his group arrived at their base location. Just a small square area protected by sandbags and trenches. Before them lay the vast training field and their opponents who went to their respective places, ignoring the lineages of their applying cadets-to-be.

    "So, how do we go about this?" asked Malachi, "Levi, any suggestions?"

    Levi ignored Malachi and prepared to deploy himself.

    "I''m going on my own, " he said, "Don''t distract me."

    Levi carried his equipment, and went off at once. A few seconds later, gunfire could be heard in the direction he went to as well as some screams of pain from multiple sources.

    Malachi sighed.

    "I''ll forgive that for now, " he said, "Once the real deal comes, though, that attitude will kill everyone you hold dear, Levi."

    Malachi then turned to Arlianne.

    "Arlianne, keep a fixed 5-meter distance from me at all times, " he said, "Once we get into contact, keep your eyes on the surroundings and on my movements. Follow through as you see fit."

    "We won''t be defending the base?" inquired Arlianne, "What if someone gets through and captures it?"

    "No need, " said Malachi, "From here, we will be sweeping through the field as we approach the enemy''s base. We will eliminate all enemies, and we won''t allow anyone to get through."

    "And Levi?" followed Arlianne up, "What about him?"

    "If he''s in a pinch, help him, " he advised, "If not, continue as planned."

    ...

    "Sir, a lone Eskur is lighting up the right flank." reported a cadet, "Do we suppress him, sir?"

    In the middle of the enemy camp sat a man with long hair tied up in a ponytail. He wore a pair of rectangular glasses, and had a faculty battle dress uniform. Leaning by his left thigh was a fusil, and strapped to his back was a repeater. Holstered on his hip was a bowgun, a smaller crossbow, as well. The man fixed his glasses before attending to the reporting cadet.

    "What about the other side?" He asked, "Any issues?"

    "Er, no problems, yet, sir." answered the cadet, "Ah, hold on... The left flank has made contact. It seems they''re being suppressed by a half-Eskur and a Perlasian... Eh, what?"

    "What''s up?" asked the faculty who became curious at his subordinate''s expression.

    "Uh, the left flank, well, " said the cadet hesitantly, "The half-Eskur hasn''t shot anybody and just ran up to each one with a punch to the gut, sir."

    "Could you repeat that?" ordered the faculty, "A punch to the gut? How about interception fire? Wait, what about the last one?"

    "It seems the last one, a Perlasian girl, is providing supporting fire for the half-Eskur, sir, " said the cadet, "Ah, the left flank got cut down by half."

    "They took out ten?!" cried the faculty as he stood up and toppled over the fusil he had. "Get five from the right to support the left! Move it!"

    Suddenly, the radios they had roared to life.

    "Kssh, Hey! Where''d they come from?!" roared a cadet over the radio, "What happened to the left flank?! Kssh."

    "Kssh, This is the trench! Requesting rein¡ªguh?! Kssh." another cadet tried to request reinforcements but was cut short. Instead, someone else''s voice came out instead.

    "Kssh, Prepare for a curbstomping, hahaha! Kssh."

    The faculty and the cadet stared at one another, the calm on their faces gradually slipping away. The faculty fixed himself and sat back down. A smile suddenly appeared on his face, and looked at the cadet before him.

    "Heh, never thought we''d be pushed back instead, " he commented, "Focus all reinforcements to defend the base. Round up and wall up."

    ...

    In the middle of the chaos, Malachi was happily running and jumping around the field. The cadets and faculty before him had difficulty landing a shot on him, with him running around like a crazed lunatic. Using his speed and agility, he prevented himself from getting shot while, at the same time, attracted all attention to himself. Vaulting over obstacles, running from one place to another, sliding underneath fences, and suddenly making the cadets and faculty panic once he becomes close enough to say,

    "Peek-a-boo!" He said as he suddenly appeared before a cadet, "Now, go to sleep."

    With speed, he covered much ground and evaded many shots. With power, he focused everything on his fists, and delivered a jab squarely on the cadets and faculty''s solar plexi, knocking the breath out of them. There were also female cadets amongst them, but he didn''t care. All were equal to his fists.

    Behind him at a fixed distance was Arlianne. Despite all of Malachi''s movements, she was able to catch up to him effortlessly. Although, there had been times that Malachi missed an enemy, the responsibility to clean them up fell unto her. Swiftly aiming her crossbow, she shot anyone that Malachi missed.

    "Sweep and clear, Arlianne!" shouted Malachi, "We''re going to see how Levi''s doing!"

    Leaving behind their fallen enemies, Malachi and Arlianne ran towards Levi''s side. Upon arrival, they saw Levi actually pinned down in a trench against 12 cadets and faculty.

    "Arlianne! Deal with those around the crates!" ordered Malachi, "I''ll see if I can land a shot on those in the trench!"

    This time, rather than going in with fists, Malachi drew out his handcannon and ran down the enemy trenches. His surprising speed shook up the cadets and faculty in the trench, and slowed down their reaction to deal with him.

    "Too slow!" roared Malachi.

    Malachi shot a cadet nearest to him, grabbed the cadet''s fusil, and swung the fusil against another cadet to knock them out. With two cadets down in just mere seconds, the remaining cadets and faculty scrambled to either get out or deal with Malachi. Malachi dropped his spent handcannon and aimed the recently bludgeoned fusil at a retreating faculty, and shot the back, knocking the faculty down. Out of ammo, Malachi threw the fusil at another cadet to distract them while he ran out of the trenches into safety.

    Pulling out his crossbow, he flanked the remaining cadets in the trenches with a shot each. When they were all down, he ran back to the trenches and picked up all loaded weapons with him before he left to check on Levi and Arlianne.

    Arlianne''s side was straightforward. With her two handcannons, one for each hand, she ambushed the cadets and faculty by the crates from behind. She first took out a cadet who was popping his head out taking potshots at Levi near her. Without pulling the trigger, she merely knocked the cadet out with a whip to the back of the cadet''s head. The impact was audibly heard as another cadet came to check it out, only to have Arlianne shoot their torso with her handcannon.

    Because of the gunfire, those around the crates turned their attention towards her. Arlianne picked up the fallen cadets'' weapons, and turned them against the rest. A faculty tried to flank her right while she took out another cadet with a fallen cadet''s fusil. The faculty thought to take the chance while she reloaded, but Arlianne dropped the fusil and shot the faculty with her other handcannon. Seeing the faculty fall, the remaining cadets tried to retreat back to their base. Arlianne, with her remaining weapons, tried to take out as much of the retreating cadets as she could before regrouping with Malachi.

    The cadets and faculty that were suppressing Levi naturally heard the gunfire of Malachi''s and Arlianne''s guns. That momentary distraction gave Levi the chance to get out of the trench and sprint for cover behind stacks of containers. Losing sight of Levi, the cadets and faculty split up to deal with Levi through a pincer attack. Once they arrived behind the containers, they nearly shot one another because Levi was nowhere in sight. Instead, four cadets fell by getting shot from above. Levi had his repeater aim down at them from atop the containers.

    The remaining cadets and faculty returned fire, but Levi already vaulted over the other side and jumped off the containers. Leaving behind the confused enemy squad, Levi circled around the containers again, and shot two additional cadets before bolting for cover. A cadet and a faculty turned to flee, retreating back to their base.

    Once Levi took a peek at the situation, he found Malachi and Arlianne separately making their way towards him unhurriedly.

 Campaign 3

    [Ties]Campaign 3

    In the enemy base camp, three 5-man squads were left to defend the camp. In the middle stood the faculty with the ponytail issuing orders to the rest of the platoon. One squad was entrenched with repeaters, another squad stacked up behind a low wall. The last squad prepared an ambush from behind a row of containers on the left side.

    "Remember, nobody fires a shot until I give the order, " said the ponytail faculty, "Let them come closer to their doom."

    Just then, a cadet in the trenches reported what he saw.

    "Enemy spotted!" roared the cadet, "Three ta¡ªeh...? What in the world is that?"

    The confusion in the cadet''s voice drew all of their attention to a strange sight before them. Malachi and the rest were evidently prepared to assault the base, but with one additional equipment.

    "Where the hell did they get that?!" cried Ponytail in surprise, "Did they knock it off a container?!"

    Malachi wasn''t carrying any of his weapons. Instead, he left them all, except for a handcannon, to both Levi and Arlianne, and held up a huge plate of metal, carrying it like a shield. The metal plate, similar to the sides of a container, was brought out and sloped back like a plow.

    Malachi took in a deep breath and gave a command.

    "Charge!"

    ...

    Five minutes earlier.

    "They''re all packed up behind cover, " said Malachi, "This is gonna get tricky. A lot of repeaters, too. Can''t do what I did before."

    Malachi was taking a peek at the enemy base camp''s situation behind a crate. Having regrouped with Levi, they decided to go together to the enemy camp.

    "So, got any crazy ideas?" asked Levi, "If we had grenades, it will be easy for us to take the base."

    "Wanna take a crack at it?" replied Malachi with a question of his own.

    Levi looked at Malachi, then glanced at the enemy camp, and back at him.

    "... No, " said Levi hesitantly, "I''m not that stupid to suicidely charge at a heavily defended camp."

    Malachi grinned.

    "Well, I''m planning to charge the base, " he declared, "I just need you and Arlianne to watch my flanks."

    Arlianne reached out to his shoulder.

    "Hold on, " she said, "How is that any different from charging in suicidally? Are you really planning to run up to them and get shot at by 16 repeaters?"

    Malachi stood up and left the crates. He walked towards a nearby container, almost his size, and knocked on it with his knuckles.

    "No way, " he said, "I''m bringing this with me. Chief Axton did say that we are allowed to do anything, after all."

    Levi and Arlianne stared at one another, wondering what Malachi planned to do.

    Malachi looked for something on the container. Having found it, it was the container''s hatch, and yanked it off with a bit of difficulty. Taking an unused handcannon, he held it by the muzzle and used it as a hammer to break the hinges.

    "Here we go, " he said, "I''ll be using this as a makeshift shield to approach the camp. I need the two of you to cover my flanks as I make it towards the enemy."

    "I see, " said Levi, "You plan to use the fact that we are using practice rounds to our advantage. Though, wouldn''t it be difficult to move something that big?"

    Malachi shrugged and demonstrated his relative ease of lifting the yanked off hatch. Holding onto one edge, he let the hatch lean back onto his body like the sloped armor of a tank, while supporting it with a fusil hooked below it.

    "I''ll be doing it like this, " he said, "Now, are we going to pass this test or not?"

    ...

    "Don''t shoot the plate!" roared Ponytail, "Flank around and take them out!"

    Malachi, with his makeshift shield, marched forward unimpeded while occasionally taking a peek off the edges. Behind him were Levi and Arlianne, ready to intercept and flanking enemy. Malachi took a peek and saw a squad of cadets flanking to his right.

    "Here we go, you two, " he announced, "Right flank!"

    Almost simultaneously, the squad had come within range of Levi''s and Arlianne''s weapons. Levi shot the flanking squad with his repeater, and Arlianne took out some cadets with her crossbow. Having been intercepted, the flanking squad bolted for cover as they waited for the two to ignore them.

    "Left flank!" roared Malachi as he glanced the other way, "Levi, take the left! Arlianne, focus on the right! Forget about conserving your ammunition, suppress them until the end!"

    Two squads had flanked both of their sides, and Levi and Arlianne had gotten busy fulfilling their tasks. Occasionally, due to the cadets and faculty vehemently defending the objective, Malachi had no choice but to pause momentarily to take out some enemies or to support whichever flank was being overrun.

    With just a short distance left, they only needed to overcome the trench defending the enemy base before they could potentially achieve the objective. The squads flanking their sides had already thinned, and the cadets and faculty had only 7 people left.

    Ponytail grit his teeth and sent out another command.

    "All of you, charge their right flank!" He roared, "Break through the girl!

    The squads on Levi''s side left him and circled around them. Those in the base left to reinforce the remaining squad on Arlianne''s side. Malachi and the rest noticed this, and Levi turned to support Arlianne. Malachi, however, gave out another order, instead.

    "Ignore them!" He roared, "On my go, we will charge the base! 3... 2... 1... Go!"

    With the sudden order, Levi and Arlianne scrambled to catch up to Malachi. Malachi, with his makeshift shield, ran forward like a mad rhino that deflected all attacks. By the time he reached the trenches, he threw down the plate and used it as a bridge for them to run on.

    Surprised by their sudden charge, the remaining cadets and faculty also scrambled to return to camp. Ponytail, having been left on the base, was shook up by Malachi''s appearance before him and tried to shoot with his repeater.

    Since Malachi had forgone the heavy plate, he had nothing to weigh him down, and he ran around the base. Instead of charging Ponytail directly, he circled around him to deter Ponytail from landing an accurate hit. Like a spiral, Malachi circled closer to Ponytail until the two were just within arm''s reach from one another.

    "Heya, boss!" greeted Malachi, "Please go to sleep so we could pass!"

    "I''m still standing, boy!" roared back Ponytail, "You shall not pass!"

    "The hell? What''s with that reference?" commented Malachi, "Forget it."

    Ponytail swung a kick towards Malachi, but Malachi ducked to evade. In response, Malachi swung his leg to sweep Ponytail off his feet. Unaccustomed to Malachi''s speed, Ponytail collapsed and was met with an already standing Malachi aiming a handcannon at his face.

    "You need more practice, boss, " commented Malachi, "Peace time makes you rusty."

    Unknown from where he had been watching from, Axton declared Malachi and the rest''s completion of the practical. His booming voice, that went through dozens of loudspeakers, shook up the entire field, and the results were for all to hear.

    "Levi Skana! Arlianne Skaria! Malachi Skaria! You have successfully passed the practical exam!" declared Axton, "You are free to go to the administrative building to await the results of your application!"

    Voices of discontent, disbelief, and admiration erupted from the crowd of applicants. Those who swore ill thoughts were oft from the older applicants, burning the images of Malachi into their hearts. Those who sighed in admiration oft came from fellow Eskur applicants and some of the younger applicants who presumably had been born after the war.

    "Good job, Levi, Arlianne, " commented Malachi, "Let''s go."

    Malachi turned to leave but was stopped by a voice.

    "Hold on, Skaria, " called out Ponytail, "Where did you learn to fight like that?"

    Malachi turned around to meet Ponytail''s gaze. His red eyes locking onto Ponytail''s brown eyes. Unlike the remaining cadets who averted their gazes, Ponytail hadn''t flinched and urged Malachi to answer his question.

    "I learned on my own, " replied Malachi, "Would you like to study under my wing? No, wait, you''re a teacher so I should be studying under you. What to do...?"

    Malachi looked down in thought, but Ponytail shook his head.

    "No need, Skaria, " he said, "We will have plenty of time to teach one another once you become a cadet. I''ll be expecting you."

    Malachi smiled.

    "All right, teach, I''ll see if I passed the written exam, " he replied. Malachi looked at his two companions¡ªone companion since Levi left on his own, "Er, okay, Levi''s gone... Let''s go, Arlianne and pick up Shyama along the way. See ya, teach."

    Ponytail watched as Malachi and Arlianne''s silhouettes disappeared into the distance. When they were gone, another faculty approached Ponytail.

    "What do you think of the boy?" asked the faculty, "Just as His Highness had said?"

    Ponytail looked at his fellow faculty.

    "An interesting brat, no doubt about it, " commented Ponytail, "Though, the way he looked at me says otherwise. So, that''s the prince, eh? The prince and a child of Skaria. Our lives in the academy will, undoubtedly, become interesting. Now then, let us change shift to prepare for the next batch of applicants."

    ///

    Malachi and Arlianne had received the results of their exams. Both had passed and were in a merry mood. Shyama, who was with them, had sensed their mood and gave Malachi a congratulatory nudge on the back. Although, unlike before, the personnel within and around the administrative building didn''t mind the presence of Shyama. They didn''t mind, but the other applicants did as most maintained distance.

    Since they passed, Malachi and Arlianne had been told to go to the Headmaster''s quarters to receive the Headmaster''s traditional congratulatory welcome and their class assignment. Leaving Shyama behind, again, Malachi and Arlianne had gone up the building towards their intended destination. Along the way, they met Levi who was going down the upper floors.

    "You passed, eh?" said Malachi, "Congrats."

    "You passed as well, huh?" said Levi, "Well, just don''t get in my way. Oh, right. As a Skaria, I should warn you. The Headmaster is a peculiar person connected to your ancestry. Take care of what you say to him."

    Levi left after saying what he had to say, and Malachi and Arlianne looked at one another before they continued going up.

    Arriving at the Headmaster''s quarters, they were surprised to see officers of the Royal Army personally guarding the doors to the quarters. Two Buzzards were standing on either side of the double doors.

    "Names?" asked a Buzzard.

    "Malachi Skaria." answered Malachi.

    "Arlianne Skaria." answered Arlianne.

    The Buzzard raised a brow and looked at his fellow Buzzard. The other Buzzard nodded without saying a word and stepped aside. The first Buzzard returned his attention to both Malachi and Arlianne.

    "Congratulations on passing, cadets, " said the Buzzard, "Take care inside."

    Having been allowed entry, Malachi and Arlianne saluted the two Buzzards before passing them. The two Buzzards, surprised by their gesture, also saluted in response. Once the doors had closed, and the Buzzards were left alone, they began to chat with one another.

    "So, that''s him, eh?" said one Buzzard, "Wonder what their faces will look like in there. Heh heh."

    "Such naughty thoughts, my friend, " said the other Buzzard, "Still, this is the result of His Highness''s efforts, right? To see it come to fruition with just the child, it makes me hopeful for the future."

    ...

    Like how the Buzzard had thought, Malachi and Arlianne were surprised to see who the Headmaster was. With his booming voice, the Headmaster greeted and congratulated the both of them.

    "Hah hahahahaha!" laughed the Headmaster, "Welcome and congratulations on passing the exams, you two. I hope that the both of you will have a meaningful life here at the Martial Academy. Now then, your class placements. Is there anything you''d like for your classmates?"

    "Y-y-you..." stuttered Malachi, "What? Why? How?"

    "Hm? Is there something wrong, child?" asked the Headmaster, "Ah, are you wondering what I''m doing as the academy''s Headmaster?"

    Arlianne was also shocked. Her mouth had repeatedly opened and closed, not knowing what to say nor how to react. The stimulation from recognizing the Headmaster''s identity was too much. The Headmaster, still seated behind his desk as he sifted through papers, looked at the two dumbfounded cadets before him.

    "Ah, could it be something else?" said the Headmaster.

    The Headmaster left his desk, his seat, and went towards the two with arms wide.

    "Come, give grandfather a hug!" said Eleazar, "Hahahahaha!"

    "You also know?!" cried Malachi in disbelief, "Since when?!"

    Malachi held his head, and Arlianne fell back on her bum. The Headmaster, the former king, Eleazar, and Malachi''s grandfather strode forward to rub their heads.

    "Since Emmanuel and Bashia were making you, haha!" answered Eleazar, "Yes, I''ve known about their affair since way before you were born! Then and until now, child. I know everything!"

    This time, it was Malachi''s turn to repeatedly open and close his mouth, not knowing what to say.

    ''That so wrong, '' thought Malachi, ''Peeping at the deeds of your own son.''

    "Was this revelation too much?" wondered Eleazar, "Hahaha! Even that child of mine doesn''t know about this fact! Ah, don''t tell him about this, though. He also doesn''t know about me becoming the Headmaster."

    "Th-then, what about the faculty and personnel?" asked Malachi, "Aren''t you afraid they might leak it to Pops?"

    Eleazar grinned.

    "Child, everyone in this academy... Every faculty and personnel, from teaching staff to the canteen cooks, from the researchers to Chief Axton. All of them, child, all of them adhere to my commands! This academy is my territory!"

    A bomb had been dropped, and hit Malachi squarely on the head. Taking the time to process the events, Malachi took a deep breath and fixed his appearance. He went over to Arlianne and helped her up, still in shock. Taking another deep breath, Malachi faced the former king.

    "All right, Gramps, " he said, "What are you planning?"

    "Tch, that recovery was fast. Nothing, really, " replied Eleazar as he looked at the ceiling, "Just wanted to meet my grandchildren. Can''t an old man find pleasure with his grandson and granddaughter?"

    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ''An old man with the mind of a child, that''s what!'' thought Malachi rudely, ''Darn it, I hope he doesn''t expose myself prematurely.''

    As though Eleazar read Malachi''s mind,

    "Ah, don''t worry, child, " he said, "I won''t be blurting out our relationship during your stay here. I''ll leave that for until Emmanuel makes up his mind about it. Of course, the others know about this as well."

    ''The hell?'' thought Malachi, ''How many spies does Gramps have?!''

    "I have many eyes and ears, child, " said Eleazar, "None in this kingdom can hide from me, not even Elijah''s Intelligence Division."

    "Stop reading my mind!" shouted Malachi, "Great, I''ve got a headache."

    "Hahahahaha!" laughed Eleazar heartily, "Now then, onto your class assignments. Seeing your test results, you have the option to choose your class."

    Malachi raised a brow.

    "I get to choose?" He asked, "Wait, what are my scores?"

    "The scores are classified information, " explained Eleazar, "Even to the applicant. We can say, though, that it is high enough to warrant you to choose your classmates."

    Malachi stared at Eleazar''s eyes, trying to find anything wrong with his gaze. Eleazar resolutely stared back at Malachi, showing his sincerity, feigned or not, to the boy.

    ///

    Eleazar was now alone in his office, seated behind his desk. Before him, on the table, were the profiles of many of the academy''s applicants and present cadets. Beside the stack of profiles were Malachi''s and Arlianne''s test scores. Arlianne''s was a jumble of scores between 80 to 90. Fairly average grades. Malachi''s scores, though, were straight 95s. An outstanding grade. Still, with just an average of 95, Malachi shouldn''t have had the right to choose his own classes.

    Beneath Malachi''s test scores were his examination papers. There were four straight lines of correction marks, but all four had had something in common¡ªMalachi correctly answered each of the four test types, items 1 through 95, and stopped answering the last five of each test type.

    Eleazar ignored the front pages of the test papers, and flipped their back pages. What the ones who checked the papers hadn''t noticed was, Malachi actually answered the final five of each test type with alternative answers not found on the given questionnaire. Eleazar read each of the unnoticed answers with a smile on his face, visibly enjoying reading Malachi''s unorthodox¡ªunorthodox for their people¡ªanswers.

    "Truly an unpredictable child, " he whispered to himself, "Even his request hadn''t adhered to my expectations. To request that kind of class, that kind of squad and platoon, even with perfect scores. I had expected him to choose the most perfect of cadets to carry out his ideals. Nevertheless, this might be better for my own goals."

    Eleazar leaned back and thought about Malachi''s answer a few hours ago.

    "I want those who have nothing."

    "I want those who had lost everything."

    "I want those who left their comfortable lives."

    "I want those who doubt themselves."

    "I want those who have nothing to lose."

    "I want the rejects, the black sheep, the unwanted."

    "I want those who are looked down upon by those who think of themselves as superior."

    "I don''t want those who believe they have everything."

    "I don''t want those who hadn''t experienced the harshness of reality."

    "I don''t want those who cower behind their names, their histories, their ancestries."

    "I want the meager who will do anything to succeed in the life they live in."

    "I want those who struggle living in the present."

    "I will show them, that even someone like me, will achieve more than what you had even done for this kingdom, Your Highness, Grandfather."

    "So very ambitious, Malachi, " muttered Eleazar, "Ambitious, but admirable. It makes me question whether you should live like a common child should have had, or push you into the problems of our world. However way I see it, though..."

    Eleazar looked back at the stack of papers before him, and recalled the fervor in Malachi''s voice and eyes.

    "Also, I want full and free access to the academy Furnace. You''ll see why, soon. Oh, and give me a room for Shyama. You don''t expect to have a Manticore run freely on campus, right?"

    "Why do I feel that you know a lot more than you should?"

    ///

    The next day, the list of classes had been shown to those who passed the examinations. Tears were shed by those who failed, and shouts of joy erupted from those who passed. Amongst them were also gasps of surprise, and scowls of disdain. The names of those who passed were naturally for all to see, and the one name that had garnered everyone''s attention to was: Skaria.

    Malachi and Arlianne were placed together, presumably due to Eleazar, and were in Class 13, the very last class. With them were names of Eskurs and Perlasians, and was the only class to have Eskurs; Classes 1 to 12 all had Perlasian names.

    The two were nowhere to be seen, and had already gone to their assigned room. Class 13''s room was already filled with cadets¡ªseniors¡ªand were just idling around minding their own businesses while waiting for their assigned faculty and fresh enrollees. That was until Malachi and Arlianne entered and drew attention once more.

    Outside the classroom, though, was a familiar face. A man wearing a faculty''s uniform stood outside, waiting for the newcomers. It was Ponytail, the faculty Malachi had gone against for his practical. The first few to arrive were two Eskurs. One was Levi and the other was a young Eskur woman. Afterwards, they were joined by two more, a Perlasian woman and a young Perlasian man. After that, Malachi and Arlianne had arrived.

    "Hi, Levi!" greeted Malachi, "We''re classmates! That''s so good!"

    Malachi leapt onto Levi, and wrapped his arms around Levi''s own arm. Levi inched away from Malachi, disgust clearly drawn on his face.

    "What the hell?! Stay away from me!" roared Levi, "Stop clinging onto my arm!"

    "Hey, now. That''s no way to treat your lov¡ªow?!" said Malachi teasingly but was smacked by Arlianne, "Ah, sorry, we should do this when my wife''s not looki¡ªow! Okay, okay! Just a joke, Arlianne."

    Arlianne faced their fellow cadets and their faculty, and bowed.

    "Sorry about that, " she apologized, "Malachi was just too excited to see an old friend. Are we the last to arrive?"

    Their fellow cadets stared at Malachi''s shenanigan, but Ponytail ignored it. Instead, he placed his attention on Arlianne and answered her question.

    "Good to see you, again. My name is Carlos Baltazar, and I am your assigned faculty, " he said, "And, yes, you are the last to arrive. Now then, let us enter and proceed with your introductions before getting down to business."

    Ponytail, Carlos, opened the door behind him, and went inside the classroom.

    "All right, settle down, all of you, " he told the class, "We have a batch of new students today, and I will be introducing them to you. All right, boys and girls, come in. First up, Levi Skana."

    Levi walked through the doors and presented himself to the class. He didn''t say a word and just looked at the rest disinterestedly. The rest also just looked back at him expressionlessly, like they were used to having an Eskur amongst them because apart from the incoming cadets, Class 13 also had a number of Eskur cadets.

    "Moving on, " continued Carlos, "Dinah Skolva."

    The young Eskur woman who was waiting with Levi entered the room. She had shoulder length hair with a braid hanging on her left, and her eyes were half-closed as though sleepy. Unlike Levi, though, she had the initiative to nod towards her fellow cadets.

    "Next up, Rae Ramirez, " said Carlos, "Please greet your classmates."

    An athletic Perlasian woman strode forward once her name was called. She wore a headband that held her long hair in place. Opposite of the first two, she was lively, immediately lighting up the class with her overly enthusiastic voice.

    "Good day, fellow cadets!" greeted Rae, "I am Rae Ramirez, call me Rae, and I hope to make the best of our lives together, aye!?"

    A few cadets frowned at her enthusiasm, while some raised their brows. The majority, however, remained bored out of their wits, unaffected by Rae''s cheerfulness. Carlos ignored her pep, and continued to introduce the other cadets.

    "Right, next, " he said, "Tyler Simmons."

    Tyler was a short Perlasian for his age, almost always slouching or averting his gaze from other people. Not much to say apart from him being a shy sort with his short hair, yet with bangs long enough to hide his face.

    "He-hello, " said Tyler, "I-I''m T-Tyler, p-p-pleased to m-meet you."

    Not much reaction from the class was garnered due to his soft voice. Only those at the very front were able to hear his greeting, but only a few gave him a glance of acknowledgment.

    Outside the classroom, Malachi witnessed the lifelessness of his assigned class.

    "Damn, this class is perfect, " he commented, "No motivation, doesn''t give a damn, and makes me question why in the world these people signed up here in the first place. A pathetic lot, even our fellow passers are interesting. The Eskurs, though... Huh, quite a lot. This class seems to be a dumping ground for the unwanted despite one''s capabilities."

    "That''s... A rather harsh assessment, Malachi, " said Arlianne, "Do you really hope to transform this class of misfits into an elite force, or so you said?"

    "The difficulty only makes it worth the excitement, Arlianne, " he replied, "Even the dirtiest rocks could actually hide a nice gem if you take the time to clean it. Even more so for a trash heap like this. All they need is one person to refine them into treasures worthy to be gazed upon by the people who thought to discard them as they are right now."

    Finally, Carlos looked at the two remaining faces. He glanced at Malachi and Arlianne, and the two caught his gaze. Without a word, nor waiting for an instruction, Malachi entered the room and Arlianne followed.

    Due to his face unhidden from the time he entered the academy, his lineage was displayed for all to see. Only then did the majority of the class awaken from their stupor. Some stared at the unnatural sight before them, while others chatted with one another¡ªthe subject being Malachi and the rumors that had spawned around him. A few had clenched fists and had grit their teeth, but the Eskurs had eyes of respect towards him.

    "Hope you don''t mind me entering on my own, teach, " said Malachi, "Greetings, comrades. My name is Malachi Skaria, and I hope for you to treat me well."

    "Arlianne Skaria, " added Arlianne, "Same sentiments."

    Suddenly, a boot was thrown at Malachi, but he had caught it effortlessly. Malachi dropped the boot on the floor, and gazed at the person who threw it at him with a smirk. A middle-aged man with thick facial hair on a robust body was standing at the back of the class.

    "Patrick Bryant, stand down!" ordered Carlos, "Who told you to attack him?!"

    "Sir, he''s a Skaria!" roared Patrick, "That clan nearly destroyed the kingdom over a decade ago! And now, a spawn of that clan, stands here before us, mocking us! I''ve lost so much from that war, so much, and none could bring them back! You expect me to work with someone who came from that clan?!"

    "Yeah, it seems stupid that the academy accepted a potential threat, " commented a cadet, "How are we to know whether or not he will stab us in the back, the victors of the war?"

    "Isn''t he the most dangerous out of all the Eskurs here?!" cried another cadet, "Even more that he''s a Tainted. A Perlasian who mingles with such filth deserves to die!"

    Malachi stifled a laugh.

    ''If only you knew who the Perlasian who mingled with my mother was, '' thought Malachi, ''I wonder how they''ll react once they know?''

    "And that girl!" added Patrick, "She even had the gall to take up the name!"

    "What''s wrong with my fianc¨¦e taking up our name?" asked Malachi, "She is the woman I love, and will be taking up the name eventua¡ªow?! What did I say wrong?!"

    "You were too excited, Malachi, " answered Arlianne, "There is no need to defend me against, as you had said, the unknowing and the unforgiving."

    "But did you have to hit me on the head?" whined Malachi.

    "Mama told me to keep an eye on you, " she said, "To prevent you from doing anything stupid."

    "Will the two of you cease your quarrel?" asked Carlos, "Gods, this is so embarrassing, why did I end up with a lunatic like this? And you, Patrick Bryant, step outside and cool your head."

    "But!" tried Patrick to argue.

    "Outside. Now." repeated Carlos sternly.

    Patrick left the classroom through the back door, his left foot missing a boot, and grumbled as he closed the door. Outside, one could barely hear the curses he threw out one after another.

    Carlos waited for Patrick to leave before he addressed the class''s other concerns.

    "Feel free to choose wherever you''d like to sit, " said Carlos, "Onto more important matters. I know we''ve just had fresh faces, but the time has come for you to nominate your Class Captain. Ever since your last Class Captain had graduated, none of you had taken up the position. As you all know, the Class Captain acts as the class''s squad leader when you''re out on missions. You all know that the academy also polices the territories around itself, and that it deals with monster and outlaw subjugation as part of its curriculum."

    Carlos scanned the class for any interested applicants. A few of the fresh faces, hearing a bit of his explanation, averted their gazes. The only one to look on was Malachi, and Arlianne repeatedly sent glances his way. Carlos let out a soft sigh undetected by the rest of the class.

    "While the Class Captain is the squad leader, " continued Carlos, "The Class Captain also deals with the class''s logistics and other miscellaneous concerns like drills and training, and report submission. If a faculty has a concern over a student in a class, that class''s Class Captain will be approached to deal with the concern appropriately."

    Malachi raised his hand.

    "Yes, Skaria, " addressed Carlos, "Would you like to nominate someone?"

    Malachi did an exaggerated bow before Carlos. With his right hand on his left chest, and his left hand in the air, he gave his nomination.

    "I would like to nominate myself, " he said, "Seeing that none would take it up, I find no deterrence to do so."

 Skirmish 3

    [Ties]Skirmish 3

    Back when Malachi was a small child, he often woke up in the middle of the night. Due to being unaccustomed to his new life, having been reincarnated, he would sometimes idly stay awake or roam around the house in an attempt to fall tired and back to sleep.

    For this night, he had awoken by the very same reasons.

    "Darn it, " he cursed, "I''m still not used to this bed. Wish I could fix this, but I know nothing about making beds."

    Malachi got off his bed and went towards the door. Opening it slightly, he took a peek at the dimly lit corridors illuminated by small pyrocite lamps. The pyrocite lamps, while not as bright as lamps using electrocite, had enough luminosity to light up a small area.

    "As expected, " he muttered, "I always wake up when everyone''s asleep."

    Malachi left his room and went to the next one to his left. This was Arlianne''s room. Malachi stood before the door, and thought for a bit.

    ''I wonder how Arlianne looks like when she sleeps?'' he thought, ''I shouldn''t enter without permission, but I really wanna see. To see or not to see?''

    He reached for the doorknob, then lightly twisted it. Hearing a small click, he made a small gap through the doorway to peek inside. Arlianne''s room was no different from Malachi''s, not having too many belongings nor having too many furniture. It was simple, yet clean.

    He scanned the room, looking for Arlianne''s bed and her sleeping figure. Eventually, he found the bed, lightly illuminated by the moonlight through the window. Arlianne, despite living in a hot and dry climate, was bundled up in a blanket.

    ''Perlasian constitution is really strange, '' he thought, ''This climate is already enough for a heatstroke.''

    He entered Arlianne''s room and stood next to the sleeping girl. Malachi stared at Arlianne''s visage and lifted a finger. Inching closer, his finger approached her cheek, but stopped when Arlianne stirred.

    "No... Stop it..." said Arlianne in her sleep, "Young Masterrrrr... Stop poking meeeee..."

    Malachi resisted the urge to laugh as his cheeks momentarily puffed.

    ''Dammit, now what?'' he thought, ''Whatever... Poke.''

    He poked her cheek, and Arlianne reflexively turned the other way.

    ''So cute.'' he thought after, ''Sleep tight, Arlianne.''

    Malachi quietly left Arlianne''s room and went to the next bedroom. After Arlianne''s room was another door. This door led into Ibrahim''s room judging from the scent of medicines being brewed through the gaps.

    ''This smell, '' wondered Malachi, ''Ugh, an anesthetic? My head hurts. Doc must have gone out, then.''

    Ibrahim, being a doctor on top of being an Eskur, had the capability to brew all sorts of medicine. Some of which were taught to Malachi as he grew up, aside from Malachi''s tinkering with machineries. Malachi supported his already going dizzy self with the wall, and he struggled to go past Ibrahim''s room.

    ''Ugh, gonna have to pass this night, '' he thought to himself, ''Let''s have a look at door number four.''

    If the first room was Malachi''s, and the second and third were Arlianne''s and Ibrahim''s, respectively, the fourth would naturally belong to Bashia. Arriving at Bashia''s door, Malachi stuck his ear onto the door, and he listened for any noise.

    Silence.

    Bashia''s room was silent, prompting Malachi to reach for the doorknob. Twisting it slightly, the doorknob didn''t turn, signifying that it was locked.

    ''Either Mama''s asleep, ''or she''s out and about... do I risk it?''

    Malachi thought for a while, but eventually went towards the stairs. Leaving the second floor corridor, he went downstairs onto the hallway leading to the other rooms such as the living room, the dining room, the bath, and the door to the outside.

    ''Since my body is so small, everything around me is so big. It really is disconcerting once I''ve gotten used to being grown up back then.''

    Malachi went from one room to another in the dimly lit darkness. As he passed by the pyrocite lamps that were reminiscent of incandescent light bulbs, he explored the quiet house not unlike a small child, though he is one at the moment.

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    Gurgle.

    Once he felt a gurgle in his stomach, he paused his "exploration," and went to the dining room and into the kitchen.

    ''Just right, hunger prevents me from sleeping and digestion takes a lot of energy. I should fall back to sleep easily after a light snack.''

    Malachi opened each one of the cupboards he could reach with a chair, and sifted through the contents for a snack to eat. He went through nearly all of it, yet all he found were raw ingredients that would no doubt give him a bad night.

    ''Not even a single piece of bread. Huh? What was that?''

    He suddenly felt a chill and snapped his gaze at the doorway leading to the dining room. Just slightly, he caught a glimpse of something white passing by.

    "Ma... Mama?" he called out, "Are you there?"

    No one answered.

    Malachi stared at the doorway and waited for whatever it was to appear again. Nothing or no one appeared. Curious, he left the cupboards and went back to the dining room. Arriving just at the doorway, he grasped the frame and took a peek at the dimly lit room.

    There was no one and nothing but the furniture.

    ''I can''t be delirious due to the lack of sleep, right?''

    Malachi turned back to the kitchen to resume sifting through it for food. However, once he turned his head, his face was met with another pale white visage staring directly at him. Rather than scream in surprise, he recoiled back and slammed his head onto the wooden door frame behind him.

    With a loud bang, Malachi collapsed on the floor and the owner of the pale face before him stood up.

    "Malachi, what are you doing up so late?" asked Bashia, "Are you hungry?"

    "Ma... Mama? Ow..." uttered Malachi as he rubbed his head, "I... I, yeah, I got hungry."

    Bashia lifted him up effortlessly and flipped him over to check his bump. Unnatural strength for someone with her build, not that well-toned and lacking muscles over her body. A mother''s strength, perhaps. Feeling around his nape, Bashia inspected Malachi''s injury.

    "First, let''s take care of this bump, " she said, "You didn''t really have to slam your head so hard, right? Now then, sit down over there."

    Bashia let Malachi down and went to a nearby closet. Opening it, she pulled out a few bottles and bandages, and brought them to where Malachi sat. Opening one bottle, the scent of antiseptics permeated the air.

    "I doubt a bump would warrant cleaning, Mama, " commented Malachi, "I mean, there isn''t an open wound."

    "This is just to make sure, Mally, " she replied, "Now, let me see that bump."

    Bashia applied the medicine on his bump, and Malachi drew in a sharp breath.

    "See? There was an open wound, " said Bashia, "Now, hold still... There we go. Let''s cover it up."

    Bashia deftly applied the medicine and bandages on Malachi''s injury. Malachi felt the back of his head, then faced Bashia with a gurgling stomach. Bashia made a soft smile, and patted Malachi''s head.

    "Just wait for the food, all right?" she said as she went towards the kitchen, "Since you will be going to sleep after this, I''ll just make a little gruel."

    Malachi obediently waited for Bashia, and only half an hour passed before she returned with a bowl of steaming hot gruel. Malachi received his bowl, and the two ate their light meal. Once they were finished, Bashia brought their utensils to be cleansed before she brought Malachi with her back upstairs.

    In Malachi''s bedroom, Bashia tucked him in and said good night with just a final message.

    "Oh, and Mally, " she said, "Don''t enter a girl''s room without permission, okay? That''s rude."

    Malachi could only stare at her and lightly nod. Bashia nodded back and closed the door before returning to her room to sleep as well.

    ''When, where, and how?'' asked Malachi, "Mama is scary..."

 Campaign 4

    [Ties]Campaign 4

    A large group of cadets with one faculty stood on the academy''s training field. The group was divided into two distinct smaller groups. The distinction lay primarily on their appearance and, when it comes right down to it, their race. One group was made entirely out of Perlasians, and each one of the older cadets had intense hatred in their eyes. The target of their hate was none other than a young man of similar color, but with red eyes, and was surrounded by Eskurs and one Perlasian woman.

    While the older generation of cadets held contempt, the younger cadets with them first had no idea whose group to join, but still joined the other Perlasians in the end. The Eskurs only sided with the red-eyed Perlasian man out of reverence to his name: Skaria.

    "How in the world did it come to this?" groaned Carlos, their assigned faculty, "I''m just glad HE didn''t mind this dispute."

    "Lighten up, teach, " said Malachi, "At least, with this, we get to see whether or not I''m fit to take charge of this ragtag group of rejects."

    "Could you not voice out your harsh assessment of your classmates, Skaria?" replied Carlos as he let out a sigh, "Whatever... Patrick Bryant, you''re in charge of your group since you did barge back in and voiced your complaints. The two of you, and your groups, will have a mock battle against one another. If Skaria emerges victorious, he will be your squad leader. If he doesn''t... Well, I hope you''d be willing to lead this class."

    Patrick was silent, busy glaring daggers at Malachi. After a while, he turned around and brought his group with him for a strategy meeting. Malachi shrugged and turned to his new companions: five Eskurs.

    "Well, I''ve introduced myself before, " said Malachi, "And I''m pretty sure you''re only following me because of my name... So, who are you all? Except for Levi and Dinah, of course."

    The first of the three Eskurs stepped forward and made a bow. A tall Eskur male with moderate build greeted Malachi.

    "Greetings, Child of Skaria, " he said, "I am named Reuben Skostra. It is a pleasure to serve under you."

    Malachi kept his poker face, but deep within, he became ever more curious about his name. Malachi nodded at Reuben and turned his gaze to the one next to him, an Eskur woman, who directed a smile at him.

    "I am Genevieve Skolora, " she said, "I hope you don''t mind if I call you ''Young Master,'' yes?"

    Malachi couldn''t resist raising a brow and looked at Arlianne beside him. Arlianne noticed his gaze, but merely shrugged in response.

    ''I hope she doesn''t end up fully servile because of this, " thought Malachi, '' "Young Master," huh? When was the last time Arlianne last called me that?''

    Malachi nodded as well at Genevieve then placed his gaze on the last Eskur, another male. The last Eskur bowed towards Malachi, like Reuben, and introduced himself.

    "I am Isaac Skrima, " he said, "Please do not be alarmed by our humility towards you, Child of Skaria. Judging from your reactions, your Eskur parent hadn''t told you of your heritage, no?"

    "Rather sharp, aren''t you?" commented Malachi.

    "I''ve been told that often, hahaha." replied Isaac, "Please treat us well."

    "Likewise." agreed Malachi, "Now then, let''s go to the armory and get sorted out. From there, I will formulate a plan to beat the others."

    Levi suddenly interrupted Malachi.

    "Hold up, Malachi, " he said, "We are severely outnumbered here. The entrance exam was one thing, but we are going up against a group that vehemently hates us. What do you plan to do with just seven people?"

    "Just go to the armory, all right?" replied Malachi, "I''ll see what each of you will be bringing, and I''ll think of a way from there."

    In their armory, the same weapons they used in the entrance exam were lined up with a few additions. Additional weapons were found stacked on top of one another: blunt swords, wooden shields, wooden mauls, and modified armor.

    "These are Steam Knight equipment?" wondered Malachi, "The knight suit is just plain armor, though."

    "Young Master''s entrance exam didn''t have this, yes?" asked Genevieve, "the academy also makes cadets train using Steam Knight equipment. Of course, for mock battles, we just have the armor and weapons unlike tournaments and live combat."

    Malachi saw that Isaac deftly put on the Steam Knight equipment with practiced movement. In less than a minute, he was a hulking chunk of iron and wood, seemingly capable of fending off any attack.

    "How fast can you run carrying all that?" asked Malachi, "Depending on your answer, your position may vary."

    "The training models are lighter than the combat models, " answered Isaac, "From here to there, around thirty seconds?"

    Isaac pointed to a nearby tower. From where they stood, the tower was 40 meters away. Covering the distance of 40 meters while wearing cumbersome equipment, Malachi was impressed.

    "Not bad, " he commented, "I suppose you''ve been wearing this since long before, huh?"

    "Approximately three years, if I remember correctly, " added Isaac, "Enough time to build up stamina and muscles to carry all this."

    Malachi nodded repeatedly. After leaving Isaac, he went towards the others to inspect their equipment. Levi picked up a repeater and a handcannon, like before, and Dinah chose a crossbow and a fusil. Reuben and Genevieve both got repeaters and fusils, instead. Satisfied, it was Malachi''s and Arlianne''s turn to choose their equipment. Arlianne settled for a crossbow and a repeater, but Malachi chose to bring two handcannons and one wooden shield instead.

    "This thing''s pretty heavy, " commented Malachi, "Just perfect for what I intend to do."

    Seeing this, Levi was the first to react.

    "I see, you plan to do what we did in the exam, " he said, "A knight shield is much easier to wield than a container plate."

    Curious, the others inquired Levi about what he meant. Levi found no fault in answering and shared his experience with Malachi. Afterwards, gazes of disbelief were met and voices of laughter erupted.

    "How... How insane!" cried Genevieve, "Young Master, that will bring a surprise to many people! I can''t wait to see the reactions of the others when they meet us."

    "Should I forego the armor and imitate you?" asked Isaac, "Thinking about it, I can carry the shield easily since I''ve been training for a long time. A powerful defense with high mobility, impressive."

    "Are you sure about that, Isaac?" verified Malachi, "You''re free to imitate me, but only if you''re sure about your decision. Naturally, I already have a plan in my head if you ever do."

    Isaac shrugged.

    "It won''t hurt to try, " he said, "Let me just get rid of this armor."

    After finalizing their equipment, Malachi and the rest gathered around a table provided to them. On the table was a map of the area where they will be conducting their mock battle. On the map, not only were the locations of their bases were shown, even the obstacles and trenches were shown.

    "All right, we are seven in total, but I have two things in my head, " explained Malachi, "First plan is to have two groups of three people advance forward. Naturally, each will have one with a shield to protect the front. The last one would just run like a mad bull all over and distract the enemy. Attracting their attention, and diverting their fire. The runner will need to be fast and nimble, able to sprint at full speed while dodging and turning."

    Malachi looked around to see if anybody had a question. Seeing that there were none, he continued to explain the other plan.

    "The second, however, will have three groups. Two groups of two, and one group of three. The two groups will have a shield and a shooter, each, while the group of three will circle around and act independently. I say ''independently'' because the two shield groups will be the ones doing the distracting. The goal of this mock battle is to subdue the leaders of either group, that''s me or Mr. Bryant. With me carrying one shield, all attention will fall on me, effectively distracting them."

    "That''s a rather dangerous plan, Malachi, " commented Arlianne, "Knowing you, though, you''d still do it."

    "That''s why I''m sharing it with all of you, Arlianne, " said Malachi, "Even if I''m the leader, I need the squad''s understanding to put a plan into effect. I plan to work with all of you, as efficient as possible, and I don''t want anybody saying, ''this isn''t what we talked about!'' or declaring, ''I don''t know what to do!'' right in the middle of the fight. This is, rather, these are just the general strategies. I will still need to iron out the kinks by sharing it with you all. So, any ideas, suggestions, or misgivings?"

    "Who will be going with who, then?" inquired Reuben, "I can see that both you and Isaac will take care of the shields, but who will be escorting either of you and who will be in the independent group?"

    "I will be trusting Arlianne with my back. For Isaac, any volunteers?"

    "I''ll do it, " said Reuben, "I''ve been with this guy since I got here, and I can pretty much support him as intended."

    "Guess that leaves Levi with a harem, " teased Malachi, "Aren''t you glad, Levi? Two flowers are going with you."

    "Shut up, Malachi, " bit back Levi, "Get serious, why don''t you?"

    "Oh, but I am, comrade, " replied Malachi, "Saddening, though, seems like Levi isn''t interested in either Gene and Din... Hey, I made it rhyme. Ow?! Arlianne?!"

    Arlianne hit Malachi''s head.

    "Like Levi had said, " she scolded, "You need to get serious. Especially if you want to push through with your plans, Malachi."

    "Plans?" wondered Dinah.

    Malachi made a playful smile.

    "That''s a secret~" he said, "You''ll see in time, though."

    Without another word, they finalized the plan to tackle Patrick''s group.

    ///

    "This should be easy, " commented a Perlasian cadet, "We have twelve guys here, and only seven of them."

    "Shut up, we''re going up against a Skaria, " said Patrick with a heavy voice, "You have no idea how badly this kingdom had suffered during their so-called ''uprising'' years ago. Even of they had lost in the end, even if they are fewer in number... Never, ever underestimate them. You got that?"

    Patrick looked into his fellow cadet''s eyes and said what he needed to before leaving to check on the others with them. Seeing Patrick''s distancing back, the cadet chatted with another cadet next to him.

    "Hey, what happened 20 years ago, anyway?" asked the cadet, "I only know what I''ve read in books, but was it really that bad?"

    The one he asked also seemed older than the rest. When he heard the question, his eyes seemed to look back into the past. Eyes filled with sorrow, regret, and anger. Seeing this, the younger cadet went silent, and didn''t ask further.

    "We should get ready, " said the older cadet, "The appointed time is getting near."

    The two cadets went to their positions to engage Malachi''s group.

    ///

    At the same time, at a far away tower stood Carlos with one other visitor. It was an old man wearing a formal military dress.

    "Hohoho, this is getting exciting, " said the old man, "Who do you think will emerge victorious, eh?"

    "Your Highness..." said Carlos.

    "Ah, drop it, " interjected Eleazar, "Just call me ''Headmaster'' instead. Calling me ''Highness'' is just too stuffy."

    "Er, right, " commented Carlos, "Well, Headmaster, it would be fine not to make a game out of this. Even if he is your grandson, I can''t be playing favorites here as a teacher. Also, aren''t you worried about his very presence here in the academy? Knowing how the war progressed years ago, those scars haven''t healed yet."

    "Oh, worry not, " said Eleazar, "Even if he is the grandson of my former enemy, that old man was still my friend. Without that fact, we wouldn''t have ended the war years ago."

    "Of course, Great Hero King, Eleazar the Red." said Carlos, "By the way, how is Master Graham and his family faring?"

    "Those three? They''re here within the academy, " declared Eleazar, "I couldn''t leave them to rot in the palace, after all."

    "I suppose I should visit them from time to time, then, " said Carlos, "Ah, the mock battle is starting. Well then, Headmaster, if you''ll excuse me."

    Carlos left Eleazar on the tower, and went down to the announcer''s podium. Stepping up, he announced the beginning of the mock battle.

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    ///

    "Take care of the left side, Arlianne!" shouted Malachi, "Isaac, move closer to the left! Reuben, take out that fusilier on the crates!"

    "Intercept that bastard!" roared Patrick, "Don''t let them advance any further! You, flank to his right, and take him out! He''s gone this far to the front lines like food on a silver platter!"

    Just a few minutes from the start of the match, the two groups had already clashed. Malachi and Isaac, the ones carrying the shields, were surrounded wholly by Patrick''s squad. The ones with them, Arlianne and Reuben, were busy defending their flanks.

    "Isaac, drop your body more!" ordered Malachi, "Let the shield cover more than half your body as you move! Reuben, flanker on your right!"

    "Malachi! I''m reloading!" shouted Arlianne, "Target on the left!"

    Malachi heard her, dropped down to cover themselves with the shield, and pulled out a handcannon to intercept an enemy. With just a flick of his wrist and the pull of the trigger, the flanking enemy had to dive for cover.

    "Any time now, Levi, " he muttered under his breath, "Any time..."

    ...

    While there was an intense firefight between Malachi and Patrick, Levi and his team was busy circling around the perimeter to flank Patrick''s group. Dashing from cover to cover to avoid being seen, he and the other two made their way towards their intended positions.

    "Looks like their hate for Skaria runs deeper than I thought, " commented Levi, "I can''t help but worry for that bastard."

    "You sound like you''ve known the Young Master for quite some time, " said Genevieve.

    "Just that we''ve lived in the same village for seven years, " explained Levi, "Never thought Lady Bashia was a Skaria."

    "Lady?" perked up Dinah, "Then his father was a Perlasian? Who would, in their right mind, fall in love with a Skaria?"

    "I wouldn''t know, " said Levi, "What I do know is that sometimes two men would visit from time to time. Apart from that, I would surmise one of those men would be his father. The two were also secretive about it, judging from the clothes they wore each time."

    Genevieve and Dinah nodded in understanding.

    "Hmm, this is too easy, " commented Levi, "Is everybody gunning for Malachi?"

    "Isn''t it better for us?" asked Dinah, "We get to safely take out Patrick."

    "Only if they don''t notice our absence, " argued Levi, "Dinah, take a nest up their and spot for targets."

    ...

    "Hey, aren''t there supposed to be seven of them?" asked a cadet, "I only see four."

    "Hmm? You''re right, " said another, "Hey, someone tell Pat about this!"

    A lone cadet ran back to Patrick with this information. Malachi saw the lone cadet and thought in wonder.

    ''Did they finally notice?'' he thought, ''Took them a long time. Time to mix things up.''

    ...

    "Is that right?" said Patrick holding his chin, "Should be the two girls and that new Eskur boy. All right, get three of the guys to hang back and patrol the perimeter."

    As soon as they received the order, three cadets left the front lines and fell back. Malachi saw this as well, and turned to look at Arlianne.

    "Looks like they''ve finally noticed what''s up, " he told her, "Time for a change of plans."

    Arlianne nodded and prepared herself. Malachi then turned his attention to the other shield group.

    "Isaac, Reuben!" he shouted, "Follow my charge!"

    Isaac and Reuben were surprised and looked at the situation before them. Over the distance, they could see the figures of three cadets falling back. Thinking back on Malachi''s order, they also realized what happened.

    As soon as Isaac and Reuben nodded, Malachi raised the shield and carried it with both hands. Like before, during the exam, Malachi tilted back the shield like a plow.

    "Rush them!" he shouted.

    Two shields suddenly plowed forward, followed by two shooters that provided covering fire. Their sudden charge flustered the front line into scrambling to intercept them. The sudden change in movements created momentary chaos that let Malachi reach a lone cadet.

    "Shield bash!" cried Malachi.

    He slammed the shield he was carrying into the dumbfounded cadet and sent him flying. With one knocked away, Malachi continued his charge and sent one cadet flying after another. After four cadets, his momentum slowed, and he threw his shield towards another group of bunched up cadets with great vigor. The shield slammed onto another two cadets, knocking them out.

    "Five down, seven left!" announced Malachi, "Onwards!"

    Isaac followed suit and slammed his shield on another cadet. With his years of training with heavy equipment, the cadet was sent flying further than Malachi''s hit and the cadet landed on another cadet who was busy reloading a repeater. Only two cadets were left standing and were backed to a wall. The sight of four pairs of red eyes staring at them sent shivers down their spine.

    "I yield!" declared a cadette, "I give up, don''t shoot!"

    "I-I-I also yield!" declared the other cadet. It was Tyler, "D-d-don''t shoot!"

    Malachi saw their surrender and sighed.

    "All right, all right, " he said, "Get off the zone, now. Oh, and bring your buddies, too. Tch, I wanted them to cry."

    "Malachi, " called out Arlianne, "get a grip."

    "Yeah, yeah, " replied Malachi, "With this, though, I have seen the strengths and weaknesses of those we''ve fought with and against."

    ...

    "The front has fallen!" announced a cadet, "Pat, we''re alone!"

    "Damn! I should have joined the front instead, " cursed Patrick, "How were they taken out?"

    "More than half were pummeled with shields, Sam and Tyler surrendered."

    "Filthy cowards, " commented Patrick, "The young know nothing, nothing at all!"

    "Calm down, Pat!" scolded another cadet, "Look, they''re here already!"

    "Raaargh! I''m gonna kill him!" roared Patrick.

    Patrick wore knight armor and was wielding a large wooden maul. Without notice, he charged forward like a lumbering armored giant. Each of his steps audibly thundered on the field, and his companions panicked into providing support.

    ...

    "Guess they noticed what our plan was, " said Genevieve, "Let''s do a pincer attack while Patrick''s raging against Young Master."

    "All right, we attack on three." said Levi, "One... Two... Three! Go!"

    Levi, Genevieve, and Dinah went out of hiding and flanked the remaining cadets. With their sudden assault, the remaining enemies had to split their attention between Malachi and Levi. Patrick, too, had enough awareness to notice the others'' attacks reaching them. Using his shield, he protected himself and one cadet behind him. The other two cadets had to scramble for cover in order to not get hit.

    "Give up, Mr. Bryant!" ordered Malachi, "You are surrounded with nowhere to go!"

    "Silence, you damned child!" roared back Patrick, "I will not yield, I will not surrender, I will not succumb beneath your feet!"

    "Pat! Get do¡ªugh?!" a cadet was about to pull Patrick down, but was shot by Dinah''s crossbow.

    "Rage clouds the mind, Mr. Bryant!" shouted Malachi, "You should know well enough not to let your emotions interfere with your mind in a battlefield! Your hatred for my ancestry was the beginning of your defeat!"

    "Shut up!" roared Patrick, "My brothers and sisters, my friends and family... Unforgivable... All are unforgivable!"

    Patrick left his companions and charge Malachi alone. Ignoring the interception fire he received from the Eskurs, he arrived before Malachi with his maul about to smash Malachi. However, Malachi was faster than Patrick''s heavy equipment. He dove forward through Patrick''s legs and shot his back. Unfortunately, there was a shield hanging on Patrick''s back that deflected Malachi''s shot.

    "Hey, you damned turtle!" taunted Malachi, "You''re too slow for this rabbit!"

    "Graaaahhhh!!" roared Patrick as he twisted his body to face Malachi, "Die!!!"

    With the momentum from twisting his body, Patrick''s maul carried enough kinetic force to smash Malachi. Again, though, Malachi rolled away to avoid getting hit. The maul smashed the ground and left a depression where it hit.

    "I don''t need to duel with you, " said Malachi, "All forces, focus fire on Mr. Bryant!"

    Malachi fell back to avoid friendly fire. Once he left Patrick alone, all of his companions subsequently buffeted Patrick with a rain of bolts and bullets. Patrick had no choice but to defend himself until the end.

    The firefight lasted for a full minute before it ended. When it did, everybody ran out of ammo, and this gave Patrick the initiative to resume his attacks. Once he stood up, though, he felt someone holding something metallic to his neck.

    "What? Who?" He said in surprise.

    "Checkmate, Mr. Bryant." said Arlianne.

    During the firefight, Malachi ordered Arlianne to go behind Patrick. Everybody else moved around to avoid hitting Arlianne, and Arlianne shot Patrick from the back as she approached. Since Patrick was busy defending against everybody, he had no leisure to take notice of what else was happening around him. With just the impact of the bullets on his armor, he had to roughly guess the situation.

    Once the gunfire stopped, Arlianne was already directly behind Patrick. As soon as Patrick relieved his defense, Arlianne stuck a repeater to Patrick''s neck. The feeling of heated metal on his skin shocked Patrick and forced his surrender.

    ///

    "Well, no wonder you''re all in Class 13, " said Malachi, "How the hell did you all get through the exam?"

    Malachi looked at the ragged state of his fellow classmates. The Perlasians that went against him all lined up before him. Carlos was also present and stood next to Malachi with a clipboard.

    "I guess that is that, Skaria, " said Carlos, "You all had a chance to redeem yourselves. A chance to avoid following the orders of a... Skaria... but you all failed. Patrick Bryant, I hope you no longer have any qualms about this, and I hope you won''t get into worse trouble afterwards."

    "... Understood." affirmed Patrick hesitatingly.

    Carlos nodded.

    "Well then, Malachi Skaria, " he added, "With this, you are now Class 13''s squad leader. Take care of your classmates."

    "Roger that, teach, " affirmed Malachi, "All right, trash heap of rejects, back to class!"

    The Perlasians of his class glared at Malachi, calling them a "trash heap of rejects," but dejectedly followed orders because of their loss. Carlos sighed before following them back to their classroom. As they left, they passed by another class going to the field. The class they passed by avoided them, and moved further away.

    The other class was led by a young Perlasian woman with waist-length hair. Malachi and this young woman met with their eyes before leaving one another. The young woman stopped marching, her class stopped as well, and asked a nearby cadet a question.

    "That was... Class 13, right?" asked the young woman to a cadet, "Who was that?"

    "Lady Alexa, that was the applicant of rumor, " answered the cadet, "A child of Skaria, Malachi Skaria."

    The young woman, Alexa, slightly shivered when she learned Malachi''s identity. She looked back and watched Malachi''s disappearing figure as he turned to a corner. Alexa also found that he was being followed closely by a young woman, Arlianne.

    "The girl was said to be his fianc¨¦e, " added the cadet, "I had heard her name was Arlianne. Lady Alexa? What''s the matter?"

    Alexa froze on the spot when she heard their names. Being called out by the cadet, she shook her head and turned around.

    "No, it''s nothing, " she said, "Let''s get started with training."

    Alexa led her class to the field to begin their training. While the rest were doing exercises, she found another part of the field being cleaned up. Approaching an academy personnel, she asked a question.

    "What happened here?" she asked.

    "Class 13 had a feud or something, " answered a personnel, "Seems like they were divided on the issue about who the squad leader should be. In the end, that half-Eskur led his squad to victory, judging from how ragged half his class was."

    "Is that right?" She said as she looked back at the academy behind her.

 Campaign 5

    [Ties]Campaign 5

    "Now then, before we begin with class, " said Carlos, "Skaria, please head down to the main armory to retrieve your other classmates."

    "I get to have more friendsies?!" cried Malachi in perverted delight, "Oh, goodie! I like friendsies! Ow?!"

    "Let''s go, Malachi, " said Arlianne, "Stop doing something so embarrassing already."

    "Yes, yes, " said Malachi, "Well, then, I''m off!"

    The rest of Class 13 watched as Malachi and Arlianne disappeared through the doorway. Once the door was shut, the class became rowdy.

    "Yo, Professor!" called out a cadet, "Are you seriously letting that nutjob lead us?!"

    "You''ve seen his performance, " said Carlos, "With just a few people, he was able to take you all out, not including Ms. Cuevas and Mr. Simmons, of course."

    Patrick glared at the two cadets seated before him. They were the two who were left standing by Malachi and the other Eskurs due to their surrender. Tyler and the other, Samantha Cuevas, shrunk into their seats.

    ///

    The main armory held most of the academy''s weapons and military-grade equipment. It was actually the academy''s furnace, but was retrofitted as a full time armory due to the nature of the materiel produced. As such, siege engines, steam knights, fusils, repeaters, and every other weapon used were produced and stockpiled in here.

    Malachi and Arlianne went through the gates and were greeted by an intense heat wave due to the large amount of pyrocite being used and processed. Having been used to this phenomenon, Malachi and Arlianne asked a nearby engineer where Class 13''s designated armory was. The engineer directed them to the end of the hall they were in before getting back to work.

    Arriving at their designated armory, the two were greeted by a group of cadet engineers covered in dirt and sweat operating one machine after another. There was one Eskur male surrounded by Perlasians. The Eskur was operating a crane and was replacing a siege engine''s cannon. He was assisted by two Perlasians, a man and a woman, who were guiding the cannon with their steam knights.

    Two other Perlasian males were replacing broken fusils and repeaters with new ones, and another Perlasian woman was seemingly taking inventory. The one who was taking inventory noticed their new visitors.

    "Hello there!" greeted the woman loudly due to the surrounding noise, "Do you need something!?"

    Malachi and Arlianne approached the woman who greeted them, and introduced themselves.

    "A Skaria?!" repeated the woman, "Hey, Skosti! You have a kinsman here!"

    The Eskur who was operating the crane stopped his work and looked back. Seeing Malachi''s red eyes, he left his station to greet him.

    "A kinsman, you say?" asked the Eskur, "Greetings, kinsman, I am Asher Skosti. I work as an engineer for Class 13."

    "Yeah, and I''m your squad leader, Malachi Skaria, " returned Malachi, "A pleasure to meet you."

    As soon as Malachi said his name, Asher suddenly dropped onto the ground and praised Malachi.

    "Oh, Clan Skaria lives!" praised Asher, "Let this lowly kinsman serve you to the fullest!"

    "Holy crap?!" exclaimed Malachi, "Japanese Fried Chicken, get up, man! And stop treating me like I''m some sort of god!"

    "At once, milord!" affirmed Asher as he stood up, "Any other requests, milord?"

    Malachi stared in great disbelief at the sight before him. The other Perlasians around them also stopped working and watched Asher''s actions in amazement. It should be noted, though, that Asher seems to be the eldest amongst Class 13''s engineers and the rest were young.

    Malachi rubbed his head and sighed.

    "Listen here, uh, Asher, " he said, "It is true that I carry the name of Skaria, but I have no clue about my ancestry. My mother and father hadn''t told me anything about Clan Skaria. So, rather than treating me like some deity of yours, please treat me as an equal, all right?"

    "Never!" refused Asher, "Our gratitude for Clan Skaria will never let us treat milord as mere equals. It is because of Clan Skaria that the Perlas monarchy allowed us to live even after our defeat!"

    ''Shoot, '' thought Malachi, ''If I knew about the history behind Mama''s name, I wouldn''t have used it. My mixed lineage is one thing, but to be related in the war years ago? I should visit Gramps soon...''

    Malachi looked around and watched the others'' faces. The woman who greeted them had a cramped smile, and the rest had slackened jaws. Malachi covered his face with one hand and massaged his forehead.

    "Gah, fine, fine, call me whatever, " he told Asher, "Now then, gather the others and introduce yourselves to me."

    Asher nodded repeatedly and herded the others towards Malachi. Standing before Malachi were a pair of twins, two men, the woman who greeted them, and Asher.

    "The ones here are just half of the entire Class 13 engineers, " explained Asher, "The others went to the depot to procure more equipment. Ah, speaking of, here they are."

    Arriving through the doorway of their armory was a group of four Perlasians, three women and one man. The new arrivals saw their other companions lining up before Malachi and Arlianne, and thought to drop what they were carrying to line up with them.

    "Uh, is there something you need from us?" asked a woman.

    "Relax, I''m just your new squad leader, " said Malachi, "My name is Malachi, er, Malachi Skaria."

    Again, when Malachi said his name, a reaction was found on the man''s face. Although, rather than hate, it was more of curiosity, instead.

    "Is this all of you?" asked Malachi, "Well then, please introduce yourselves, starting from you."

    Malachi pointed at one of the twins at the end of the line. It was a young woman.

    "My name is Felicia Giba and this is my brother, Felix Giba, " she said, "We are siege engine operators together with Asher. Pleased to meet you, Squad Leader."

    The man beside her, Felix, nodded towards Malachi. Next, the person after them spoke up.

    "My name is Chase Trias, " he said, "I work with my brother, Stephen, maintaining the class''s equipment."

    "I''m Stephen Trias, " introduced the other, "We also work with the siege engine to load the cannon when in operation."

    Malachi nodded in understanding. He then shifted his gaze to the woman who greeted them.

    "I''m Margaret Croix, daughter of the Earl of Croix, " she said, "I work as the inventory keeper of Class 13. A pleasure to meet you."

    Malachi raised a brow.

    ''A daughter of an Earl?'' He thought, ''What is she doing in a place like this?''

    "Surprised to see an Earl''s daughter, no?" said Asher, "She has her circumstances, so don''t ask too much, milord."

    Malachi shrugged and moved his gaze to the four other arrivals. The next person to introduce themselves was the man with the young women. He had a full set of hair on his face, and quite a large body, making him suitable to be a steam knight.

    "I am Garret Kingston, " he said, "I work as logistics with the girls here."

    "Olivia Atkasin, " said the first one.

    "Ritva Cruz, " said the second.

    "Simone Jury, " said the third.

    "Oh, a harem, " commented Malachi, "I envy you. Ha! You thought you''d hit me, but no¡ªouch?! How?!"

    "For every unneeded comment you make, Malachi, " said Arlianne, "I will hit you. Mama told me to do so. Even if you block one hit, I still have another."

    Arlianne aimed a chop on Malachi''s head, but Malachi evaded it. Afterwards, though, Arlianne sent a jab at Malachi''s side, which made him drop on the ground.

    "Milord?!" cried Asher, "You we¡ªurk?!"

    Asher was about to curse Arlianne, but he received an intense glare from Malachi instead.

    "Chill out, Asher, " said Malachi, "This is normal for my wife. Haha! You misse¡ªwoah!"

    Another jab was sent to Malachi, followed by a roundhouse. Malachi got hit and crouched down to massage his head.

    "Malachi, please get a grip and be serious, " said Arlianne, "You wouldn''t want Mama to know about this, no?"

    "All right, fine, chill, I got it..." answered Malachi, "Right, she''s Arlianne and she carries my name as my fianc¨¦e. Treat her well, and I will treat you well."

    The girls with Garret whispered with one another after that. Curious gazes were also sent to Malachi. Asher was slackjawed, and the rest went into a stupor. Finally, another visitor arrived to check on them.

    "What''s the noise all about?" asked the visitor, "Class 13, enough trouble already! Eh? Who are you?"

    "Why is there a loli here?" questioned Malachi, "Are you lost, little girl?"

    The new visitor, a small girl wearing a leather apron came before Malachi and kicked his shin. Malachi recoiled, and crouched down to massage the place where he got hit.

    "How dare you think I''m a mere child!" scolded the little girl, "I am the genius engineer of Perlas, Remi Ashwald, and I''m the Head Chief of this furnace!"

    Malachi stared at Remi with amazement.

    "You''re a Head Chief?" He asked, "Amazing, that''s pretty good for someone your size."

    "Hmph, glad you know, " said Remi, "Now, who are you?"

    Malachi introduced himself again, and Remi had an expression of realization.

    "I see, " she said, "So you''re the boy."

    Malachi stared at Remi.

    "So, he told you already, huh?" asked Malachi, "Guess we''ll be working together a lot."

    Remi looked at the rest of Class 13''s engineers.

    "Let''s not tarry, then, " she said, "Come with me, boy. And you, get back to work."

    Remi led Malachi and Arlianne out of the class armory and went deeper into the furnace. Asher and the rest followed Remi''s order and went back to the work they had stalled. In the middle of work, Garret went to Asher.

    "Looks like our lives in the academy will be colorful, eh, Asher?" He said, "So, will you uphold the vow your clan made with Clan Skaria?"

    "All of our Eskur kinsmen will uphold our vow to support the clan, Garret, " replied Asher, "Clan Skaria had disappeared for over a decade after the war, and a Child of Skaria emerged with mixed blood. Whoever his other parent is does not matter to us, we will follow Skaria. Though, seeing he is of mixed blood and having a Perlasian fianc¨¦e, I doubt he means ill will to the kingdom."

    "That''s an assurance, " commented Garret, "At least the time when our two races learn to accept one another draws near."

    Asher smiled at Garret''s words, before Garret left to deal with the rest of the logistics.

    ///

    "Show me those designs you made, boy, " requested Remi, "If I am to let you have full access to my furnace, I need to know what you plan to make, boy."

    "Can you stop calling me ''boy''?" requested Malachi, "I am evidently older than you, you know? Call me something like, ''Bro'' or something."

    Remi led Malachi and Arlianne to her personal armory. They gathered around a table that had blueprints and weapon parts littered all over it. Remi cleared the table, dumping everything to one side, and requested Malachi to show her his creations.

    "Do you have a pencil and some papers?" asked Malachi, "I don''t have them with me since its all in my room."

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    Remi went to a nearby shelf and pulled out scrolls of rolled papers. Then she pulled out a pencil from one of her chest pockets, and handed the requested items to Malachi.

    "So, you have everything in your head?" inquired Remi, "All right, show me your skills."

    Malachi sprawled the papers on the desk and began to draw the schematics of the weapons in his head. One after another, he drew designs for automatic weapons, rifles, cannons, and even armor and tank designs. It only took him a half hour to draw the rough drafts of ten different weapons on the paper. His speed amazed Remi as she intensely watched Malachi''s hands.

    "These are roughly the things I want to make, " said Malachi, "I''ve also included the recipes for the propellants with varying pyrocite quantities. I''ve also included the alloy ratio for the weapons to adapt to the power of pyrocite for the body and bullets. As for the tanks, I made a rough estimate for the engine, armor, and cannon caliber based on the current designs of the siege engines. As an additional, I plan to modify the steam knights into siege knights. A personal creation of mine to boost this kingdom''s military power."

    As Malachi finished explaining himself, he found Remi to be drooling over the papers. Remi snapped out of her stupor and returned to Malachi.

    "These are good, " commented Remi, "Very detailed and comprehensive. Seems like any question I ask will already be answered. Except for one thing, I need to see a live demonstration of these ''automatic rifles'' before I give my final decision."

    "Then, do you mind if I get it from my room?" asked Malachi, "I made a rough version with selective fire."

    "Go ahead, " replied Remi, "I''ll meet you in the firing range. We can do a comparison in front of all the other engineers you will be working with. What? Did you expect to make these on your own? Go, boy."

    "I told you to stop calling me ''boy,''" replied Malachi, "Whatever, see ya, little girl."

    Remi threw a wrench at Malachi, and Malachi ran off with Arlianne.

    "Damned Perlas, " cursed Remi, "Oh, well. At least the place will get rowdy soon, heehee."

    ///

    Malachi and Arlianne jogged through the academy''s halls. Suddenly, they bumped into Carlos on the way.

    "Skaria, are you going back to class?" He asked, "The next class should be history. Don''t you want to know more about your name?"

    "Not now, teach, " said Malachi, "I need to get something from my room. I will be doing a live demonstration with the guys from the armory."

    "A live demo?" repeated Carlos, "Do you need me to tell the others? I could ask the next teacher to exempt you for the moment."

    "Sure, that would be great, teach, " answered Malachi, "Ah, if you''d like, you can bring the others to the firing range to watch. It should cement my presence further as the squad leader."

    "I''ll consider it, " said Carlos, "Well, carry on."

    Malachi and Arlianne left Carlos and went to the dorms. Carlos, instead, went back to Class 13''s classroom to notify the others about Malachi''s intentions. The history teacher with them also became curious and dismissed the class ahead of schedule. Once more, Class 13 left their classroom, and went to the armory''s firing range.

    Since Class 13 was distinct for their Eskur cadets, their movements were noticed by the rest of the academy. Seeing the last class moving a lot in one day, it garnered much interest that those who were free followed behind them to see what they were up to. One class that came from the field crossed paths with Class 13, Alexa''s class.

    "Again?" commented a cadet, "Class 13 sure has become active lately."

    "I wonder what they''re planning?" said another cadette, "Hey, they seem to be headed towards the armory. Are they doing familiarization for the new recruits?"

    Alexa watched with curiosity Class 13''s cadets.

    "He''s not with them." She whispered.

    "Lady Alexa?" called out a cadet, "What''s wrong? We could follow them since we have a free class after this."

    Alexa nodded at the cadets words and brought her class to follow Class 13 to the armory. Now, because Alexa''s class followed after, more onlookers became curious about Class 13''s actions and followed like a train of cadets and faculty.

    ///

    Once Malachi retrieved the needed weapons, he and Arlianne went back to the armory. That was, only to find a huge crowd of cadets and faculty waiting inside. The number alone shocked him and Arlianne, and the fact that the armory could accommodate them all shocked him further.

    Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning to see who it was, he found Eleazar.

    "Hahaha! Well, child, " said Eleazar, "Looks like whatever you''re doing attracted a lot of attention. Class 13 may be the worst of the academy, but it is because of that that a lot of people became curious. Your match with Patrick Bryant attracted a lot of attention, and having your class move again attracted even more. Hahaha!"

    "But is it enough to attract half the academy?!" cried Malachi, "How the heck do I get through that crowd? Wait, did you and Remi have something to do with this?"

    "Hahaha!" laughed Eleazar again, "I just wanted to see the new toys you brought for us to play with. I hope you don''t disappoint."

    ''Damn you, '' thought Malachi, ''Shoot, this is too high profile... Dammit, let''s just get on with it.''

    Malachi went forward with Arlianne, and his arrival attracted the gazes of many.

    "Skaria..."

    "Mixed blood..."

    "Traitor..."

    "Lord..."

    "Young Master..."

    Malachi heard many whispers from his surroundings. Whispers and voices of surprise, discontent, anger, and praise. Despite having most of the Eskur cadets in his class, the Eskur personnel of the academy could only bow in his direction. When they did this, the older cadets of the other classes could only look in disdain.

    ''I feel like Moses when he divided the Red Sea, '' thought Malachi, ''Except, each step I make divides a sea of people.''

    The closer he went to the armory, the wider the gap between the crowd became. Followed closely by Arlianne, he had arrived at the front of the crowd. It was there where he met Alexa. Malachi and Alexa met face to face since Alexa hadn''t stepped aside. She gazed into Malachi''s eyes, and he met her with his.

    "Uh, hello." greeted Malachi.

    Suddenly, a wall of Perlasian cadets went in-between the two and separated them.

    "Leave Lady Alexa, Child of Skaria, " said a cadet, "You have no authority to meet with the daughter of Prince Elijah."

    Malachi straightened himself.

    ''Daughter of Uncle Elijah?'' He thought, ''My cousin? Damn, she''s pretty, too.''

    Seeing that Malachi isn''t reacting much, the wall of cadets moved forward to push Malachi away. Alexa didn''t notice it as she was too focused on Malachi. Malachi stepped back, away from the wall of cadets, and went to the firing range though another direction.

    ''Huh, why was she staring at me like that?'' thought Malachi as he walked away, ''Is it because of my name again?''

    Malachi left the crowd with Arlianne, but Arlianne looked back at Alexa. Arlianne''s and Alexa''s gazes met, and Arlianne smiled. Her action surprised Alexa, and Arlianne chased after Malachi.

    ''Did she realize who I was?'' thought Alexa, ''But it didn''t seem like he knew me.''

    The wall of cadets dispersed and went back to their respective classes. Alexa returned her attention to Class 13 where she found Malachi and Arlianne rejoining them.

    ...

    Once Malachi arrived in the firing range, he was met by Remi and the rest of the engineers.

    "Ah, here you are, boy, " said Remi, "Looks like a party from here."

    "I have to thank my classmates for being a trash heap, I guess," commented Malachi, "Too much movement seemed to have attracted a lot of unwanted attention."

    "Oh, relax, boy, " said Remi, "If your weapons are as good as you say, it should help with your image in the academy."

    "I have no need for image, " said Malachi, "I want results."

    "Then, wouldn''t it result in a better image?" wondered Remi.

    Malachi looked into her eyes. Remi swallowed her saliva being stared at with Malachi''s red eyes.

    "I want something better than mere image, " he said, "I want complete victory."

    Remi smiled in acknowledgment.

    "That''s good, boy, " she said, "I hope to witness your intended victory. Whatever it may be. Now, let me see your guns."

    Malachi signalled to Arlianne to go with him to a table. With practiced movements, he and Arlianne pulled out one gun after another. Replicas of another world''s weapons were laid on the table, and Remi could not help but watch in amazement and slightly drool at the sight.

    Malachi lifted a long gun, a replica of a modern bullpup assault rifle.

    "Here is an assault rifle, " he explained, "and here is how one wields it. So, do you want the full magazine, or just a few bursts?"

    "What will make it seem awesome?" asked Remi, "I want you to shock everybody present, boy."

    Malachi looked around him and found the curious gazes of his fellow cadets. Not only that, he also found some skeptical faculty, and found Eleazar''s happily grinning face. Even the cadets that showed eyes of disdain could not help but turn their attention to the weapon in his hands.

    "All right, I have ammo to spare, " said Malachi, "The first will be a full magazine, and the next will be semiautomatic."

    Malachi loaded his rifle and went to the firing range. There weren''t any targets on the other side, except for a solid stone wall. Malachi raised his rifle up to his hips, and squeezed the trigger. What happened next made everyone wide-eyed and slack-jawed from the awe-inspiring sight of heated metal.

    BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRT-click!

    After emptying an entire magazine, smoke was visible on the gun''s muzzle. For a short while, a rain of bullets and bullet casings was witnessed by all those around him.

    "Hahaha... Hahahahaha!" laughed Malachi, "Hell yeah! Now that''s what I love!"

    Malachi''s laughter snapped the others out of their stupor, and the crowd became noisy. Each one of them shared their thoughts about Malachi''s weapon. Remi, who was behind him, already had drool on the floor. Her embarrassing sight was overpowered by Malachi''s assault rifle.

    "So, did everybody notice how much I dumped out!?" He shouted to the crowd, "The next one will answer that question for you! Reloading!"

    Malachi pressed the magazine release, and the empty magazine fell on the ground. With practiced movements, he loaded the next magazine into the well, and loaded the next bullet. Flipping a switch, he switched from full auto to semiauto fire.

    "Now, count with me!" He shouted.

    The crowd could not help but do so as he squeezed the trigger, one shot after another.

    BANG! "One!"

    BANG! "Two!"

    BANG! "Three!"

    He continued counting until the very last bullet.

    BANG! "Twenty eight!"

    BANG! "Twenty nine!"

    BANG! "Thirty! Thirty bullets down the range!"

 Campaign 6

    Fifteen connection resets before I get to post this. Damn this country.

    ///

    Well, guess I''m parentless at the age of 23 turning 24 years old. Some might notice a change in mood, a subtle change, maybe. Still job hunting, having six (job and skill match) of my applications rejected out of six. Hope I get hired by my 7th application. Damn you, Duterte, for kicking out my future employer in the Department of Foreign Affairs. I could have been working by now.

    Damn this country. Funny, though, the fate I wish upon this country of mine is related to this story''s backstory especially by the third, fourth, and final arc. Oh, yes. Just five arcs.

    Here are the arcs to look forward to.

    Bootcamp

    Campaign

    Conquest

    Uprising

    Revelation ¡û this one is a tentative title

    Well, have fun.

    ///

    [Ties]Campaign 6

    "What I have in my hands is called an assault rifle, " explained Malachi, "just think of it as a fusil that can shoot many bullets quickly. Its capacity is larger than a repeater''s, but its ammunition is smaller. However, small as they may be, one can bring as much ammunition as one could to battle."

    The cadets and faculty could only stare in amazement at the power of Malachi''s weapon. After Malachi finished his explanation, he turned to Remi for a request.

    "Remi, get me a bunch of targets to shoot at, " he said, "just shooting the wall won''t immediately convince the people here. Get some steam knight dummies, too. Just so I can show the difference in ammunition."

    Remi, who was still drooling, immediately called upon a group of engineers to adhere Malachi''s request. Five target plates were erected after a few moments at varying ranges, and two steam knight dummies were placed as well. It should be noted that the farthest target from where Malachi stood was 100 meters away and the closest was 20 meters away. Malachi reloaded his rifle and increased the distance between him and the targets.

    Retreating at approximately 100 meters from where he was, Malachi was already next to a wall and took aim at the closest target. With this distance, what was previously 20 meters away became 120 meters away. Enough for the target plate to be as big as a baseball, not to mention the ping pong ball-sized target plate that was now 200 meters away.

    Malachi took aim, and continued his demonstration.

    "I will now show you the perks of rifling and cartridge bullets, " he said, "Target at 120 meters, firing!"

    BANG! Ting!

    As soon as one heard the gunfire, the target plate resounded and a small hole could be seen. An engineer went to the target plate, and put a finger through the hole. The hole was wide enough to accommodate the entire index finger. Malachi signalled to the engineer to clear out, then continued his demo.

    "Next, target at 140 meters, firing!"

    BANG! Ting!

    Like the first target plate, the second received the same fate. A hole of similar size was seen through the plate, and Malachi continued until the last plate.

    "Final target at 200 meters, firing!"

    BANG! Ting!

    Malachi lowered his rifle, and looked down.

    "Frankly, I''m not even satisfied with this, " he said, disappointedly, "On my own, it can only amount to this much."

    He looked at Remi.

    "Hopefully, with Remi here, I can achieve what I want to do."

    His surroundings became noisy. The skeptics amongst them could not quiet down as they conversed with the people around one another. The young cadets could only stare in awe, and those who held contempt towards Malachi could only clench their fists in frustration. The Eskurs around them, who held Malachi in high regard, continued to direct proud gazes towards his direction.

    Malachi replaced his rifle with a larger gun. This gun had, rather than a small magazine, had a large box attached underneath. Malachi checked the box, and saw that it was filled to the brim with ammunition similar to what the assault rifle had. Malachi brought it to the range and signalled a nearby engineer to prepare a knight dummy.

    "I''d like you all to direct your attention on the steam knight over there, " he announced, "Ah, do make sure that the shield is up as well."

    The engineer propped up the knight''s shield and returned to the safety of his station. Malachi aimed at the knight with the gun, and pulled the trigger.

    BRATATATATATATATATATATATA!

    A stream of bullets left the gun barrel for a long while. The roar of his gun seemed endless as the steam knight in the distance got pelted by countless bullets. Unlike how the others received the sight of the assault rifle, this new gun gave them incomparable shock and awe.

    BRATATATATATATATATATATATA! Click!

    Only when they were about to go into a hypnotizing stupor did it end. The barrel of Malachi''s gun was red and steaming hot, and the knight on the range became swiss cheese. Of course, some parts were intact as some bullets ricocheted to other directions, but those that were penetrated were for all to see.

    Malachi dropped the gun in his arms and took in a cold breath.

    "Ouch, I need to deal with the recoil, " he commented, "Anyway, what you''ve seen just now is a light machine gun. This thing can deliver a large amount of bullets, greater than the repeaters, to your target. This is especially for sweeping the enemy before you, you don''t necessarily have to fire at one spot, and just fan the entire horizon. There is also a heavier variant, but dang it, my shoulders hurt."

    Malachi replaced his light machine gun on the table and massaged his shoulders. During this time, the broken knight was replaced by another knight dummy that also has a shield.

    "Arlianne, please show them the performances of the current arsenal, " requested Malachi menacingly, "especially the fusil and handcannon. It would give a bigger impact for the sluggers."

    Arlianne obliged and took aim with a fusil from the armory.

    Bang! Ting!

    The bullet curved a bit, hit, and ricocheted off the knight''s shield. Afterwards, she did the same with the handcannon, except the bullet made a small depression on the armor. Arlianne stepped back, and Malachi held up another long gun with a tube on top of it.

    "I should be using this one from further away, " he said, "but since this place is so small, I am unable to do much. Unless..."

    Malachi turned to Remi.

    "Yes?" asked the girl.

    "Remi, have an engineer place the knight at the farthest end of the range, right up the wall, " he told her, "Also, open up the garage back there and remove the siege engines inside."

    Remi tilted her head but shrugged. She ordered a group of engineers to do as Malachi requested. After that, Malachi went into the now empty garage, and took aim at the knight over a distance of 400 meters.

    "Hmm, better than nothing, " he commented, "Well, then, taking aim!"

    Malachi looked into the tube on top of the long gun, and saw a magnified image of the steam knight. Of course, only he could see it, and not the rest. Malachi aimed for the steam knight''s head, and pulled the trigger. Except, once he pulled it, the rest had to cover their ears.

    B A N G !

    "Ah?!"

    "Wuh?!"

    The gunshot was loud, as loud as a cannon. Almost simultaneously as the gunshot, the steam knight''s head blew apart. Those who were watching could only take in cold breaths. Around Malachi, the glass instruments shattered from the shockwave and he... he had to drop the gun in his hands.

    "Grah! I need a dampener! Dang, that hurts!" He screamed.

    Malachi had both of his arms hang limply by his sides. Looking at his long gun, the muzzle also blew open from the blast. Malachi frowned at the sight, and kicked it away.

    "Tch, back to the drawing board for this one, " he groaned, "Well, at least it did the job. Howzzat!? Power! Sheer power! Hahahahaha!''

    Feeling the blood flow back into his arms, he flailed around in excitement. While he was excited, Remi was still struck dumb staring at the blown off head in the distance. No longer salivating, she was trembling at the sight. Although, rather than fear, her eyes held the same excitement Malachi had. The same couldn''t be said for the others.

    Fear filled the eyes of the older generations. The youth were still stupefied, but the aged and unforgiving no longer held gazes of contempt but pure and utter fear. Seeing power, pure and sheer power before them, what else could they have felt?

    Malachi grabbed the last gun on the table. It looked similar to a fusil, but had a strange handle underneath its barrel. Malachi pulled the handle beneath, and the gun was cocked. Malachi looked at the ejection port and found a chambered round. The round was big and thick, bigger and thicker than what the rifles used. Malachi went towards the headless steam knight with the gun.

    At close range, about 10 meters, Malachi aimed his gun at the shield and pulled the trigger.

    Click!

    "Eh? Oh, sh¡ª!?" He fumbled in shock.

    A split second after pulling the trigger, the gun didn''t fire but Malachi immediately threw it away. The audience was confused why, but their questions were answered when Malachi attempted to shield himself from the already bright red gun.

    BOOM!

    Malachi''s gun exploded next to him, and he was blasted away from the shockwave. His body slammed onto the ground, and the shrapnel blasted everywhere, including Malachi, himself.

    "Malachi?!" screamed Arlianne in fear.

    She ran towards him, along with many other Eskurs, to help him.

    "Lord!"

    "Young Master?!"

    Among the audience, Alexa bit her lip. Watching Malachi get hurt, she was hesitant in rushing to his side. The people around her, however, were smirking in pleasure seeing Malachi bleeding on the ground.

    ''Malachi... I''m sorry... I''m sorry...'' she thought over and over, ''I''m sorry I cannot help... I''m sorry...''

    Clenching her fists, she closed her eyes to avoid the scene.

    "Lady Alexa, is something wrong?" asked a cadet.

    Alexa shook her head.

    "Nothing you need to pay attention to, " she replied, "I''m leaving."

    Alexa turned away and left. Her class fumbled to follow her back, and a group of 40 cadets left the armory while Malachi was being resuscitated.

    "Heh heh..."

    Laughter suddenly rang out.

    "Heh heh, hahahahaha!" laughed Malachi manically, "Hahahahaha!"

    Malachi rolled his body and sat up, still laughing.

    Arlianne held a gaze full of worry, and the others held disturbed gazes. A young man, recently injured from a blast, was laughing like an idiot with the degree of his injuries.

    "Hahaha! I was wondering when I''d slip up!" he said, joyously, "I wonder what happened."

    Malachi stood up, still bleeding, and bandaged himself by ripping apart his uniform. He didn''t remove some of the shrapnel embedded in his flesh, and limped towards the broken gun. Kneeling next to it, he held it up and inspected the damage.

    "Damn, guess the choke was too tight, " he commented, "I should reduce the powder, or should I increase the size? But that would make it burdensome... Damn pyrocite."

    Malachi stood up and faced his audience.

    "Well, the show''s over!" He declared, "As you can see, I''m bleeding like hell, go back to class!"

    Malachi suddenly fell back, and slammed on the ground, snoring.

    "Zzz..."

    Arlianne could only cover her face as she went towards Malachi. She turned to one of the Eskurs and asked for help. The anxious Eskurs rushed forward and some had a bundle of medicine with them. As soon as Malachi was carried out by Arlianne and the Eskurs, another person appeared on stage to deal with the remaining audience.

    "Well, that was a nice way to end the show, " said Eleazar, "Now, as Headmaster... Disperse, all of you!"

    The cadets and faculty saluted and filed out of the armory. Class 13 also left with them. As Remi was about to leave with her engineers, Eleazar stopped her.

    "Oh, and Remi, come to my office for a while, " said Eleazar, "I need to talk to you about the boy''s weapons."

    "Yes sir!" she affirmed.

    ///

    "What do you think?" asked a Class 13 cadet.

    "What about?" asked back Patrick.

    "You know, that guy, " clarified the cadet, "Malachi Skaria."

    "..." Patrick remained silent.

    It was a day after Malachi''s demonstration and mishap. Class 13''s classes went on as usual without Malachi and Arlianne. Most the Eskurs in their class were also absent since they were busy mulling over Malachi''s wounds. The only one to attend the class was Levi.

    "Ya know, that Malachi kid is really different, " commented another Class 13 cadet, "I mean, he''s not as... antisocial... as the other Eskurs. He doesn''t keep to himself as much as his kinsmen would when dealing with us."

    "That''s just a ploy to make us drop our guard, " said another Class 13 cadet, "Remember, he IS a Skaria. If there was one thing I''ve learned in war, the worst enemies are the ones next to you. His veins carry the blood of the traitor that gave his existence. A dirty half like that, pah!"

    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    While they were chatting mindlessly, the door of their classroom slammed open.

    "Let go of me, already!" roared Malachi, "If you really wish to serve me, then at least follow this order to leave me be!"

    "Young Master, as the servants of Skaria, we must adhere to your every need, " retorted Dinah, "You were grievously injured yesterday, and you suddenly ran out of the infirmary. Of course we will do our utmost to help you."

    "You really want to help?" said Malachi, "You can do so by stripping and giving your body to me! Guh! Ar...lianne... it was... a joke... kuh..."

    Maalchi entered the classroom being held up by a blushing Dinah and Isaac, followed by Arlianne, Genevieve, Reuben, and Asher. As usual, with Malachi''s insensitive jokes came Arlianne''s punishments. Levi frowned and sighed at the sight, and the others could only stare at Malachi clenching his gut.

    Malachi, having been recently injured, was covered in bandages and reeked of medicine. He struggled to bring himself over to his seat, and pushed the others away to their respective seats.

    "Hah... So, where''s Teach?" he asked.

    On cue, Carlos walked through the open doorway to answer his question.

    "I''m here, Skaria, glad to have you back, " said Carlos, "Eh, not much happened since your accident, but I hope you''re prepared to be deployed immediately."

    "Eh? Wait, already?" said Malachi, "Can you give more details?"

    Carlos went to Malachi''s seat and dropped a stack of papers on his desk.

    "The full details are there, " said Carlos, "Long story, short: you are deploying for a monster subjugation. The deadline is next week. So the earlier you deal with it, the better."

    Malachi flipped through the pages.

    "A Hell Worm? What''s that?" asked Malachi.

    Carlos was surprised.

    "You don''t know what a Hell Worm is?" he said surprisedly, "Where did you live before coming here?"

    "I lived with Levi, " answered Malachi, "Levs, do you know about it?"

    Levi sighed.

    "A Hell Worm is a large multipedal insect monster that lives underground, " he explained, "Well, since the last Hell Worm outbreak happened over a decade ago, we shouldn''t be surprised he knows nothing."

    "I see, thanks." said Malachi, "Guess I should go to the library soon."

    "You should, " added Carlos, "Also, you need to get used to working with your class. I''d suggest having them go through familiarization with your new weapons."

    "What do you mean?" asked Malachi, "I only have a few of my guns made."

    "You should go to the armory, later, " answered Carlos, "For now, class time."

    ///

    "Remi, I LOVE YOU."

    Malachi was hugging Remi''s small body. They entirety of Class 13 was in the armory with Remi and her engineers. Around them were stacks of weapons and ammunition. Weapons and ammunition that were just like what Malachi made and designed before.

    Assault rifles, light machine guns, sniper rifles, shotguns, handguns, magazines, belt ammunition, high explosive grenades, concussion grenades, flash grenades. Almost everything that Malachi had drawn and written had come to fruition before them. It was also the reason why Malachi was squeezing the life and love out of the little girl.

    "You really are a genius! You really deserve it!" praised Malachi, "You were able to produce this much in less than a day! Heck, you even improved upon some of my designs! Wonderful, truly wonderful!"

    "Yes, yes, praise me more!" gleefully cheered Remi, "We took a look at your busted shotgun, and learned from that. The tests were all positive and we made sure that the accident yesterday won''t happen again."

    Malachi tightly hugged the little girl, and Remi smiled like an idiot as she received praise. Arlianne stepped in and tapped Malachi''s shoulder to bring him back to his senses.

    "Malachi, it would be best to distribute them to the class, " she suggested, "Also, even if Remi seems happy, she''s turning blue from the lack of air."

    Malachi immediately let go of Remi, and the little girl gasped for air with a smile on her face. She repeatedly mumbled, ''it was worth it, it was worth it,'' as she breathed in and out. Malachi tidied himself and turned to his classmates.

    "Well, since Remi here said so, the trouble from before won''t happen, " he said, "This is the wonderful thing about innovation and invention. You learn from past mistakes to prevent any reoccurrence of said mistakes. One by one, I will show you how to operate each. Then, from there, you will choose two types of weapons to specialize in. At least two, and at most four."

    Malachi picked up the assault rifle.

    "This here is the assault rifle. Like the one from before, it is fed by large capacity magazines, these ones here, and shoots a lot of ammunition." He explained. "Unlike a repeater that none of you have any idea what''s inside, we can disassemble this to clean or repair it. These are the barrel assembly, the moving parts, the receiver, the handguard, the magazine well, the hammer plate, and the butt plate."

    Malachi disassembled the rifle in 10 seconds with deft hands all the while explaining what each part was. Never mind the fact that some parts were also made up of smaller parts, the number was enough to make some of his classmates dizzy.

    "And now, we reassemble it."

    What took him 10 seconds to break down only took him an additional 2 seconds to build up. In a span of 12 seconds, the rifle seemed as good as new.

    "This rifle also has a selective fire mechanism. If you would look at this switch, it has four options. A safe option, for when you don''t need to kill something; a semiautomatic option, for single fire; a burst option, for firing three rounds at once; and a fully automatic option to spray and pray. Here, I placed it on the safe option. Try pulling the trigger."

    Malachi handed the rifle to a fellow cadet, and the cadet pulled as instructed. The cadet was met with difficulty as the trigger was stuck in place, refusing to move. Malachi asked for it back, and loaded a magazine into the gun.

    "This is semiautomatic, firing!"

    Bang! Bang!

    "Only single shots would be fired with semiautomatic. The next one is the burst option, firing!"

    Bababang! Bababang!

    "Three shoots per pull. It helps when you need precision and power, or when you''re in the middle of a panic. Lastly, the fully automatic option, firing!"

    Brrtatatatata!

    "Whatever is left in the magazine will be emptied for as long as your squeeze will be. As for its ammunition, each one has a different type. This one uses this type of ammunition. Because of the pyrocite ratios, I needed to compensate. This rifle uses 6x27mm ammunition. Use anything else, and it will jam or be broken, so take good care of it."

    Malachi moved onto the handguns.

    "You could think of these as smaller handcannons, but with a greater ammo capacity. Unlike the rifle, these only have three firing options: it doesn''t have full auto capabilities but it can fire in bursts. Handguns are your best friends in a pinch, like having your main running out of ammo in a firefight and you want some leeway to retreat into cover to reload."

    Malachi took aim with one hand at a far away target. He squeezed the trigger and the gun fired its bullet.

    Bang! Ting!

    At a distance of 100 meters, the bullet hit the target dead center. Malachi flipped a switch and aimed at the target again, this time the gun was held with both hands.

    Bababang! Tititing!

    Three shots, three bullets, three hits on target. Due to the burst fire, the bullets spread out on the target, the first had landed dead center but the other two diverted a bit.

    "It has lesser ammunition per magazine, but it packs a punch. These use 10x20mm varying ammunition. By varying, it has full metal jacketed, and hollow points. Full metal jacketed rounds are self explanatory, but these are hollow points."

    Malachi reloaded the handgun, and took aim at a slab of meat prepared by Remi. Squeezing the trigger, the meat was shot, and the entry wound could be seen. Except, the engineer standing nearby gasped in surprise.

    Malachi signaled to the engineer to flip the meat slab the other way to let the others see. On the other side was a large exit wound, larger than the entry wound. Malachi had the meat slab disposed of and had the bullet, or what was once a bullet, brought to him.

    "Hmm, good chicharon. As you can see, the bullet turned into a flower. Hollow points are best used against fleshy or minimally armored targets. Beasts are also the best targets for this type of ammunition. To clean this gun, we disassemble it like so. Here are the slide assembly and the barrel assembly, and now we reassemble it."

    Malachi then moved towards the light machine gun.

    "This big guy here is, like yesterday, the light machine gun. Just imagine it to be a larger assault rifle that can fire near infinite bullets. It doesn''t have selective fire aside from safe and full auto. LMGs are belt-fed with box or drum magazines. Here is a belt of 7x27mm ammunition. I also have a heavier variant in mind, but I still have to finalize the dimensions and pyrocite ratios. To load the ammunition, we open up this part on top. Slip in the first few bullets, slam it shut, pull the charging handle, and let it rip."

    Brrrrrrrrrtttttttatatatatatatatata!

    "Hah, now, to clean this beast, we have the barrel assembly, the buffer, the driving rod assembly, trigger housing and cover, the feed tray, and the receiver. Now, we reassemble it."

    Malachi then moved to two similar looking rifles on a table. He picked one up, and demonstrated its use.

    "As you can see, there are two guns that look like one another. The only differences between the two lay in their ammunition and action. The one I''m holding onto is a semiautomatic rifle, and the scope on top is a sniper scope. This is called a sniper rifle, the scope allows the user to magnify targets at long distances to accurately shoot it. Here, look into it."

    Malachi detached the sniper scope from the rifle and handed it to a cadet. The cadet looked into the scope and found Malachi''s red eyes suddenly come into full view. In surprise, the cadet dropped the scope but Malachi caught it and reattached it on the rifle.

    "For the moment, I can only magnify an image 10 times. With practice and improvements, I can increase the magnification up to 40 times, enabling one to shoot from more than a kilometer away. Like I said, there are two types of action. This is semiautomatic, single shot but easily sustainable; and bolt action, a need to pull the charging handle to replace the cartridge. The semiautomatic variant uses 8x32mm ammunition, and the bolt action variant uses the bigger 12x36mm ammunition. If you need to take out light infantry, the semiautomatic variant is advised, but if you want to take out knights, the bolt action variant is the best option. The one I used before was the bolt action variant. You''ve seen what I''ve done with the knight, yes? Cleaning these rifles will be similar to how we disassemble the assault rifle."

    Without additional demonstrations, Malachi moved onto the shotguns. Malachi grabbed onto one shotgun and a smirk was seen on his face.

    "I know Remi said so, but that memory is still fresh in my mind. Of course, it was just yesterday, but my wounds have mostly been healed thanks to Eskur medicine. Anyway, as I was unable to demonstrate the power of this demon, let''s do it now."

    Malachi walked towards a lone knight dummy that had its head intact. Once again, at a distance of 10 meters, he took aim and pulled the trigger. Unlike yesterday, the gun fired correctly.

    Bang! Ding!

    A large slug left the gun barrel and catapulted towards the knight like a mad bull. The slug, that could be seen with the naked eye, crashed onto the shield and left a very deep dent. It was so deep that any deeper would rip it apart. Malachi nodded in satisfaction despite massaging the pain on his arm.

    "The shotgun has two types of ammunition: slug and buckshot. What you see before you is the slug type. It shoots 20mm slugs at whatever you point at. As for the buckshot, it looks like this. Get me another slab of meat, Remi."

    Malachi replaced the shells in the shotgun with another type of shell. An engineer placed a slab of meat in the range and ran for cover behind a thick wall. Malachi watched in delight as the engineer ran. Having loaded the buckshot ammunition, he took aim at the slab of meat and pulled the trigger.

    Bang!

    Rather than a single bullet, countless small balls erupted from the barrel of the shotgun and peppered the slab of meat. Unlike the slug which was expected to create a gaping hole, the buckshot sprayed a blast of metal on the meat slab. The amount of holes was so much that the meat ripped itself from its weight.

 Campaign 7

    Campaign 7

    ¡°I will give you all an hour to familiarize yourselves with these weapons,¡± said Malachi, ¡°Remi, please bring out the rest of the guns.¡±

    Remi¡¯s engineers dragged out crates filled with each of the demonstrated weapons. Malachi had his classmates line up and practice with their choices. For an hour, Malachi answered each question his classmates had.

    Unlike before, when Malachi first met them, only a few people avoided him, now, and most had been taken in by the awe they had with new technology. After having their questions answered, his classmates lined up along the firing range, each taking turns to test fire their chosen weapons.

    After that hour, Malachi had his classmates keep two weapons they felt the greatest comfort with, and inspected each of his classmates¡¯ chosen equipment.

    ¡°Hmm, nobody chose the bolt action, eh?¡± He commented, ¡°I¡¯m not surprised. I still have to modify the designs for that. So, Mr. Bryant, why did you choose the LMG?¡±

    Patrick frowned.

    ¡°Do I have to give a reason?¡± He asked, ¡°And why me, first, out of all people?¡±

    Malachi shrugged.

    ¡°Because I saw how cute you were spraying and praying.¡± Explained Malachi. He smirked as he said it. ¡°You liked it, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    Patrick¡¯s eyes became bloodshot. Yet, even with his rage, he decided to ignore Malachi. Malachi¡¯s smirk disappeared.

    ¡°Tsk, boring,¡± said Malachi, ¡°How about the rest of you, why the LMG? I understand Mr. Bryant, Isaac, and the other guys, but Dinah and Ms. Cuevas?¡±

    Dinah was the first to answer.

    ¡°Having this much ammunition enables me to suppress the enemy better,¡± she said, ¡°Considering the way you fight, Lord, I would like to keep the enemy from noticing you.¡±

    Malachi understood her intentions. Then, he looked at Samantha.

    ¡°Um, I¡­¡± She hesitated, ¡°I just don¡¯t like to run out of ammunition.¡±

    ¡°A simple reason,¡± said Malachi, ¡°I like it. Many choose the LMG for its high capacity. Don¡¯t be ashamed of that.¡±

    He looked at the rest of his classmates, and noticed that all the Eskurs chose the assault rifle, apart from Isaac. He also noticed that each weapon was equally spread amongst everyone, not one weapon was more popular than another. This got Malachi thinking.

    ¡®Didn¡¯t expect it to be this even,¡¯ he thought, ¡®Guess I¡¯ll have to train all of them equally.¡¯

    He made his decision.

    ¡°All right, out of the two you¡¯ve chosen,¡± he said, ¡°Choose one to train with, first. Afterwards, we¡¯ll go through all of them, one by one. We¡¯ve got the whole day and the following days to spare, and I¡¯ve pretty much received authorization from the faculty to exempt you all from classes while training. Whether or not we succeed in the first mission with these, classes will carry on like before. Make the most of this allotted period.¡±

    There, a cadet raised his hand. Malachi acknowledged the question.

    ¡°Do you mean to say that we will train until the deadline?¡± Asked the cadet, ¡°What about the other classes?¡±

    ¡°We will train until I am satisfied with your performance,¡± answered Malachi, ¡°As for the other classes, we will use the mission as a benchmark for these weapons¡¯ performances. From there, I will train the engineers and other willing faculty in their usage and have them tutor the other classes in my place. I can¡¯t give everybody my attention, right?¡±

    ¡­

    The first to receive instruction from Malachi were those who chose the assault rifles, meaning, most of the Eskurs in the class. Levi, Reuben, Dinah, and Genevieve lined up before the firing range.

    ¡°Aim your rifles down range,¡± ordered Malachi, ¡°Just aim down the sights like you would with the fusils before.¡±

    They followed the command and remembered how Malachi held the assault rifle. They rested the butt of the rifle on their shoulder, and stuck their cheeks to look through the iron sights.

    ¡°Align the rear sight and the front sight with your target,¡± added Malachi, ¡°Don¡¯t compensate for the distance yet, I will be checking your foundations.¡±

    They did as they were told, but Reuben and Genevieve were having problems. Malachi went near them and found that their postures were a mess. Ladies, first.

    ¡°Gene, try leaning forward a bit,¡± suggested Malachi, ¡°Hang your right leg back a bit. Okay, now move your torso forward just so. Raise the gun a bit more and lower the butt a bit, try to find a comfy place. Now, aim down the sights.¡±

    When Genevieve was able to align the sights perfectly, Malachi moved on to Reuben.

    ¡°Ruby, try to crouch a bit,¡± suggested Malachi, ¡°Just enough to steady your body. Bring your left leg a bit farther outside, align it with your shoulder. You can clutch the rifle closer to you, that¡¯s what the grip there is for. Find a comfy position, then aim down the sights again.¡±

    With Malachi¡¯s instruction, the two were able to fix their aim. Satisfied, Malachi moved on to inspect the remaining two.

    ¡°As the magazine well is empty, load a new magazine,¡± ordered Malachi, ¡°Then, pull the charging handle to load the first cartridge. When you¡¯re ready, switch to semiautomatic and fire at will.¡±

    Still keeping their rifles on the target, the four Eskurs struggled to feel for the spare magazines. It took them a while to precisely load the magazines into the magazine well without the aid of their sight. Once the magazines were in, a chorus of charging handles and switches rang out. Before the symphony of gunfire roared, they still took the time to fix their aim that deteriorated from loading the magazines.

    Bang! Ting!

    Bang!

    Bang! Ting!

    Bang! Ting!

    Dinah¡¯s shot went wide and didn¡¯t hit the target. Malachi went to her place and found that she was breathing too fast. She was aiming perfectly at her target, but Levi¡¯s gunfire surprised her, raising her aim a bit upon pulling the trigger.

    ¡°Got surprised by the gunfire, huh?¡± Commented Malachi, ¡°Well, it¡¯s fine. Just practice, practice, practice, and you¡¯ll get used to it.¡±

    Malachi finished his instruction by having them go through the other select-fire options as well as fixing their posture or giving advice. Satisfied with their performance with the assault rifles, he had the Eskurs, except Levi, switch out with those who chose the shotguns. Instead of slug ammunition, he placed buckshot shells in their respective stations.

    ¡°You can aim down the sights or just fire from your hip,¡± said Malachi, ¡°The good thing about buckshot is that it eliminates the need for precise aiming at close quarters. Since those guns are empty, this model uses pump action with a tubular magazine. Just insert the shells like this, up to eight shells.¡±

    Malachi demonstrated how to load the shells into the shotguns. It was similar to how Winchester 1897 or SPAS-12 model shotguns were loaded.

    ¡°Make sure that the primer, the end where the shell gets ignited, is pressed by your thumb,¡± he said, ¡°Push the shell into the flap and push it deep inside until you feel or hear a click. Just keep repeating it until you can¡¯t load anything anymore. Yes, that¡¯s right. Push it in, keep pushing it deeply as deep as you can.¡±

    Some of his classmates raised a brow with his choice of words and the way he said them. The younger ones didn¡¯t mind it, but the older ones were tempted to shoot him. Arlianne just sent a chop down his head to shut him up, as usual.

    ¡°Ouch, okay, moving on,¡± said Malachi painfully, ¡°Once it¡¯s fully loaded, pull the forward handle, the under barrel handguard. Right, now before you push it back, look into the ejection port to see the shell. You see it? Good. That shell will be loaded once you push the forward handle back to the front.¡±

    When they pulled the forward handle and looked into the ejection port, they found a shell sitting inside. It was the same shell they had loaded earlier into the gun. Afterwards, the pushed forward the pump and the ejection port closed itself from their sight.

    ¡°Now that the barrel is loaded, aim and fire at will.¡± Ordered Malachi.

    BANG!

    BANG!

    BANG!

    BANG!

    Pellets sprayed out of the barrels and ravaged the range. The targets that were hit all got shredded by the onslaught of metal balls.

    ¡°Now that you¡¯ve expended a shell, pull the pump again,¡± ordered Malachi, ¡°Watch as it automatically ejects the spent shell while simultaneously loading a new one. Repeat until you run out of ammo.¡±

    The ones carrying shotguns did as they were told. A symphony of gunfire and littered shell casings rang out of the firing range. In each of their stations were scattered ejected casings. Up next were the machine gunners.

    ¡°The LMG can be aimed with like an assault rifle,¡± explained Malachi, ¡°If you want precise shots, you can have it rest on your shoulder and aim down its sights. Otherwise, you can just fire from the hip and just spray-and-pray. Load the belts!¡±

    Unlike the assault rifle, the light machine guns were heavier. Malachi¡¯s classmates needed to lower the guns to a comfortable level to open the feed and place the ammunition belt. Once the belts were in, and the box was secured, they slammed down the port and pulled the charging handle.

    ¡°Since the LMG doesn¡¯t have the same selective fire options, it will be up to your fingers whether you want precision or not,¡± explained Malachi, ¡°Now, take aim then fire at will!¡±

    Dinah and Samantha, the two girls that chose the light machine guns, chose precision over power. Meanwhile, Isaac and Patrick were able to sustain long periods of fire. Malachi watched the girls carefully over the men, and noticed that Dinah¡¯s bursts were shorter than Samantha¡¯s. For every three rounds Dinah would squeeze out, Samantha would have five or six. While the girls were maintaining their trigger discipline, the men ran into a problem.

    The light machine guns jammed.

    ¡°Huh, was wondering when this would happen,¡± said Malachi interestedly, ¡°Thanks for stressing the gun, boys, at least we get to learn something.¡±

    Malachi grabbed one of the jammed light machine guns, and inspected it. He found that the barrel had warped due to the excessive heat being expelled by the ignited pyrocite.

    ¡°Give me all the jammed guns,¡± ordered Malachi, ¡°I¡¯ll just replace the barrels.¡±

    With deft hands, Malachi disassembled the broken guns. When the barrels were removed, everyone could see how they all got bent out of shape. Malachi grabbed new barrels from a stock and replaced the broken barrels. Afterwards, he reassembled each one and gave each back to his classmates.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ¡°Guess the girls know better,¡± commented Malachi, ¡°You can sustain fire for a long time, just make sure to let the barrels cool down a bit each time. That said, I have to find a way to not let it happen again.¡±

    Malachi let the machine gunners finish their share before moving on to the next type ¡ª the semiautomatic sniper rifles.

    ¡°Okay, since these are rifles, aim down range through the scope,¡± ordered Malachi, ¡°The circle, the cross hair, and the tiny bead should align together rather than the target. If you have any difficulty, I will try to fix your postures. Try to find a comfortable position.¡±

    Since Genevieve first used the assault rifle, she had an easier time with the sniper rifle. At the very least, for this batch, no one had any difficulty and were able to maintain their aim. Malachi was satisfied with this.

    ¡°Okay, load the magazine,¡± ordered Malachi, ¡°Once you¡¯re ready, take aim at your targets then fire at will.¡±

    Bang! Ting!

    Bang! Ting!

    Bang! Ting!

    Bang! Ting!

    All of their shots landed accurately. However, the recoil forced them to fix their aim, and they were not able to fire the succeeding shots at the same time. The quickest to fix their aim was Tyler. He only needed 1 second to realign his sights before pulling the trigger.

    Finally, they moved onto the handguns. Like the others, Malachi had them line up in the firing range and demonstrated the proper posture in shooting with handguns.

    ¡°You can aim with one hand if you¡¯re confident you¡¯ll hit accurately with the recoil,¡± he explained, ¡°Or you can hold it with both hands if you want accuracy and precision in your shots. Face the target and hold your gun. When gripping the handle, don¡¯t cup it. Have your non-dominant hand wrap itself around your dominant hand. Find a posture where you¡¯ll feel comfortable with aiming and shooting.¡±

    Since the handgun was smaller than the other guns, they had an easier time looking for a comfortable position. Taking the time to check their aim while fixing their posture, Malachi assisted them in their efforts.

    ¡°Ms. Ramirez, crouch a bit,¡± he suggested, ¡°Try to bring your torso forward and anticipate the recoil. Relax your arms, too. If you make it too tense, you¡¯ll tire out easily. Good, now maintain that position for as long as you can and see if it¡¯s better.¡±

    ¡°Ruby, don¡¯t cup the grip,¡± advised Malachi, ¡°You might hit your head if it jumps up from the recoil. Since you¡¯re left-handed, wrap your right hand around your left. Don¡¯t tense up your arm muscles, just maintain your grip on the gun and anticipate the recoil when you shoot.¡±

    Malachi looked around and found no one else in need of instruction.

    ¡°Okay, now load the magazine and pull the slide to cock the hammer,¡± he ordered, ¡°Aim at your target, select the fire option, then fire at will!¡±

    Bang!

    Bababang!

    Bang!

    A few chose the semiautomatic option, while one person went straight to the burst option. Patrick had his gun jump up due to the recoil, but his grip compensated for it and was able to maintain his aim. Since there were no problems to take note of, Malachi finished his instruction for the time being.

    Malachi looked at the clock that hanged on a nearby wall. It was just a little past noon.

    ¡°Good job, guys,¡± he praised, ¡°We were able to finish just in time for lunch. This is it for the day. Return the guns where you got them, and be ready to file out of here. Meanwhile, I will remain since I need to talk to Remi and her engineers about the following days. Dismissed.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°So, what did you want to talk about?¡± Asked Remi.

    After dismissing his classmates, Malachi and Arlianne went to Remi¡¯s personal armory. Inside, the girl was coordinating with her engineers to deal with their respective duties. When he and Arlianne entered, Remi noticed them and dismissed her engineers.

    ¡°I have a request,¡± said Malachi, ¡°I need you to build a kill house.¡±

    ¡°A ¡®kill house¡¯?¡± Repeated Remi, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you intend to have your classmates to kill one another?¡±

    Malachi stifled a laugh.

    ¡°No, no. It isn¡¯t like that,¡± he said, ¡°Kill houses are designed to mimic residential, commercial, and industrial spaces. Kill houses are often used to acquaint personnel in infiltrating structures and the methods used to overwhelm a target, or targets, in the quickest and most efficient manner. Got it?¡±

    Remi nodded understandingly.

    ¡°So it¡¯s a live training course?¡± She asked, ¡°Very well. Do you have a design in mind?¡±

    Malachi smiled.

    ¡°Always.¡±

    Malachi drew blueprints for certain kill houses that cater to every situation on the papers provided. Included were also the materials that were to be used in the construction. He also included schematics for static and mobile targets that appear when encountered, and disappear when shot using electrocite and machines. Remi drooled at the sight of new toys to play with.

    ¡°Based on these requirements, I could have these put up by tomorrow afternoon,¡± declared Remi, ¡°Although, I will need your help with the machines, can you stay until evening?¡±

    ¡°In that case, I will be available after lunch,¡± he answered, ¡°Arlianne, there will be a change of plans for the afternoon. Have everybody on the drill grounds, and bring Shyama with you. If needed, drag an Eskur to translate for you.¡±

    Malachi handed Arlianne a set of written instructions. She read what was written and frowned at the contents.

    ¡°You¡¯re a sadist, Malachi,¡± she commented, ¡°How can you be certain that they will follow this instruction?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m having you bring Shyama,¡± he answered, ¡°She will be responsible in ¡®persuading¡¯ the dissidents.¡±

    After that, they went to the canteen to eat their lunch.

    ///

    Once they¡¯ve eaten their lunch, Malachi left Arlianne and Shyama with their class and went to the armory. Arlianne told Class 13 to gather on the drill grounds for an exercise. Since Malachi was absent, not everybody listened to Arlianne.

    ¡°So what if you¡¯re his fianc¨¦e?¡± Asked a cadet mockingly, ¡°You¡¯re not the Squad Leader.¡±

    ¡°I may not be the Squad Leader, but he gave his authorization to exercise this order,¡± argued Arlianne, ¡°Now, come with me to the drill grounds.¡±

    Only a few followed the order, all of the Eskurs and some younger cadets, while most remained in their seats. Arlianne sighed and called for Shyama.

    ¡°Shyama, tackle those who won¡¯t follow the order and sit on them,¡± she told the Manticore, ¡°With your size, Malachi doesn¡¯t seem to mind if it causes a broken bone or two.¡±

    ¡°Rawr!¡± Replied Shyama as she faced the remaining cadets.

    ¡°Hey! That¡¯s not allowed!¡± Roared a cadet, ¡°I¡¯m complaining to the Headmaster!¡±

    ¡°Shyama, sic him,¡± ordered Arlianne.

    ¡°Rawr!¡±

    ¡°[Incoherent screaming.]¡±

    Ignoring the cadet¡¯s threat, Shyama pounced on the poor sod and crushed him beneath her large body. The cadet screamed in pain, being heard by the others, and Shyama just sat there until it became quiet.

    ¡°It¡¯s not my order, mind you,¡± said Arlianne, ¡°I¡¯m just following what¡¯s written here. So, will you be going to the drill grounds?¡±

    ¡­

    The crushed cadet was sent to the infirmary, missing the exercise. The others, the screams still fresh in their minds, followed the order and went to the drill grounds. At the front was Arlianne, leading them. At the rear was Shyama, watching their every move. When they arrived at the drill grounds, there were two other classes present.

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s Class 13,¡± said another class¡¯s cadet, ¡°Huh, is that a Manticore?¡±

    ¡°What?! Where?!¡± Screamed another panicked cadet, ¡°Is that allowed?!¡±

    ¡°Looks like the Headmaster allowed the Manticore to live here,¡± commented a cadette, ¡°Say, where¡¯s the Skaria boy? All I see is the girl.¡±

    Ignoring the other classes, Class 13 went to an unused spot for their exercise. Lined up, Arlianne shared with them the task for the afternoon. Before she could do so, Rae raised a question.

    ¡°Hey, where is Skaria?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Malachi is still in the armory working with the engineers,¡± answered Arlianne, ¡°He is preparing the equipment needed for our exercise tomorrow. In the meantime, he ordered me to have you all run laps.¡±

    The contents of Malachi¡¯s instruction were as follows.

    ¡°Have the entire class run the same stamina and endurance exercises we did. Have them run for as long as you can, and take note of those who collapse first and those who are able to keep up with you until they get tired. Use Shyama to get them going if they won¡¯t move, I¡¯ll leave this part to your imagination.¡±

    They all looked at one another hearing the word ¡°laps.¡±

    ¡°Just laps?¡± Asked a cadet, ¡°That¡¯s easy.¡±

    Arlianne continued the instruction.

    ¡°I will be running with you all,¡± she said, ¡°The task is to keep up with me for as long as you can, and to try and outrun Shyama.¡±

    Outrun Shyama.

    Outrun.

    Shyama.

    They will be running laps, trying to catch up to Arlianne, while running away from a Manticore that will be chasing after them. The cadet that commented how easy it would be paled at the thought.

    The others, except the Eskurs, who do not know Arlianne¡¯s capacity looked down on her. Mainly because she was a woman, and thinking her stamina could not outlast a man¡¯s.

    ¡°Any questions?¡± Asked Arlianne, ¡°Fine, then let us start!¡±

    Without warning, Arlianne began to jog ahead of the class. The rest were still standing there, watching her increase the gap, until they heard another signal from behind them.

    ¡°Rawr!¡±

    Shyama began to run after them. Anybody who tried to run away from the exercises were caught by Shyama and brought back to the drill grounds. With no chance for escape, Class 13 began to run away from the Manticore, while the Eskurs struggled to catch up to Arlianne.

    As they ran, the other classes watched them.

    ¡°Is that allowed?¡± Asked a cadet, ¡°Where¡¯s Drillmaster Axton?¡±

    The other classes looked for Axton, and reported what Class 13 was doing. Alarmed and confused, Axton went to where Class 13 was running.

    ¡°Cadette Skaria!¡± Called out Axton, ¡°Report to me!¡±

    Because of his booming voice, Arlianne naturally heard his call and ran towards him.

    ¡°Good afternoon, Drillmaster Axton,¡± she greeted, ¡°Did you need something?¡±

    ¡°Why in the world is there a Manticore on the drill grounds?¡± He asked, ¡°Did Malachi have something to do with this?¡±

    Without answering, Arlianne handed to Axton the instructions she received. Axton received the paper while directing a confused gaze at Arlianne. Axton read the instructions.

    ¡°The same exercises, eh?¡± He said, ¡°That boy has taken a lot of liberties since arriving here. I understand what he means to do, but to force cadets to run with the threat of a Manticore bearing down them? I like it.¡±

    ¡°Drillmaster?!¡± Cried another cadet in shock.

    ¡°Silence!¡± Bellowed Axton, ¡°You lot will be serving the kingdom after graduating here, and you expect to do that half-assedly?! You¡¯ve all gone too soft since we¡¯ve lived in peace! Back in my day, we were made to run for our lives because we will be protecting others¡¯ lives! The only threats back then were invasions from other kingdoms and nations! Without an immediate threat, you lot have become too lax in your training! Now drop and give me 100!¡±

    Axton returned his attention to an uninterested Arlianne.

    ¡°Well, cadette, carry on,¡± he said, ¡°Oh, think you can catch up to them? I made you lose two laps.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Drillmaster,¡± she replied, ¡°I still have a lot to spare.¡±

    Arlianne and Axton saluted to one another before she returned to her class. Arriving at the course, rather than jog, Arlianne sprinted for two laps before relaxing her pace. The speed that she ran, and the length of time she sustained herself gave her classmates and the other classes indescribable shock and awe.

    ¡°Shyama! Pick up the pace!¡± Ordered Arlianne.

    ¡°Rawr!¡±

    ¡°[Incoherent screaming.]¡±

    ¡°If you have the energy to scream, use that to run!¡± Bellowed Arlianne, ¡°I still have 81 laps left in me!¡±

    ¡­

    In the end, after 20 laps, 2 cadets were overtaken by Shyama. After 30 laps, 6 fell to fatigue. Only a few were actually able to remain next to Arlianne: Patrick Bryant, Rae Ramirez, and Levi Skana. The rest were struggling to maintain their distance from Shyama, and the closest to the Manticore was Dinah Skolva.

    ¡°Shyama, could you slow down for a bit?¡± Asked Dinah, ¡°I¡¯ll give you food.¡±

    ¡°Rawr!¡±

    ¡°Eek!¡± Screamed Dinah, ¡°Okay, okay! I¡¯m sorry!¡±

    ¡°So Eskurs could also scream like that,¡± commented a cadet, ¡°You know, Dinah is pretty cute.¡±

    ¡°Rawr!¡±

    ¡°What the?!¡±

    The distracted cadet looked back and found Dinah collapsed on the ground. Right behind him were the fangs and claws of Shyama the Manticore.

    ¡°[Incoherent screaming.]¡±

    After 40 laps, more than half had already collapsed. The only ones to remain were those running next to Arlianne. Although the three were able to maintain their distance, on their faces were already expressions of disbelief.

    ¡®How much longer do we have to run?¡¯ Thought Patrick, ¡®Collapse already!¡¯

    Finally, Patrick was the first to collapse at 67 laps. He was followed by Levi who dropped out at 75 laps. Two girls had outrun the entire class, Arlianne and Rae Ramirez. However, it could be seen from Rae¡¯s face that she was already at her limit. Yet, looking at Arlianne, aside from her sweat, she was still composed.

    ¡®This, this girl is insane!¡¯ Thought Rae, ¡®How is she able to last this long?! Ugh, I give up¡­¡¯

    Rae finally slowed down to a stop at 81 laps. They all thought that they would be able to leave already, but found something contrary to their thoughts.

    ¡°Rawr!¡±

    ¡°Oh, hello,¡± greeted Arlianne, ¡°Are we the only ones remaining?¡±

    ¡°Rawr!¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± she replied, ¡°Well, run with me, Shyama.¡±

    Arlianne and Shyama continued their laps, and were watched by the rest of Class 13. The sight of a girl running with a Manticore also attracted the gazes of the other classes and Axton. Curious, they also spectated Arlianne¡¯s running.

    ¡°Hey, how many laps does this make?¡± Asked Samantha, ¡°I lost count at 85.¡±

    ¡°Should already be at 90, I think?¡± Answered another cadet.

    ¡°It¡¯s actually 93,¡± clarified Levi, ¡°So this is what they¡¯ve been doing back then.¡±

    Everybody turned their attention to Levi for an explanation. Since they all have free time, Levi sated their curiosity.

    ¡°Eight years ago, in the village we lived in,¡± said Levi, ¡°I often saw Malachi dragging Arlianne with him to the village perimeter. I didn¡¯t know what they were doing that for, but every time they come home, I hear the screaming wrath of Lady Bashia. That was because they would always come back home tired, ragged, and dirty. Looking at Arlianne now, I can see what it was for.¡±

    Axton was still watching Arlianne as he listened so he was able to keep track of her progress. Unknown from since when, Axton was counting out loud the laps Arlianne had done.

    ¡°101¡­ 102¡­ 103¡­¡± Counted Axton, ¡°111¡­ 112¡­ 113¡­¡±

    Arlianne continued running and, eventually, Shyama tired out. However, even though there was no longer anybody running with her, Arlianne continued.

    ¡°Hey, hey, hey! This is insane!¡± Cried a cadet from another class, ¡°She¡¯s still running!¡±

    ¡°It just shows how serious those two were about this,¡± noted Levi, ¡°I wonder how long Malachi could last.¡±

    171¡­ 172¡­ 173¡­

    Hearing Levi¡¯s comment, the others could not imagine what Malachi could do.

    Arlianne was still running, and her face showed no signs of fatigue. Only when she reached 200 laps did she slow down, then stopped at 220 laps. Gasping for air, Arlianne stood in the middle of the silent field.

    ¡°Hah, not enough,¡± she commented, ¡°I need to catch up to him.¡±

    Stretching her body, she walked back to the rest of Class 13. Arriving, she voiced her thoughts.

    ¡°How serious were all of you when you decided to enroll?¡± She asked, ¡°Now, I understand what Malachi feels when looking at you.¡±

    Her comment echoed in the minds of everyone present.

 Campaign 8

    Campaign 8

    It was already the next day when Malachi showed up in class. Entering the classroom, everybody was silent. Malachi understood why because he heard everything that happened from Arlianne.

    ¡°How does it feel to be completely crushed?¡± He asked like rubbing salt on their wounds, ¡°Mr. Simmons, Ms. Cuevas, Gene, and the rest of the first 10 to collapse, you¡¯re running with me. The rest of you may have this time for self study. Arlianne, keep them company until lunch. Afterwards, bring them to the armory.¡±

    Malachi dragged half the class back to the drill grounds. Those who were pulled out groaned in despair, while those who remained let out sighs of relief. Since they were exempted for the rest of the week until the deadline of their mission, the remaining cadets decided to mind their own business.

    ¡­

    On the way to the drill grounds, Malachi picked up Shyama. The 10 cadets despaired seeing Shyama again, knowing that Malachi will have them repeat yesterday¡¯s exercise.

    Arriving at the drill grounds, the place was once again occupied by other classes. One of which was Class 1. Class 13¡¯s entry never gets unnoticed.

    ¡°It¡¯s Skaria,¡± said a Class 1 cadet, ¡°Hmm? He only brought half his class?¡±

    Hearing the name, Alexa turned her gaze towards where the cadet was looking.

    ¡°Hey, those guys seem to be the ones who collapsed first, yesterday,¡± commented another cadet, seemingly from the same class as before, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a punishment.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Asked Alexa, ¡°What happened yesterday?¡±

    ¡°Ah, Lady Alexa. Class 13 was made to run laps by the Skaria girl,¡± explained the cadet, ¡°These guys were the first to collapse from running. Also, the Skaria girl was insane! She lasted 220 laps! The others hadn¡¯t even reached 100 laps!¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± said Alexa, ¡°And now he will be having them run again.¡±

    ¡°Probably,¡± added another cadet, ¡°Oh, he¡¯s speaking with the Drillmaster.¡±

    Over the distance, Malachi and Axton spoke with one another. Axton was in charge of the drill grounds, so Malachi had to talk to him, first. Axton heard from Malachi that half of Class 13 will be running laps again, like yesterday.

    ¡°Er, is it just me,¡± said a cadette, ¡°or is the Drillmaster a little too happy about that?¡±

    Axton was laughing and patting Malachi¡¯s back before he left. Malachi had his classmates line up in front of Shyama, and prepared to have them start running. Before he could give the signal, someone approached them.

    ¡°Lady Alexa?!¡± Cried a Class 1 cadet.

    Alexa approached the prepared Malachi.

    ¡®Okay, what the heck is my cousin doing here?¡¯ He thought, ¡®Isn¡¯t this dangerous for both of us?¡¯

    ¡°Hello, Malachi Skaria,¡± greeted Alexa, ¡°Do you mind if Class 1 joins your exercise?¡±

    Everybody was surprised, including Malachi.

    ¡°Uh, well, I don¡¯t mind, but,¡± he answered, ¡°What does the rest of your class think?¡±

    Malachi looked at the other Class 1 cadets and received death glares. He also looked at Class 13 and found them to be as confused as he was. Alexa looked back at her class. She also witnessed the hostility they were directing at Malachi.

    ¡°If they don¡¯t want to join,¡± she followed up, ¡°then, do you mind if I were to join, instead?¡±

    ¡°What?! No, Lady Alexa!¡± Cried a Class 1 cadet, ¡°We will join you!¡±

    ¡°Yes, we will not leave you with a Tainted!¡± Cried another cadet.

    Soon, what was once a group of 11 cadets and one Manticore, became a group of 51 cadets and one Manticore. They had to move to a bigger place due to their large, and unexpected, number. Class 1 and Class 13 mixed with one another, and Malachi and Alexa were at the front to lead the pack.

    ¡°I should tell you all about our exercise before we start running,¡± announced Malachi, ¡°Shyama will be chasing those who fall behind and will tackle them. If you fear getting injured, I suggest you back out, now. Except for Class 13, of course.¡±

    ¡°Wait, a Manticore will be participating?¡± Asked Alexa.

    ¡°Yup, I got the green light from Chief, er, Drillmaster Axton,¡± he answered, ¡°We will be running for as long as everyone can. At the very least, try to catch up with me.¡±

    ¡°220 laps is nothing for Class 1!¡± Boasted a cadet, ¡°We can even go over 250!¡±

    Malachi smiled.

    ¡°Okay, no one¡¯s backing out?¡± He asked one final time, ¡°Then, let us begin!¡±

    ¡°Rawr!¡±

    ¡°[Incoherent screaming.]¡±

    With Shyama¡¯s roar as the signal, the group of 51 cadets started running. Like yesterday, before they could even reach 50 laps, the 10 cadets of Class 13 collapsed, and were mercilessly left behind by Malachi and Class 1.

    41 cadets continued running with no one dropping out. However, even if no one collapsed, there were still some who tried to give their all in running away from Shyama.

    ¡°Why the heck is the Manticore here all of a sudden?!¡± Cried a Class 1 cadet, ¡°Move it, you fools!¡±

    ¡°Rawr!¡±

    ¡°[Incoherent screaming.]¡±

    At 100 laps, 10 Class 1 cadets finally gave up. 31 cadets left them behind, and Shyama ignored them. Those at the rear finally noticed how fast a Manticore could chase them.

    ¡°This is a nice way of pushing us to our limits,¡± commented Alexa, ¡°Do you mind if we borrow your Manticore?¡±

    Malachi and Alexa maintained their lead at the front of the pack. The two of them were still composed compared to the stragglers about to be caught by Shyama.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± apologized Malachi, ¡°Even if you are the Headmaster¡¯s granddaughter, I can¡¯t give you Shyama. You need an Eskur to at least communicate with her.¡±

    ¡°I see, that¡¯s too bad,¡± she replied, ¡°Then is it fine for us to join your exercises if we can?¡±

    Malachi shrugged.

    ¡°Why not?¡± He answered, ¡°You seem to appreciate the effort your classmates are giving with Shyama chasing after them. Hmm, is conversing with me fine for you?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± said Alexa, ¡°I may be a Perlas, but that doesn¡¯t mean I should hate someone like you.¡±

    ¡®But I¡¯m a Perlas, too,¡¯ he thought, ¡®Huh? Why do I feel comfortable with her? Is it because we are cousins? If only we weren¡¯t related by blood¡­¡¯

    After 200 laps, five cadets gave up, and 26 cadets remained. Malachi whistled as he was impressed.

    ¡°~?? I¡¯m impressed,¡± he commented, ¡°What say we pick up the pace?¡±

    Malachi¡¯s speed suddenly increased. Alexa and those behind him were surprised, and increased their speed, too. The ones at the rear looked back and found that Shyama was also increasing her pace!

    ¡°Rawr!¡±

    ¡°[Incoherent screaming.]¡±

    Soon, at 250 laps, half of the remaining runners dropped out. 8 cadets, including Malachi and Alexa, remained. Even Shyama caught up to them. Six of them, however, were already showing signs of fatigue by 270 laps. Malachi was still composed, and Alexa began to have difficulty maintaining the gap.

    ¡°Can you guys still keep up?¡± Asked Malachi, ¡°I¡¯m increasing my speed. Ciao~¡±

    At 300 laps, Malachi had left everybody behind. The remaining runners of Class 1 got overtaken by Shyama, and Malachi remained as the only runner.

    ¡°Hey, Shyama, go take a rest,¡± said Malachi, ¡°I can still go on.¡±

    ¡°Rrr¡­¡±

    Shyama finally broke away from Malachi and took a rest next to Class 13. Class 1, Class 13, and the other classes watched Malachi run on his own.

    321¡­ 322¡­ 333¡­

    Malachi was still running.

    366¡­ 367¡­ 368¡­

    Running without tiring despite all his sweat.

    397¡­ 398¡­ 399¡­

    Finally, after 400 laps, he slowed down to a stop. Unlike Arlianne who had to gasp for air, he breathed in deeply and breathed out slowly. He repeated his breathing until he stabilized himself. Afterwards, he walked towards where his classmates were.

    ¡°I will accept any challenge thrown at me,¡± he declared, ¡°You say 250? I¡¯ll give you 400. Anyone who surpasses me will earn my wholehearted respect, and I will strive to surpass that.¡±

    After that, Malachi dismissed his class and had them sent to the canteen for lunch. The cadets of the other classes had Malachi¡¯s declaration echo in their thoughts as they also went to the canteen. While Class 13 had their lunch, Malachi left the drill grounds and headed for the armory. Alexa noticed this and followed behind him.

    ¡°Malachi, may I call you that?¡± Asked Alexa.

    ¡°Lady Alexa?¡± Greeted Malachi, ¡°I don¡¯t mind, but do you need something?¡±

    ¡°Just call me, Alexa,¡± she requested, ¡°Will you not have your lunch?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll be eating in the armory with the engineers,¡± he answered, ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry, yourself?¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°I have my lunch with me.¡± She said. Alexa showed him a small bag on her waist. ¡°Is it fine if I came with you?¡±

    Malachi hesitated.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± He asked, ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that I¡¯ll get murdered if they find me next to you. Even talking with you should have killed me.¡±

    Alexa giggled.

    ¡°No way,¡± she said, ¡°It¡¯s not like you intend to harm me, right?¡±

    ¡®But that¡¯s still careless of you,¡¯ he thought, ¡®Knowing our history, we should be avoiding one another.¡¯

    Nevertheless, Malachi still arrived at the armory with Alexa. Unlike the cadets, the engineers were too busy to notice them. Malachi led Alexa deeper into the armory, into what was once a wide open area.

    There were makeshift structures built across the area made from wood, rock, metal, and even sandbags. They were built like buildings without the rooftops, and inside the rooms were machines with large plates. Surrounding the structures were overhead catwalks where some engineers and Remi were pointing at a blueprint and comparing the structures.

    ¡°What¡­ is this?¡± Asked Alexa.

    Malachi had an evil grin.

    ¡°This is a kill house,¡± he answered, ¡°I will have cadets kill one another inside. Only those left alive have the right to serve under me.¡±

    Alexa looked at him. Except, she didn¡¯t look at him with fear nor contempt, but confusion. Malachi¡¯s smile cramped at the unexpected response.

    Eventually, Remi noticed them.

    ¡°Oh, here you are¡ªBOY?!¡± Screamed Remi. Remi ran across the catwalk above them and jumped down. ¡°Why are you with her?!¡±

    Remi fell on top of Malachi, and he scrambled to catch the little girl.

    ¡°Oomph! The Hell¡¯s wrong with you?!¡± He scolded, ¡°That was dangerous!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with YOU?!¡± Bit back Remi, ¡°Why are you having a date with her?!¡±

    Alexa blushed at Remi¡¯s assumption.

    ¡°Um, we-we¡¯re not dating!¡± She cried, ¡°I was just curious, so I followed him.¡±

    Remi stared at Alexa while grabbing Malachi¡¯s face. Remi turned Malachi¡¯s head away from Alexa, and whispered to him.

    ¡°Hey, she doesn¡¯t know about you, does she?¡± She whispered, ¡°About you being related and all that?¡±

    Malachi minutely shook his head.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± he whispered back, ¡°I¡¯ve been very careful about that. I¡¯ve even made meeting with Gramps at the bare minimum.¡±

    Alexa was still flustered and ignored the other two. Suddenly, a weird sound came from both Malachi and Alexa. It was a gurgle from their guts, they remembered they hadn¡¯t had their lunch, yet.

    ¡°Say, Remi, did my lunch get here, yet?¡± Asked Malachi, ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡±

    Remi stared into his eyes.

    ¡°Oh, that was yours?¡± She said, ¡°I already ate it.¡±

    ¡°Why?!¡± Cried Malachi.

    Alexa heard their conversation.

    ¡°Um, if you don¡¯t mind,¡± she said, ¡°I could share mine with you.¡±

    Remi and Malachi stared at Alexa, and Remi turned Malachi¡¯s head away again.

    ¡°Are you really sure she doesn¡¯t know?¡± She interrogated, ¡°Heck, are you sure you¡¯re not dating? What about Arlianne, huh?¡±

    ¡°How the heck am I supposed to know?¡± He asked back, ¡°And wait, I¡¯m loyal to Arlianne, no matter how I may seem to you. Also, aren¡¯t you a bit too young for these topics?¡±

    Remi twisted Malachi¡¯s head back. She then turned her attention on Alexa.

    ¡°I¡¯m just kidding,¡± said Remi, ¡°The boy¡¯s food is in my armory. I¡¯ll have someone fetch it.¡±

    ¡­

    After having their lunch, Malachi inspected the kill house while Alexa chatted with Remi.

    ¡°So, why are you with the boy?¡± Asked Remi, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be careful with a Skaria?¡±

    Alexa cocked her head.

    ¡°Should I?¡± She asked back, ¡°Looking at his efforts, I don¡¯t think he would do this if he means ill will to the Royal Family. Even Grandfather seems to hold him in high regard.¡±

    Remi glanced at Alexa.

    ¡®Guess she really doesn¡¯t know anything,¡¯ she thought, ¡®This just got risky. At least I can breathe a sigh of relief knowing this.¡¯

    Then, from below, Malachi called for Remi.

    ¡°Hey, Remi,¡± he called, ¡°Get a stopwatch. I want to record my fastest time to clear the kill house. Watch carefully, Alexa. This is how I will change the way we train.¡±

    Malachi went to the starting end of the course and left the two girls. Alexa turned her attention to Remi.

    ¡°So, what exactly is a kill house?¡± She asked.

    ¡°It seems to be a live ammunition training course,¡± explained Remi, ¡°See those plates? Those are attached to machines that will raise them when the shooter gets to specific areas, and will lower when shot at. The shooters will be trained on how to efficiently progress through the course in the shortest time possible.¡±

    Alexa watched Malachi pick up a pair of guns from a table. One was an assault rifle, the other was a handgun. An engineer stood nearby to give Malachi the signal to start.

    ///

    ¡°Hmm, when I¡¯m not pushing it, I get through in 40 seconds,¡± said Malachi, ¡°If I go for the record, I can go through in 15 seconds.¡±

    Malachi kept repeating the course while they had the leisure to do so. The first run he did was to familiarize himself with the course. The succeeding runs were for him to find out his best record. He also used the other guns to see which ones would give him the best time.

    The loadout that resulted in 15 seconds was a double handgun. There were 24 targets in the entire course, 12 mobile targets and 12 static targets. With his abilities, he didn¡¯t need to reload either gun. Alexa watched in awe as Malachi ran the course.

    Malachi approached Alexa from below since she was observing from the catwalk.

    ¡°Wanna try it out?¡± He asked.

    Malachi instructed Alexa with each of his weapons. Due to the nature of the kill house, however, sniper rifles and light machine guns were not advised. Alexa took the time to experiment with each gun to find her best loadout.

    When she ran the course, Alexa¡¯s first time ended up with 38 seconds, a bit better than Malachi¡¯s first. Her succeeding runs also improved, but she maintained a steady record of 18 seconds.

    ¡°Not bad,¡± commented Malachi, ¡°Not bad at all. I wonder how Arlianne would fare?¡±

    ¡°We can find out now, if you¡¯d like, Malachi.¡±

    Just when Alexa finished her runs, the rest of Class 13 had arrived in the armory kill house. Naturally, they were surprised to see a member of the Royal Family standing next to Malachi. The sight of Alexa was more shocking than the presence of the kill house.

    ¡°Why is¡ª¡± a cadet was about to ask, but Malachi interrupted him.

    ¡°Shut up, don¡¯t ask questions,¡± he ordered, ¡°Lady Alexa, as part of the Royal Family, wanted to see for herself my contributions to the kingdom. You will all take part in the demonstration to see how effective this course will be. Depending on your performance, the kill house may be incorporated in future exercises conducted by the Academy and the Army.¡±

    ¡°Wait, I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Alexa was about to deny Malachi¡¯s explanation.

    ¡°Shh,¡± hushed Malachi, ¡°I¡¯m already taking a big risk by being with you, let me cover up our recent developments, okay?¡±

    Malachi returned his attention to the others.

    ¡°Remi will be keeping a record of everyone¡¯s time,¡± he said, ¡°I will first show you how to run the course. Go up to the catwalks and watch me from there. Afterwards, you will all go through it and will exhaust all efforts until you maintain a record.¡±

    Once Class 13 was up on the catwalks, Malachi chose a normal loadout of an assault rifle and a handgun. With Remi on the stopwatch, and another engineer to give the signal, Malachi walked through the course. This run wasn¡¯t an all-out effort. Malachi needed to show the others how to go through the course, step by step.

    ¡°Did you all get that?¡± He asked his class, ¡°Next, I will show you my best record.¡±

    Malachi switched his loadout with two handguns, one in his hands and another still holstered. Once he was ready, the engineer gave the signal. This time, Malachi replicated his 15-second record. The speed that he had was incomparable to the first. Each shot was precise, and his timing was accurate. When his first handgun ran out of ammo, he didn¡¯t reload and switched to his other gun. He finished the course as expected.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to imitate my loadout,¡± he advised his class, ¡°You can take all the time you need to look for the loadout that will give you the best time. Ideally, though, I would have you run the course with your chosen specialties. However, this is perfect to train you in handling the other types of guns. I will also be improving my own records using the other guns.¡±

    Malachi paused for a while.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you guys an incentive,¡± he added, ¡°If any of you are able to achieve a record of less than 20 seconds, I will exempt you from running laps for one day per second for a maximum of five days. If you achieve 19 seconds, you¡¯ll be exempted for one day. 18 seconds will give you two days.¡±

    ¡­

    In the end, only two people were able to achieve a record of less than 20 seconds aside from Malachi. The first was Arlianne. She was able to achieve a record of 18 seconds, the same as Alexa¡¯s. The other was Levi with 19 seconds, and was able to earn a day of freedom.

    ¡°The slowest is Mr. Simmons, 52 seconds,¡± announced Malachi, ¡°Class average is 38 seconds. Hmm, we need to work on the average.¡±

    Malachi looked at the time, it was just 2 hours before dinner time.

    ¡°Just by looking at it, the problem mostly lay on your reaction speed,¡± he commented, ¡°The bottom 10 will be working on that for the next two hours. The rest may leave early or try to beat their previous record. The incentive still holds. Remi, is the modified range ready? The bottom 10, come with me.¡±

    Malachi dragged the tired and dejected remnants of Class 13. Meanwhile, a few of those who remained left early. The only ones to try and beat their records were Arlianne and the Eskurs. Though, there was still one more person who hadn¡¯t left.

    ¡°Do you mind if I join you?¡± Asked Alexa.

    Arlianne and the Eskurs exchanged glances.

    ¡°Will it be fine for you, Lady Alexa?¡± Inquired Arlianne. The Eskurs didn¡¯t dare think of speaking to a member of the Royal Family carelessly. ¡°I recall some cadets of Class 1 looking for you earlier.¡±

    Alexa looked at Arlianne.

    ¡°Uh, A-Arlianne Skaria, right?¡± She said.

    ¡°Just Arlianne, Lady Alexa,¡± said Arlianne, ¡°Is there something you need?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing,¡± replied Alexa.

    Then, Alexa went silent.

    ¡®It doesn¡¯t seem like she recognized me,¡¯ thought Alexa, ¡®What was that smile for back then?¡¯

    Arlianne looked at the Eskurs.

    ¡°Do you mind if she joins us?¡± She asked them.

    The Eskurs looked at one another. For a while, they silently looked at each other. It may seem like they were just staring at one another, but their gazes shifted from time to time. They were communicating with their eyes. Afterwards, they all silently nodded to Alexa.

    Arlianne returned her attention to Alexa.

    ¡°It seems they are fine with it,¡± she translated, ¡°We will take turns going through the course, all right?¡±

    ///

    In the modified firing range, the same pop-up targets found in the kill house were installed. Rather than placed in ambush or passage locations, they were all spread out in random locations. At the end where the shooters would be standing were numbers embedded on the floor dictating the station numbers.

    Malachi placed each of the 10 cadets equally across the firing range stations.

    ¡°We will be working on your reaction speed,¡± said Malachi, ¡°Targets will pop-up one at a time for now, and you will hit them all as fast as you can. I won¡¯t be recording your times, but I will take note of who finishes last. When your station lights up, hit the button beside you to signal your finish.¡±

    Malachi signaled to the engineers to bring out the weapon crates. He laid out the assault rifles and handguns, and their respective magazines and ammunition on tables next to each station.

    ¡°I would suggest you use the semiautomatic fire option,¡± he said, ¡°It would help with conserving ammo. But first, a demonstration on what to do.¡±

    Malachi grabbed a loadout from the table and went to an empty station. With an engineer to give the signal, the first target popped up. As Malachi shot the first target, the next target immediately showed up. Every downed target would immediately erect a new one. There were 60 targets so he needed to reload in the middle of it.

    Since no one was recording his time, no one knew how long he took. However, just from his speed, one could assume that he only needed less than a minute to finish it.

    ¡°All right, fire on my command!¡±

    Afterwards, Malachi received a revelation from their performance. He found that the ones who did badly in the kill house excelled in the firing range. Most notably was Tyler Simmons, he was in last place in the kill house, but he remained to be the first to finish in the range.

    ¡°Mr. Simmons, what did you do before enrolling here?¡± Asked Malachi, ¡°It may have something to do with your performance.¡±

    Tyler shrunk a bit.

    ¡°I-I hunted with m-my father,¡± he answered, ¡°W-we lived n-next to a m-mountain so th-there were a l-lot of monsters.¡±

    Malachi raised a brow.

    ¡®A shy kid like this was hunting monsters?¡¯ He thought, ¡®The gap is too much. He¡¯s not good in tight places, but it seems he¡¯s perfect for sniping. Heck, he even chose a shotgun.¡¯

    Malachi looked at the others.

    ¡°I may have to revise some things,¡± he said, ¡°All of you are dismissed.¡±

    ///

    Malachi went back to the kill house and found the Eskurs watching idly from the catwalks. Standing at the entrance of the kill house was Arlianne, and there was a person going through the course. Eventually, the shooter came out through the exit, and Malachi saw who it was.

    ¡°Alexa?¡± Said Malachi, ¡°What are you still doing here?¡±

    Alexa went next to Arlianne, and Malachi approached the two girls. Alexa reloaded her loadout and Arlianne was prepping for another run.

    ¡°Arlianne and I were having a friendly competition,¡± explained Alexa, ¡°Seeing that our records were the same, I wanted to beat it.¡±

    Arlianne also gave the same answer.

    ¡°We almost always tie in the records,¡± she said, ¡°Here, take a look.¡±

    Arlianne handed Malachi the records list. He became surprised at their sudden improvement. The two girls were able to steadily gain speed while he was gone, and they had achieved a sustained time of 16 seconds. The Eskurs also improved their time, and Levi even gained another day of freedom.

    Malachi suddenly laughed. The people with him directed gazes of confusion from his strange behavior.

    ¡°Hahaha, this is good,¡± he said, ¡°very, VERY good. I wonder if I should¡­¡±

    He suddenly muttered in inaudible whispers. Malachi ignored the others and went to pick a loadout. This time, however, he didn¡¯t pick a double handgun and chose a normal assault rifle and handgun loadout. His mutterings never ceased even after loading his guns and picking up extra magazines, especially even after walking to the entrance.

    There was a strange thing, though. His eyes were unnaturally focused. An engineer had replaced Remi to record the time, while another was about to give the signal. At the first split-second the signal was given, Malachi bolted through the entrance at incomparable speed. His explosive start was a shock to the others compared to his previous starts.

    As he ran, his mutterings kept going. He breezed through the course without stopping, he even punched a pop-up target that appeared too close to him. The punch was strong enough to push it back down. He punched or kicked any target that was abnormally close and shot the rest until he came out of the course. Fortunately, the engineer was alert enough to stop the watch and stared at the result.

 Campaign 9

    The engineer in charge of the stopwatch froze in place. His gaze never left the time displayed on the contraption in his hands. Wondering what Malachi¡¯s result was, Levi took a peek as he was the nearest person.

    However, unlike the engineer, Levi took a few steps back upon seeing the result.

    ¡°Care to share what you saw, Levi?¡± Said Malachi rather arrogantly, seemingly knowing about his result already with the smirk he was sporting. ¡°I¡¯m quite ¡®curious¡¯ about the result.¡±

    Levi repeatedly opened his mouth, unknown whether he had to voice to say it.

    ¡°Twelve seconds¡­?¡± Another answered for Levi, but it wasn¡¯t Malachi. Alexa gave an answer, but she was unsure about it. ¡°That¡­ That was approximately 12 seconds, right? My counting shouldn¡¯t be wrong.¡±

    Malachi¡¯s smirk became a grin, and the engineer and Levi could only nod in return. Indeed, Malachi was able to achieve a record of 12 seconds with his strange execution of the kill house. Even more so for his strange behavior and mutterings as he ran through.

    ¡®Even the chant had carried over,¡¯ thought Malachi, ¡®but then, was I subconsciously chanting¡ªor, rather, thinking about it as I commanded the squads years prior? Now that I¡¯m conscious about it, I suppose I should put it into practice soon.¡¯

    Malachi turned his attention to the two girls, and gestured for them to¡­ try¡­ and beat his record. What was supposed to be training has become a competition for all interested parties. Arlianne and Alexa stared at the young man before them grinning widely¡ªas if mockingly¡ªwith his challenge.

    ///

    The next day, Malachi gave his class a training schedule. In the mornings, Class 13 would be running laps with Shyama. After lunch in the afternoons, they would be drilled in the kill house and firing range to improve their records and reaction times respectively. After giving the schedule, Malachi had his class carry it out while being overseen by Arlianne.

    That morning, while the rest of his class ran for their lives, Malachi went to the library to read up on their mission¡¯s target: the Hell Worm. He approached the librarian¡¯s desk situated near the entrance to request assistance.

    ¡°Excuse me, do you know where I could find a book about the monsters inhabiting within the kingdom?¡± He asked, ¡°We have a mission coming up and I¡¯d like to learn more about the subjugation targets.¡±

    There was a swivel chair behind the desk with its occupant facing away. When Malachi voiced his question, the occupant spun around to greet him. Malachi, though, was in for a surprise.

    ¡°Oh, hello, Malachi.¡± Greeted the librarian. It was a woman with long braided hair and a pair of eyeglasses. ¡°You¡¯ve grown, haven¡¯t you.¡±

    ¡°M-Mi-Miss Clara?¡± He replied in disbelief, ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to work at the arena?¡±

    The librarian, Clara, was the same person who worked as Axton¡¯s secretary in the capital city¡¯s arena. Even though they rarely met back then, Clara always watched the children¡¯s exercises before the Fire Ant incident.

    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be surprising, though?¡± Replied Clara. She rested her chin on her palm as she spoke with a smile. ¡°I mean, the arena was destroyed and the chief got transferred here. Since I had nowhere else to go, all I had were my skills and my love for reading. Axton put in a word to have me work here.¡±

    ¡°Did everybody in the arena come out okay? I mean, apart from the drill master¡¯s arm.¡± He asked. Malachi frowned when he recalled the people he met and the Fire Ant incident. ¡°Did they also get transferred here?¡±

    Clara smiled at his concerns.

    ¡°They¡¯re okay,¡± she answered, ¡°though, most of them were soldiers and were transferred to other garrisons. The civilians, like me, got new jobs in more clerical positions within the kingdom. His former Majesty, His Highness Eleazar, took the initiative to get us work. Your grandfather is a truly great person.¡±

    Malachi hurried to cover her mouth.

    ¡°Hey!¡± He whispered, panic in his eyes, ¡°So you also know, huh? Be careful about blurting that out. Nobody outside should know about my lineage.¡±

    Clara giggled.

    ¡°Calm down,¡± she said, ¡°There is no one here. Nobody visits the library at this time. If there are, it would only be a handful.¡±

    Malachi retreated and massaged his temples.

    ¡°Back to business,¡± he continued, ¡°can you show me a book or not?¡±

    ¡°Rather than show, I¡¯ll lead you there.¡± She answered. Clara stood from her seat and left the desk. She gestured to Malachi to follow her as she led him through the shelves to his requested location. Although, Malachi raised a brow as he noticed her rather sultry movements. ¡°You¡¯ll find everything about the monsters in these shelves. The mission was for a Hell Worm, right? I saw it in the mission rosters assigned to your class. Here¡¯s a book compiled by the past cadets and soldiers about the Hell Worm.¡±

    Clara handed Malachi a thick book from the shelves. It was evidently heavy as she, and Malachi, needed to use both hands to lift it.

    ¡°Damn thing is heavy,¡± he commented, ¡± ¡®Monster Book¡¯ huh? Someone got lazy in the naming department. No fancy flairs or anything like that?¡±

    ¡°What did you expect?¡± Said Clara, ¡°It is an encyclopedia of the kingdom¡¯s monsters. There¡¯s no room for anything fancy, especially when it was written by cadets and soldiers.¡±

    ¡°Eh, thanks, anyway,¡± he said, ¡°Guess I¡¯ll start reading.¡±

    Malachi went to a nearby table and plopped down. With the book on the table, he flipped to see if there was a table of contents and found the page where information about the Hell Worm was written. Opposite of him, though, Clara sat down.

    ¡°You need something, Ma¡¯am?¡± Asked Malachi.

    ¡°How does it feel to be alone with an older woman?¡± Asked Clara abruptly, ¡°Two people of the opposing sexes alone in a quiet place like this.¡±

    Malachi raised a brow. Shocked and confused at the sudden question.

    ¡°Were you always like this, ma¡¯am?¡± He wondered, ¡°Honestly, I didn¡¯t think about it nor did I notice it until you made me conscious about it. Since you said you liked reading, I figured you to be more reserved. Guess I assumed wrongly. Are you a carnivore that delights in eating up men younger than yourself?¡±

    Clara smiled.

    ¡°Maybe,¡± she said, ¡°Despite your age, your looks are very appealing. Especially since you were born from the men of the Royal Family. Well?¡±

    Malachi stood up and left his seat. Clara followed him with her eyes until he went right next to her. Malachi leaned close to her face, bringing his lips to her ear, and sent in a whisper.

    ¡°That¡¯s a very scandalous proposition you have, ma¡¯am,¡± he said, ¡°Truthfully, you are very tempting with your beauty and your figure.¡±

    Malachi slid his hand down to her waist and brought Clara closer to him. She gasped in surprise but smiled afterwards.

    ¡°For a kid, you sure know how to make one excited,¡± she commented.

    ¡°Maybe,¡± he said, ¡°Sadly, I am already committed to someone else. It wouldn¡¯t do well to get into your mission too much.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± She uttered.

    Malachi pulled out a knife from somewhere on her body and brought it to her throat. Having a blade in close contact, Clara became silent.

    ¡°Was this a test,¡± continued Malachi, ¡°Or was it of your own volition? I could also assume you were an assassin or a spy working for another faction sent to kill me, or you could be from another nation entirely.¡±

    ¡°Since when did you know?¡± She asked, ¡°I was certain that I hid that dagger well.¡±

    ¡°Your movements were unnatural,¡± he answered, ¡°You were walking like you had something hidden in your clothes. I must agree that you hid it well, but I must say that your movements, no matter how minute they were, gave you away.¡±

    There, a man walked out from behind a bookshelf. He clapped as he approached the two people. Malachi turned his eyes to look, never having the blade off Clara¡¯s neck.

    ¡°Gramps? The hell did you get here?¡± Said Malachi. He retreated from Clara and placed the knife on the table. He had not even noticed Eleazar¡¯s presence. ¡°Did you set me up?¡±

    ¡°Just a curious grandfather, Malachi,¡± said Eleazar, ¡°Seeing how you know so much, much more than others of your age cohort, I wanted to see what kind of person you truly were. Reports could only give me so much information, and seeing the real one would blow it all away.¡±

    Clara was pouting when she was left alone.

    ¡°He deliciously delivered your expectations, right, Your Highness?¡± She said, ¡°Forgive me, Malachi. His Highness only did this for the well-being of the kingdom. It wouldn¡¯t do good to have an immoral future king, no?¡±

    Malachi stared at Clara.

    ¡°Immorality aside,¡± he said, ¡°Who are you, really? Gramps, the way she acts and speaks, you have your own specialized division, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Eleazar sighed.

    ¡°You really are too sharp for your age,¡± he said, ¡°I have to throw the same question back to you; who are YOU, really, Malachi? From the reports I¡¯ve received about you, none tell of any incident for this rapid maturity.¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    Malachi smirked.

    ¡°That, my dear grandfather, is a secret,¡± he said, ¡°A secret that I, too, have no idea what it is.¡±

    ¡°Are you joking right now?¡± Asked Eleazar, ¡°That statement is absolutely impossible. How can you not know your own secre¡ª you don¡¯t even have a secret, do you?¡±

    ¡°You catch on quick, Gramps,¡± commented Malachi, ¡°Although, with this, we could say I inherited it from you since you seem to be quick on the uptake.¡±

    Eleazar and Clara stared at Malachi.

    ¡°I mean, I am¡­ what do they call me¡­ a Tainted?¡± Continued Malachi, ¡°I am one born from the union of an Eskur and a non-Eskur. Knowing about both my ancestries¡¯ histories, I needed to learn a lot, as much as possible in the quickest and most efficient manner. Let us say that my¡­ maturity¡­ stemmed from my conviction, so to speak.¡±

    Of course, this was a lie. Even if he did tell his only secret to his immediate family, Eleazar was of another faction entirely.

    ¡®Let¡¯s just settle for this, Gramps,¡¯ he thought, ¡®I don¡¯t know if your own faction got infiltrated by uncle¡¯s or by spies from other nations. I can, at least, trust Pops and Uncle Greg to be silent about it even from their own faction. I can¡¯t even trust this woman next to me.¡¯

    ¡°Conviction, huh?¡± Said Eleazar. He looked into his grandson¡¯s eyes, and Malachi looked back into his. Malachi¡¯s gaze did not waver in the slightest. ¡°All right, that is an acceptable reason. It is true that much of the kingdom still remembers the war decades ago, and those of my generation hate your kin for it.¡±

    Eleazar¡¯s gaze finally softened. Malachi, however, still did not break eye contact.

    ¡°Gramps, since you¡¯re here, can you tell me everything about my ancestry?¡± Asked Malachi, ¡°I only know about Clan Skaria being the cause for the Uprising to reach this region. Apart from that, I know nothing else.¡±

    Hearing his question, Eleazar smiled.

    ¡°I was wondering when you would ask me that, child,¡± he commented, ¡°How about this: succeed in your first mission, and only then I will tell you about Clan Skaria and your other grandfather. Come find me in my office once you finish submitting your mission report. Until then, have fun with Clara.¡±

    ¡°With pleasure, Your Highness,¡± chimed Clara, ¡°Please take care of me, Malachi.¡±

    Clara seductively smiled at Malachi, but he ignored her. Malachi returned to his seat to read the book, and Eleazar left the library. Despite Clara¡¯s presence, Malachi was unperturbed with her advances.

    ¡°Tsk, you really are a loyal man, aren¡¯t you?¡± She commented, ¡°Well, fine. If you have any need of information, just come to me, all right?¡±

    Malachi glanced at the woman in front of him, and Clara sent him a wink before leaving him alone with his reading.

    ¡°A spy, huh? Reminds me of brother,¡± commented Malachi, ¡°She left her knife?¡±

    Clara¡¯s knife remained where Malachi placed it, on the table. He took the blade and inspected its construction.

    ¡°Pretty light.¡± He said.

    Malachi tossed the knife into the air and caught it with one hand before it pierced the table. He twirled the blade around his fingers, let it spin on the back of his hand, and tossed it again into the air with a flick of his wrist. Except, the knife did not return to his hand.

    ¡°Forgot about this,¡± said Clara, ¡°Nice technique, by the way.¡±

    Clara caught the knife in midair, unknown of when she had returned, and placed it in its sheath on her waist. She smiled and waved goodbye before returning to her desk at the front of the library.

    ¡®I¡¯ve seriously gotten rusty,¡¯ thought Malachi, ¡®I didn¡¯t even notice the both of them.¡¯

    Malachi shook his head to dispel any unnecessary thought and resumed to reading the book before him.

    ¡­

    Hell Worm

    The Hell Worm is a gigantic, arthropod with a segmented armor-like hexagonal exoskeleton covering its body. It is primarily obsidian black in color, but also features reddish streaks along its body. It has 12 limbs, 8 of which make contact with the ground, the other 4 being used for digging and grasping prey. The average Hell Worm can reach lengths of over 40 meters and heights of over 5 meters.

    ¡­

    Malachi read the entries for the Hell Worm written in the book. From its physiology to its behaviors and diet. Despite reading the available descriptions, the book itself did not have size comparisons or illustrations.

    ¡°Did none of our seniors even bother to study its body?¡± He groaned, ¡°Not even an idea on how thick its exoskeleton is neither a simple drawing nor picture to know what it even looks like.¡±

    He closed the book and proceeded to replace it on its shelf. Suddenly, there was a tap on his shoulder. Turning around, it was Clara, again.

    ¡°Finished?¡± She asked.

    Malachi stared at her for a while.

    ¡°Do you have any illustrations or pictures of the monsters in that book?¡± He asked back, ¡°Just mere descriptive texts won¡¯t help me with the operation planning.¡±

    Clara sighed.

    ¡°Sorry, we have none of those,¡± she apologized, ¡°I¡¯ve seen all of the books this library has to offer, but I don¡¯t recall seeing any one book with pictures. All of the books here can be deemed as boring.¡±

    ¡°Man, this kingdom is lazy,¡± commented Malachi, ¡°There was a lot of entries in that book, yet none of you bothered to study about them? Even if it was risky, there should have been theses about these monstrosities.¡±

    Clara frowned.

    ¡°Hey, watch your mouth,¡± she scolded, ¡°You may be the Prince, but that doesn¡¯t give you any reason to badmouth your people. You really shou¡ªoomph?!¡±

    Malachi grasped her mouth, and glared into her eyes.

    ¡°Inefficient and ineffective people are still useless in my eyes,¡± he warned, ¡°Rather than protect the deficiencies of your kind, why not improve upon it, eh? You sound like you¡¯re just whining and complaining, but all I see are POS littering the kingdom.¡±

    His grip on her face tightened and Clara¡¯s gaze involuntarily shuddered from fear.

    ¡®Wh-what is this kid?!¡¯ She screamed in her thoughts, ¡®This strength is ridiculous! Even his gaze¡­ those aren¡¯t the eyes of a young man. If only glares could kill, I¡¯d be dead by now!¡¯

    Malachi¡¯s eyes carried an unnatural intensity coupled with his crimson red irises. The silent library only intensified his threatening atmosphere. Seeing that Clara was about to burst into tears, Malachi released her from his grip.

    Clara collapsed to the floor and was gasping for breath, she could not look up at the young man looking down on her.

    Malachi sighed and crouched down to her level. He placed his hand on her shoulder, surprising her, and spoke.

    ¡°Sorry about that,¡± he apologized, ¡°Bad habits are hard to get rid of. Sorry for scaring you, but you really shouldn¡¯t be satisfied with this kind of mediocrity. Remain like this and it will soon become a cancer that eats away the kingdom¡¯s strength.¡±

    Malachi stood up and turned to leave. He left Clara where she sat and exited the library. As for Clara, she could only stare at the floor and shiver from what she experienced. Or so one would assume.

    ¡°You¡­ Being so aggressive like that,¡± she whispered, ¡°Overpowering me, then apologizing¡­ What the hell? Such a naughty child¡­¡±

    It would seem that something awakened from within.

    ///

    After lunch, Malachi headed towards the kill house to meet up with the rest of his class. Entering the area, he noticed a new installment that could be seen from the entrance.

    There was a board that listed down names and records of people. Evidently, it displayed the fastest records achieved in the kill house. Below the board was Remi directing the engineers to fix the display. When it finally lit up, Malachi¡¯s name was at the top of the list and next to his name was his 12-second record. Below him were Arlianne¡¯s and Alexa¡¯s names and records, respectively, as well as his classmates¡¯ names and records.

    Remi finally noticed Malachi.

    ¡°Hey, boy,¡± she greeted, ¡°That was an insane record you had achieved. Will this be the benchmark for top performers?¡±

    ¡°Who put you up to build this?¡± Asked Malachi, ¡°I never suggested for something like this.¡±

    ¡°It was the Headmaster¡¯s idea,¡± answered Remi, ¡°He saw your past and present records, and the records of the others who went through the kill house. Suddenly, he thought about publicizing the records to push the others to improve since he has accepted your proposal to adopt this sort of training for the academy.¡±

    As they conversed, the rest of Class 13 finally arrived at the kill house, and gasps of disbelief filled the surroundings. The gasps of surprise were because of the records board: Malachi¡¯s record, and Alexa¡¯s involvement.

    ¡°Twelve seconds?!¡± Cried a cadet, ¡°Hey! That incentive still stands, right!?¡±

    ¡°Why is Lady Alexa there?¡± Wondered another cadet, ¡°To be even with Arlianne, too.¡±

    Class 13 was in an uproar because of the seemingly impossible record Malachi had achieved.

    ¡°Hey! You sure he didn¡¯t cheat!?¡± Roared a cadette, ¡°Did you have to make life harder for us!?¡±

    ¡°Bang!¡±

    Malachi shot the ground where Class 13 stood. He glared at the cadets that were making a ruckus about his 12-second record, saying how impossible it was. It must be noted, though, that his eyes were just like what Clara had witnessed.

    ¡°Are you complaining?¡± He asked them, ¡°Heh, no matter what happens, trash will always be trash.¡±

    Out of all his classmates, Patrick was the only one who glared back at Malachi.

    ¡°Something you need, Mr. Bryant?¡± Inquired Malachi mockingly, ¡°Rather than speak your misgivings about the truth, why not turn it around and prove me wrong? Otherwise, you¡¯re all just bark and no bite, and I have no use for fangless dogs.¡±

    Malachi glanced at the Eskurs.

    ¡°At least the rabbits have their worth,¡± he added, ¡°Come on! Where is your so called Perlasian pride!? Why not funnel that hatred you have for my kin into improving yourselves!? You bark and roar all about hating me, yet this is all you can show me!? Pathetic trash is pathetic! Me! A Tainted and a Skaria! I will beat you all down and achieve absolute victory over trash like you!¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Roared a cadet.

    ¡°YOU, SHUT UP!¡± Bellowed Malachi with unrelenting vigor. His eyes had gone ablaze with rage that even the engineers around them shuddered from his domineering voice. ¡°If you have the time to hate me, if you have the energy to be angry at me¡­! Why not focus your rage within yourselves and change!? This is why you¡¯re all stuck in this class! You¡¯re all pathetic weaklings and cowards that cannot even move to change themselves, much less change the kingdom through service! Why the hell did you all even goddamned enlist if none of you are even willing to work for it!?¡±

    The entire area had gone silent. Malachi breathed heavily as he finished his speech. He glanced at them one last time and spoke.

    ¡°The incentive still stands,¡± he added, ¡°Achieve a record of less than 20 seconds to earn a few days of rest. Remi, have an engineer supervise them. I need to talk to you about something. Arlianne, try to improve your record as well.¡±

    Malachi left his class in the hands of the engineers with Remi. Remi meekly followed behind him despite being the person in charge of the Academy Furnace armory. When he had disappeared from their sight, the rest of Class 13 could only look at one another before they began to run the kill house. Whatever they felt was unknown to one another, but the resolution in some of their eyes could be seen.

    Malachi¡¯s scolding hadn¡¯t been all for naught.

    ///

    ¡°Hey, you should relax already,¡± said Malachi to Remi, ¡°I¡¯m not angry at you, anyway.¡±

    Malachi and Remi finally reached her office. When they entered, he noticed Remi was silent throughout their walk. Malachi turned to look at the girl, but Remi flinched from his gaze, instead.

    ¡°I.. I see,¡± said Remi, ¡°That¡­ That was surprising¡­ Back there.¡±

    Malachi sighed.

    ¡°Sorry, it was because someone I met at the library had the same attitude,¡± he explained, ¡°It just ticked me off when nobody was taking action for their deficiencies.¡±

    ¡°Library? There shouldn¡¯t be many visitors earlier, unless,¡± she commented, ¡°Did you mean the librarian, Clara?¡±

    ¡°You know her?¡± He said surprisedly, ¡°Yeah. I was asking about more information that was easy to gather, considering the monster encyclopedia was written by generations of cadets, but the library had none of what I needed.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right. You had to research about your mission objective,¡± she realized, ¡°What was it that you needed?¡±

    ¡°The Hell Worm¡¯s appearance through an illustration or picture, its body structure, defensive capabilities, or even mere tips when hunting them down,¡± he answered, ¡°The so-called ¡®encyclopedia¡¯ had none of that, just a description of its physiology and what it eats.¡±

    Remi fell into thought.

    ¡°Then why not use this as a chance to study it?¡± She asked, ¡°Take this chance to succeed where we failed.¡±

    Malachi stared at the little girl for a moment.

    ¡°Good idea,¡± he said, ¡°Although it was a subjugation mission, there weren¡¯t any specifics about how we would deal with it. Right, time to turn all subjugation missions into ¡®capture¡¯ missions.¡±

    ¡°Wait, ¡®capture?''¡± She repeated, ¡°Wait, wait! I only meant for you to study it in the wild! Not for you to actually bring it back!¡±

    ¡°But rather than taking weeks, or even months to study it in the wild, wouldn¡¯t it be best to directly get our hands on it?!¡± He asked back, excitedly, ¡°Since the seniors have given an idea on how it looks like, I just need to take out its legs. Though, hmm, I wonder if the weapons on hand could punch through its carapace? I should assume it would be more difficult than a Fire Ant¡¯s.¡±

    Malachi began to walk back to where they came from while mumbling about his plans. Back, and went for the exit. Remi, startled by his sudden outburst, chased after him and grabbed his leg.

    ¡°Hold on, boy! Before that, what was it that you needed from me?¡± She inquired. Remi had a vague recollection that Malachi wanted to discuss something with her. Reminding him of this, she hoped to have him be distracted enough to forget about capturing the Hell Worm. ¡°It seemed important.¡±

    Malachi turned back.

    ¡°Ah, right. Do you have enough space for another shooting range?¡± He asked, ¡°Specifically, a range for snipers and machine gunners. If I can¡¯t make everybody equal in skill, I¡¯ll just focus on developing their specializations. Besides, we might even have a new division springing up after this.¡±

 Campaign 10

    Campaign 10

    ¡°You want another range built up for sniper rifles and machine guns?¡± asked Remi, ¡°Sorry, Malachi, the places¡ªwhere we¡¯ve put the kill house and the time trial range¡ªare our only available spaces. Judging from the capabilities of those guns, I¡¯m guessing you¡¯ll need a much bigger area.¡±

    Indeed, just as Remi was thinking, sniper rifles and machine guns need a bigger space to fully utilize compared to the tight spaces of the kill house or other small areas. Assault rifles were, of course, meant for mid-range to long-range combat. Shotguns shine the brightest in short-range combat to close-quarters¡ªand this was also true for pistols.

    While machine guns also have the same range capability as assault rifles, and were capable of holding down a tight corridor, they perform admirably in wide, open spaces where it can sweep the horizon with long bursts or sustained fire¡ªable to keep an entire sector in check. The same can be said for sniper rifles¡ªwith their extremely long range, they can stop a battalion of enemy infantry from kilometers away.

    Malachi held his chin. ¡°I see,¡± he said, ¡°I guess the best thing to do is live exercise. They¡¯ll just have to get used to these two types out there like on-the-job training.¡±

    Pondering on what to do, he looked out a window. Yes, there were windows for the armory, albeit smaller than the windows of their classrooms. Ordinary men and women would not last long in the confines of steel, ventilation shafts, and extreme heat without seeing the outside world from time to time.

    As he peered out to the rest of the academy, he spotted a large wall of rock and dirt towering over the drill grounds.

    ¡°Hey, do you have construction equipment?¡± He asked, ¡°Rather than occupy an existing area, can we not just build a new one? That cliff face seems suitable and, judging the sheer size of the mountain, we can build it pretty deep into it.¡±

    Remi looked at the cliff face where Malachi was pointing at.

    ¡°We will need the authorization of the Headmaster,¡± she replied, ¡°This entire area is in his jurisdiction, after all. Just because you are his grandson, I can¡¯t give you special treatment.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll leave that to you,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll understand. Here is what I¡¯ll need.¡±

    Malachi gave Remi a large number of blueprints for the firing range he had in mind. Remi went through each one, and gave an understanding nod.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do,¡± she said, ¡°These are pretty big. You might get an approval in a day or two, at best. If not, it might be after your first mission.¡±

    Malachi nodded then turned around to leave the girl behind. After which he muttered under his breath.

    ¡°In the meantime, I¡¯ll be preparing for monster hunting.¡±

    Remi failed in her hopes to stop Malachi from committing recklessness.

    Back at the kill house, Malachi silently came back. What he saw, in the short time he was with Remi, was a sight to behold. His classmates were scrambling to get good records in his absence after his roaring speech.

    Looking around his class, he noticed that the engineers have changed shifts repeatedly as some of them were tired out from placing and replacing new and old parts, and repairing and maintaining broken machines and guns.

    ¡°You, is that the best you can do!?¡± roared Patrick, ¡°Do you really want that trash to step all over us!?¡±

    As Patrick waited for his turn, he was ¡°motivating¡± the rest of his Perlasian classmates. Looking at the scoreboard, Patrick was able to achieve a record of 20 seconds. Malachi was grinning as he watched, hidden in the shadows.

    ¡®I wonder if I should make a more precise stopwatch, one that can even show the milliseconds?¡¯ he thought mischievously, ¡®Maybe I can push them even further into frustration? No, too evil.¡¯

    He continued watching them, hidden from their senses. The next one his gaze landed on was Genevieve. She was repeatedly practicing the fastest and most efficient way to reload her guns. With her was Dinah who was doing the same exercises. Malachi smiled warmly as he watched.

    ¡®Initiative,¡¯ he thought, ¡®Excellent work, you two.¡¯

    In his mind, he praised those who did well and scolded those who did poorly. Though he did scold them in his thoughts, he thought of ways his classmates can improve their results. Even though he was treated like a monster by the non-Eskurs, he still gave them respect. Respect as someone who will rule over them in the future, respect as their prince.

    Without saying a word to them, he left and went back to Remi with a smile.

    ¡°Time to create exceptional armor.¡±

    With just a whisper, his eyes gleamed in the shadows.

    Remi was in the middle of writing a letter of request to the Headmaster, Eleazar Perlas. Occasionally, she paused to look over the blueprints Malachi gave her.

    ¡®That boy¡­ can he really be called with such a simple word?¡¯ she thought, ¡®These schematics are too precise, too¡­ too¡­ I don¡¯t know. I couldn¡¯t think of anything to supplement his ideas.¡¯

    Remi thought back to when she first heard about Malachi. She was with the Headmaster, along with the rest of Eleazar¡¯s men and women. Within that group were Axton and Clara, many of her engineers, and Carlos and the academy¡¯s faculty. They were in an auditorium-like location, and were seated before Eleazar who stood upon a podium.

    ¡°I¡¯ve received word that my grandson voiced his interest in entering the military academy,¡± announced Eleazar, ¡°As you all know, he is the child of my son Emmanuel and my friend¡¯s Bashia. It should also be mentioned, about his creations and his heroism during the Fire Ant incident, that he has the qualities of a fine leader.¡±

    When the Fire Ant incident was mentioned, a number of people glanced towards Axton and Clara who were unashamed of the truth. The truth that Malachi was the one responsible in having kept their losses at a minimum with his unexpected command of the soldiers he encountered and rescued. More so with the weapons he created and the zeal he exhibited in that short time.

    ¡°I wish to prepare for his entry into the academy,¡± continued Eleazar, ¡°I hope that you all understand what I mean to do. Even though Alexa has already enrolled, and was able to get into Class 1, I cannot help but feel that she lacks something that Malachi has. They are both my grandchildren, and I cherish them both equally. However, when it comes to the state of the kingdom, I cannot be negligent in guiding them for our futures.¡±

    This was a year after the Fire Ant incident and after Malachi woke up from his coma. Malachi was 13 years old, then, two years before he entered the academy, and Remi was only 10 years old. 10 years, yet she has full command over engineers older than her.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    Eleazar placed his gaze on Remi, and she looked up to him.

    ¡°Remi, Remi Ashwald. The child prodigy of our time,¡± he said, ¡°Knowing about Malachi¡¯s talent with machinery and weaponry, I hope that you can work with him in furthering our capabilities as a kingdom. There may come a time when he will need your aid in developing our war potential.¡±

    Remi nodded her little head.

    ¡°Understood, Your Majesty,¡± she replied, ¡°I will help the boy with all my knowledge.¡±

    Eleazar chuckled.

    ¡°Haha, calling him a boy when you are a child yourself,¡± he teased, ¡°Nevertheless, I did not approach you for your age, but your talent. Do not let me down.¡±

    Remi stopped reminiscing the past and returned to the task at hand¡ªfollowing the protocol for academy-wide modifications. It was then when Malachi passed through her doorway. Looking up, she called out to him.

    ¡°Is there something else you need, boy?¡± she asked, ¡°I¡¯m in the middle of writing the proposal to the Headmaster.¡±

    Malachi approached her with quick steps.

    ¡°Put that on hold for the moment,¡± he answered, ¡°I have something else I need your, and the rest of the engineers¡¯, help with.¡±

    Grabbing a pen and paper, Malachi drew a large amount of schematics on the spot. At first, they were just strange shapes. However, as he drew more, images began to from, and Remi was shocked at what it was.

    ¡®How, how is he able to create so much¡­?¡¯ she thought, ¡®Each part is accurately and precisely drawn. Engines, guns¡­ this¡­ this is¡­¡¯

    By the time Malachi lifted his hands from the papers, individual schematics and the final schematic flooded the table. The schematics were for engines, guns, gears, tracks and armor.

    ¡°You¡­ you created a siege engine from scratch,¡± she said in surprise.

    Malachi shook his head.

    ¡°Rather than a siege engine,¡± he argued, ¡°Let¡¯s call it a tank.¡±

    Indeed, the schematics were for tank parts, and the final result was reminiscent of a terran tank. Specifically, it resembled the World War II Soviet Samokhodnaya Ustanovka 100, or the SU-100 tank destroyer.

    While it was a casemate-style tank, unlike the siege engine that needed to turn the entire body to aim in another direction, the gun of this tank was able to move around a limited angle without moving the entire hull.

    ¡°Considering the siege engines, I expect to be fighting on the same level of technology or philosophy,¡± explained Malachi, ¡°So I need something to punch through all that thick armor in a single shot. Additionally, with its lighter armor, it can move faster than our siege engines while being protected from small-arms fire.¡±

    Remi stared at Malachi.

    ¡°Oh, I only need one,¡± he added, ¡°Just to see if it works and if the engine I designed is suitable for other chassis.¡±

    ¡°Wait, other chassis?¡± she asked, ¡°You have more?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± he replied, ¡°This one is a tank destroyer. I have more for armored personnel carriers, howitzer gun carriers, long-range artillery, and battle tanks. You don¡¯t expect to depend on solely one type of tank, do you? We need the support of a myriad of vehicle types if we want to get ahead of any potential threat.¡±

    Remi was stunned. For years, the Kingdom of Perlas boasted its anti-armor capabilities¡ªits steam knights and siege engines¡ªand were unparalleled since the Eskur Uprising. Now, there was a young man before her, toppling her common sense down even further. First were Malachi¡¯s small-arms gun designs, and now, even having a multitude of vehicle variants.

    While the kingdom prospered from the technologies of other nations¡ªthe late Merkan Industrial Union and the Empire of Taijun¡ªdue to the efforts of the Eqari Merchant Union, and then modifying them in lieu of their philosophies, Malachi was able to create what none of them thought of before. Of course, Malachi only knew these things due to the creations of other people in his past life.

    ¡°Besides, I still need to finalize the ammunition to be used,¡± added Malachi, ¡°I have to figure out the optimal density for armor-piercing shells at the lightest weight possible. I also need to find out the best pyrocite weight for the high-explosive shells.¡±

    Even the ammunition was different! Remi couldn¡¯t be shocked any further! Compared to the ammunition types of Malachi¡¯s small-arms guns¡ªwhich only differed in bullet size and pyrocite weight¡ªtanks needed to have a good variety of ammunition to fulfill a myriad of tasks: from punching armor to destroying hard targets or obliterating soft targets.

    ¡°Hmm, maybe I should add in¡­¡±

    There were more! Remi¡¯s mind stopped working when she heard the stream of ideas and components going out of Malachi¡¯s mouth like a raging torrent.

    ¡°Ma-Malachi¡­ who are you, really?¡± she finally asked, ¡°I cannot think of how you are able to create so much when we should only know so little.¡±

    Malachi stopped momentarily and gazed at the little girl before him. After a while, a subtle grin surfaced on his face.

    ¡°Because I am the prince,¡± he answered, ¡°It is only natural to know more than what my subjects can comprehend and especially because of the blood in my veins.¡±

    His voice was calm, yet his eyes were cold. Remi only listened to his words and did not notice the chill in his gaze.

    An hour before dinner time, Malachi returned to the kill house. Unlike the rage before, his classmates were already tired and fatigued. Yet, even with the pain of their bodies, they were able to deliver and improved their records.

    ¡°Class average: 34 seconds,¡± said Malachi as he approached, ¡°Not bad, but not good enough. A mere 4-second difference won¡¯t cut it. Levi, Isaac, Mr. Bryant, and Ms. Ramirez, you four have earned your respective days of rest.¡±

    Looking at the scoreboard, Levi was able to maintain a record of 17 seconds, an improvement from his past records. Isaac and Patrick earned two days of rest with 18 seconds each, and Rae maintained a steady average of 19 seconds. The slowest, Tyler, was able to bring his 40-second record up to 35 seconds.

    Malachi approached an engineer.

    ¡°Give me a pair of radios,¡± he said, ¡°I want to try something out.¡±

    Immediately, Malachi was given the items he asked for. He kept one, and gave the other to Arlianne.

    ¡°Can you do another run?¡± he asked.

    Arlianne wordlessly nodded and hooked the radio on her collar. She grabbed a normal loadout and approached the kill house entrance. Malachi went to a nearby bench and sat down, rather than going up the catwalks where the majority of his class was.

    ¡°I will share to you all how I was able to achieve 12 seconds,¡± he announced, ¡°Go up the catwalks to observe.¡±

    Confused, the others looked at one another. But since it had something to do with his insane record, they followed his order and left him alone. Malachi looked at Arlianne¡¯s record: 17 seconds.

    Raising the radio in his hand, he momentarily smirked before speaking to Arlianne.

    ¡°Can you hear me?¡± he said into the radio.

    ¡°Loud and clear, Malachi,¡± replied Arlianne.

    ¡°Good, just keep it like that¡­¡±

    As he said those words, his voice trailed off. Arlianne noticed something strange and glanced back at Malachi.

    ¡®What is this¡­?¡¯ she thought.

    ¡°Eroda sluos ruo od eeht gninrub rovref htiw gninruter nus eht fo dlihc gninrom eht fo dnal.¡±

    Malachi was whispering strange words into the radio that only he and Arlianne could hear, though she could not make out what was being said. As he spoke, Arlianne was filled with a strange power. She felt as if her fatigue disappeared, and thought a cool refreshing breeze blew over her. Furthermore, she was able to concentrate on her surroundings better, and felt a strange heat rising up from the depths of her heart.

    ¡°Samaj naralloh et on serosavni sol anuc omsioreh led seroma ed arreit.¡±

    The engineer was about to give the signal, and Arlianne could see each minute movement the engineer was doing.

    ¡°Lahamanim gnayalgap as tiwa ta alut gna galid yam wahgub gnom tignal as ta yomis as kodnub ta tagad as.¡±

    A split-second. Once the signal was given, almost at the same time, Arlianne burst forth. The phenomenon was similar to what Malachi once did, surprising the engineers that were once present back then, and shocking the rest of Class 13.

    ¡°All in Hell¡¯s name, what was that!?¡± cried a cadet.

    Arlianne blazed through the kill house similar to the speed of Malachi¡¯s first few runs. Each shot was accurate and precise.

    ¡°Thgim stnaryt yb demmid eb sdleif gninihs sti llahs reven ho thgila srats dna nus sti straeh ruo lla ot raed rennab yht.¡±

    The engineer keeping track of the record was trembling from what the stopwatch was showing.

    12¡­

    Arlianne was nearing the end of the kill house.

    13¡­

    ¡°Rirom it rop nednefo et odnauc sojih sut arap airolg anu se riviv se eclud ozager ut ne seroma y los led sahcid ed arreit.¡±

    As soon as Arlianne passed through the exit of the kill house, and the engineer stopped the watch, Malachi finished as well with his strange chant. Once Arlianne no longer heard his voice, she dropped to the floor, trembling, and stared at the young man sitting on the bench grinning at her.

    ¡°Ma-Malachi¡­ that¡­¡± she said disbelievingly, ¡°What was that¡­? What did you do¡­?¡±

    Malachi stood from his seat and approached her.

    ¡°Words are powerful, my sweet,¡± he said as he caressed her cheek, ¡°Words are powerful.¡±

    Fourteen seconds. Arlianne was able to achieve a record of 14 seconds¡ª3 seconds faster than her previous record, and just 2 seconds away from Malachi.

    Suddenly, he raised his arms towards the rest of his class. Then, rather than a whisper, he cried.

    ¡°Ikesik umazik in abiay ukemarih ekad urekuzdustiakatat eteak ami in abiay ow iraki an uoy on amugam an akkam usagan ag uzik aterakas ak on ui ah atana ot eakumihcat ot eragaihcat uodok ureokik enum urook!¡±

    The cadets of Class 13 and the engineers widened their eyes at Malachi¡¯s unknown words. Yet, as they heard him speak, a strange feeling welled up from within them¡ªstrange, but similar to what Arlianne felt when she ran the course.

    ¡°What in the world is happening?¡± pondered a cadette, ¡°Magic?¡±

    Malachi laughed.

    ¡°Magic, you say?¡± he said, ¡°Of course not! Magic does not exist for it is all in the mind! Words! Thoughts! Ideas! Concepts! They are all born from the mind, and each one is as powerful as the rest!¡±

    Malachi clenched his fists.

    ¡°Ettaseik in nezustot ag iromukun on uzah ura ian om ebus ukegan ihsukan abotok ak ot iihsayuk ak ot iihsanak eterawabu eas uobustez on ii aberim ow emuy annod!¡±

    He said another string of words, and everyone felt a cool breeze blow over them¡ªall of them.

    ¡°The power of words!¡± he cried, ¡°The power of thoughts! Once you master it, you can do anything!¡±

    Shocking, really, to think he had this kind of ability. Malachi left his class dumbfounded at his unbelievable claims, and uttered a whisper for them.

    ¡°The power of words,¡± he continued, ¡°Words and mere hypnotic suggestion. Hahaha¡­¡±

    Still, even with hypnosis, the effect should not have been that grand, or was it only because of his blood?

    Nevertheless, with half an hour before dinner time, he dismissed his class and left them to themselves.

    In an unknown location, there was a meeting of five men. Two of them had dark skin and black hair, but the other three had fair skin and hair, and eyes of blue and green.

    ¡°I trust that everything is in order?¡± asked one of the dark-skinned men.

    One of the fair-skinned men spoke to his companions¡ªand elderly man¡ªin an unknown language. The elder replied to the one who spoke to him in the same language.

    The first fair-skinned man faced the dark-skinned man. He was a translator.

    ¡°Do not worry,¡± he said, ¡°The Demons of the East Wind shall deliver upon their promise of support to Your Highness. Once the time comes, we shall be ready to spring with bared fangs.¡±

    The dark-skinned man was Elijah Perlas. He nodded in understanding, and brought out a sheet of paper.

    ¡°Here is what we deemed we require to be eliminated in order to succeed and the advanced payment,¡± he said, ¡°I hope, with this, our partnership would be beneficial.¡±

    The third fair-skinned man received the paper, and the translator translated what Elijah said to the elder. In turn, the elder replied.

    ¡°The Demons of the East Wind have the perfect candidate for the task,¡± said the translator, ¡°We shall deliver swift death upon our enemies.¡±

    The three fair-skinned men bowed deeply, and left Elijah and his companion behind. When the three were no longer in sight, Elijah turned to his companion.

    ¡°Relay this to your brother,¡± he said, ¡°Tell him to expect another person to look out for. He will know who it is once he sees it.¡±

    His companion saluted and subsequently left as well.

    Once Elijah was truly alone, he let out a soft laugh.

    ¡°With this, the gears of war will turn once more.¡±

 Campaign 11

    Campaign 11

    ¡°There is actually a certain sound frequency¡ªor, rather, frequencies¡ªthat humans can hear but are unable to recognize.¡± A man in a white coat said. This man was seated with a large group of people of differing ages and, at the front of this group, were three distinct individuals: two young men and one young woman. ¡°Although they are unable to discern what their ears receive, their brains are still affected by it.¡±

    The man in the white coat opened a notebook and pulled out a disc player from his breast pocket.

    ¡°I will demonstrate to you. With the gifts I have given you, you should be able to notice quite easily,¡± said the man, ¡°This first one is on a frequency that many ordinary people can hear.¡±

    The disc player was turned on, and a string of words could be heard from the speakers. It was actually the man reciting lines from the Bible¡ªthe first chapter of the Book of Genesis.

    ¡°¡­ And God said, ¡°Let there be light,¡± and there was light¡­¡±

    After that, the man paused the recording.

    ¡°Everything was ordinary, right?¡± he asked the group, ¡°The next few verses will now have the certain frequencies in them.¡±

    He pushed on the ¡®play¡¯ button to resume the playback. This time, as he said, the effects were immediately recognized by the group of people.

    ¡°God s¡ª tha¡ª the ligh¡ª was ¡ªd, ¡ªn¡ª He s¡ªpar¡ªte¡ª the lig¡ªt f¡ªm t¡ªe ¡ªness.¡±

    It was heard. The group of people heard the playback but was unable to recognize some parts of it. They understood the words, they understood the meanings, yet they were not able to recognize parts of it. One of the two young men at the front raised his hand.

    ¡°Excuse me, but, it was certain that I heard the words correctly,¡± said the young man, ¡°How was I unable hear the rest of it? No, I mean, how do I explain this¡­? I don¡¯t even understand what happened.¡±

    The man smiled at the young man in front of him.

    ¡°It was at a frequency just on the borderline where we recognize it,¡± explained the man, ¡°I h¡ª to p¡ªice a lot be¡ªre I co¡ªd do it.¡± (I had to practice a lot before I could do it.)

    The man no longer used the recording, and demonstrated the ability, live. With this, the group was surprised.

    ¡°Then, do you mean to teach this to us?¡± this time, it was the young woman who spoke, ¡°How would this be of use to us?¡±

    The other young man placed his hand on the young woman¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Sister, you should be patient,¡± said the other young man, ¡°An explanation would, naturally, be given.¡±

    The man nodded.

    ¡°Like your brother said, I will give you a reason,¡± the man followed up, ¡°Let us resume the playback because the next verses will have the other frequencies.¡±

    ¡°G¡ªd ca¡ªed ¡ªe ¡ªght ¡®day,¡¯ an¡ª th¡ª d¡ªkne¡ª He c¡ªlled ¡®n¡ªt.¡¯ ¡ªnd th¡ªe was eve¡ªg, and ¡ªere wa¡ª mo¡ªning¡ªthe ¡ªst day.¡±

    This time, however, a change was felt. Their surroundings felt a bit brighter compared to before listening to the playback.

    ¡°What¡­?¡± said someone from the group, ¡°Is it just me or did someone override the power supply?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not just you,¡± said another, ¡°the room has gotten brighter.¡±

    ¡°Genesis, chapter 1, verse 5 tells of the creation of light, morning and evening,¡± noted the second young man at the front, ¡°Once the verse finished, our surroundings became brighter. Is this some sort of hypnotic suggestion?¡±

    The man smiled.

    ¡°Excellent reasoning,¡± he said, ¡°That is indeed what I mean to teach you and, with your gifts, should give a greater result than what I can deliver.¡±

    ¡ñ

    It was the morning of the next day after Malachi revealed his hypnotic ability to his class. He was lying on his bed in the dormitories when he woke up from his sleep.

    ¡°My dreams still remind me of the past, huh?¡± he mumbled groggily, ¡°Abilities¡­ the gifts I received from Father and ¡®Mother¡¯ back then carried over to this life.¡±

    He rose from his bed and sat on the edge, trying to stay awake. He let out a huge yawn as he scratched his stomach.

    ¡°What time is it right now?¡± he wondered as he looked at the clock, ¡°Hmm, earlier than usual. Whatever.¡±

    He stood up to prepare himself for the day. After a while, he was dressed in his uniform and he left the dormitories.

    It was still dark outside when he woke up.

    ¡°Everybody is still¡­ asleep,¡± he said as he looked around him, ¡°The girls are¡­ also asleep, but Arlianne should be waking up by now.¡±

    Talking to himself in the middle of the dark night, he attracted the attention of another man. It was a guard that was patrolling the academy grounds.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there? Oh, Your Hi¡ª¡± The guard was about to address Malachi, but he rushed to cover the guard¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°Hush! Don¡¯t say my status out loud!¡± whispered Malachi to the guard, ¡°I already know that you guys know about me, but you should already know that I don¡¯t want others finding out about it! Why do you think I¡¯m carrying my name as a Skaria instead of as a Perlas?¡±

    Malachi looked around them to see if there were other people with them. Seeing that they were completely alone, he returned his attention to the guard.

    ¡°Understand?¡± he asked.

    The guard nodded. Only then did Malachi release his hands from the guard¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°Apologies, Yo¡ª er¡­¡± the guard apologized, but was unsure of what to call Malachi.

    ¡°Just call me by my name,¡± clarified Malachi, ¡°And, sheesh, stop tensing up, will you? I won¡¯t punish you for something like this.¡±

    ¡°Affirmative, Sir Skaria,¡± said the guard, ¡°Well, I shall resume my patrol. Good day.¡±

    When the guard had left, the doors to the girls¡¯ dormitories opened. A lone young woman went outside and found Malachi standing in front of the premises.

    ¡°Oh, a pervert has been caught,¡± said the young woman and she had a strange accent, ¡°How will you explain yourself before I call for the guards?¡±

    Malachi turned around and saw a young woman with fair skin, blue eyes, and blonde hair. She was, evidently, not a Perlasian but a foreigner. Malachi¡¯s mind stilled momentarily as he stared at the foreign woman.

    ¡°Oh, those eyes,¡± said the foreign woman, ¡°I see. You must be the rumored child of Skaria. The way you¡¯re staring at me¡­ don¡¯t tell me, am I your target for your perverted desires? Perish your thoughts, knave. One cannot easily lay one¡¯s hands on Imperial blood.¡±

    Malachi raised a brow as he understood who she was.

    ¡°Ahem, correction, my foreign friend,¡± he argued, ¡°I may be a pervert, but I have no intentions of going after you. I was merely waiting for my life companion to come out of the dormitories, and I didn¡¯t even know we had a foreign visitor.¡±

    The sharp eyes of the foreign woman twitched.

    ¡°Not going after me, you say?¡± she repeated, ¡°You did not even deny being called a pervert. Do you mean that I am so ugly that you cannot fathom laying your hands on me?¡±

    ¡°Another correction,¡± added Malachi, ¡°You are not ugly. In fact, I was merely surprised by your beauty that my mind stopped momentarily. Also, the fact that your appearance is vastly different compared to an ordinary Perlasian automatically means that you are a foreigner. Even if I am a pervert, I wouldn¡¯t be so stupid to cause an international disaster, especially with you saying having ¡®imperial¡¯ blood.¡±

    ¡°Then, if I were an acquaintance of yours and a Perlasian, would you lay your hands on me?¡± wondered the foreign woman, ¡°I ask since you do not deny being a pervert.¡±

    ¡°Of course not,¡± answered Malachi, ¡°I may be a pervert, but I already have someone I love. And the one I love is standing right behind you.¡±

    The foreign woman raised a brow, and suddenly turned around. Behind her, she found Arlianne walking towards Malachi with a frown.

    ¡°Malachi, what are you doing in front of our dormitory so early in the morning?¡± asked Arlianne, ¡°And what in the world were you talking about with the exchange student?¡±

    ¡°Oh, Arlianne, the sweetest flower in my garden!¡± exclaimed Malachi, ¡°How I wished to see your beautiful splendor as the morning sky bleeds from my sorrows of not seeing you aga¡ªow, ow, ow! I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry!¡±

    Arlianne grabbed Malachi¡¯s face to stop him from going stupid in front of another person. With the strength of her grip, Malachi immediately understood when to stop. The foreign woman stared at the incomprehensible exchange before her.

    Arlianne released Malachi from her grip and turned to the foreign woman.

    ¡°Miss Li, let me apologize for his behavior,¡± she said as she bowed, ¡°I hope your first day as a student in the academy wouldn¡¯t be ruined by the mouth of this man behind me.¡±

    Li, the foreign woman, silently looked at Arlianne before turning around and returning to the dormitory. Arlianne watched her until the doors had closed, then turned her attention to Malachi who was standing with a smirk on his face.

    ¡°An exchange student, huh?¡± he said, ¡°Interesting. So this Miss Li is from the empire up north?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Miss Li, Miss Erika Li, is a noble¡¯s daughter from a branch of the Imperial family,¡± explained Arlianne, ¡°She was supposed to arrive next week, but it seems she was interested to see what the academy could offer her. She will be staying in the dormitories until the papers for her transfer are completed.¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    ¡°I wonder how she will fare with the heat of the desert?¡± he said, ¡°A large chunk of the empire should be ridiculously cold, right? There isn¡¯t a good way to measure temperature in this world yet, but I assume it would be enough to freeze water.¡±

    ¡°A valid question,¡± she said, ¡°Now, Malachi, what were you doing in front of our dormitories in the first place, and so early in the morning?¡±

    ¡°I just woke up, is all,¡± He answered, ¡°I also have these days when I suddenly wake up at impossible hours.¡±

    As Malachi and Arlianne conversed as they left the dormitories, Erika was watching them with narrowed eyes from the window of her room.

    ¡°Malachi Skaria, the so-called Genius of Perlas,¡± she mumbled, ¡°Hmph, there is a fine line between being a genius and being a complete fool, and I hope you can deliver once the time comes for your disgrace.¡±

    Erika closed the curtains of her window, and went back deeper into her room.

    In another room of the girls¡¯ dormitories was another young woman waking up. She turned on her bed to look at the clock by the bedside. Once she saw the time, she rose from her bed and greeted an item next to the clock.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± she said.

    She brought the item to her chest and embraced it. The item was a pair of goggles with a broken strap, and was held tightly by her until she was fully awake. Afterwards, she stared lovingly at the item, stroked it, and spoke a few words with a soft smile.

    ¡°I hope, this time, I will be able to tell you how I really feel.¡±

    ¡ñ

    Once classes had begun for the day, Malachi had Arlianne accompany their class to do the usual routine.

    ¡°Arlianne, have our class do the exercises as usual, but exempt the ones who did well yesterday,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯m leaving for the armory to talk with our class engineers.¡±

    Once Malachi arrived at the armory, he directly went to their assigned section of the armory with a bag on his back. Like all the other classes¡¯ sections, their assigned section had a siege engine and a number of steam knights on standby. Newly added in their section were also Malachi¡¯s new weapons that were placed in crates, neatly stacked at one side of the room.

    A young woman with a clipboard was looking over the crates, and was writing something down about them.

    ¡°Yo, Ms. Croix, go on a date with me,¡± greeted Malachi, ¡°I have something I need to talk to you about.¡±

    The young woman, Margaret, froze in place and her face flushed red.

    ¡°E-e-excuse me?!¡± she shrieked, ¡°W-w-why me?!¡±

    Margaret turned to Malachi like a broken machine, twitching with each movement from her surprise. Malachi approached her without a care and held her arm. Once he touched her, Margaret tore away from him and retreated.

    ¡°N-n-no!¡± she cried.

    ¡°Oh, do you hate me?¡± wondered Malachi, ¡°I see. Guess I¡¯ll just ask Mr. Kingston or Asher to procure some goods.¡±

    ¡°N-n-no, it¡¯s just¡­ I¡¯m not ready for love and all that, and I was surprised to hear it from you, and-and-and don¡¯t you have Arlianne already, I mean, why me of all people, we don¡¯t even know each other that well, oh my, oh my, what will I do if father hears about this, ohh¡­ what to do? What to do?¡± Margaret went into her own world.

    ¡°Uh, Ms. Croix, the date part was merely a greeting from me,¡± explained Malachi, ¡°Don¡¯t panic so much and take me so seriously.¡±

    Margaret stilled and stared at Malachi with wide eyes.

    ¡°Forgive me for the joke,¡± he apologized, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean you any insult.¡±

    Margaret¡¯s lips quivered and tears welled up her eyes. She went up to him and pounded him with her fists.

    ¡°Ooh! That was bad, Malachi!¡± she scolded him, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t do that uncaringly!¡±

    ¡°Hahaha, I¡¯m sorry,¡± he apologized again, ¡°But, if I may be honest, you really are cute when you are angry. When Arlianne¡¯s angry, she¡¯s scary, but in a good way.¡±

    Margaret stopped her assault but was trembling from Malachi¡¯s comment.

    ¡°D-d-do I not have to take this seriously as w-w-well?¡± she stuttered.

    ¡°Hmm, you can,¡± he answered, ¡°But, it is true that you are cute. Hope you get a good guy¡ªbetter than me, of course¡ªsomeday.¡±

    Margaret was still staring at the floor, but Malachi raised his hand and placed it on her head.

    ¡°Still, it is true that you are cute in my eyes,¡± he added with a grin, ¡°You, as well as the other girls in the class.¡±

    Then, another person entered the area.

    ¡°Milord, what are you doing to Margaret?¡± It was Asher, ¡°Do you need something from us?¡±

    Malachi turned his attention to the only Eskur engineer in his class, Asher Skosti, and left Margaret. Margaret looked up and pouted from Malachi¡¯s comments about her, and returned her attention to her previous task.

    ¡°Nothing, Asher, just complimenting Ms. Croix,¡± explained Malachi, ¡°And, yes, I need something from you guys. Do you think you could secure a good supply of ¡®cites for me?¡±

    Asher arrived in front of Malachi.

    ¡°¡¯Cites? Pyrocites, milord?¡± clarified Asher, ¡°We can probably secure a supply line depending on the budget, but wouldn¡¯t it be better to ask Chief Ashwald for this?¡±

    ¡°Not just pyrocites, but also glacites and electrocites,¡± said Malachi, ¡°Also, I don¡¯t want to give Remi any more burden than what I¡¯m already given her and her engineers. They¡¯re already responsible for manufacturing most of what I¡¯ve requested from them. This time, I intend to utilize you guys as well.¡±

    ¡°Um, how much do you need, milord?¡± asked Asher.

    ¡°As much as you can,¡± answered Malachi, ¡°If you need money, here is some capital. Afterwards, I¡¯ll give you some blueprints for items you can create and make money from.¡±

    Malachi handed Asher a case of money. Asher looked inside and found a large amount of large coins.

    ¡°Uh, let¡¯s see¡­ 11, 12, 13, 14-thousand!?¡± Exclaimed Asher, ¡°How did you get this much money, milord?!¡±

    Malachi shrugged.

    ¡°Do you know where the stoves and zipper backpacks came from?¡± he asked, ¡°The ones that exploded in popularity out of nowhere years ago and you are all using right now.¡±

    Asher recalled some past memories.

    ¡°I heard that they came from an Eskur village close to the capital,¡± he mumbled, ¡°The Eqari merchants were scrambling for the rights of selling them¡­ wait, milord, do you mean to say?¡±

    ¡°Eyup, that¡¯s-a me,¡± said Malachi, ¡°I made those things, though I never sold any rights and the designs were just pirated from me. I have other stuff I can have you guys sell to make money.¡±

    ¡°But that would make you¡­ eight, nine years old back then?¡± cut Margaret in, ¡°You really are a genius machinist, like Chief Ashwald.¡±

    ¡°Er, ¡®genius¡¯?¡± repeated Malachi, ¡°I get that my creations are revolutionary, but I wouldn¡¯t call myself a genius. Once you get an understanding of how things work, and how they should work, you can create anything. Anyway, once you get a hold of a supply line, I¡¯ll give you the blueprints to create some consumer products.¡±

    ¡°Konshoomer?¡± repeated both Asher and Margaret.

    ¡°Consumer, people who buy certain products,¡± explained Malachi, ¡°Eh, a merchant could tell you more. It is what they are good at, after all.¡±

    ¡°All right, milord. Is that all you need?¡± asked Asher.

    ¡°No, I still need to talk to the other engineers in our class,¡± added Malachi, ¡°Can you call for them?¡±

    ¡ñ

    ¡°Here are all the engineers of Class 13, milord,¡± said Asher.

    Along with Asher and Margaret were eight other men and women: the Giba twins, the Trias brothers, a bald and scarred man¡ªGarret, and three more young women¡ªOlivia, Simone, and Ritva. Class 13 had a total of 10 engineers assigned to them.

    ¡°So, can everybody drive an engine?¡± asked Malachi.

    ¡°Yes, milord,¡± answered Asher, ¡°If the need arises, each one of us can operate any machine regardless of circumstance.¡±

    ¡°Good to know,¡± commented Malachi, ¡°I have an assignment for you all. Please take these books to read, and make sure you are able to understand what is written in them.¡±

    Malachi handed to each one of them books from his bag. Each book was several pages thick and was comparable to the books found in the library.

    ¡°Um, these are¡­?¡± wondered the male twin, Felix, ¡°Whoa.¡±

    His twin sister, Felicia, reacted similarly from the contents of the books.

    ¡°Those are instruction manuals I¡¯ve written about the new vehicles that I will have Remi produce,¡± explained Malachi, ¡°Those vehicles are the reason for my earlier task, Asher. Although I have given them the blueprints for their production, the intricacy of the parts require their utmost attention. In those books are descriptions and illustrations about the new vehicles you will be operating.¡±

    Each book had the following vehicle types: main battle tank, infantry-fighting vehicle, tank destroyer, mobile artillery, and mobile command.

    ¡°Main battle tanks, hereafter MBT, are the swords of the army. They are responsible for the majority of offensive combat in any operation,¡± explained Malachi, ¡°MBTs have a balance of mobility, firepower, and defense compared to the other vehicle types.¡±

    Each of the engineers found a page with an illustration on what the MBT looked like. Although Malachi called it a main battle tank, it closely resembled one of the late-World War II British Cruiser-type tanks: the Comet.

    ¡°Infantry fighting vehicles, hereafter IFVs, are specialized anti-infantry frontline transports,¡± continued Malachi, ¡°These tanks are responsible for bringing troops to the frontlines no matter the condition of the battlefield, and are able to provide suppressing fire against enemy infantry or light anti-armor support.¡±

    As they flipped the pages of the books, they eventually found an illustration of an IFV. Unlike the tank destroyer shown to Remi and the MBT, the IFV that Malachi was similar to the Cold War USA M113 armored personnel carrier. The only difference would be the presence of a 20-millimeter chain gun¡ªinstead of a 12.7-millimeter heavy machine gun¡ªmounted on top of it.

    ¡°Tank destroyers, hereafter TDs, are specialized anti-armor tanks,¡± he continued, ¡°These tanks are capable of punching through this thing¡¯s armor with a single shot.¡±

    Malachi pointed at the siege engine parked nearby.

    ¡°Although they have thinner armor than these siege engines, they have greater mobility and a lower profile,¡± he added, ¡°That said, these TDs are perfect for hit-and-run and ambush operations.¡±

    The TD that Malachi took inspiration from¡ªthe Soviet SU 100¡ªwas just half the size of the Perlasian siege engines. Although the gun was also half the caliber, their shell types were different. While the siege engine used ball ammunition fired from 200-millimiter smoothbore cannons, the TD used armor-piercing shells fired from 100-millimeter rifled cannons.

    ¡°Mobile artilleries, hereafter MArts, are trucks carrying mortar batteries,¡± he explained, ¡°Because they lack armor, they are the lightest and fastest vehicles. Mortars are muzzle-loaded light cannons able to throw high-explosive projectiles at high angles and long ranges. Each truck can be outfitted with at least four mortars¡ªto make room for a greater amount of ammunition¡ªor eight mortars depending on the operation¡¯s necessities.¡±

    Again, there was a page that provided an illustration on the MArt. It was an ordinary truck, similar to the six- and eight-wheelers of modern Earth, except its truck bed had a battery of mortars as explained by Malachi.

    ¡°I thought about using rockets for the artillery, but I have no idea how to produce the propellants with the available resources,¡± commented Malachi, ¡°For the time being, I settled for mortar batteries to deliver a similar effect. At least, compared to rocket batteries, mortars have a longer life.¡±

    Margaret dropped her copy of the book.

    ¡°Why¡­ why do you not consider yourself as a genius?¡± she inquired, ¡°You have these things that we haven¡¯t even heard of. We don¡¯t even know if Chief Ashwald had thought of these yet, and she is the youngest prodigy we¡¯ve known before you came.¡±

    Malachi sighed.

    ¡°Because it is boring,¡± he explained, ¡°Being at the top, with no one else, and everybody treating you differently from the rest¡­ it is suffocating. Stop looking at me like a god. Besides, I¡¯m pretty sure that there are people in the Empire, in Clan Skali, in the other nations and states, and from the nomads who are capable of this level of technology. I mean, I wasn¡¯t the one who created the rest of what we have now. I didn¡¯t create the radio, although I could improve it. I didn¡¯t create the fusils and repeaters, although I improved them. I also didn¡¯t create the steam knights and siege engines, although I can create better types from their designs.¡±

    Class 13¡¯s engineers silently looked at Malachi. A young woman, Olivia, turned the pages of her book and broke the silence.

    ¡°Then, Skaria, how do you explain this monstrosity?¡± she asked. Olivia was pointing at an illustration of a large vehicle, larger than the existing siege engine and, based on the measurements, as large as the armory section provided to them. ¡°From the description you¡¯ve written, this is a mobile base. I can¡¯t exactly imagine the scale of this thing.¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. The mobile command center, hereafter MCC, is a concept of mine for extended operations,¡± explained Malachi, ¡°If this is successful, future operations won¡¯t require us to return to base¡ªin this case, the academy or any army base¡ªas often to rest and resupply. That will be put on hold for the time being, and what you see there are just my thoughts put onto paper since the MCC requires a large amount of resources to produce. Aside from resources, I still haven¡¯t perfected the engines and motors that will move it.¡±

    Looking at the illustration Malachi provided, only one idea came to mind: Land Dreadnought. It screamed of ideas about fictional land battleships that could be found in modern Earth¡¯s science fiction. The only difference would be the lack of armaments¡ªthere were no cannons, neither guns nor self-defense weapons were present. Therefore, rather than a battleship, it was akin to a carrier¡ªa land-based carrier.

    The bald and scarred man, Garret, reacted upon seeing the MCC¡¯s design.

    ¡°Huh, I¡¯m certain I saw one of these things in the Eskur Uprising before,¡± he commented, ¡°Yeah, Clan Skaria used one of these back then during the war, only it wasn¡¯t this unarmed and had large cannons outfitted to its hull. The army had a tough time cracking it, and was only destroyed when its exhaust vents were smashed by our steam knights.¡±

    Malachi looked at Garret then turned his gaze to Margaret.

    ¡°See, Marge, I¡¯m not the only one with these kinds of ideas,¡± he said, ¡°Man, I was hoping to surprise the hell out of the others. Maybe even make the Empire panic a bit.¡±

    ¡°The Empire of Taijun also has these things,¡± added another young woman, Simone, ¡°I came from a merchant family, and we used to travel the world. The Empire fielded large vehicles like this when policing a region.¡±

    Malachi stared at Simone.

    ¡°Are you serious? Oh, but they are sure to move slower than this, right?¡± he asked, ¡°I made sure to put the word ¡®mobile¡¯ in there to assert its mobility.¡±

    ¡°How fast do you expect this MCC to be, anyway?¡± clarified Simone, ¡°The Empire¡¯s dreadnoughts are as fast as our siege engines.¡±

    Malachi grinned.

    ¡°Oh, in that case, at least thrice,¡± he answered, ¡°Thirty kilometers per hour should be fast enough.¡±

 Campaign 12

    Campaign 12

    Eleazar was in his office taking care of paperwork. With him was a man with a ponytail, Carlos.

    ¡°Your Highness,¡± greeted Carlos, ¡°Are you certain about this?¡±

    Eleazar continued working on the papers laid before him on his desk. Without stopping or even glancing at Carlos, he replied back.

    ¡°I had Clara take a look at her,¡± he said, ¡°Aside from being from a fallen noble family, Ms. Li is clean.¡±

    Carlos slammed his fists on Eleazar¡¯s desk.

    ¡°But, sir!¡± he clamored, ¡°That¡¯s the thing! Her records are too clean! It was as if she never existed before we caught wind of her, and now you wish to accept a suspicious ¡®Imperial¡¯ into the Kingdom¡¯s most prestigious martial institution!?¡±

    Eleazar finally sighed.

    ¡°Carlos,¡± he said, ¡°I understand how you feel, but don¡¯t you think you are thinking too deeply on this?¡±

    Carlos raised his voice a level higher.

    ¡°Sir!¡± he called back, ¡°Is it not you who is too careless!? What if she was sent here as a spy!? Even worse would be that she may be an assassin!?¡±

    Eleazar finally stopped writing.

    ¡°Is that not why I have you all here?¡± he asked, ¡°You are all my eyes and ears. Even so, if she were a spy, then let her run free. Let the Empire think we are too lax in our security, make them drop their guard; it is all strategy, Carlos.¡±

    Carlos clenched his fists.

    ¡°And what about Malachi¡¯s creations?¡± he asked, ¡°What if she were to take those back to the Empire for their own use?¡±

    Eleazar clasped his hands and rested his head on his fingers.

    ¡°Then that would be Malachi¡¯s problem, and not mine.¡±

    ¡ñ

    ¡°I can¡¯t take this anymore!¡± cried a cadet, ¡°It has all been running and records! Running and records! Running and records! I¡¯m sick and tired of it!¡±

    It was a few hours past noon, and Class 13 was at the kill house. The cadet who cried threw down the gun he was using to the floor and panted heavily.

    Arlianne approached the angered cadet.

    ¡°So this is all you can accomplish?¡± she inquired, ¡°Then you should have either worked harder during your application to avoid being in this class, or dropped out completely if you will be half-hearted about it.¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± roared the cadet, ¡°Why the hell do I have to follow your orders!? I am a son of an aristocratic family of soldiers¡ªwhy do I have to follow orders from a traitor and a tainted!?¡±

    Arlianne expressionlessly watched the cadet hurl insults at her.

    ¡°Then, why not leave?¡± she suggested, ¡°Malachi and I, we never forced any of you to stay. Although we had Shyama ¡®persuade¡¯ those who won¡¯t follow orders, it was merely because you still hadn¡¯t left.¡±

    ¡°Kh¡­¡± the cadet bit his lip, ¡°¡¯Leave¡¯ you say? Leave!? Leaving once I¡¯ve been accepted into the academy!? That is the greatest disgrace I could ever achieve!¡±

    The classmates that surrounded the two were once more split into groups. Although Malachi¡¯s scolding once relit the fires in their hearts, some could already be seen to be faltering from the unease in their eyes. The Eskurs could not move due to knowing where the cadet¡¯s hatred stemmed from¡ªthe Eskur Uprising.

    Patrick Bryant, one of those to have experienced the war first-hand, stood by silently. He carefully watched how the events before him would unfold.

    ¡®Skaria, your clan has taken much from us,¡¯ he thought, ¡®but, now, where does your loyalty lie?¡¯

    There was hesitation in his heart. He, of course, hated Malachi because his blood as a Skaria, but only for such. As an aged individual, he has gained much knowledge and wisdom over the course of his life. The cadet before him was one of the younger generations that seemed to have suffered from the effects of the war years ago.

    Rae Ramirez, another of the younger generations, watched the cadet and Arlianne¡¯s exchange with worry.

    ¡®If what I¡¯ve heard from Levi was correct,¡¯ she thought, ¡®Malachi has been preparing for this for a long time. I can understand how some would be impatient, but is it really worth wasting all that effort?¡¯

    Rae was one of the few to keep up with Malachi¡¯s exercises. Being an energetic girl herself, she understood Malachi¡¯s intentions for the rest of their class. She looked at the rest of her classmates, and found herself looking at the weakest person in their group¡ªTyler Simmons.

    Tyler, despite being born from a huntsman¡¯s family, had a weak-willed personality coupled with his below-average physical abilities. However, looking at the current situation, he watched the scene unfold with clenched fists and teeth.

    ¡®You¡¯re the one who should shut up,¡¯ he thought, ¡®Didn¡¯t you give the reason why you¡¯re so weak, yourself? Hiding behind one¡¯s heritage like some spoiled brat¡­! Compared to me, I¡­ I am¡­!¡¯

    Suddenly, a voice came from one of the armory¡¯s corridors.

    ¡°Oh-ho? So that is what you truly felt, eh?¡±

    Everyone followed the source of the voice, and finally found Malachi leaning on the wall with his legs crossed. The cadet directed his rage against Malachi.

    ¡°What are you even doing here!?¡± roared the cadet, ¡°Aren¡¯t you too busy turning the academy into you plaything!? Even if His Highness accepted you, even if the faculty and the soldiers have accepted you, I will never accept filth like you to walk these sacred halls!¡±

    Malachi narrowed his eyes.

    ¡°Filth this, filth that. Trash this, trash that,¡± he said, ¡°Can¡¯t you give me something else other than insults? Looks like mere verbal scolding won¡¯t get through with you lot.¡±

    He straightened himself and approached the middle of the group.

    ¡°You know, there has always been a tried and tested way of resolving conflict,¡± he said, ¡°It isn¡¯t on a grand scale like war, but we could just beat each other to a pulp. The loser would shut up and listen to whatever the victor says. Seems fair, no?¡±

    ¡°In that case, you should listen to me!¡± bellowed the cadet, ¡°Clan Skaria lost the war in the first place, and we were the victors. Maybe you should try shutting up!?¡±

    Malachi sighed.

    ¡°What in all Hells is up with that logic?¡± he replied, ¡°Then, as the victor, wouldn¡¯t you be able to subjugate me easily? Come on, unless you¡¯re all¡ªlike I said¡ªall bark and no bite.¡±

    Rage finally filled the eyes of the cadet.

    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡±

    The cadet ran towards Malachi and threw a punch. The others, except Arlianne, threw into a panic as Malachi just stood there without doing anything.

    Once the cadet¡¯s fist was close enough, Malachi¡¯s eyes turned sharp and he suddenly changed his posture. He spread his legs and lowered his body while twisting his left side forward. Leaning his body a bit, he swiftly raised his left arm. The back of his left hand landed on the underside of the cadet¡¯s fist, parrying the attack.

    When the cadet¡¯s fist changed trajectory, in that short span of time, Malachi twisted his left hand to grab the cadet¡¯s wrist. Getting a good grip, he raised the cadet¡¯s arm, brought his right leg forward, and simultaneously threw a punch with his right fist into the cadet¡¯s solar plexus.

    Not stopping once getting in a hit, he retracted his right fist, released the cadet¡¯s arm, and delivered an uppercut once his right arm gained enough momentum. The cadet was sent flying, and Malachi used the centrifugal energy of his body to backflip and to send one final kick to the groin. Imagine the pain.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    The cadet flew in a high arc and landed a few meters away, unconscious. The fight started with a punch and ended in a 3-hit counter combo in mere seconds.

    ¡°Now that I think about it,¡± said Malachi, ¡°You¡¯re one of those who always failed at running and getting records. Geez, even psychological attacks are too effective on you, you suck.¡±

    Not minding the fact that the cadet had fallen unconscious, Malachi still berated him.

    ¡°Anybody else with something to say?¡± he asked his class. Seeing that nobody was stepping forward, Malachi went to the fallen cadet. ¡°Carry on, then. I¡¯ll take this idiot with me to the infirmary.¡±

    He lifted the cadet¡¯s body over his shoulder and left his class behind. The rest, aside from Arlianne, watched Malachi¡¯s disappearing silhouette with dumbfounded gazes. Once Malachi was gone, everybody turned their gazes to Arlianne.

    ¡°C-can you fight like him as well?¡± asked another cadet.

    Arlianne only nodded.

    Despite her silence, her eyes were grim. It was as if she told them, ¡°It may happen to you if you cross either of us,¡± without saying a word. With Malachi¡¯s swift victory still fresh in their minds, Class 13 resumed their training with mixed feelings and¡ªfor the men¡ªa bit of fear.

    As Class 13 was overseen by Arlianne, she looked back once more where Malachi fought before joining the rest of her class.

    ¡ñ

    Once Malachi dropped off the unconscious cadet and avoided the questioning gaze of the medics-in-charge, he went to the direction of the library. On the way, though, he crossed paths with Alexa.

    When Alexa saw Malachi, she suddenly froze in her tracks.

    ¡°Um, g-greetings, Malachi,¡± she said, ¡°What are you doing outside of class?¡±

    Malachi held his advance to meet her.

    ¡°Hey, Alexa,¡± he greeted, ¡°I just dropped an idiot off at the infirmary. Also, you should know that Class 13 is exempted for the time being to be thoroughly trained before my first mission with them. What about you?¡±

    ¡°I was, I was on the way to the library to get some texts,¡± she replied, ¡°You seem to be heading there as well, do you mind if we go together?¡±

    Malachi looked around them, trying to see if any member of Alexa¡¯s ¡°fan club¡± was watching them. Not seeing any other student, aside from a few faculty and guards, the coast was clear.

    ¡°Why not?¡± he said, ¡°Let¡¯s go?¡±

    Alexa smiled in return.

    As they walked through the corridors of the academy, a shadow was watching them from another location.

    ¡°Ah-ha~, Alexa~, that¡¯s pretty bold of you,¡± said the shadow, ¡°It really sucks that he can¡¯t seem to recognize you.¡±

    The shadow mischievously watched the two walk away.

    ¡ð

    Once Malachi and Alexa arrived at the library, they were greeted by its emptiness. Malachi looked around and found no one at all, not even Clara.

    ¡°I expected the library to be unused,¡± he commented, ¡°but I didn¡¯t expect it to this degree.¡±

    Alexa was at a loss on what to do. Based on her reason for coming to the library, one would surmise that she may need the help of Clara, the assigned librarian. Alexa looked at Malachi.

    ¡°It looks like Clara is out for the moment,¡± he said, ¡°What texts did you need, anyway?¡±

    ¡°Um, some texts on the kingdom¡¯s nomadic history,¡± replied Alexa, ¡°What about you?¡±

    ¡°I came for Clara, actually,¡± he answered, ¡°She told me to look for her if I needed something from her.¡±

    Alexa cocked her head.

    ¡°Are you¡­ are you close with Ms. Clara?¡± she asked.

    Malachi closed his eyes and crossed his arms in a thinking manner.

    ¡°Hmm, I can¡¯t say we were close,¡± he answered, ¡°Just that we had a bit of history. Ah, but not what you might be thinking.¡±

    ¡°What would I be thinking?¡± she inquired.

    ¡°Uh, what¡­ exactly¡­?¡± he answered.

    Alexa just giggled.

    Naturally, the only history Malachi had with Clara was during his childhood at the arena and the previous encounter in the library. As for Alexa, who knew what she thought about the two.

    Malachi raised a brow and clapped his hands.

    ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± he exclaimed, ¡°You stay at the dorms, right? Can you tell me more about that foreigner, Erika Li?¡±

    Alexa blinked a few times at him.

    ¡°How do you know about her?¡± she asked, ¡°She said that she will officially transfer next week. Unless¡­¡±

    She suddenly narrowed her eyes at Malachi with a gaze of suspicion.

    ¡°Were you hanging around a prohibited area?¡± she wondered.

    Malachi put his hands in his pockets.

    ¡°Hanging around? Not really,¡± he answered, ¡°I was just waiting for Arlianne in front of the dormitories when the foreigner showed up.¡±

    Alexa still stared at him.

    ¡°It¡¯s true, I swear!¡± he added, ¡°Ah, there was a guard on patrol at that time. He talked with me about my presence there then left me alone. Just ask them for the details.¡±

    Alexa still maintained his gaze, and Malachi stood unperturbed. Finally, Alexa relented and answered Malachi¡¯s question about Erika Li.

    ¡°Fine, Lady Li is a daughter of an Imperial noble with ties to the Imperial Family,¡± she explained, ¡°It seemed that there was internal conflict and caused their house to fall from grace. Now, with her life of exile, she came here to the kingdom.¡±

    Malachi listened attentively.

    ¡°Is that all?¡± he asked, ¡°That seemed a bit too convenient.¡±

    Alexa raised a brow.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked back, ¡°Do you suspect her to be a spy? I understand that she had ties to the Imperial Family, but what kind of spy would be so blatant as to expose her identity to the rest of us?¡±

    ¡°The kind of spy that may want us to drop our guard around her,¡± answered Malachi, ¡°Besides, why a kingdom in the middle of a desert instead of one of the Imperial colonies under their control where rebellion might erupt?¡±

    Alexa looked down thoughtfully.

    ¡°Point taken,¡± she commented, ¡°Should we advise grandfather about this?¡±

    ¡°Nah,¡± answered Malachi, ¡°I think Gramps also thought about this before.¡±

    Alexa¡¯s eyes suddenly widened at Malachi¡¯s remark.

    ¡°¡®Gramps¡¯?¡± she repeated, ¡°I understand that my grandfather is an old man, but are you close enough to call him that?¡±

    Malachi almost slapped himself.

    ¡®Crap!¡¯ he cursed in his thoughts, ¡®How do I explain this?!¡¯

    Alexa was, again, staring at Malachi for an explanation.

    ¡°Uh, you see, the Headmaster told me about his being friends with my own grandfather.¡± He explained in a panic. Good thing he recalled his reward if his first mission was successful. ¡°He told me that he would share with me their history once I succeed in my first mission. Since I never met my own grandfather, the Headmaster appeared like a grandfather figure to me. Er, yeah, that¡¯s right.¡±

    Alexa¡¯s expression softened.

    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± she said, ¡°Um, right, I¡­ I¡¯m sorry about that.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Why are you apologizing?¡± he asked, ¡°I should be the one to apologize, surprising you like that.¡±

    Despite Malachi¡¯s refutation, Alexa still turned around to avoid his gaze. Malachi, surprised by this act, reached out for her shoulder. Malachi caught her and had her turn around, only to be greeted by a surprise.

    ¡°Wha¡ªwhy are you crying?!¡± he cried, ¡°Hey, I wasn¡¯t that rude, now, right? Hey, stop crying.¡±

    Alexa was in tears for some reason. Just from being told about Malachi¡¯s own grandfather, sent her to tears.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m not c-crying¡­¡± she refuted, ¡°I just¡­ I just¡­¡±

    Malachi, not knowing what to do nor knowing the reason for her tears, just stood there with a slackened jaw. Eventually, their sight was seen by another person.

    ¡°Hey, I understand that the library is a quiet place for a rendezvous,¡± said the voice, ¡°But it isn¡¯t right to make a¡­ girl¡­ cry¡­ uh¡­¡±

    Malachi looked at the owner of the voice and found Clara staring at the two of them.

    ¡°Uh, Clara, this isn¡¯t what it looks like,¡± he desperately tried to explain, ¡°This is not what it looks like at all. Believe me, please! Stop looking at me with eyes of disdain!¡±

    ¡°Malachi, I understand that you want answers about your ancestry,¡± said Clara, ¡°But taking it out on a member of the Royal Family is just plain tasteless.¡±

    ¡°I. AM. TELLING. YOU. THAT. THIS. IS. NOT. WHAT. IT. LOOKS. LIKE.¡± He repeated with futile effort.

    While Malachi was trying to explain what was going on, Alexa left the library.

    ¡°Excuse me,¡± she said, ¡°I think, I think I need some time off.¡±

    Malachi and Clara watched as Alexa¡¯s silhouette disappeared.

    ¡°Ah! Hey, Alexa!¡± cried Malachi once more, ¡°What in all Hells happened?¡±

    Clara turned her gaze at Malachi again.

    ¡°First it was Arlianne,¡± she commented, ¡°Then it was me and one of your engineers, now it was your cousin. You are such a sinful man, Malachi.¡±

    ¡°Shut up, already!¡± he bellowed, ¡°And when in all Hells did I hit on either of you?! Also, how the heck did you catch wind of Margaret and me, huh?! I may be sinful, but I am not tasteless!¡±

    Clara looked at Malachi with amazement.

    ¡°You¡­ you don¡¯t deny being sinful,¡± she commented, ¡°But you deny your involvement with your women. What was that about being tasteless?¡±

    Malachi shut himself up and just glared at Clara.

    ¡°Eep!¡± she squeaked, ¡®Ah, yes, that gaze¡­!¡¯

    Malachi was about to burn a hole at Clara when he relented and sighed.

    ¡°What in all Hells is going on?¡±

    ¡ð

    Meanwhile, as Alexa ran through the corridors. Her tearful face was seen by many cadets and faculty. Despite the explosion of incomprehensible rumors that may stem from her pitiful appearance, only one thing was running through her mind.

    ¡®Please don¡¯t hate us! Please don¡¯t hate us!¡¯

    That single sentence went on loop within her thoughts.

    ¡ñ

    Once Malachi and Clara calmed down from their recent incident, Malachi asked Clara about Erika Li. Clara did not know how to react seeing that he knew about the foreigner. And, like what she reported to Eleazar, she told the same to Malachi.

    ¡°Hmm, even the statements are the same,¡± he commented, ¡°I was hoping for a few discrepancies between sources, but for it to be this flawless was outside of my expectations. Could she really be just an ordinary student?¡±

    ¡°If you think that haughty attitude of hers is normal, maybe,¡± she added, ¡°How did you know about her, anyway?¡±

    ¡°Oh, we met in front of the girls¡¯ dormitories,¡± he answered truthfully, ¡°Wipe that smirk off your face.¡±

    Because of the earlier incident with Alexa and¡ªby extension¡ªMargaret, Clara thought of something else entirely.

    ¡°Oh, I thought you were just interested in another beautiful woman,¡± she commented, ¡°What? You did say that she was drop-dead gorgeous.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I only said she was beau¡ª you were there?!¡± he clamored.

    Clara laughed.

    ¡°Of course not,¡± she denied, ¡°I only heard it from my acquaintances.¡±

    ¡°¡®Acquaintances¡¯?¡± repeated Malachi, ¡°You mean your other, fellow spies.¡±

    A smile floated on her face.

    ¡°Hush, now,¡± she said, ¡°We may never know who might be listening on us.¡±

    Malachi stared at her.

    ¡°¡­ ¡®Walls have ears, doors have eyes. Trees have voices, beasts tell lies.¡¯¡± He recited. ¡°¡®Beware the rain, beware the snow. Beware the man you think you know.¡¯ I know what you mean.¡±

    He looked up and waved at nothing at the ceiling. Clara wondered what he meant and looked up as well, and then narrowed her eyes.

    ¡°Looks like you found some of the shadows,¡± she commented, ¡°Good job spotting them.¡±

    Like she said, there was a small hole through the ceiling, and beyond that was another person peeking from within. Once Malachi looked and waved at their direction, chills went down that person¡¯s spine.

    ¡®What in the world is that kid¡­?¡¯ thought the person.

    Clara returned her attention to Malachi.

    ¡°Still, what you said was interesting,¡± she said, ¡°How did it go, again? ¡®Walls have ears, doors have eyes¡­¡¯ Although we rarely have rain and we don¡¯t have snow, it speaks strongly about out occupation. Where did you hear that from?¡±

    ¡°Just from travelling Eqari merchants,¡± he lied, ¡°The merchants know a lot of things about this world.¡±

 Campaign 13

    Campaign 13

    ¡°Malachi, we¡¯ve finished making one of your tanks,¡± said Remi, ¡°I had my engineers bring it to your armory.¡±

    Once Malachi was finished dealing with Clara, he went to the armory as usual. Waiting outside was Remi.

    ¡°Is that right?¡± replied Malachi, ¡°I wonder which of the ten will be able to drive it¡­¡±

    Malachi and Remi entered the armory together. They headed towards where the tank, the tank destroyer, Malachi requested to be built was delivered. Inside Class 13¡¯s armory were also the 10 engineers assigned to it surrounding the vehicle that was almost their heights.

    ¡°Wow, this thing really is small,¡± commented Felix, ¡°But it is so spacious inside. The siege engines are twice this thing¡¯s size, but it¡¯s so cramped in them.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, it only takes two steam knights to take out a single siege engine,¡± doubted Simone, ¡°This one looks like it can collapse in a single hit.¡±

    ¡°You did read what milord wrote, right?¡± interrupted Asher, ¡°While it is small and has thinner armor, it is faster than a siege engine by four to five times. While a steam knight can be faster than a siege engine, it still depends on the person wearing it. If it ever gets risky, we can just flee.¡±

    ¡°Still, I¡¯ve seen the strange grooves inside the rifles and the other guns,¡± voiced Chase, ¡°To think it can be used by tank guns. Did you see the pointy ammunition it will use? It¡¯s even lighter than siege cannonballs.¡±

    Malachi smiled seeing how his engineers were excitedly flocking around the tank destroyer. Looking at the finished product, while it was inspired from the late-WWII Soviet SU-100, this one had a number of differences.

    The first difference was the overall armor. Unlike a real SU-100 that had 75mm of steel armor at the front and 45mm on its other sides¡ªgiving it a relative armor thickness of 97mm to 116mm at the front and 87mm to 93mm at the sides¡ªthe tank Malachi designed had an equal thickness of just 70mm on all sides with each side also sloped to a 45-degree angle. This gave it a relative armor thickness of 98mm to 108mm on all sides.

    The second difference was the presence of spaced armor that protected its tracks. Spaced armor, attachments that were usually found on World War II German tanks, provided protection from explosives and reduced a bullet¡¯s or a shell¡¯s penetrating power before reaching the tank¡¯s hull.

    The third difference was the design of the gun itself¡ªspecifically, its loader. Rather than a breech loader, like how modern Earth artillery was operated, Malachi¡¯s design used a drum autoloader. Imagine turning a revolver into a tank gun, but each spent casing gets ejected. Malachi¡¯s drum autoloader has a capacity of 4 shells¡ªincreasing its rate of fire from 7 rounds per minute to at least 30 rounds per minute.

    The fourth difference was its engine. The SU-100 used a V-12 diesel engine, but because this world did not have diesel or gasoline, Malachi had to use a siege engine¡¯s pyrocite engine to drive the tank but with an additional machine¡ªan electrocite motor designed by Malachi himself. Since pyrocites are a ¡®slow burn¡¯ type of fuel when not ground to dust, pyrocite engines could operate for a longer period. Electrocites, however, behaved similarly to electric capacitors that gave huge instantaneous boosts to power¡ªjust think of them as nitro boosters.

    Finally, the fifth difference was the number of crew members that would operate it. A SU-100 had four crew members: a commander, a driver, a gunner, and a loader. Since Malachi placed an autoloader, a human loader was no longer needed¡ªcutting the number of crew down to three¡ªleaving an extra crew member available for another vehicle.

    Suddenly, Garret¡¯s head popped out of the tank.

    ¡°Phew, it¡¯s still a bit stuffy in there,¡± he commented, ¡°If not for the vents, it would be impossible to stay in here for a long time. Ah, Malachi, this is one fine piece of hardware. When do we get to have a test drive?¡±

    All the other engineers turned to Malachi with eyes full of hope and expectations, making him flinch a bit from their eagerness. Not just the men, but also the women. The first to step up was Ritva.

    ¡°Hey, hey, how fast can it rea~lly go?¡± she asked, ¡°I want to drive it. Can I drive it? I¡¯ve read the guide ten times already!¡±

    Malachi was taken aback.

    ¡®Are these guys the equivalent of petrolheads?!¡¯ he thought, ¡®Then again, most of the engineers back then enrolled in engineering to build giant fighting robots¡­ is it the same here?¡¯

    Ritva¡ªand the rest¡ªwere still waiting for his answer. Malachi glanced at Remi to ask a question, but found the girl to be with the crowd of hopeful engineers.

    ¡°Err, well, since Remi is as hopeful as you lot, let¡¯s go out to the field,¡± he said, ¡°Remi, get us a target engine, and the rest will prep for deployment.¡±

    Hearing the ¡®go signal,¡¯ 11 engineers cheered.

    ¡ñ

    Since Class 13¡¯s armory was at the very back, the tank was paraded before the other class armories. The sight of a small tank¡ªsmaller than a siege engine¡ªwas new for the other classes¡¯ engineers that even they had to stop working to watch the parade of one tank, 7 engineers, and one Skaria.

    ¡°Which class is that?¡± asked an engineer, ¡°Wait, that guy standing on its roof¡­ Skaria?! Class 13!¡±

    ¡°The rifles were one thing, now he made a new engine?¡± wondered another engineer, ¡°It¡¯s so small, though. Can it even survive a steam knight¡¯s blast hammer?¡±

    Malachi felt glee from being watched by many eyes. Seeing that the way to the exit was unblocked by anyone or anything, he crouched down and opened a hatch.

    ¡°Hey, Ritva, try driving faster,¡± he suggested, ¡°Though the way we¡¯re going is fine, it¡¯s only a wee bit faster than a siege engine.¡±

    Ritva looked up.

    ¡°Won¡¯t you fall off?¡± she asked.

    ¡°It is fine,¡± replied Malachi, ¡°I can hold on to the railings. Now, punch it!¡±

    With his order, Ritva stepped on the throttle. Almost immediately, the tank sped up three times faster. As the exhaust vents released gusts of hot air, electric sparks could also be heard, and Malachi sweated as he held on to the railings.

    ¡°Waaahoooo!¡± cheered Malachi, ¡°Catch us if you can, losers!¡±

    ¡°Ah, no fair!¡± cried Felicia, ¡°Felix, grab the steam knights so we can chase after them!¡±

    ¡°Do we really have to?¡± replied Felix, ¡°It¡¯s just up to the field, we can just jo¡ªurk!¡±

    Felicia did not care for Felix¡¯s thoughts and grabbed him by the collar. The other engineers of Class 13 also followed the twins to get into available steam knights. Since there were already steam knights on standby, getting in gave them enough time to catch up.

    As for the other engineers, they stood stupidly staring at the dust left behind.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care about what others may say,¡± said an engineer, ¡°But I want to see it as well!¡±

    ¡°Drop everything and pursue them!¡± ordered another engineer, ¡°As fellow engineers, I also want to see this marvel of Skaria!¡±

    Just like that, the armory became devoid of life. With a thundering horde of steam knights and engineers, all that was left inside were inorganic wood and metal objects, and -cites.

    ¡ñ

    There were classes out on the field doing drills or combat exercises. Supervising them was Axton.

    ¡°You lousy maggots!¡± he roared, ¡°Even with one less arm, I can beat you all to a pulp! You call that running!? I person with disability like me can even outrun you!¡±

    ¡°¡­ but it¡¯s not like you have a missing leg¡­¡± commented a cadet.

    ¡°Is that back-talking I hear from your filthy mouth!?¡± roared Axton, ¡°20 more laps for all of you!¡±

    The groaning of other cadets was heard.

    ¡°Remind me to put a gag on you, next time,¡± groaned a cadet.

    Axton turned his attention to another class.

    ¡°It¡¯s just push-ups!¡± he bellowed, ¡°I¡¯ll even join you for those that will complain!¡±

    Axton dropped on the ground with one hand and started doing push-ups. Unlike the cadets that were struggling with even both arms, Axton easily achieved 100 push-ups with a single arm. Once he was finished, he still had enough stamina to jump up and run after another class that was doing combat exercises.

    ¡°The cadets that came to my arena years ago were better than you!¡± he roared, ¡°They were tiny children back then, but they could already go up against the guards! That¡¯s not how you throw an enemy!¡±

    ¡°¡¯Children¡¯?¡± wondered a cadette, ¡°How can kids spar with adults?¡±

    ¡°It does not matter if they were kids, adults, or senile old men!¡± bellowed Axton, ¡°A fight for your life does not give a damn about your age!¡±

    As Axton supervised the classes, an army of steel could be seen over the horizon. With the thundering steps of the steam knights, coupled with the roaring engine of Malachi¡¯s tank, Axton and the classes in the field had to turn to look at the rumbling storm.

    Spearheading the horde of engineers was Malachi¡¯s tank, and the person himself on its roof. He was followed by his class engineers in steam knights and the other steam knights. Finally, trailing behind them was a battalion of jogging engineers.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Gahahahaha!¡± laughed Malachi boisterously, ¡°Hey, Drillmaster! Mind if we use the field for a demonstration!?¡±

    Axton could only watch as Malachi and the tank came closer to him in just a few seconds. A few minutes after him, the steam knights had arrived and, even later, the engineers of each class.

    ¡°Uh, Malachi, that¡­¡± stuttered Axton, ¡°What¡­?¡±

    Malachi could not get enough of anyone¡¯s surprise. Looking at the other cadets in other classes, they also held the same expressions as Axton: shock and awe.

    ¡°It¡¯s a tank I designed,¡± explained Malachi, ¡°I need full access to the field to test it out. Remi will also be bringing a siege engine for target practice, so I¡¯ll need a space where we can safely discharge munitions.¡±

    Even with a bit of hesitation, Axton ordered all the classes to clear out of the field. Once all the cadets had left to the perimeter of the field, they were all replaced by engineers and hardware.

    Malachi opened the hatch of the tank, again.

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s see how well you guys can drive this thing,¡± he said, ¡°Ritva, Stephen, Chase, go crazy!¡±

    Once Malachi gave his order, he jumped down as soon as Ritva stepped on the throttle. With a bit of recklessness, Malachi was also swept with the tank if he did not have good reflexes. The tank destroyer sped through the field, as fast as Ritva could hold the throttle, and left a cloud of dust in their wake.

    Inside the tank, the crew was configured like this: Ritva was the driver, Stephen was the gunner, and Chase was the commander.

    ¡°Ritva, hard left!¡± shouted Chase, ¡°We¡¯re about to hit a wall!¡±

    ¡°Roger that!¡± replied Ritva, ¡°Yahoo!¡±

    ¡°I never should have volunteered, I never should have volunteered,¡± chanted Stephen as he held on for dear life, ¡°I never thought it would be this fast, I never should have volunteeeeeered!¡±

    ¡°Shut up, bro!¡± cried Chase, ¡°Ritva won¡¯t be able to hear me! Ah! hard right!¡±

    ¡°Gotcha!¡± affirmed RItva, ¡°Weehoo!¡±

    While it was chaos inside the tank, the spectators outside were quiet. They all watched the tank run at dangerous speeds and make life-threatening turns. Malachi was watching from a tower with Remi and Axton.

    ¡°Hmm, quick learners,¡± commented Malachi, ¡°But not refined enough. They¡¯re just crazily going at full speed. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have told them to go crazy¡­¡±

    ¡°But look at how fast they¡¯re going!¡± cried Remi, ¡°If we have a lot of these, we can easily overpower any slow-moving enemy just from our speed! Even the resources used to produce just one are less than a single siege engine!¡±

    ¡°But, you have to remember, Remi,¡± added Malachi, ¡°If they aren¡¯t attentive, they could get crushed by a single cannonball or blast hammer. It¡¯s still best to use this tank for ambush and hit-and-run operations. For this type of tank, the speed is for running and relocating, not for assaulting the enemy.¡±

    After a while, Malachi held a radio.

    ¡°Chase, can you hear me?¡± he said.

    ¡°I hear you loud and clear, Malachi! Argh! Hard left!¡± replied Chase, ¡°Ritva! Slow down a little!¡±

    ¡°Sorry!¡± she apologized. Ritva could be heard in the background.

    ¡°How is it in there?¡± asked Malachi, ¡°Any problems?¡±

    ¡°Stephen fainted,¡± replied Chase, ¡°Looks like Ritva was too reckless in her driving. Ritva, hard left, again! Slow down already!¡±

    Malachi¡¯s face could only twitch.

    ¡°Wake Stephen up,¡± he ordered, ¡°It¡¯s time to test out the gun.¡±

    ¡°Oh, roger that!¡± replied Chase, ¡°Bro! Wake up! Get your trigger finger ready! Ritva, take us to the target!¡±

    With that, the tank drove to the middle of the field where Remi had the siege engine target placed. This siege engine was Class 13¡¯s old siege engine before it was about to be replaced by Malachi¡¯s tank destroyer. The spectators also moved their attention to the two lonely vehicles, watching to see how a smaller tank would destroy a much larger siege engine.

    Within the field, the siege engine was placed at the center, and was given an open space with a radius of 1 kilometer.

    Malachi held the same radio, again.

    ¡°Chase, have Ritva drive until there is only 800 meters between you and the target,¡± ordered Malachi, ¡°We will first try shooting the front armor.¡±

    ¡°Affirmative!¡± replied Chase.

    Malachi held another radio; it was a receiver for the speakers where the spectators stood.

    ¡°Testing¡­ 1, 2, 3¡­ Testing¡­¡± he said. His voice was carried through the field without any problems. ¡°Right, this is a tank I designed to replace the inefficient siege engine.¡±

    Hearing that the siege engine was inefficient, some engineers could not take it and protested. Some, but the others could only stay silent from seeing the tank¡¯s earlier performance. If Malachi¡¯s tank could run that fast, they would not question their siege engines being replaced.

    Malachi ignored the voices of protest.

    ¡°This ¡®type¡¯ of tank is called a ¡®tank destroyer,¡¯¡± he emphasized a few words, ¡°As you can see from its speed, it can easily outrun any siege engine or steam knight. Now, we had our old siege engine become the tank destroyer¡¯s target to test the effectiveness of its gun.¡±

    Malachi especially stressed the words ¡®type¡¯ and ¡®tank destroyer¡¯ to make a point. Not only will this one tank be added to their arsenal, Malachi even had a few more up his sleeve, as he had shared with the rest of his class engineers.

    ¡°From the specifications of the siege engine, its front armor is 150 millimeters thick and is sloped to a 45-degree angle,¡± recited Malachi, ¡°This gives it a relative armor thickness of 212 millimeters. We will try to puncture it from a distance of 800 meters.¡±

    Malachi held the radio to the tank.

    ¡°Stephen, follow the guide I had given you and shoot the front armor of the siege engine,¡± he ordered, ¡°Chase, Ritva, once Stephen has discharged a shell, immediately relocate perpendicular to the siege engine¡¯s side. Once you¡¯re in position, fire at will.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± affirmed the tank crew.

    Stephen looked into the periscope to acquire his target. Since the tank destroyer was a casemate tank, meaning the gun was affixed to the hull, Ritva only needed to turn the tank towards Stephen¡¯s target. Stephen adjusted the zoom of his periscope to adjust the angle and elevation of the tank gun until he found a good spot to shoot at. Once he was satisfied, without warning, he pulled the trigger.

    Loud thunder erupted from the field and reverberated along the ground. The dust around them scattered, and the tank gun recoiled back from the force. Almost instantaneously, the loud collision of two metal objects could be heard from the distance. The siege engine had already been hit, and the discharged shell ricocheted into the air, but not without leaving a deep depression on the siege engine¡¯s front armor.

    Afterwards, there was only silence. It was silent inside the tank, and it was silent in the spectators¡¯ area. The only one who wasn¡¯t silent was Malachi as he bellowed into the radio.

    ¡°What are you waiting for!?¡± he roared, ¡°Change positions, already!¡±

    Inside the tank, Stephen could only stare with his mouth agape at the performance of the tank gun. As for Chase, he had to scramble to give Ritva the order to move, and the girl herself was still stiff from the explosive thunder.

    ¡°I-I felt the tank move back,¡± commented Ritva, ¡°¡­ s-so powerful¡­¡±

    ¡°Ritva, Stephen, snap out of it!¡± cried Chase, ¡°We need to relocate, now! Ritva, turn right, 30 degrees then go forward until I tell you to stop! Stephen, wake up!¡±

    ¡°D-did I really do that¡­?¡± wondered Stephen, ¡°I-in just an eye blink¡­¡±

    ¡°I know! That¡¯s why we should move it!¡± roared Chase, ¡°Come on, Ritva!¡±

    Once the tank crew had gathered themselves, the tank broke the silence again with its engines as it drove towards the siege engine¡¯s left flank. Malachi announced to the spectators again.

    ¡°Now, we know that we can¡¯t penetrate a siege engine¡¯s front armor from 800 meters, but we can still dent it,¡± he said, ¡°We will now try to penetrate its side armor. A siege engine¡¯s side armor is also 150 millimeters, but it isn¡¯t slo¡ª¡°

    Before Malachi could finish, the tank was already in position, and shot a shell. Like before, it was only an eye blink before the shell reached its target. However, rather than ricocheting into the air, a large gaping hole could be seen on the siege engine¡¯s side.

    The tank destroyer¡¯s gun had penetrated 150 millimeters of steel.

    ¡°Right,¡± said Malachi, ¡°As you can all see the once ¡®thought-to-be¡¯ impenetrable defense of a siege engine¡ªonly crushable by two blast hammer hits¡ªwas ¡®torn open¡¯ by a gun with a ¡®smaller¡¯ caliber of a ¡®smaller¡¯ tank from a ¡®greater¡¯ distance. I love your speechlessness, by the way.¡±

    Malachi communicated with the tank, once more.

    ¡°Now then, I need you all to drive the tank closer,¡± he ordered, ¡°200 meters should be good enough to punch the front armor. But, before you start shooting, reload the empty drums. Discharge 4 shells to end the demonstration.¡±

    Without a word, the tank moved from the flank back to the front of the siege engine. Stephen took the time to reload the drum autoloader while Chase directed Ritva to the designated distance. Once Stephen was done reloading the shells, Ritva had already aligned the tank to face the siege engine¡¯s front armor.

    The same thunder erupted from the tank, and its shell reached the target. This time, unlike the very beginning, the shell did not ricochet.

    The siege engine¡¯s front armor was finally penetrated.

    Without waiting for another order, Stephen readjusted the gun and fired another shot. This shot also penetrated and left a gaping hole in front of the siege engine. Afterwards, Stephen repeated his adjustments and discharged the remaining shells in the drum autoloader.

    In just 12 seconds, four shells turned the siege engine into Swiss cheese.

    Malachi was satisfied with the results.

    ¡°As you all know, the typical siege engine crew needs at least a minute to cycle between shots,¡± he said, ¡°What if there was a tank that could destroy it under even half a minute? This is that tank.¡±

    Malachi ordered the tank crew.

    ¡°Destroy the siege engine completely.¡±

    ¡ñ

    Once nightfall came, the spectators in the field had already left. The cadets in the other classes that were in the field could only walk through the halls with expressions of disbelief, making the other classes in the academy wonder what had happened. As for the engineers, they could only stare at their own equipment. The siege engines of their respective classes were awash with gazes of pain and sorrow. A few engineers could only feel aching in their hearts knowing that their prided siege engines were nothing in Malachi¡¯s eyes.

    As for Class 13¡¯s engineers, they gathered together to reflect on Malachi¡¯s creations.

    ¡°How did it feel?¡± asked Asher, ¡°How did it feel when you pulled the trigger?¡±

    Asher was next to Stephen. The engineer who volunteered as the gunner was trembling after getting out of the tank destroyer. His brother, Chase, went to take a bath to cool himself down, and Ritva was just standing in a daze.

    ¡°I¡­ I could only feel the recoil,¡± answered Stephen, ¡°It¡¯s like Malachi said, that tank was true to its name¡ªa destroyer.¡±

    Garret arrived at Class 13¡¯s armory with Olivia.

    ¡°How was it?¡± asked Felix.

    Garret shook his head.

    ¡°Completely destroyed,¡± he answered, ¡°Not a single part was salvageable.¡±

    Olivia sat down next to Simone.

    ¡°Everything was wrecked,¡± she added, ¡°The controls, the engine, the gun, everything. For something smaller than a siege engine¡¯s gun, it sure is terrible. Imagine if a steam knight were to get hit by that¡­¡±

    Felicia shivered at the thought.

    ¡°I can¡¯t imagine it,¡± she shared, ¡°The infantry weapons could already punch through a steam knight¡¯s armor. The TD should be even worse.¡±

    ¡°And he even plans to create the other tanks,¡± added Felix, ¡°The MBT¡ªMain Battle Tank¡ªit looks like it will be more versatile than the tank destroyer.¡±

    ¡ñ

    While the cadets and engineers were thinking about the tank destroyer¡¯s performance, Axton was climbing the stairs to Eleazar¡¯s office. Along the way, he was met by Clara.

    ¡°I assume you already know why I¡¯m here?¡± asked Axton.

    Clara only nodded.

    ¡°Well, let us report to His Highness.¡±

    Axton and Clara went together to Eleazar¡¯s office. The Buzzards that were standing guard outside immediately gave passage to the two once their gazes met. Without even knocking, Axton and Clara entered the room.

    ¡°That was rather loud,¡± said Eleazar, ¡°I could hear the cannon fire all the way here. A pity the other classes weren¡¯t able to witness what you¡¯ve seen. So, tell me. How was Malachi¡¯s tank destroyer?¡±

    ¡°Are you sure he really is your grandson?¡± wondered Axton, ¡°He couldn¡¯t be a monster, can he? I was completely speechless by the performance of his new vehicle, especially when it lived to how it was called¡ªa destroyer.¡±

    ¡°We took a look at the remains of Class 13¡¯s former siege engine,¡± added Clara, ¡°While it is known that Class 13 is a class of rejects, their engineers are top-notch. That siege engine was one of the best ones available in the academy, but Malachi easily turned it into scrap. From what we¡¯ve gathered from his childhood, there was nothing that would lead to how he has this much knowledge.¡±

    ¡°Also, I¡¯ve heard something from a few engineers assigned in the kill house,¡± continued Axton, ¡°It seems he can use some sort of magic to increase his classmates¡¯ abilities or, rather, anybody who hears his voice. He was speaking in a strange language when everybody felt refreshed, or so they said.¡±

    At this time, they heard a knock from the door.

    ¡°Come in,¡± said Eleazar.

    The new arrival was Remi. She was carrying a stack of paperwork.

    ¡°Your Highness, Malachi is requesting for the construction of a new area on the academy,¡± She announced, ¡°Here is his letter of request and proposals.¡±

    Axton and Clara raised their brows and looked at Eleazar. Eleazar ignored the gazes of his two subordinates.

    ¡°What for, Remi?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Malachi said that the kill house and the shooting range was becoming too small for his planned exercises,¡± explained Remi, ¡°He hopes that you would agree to building a dedicated training area for all his needs since it requires your permission to build any large-scale structure.¡±

    Remi handed over the papers, and Eleazar took a look. After reading a few pages, he had to lower the papers, lean back, and massage his head.

    ¡°I may need to talk to Emmanuel and Bashia to know whether Malachi really is their child.¡±

 Armaments

    I suppose I should give some in-depth descriptions about some of the armaments in the story.

    + Royal Armory +

    Fusils

    Like how these are called, these are muskets. Fusils are smoothbore and muzzle-loaded long guns. Their calibers are big, like the age-old muskets of Europe and Sengoku Japan. These also use a flintlock mechanism. Fusils in this story are ignited by small pyrocite crystals¡ªthat are heated by another pyrocite¡ªhitting powdered pyrocite which becomes explosive, far potent than black powder or gunpowder. The powdered pyrocite is hidden behind a breech that can be refilled at any time.

    Repeaters

    Imagine turning your typical .44 Magnum into a long gun. This is how you get your repeaters. Like fusils, their calibers are large and their bullets are heavy. Except, unlike having cartridges like the .38, .44, .45, .500 or whichever modern day revolver, repeaters have their bullets loaded right in front of a pyrocite chamber. The ignition is embedded inside the gun, where its drum cycling mechanism is also placed.

    Hand cannons

    Sawn-off fusils, in essence, but are double the size and are break-action pistols. Imagine having a sawn-off single-shot shotgun that shoots extra-large slugs, instead of buckshot. Try shooting a .500 Magnum¡ªtwice/double tap¡ªonce to know how it feels.

    Crossbows

    These aren¡¯t like the Zhuge repeating crossbow, but are just pulley operated mechanical crossbows¡ªsimilar to what you may find in hobby or hunting stores.

    Explosive bolts

    Since powdered pyrocite becomes explosive, the head of the bolt has three parts. The first part is a small chamber filled with powdered pyrocite. The second part is a small pyrocite crystal that heats up once the third part¡ªanother similarly sized pyrocite crystal¡ªhits a target. There are two types of explosive bolts, one that explodes on impact, and one that has a slow burn. For the slow-burn type of bolt, replace the second part with a larger pyrocite crystal.

    Pneumatic fusil

    It is just an airsoft musket¡ªa high caliber BB gun. Lakeng¡¯s pneumatic fusil needed reserves of air canisters, while Malachi¡¯s version replaced that need with a pump.

    Siege engines

    Take a look at a Panzer VIII Maus super heavy tank. Now, turn the turret into an immobile structure unable to rotate itself, then replace the gun with a 200mm cannon and enlarge the body by 50 percent. That¡¯s how you can get a siege engine. It is simple and robust, but it is also slow and heavy. It requires a crew of four, a driver and a gunner, and two steam knights to load the cannon ball.

    Steam knights

    These are 2-meter tall steel machines. Rather than piloted robots, steam knights are more of exo-suits that enhance the wearer¡¯s capabilities allowing them to carry heavy objects, and to absorb and dish out aa lot of damage. Steam knights have pyrocite engines on their back, which is also a weak spot, and produce as much exhaust heat as siege engines.

    Blast hammer

    It is a sledgehammer with a high-explosive warhead. The explosive head is actually multiple layers of clustered pyrocite crystals and powder, separated by thin metal sheets, allowing multiple uses before it needs to be replaced.

    Pyrocite grenades

    These are tightly packed cans of powdered pyrocite with a fuse. Actually resembles a pipe bomb.

    + Malachi¡¯s weapons +

    Assault rifle

    Everybody should be familiar with the modern day assault rifles, right? Rather than modeled after the traditional American M4, M16, Soviet AK47, or German HK416, Malachi has a fascination for bullpups and compact weapons. His assault rifles resemble the French Steyr AUG or the Austrian FAMAS. In particular, his assault rifle draws inspiration from the Belgian FN F2000 because of its forward ejection port. However, while it does reference the FN F2000, it doesn¡¯t have a telescopic sight, has a Picatinny rail and iron sights, instead, and has the fire select controls above where one would place the thumb.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    Shotgun

    Although it has been said in the story that the shotgun Malachi designed is similar to the Winchester pump-action shotgun, Malachi¡¯s fascination for bullpups references the American Kel-Tec KSG. However, instead of having dual internal shell tubes¡ªthat accommodates two different types of shells¡ªMalachi¡¯s shotgun only has one shell tube. It also lacks a Picatinny rail.

    Light machinegun

    For the LMG, Malachi took an assault rifle and increased its size. The LMG looks like an FN F2000 with a longer barrel and a bipod, and its body is a quarter size bigger and has a vertical grip. Its magazine well was removed, and was replaced by a belt-fed mechanism.

    SA and BA sniper rifles

    This is where Malachi did not create a bullpup. Keeping in mind that most snipers won¡¯t be in the middle of the frontlines and will be at the back providing long-range support, he retained the traditional design. For these particular models, Malachi did not draw any inspirations from specific modern Earth sniper rifles and created each one from scratch. The sniper rifles¡¯ bodies were made from wood, making them heavier to carry, and the rest of the parts were made from steel. The scope¡¯s crosshair was made of thin threads placed inside it.

    Handgun

    Rather than keeping the cumbersome hand cannon, Malachi created a tactical pistol. For this one, he made a 9mm pistol with a 15-round capacity. Good stopping power with its caliber and increased ammunition capacity ensures effective self-defense for any situation.

    Ammunition

    These are definitely not NATO rounds or any other modern Earth standards. Considering that pyrocite powder is much more potent than gunpowder, Malachi has to compensate for the powder weight and cartridge size to avoid having guns blowing up in his face¡ªlike how his prototype shotgun exploded.

    Tank destroyer

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="213">

    Hull

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="4" width="213">

    Thickness

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="213">

    Relative thickness

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="213">

    Front armor

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="4" width="213">

    70 mm

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="213">

    98 mm~108 mm

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="213">

    Side armor

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="4" width="213">

    70 mm

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="213">

    98 mm~108 mm

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="213">

    Rear armor

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="4" width="213">

    70 mm

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="213">

    98 mm~108 mm

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="213">

    Roof armor

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="4" width="213">

    20 mm

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3" width="213">

    ¡ª

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center" width="91">

    Gun

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" width="91">

    100m

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="91">

    200m

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="91">

    300m

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="91">

    500m

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" width="91">

    750m

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" width="91">

    1000m

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center" width="91">

    Penetration

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" width="91">

    210mm

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="91">

    206mm

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="91">

    201mm

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="2" width="91">

    184mm

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" width="91">

    157mm

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" width="91">

    124mm

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="5" width="319">

    Max speed

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="5" width="319">

    38 km/h

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="5" width="319">

    Traverse

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="5" width="319">

    32 deg/s

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="5" width="319">

    Combat radius

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="5" width="319">

    400 km

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="5" width="319">

    Weight

    </td>

    <td style="text-align: center" colspan="5" width="319">

    34 metric tons

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

 Campaign 14

    Campaign 14

    What Malachi wanted to build was a large training complex hundreds of meters large. It would not be far from it being called a small underground military base. The training complex was complete with living quarters, a mock-up urban landscape, fields of varying environments, a dedicated armory, a dedicated research wing and depot, a firing range for each weapon type, a ballistics chamber, a courtyard, and a small farm¡ªa farm! Included with the proposal were blueprints for a large electrocite generator, a large pyrocite generator, electrical wiring, glacite cooling systems, and even plumbing.

    It was as if Malachi wanted to build a small city inside a mountain. Naturally, Eleazar had a headache at the magnitude of the request.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see, Malachi should only be fifteen this year,¡± groaned Eleazar, ¡°How in the world can he provide so much detail?¡±

    Axton and Clara were curious and took a look at the proposals. After a few pages, the two of them had the same disbelief as Eleazar and replaced the papers on the desk. Remi, however, was just sitting on a nearby chair waiting for Eleazar¡¯s decision. It was obvious that she expected this kind of reaction from the adults in the room.

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know what to say,¡± commented Axton, ¡°I never expected that the child from before could think of things such as these. Wait, now that I think about it, the exercises they were doing were out of the norm unlike how we do things in the Royal Army.¡±

    ¡°But, you have to consider how young they were back then,¡± added Clara, ¡°The exercises seemed strenuous, but it was enough considering their constitution.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the thing, Clara,¡± said Axton, ¡°I can expect at least someone from the military to guide them how to prepare their bodies, but to the extent of not using any of our standard drills and having done new kinds of exercises cannot just be attributed to a child¡¯s imagination. Even the guards I posted to them were in awe with how effective their exercises were when they joined. While I noticed that Arlianne¡¯s style of combat has similarities with Phoenix Perez, Malachi¡¯s techniques are not our own.¡±

    ¡°Is it possible that he has an acquaintance outside the kingdom?¡± wondered Remi, ¡°You did see the blueprints for his tank destroyer, right? None of those adhere to our philosophies, and the use of electrocite was new even for me.¡±

    Eleazar looked at Clara for an answer, but she shook her head.

    ¡°None of my shadows reported anything strange happenings around him,¡± she said, ¡°Even from earliest we¡¯ve heard about him, there wasn¡¯t any change in his daily life.¡±

    ¡°Then, how about the other Eskurs?¡± asked Axton, ¡°Surely, even after the war, there are some who are capable of creating these?¡±

    Eleazar also shook his head.

    ¡°Out of all the Eskurs, only three clans are militaristic,¡± he said, ¡°One is Clan Skali way over at the other side of the world. Another is Clan Skuma that was completely obliterated in the Taijun Empire. The last one is the well-known Clan Skaria, and Bashia and Malachi are its last remaining clansmen. I doubt Bashia has enough knowledge about warfare to teach Malachi.¡±

    Clara agreed.

    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± she said, ¡°Every time I see Bashia and Malachi together, they look like a normal mother and son. Honestly, I get a little envious seeing him with such a loving mother. With Malachi¡¯s mischievousness and Bashia scolding him, they look so cute together and¡­ and¡­¡±

    The other three in the room looked at Clara weirdly.

    ¡°Clara, I understand that I tasked you to watch over him,¡± said Eleazar, ¡°But not to the extent of stalking the poor child. What would he do if he found out that you were looking at him like that?¡±

    Clara became flustered.

    ¡°No, Your Highness!¡± she cried, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that! It¡¯s just, seeing how he was back then and how he is now¡­ it was so contrasting that I thought everything back then was just a dream¡­¡±

    Eleazar nodded in understanding.

    ¡°That is true,¡± he agreed, ¡°It¡¯s as if whatever hold Bashia had on him had been released and he revealed his true self.¡±

    Not really. Malachi had been without a mother in his past life. In this life, though, he finally experienced what it was like to have a mother¡ªa loving one, especially. Therefore, he wanted to enjoy every chance he got being with Bashia so he followed all of her rules¡ªusually out of fear on not knowing what to do. Of course, there was that promise that he kept with her until the time he was to enroll at the academy.

    ¡°And Arlianne?¡± wondered Axton, ¡°We know that she was an orphan, anything about her background?¡±

    Clara still shook her head.

    ¡°She¡¯s clean,¡± she said, ¡°Not as clean as our foreigner, but clean enough that her true parents died in a fire before she was sent to an orphanage. Hmm, Lord Grigorio was the one who trained her while Malachi was out of action, right? She was so cute and bubbly back then, now she¡¯s so¡­ stoic¡­ even when she still follows Malachi around.¡±

    ¡°She may be stoic, but she still gets flustered when it comes to Malachi,¡± commented Eleazar, ¡°Every time Malachi would come to harm, have you seen how fearful she becomes? That stoicism might just be a farce to let others not mess with either of them but, as I could see, Malachi is her weakness.¡±

    ¡°Arlianne is a few years older than Malachi, right?¡± wondered Remi, ¡°Then why does it feel like that Malachi is the older one between the two? Shouldn¡¯t Arlianne be the one who takes care of Malachi, and not the other way around?¡±

    Eleazar sighed.

    ¡°Valid questions,¡± he said, ¡°Which is why we are discussing this in the first place, why in the world does Malachi know so much for his age? He is so experienced despite being just a 15-year old boy. When Clara and I were at the library with Malachi, he spotted where Clara hid her knife just from looking at her, saying that he found her movements strange. What sort of person has ungodly sharp observational skills at that age? Can you tell me? At this point, even if he says that he needs to learn more than his age cohort because of his status, looking at this evidence before me, that sort of answer wouldn¡¯t have much merit.¡±

    The room became deathly silent. Everyone became solemn at Eleazar¡¯s doubts and confusion. Eleazar leaned back on his seat and sighed.

    ¡°Remi, tell Malachi this,¡± he said, ¡°If he succeeds in the upcoming mission, he gets two choices: either he learns of his ancestry, or his proposal comes to fruition. He can only have one or the other, and not both. What will not get chosen will be delayed until further notice.¡±

    Remi got off her seat and saluted Eleazar.

    ¡°At once, Your Highness.¡±

    ¡ñ

    Remi was going down the stairwell after leaving Eleazar¡¯s office. At the foot of the stairs, however, she came for a surprise.

    ¡°So, Remi, how did it go?¡±

    ¡°Eek!?¡± cried Remi, ¡°Malachi?! Don¡¯t scare me!¡±

    Malachi suddenly popped his head out of the corridor into the stairwell. Remi nearly fell backwards if she was not holding onto the railings.

    ¡°Hey, at least I didn¡¯t call out to you too loud,¡± he commented, ¡°So? How did it go with Gramps?¡±

    Remi stared at Malachi for a while.

    ¡®His mischief is befitting for his age,¡¯ she thought, ¡®but his knowledge is a whole other matter. Even His Highness had a headache at his mismatching personality.¡¯

    Malachi was still waiting for her answer, so she finally spoke.

    ¡°The Headmaster has a condition,¡± she said, ¡°If you succeed in the upcoming mission, you will get two choices: your ancestry, or your training complex. He wants to see how you will sort your priorities since the training complex will take some time to build.¡±

    Malachi made a surprised expression.

    ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± he commented, ¡°I knew that my proposal bordered on the impossible so I expected a catch, but if it¡¯s just that, I can learn about my ancestry anytime. I¡¯ll just go for a visit to tell him my decision.¡±

    Remi suddenly grabbed his arm.

    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t mind putting off learning about your Eskur ancestry?¡± she asked, ¡°You might never get another chance after this.¡±

    Malachi turned back to Remi.

    ¡°Then, I ask you this,¡± he said, ¡°Which is more important, this kingdom or my ignorant self?¡±

    It didn¡¯t take Remi time to answer.

    ¡°This kingdom,¡± she said, ¡°You are just one man, even if you are the prince, compared to the millions of people who live here.¡±The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Malachi smiled.

    ¡°There you have it,¡± he said, ¡°The kingdom comes first before my desire to know about my family history. While I think knowing more about my family is important, there are many more others like me in, probably, the same situation. What makes me special that I should be taken care of before the rest? I¡¯ll share to you a belief from a travelling merchant I met, ¡®All are equal in the eyes of death,¡¯ just because this is my status, I shouldn¡¯t put the majority aside just for my sake. Besides, all these will ultimately be for my sake as well.¡±

    Malachi turned around to go up the stairs. Remi, however, unconsciously voiced her thoughts.

    ¡°What are you hiding, Malachi?¡± she said before she realized what she did and covered her mouth.

    Malachi continued going up the stairs, as if he hadn¡¯t heard her. That was until he disappeared to the next floor.

    ¡°I just don¡¯t want to die a meaningless death, Remi.¡±

    After that, his footsteps faded and Remi was alone in confusion.

    ¡°Death?¡± she repeated, ¡°What in all Hells do you mean by ¡®a meaningless death¡¯ when you¡¯re living right now?¡±

    She would never be able to understand that this was Malachi¡¯s second chance at life. This was, after all, the only secret he has that only a small handful know about¡ªhis immediate family.

    Moments later, he arrived at Eleazar¡¯s office and gave his decision. Voiding his chance to learn about his ancestry, Malachi¡¯s proposal was approved even before succeeding in his mission. The academy would surely be in turmoil due to the magnitude of the construction that will be done in the coming weeks.

    ¡ñ

    It was the next day when Malachi went to his class. The entirety of Class 13 was in their classroom, and they were confused why they were not doing exercises. Malachi only had a few things to say as he stood before them.

    ¡°We only have one day left before the mission deadline,¡± he announced, ¡°Therefore, today will be free time for all. Do whatever the hell you want. If you want to train, go ahead. If you want to study, go ahead. If you want to sleep, go ahead. You have the entire day to spend at your leisure. If anybody asks, point them towards me. As long as you don¡¯t violate any rules and regulations, I will take responsibility for everything you do today.¡±

    With that, he left the class with Arlianne. Suddenly, Malachi turned to her.

    ¡°That includes you, Arlianne,¡± he said, ¡°Have some time to relax and catch up on the things you¡¯d like to do. I will just be in the armory training our engineers about tank operations.¡±

    Arlianne shook her head.

    ¡°We¡¯ve been separated for quite a lot of time since we came here,¡± she said, ¡°Should I not accompany you this time?¡±

    Despite her expression, the tone of her voice gave her away. Malachi could only smile and hold her hand.

    ¡°Fine,¡± he said, ¡°Maybe I could even teach you how to operate a tank, haha!¡±

    Malachi held her hands all the way from their classroom to the armory. Though, a distance from their classroom was a pair of eyes that were gazing at their hands. The pair of eyes continued to watch the two until the others of Class 13 came out of the classroom filled with confusion.

    ¡ñ

    At the armory, Malachi was working with Class 13¡¯s engineers over the tank destroyer. As he worked, Arlianne was watching from the side, satisfied just from being able to see him enjoying his work.

    Beside her was Asher, the only Eskur engineer in the armory.

    ¡°So, you are my lord¡¯s betrothed?¡± he asked, ¡°I can somehow see why he chose you.¡±

    Arlianne only smiled at Asher.

    ¡°Even though you don¡¯t show much, I can see that he values you greatly,¡± he commented, ¡°Take care of my lord, especially if we Eskurs are nowhere in sight.¡±

    ¡°Do not worry,¡± she said, ¡°I have been taking care of Malachi since I was hired as their maid. From there, I became his adoptive sister, and then it became us.¡±

    Asher was nodding as he listened, but he froze when he heard the end.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but, did I hear that correctly?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I was hired as his caretaker, I was nine years old back then,¡± she shared, ¡°Along the way, Lady Bashia became my adoptive mother, and Malachi as my adoptive brother. This is why I carry the name of Skaria now. After the Fire Ant incident, it just escalated into becoming us.¡±

    She thought back during the time when Malachi did that in front of so many people that a light shade of red appeared on her face. Asher looked back and forth between Malachi and Arlianne that she nearly regretted sharing that.

    ¡°Oh, oh dear,¡± said Asher, ¡°Oh deary me. I never thought that milord was actually so bold. Oh my, is it just me or is it getting a bit too hot in here? So, how did it feel? Did it hurt? I heard that it hurts.¡±

    Arlianne cocked her head.

    ¡°Hurts? No,¡± she said, ¡°It didn¡¯t hurt, it was just surprising. That¡¯s¡­ all¡­¡±

    Of course it was surprising. That was a sneak attack that Malachi had done to end the spar after pinning her down, after all. Since they were not allowed to harm one another, Malachi had to resort to a psychological attack.

    Asher went wide-eyed.

    ¡°Oh my,¡± he gasped, ¡°You are such a strong girl! How many times have you done it since then?¡±

    Arlianne was confused. She could not understand why Asher wanted to know more about her relationship with Malachi.

    ¡°Well, after that one, we hadn¡¯t had another one,¡± she said, ¡°He hadn¡¯t shown much aggression after that. Well, apart from going stupid with flattery and praise in front of so many other people.¡±

    Asher suddenly held both of Arlianne¡¯s shoulders.

    ¡°That must not be!¡± he cried, ¡°If he won¡¯t approach you, then you must approach him. Even if you feel satisfied with the way things are now, just because you¡¯ve done it once, doesn¡¯t mean you can''t do it again! Now, listen here, try to get the mood right before going into the offensive.¡±

    Asher suddenly began explaining this and that to an increasingly confused Arlianne. He kept on going until Arlianne asked him to stop.

    ¡°Wait, why are you even telling me all this?¡± she wondered, ¡°I couldn¡¯t even understand half of what you said.¡±

    Asher looked at her in surprise.

    ¡°Why? To birth an heir to Clan Skaria, of course.¡± He answered, ¡°Just doing it once won¡¯t guarantee a conception of a child, especially at your age. You two need to be more energetic than that.¡±

    Arlianne¡¯s mind stopped momentarily, trying to process what Asher said. Little by little, color drained from her face then her expressions changed sporadically, and a bright red color flushed her face in embarrassment.

    ¡°No!¡± she screamed, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that!¡±

    Her cries were heard by the others in Class 13¡¯s armory. Malachi and the rest turned to their direction. Arlianne was flustered in front of a confused Asher.

    ¡°W-w-we hadn¡¯t done what you think at all!¡± she explained, ¡°I m-m-mean, w-w-we, h-h-he j-just¡­¡±

    Malachi approached the two of them.

    ¡°Did something happen between the two of you?¡± he asked, ¡°Asher, what in all Hells did you do to her?¡±

    ¡°Ah, milord, it is nothing you need to know about,¡± explained Asher, ¡°Just an innocent conversation between two maiden hearts.¡±

    ¡°Two maiden hearts?¡± repeated Malachi, ¡°Wait, you¡¯re¡­ oh, I see, girl-talk. I¡¯ll get out of the way now.¡±

    When Malachi understood what Asher was and what was meant, he immediately returned to the other engineers and diverted their attention to the task at hand. Meanwhile, Arlianne still hadn¡¯t recovered from Asher¡¯s shocking misunderstanding between her and Malachi.

    ¡°W-we just kissed,¡± she finally explained, ¡°And in front of so many people, t-too.¡±

    ¡°No wonder it became a fond memory for you,¡± commented Asher with a soft smile, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the misunderstanding.¡±

    Arlianne looked down in embarrassment.

    ¡°N-no need,¡± she replied, ¡°It was my fault for not explaining properly.¡±

    Silence developed between the two until nighttime came. Afterwards, she and Malachi left the armory to have their dinner. Along the way, Arlianne was still silent, and Malachi was wondering what was going on as they walked along the path.

    ¡°I won¡¯t ask anything if you don¡¯t want to talk about it,¡± he said, ¡°I can see that what you were talking about with Asher was serious enough to be carried with you even after we¡¯ve left. Just know that, if it is something I can help you with, don¡¯t hesitate in asking for my help.¡±

    Arlianne suddenly stopped walking, and Malachi noticed that as he stopped as well.

    ¡°Malachi,¡± she said, ¡°Do you¡­ I mean, are you really certain in¡­ having me by your side¡­?¡±

    Malachi did not turn to face her nor did he answer her question. He just stood there and listened to her.

    ¡°It¡¯s just, even though we¡¯ve been together for eight years, it only felt like because I was your family,¡± she continued, ¡°I am starting to doubt myself if I should even be allowed to be with you after all this time. I mean, not just as a Skaria, but you are also a Perlas. The gap between your status and mine is just too vast. I may have been adopted into your family, but I am still an outsider. Even if you¡¯ve told me your secrets, even though you¡¯ve voiced your trust in me¡­¡±

    Before she could even finish, Malachi turned around to face her. His red eyes gleamed in the moonlight.

    ¡°Is that all?¡± he asked, ¡°You let doubt cloud your heart, and become unsure of my own decisions?¡±

    Arlianne could only look down.

    ¡°But, when I heard what Asher and your other kinsmen hoped for,¡± she said, ¡°Only then did I realize how heavy the responsibility to be with you is. I just don¡¯t know if I deserve such a thi¡ª¡°

    Again, Malachi interrupted her, except, he was suddenly right in front of her and he lifted her face up to meet his.

    ¡°Do you believe in fate, Arlianne?¡± he said, ¡°I believe in it. Even if you were an orphan, hired as a maid, we were fated to meet. Even if mama and pops decided to adopt you, we were fated to be together. Even after that incident at the capital, you never left me, and you were fated to be the first person I saw when I woke up. Eight years, Arlianne, from the time I regained my memories to the time right now, we¡¯ve been together. How can you doubt this fate of ours?¡±

    Arlianne was still silent, but had tears form on her eyes. Malachi sighed.

    ¡°In that case, let this act of mine dispel all of your doubts.¡±

    Malachi held the back of Arlianne¡¯s head as he brought each of their lips to a close. With interlocked lips, the two were alone under the moonlit sky. Alone in their immediate vicinity, but there was still a few pairs of eyes watching their every move.

    Some pairs of eyes diverted their gazes to respect their privacy, one pair of eyes did not care, but the last pair of eyes was in shock. The owner of the last pair of eyes slowly stepped backwards before turning around to run away from the area. Her exit was noted by the other eyes, and the first few gave chase. The other pair merely ignored the others before leaving as well.

    Malachi finally released Arlianne, and the girl was in a daze.

    ¡°Do you still doubt me now?¡± he asked, ¡°I could do it deeper, if you want, especially since we are totally alone now.¡±

    Arlianne stared at him for an explanation.

    ¡°We were being watched,¡± he explained, ¡°I was wondering what for. I suppose Gramps had something to do with it, but now they¡¯ve left us alone.¡±

    Suddenly, Arlianne became red again.

    ¡°Y-you did it in front of so many people, again?!¡± she cried in shame, ¡°I-I-I cannot believe you!¡±

    ¡°Haha! That¡¯s my favorite Arlianne,¡± he laughed, ¡°You¡¯re so cute when you¡¯re lively and flustered like that. Want to do it aga¡ªbuh?!¡±

    Malachi held both of Arlianne¡¯s shoulders and went in for the kill. However, due to the earlier embarrassment, Arlianne became too emotional and punched¡ªpunched, not slapped¡ªhim in the face.

    ¡°Go kiss yourself!¡± she roared, ¡°I¡¯m going on ahead!¡±

    Arlianne stomped away leaving Malachi sprawled on the ground.

    ¡°Is this what a kuudere is?¡± he wondered, ¡°Never thought I¡¯d get to experience it in real life.¡±

    Malachi sat upright and gestured someone on his left to come closer. A while after, a large beast appeared and laid down next to him. It was Shyama.

    ¡°Hey, how about you?¡± he asked it, ¡°Do you get lonely without your mate?¡±

    Shyama growled a bit, and nuzzled her head on Malachi¡¯s leg.

    ¡°Hmm, you move on pretty quick,¡± he commented, ¡°Well, let¡¯s have dinner, shall we?¡±

    Malachi walked with Shyama to the canteen.

    ¡ñ

    In a dark room, there was a girl lying on her bed and tightly hugging a pillow. Before her was the pair of broken goggles laid on the floor. In the middle of silence, her muffled cries could be heard, and the companion in her room appeared behind her.

    Her companion, a man with a prosthetic leg, sat down next to her.

    ¡°So, my little princess,¡± said her companion, ¡°What do you hope to do?¡±

    Her companion was a man, and his tone of voice had a brotherly feel to it. Taking a closer look upon his prosthetic leg, his metallic limb extended from his knee. As he waited for the girl¡¯s answer, he looked at the shining moon outside.

    ¡°I already had a hunch,¡± said the girl, ¡°But I never thought they were already that far. Was the past all a lie to them? It was natural that they wouldn¡¯t be able to recognize me since I¡¯ve hidden my identity from them for so long.¡±

    The sobbing of the girl stilled as she spoke.

    ¡°What about you,¡± she continued, ¡°What would you do in my place, Lakeng?¡±

 Skirmish 4

    Skirmish 4

    Malachi had ordered Class 13 to take a break all of a sudden. Having prepared for the usual exercises, they were stunned momentarily at the respite given to them.

    As they all filed out of the classroom, one cadet by the name of Tyler Simmons decided to go to the firing range in the armory. Even though Malachi did tell them to relax before the day of the mission, he still went out to train.

    When Tyler arrived at the firing range, there was already a familiar face of a young woman taking shots in the area. It was Rae Ramirez. Unlike her usual pep, she was thoroughly in focus as she cycled through firing her shotgun and pulling the charging handle. Her ponytail swayed wildly with each pull and every time she reloaded the shells.

    To compensate for the shotgun¡¯s limited range, all of the targets that popped up were closer to the firing stations. The targets at the very rear did not rise up at all.

    Once all the targets were down, her station lit up and she slammed the timer stop button that was recently installed. 3 minutes and 22 seconds. Rae made a frown as she was unsatisfied with her record. Eventually, she turned around and finally found Tyler watching her.

    ¡°Hey, Ty,¡± she greeted, ¡°How long have you been there?¡±

    Rae smiled when she greeted Tyler, getting her usual pep back. Tyler nodded awkwardly as he returned her greeting.

    ¡°Uh, hey,¡± he said, ¡°I, uh, I just a-arrived. S-So you thought the s-same as I did, h-huh?¡±

    Rae approached Tyler and gave him a slap on the back.

    ¡°Relax, why don¡¯tcha?¡± she said, ¡°We¡¯re all friends here. And, yeah, I figured I would spend this time shooting rather than relaxing. I¡¯m the type of person who wouldn¡¯t be able to relax when I¡¯m not moving my body.¡±

    ¡°I-I see,¡± replied Tyler, ¡°W-well, I¡¯ll just grab some guns.¡±

    Tyler approached the weapons depot and took two guns with him, along with their respective ammunition. These two guns were the most familiar types of firearms to him, despite Malachi having created them just recently. Their performances and descriptions, however, were what attracted Tyler to them in the first place. These were the shotgun and the sniper rifle.

    Rae just sat on a nearby bench to rest while also watching Tyler perform. It must be said that Rae performed better in the kill house, but she seemed to lag behind in the firing range. As for Tyler, she did know about his performance in the kill house, but this will be the first time that she will see him in the firing range.

    When Tyler arrived at his chosen station, he picked up the sniper rifle and removed the scope. This prompted Rae to ask a question.

    ¡°Hey, why¡¯dja remove the scope?¡± she asked, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be an important part of the sniper rifle?¡±

    Tyler was still loading the ammunition into the rifle when he answered.

    ¡°I, um, overheard Malachi saying something a-about building a new range for s-sniper rifles and light machineguns,¡± he explained, ¡°S-something about limited range p-preventing the sniper rifle from being maximized. Looking into the s-scope, I realized that this g-gun works the best f-from far away, e-especially since the s-scope limits the v-view to a smaller a-area. B-besides, there should b-be a reason why the s-scope is removable i-in the first place.¡±

    Tyler was correct in his assumption. In the history of Earth¡¯s warfare, the first actual sniper rifle was a military or service rifle used in the American Civil War¡ªthe British Whitworth rifle¡ªand had a scope mounted on top of its barrel. It was only during the two World Wars that sniper rifles had seen regular use, and even developed to having soldiers specialized in its use. By then, development of rifles specialized as sniper rifles had proliferated.

    One of the best examples for a service rifle-turned-sniper rifle would be the American M21. The M21 was actually a converted M14 semiautomatic battle rifle that had a scope fitted on top of it, as well as an ammunition upgrade.

    Tyler had finished loading his gun, and took aim. Moments later, the first target popped up and he, too, took his first shot. Like clockwork, as soon as the next target rose up, Tyler sent out the next shot. Only until he needed to reload did there have a silent gap in between. Even then, once he reloaded his rifle, the clockwork shooting resumed once more.

    The semiautomatic rifle¡¯s magazine could only hold 10 cartridges. This meant he had five silent gaps between each reload for a 60-target range. As soon as the last round of his sixth magazine was fired, he punched the timer stop next to him.

    Tyler had achieved a record of 1 minute and 30 seconds. His average meant that he only needed a second and a half for each target. How well would his performance be if he did not need to reload, eliminating the silent gaps?The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    Rae could only watch in awe seeing someone who could perform as well as Malachi.

    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re so good at this already,¡± she commented, ¡°Why do you still need to practice?¡±

    Tyler turned around to answer her. However, since he had just finished shooting, his expression was severe, unlike his usual shyness, and made Rae flinch in surprise. Only when Tyler took a deep breath did his face relax and return to his usual self. The contrasting personalities made Rae unsure about Tyler.

    ¡°I¡¯m not s-satisfied with just this,¡± he explained, ¡°W-when I look at Malachi, he could already perform so well d-despite being the same age as us, I-I thought that he had the t-talent to be better than any of us. But, when I heard Levi¡¯s story about their past, I thought that I h-hadn¡¯t really exerted a-as much effort.¡±

    With a bit of silence, Tyler returned his attention to the firing range. This time, he prepped his shotgun, instead. Since the loading mechanism of the shotgun was vastly different from the sniper rifle, one should expect a longer time reloading the shells.

    Moments after taking aim, the first target popped up and, like before, everything was like clockwork¡ªone target, one shell. Of course, to compensate with the shotgun¡¯s limited range, it was done the same way as Rae¡¯s turn previously. The shotgun¡¯s shell capacity was 8 rounds, giving Tyler the need to reload at most 8 times at his current performance.

    Once the last target fell, there were only 4 shells left in the shell tube. Tyler¡¯s performance ended with a record of 2 minutes and 12 seconds. This was 1 minute and 10 seconds faster than Rae¡¯s record.

    Again, Tyler frowned at his performance. He picked up his guns, left his station to return to the depot, deposited the sniper rifle, and got more shotgun shells. Tyler did not return to the firing station, but went to a nearby table and placed the box of shells on top of it.

    Rae went to Tyler to find out what he planned to do.

    ¡°Are ya gonna practice your reload speed?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Y-yeah,¡± he replied, ¡°The shotgun¡¯s r-reload action takes too much t-time, so I need to find out the b-best way to reload as fast as p-possible. When w-we¡¯re out e-exercising, I c-can¡¯t find the t-time to practice a-as much as I c-could now.¡±

    Rae stared at the box of shells on the table for a while.

    ¡°Mind if I joined ya?¡± she wondered, ¡°I think I should practice as well as ya.¡±

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t mind it,¡± he replied, ¡°I-If you¡¯d l-like, we c-could take turns u-using the same gun. I¡¯ll j-just borrow a s-stopwatch from the d-depot.¡±

    Once Tyler got a stopwatch, the two of them took turns trying to figure out the best way to reload the shotgun. Although Rae was slow in reloading the shotgun, she was able to visibly improve her reloading speed. However, since Tyler was already exceptional in this case, improvements were hard to come by. Hopefully, Malachi would be able to create a way to improve the shotgun.

    A while after,

    ¡°Why!?¡± cried Rae, ¡°Why is such a lanky guy like you so good at shooting!?

    Rae¡¯s face was already in front of Tyler, making him bend a bit backwards. Rae stared into Tyler¡¯s pair of eyes. Tyler, however, was sweating profusely and hesitated from answering in confusion.

    The results were out with Rae almost always lagging behind Tyler in one way or another. From the way they were reloading the shotgun, Tyler¡¯s hands were visibly swifter than Rae¡¯s. As for shooting, Tyler had Rae beat with his split-second reaction time.

    ¡°¡­ I¡­ well¡­¡± he stuttered, ¡°I-it¡¯s probably b-because of my dad¡­ H-he usually took me out h-hunting when the t-town was in danger from m-monsters.¡±

    Rae retreated and crossed her arms.

    ¡°Okay, but that doesn¡¯t explain your tricky fingers,¡± she argued, ¡°How can you make your fingers move like that?¡±

    When Tyler was reloading the shotgun, he found a way to hold three shells and inserting them into the tube in one go. Of course, before he achieved this, they were loading the shells individually. As for Rae, she was still loading them individually. She did try to copy how Tyler did it, but her fingers were too uncoordinated to see any result.

    Tyler looked down shyly.

    ¡°Um, well, I-I have a hobby, see¡­¡± he whispered.

    Rae smacked his back.

    ¡°Speak louder and clearly!¡± she yelled, ¡°I can¡¯t hear you!¡±

    Tyler sighed and looked up a bit.

    ¡°I-I do carving as a h-hobby,¡± he answered, ¡°I make small s-statues from time t-to time¡­¡±

    There was a bit of silence from Rae. Tyler looked down again, seemingly in shame. After a while, Rae left. Tyler, being left alone, sighed again and returned his attention to the guns on the table. Once he picked up the first shell, though, Rae returned and placed two items on the table.

    ¡°Show me,¡± she said.

    What Rae placed down were a small knife and a block of wood. Tyler stared at Rae momentarily.

    ¡°If you¡¯re wondering where I got those, the armory has a lot more junk than you think,¡± she said smiling with her tongue out, ¡°Now, show me those fingers.¡±

    Tyler blinked multiple times for a bit before grabbing the knife and the block of wood.

    The block of wood was a 10cm cube. Tyler inspected the block for a bit before carving out the first piece. As for Rae, being the person responsible for having Tyler show her his skill, sat down on a nearby chair. Little by little, a rough form was starting to be seen from the block.

    About 30 minutes in, Rae was showing signs of impatience. Her left leg was repeatedly shaking up and down as she watched Tyler. Tyler noticed this, though, and took a break from his carving.

    ¡°Um, i-if you can¡¯t wait¡­¡± he said.

    ¡°Eh, don¡¯t mind me,¡± she interrupted, ¡°This is just an old habit.¡±

    ¡°I-I see.

    After a few more minutes, Rae could already recognize what he was trying to carve. The figure was seated and was womanly. Inspecting further, with how the figure was seated, there was only one model possible.

    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re carving me, arent¡¯cha?¡± she voiced.

    Tyler stopped his hands.

    ¡°Well, I u-usually have a model,¡± he explained, ¡°A-and, well, y-you wanted me to carve something, s-so I, uh¡­¡±

    Rae leaned forward and smiled at him.

    ¡°Well, make sure ya make me pretty, aight?¡± she advised, ¡°Ya really are good with your hands.¡±

    With Rae¡¯s smile, Tyler¡¯s heart skipped a bit. He looked down impatiently and tried to finish his work. Fortunately, he did not cut himself because of a trivial mistake.

 Skirmish 5

    Skirmish 5

    Since Class 13 was given a sudden break and Malachi had left with Arlianne to the armory, the Eskurs of Class 13 were together talking about what to do. These Eskurs, unlike the Perlasians, often come together for each possible moment¡ªwith the exception of Malachi, being a half in the first place; though that ¡®half-ness¡¯ may not have something to do with his lineage, but his inherent personality.

    Levi, Isaac, Reuben, Dinah, and Genevieve were still in the classroom while all the others had left.

    ¡°A break,¡± said Isaac, ¡°How nostalgic.¡±

    Isaac was grinning as he spoke. He had a rather boorish appearance for an Eskur and towered over the other Eskurs being 1.98 meters tall at 28 years old. The average male Eskur height was around 1.8 meters, with females being a bit shorter at 1.73; this also makes Malachi shorter than most at 1.78 meters. Since Issac has also been using steam knights, he was fairly more muscular compared to the others. He also had, like Malachi, eyes that give off a dazzling glow of sharpness and determination.

    ¡°The last time we ever had a break was before Young Master came,¡± commented Genevieve, ¡°Hmhm, I never would have expected that a Skaria would have made such a comeback.¡±

    Genevieve was one of the three senior Eskurs in Class 13, along with Reuben and Isaac. Being one of the elder Eskurs in the Academy, she had an elder sisterly aura that surrounded her at her age of 24 years old. She was only 1.75 meters tall, a bit above the average, and had a lithe body. Although her eyes droop a bit, one could never mistake the hidden sharpness that occasionally appears from the corners of her eyes.

    ¡°Still, is it right to take a break so soon?¡± wondered Reuben, ¡°I would rather take this time to prepare for the coming mission with the Hell Worm.¡±

    Reuben appeared to be the most average between the two other elders. He was only 1.78 meters tall, as tall as Malachi, but he had a comparably lean body. His eyes, despite seemingly shadowed by uncertainty, betrays his often resolute demeanor when executing tasks¡ªoften given by Malachi. While some non-Eskurs would have some degree of difficulty in identifying other Eskurs, Reuben was easily identifiable with his gold ear piercings.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m still glad we got a break,¡± commented Dinah, ¡°I don¡¯t know how long I could hold out from all that running¡­¡±

    Dinah was sprawled out on her desk. Being one of the newcomers with Levi, she was naturally unused to the strenuous exercises Malachi had them do¡ªcompared to the ordinary drillings the other classes do, of course. Who, in their right mind, would let loose a beast just to make people run laps? At a young age of 15 years old, the same as Malachi, she always wore a cheerful expression with her round and lively eyes¡ªan expression she only shows to the same race, or when panicked, which still made her cute for her height at 1.63 meters.

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± sighed Levi.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    Stoic as usual, Levi was deep in thought with closed eyes compared to the rest. Even though he was still young at 16 years old, his perpetually furrowed brows make him seem older than that. Especially with his narrowed eyes and eternal frown, one would think that he would was more mature compared to others of his age cohort. It does not even help as he was 1.73 meters tall with a lean body similar to Reuben¡¯s. His stubbornness, however, betrayed that calm fa?ade as could be seen when interacting with Malachi.

    ¡°What¡¯s up with you?¡± asked Isaac.

    Levi opened his eyes.

    ¡°I still can¡¯t come to terms that the family living in that house was Skaria¡¯s,¡± he answered, ¡°Our tiny village actually housed the last members of that clan.¡±

    Dinah perked up.

    ¡°Oh, yeah, you lived in the same village,¡± she voiced, ¡°This was the one nearest to Rhiamalka, right? How was Young Master back then?¡±

    Levi shrugged.

    ¡°He hasn¡¯t changed a bit,¡± he commented, ¡°What you see before you now, is what he was like when I saw him in the past. He was ridiculous, preposterous, but very charismatic and seemingly mysterious.¡±

    Levi leaned back on his chair, letting one arm hang off the backrest.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see, I almost always see him and Arlianne run off to the village furnace,¡± he recollected, ¡°And almost always heard the screaming wrath of Lady Bashia by dusk. Then it would repeat like that by the next day. Hmm, although I did say ¡®screaming wrath,¡¯ Lady Bashia was still composed like nothing happened the day before. Now that I think about it, there was one other Eskur living with them. Ibrahim, he was called, if I recall correctly.¡±

    Suddenly, Isaac perked up and darted his eye towards Levi. No one noticed this, and they all continued listening to Levi.

    ¡°He was a doctor, or so the scent of medicinal substances that waft through their windows tell me,¡± continued Levi, ¡°Other than that, he rarely shows himself unless they were to go to the city to buy goods. Hmm, that¡¯s right, I recall his clan name.¡±

    This time, Levi sat upright and turned to Isaac.

    ¡°Isaac, you¡¯re a Skrima, right?¡± he asked, ¡°This doctor, Ibrahim, was called Skrima as well. Are the two of you related?¡±

    Isaac sighed as he massaged the back of his head.

    ¡°I was wondering about that when you mentioned his name and occupation,¡± he replied, ¡°Once you said the clan name, I finally became certain of it. So that¡¯s where my father went.¡±

    Levi was surprised.

    ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t expect that,¡± he commented, ¡°So he did have a family. I was curious since there was always a pair of visitors who would visit, and Lady Bashia would lovingly embrace one of them despite living with another man.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, so your father went into service under Skaria,¡± said Reuben, ¡°Say, I¡¯ve heard that Clan Skrima was a clan of doctors. Why weren¡¯t you one?¡±

    Isaac frowned.

    ¡°I never had the aptitude for it,¡± he grudgingly answered, ¡°My other clansmen were all exceptional when concocting medicine, and father was one of the best. Even though he treats us all equally well, my inability to meet his expectations kept a scar in my heart. One day, he said that he will be leaving for a while. A while, but he never came back. I thought he gave up on me. To think he would go under a Skaria, this sort of honor shouldn¡¯t be withheld from the rest of the clan.¡±

    Genevieve placed her hand on Isaac¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Maybe he had a reason for not telling any of you,¡± she consoled, ¡°If we ask, maybe Young Master would allow you to meet him again¡±

    Isaac gazed at Genevieve.

    ¡°I hope so,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to know why he left a decade ago.¡±

 Got any questions?

    While I don''t have a chapter yet, got any questions for the story? I may be able to answer some through a skirmish (side story, since it should be better that way rather than an outright Q&A). Do note that I may not be able to answer most, if not all, of your questions if it potentially spoils the story.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    If it will result to numerous skirmishes, I won''t be writing and releasing them all at once.

 Skrimish 6

    Skirmish 6

    Patrick Bryant went for his room in the dormitories. The guards assigned there were surprised to see him, and some others, out of class.

    ¡°Skaria.¡± He only said one word before continuing inside.

    The guards, of course, did not understand what he meant and began asking the others why. Only when the other cadets of Class 13 explained the situation did the guards calm down. They, too, knew who Malachi was as they were under Eleazar himself. Although, the sudden understanding gained by the guards became a strange sight for the other cadets; why were they accepting it immediately?

    Nevertheless, they had the thought leave their minds. It was their first break since meeting Malachi, after all, and they would not want their minds to be fatigued looking for answers that may never be revealed to them.

    As soon as Patrick passed through his room¡¯s doorway and closed the door, he sat on a chair by his desk and closed his eyes. His room, typical for a cadet but reminiscent of a middle-aged man¡¯s atmosphere and tidiness, was dimly lit by pyrocite lamps. There was a bookshelf and other homely furniture, and all of these were provided by the academy. At the very least, it was different from the shared rooms for the other cadets that came from common backgrounds, and it gave its tenant some privacy.

    Yes, the dormitories had private rooms and shared rooms, and they were segregated by their class. Cadets and cadettes with noble backgrounds had private rooms, especially for royalty like Alexa who had specialized accommodations, and those with common backgrounds, like Tyler Simmons, shared rooms with others.

    On his desk was a grayscale photo of his younger self with a group of other young men and women. He and the others were all well-dressed, akin to what one might expect from nobility, and surrounded an elderly woman who sat on a chair. Each one was smiling at the camera.

    In the photo, he had well-groomed and very short hair compared to his present chin-length hair that was also evenly parted to both sides. His past self also brimmed with youthful vigor and brilliance, but now the bags of his eyes were heavy and his face had unshaven stubble.

    Patrick heaved a long sigh then opened his eyes. He reached for the photo on his desk, brought it closer, and stared at it for a long while.

    ¡°What do I do now?¡± he said heavily, ¡°My enemy¡­ our enemy is right before my eyes, yet I am filled with doubt. Is he truly one born from those who ruined us, who destroyed our lives?¡±

    Speaking to the photo, as though waiting for an answer, silence enveloped the room.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    ¡°The Eskurs in the class, before he came, I was able to tolerate,¡± he continued, ¡°but him¡­ he had the gall to join hands with his clan¡¯s enemy. Join hands, and even empower¡­ the¡­ victor¡­?¡±

    Patrick realized something strange. He looked up from the photo momentarily, and leaned back.

    ¡°Why would a Skaria help the Kingdom of Perlas?¡± he wondered, ¡°Even the weapons he brought with him were far too spectacular compared to the weapons they¡¯ve used years ago.¡±

    No matter how much he thought about it, he could not come to a conclusion. He thought about the previous king¡¯s, Eleazar¡¯s, post-war declaration regarding the treatment of Eskurs, but that should not give enough reason for Malachi to serve the kingdom all too wholeheartedly.

    Although, he did notice one thing since he first met Malachi.

    ¡°Why was the Headmaster so eager to incorporate all of his ideas in the first place?¡± another question popped into his head. ¡°This should be the first time they¡¯ve met or, rather, the first time would be receiving their class assignments from him.¡±

    The more he sought for an answer, newer questions further appeared. Patrick raised his two-meter tall self from his seat and went to his window. Through the window, he gazed at the vast expanse of the arid region where the academy was located as he stroked his beard.

    ¡°I wonder if the others noticed this incongruity.¡±

    <hr>

    Samantha Cuevas, one of the few cadettes in Class 13 who was a senior, went to the library. Within, she looked around and found no one in sight¡ªnot even Clara.

    ¡°Is it really empty?¡± she whispered, ¡°Eep?!¡±

    As a precaution, she scanned the interior of the library and the corridor behind her. When she heard a noise, she fearfully looked back and only saw a patrolling guard drop his saber at one end of the corridor. Fortunately, the guard continued his patrol away from where Samantha was once he picked the saber up.

    She continued inside the library after a breath of relief.

    With just the sound of her steps accompanying her, she went to a bookshelf and pulled out a thick¡ªincomparably thick¡ªbook from one of the lower shelves. This book did not have a title, but its spine was frayed in numerous areas. Opening it revealed pages of pure text.

    She flipped page after page, without stopping, until she came upon the first blank page. She went to a nearby table, hidden among the shelves, and sat down while keeping the book opened with one hand. Afterwards, she pulled out a pen and began writing on the book.

    Without making another sound, she wrote and wrote on the book, page after page. A clock on the wall had already struck twice before she finally lifted the pen from the page. She had been writing continuously for two hours, and only after that she replaced her pen and closed the book.

    ¡°That was good.¡± She commented. Samantha leaned back against the chair and stretched her arms, and looked at the clock for the time. ¡°It¡¯s too early for lunch; I¡¯ll just rest for the time being.¡±

    Leaving her seat, Samantha returned to the bookshelf and replaced the book where it was taken from. Looking around her surroundings, she was still alone and was satisfied with her privacy. Taking one last look around the library, she eventually left and went for the dormitories.

    As she left, however, a shadow dropped down from the ceiling. It was a male soldier, one of many who worked beneath Clara and, ultimately, Eleazar.

    ¡°What did she write this time?¡± he wondered.

    The soldier took the very same book Samantha wrote in and flipped past the many pages. However, unlike Samantha, he stopped where she started writing and began reading what was written.

    ¡°Oh, quite imaginative,¡± he commented, ¡°I see, I see.¡±

    The soldier passed the time reading the contents of the book.

 Campaign 15

    Campaign 15

    Over the vast arid region of the Ashan continent, many gigantic monsters ruled the less human-populated areas. Yet, from time to time, lone monsters tend to stray into human territories. The Kingdom of Perlas¡¯ territories were few examples. As long as there was a big enough distance between one town or city to the next, one should always remember the dangers of travelling without protection could bring.

    On this day, in particular, a large monster was chasing after its prey. The monster was a few meters tall, but its entire body was over three dozen meters long. Its body, entirely covered in jet-black chitin, was supported by eight massive chitinous legs and had four menacing forward limbs that dug through earth and smashed through solid rock.

    Its head had an equally massive incisor-like beak that could also slice through anything it held, and a pair of large golden eyes that glimmered under the rays of the sun. Suddenly, it opened its beak and let out a roar that reverberated through the air, making the dust on the ground get blown away.

    The prey that it was chasing looked back for a moment before increasing its speed. It was a young man wearing a battle dress, but he was running away as fast as he was being chased. Ordinarily, it would not be possible, but this young man was special¡ªin a way¡ªthat he was chanting a string of words as he gasped for breath.

    ¡°GONNADIEGONNADIEGONNADIEGONNADIE¡ªhup!¡±

    It was Malachi. He vaulted over a large boulder that he ran across and continued running. For a moment, he looked back, only to see the monster effortlessly smash the boulder to smithereens.

    ¡°I¡¯MDEADI¡¯MDEADI¡¯MDEADI¡¯MDEAD¡ªmaybe I should sing?¡±

    As he wondered what he should do, let us go back a few hours earlier to see how this happened in the first place.

    <hr>

    It was the day after their break and the day they were about to deploy for their mission in their classroom. One half of the class was refreshed due to the break given yesterday, but the other half was not as well-rested due to using their time for training. Nevertheless, when it came to Malachi, rest did not matter as he was always eager to get things done.

    Malachi stood in front of his class in full battle attire like the rest. Compared to the usual cadet uniform, their battle dress was similar to the battle dress used by the Royal Army, but had different insignias to identify their affiliation. With a smile plastered on his face, Malachi began the briefing with incomparable glee.

    ¡°Mission objective: capture the Hell Worm,¡± he announced, ¡°The Hell Worm was sighted thirty¡ª¡°

    Naturally, many cadets did not take kindly to the sudden change in objectives as few voiced out their complaints.

    ¡°Capture?! The Hell are saying?!¡± said one cadet, ¡°Do you even know how difficult it is to scratch the damned thing, let alone disable its movements?!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! How the Hell do we know you¡¯re not sending us out to our deaths?!¡± voiced another, ¡°That¡¯s your plan, isn¡¯t it!? Your aim is to weaken our potential so you could take full control of everything!¡±

    Bang!

    ¡°Ugh!?¡±

    Malachi shot one cadet¡¯s leg with a handgun.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to attend the mission, feel free to take a bullet to your leg,¡± he warned, ¡°Even with one less soldier, I aim to succeed even if I just take the engineers with me. Now, if you don¡¯t want credits, you¡¯re also free to spend the rest of the week in the infirmary.¡±

    Right after that, the door to the corridor burst open and a number of guards and faculty barged inside.

    ¡°We heard a gunshot!¡± roared a guard, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?!¡±

    Malachi faced the guard with his blood red eyes.

    ¡°It was a warning shot,¡± he explained, ¡°A warning shot with a bit of pain and blood to make a point.¡±

    A faculty with a ponytail stepped forward.

    ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean you could circumvent protocol, Malachi!¡± argued Carlos, ¡°There are proper procedures for this!¡±

    Malachi sighed.

    ¡°Then take it up with the Headmaster,¡± he said, ¡°He did give me full discretion with this mission¡¯s execution¡ªand a lot of other things. If no one wants to take part in my plans, they should be satisfied with a failing grade, and failure is unacceptable¡ªespecially if they keep pestering me with the greatness of being a Perlasian when they can¡¯t even provide me with exceptional results.¡±

    Malachi returned his attention to the class.

    ¡°That said, failure to capture the Hell Worm alive will fail this entire mission,¡± he declared, ¡°Each one of us¡ªincluding myself¡ªwill fail the mission. Then, everybody will prepare for a punishment exercise¡ªa thirty-kilometer jog all the way back to base under the unforgiving heat of the sun with bullets in our legs. Since the Eskurs and I heal fairly quickly, both legs will be shot.¡±

    The faculty and guards present could not believe what they just heard come out of his mouth. A guard went close to Carlos to whisper in his ear.

    ¡°What do we do, sir?¡± asked the guard, ¡°The cadet that got shot is from well-known nobility.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t say,¡± replied Carlos, ¡°It is true that His Highness gave Malachi full power to exercise in this mission, but this falls outside any of our known protocols. Go to His Highness for his opinion.¡±

    The guard saluted and left the classroom. Outside, a crowd of other cadets had already formed due to the number of faculty standing guard and attempting to disperse the onlookers.

    Malachi turned his attention to the faculty and guards.

    ¡°Well? What are you waiting for?¡± he asked them, ¡°Bring this guy to the infirmary, unless you want him to bleed to death.¡±

    Malachi pointed at the cadet who was now on the floor, trying to stop his leg from bleeding further by covering it with his hands. By then, two guards went inside and applied first-aid before lifting the cadet out of the classroom to the infirmary. As the cadet was carried out, Malachi had a frown as they passed by him.

    ¡°Pathetic.¡± He whispered; a whisper that did not go unnoticed by the aggrieved.

    The cadet shot a glare at Malachi, but Malachi sent a more intense glare back, seemingly burning through the cadet¡¯s very being as the aggrieved flinched much worse than when he was in pain. Once the wounded cadet was gone, Malachi looked back to his classmates.

    ¡°Let¡¯s have an incentive,¡± he added, ¡°If the capture is a success, everybody will have a two-day break. That should be enough time to recuperate any of your losses before we start killing your old selves again.¡±

    Once there was a good thing to come out of his mouth, the remaining cadets reacted. Who would not want to have a break from Malachi¡¯s mad schemes? Only those who wish to push their humanity to the limit, of course. As for Malachi, he was not ordinary to begin with.

    Carlos covered his face with a palm and groaned, then turned back to the other faculty and guards.

    ¡°Disperse that crowd outside and return to your duties,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯ll stay here and wait for His Highness¡¯s decision and to prevent another cadet from being shot.¡±

    ¡°Teach, even if you prevent them from getting shot here, who is to say that I won¡¯t shoot them out there?¡± said Malachi. Naturally, he heard that last part. ¡°Besides, if we do fail this mission, I¡¯m shooting both of my legs after shooting theirs.¡±

    Carlos looked at Arlianne. The girl was still expressionless.

    ¡°Even Arlianne?¡± he wondered.

    Hearing her name, everybody looked at Malachi, but the young man did not falter.

    ¡°No exceptions.¡±

    After a while, the guard that went to Eleazar had returned. For better or for worse, Carlos prepared himself to hear the answer.

    ¡°Er, how do I say this,¡± mumbled the guard, ¡°His Highness just flipped a coin and decided there.¡±

    Carlos was stunned. Eleazar flipped a coin to decide Malachi¡¯s fate, rather than using logic and reason to arrive at a decision. Nevertheless, Carlos urged the guard to continue.

    ¡°Malachi will be detained for one day after this mission,¡± continued the guard, ¡°He said, ¡®It was my responsibility for giving him authority, to begin with; a proper punishment, but not too harsh that I would be pushing the blame onto him. I¡¯ll just pay for reparations if that kid¡¯s family comes barging in here in the future.¡¯¡±

    ¡°He flipped a coin, right? Then what was the other choice?¡± asked Carlos.

    ¡°His Highness won¡¯t act,¡± answered the guard, ¡°He will only stay silent about it, and have Malachi run free.¡±

    Carlos scratched his head.

    ¡°What a problematic Royal Family we have¡­¡±

    ?

    ¡°Now then, where was I?¡±

    Malachi picked up from where he was interrupted in the briefing.

    ¡°Right, the Hell Worm was sighted near a town 30 kilometers east from here,¡± he explained, ¡°It made a nest in a nearby canyon. So far, the scouts have yet to see any activity this past week until they went deeper into the canyon. Due to their encroachment upon the Hell Worm¡¯s nest, the target had gone berserk and decimated half the scouting party, putting the entire region at full alert. This was six hours ago.¡±

    Malachi unfurled a map that revealed the area of operation¡¯s geography.

    ¡°We will be setting up a base next to the mouth of the canyon,¡± he continued, ¡°Once that¡¯s set up, I will take three people with me, forming a fire-team, to scout the Hell Worm¡¯s whereabouts.¡±

    He looked at his classmates.

    ¡°Levi, Mr. Bryant, and Ms. Ramirez, you three are coming with me,¡± he announced, ¡°The three of you are always the last people running during the laps. I need people with high stamina for the worst case scenario while we scout.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Levi nodded in silence, and Rae energetically replied. However, Patrick did not react with hostility to being called. Instead, he nodded in agreement, surprising many of the others to his changed attitude.

    ¡°Huh? I thought you¡¯d refuse,¡± wondered Malachi, ¡°Why the change of heart?¡±

    Patrick averted his gaze.

    ¡°No need for you to know.¡± He said.

    Malachi shrugged and resumed the briefing.

    ¡°All right, as long as you follow orders. Next,¡± he continued, ¡°While we¡¯re out looking for the target, coordinate with Arlianne and the engineers to set up an ambush with the tank destroyer. We will be aiming for the target¡¯s legs to neutralize its movements. Mr. Simmons, I¡¯ll have you look for a good sniping position to watch the surrounding area.¡±

    Tyler nodded.

    ¡°Once you¡¯ve found a good spot, feel free to get rid of hindrances that may affect the mission success rate,¡± added Malachi, ¡°I mean that you can get rid of any other monster that strays into the area that you may deem as dangerous. One shot from the sniper rifle should do the trick.¡±

    Tyler nodded nervously. Rae went behind him and slapped his back.

    ¡°Ya should relax a bit!¡± she said, ¡°I mean, at least you¡¯re on lookout.¡±

    ¡°Uh, y-yeah,¡± replied Tyler.

    Malachi glanced at the two before continuing the briefing.

    ¡°Once we¡¯ve found where the target is, we will attempt to lure it to the ambush area,¡± he said, ¡°Be sure to notify us where you¡¯re all waiting, otherwise I¡¯ll be shooting your legs as promised. Now, just in case things go awry, we will have a backup plan. If the ambush fails, and everybody becomes compromised, you will all retreat and regroup. We will still aim to capture the target, but we will no longer keep it as intact as possible. Set up another ambush to destroy a part of its body. If it comes to this, however, everyone will still be jogging back to the academy, but without the bullets to our legs.¡±

    Just then, a cadette raised her hand. It was Samantha.

    ¡°How will we be transporting the Hell Worm if we do capture it?¡± she asked, ¡°The target will be as large as one would expect. We won¡¯t be carrying something dangerous, right?¡±

    Malachi smiled.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got that covered.¡±

    ?

    Once everybody was certain of their plan, Malachi led them out of their classroom and brought them to the gates. Carlos was with them, of course, and would personally see them off. When they arrived at the gates, they were greeted by their engineers, the tank destroyer, and another five vehicles.

    The five other vehicles strongly resembled one of the vehicles Malachi designed. However, there two differences. None of the new vehicles have any weapons, and each one was 8 meters long. Due to its length, it was supported by a massive engine that also drove 28 wheels.

    ¡°What in the world are those?¡± wondered a cadet.

    ¡°Platform trucks,¡± answered Malachi, ¡°They¡¯re a smaller and more lightweight version of the trucks you¡¯ve all used, making them faster. The engine is the same that we use for siege engines, so the output will be greater. Asher, I assume you¡¯re all ready to go?¡±

    Malachi called out to a tall Eskur who was coordinating with the other engineers. Being called by Malachi, he responded from afar.

    ¡°Yes, milord!¡± he replied, ¡°All vehicles are prepped and ready to deploy!¡±

    Malachi looked back at his classmates.

    ¡°We will be using one to transport the tank, and another to carry us.¡± He explained. Malachi pointed at the tank destroyer that was being driven up a ramp that was lowered behind one of the trucks. ¡°The rest will be used to transport the Hell Worm once we¡¯ve captured it. Ah, right, I almost forgot.¡±

    Malachi approached Tyler with a box and a crossbow.

    ¡°Here, you¡¯re the better shot among all the others, so I¡¯ll trust you to use them wisely.¡± He said, ¡°These are drugged bolts. If you get a chance, shoot the target with it, provided you can get through its armor. These should put it to sleep for a long while.¡±

    Tyler received the box and opened it. Inside were crossbow bolts with 8-gauge needles¡ªaround 4mm thick¡ªwith special casings that contained the drugs. The size of the needles sent chills down the spines of everyone present.

    ¡°This crossbow is a bit different, though,¡± added Malachi, ¡°It¡¯s a pneumatic crossbow that also uses air pressure to increase its power. Use the lever to pump it with air, and then use it like an ordinary crossbow. Watch the gauge, though, and don¡¯t let it rupture.¡±

    After Tyler put the box in his backpack, he took the crossbow from Malachi. Compared to the old crossbows, this one had added weight due to the additional parts and lengthened body. Tyler tested out the crossbow, and could hear the air shooting out a pipe where the bolts would go through.

    ¡°This is nice,¡± commented Tyler without stuttering.

    ¡°Looks like you can speak without fumbling your words, huh?¡± commented Malachi, ¡°Well, do a good job and I might exempt you from some exercises. With that out of the way, board the trucks and let¡¯s move out!¡±

    <hr>

    With the speed they were driving with, they easily arrived at their destination in just an hour. Once everyone disembarked from the trucks, they set up their base, and Malachi took Levi, Patrick and Rae with him to scout the canyon. As for the rest, they followed the plan and looked for a place to ambush the Hell Worm. Tyler was able to immediately locate a high point where he could watch the surroundings from any direction, and prepared to set up an overwatch.

    As Malachi brought his team with him, he tutored them on how to scout for a target.

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s have some lessons on scouting and patrolling,¡± he said mid-jog, ¡°It¡¯s a good thing we¡¯re just monster hunting, and won¡¯t be dealing with human foes. Humans are much more troublesome since you can expect them to think the same way as you do.¡±

    Malachi turned back and jogged backwards.

    ¡°Now then, the three of you will form a horizontal line with me.¡± He said. Malachi looked at both sides of the canyon. ¡°The canyon seems to be around 10 meters wide, so we will maintain a distance of 2.5 meters from one another and fan the area. Next, try your best to keep quiet as you move through the terrain.¡±

    Levi, Patrick, and Rae did as they were told, and were able to form a line. They had a bit of difficulty trying to maintain equidistance from one another, but it was manageable. Malachi returned forward and glanced at the ground. One step after another, his footsteps noticeably got more and more inaudible.

    ¡°Watch the ground you¡¯re traversing. Make sure you don¡¯t step on any loose soil, gravel, or anything that would make noise once you step on it. It is indeed difficult, but you can do it with practice. The best places to step on to would be solid rock, and the arid regions are the best place for us. Oh, and make sure you don¡¯t kick a rock.¡±

    Just when he warned them, Rae accidentally sent a small rock flying with her foot. The rock flew in a high arc before landing noisily on the ground.

    ¡°Freeze!¡± ordered Malachi with a raised fist, ¡°Keep it quiet and watch the surroundings. Look for any movement from the canyon walls, the ground, and the paths.¡±

    The other three tensed up as their eyes darted from one location to another. Malachi calmly assessed their surroundings. Seeing that nothing was amiss, he finally lowered his fist.

    ¡°Right, that¡¯s what I was saying,¡± he continued, ¡°Watch your feet, if you can help it.¡±

    He watched the other three¡¯s movements for a while before resuming the jog.

    ¡°By the way, try keeping your bodies close to the ground,¡± he advised, ¡°Lower your bodies a bit as you move. As for your feet, make sure your heels come into contact first, and then roll towards your toes before your next step. Keep them in contact with the ground as much as possible; you can move your hips around to help you with control.¡±

    The three with him wondered what he meant by that and tested it out. Trying to achieve the utmost silence, Levi, Patrick, and Rae spent a bit of time before they got the hang of it. As for Malachi, he only gave pointers on where and how to move, not minding the passage of time.

    ¡°Keep your arms close as you move. I know it is difficult while carrying a gun, but that is what the slings are for. Holster your weapon for a bit, and then try moving silently again¡­ that¡¯s right. Lower your body a bit. Okay, that¡¯s enough. Next, try moving.¡±

    They spent half an hour trying to move silently. Only then Patrick noticed that they got carried away.

    ¡°Skaria! We¡¯re taking too much time, here!¡± he cried, ¡°We still have a job to do!¡±

    Malachi shrugged.

    ¡°Hey, at least you guys learned something new,¡± he commented, ¡°All right, let¡¯s go.¡±

    ?

    Eventually, they chanced upon a cave. Its mouth was big enough for two siege engines to pass through side by side, and it was deep enough that none of them could see within without any lighting. Malachi dropped down and observed the floor, walls, and ceiling of the cave.

    ¡°Say, could any of you see anything that may mark this place as a nest?¡± He asked. Malachi scanned the surfaces for anything that could give away the cave¡¯s purpose.

    After a few minutes, Levi pointed at something on the ground.

    ¡°I see some scratch marks over there,¡± he shared, ¡°Looks pretty deep, too.¡±

    Curious, Malachi entered the cave and pulled out a handheld device. It had a button on its side, and he pressed it, revealing a bright light from one end.

    ¡°Is that a pyrocite lamp?¡± wondered Rae, ¡°But, it seems a bit too bright for pyrocite.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a flashlight,¡± answered Malachi without looking back, ¡°You can think of it as an electrocite lamp. It was pure luck for me that tungsten existed here.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s tungsten?¡± asked Patrick, ¡°Is that another creation of yours?¡±

    Malachi was still observing the scratch marks Levi found.

    ¡°No, Asher and the rest procured it from the Eqari merchants,¡± he explained, ¡°It seems that some imperials discovered it and was used for many similar devices. Hmm, seems like these scratch marks are tracks instead. Let¡¯s go deeper and maintain complete silence. I have no idea what will come out of here.¡±

    Malachi led his team deeper into the cave while lighting up their surroundings with the flashlight. Each step was given the utmost care, and the other three had their bodies tense up due to their vigilance. With the flash light in hand, Malachi was also carefully scanning each nook and cranny he could find with the light. Finally, after a few minutes of searching, they ended up in a wide open area.

    ¡°This is most likely its home,¡± advised Malachi, ¡°Watch yourselves as you move about looking for the target.¡±

    Malachi and his team delved deeper into the wide area until¡­

    ¡°Huh?!¡±

    Malachi stepped on a slippery surface and slipped.

    ¡°Damn!¡±

    He tried to regain his balance and control, but the surface was too slippery and he landed on something soft and squishy. Malachi went straight into the squishy substance, and was completely covered in slime from head to toe.

    ¡°Eww, what in all Hells is this?¡± he wondered as he stood up, ¡°It stinks¡­ too¡­ oh¡­ CRAP!¡±

    As his eyes finally focused, he directed his flashlight at something before him. It had a shiny black surface that reflected the rays of the flashlight, and a pair of golden orb-like protrusions. Malachi was calmly observing what he found, until the pair of golden orb-like protrusions shivered and raised high in the air.

    ¡°Aw, to hell with this!¡± he bellowed, ¡°FULL RETREAT! GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE, NOW!¡±

    Turning around, Malachi grabbed hold of his companions and pushed them towards where they came from. The others, still confused why, were handed the flashlight to see what they were supposedly running away from.

    A roar suddenly erupted from behind them, and a pair of golden orbs could be seen chasing after them.

    ¡°Hell Worm?!¡± cried Rae, ¡°We need to radio the others we found it!¡±

    ¡°You guys deal with that!¡± roared Malachi, ¡°I just screwed myself up!¡±

    ¡°The hell do you mean by that?!¡± cried Levi, ¡°And why the hell are you covered in goo?!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the thing! I landed in its eggs!¡± cried Malachi back, ¡°This thing is pissed off with all its fury!¡±

    Out of the blue, their radios came to life. It was Arlianne.

    ¡°Ma¡ªchi the ¡ªsh ¡ªea¡ª¡° The signal was too weak to clearly understand what she was saying. Still, they all understood that the ambush was ready. The only problem was they did not hear where it was placed.

    ¡°Rae, sprint towards the exit and contact the others!¡± ordered Malachi, ¡°Levi, Mr. Bryant, split away from me and go back into the nest! Get rid of all its eggs while I lure it away!¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding me?!¡± roared Patrick, ¡°You want me to work with him?!¡±

    ¡°I could say the same, Malachi!¡± agreed Levi, ¡°I tolerated this team because of you, not because of a chance at reconciliation!¡±

    ¡°Why you little¡ª¡± bit Patrick back.

    Bang!

    Malachi loosed a round.

    ¡°Do the two of you want me to shoot the both of you and leave you for dead?!¡± he bellowed, ¡°NOW, FOLLOW MY ORDERS OR I WILL PERSONALLY END YOUR STRIFE!¡±

    Patrick gritted his teeth as he glared at Levi, while Levi ignored him completely.

    ¡°MOVE IT, YOU LITTLE SHITS!¡± roared Malachi.

    He grabbed the two by their collars with surprising strength, stunning Levi and leaving Patrick in silence, and threw the two away from the Hell Worm¡¯s path of carnage. As for Rae, seeing that Malachi was hell bent on luring the Hell Worm away, she sprinted as fast as she could to the exit. Once she could see the light of the outside, she made a hard left after getting out and slammed her back on the canyon wall.

    Moments later, Malachi shot outside like a bullet, and was followed by the rampaging Hell Worm that smashed through solid rock.

 Campaign 16

    Campaign 16

    While Malachi and his team went out in search for the Hell Worm, back at base camp, Arlianne led the rest of Class 13 to set up the ambush. Class 13 was gathered around a desk with an unfurled map. With them were their engineers who were waiting next to the tank destroyer parked nearby.

    ¡°Luckily for us, this canyon only has a few branching paths,¡± commented Arlianne, ¡°Anybody here familiar with setting up an ambush?¡±

    She looked around and saw no one responded to her inquiry.

    ¡°Then, the first thing to look for is a possible choke-point,¡± she continued, ¡°This will be any location that will make it difficult for the target to navigate around. It could be a bend along a path, an uphill road, or a wide open space that funnels into a tight corridor.¡±

    Arlianne slid her finger across the map of the canyon, searching for possible choke-points.

    ¡°From where we are, here are three possible locations.¡± She said. Arlianne took out a pen and encircled three locations on the map. ¡°Each one is within a kilometer from our present location, and will be easy to reinforce in the case things go awry.¡±

    There, a cadette raised her hand.

    ¡°Yes, Ms Cuevas?¡± responded Arlianne.

    ¡°Then, considering the Hell Worm¡¯s capabilities,¡± said Samantha, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to set the ambush here?¡±

    Samantha pointed at a completely different location than what Arlianne found. In fact, it was no longer a path, but a wide open space. However, the strange thing was, the location was an urban area.

    ¡°Care to explain, Ms. Cuevas?¡± urged Arlianne.

    ¡°The Hell Worm is well-known for being able to dig through the earth, right?¡± explained Samantha, ¡°All of the areas you¡¯ve suggested actually have soft soil. This will make it easy for the Hell Worm to escape. This area was once a mining town, and its area was heavily reinforced against monsters.¡±

    ¡°How do you know this?¡± asked a cadet, ¡°You couldn¡¯t possibly have been here before.¡±

    ¡°On the contrary, I have,¡± she argued, ¡°I used to live around here, back when the mining town was fully-operational. You should know the Cuevas Mining Firm, right? We used to own the place.¡±

    Voices of admiration came from each of her classmates.

    ¡°But now, we¡¯ve abandoned the area since the deposits have already gone empty,¡± she continued, ¡°Though, I¡¯m pretty sure some of our equipment have been left behind. It has only been a year since then, after all.¡±

    Arlianne nodded.

    ¡°Then let us set up there,¡± she announced, ¡°Everyone, move out!¡±

    <hr>

    When Class 13 had arrived at the mining town, Arlianne immediately have a few people follow Samantha to check the warehouses.

    ¡°Since this was a mining town, look for some explosives we could use,¡± she said, ¡°We can use it to trap its legs.¡±

    Samantha led a small team of cadets plus an engineer, Felix, to check around the warehouses. Meanwhile, Tyler was relocated from the base camp to a nearby tower as a lookout. The only ones left behind in the base camp were the trucks and the engineers who would not be piloting the tank destroyer: Asher, Garret, Olivia, Margaret, Felicia, and Simone. Felix had to drive a supply truck to resupply the rest of the cadets.

    Arlianne went up the tower where Tyler was to survey the area. The mining town was designed like a grid; each block was equal to another, with the path to the mines itself as its main thoroughfare. Each block had four buildings that were made from solid rock and thick plates of metal¡ªmaking them more robust than ordinary residential buildings.

    ¡°I can see why Ms. Cuevas suggested this place,¡± commented Arlianne, ¡°Mr. Simmons, please find me a place to hide the tank. We will build our ambush from there.¡±

    With a single panoramic scan of the town, Tyler found a fairly wide intersection where the tank could lay in wait, while being well-protected by massive buildings around it. By the time Samantha returned with a truck-load of explosives, the others had already taken positions around the intersection.

    ¡°We need to know where Malachi and the others will be coming from,¡± said Arlianne, ¡°Depending on that we will set up the explosives from their direction.¡±

    She held her radio and called for Malachi.

    ¡°Malachi, the ambush has been set up,¡± she said, ¡°We are located at the southwest town¡ªtwo kilometers north of the base camp.¡±

    After saying that, she waited for a response, but none came. She held the radio again, when Rae suddenly came through.

    ¡°Uh, we¡¯ve got a problem here!¡± shouted Rae, ¡°Malachi is being chased around by the Hell Worm! He needs to know where the ambush is located so he could lead it there!¡±

    Arlianne was still calm on the outside, but was beginning to panic on the inside.

    ¡°We¡¯re at the town to the southwest!¡± she responded, ¡°It¡¯s about two kilometers north of the base camp! How¡¯s Malachi doing?¡±

    ¡°Malachi is still running around the area with the worm on his tail,¡± replied Rae, ¡°Ah, he¡¯s about to come close¡ªer? What in the world is he doing?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Ramirez, what happened?¡± asked Arlianne.

    ¡°Uh, Malachi¡­ he, uh, he¡¯s¡­ singing?¡± answered Rae in doubt, ¡°He¡¯s singing as he is running, but I don¡¯t understand the words. I just know that he¡¯s singing because of the tune.¡±

    <hr>

    When Rae contacted the ambush team about their predicament, Malachi was running around the same place¡ªtrying to keep the Hell Worm in one location. Fortunately or unfortunately, the slime from the eggs was still on his body, so the Hell Worm was still berserk.

    Then he started singing¡ªwith good reason, of course.

    Far beyond the horizon, far beyond the setting sun; I am carving a way through barren land. Holding on to my memories, they are keeping me alive; making me strong, they¡¯re making me stand. Hot, dusty canyons I have been through; my heart is burning for ya, oh, it¡¯s bleeding for you!

    There, Malachi visibly increased his speed. With the length of time he had been running, one would presume that he would already be tired. It was the contrary when he began to sing. He suddenly turned around and went another way¡ªthis time, towards to Rae.

    Wings of deliverance bring me home! Wings of deliverance carry me home!

    Once Rae¡¯s face was visible, she was staring blankly at Malachi while holding on to the radio.

    And whenever I¡¯m closing my eyes, it is you that I have on my mind. Echoes of what I had to leave behind!

    When Malachi passed by Rae, she eventually snapped out of it to report the ambush location.

    ¡°Malachi, the others are at a mining town two kilometers north of the base camp!¡± she shouted.

    Malachi turned his head, and paused his singing.

    ¡°That place, eh? Wait for Levi and Mr. Bryant,¡± he ordered, ¡°Once you¡¯ve regrouped, follow the tracks to reinforce the ambush! Tell Arlianne that I¡¯ll be coming from the northeast!¡±

    With that, Malachi made a sharp turn and sprinted to the south, and resumed his singing.

    Ten thousand miles of torture! Ten thousand miles of pain! But nothing, nothing is keeping me from ya; I¡¯m coming back to you again!

    With these lines, he ran faster than before. Rae was in awe, half wondering if his singing was having such an effect and half wondering if Malachi was a monster in disguise instead. She radioed Arlianne again to tell her Malachi¡¯s direction. After a few more minutes, Levi and Patrick arrived outside covered in soot, dust, and smelling singed.

    ¡°What happened to you two?¡± wondered Rae, ¡°Malachi just went on ahead, leading the target to the ambush.¡±

    ¡°We were dealing with the eggs,¡± answered Patrick, ¡°Who knew that entire cave was filled with it, top to bottom.¡±

    ¡°Some parts of the cave fell on us when we burned them,¡± added Levi, ¡°It looked like that some parts were used for the construction of the nest, but it didn¡¯t seem like a Hell Worm nest.¡±

    Rae stared at Levi.

    ¡°What?¡± he responded.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± she replied, ¡°I never expected ya to speak in a complete sentence around us.¡±

    Levi frowned and said no more.

    Patrick gave Levi a glance then returned his attention to Rae.

    ¡°So, what are we supposed to do now?¡± he asked, ¡°Skaria should have said something.¡±

    Rae stared at Patrick as well, but Patrick only stared back with a raised brow.

    ¡°Well, it was surprising that your hostility has lessened,¡± she explained, ¡°I still remember my first day when you and Malachi fought for the seat of Class Leader. Your bloodshot eyes were scary when you learned his clan name.¡±

    ¡°Just answer my question.¡± He snapped.

    Rae shrugged.

    ¡°Can you boys still run?¡± she said, ¡°We will be reinforcing the ambush. Just follow the tracks.¡±

    When she pointed at where Malachi went, and trail of torn earth could be seen. Levi¡¯s and Patrick¡¯s jaws dropped at the sight.

    ¡°He¡­ did seriously lead it all the way?¡± inquired Patrick.

    ¡°Actually, he ran around in circles for a while,¡± she explained further, ¡°We needed to know where the ambush was before he could get out of here.¡±

    Rae pointed at where Malachi was running before. Again, a scene of destroyed dirt and rock could be seen.

    ¡°I can never recall hearing the Skaria being like this,¡± commented Levi.

    <hr>

    Tyler was atop a tower when he could finally see a dust cloud billowing over the horizon in one of the ravines. When he took a peek through the sniper scope, he found two things: a sprinting Malachi and an angry Hell Worm destroying everything in its path. He also took the time to measure Malachi¡¯s speed and distance away. Tyler lunged forward, over the railings, and called out to the guns in waiting.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    ¡°Incoming! Northeast gate!¡± he bellowed, ¡°Estimated time, 5 minutes!¡±

    ¡°All troops to your stations!¡± ordered Arlianne, ¡°Engineers, prepare the explosives!¡±

    Class 13 scrambled to their chosen positions. None of them, however, were using handguns or shotguns, and each one of them was carrying machine guns or sniper rifles. Using the windows of the buildings, machine gun nests were aimed towards the east road, and the sniper nests were waiting along the south road. All other roads leading away from them were blockaded with heavy machinery, turning the intersection into a bend. As for the tank destroyer, it sat inside a garage on the end of the south road.

    When Felix and Ritva finished planting the explosives, Felix was given the detonator while Ritva went back to the tank destroyer. Felix hid in a nearby makeshift bunker and waited for the command to flip the switch. Once Ritva got inside the tank destroyer, she maneuvered the vehicle into a position that could shoot in one direction, and run away to another.

    Tyler updated Malachi¡¯s proximity.

    ¡°Thirty seconds!¡± he announced. Tyler fired off a round with his sniper rifle to get Malachi¡¯s attention. Once he saw Malachi looking at him, he pointed towards the ambush location. Malachi was running south, so he made a sharp turn to the east.

    By then, the dust cloud could already be seen and the thunderous march of insectile limbs was echoing across the town. The song of destruction was also accompanied by the voice of a young man.

    I can¡¯t see, because it¡¯s burning deep inside! Like gasoline, a fire running wild! No more fear, because I¡¯m getting closer now! So unreal, but I like it anyhow!

    With a stomp of his foot, Malachi leapt forward and ran further with greater strides.

    I go faster and faster and faster and faster and faster and faster! I can¡¯t live in a fairy tale of lies! And I can¡¯t hide from the feeling because it¡¯s right!

    Tyler could already hear him singing from his position. Even he was stunned at the developments. As Malachi sang, his speed became even faster, despite Tyler being unable to understand the words being sung.

    ¡°What the hell¡­?¡± he said in disbelief, ¡°This¡­ this is incomparable to the kill house and laps¡­¡±

    And I go faster and faster and faster and faster for love! And I can¡¯t live in a fairy tale of lies!

    Arlianne went inside a building and hefted an assault rifle on to the windowsill. Soon, she could see Malachi¡¯s silhouette sprinting over and the rampaging monster behind him.

    ¡°Wait for my signal!¡± she bellowed, ¡°Wait for it!¡±

    I can feel that you¡¯ve mesmerized my heart! I feel so free! I¡¯m alive, I¡¯m breaking out! I won¡¯t give in, because I¡¯m proud of all my scars!

    Malachi could then see the ambush waiting before him. He directed his gaze at one of the windows, the window which Arlianne was waiting in. The girl did not flinch, but nodded instead, understanding what he meant by his gaze. Arlianne followed up with a gesture, motioning that the road was booby-trapped. Malachi just smiled and continued singing.

    And I can see I¡¯ve been wasting too much time!

    His singing voice could already be heard by the rest of Class 13, breaking their tension with his confusing antics. Nevertheless, the sharper ones noticed the change in Malachi¡¯s performance and could only stare stupidly at Malachi¡¯s insane abilities.

    I go faster and faster and faster and faster and faster and faster and faster!

    Soon he passed over the booby-trapped section of the road, and the Hell Worm smashed forward right after him.

    ¡°Now, blow it up!¡± ordered Arlianne.

    Malachi leapt forward when he heard her order, and Felix activated the detonator. In a split-second, the road exploded, enveloping the Hell Worm in a storm of debris. Malachi spun around to give his own order while grabbing the rifle from his back.

    ¡°Fire at will, aim for its legs!¡± he roared.

    Machine guns roared from the windows, buffeting what was veiled behind the storm of debris. Fortunately, due to the Hell Worm¡¯s size, its legs could be easily seen sticking out. Sniper rifles sang in unison as they attempted to pierce the armor-like carapace.

    There, a roar erupted from within the storm, dispersing the dust. The Hell Worm lost four of its legs and two of its forward limbs from the prior explosion. But even so, it still had enough strength to smash the buildings around it.

    ¡°Those inside the buildings¡ªget out of there and relocate to a safer position!¡± ordered Malachi, ¡°Machine gunners, cover them! Mr. Simmons, try to shoot its eyes to knock it down to the ground!¡±

    Malachi let loose a few shots, aiming for the soft parts on the head. Tyler fixed his aim and subsequently shot the Hell Worm¡¯s eyes. Unfortunately, he missed. The Hell Worm¡¯s erratic movements dulled his accuracy. Still, Tyler was unperturbed. In his eyes was an intense gaze, as though he was in a trance, and his aim was fixed immediately before taking another shot.

    This time, the left eye was hit. The Hell Worm recoiled back in pain and raised its body in anger. Furnishing one of its forward limbs like a blade, it struck down at Malachi who was still shooting at it out in the open.

    Malachi noticed this and dodged forward with a roll. After his roll, he aimed and fired at the underside of the Hell Worm, attempting to take out its joints. Most of the bullets ricocheted off its carapace, but a few lucky shots got in and shattered the shell to reveal soft insectile flesh. This gave Malachi an idea.

    ¡°Snipers, shoot the body until the shell cracks open!¡± he ordered, ¡°Machine gunners, keep working on the legs! Smash its limbs to bits! Trias brothers, fire a shot, already!¡±

    Stephen¡¯s voice roared over the others¡¯ radios.

    ¡°Are you kidding?! You¡¯ll get hit!¡± he argued.

    ¡°Then I trust you to not hit me at all!¡± roared Malachi back, ¡°Take out one of its legs, already!¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t be responsible for your injuries!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine by me!¡±

    The tank destroyer¡¯s gun elevated a bit, aimed at one of the Hell Worm¡¯s legs. Since the legs were slender¡ªin contrast to the Hell Worm¡ªStephen had a bit of difficulty getting a shot, especially since Malachi was right in his line of fire.

    ¡°Taking a shot!¡± roared Stephen.

    The tank destroyer¡¯s gun roared like a monstrous beast, greater than the roar of the Hell Worm. Due to Stephen¡¯s warning, Malachi immediately ducked down. In a split-second, the shadow of the shell swept past above him, and landed squarely on one of the Hell Worm¡¯s legs¡ªtearing it apart.

    The Hell Worm collapsed down on the ground, and gave the gunners a chance to smash the last remnants of its defenses. Finally, after a few hundred more bullets, a large chunk of its back carapace broke open.

    ¡°Mr. Simmons, shoot the bolts, now!¡± bellowed Malachi, ¡°Aim for the soft back!¡±

    The Hell Worm was about to rise again, its body shaking violently trying to get up. But, with less than half of its limbs, its efforts were all futile. From the tower, Tyler hefted the pneumatic crossbow and aimed for the Hell Worm¡¯s exposed flesh. A bolt was launched, and the needle embedded deeply into the Hell Worm.

    ¡°Again!¡± shouted Malachi, ¡°Shoot it again, Mr. Simmons!¡±

    Tyler emptied half the drugged bolts into the Hell Worm. Eventually, the monster stopped moving, causing the others to wonder if it was killed instead.

    ¡°It¡¯s still alive, right?!¡± panicked a cadet.

    Malachi approached the fallen monster. He went up its body and inspected its exposed flesh.

    ¡°What? Despite being an insect, its circulatory system is enclosed,¡± he observed, ¡°Interesting. To see blood vessels from an insect intact despite the beating we gave it, this is an excellent discovery.¡±

    He further inspected the other exposed parts, including the wounded eye.

    ¡°But still, looks like they don¡¯t have lungs,¡± he noted, ¡°Huh? What¡¯s this bulge?¡±

    Malachi arrived at the backside and found a lump on one end. Without a care, he lodged both of his hands inside; creating squishing noise and making the others vomit from the sight.

    ¡°Young Master, er, do you really have to, uh, do that?¡± asked Isaac, ¡°The sight of you, uh, jamming it in there is, uh, not really pleasant.¡±

    Malachi scanned his surroundings and found that people were averting their gazes. Even Arlianne doubted what she was seeing.

    ¡°Then, all of you go back to base camp and have the trucks come here,¡± he suggested, ¡°Oh, and Mr. Simmons, give me the rest of the drugged bolts. I will be regularly injecting this with it.¡±

    After giving his orders, Malachi resumed digging into the lump he found. Once he tore open the lump, he realized what it was.

    ¡°AHHHH!¡± he screamed, ¡°Seriously?!¡±

    Everybody halted their advance and turned back towards Malachi with a synchronized about-face. Before their eyes, a smaller version of the Hell Worm erupted from where Malachi was digging.

    ¡°Malachi!¡± cried Arlianne as she raised her gun.

    However, the smaller Hell Worm wrapped itself around Malachi, causing Arlianne to freeze.

    ¡°Well, crap¡­¡± commented Malachi, ¡°I¡¯m totally dead.¡±

    ¡°How the hell are you so calm?!¡± berated Reuben, ¡°Damn! You¡¯re too careless, Young Master!¡±

    ¡°What do you want me to do?!¡± snapped Malachi, ¡°This thing was supposed to come from eggs, right?! Wait, eggs¡­? Is there an insect that isn¡¯t born from eggs?¡±

    Malachi looked back at where the smaller Hell Worm came out from. It was from the giant Hell Worm¡¯s own body, like it was birthed from it.

    ¡°Dammit, how do we get him out of there?!¡± panicked Isaac, ¡°Young Master, don¡¯t move in the slightest! Make it think you¡¯re dead!¡±

    The smaller Hell Worm slithered around Malachi¡¯s body. Its limbs caused a slight tickling sensation as it moved, considering that it was a newborn. Suddenly, the smaller Hell Worm¡¯s head raised and its eyes focused on Malachi¡¯s own eyes.

    ¡°Crap, don¡¯t eat me, I don¡¯t want to die eight years after regaining my memories,¡± he pleaded, ¡°It would be such a waste.¡±

    Its golden eyes stared intensely at Malachi for a few moments. From the tower, Tyler was ready to take a shot with his sniper rifle. If only the smaller Hell Worm would raise its head a bit more, Tyler could immediately take a shot. The Hell Worm slithered to his back, and did the unexpected.

    The smaller Hell Worm released Malachi and rested its head on top of Malachi¡¯s own head.

    ¡°Uh, I live?¡± wondered Malachi, ¡°What?¡±

    He was about to reach for the Hell Worm resting on his head, but the Hell Worm wrapped itself around Malachi¡¯s neck. Malachi froze, but noticed something strange.

    ¡°Uh, you¡¯re¡­¡± he muttered, ¡°Oh¡­ my¡­ god¡­¡±

    He feel a strange sensation pass through his mind. The feeling was similar when he was communicating with Shyama¡ªhe could roughly understand what the Hell Worm meant to do.

    When Malachi held the Hell Worm¡¯s head, the monster released a soft growl.

    ¡°Parent¡­¡± it was the first word that came to his mind when the Hell Worm growled.

    The look of disbelief was plastered on Malachi¡¯s face. He was frozen in place, prompting the others to wonder what was wrong. Seeing that his life was no longer in danger, Arlianne approached him. However, because of their earlier negligence, Tyler was still aiming at the Hell Worm with his sniper rifle.

    ¡°Malachi?¡± called Arlianne out.

    Malachi glanced at the young girl.

    ¡°Uh, how do I explain this?¡± he responded, ¡°Uh, can some Eskurs come closer?¡±

    Arlianne cocked her head, but still turned around and gestured for some Eskurs to come closer. Reuben and Genevieve approached him.

    ¡°Yes, Young Master?¡± asked Genevieve.

    ¡°Er, can either of you see if you could communicate with this guy on my head?¡± inquired Malachi, ¡°Hey, you, are you really saying what I think you¡¯re saying?¡±

    Malachi stroked the head of the Hell Worm and it softly growled again. However, the two Eskurs picked up the growl, and the same sensation could be felt by them. With shock, Genevieve fell backwards and Reuben could only stare stupidly at the Hell Worm.

    Soon, Levi, Patrick, and Rae arrived at the scene, and saw the absurd image of Malachi being wrapped around by a smaller monster. However, they noticed the shocked gazes of Reuben and Genevieve, and understood immediately that something was not normal.

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t remember taming Hell Worms, before,¡± commented Reuben, ¡°Since they always destroy anything that is not like them, they are always avoided by us, unlike with Manticores, Garms, and Garudas.¡±

    Malachi glanced up at the monster resting on his head.

    ¡°I guess that means I got a new pet?¡±

    <hr>

    As the engineers and cadets equipped with steam knights loaded the gigantic Hell Worm on to the trucks, others were regularly applying the drug into the monster to keep it from rousing. Malachi was with the others as they waited for the trucks.

    Dinah was curiously poking the smaller Hell Worm on Malachi¡¯s head.

    ¡°Um, Young Master, is it really treating you as its parent?¡± she asked, ¡°I mean, it seems to be in torpor while clinging on to you.¡±

    Malachi crossed his arms.

    ¡°Well, you know how we Eskurs are when we communicate with these monsters,¡± he said, ¡°Like how I was able to communicate with Shyama, I was somehow able to understand what this guy was trying to say.¡±

    He glanced up at the sleeping Hell Worm. Though, specifically, it was in torpor as it was an insect. Its golden eyes were for all to see, but it was not reacting to Dinah¡¯s incessant poking.

    ¡°I should give this guy a name,¡± he said, ¡°It¡¯s too annoying to keep calling it ¡®this guy¡¯ when referring to it. Hmm, a name¡­ I¡¯ll go with Jin. Hey, Jin, you like your name?¡±

    The Hell Worm suddenly roused from its torpor. Its body slithered down Malachi, and directed its head beside Malachi¡¯s and looked momentarily in his eyes. After a while, it wrapped itself around Malachi¡¯s neck like a collar, letting its rear hang down like a scarf.

    ¡°I suppose I can take that positively,¡± commented Malachi, ¡°Welcome to the family, Jin.¡±

    The others stared at Malachi.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to feel,¡± commented a cadet, ¡°I mean I understand the Manticore, but a Hell Worm? Speaking of, there weren¡¯t any Hell Worms in the war back then.¡±

    Levi, Patrick, and Rae walked up to Malachi.

    ¡°We took care of the eggs,¡± reported Levi, ¡°They burned quite easily. So, where did you get this thing?¡±

    Levi pointed at Jin.

    ¡°Jin came out from the big one we took down,¡± answered Malachi, ¡°By the way, those eggs, were you able to take a good look at them?¡±

    ¡°Those weren¡¯t Hell Worm eggs,¡± answered Patrick, ¡°They were Fire Ant eggs, food for it, and burned up quite well. Not sure why that Hell Worm went nuts when you smashed an egg, though. Maybe it thought you ruined its lunch.¡±

    Malachi blinked repeatedly, and then looked at the Hell Worm around his neck.

    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you guys extremely simple?¡±

 Campaign 17

    Campaign 17

    There was a parade of vehicles along the main road of the academy. Cadets, faculty, and soldiers were standing on either side of the road, looking in awe and fear at the sight before them. Four long trucks with platforms were carrying a gigantic monster, and this monster was regularly administered a drug by another cadet.

    Once the vehicles reached the end of the road, where the academy gates were, they all stopped as they were met by an old man in a regal military uniform. Beside him were a frozen little girl, a slack-jawed one-handed man, and a blankly staring woman.

    ¡°Malachi¡­ is this part of your declaration?¡± asked the old man, ¡°That was a record-breaking five hours, and you even captured the target. And¡­ what in all Hells is that thing around you?¡±

    Malachi leapt off the truck he was riding on with Jin still strapped around his body. He approached Eleazar and gave a salute.

    ¡°Hell Worm subjugation, mission accomplished, sir!¡± he reported, ¡°This little guy here is Jin. It came from that big one over there, and recognized me as its parent for some reason. Good thing, too. Imagine if Jin was born all of a sudden without any of us present.¡±

    ¡°Jin?¡±

    ¡°He seriously tamed that Hell Worm?¡±

    ¡°What in the world?¡±

    A commotion occurred in the surrounding crowd. Eleazar glanced around and returned his gaze on Malachi.

    ¡°And where do you plan to keep the captured target?¡± he asked, ¡°We don¡¯t have any facilities to house it in during your detention.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right, there¡¯s that,¡± commented Malachi, ¡°Then, since I haven¡¯t gone into the academy yet, the mission has yet to be accomplished, and I¡¯m still out on duty. Asher, have the trucks go in reverse! Don¡¯t enter the academy!¡±

    A wry smile floated on Malachi¡¯s face as he waited for Eleazar¡¯s decision. However, Malachi was, after all, Eleazar¡¯s grandson.

    ¡°Kh, hahaha!¡± laughed Eleazar, ¡°That¡¯s a good loophole, Malachi! This is excellent!¡±

    Eleazar was wholeheartedly laughing in front of many people without a care in the world. The first to react appropriately was Carlos who had covered his face with his palm.

    ¡°This damned family,¡± he quietly cursed, ¡°It¡¯s a miracle His Majesty Emmanuel and His Highness Elijah aren¡¯t like this. Hell, even Lady Alexa.¡±

    ¡°Well, fine,¡± continued Eleazar, ¡°Still, where will you be keeping it? You can¡¯t exactly block all of the traffic here, right? What about the rest of your class?¡±

    Malachi hesitated.

    ¡°Uh, I hadn¡¯t thought that far into it.¡± He said. Malachi held his chin and thought.

    This time, it was Eleazar who had a wry smile.

    ¡°We¡¯ll take care of it,¡± he declared, ¡°You had a reason for turning it into a capture mission, right? Clara, have some of your men take over the convoy. Axton, lead a few soldiers to a section of land where we can contain the Hell Worm and set up a makeshift observation station. Malachi, give me the specifics.¡±

    Malachi was staring at Eleazar in disbelief.

    ¡°I guess I lost this time,¡± he said with a dry laugh, ¡°What do I do with Jin?¡±

    When he pointed at Jin, a growl came from behind the crowd. The sea of humans parted and revealed a Manticore approaching Malachi. It was Shyama.

    Shyama sniffed Jin for a bit, and then growled softly. Jin roused from its torpor and directed its gaze towards the towering Manticore. Shyama and Jin growled at one another for a while, and Malachi was wracking his head trying to understand what both were doing.

    ¡°Manticores and Hell Worms can talk to one another?¡± he observed, ¡°Jin, why don¡¯t you try being with Shyama for a bit?¡±

    Jin looked at Malachi for a moment, and then slithered its body off him. As soon as the last pair of legs latching on to Malachi had left, Jin had already nestled on Shyama¡¯s back. Jin let out a soft growl, seemingly in satisfaction.

    As for Shyama, she just licked Malachi¡¯s face.

    ¡°Take care of Jin, all right?¡± requested Malachi, ¡°Then, Headmaster, you need to¡­¡±

    Malachi shared with Eleazar how to take care of the gigantic Hell Worm, from the dosage of the drug to the recipe of the drug itself. After doing so, Class 13 was dismissed and Malachi was taken into custody. Malachi never revealed any sort of dissatisfaction as he was being led away, even smiling as he went through the crowd.

    <hr>

    The entire academy was in a complete uproar due to Class 13¡¯s achievement, especially with the towering Hell Worm present on academy grounds that could be seen from their windows. The Hell Worm, still put into torpor by the drugs, was for all to see in one section of the field. It was chained down, bolted with gigantic stakes. The perimeter was patrolled by many guards, and makeshift observation posts were erected around it. Since they still had no idea what Malachi planned to do with it, they could only keep it in one place.

    There was also one other thing that kept the academy noisy throughout the days. This time, though, the noise was not from the cadets, but a large amount of construction equipment being delivered one after another in front of one of the cliff faces. It was time for Malachi¡¯s request to be built.

    As for the person responsible for the entire ruckus, he was calmly lying down on a bed in his cell. Malachi¡¯s cell was a tight fit¡ªa tiny 4 sqm room with no gaps aside from the slit where the food would presumably come from. A knock came from the door to his cell.

    ¡°Apologies for this,¡± said a voice, presumably a guard, ¡°Orders of His Highness.¡±

    ¡°It is fine,¡± said Malachi, nonchalantly waving it off as though he could be seen, ¡°At least it¡¯s a one-day detention, and not an entire week.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, well, we shall be leaving now,¡± said the guard, ¡°We will bring you your lunch and dinner, later.¡±

    Malachi listened closely to the echoing footsteps until he concluded that the guards have truly gone away.

    ¡°Can¡¯t remember if I ever got detained back then,¡± he thought back to his past, ¡°Father just let me run wild, with my siblings watching my back. Guess I¡¯ll meditate for the time being.¡±

    Malachi sat upright and crossed his legs into a lotus position. Once he closed his eyes, he shut out all of his senses and came to complete silence. This was completely different from his usual self.

    An hour later, the slit on the door opened, and a plate of food came in. The guard knocked on the door to tell Malachi that his lunch had arrived. Malachi woke himself up from his meditation and thanked the guard for the food. As for the guard, he was bewildered about Malachi¡¯s total silence. The guard had expected Malachi making a bit of noise since there was nothing to do in the cell.

    Once the guard delivered the food, he left. Malachi listened closely to the guard¡¯s footsteps until they were gone. He stood from his bed, went to the tray of food, and sat down on the floor. His food was simple since he was in detention, but it was enough to fill him up.

    Then he heard another set of footsteps outside. Listening closely, he could surmise that it was not a guard. Each step was light, like it was from a smaller body, and it was uneven, like the owner was looking for something. Eventually, the footsteps stopped in front of his cell.

    ¡°Malachi?¡± it was a young woman¡¯s voice, ¡°Are you in there?¡±

    Malachi¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, he recognized the voice.

    ¡°Why are you here, Alexa?¡± he asked.

    Indeed, it was Alexa outside his cell. She placed her hand on the door in relief. It seemed that she was guessing which cell Malachi was being held in.

    ¡°Are you all right, Malachi?¡± she asked further, ¡°Have you eaten?¡±

    Malachi was confused why she would be concerned about him.

    ¡°Uh, well, the guard just delivered my lunch a few moments before you arrived,¡± he answered, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you came all the way here just for that.¡±

    Alexa hesitated a bit.

    ¡°Um, no, it isn¡¯t just that,¡± she said, ¡°I just wanted to know something, and I need to hear it from you. I was looking for a chance to talk to you about it, but I never had the chance to do so. And, well, when I heard you were detained, I thought I¡¯d take this as a chance.¡±

    ¡°Wait, wait. You had a question for me? Is it really so important that it must come from me?¡± he clarified, ¡°Honestly, Alexa, I¡¯ve always been wondering, but, why do you want to know me so well? I am, after all, a Skaria.¡±

    Alexa was silent. She did not expect this sort of development just from her whims. She took a deep breath then threw back a question.

    ¡°Does it matter, Malachi? Then, I ask you, why do you wish to serve the kingdom, your clan¡¯s enemy, so much?¡± she asked, ¡°It can¡¯t be because of mere debt and gratitude for my grandfather¡ªthat he spared your clan and kinsmen from total damnation¡ªthat you give us all of these gifts of power and technology.¡±

    From his cell, Malachi made a wry smile.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about my ancestry, Alexa, so I cannot give you an answer about my kin,¡± he answered, ¡°All I know about Clan Skaria are what I¡¯ve heard from others and what I¡¯ve read from books. ¡®Why¡¯ do I wish to serve the kingdom? It¡¯s because I want to, and I want the people who had birthed me to feel safe; for my Eskur mother, for Arlianne, and especially for my Perlasian father.¡±

    Silence permeated between the two. Just when Alexa was about to speak, Malachi cut her off.

    ¡°Oh, and one other person, you see,¡± he continued ¡°I¡¯m doing this for a friend of mine that I met back when Arlianne and I were younger. Now that I think about it, I haven¡¯t seen him yet.¡±

    Alexa¡¯s hands trembled.

    ¡°That¡­ friend of yours, who was he?¡± she asked, ¡°I¡­ I might know him since I¡¯ve been here longer than you.¡±

    Malachi glanced at the cell door with a raised brow.

    ¡°I guess it shouldn¡¯t hurt to tell you,¡± he commented, ¡°Well, I only know his name and not his family name. I would assume he was a noble¡¯s child, judging from the presence of his bodyguard. His name was Axel, do you know him?¡±

    Alexa clenched the collar of her uniform. She looked down on the floor, and was breathing erratically. She looked at the door, and tears began to form on her eyes.

    ¡°D-did you say, ¡®A-Axel¡¯?¡± she stuttered, forcing herself to keep calm.

    Sadly, Malachi did not notice the change in her.

    ¡°Yeah, we made a promise as friends that we would enter the academy and serve the kingdom together.¡± He explained. Then, his voice changed. ¡°Ah, but, now that I remembered it, he seemed to have this hate for Eskurs. That incident in the arena exposed my lineage to him. We were there when the Fire Ant outbreak happened. When I saved him from the Queen Ant, my eyes were revealed to all.¡±

    Alexa was already covering her mouth, stifling the sobs that were coming out.

    ¡°Maybe, because of that, he felt betrayed?¡± added Malachi, ¡°I mean, he told me about his experience with Eskurs, but I kept my lineage hidden from him. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have forced him into that oath, ¡®A friend today¡­¡¯¡±

    ¡°¡­ and a friend forever¡­¡± finished Alexa.

    Malachi jumped up in surprise, and heard the opening of a lock. The lock to his cell was opened by Alexa, and the two faced one another.

    ¡°Alexa?¡± he called out in wonder.

    In Alexa¡¯s hands was a set of tools. Specifically, they were lock-picking tools.

    ¡°Lakeng taught me various things as I grew up,¡± she said, ¡°He was the youngest among his siblings, making him as mischievous as you. You wouldn¡¯t think that a Lady of Perlas would know a skill like lockpicking, no?¡±

    Malachi reacted strongly to Lakeng¡¯s name. After all, they became acquaintances during the Fire Ant incident. His back was to the wall as Alexa came into his cell.

    ¡°After the incident, father took me away from the capital and had me live in the family castle,¡± she said with each step, ¡°As time passed by, the only thing I had left of our memories was that broken pair of goggles you once wore.¡±

    Alexa pulled out a pair of old goggles with a torn strap and showed it to Malachi.

    ¡°When you saved me back then, I couldn¡¯t stop thinking of you. I wondered if you were treated well after that. I wondered if anything bad happened to you. I even had Lakeng look for you, but you suddenly disappeared.¡±

    Alexa came close to Malachi on the wall. Malachi was just a head taller than her, and Alexa was gazing up at Malachi¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Even though I suffered a lot because of past mistakes, I was able to forgive them all because of you, Malachi. Damn my past hatreds for your kin! Damn my past hatreds for your clan! Malachi¡­ I was torn when I wasn¡¯t able to find you again, but when I saw you a week ago, it felt that hope finally rekindled within me¡­ then your clan name was revealed to me.¡±

    Alexa grasped the hem of Malachi¡¯s uniform. There was an eerie light within her eyes.

    ¡°I thought I¡¯d lost you again. My classmates kept telling me hurtful things about you, but I forgave them since they never knew you. They always tried to stop me from getting closer to you, every chance I got, but I never minded them because they never knew you. If you were a bad person like they always told me, you wouldn¡¯t have saved me¡­ you wouldn¡¯t have saved any of us back then. You are a good person, Malachi. Each of your actions, I know that you were doing it for the good of others.¡±

    She raised her hand and caressed Malachi¡¯s cheek. Malachi was still frozen in shock from her revelation and was staring at her with a slackened jaw. Was it because she was Axel? It was part of it.

    ¡°I followed you around, earlier. Since you had your entire class have a break, I was hoping to find you alone and tell you all of this. I no longer want to live in a life full of lies; I had to tell you who I truly was. Even though it was an accident when your lineage was revealed, but I no longer cared about that. All I cared about was, ¡®were you all right?¡¯ It wasn¡¯t fair that only you were able to reveal a secret, I thought that I should share mine as well. Then I found you and Arlianne.¡±

    After caressing his cheeks, she brought her arms around him into an embrace. Alexa had her head rest on Malachi¡¯s chest.

    ¡°I had doubted since then that you and Arlianne were siblings, but I never thought that the two of you were actually like that. It hurts, Malachi, knowing you were going further away from me. It hurts, but I only know one thing that would make it stop hurting.¡±

    Alexa raised her face and body.

    ¡°May I¡­ seal the deal¡­ with a kiss?¡±

    Just before their lips touched, Malachi woke up.

    ¡°Agh! Wait!¡± He cried. Malachi pushed Alexa away.

    It was Alexa¡¯s turn to be shocked.

    ¡°Why?! Why did you push me away?!¡± she cried back, ¡°Malachi¡­ Malachi! I¡¯ve missed you so much! Why do you deny me now?! Didn¡¯t you miss me as well?!¡±

    ¡°That was because I thought of you as that little boy back then,¡± explained Malachi, then he thought, ¡®Crap, what the Hell is up with this development?! I can¡¯t even predict what she¡¯ll do once she knows my other secrets!¡¯

    ¡°Is that it, Malachi?¡± asked Alexa, ¡°You want me to return to being Axel? You won¡¯t even look at me as Alexa? That¡¯s fine, Malachi. That is completely fine for me.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what are you talking about?¡± clarified Malachi, ¡°No, I¡¯ve understood that Axel was an alias you¡¯ve used to explore the capital.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Malachi,¡± she consoled, ¡°You can think of me as Axel, your friend from back then. I will change how I look, what I wear, and who I am if you want.¡±

    Malachi gazed into Alexa¡¯s eyes, there was a strange light coming from within. Malachi felt a strange fear coming from her.

    ¡°Alexa, I think there is something wrong with you,¡± he commented, ¡°Do you suppose if you just take a seat and a deep breath, can you calm yourself down?¡±

    ¡°Calm, Malachi? I am calm,¡± she refuted, ¡°Why, is there something you are afraid of about me? Why do you look at me with those eyes, Malachi? What happened to those eyes that were glad to see me alive back then?¡±

    Malachi approached Alexa.

    ¡°Alexa, j-just calm down for a sec,¡± he advised.

    Malachi held Alexa¡¯s shoulders, but she swept them away.

    ¡°Are you afraid of me, Malachi?!¡± she cried with tears in her eyes, ¡°Are you afraid because I am a Perlas?!¡±

    Malachi struggled to get a grip on Alexa, trying to calm her down, but she also resisted each and every effort he made.

    ¡°Alexa! I am not afraid of you, or your family!¡± bellowed Malachi, ¡°What I am afraid of is what will happen to you if you know any more of my secrets!¡±

    She stopped struggling.

    ¡°Secrets?¡± repeated Alexa, ¡°What could be a greater secret than your lineage, than your name? Is it worse than knowing about me?¡±

    He almost averted his gaze, but he resolved to look straight into her eyes.

    ¡°I¡­ cannot say,¡± he answered, ¡°Not now, not ever, and only time can tell whether you will know about it or not.¡±

    Alexa¡¯s lips quivered.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Alexa,¡± added Malachi, ¡°I¡­ appreciate your feelings for me. I also appreciate that you were still alive and well. However, knowing all of this, knowing a lot of things¡­ I¡ª¡°

    Before he could finish, Alexa turned around and ran away. As she left Malachi¡¯s cell and went through the corridors, she passed by another person heading towards Malachi. Fortunately or unfortunately, Alexa hadn¡¯t realized who the other person was.

    When this other person arrived at the floor where Malachi¡¯s cell was, this person noticed the opened door and hurried towards it.

    ¡°Malachi?!¡± called out Arlianne, ¡°What¡­?¡±

    Arlianne found Malachi slumped on the ground with his head raised and covered by his right hand.

    ¡°What in all Hells is up with this¡­?!¡± he cursed, ¡°God dammit! I don¡¯t understand anything! Argh! This fucking life¡­!¡±

    Arlianne did not know what was wrong and just stood there watching Malachi curse at the heavens.

    <hr>

    When Malachi finally calmed down, the guards had already been notified about his opened cell. They tried questioning him, but Malachi never said a word about it. The guards also tried questioning Arlianne, but she could not say anything since the door was already opened when she arrived. Therefore, the guards resolved to bring the matter to Eleazar. However, when Eleazar personally went there, Malachi still said nothing. Eleazar, knowing Malachi¡¯s personality, surmised that Malachi had a reason for not answering.

    ¡°All of you, I wish to be alone with Malachi for the time being,¡± ordered Eleazar, ¡°Not one person is to come close to this cell without my knowing.¡±

    The guards saluted and began to file out. Arlianne was about to follow along, but¡­

    ¡°Arlianne, you stay, too,¡± said Malachi, finally saying a word, ¡°You¡¯re a part of this as well since it has something to do with¡­ Axel.¡±

    Arlianne doubted his words.

    ¡°Was he the one who opened this door?¡± she asked.

    Malachi glanced at Eleazar.

    ¡°Gramps, how much have you found out about me?¡± he asked, ¡°You did say that you¡¯ve had people watch over me since my birth. Do you, say, know about a friend Arlianne and I made?¡±

    Eleazar furrowed his brows.

    ¡°Was she responsible for this?¡± clarified Eleazar, ¡°No wonder you wouldn¡¯t say anything.¡±

    Arlianne looked back and forth at the two men in confusion. To make her understand, Malachi pointed it out for her.

    ¡°Arlianne, Alexa is Axel,¡± he explained, ¡°Alexa opened the door with lock picks then told me everything about it.¡±

    He suddenly held his head, as though it was in pain.

    ¡°There¡¯s¡­ something else, is there?¡± wondered Eleazar, ¡°If it was just that, you wouldn¡¯t be worrying this much.¡±

    Malachi was silent for a while.

    ¡°¡­ Hey, Gramps, what would you do if your cousin fell in love with you without her knowing that the two of you are from the same family?¡± announced Malachi, ¡°For me, it should be fine since we are cousins, especially since my grandmother was a mistress. But, when it comes to Alexa, I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll take kindly to that revelation.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Er, uh, I¡­¡± even Eleazar did not know what to say.

    As for Arlianne, she did not know how to react.

    ¡°Her eyes were scary when she said all of that to me,¡± continued Malachi, ¡°From that, I just knew that something bad might happen to her¡ªeven me or any of us¡ªif she ever knew about this; with me as a Skaria, as a Perlas, as the Crown Prince.¡±

    The cell became silent again before Malachi continued.

    ¡°Especially once Uncle Elijah catches wind of our relationship,¡± he added, ¡°I don¡¯t think Alexa could take it. Dammit, why did it have to be me, of all people?¡±

    Eleazar closed his eyes for a while.

    ¡®Malachi really is a good child,¡¯ he thought, ¡®He even considered everything for the other person. Ah, Alexa, what should I do about this?¡¯

    Arlianne looked down on the cursing Malachi on the floor. There, she also went down and brought her arms around him. She hugged Malachi as tightly as she could.

    ¡°Hush, Malachi,¡± she whispered, ¡°You didn¡¯t have any hand in what happened. None of this was your fault.¡±

    Soon, Malachi also returned her embrace. Full of emotions, he embraced her as tightly as she did. Eleazar massaged the back of his head as he left the two of them alone for a while.

 Campaign 18

    Campaign 18

    Malachi was finally released from his detention. The first place he went to was the special place allotted to his tamed monsters. A cave located at the base of the mountain where the academy was built on. The detention center where he was detained was located at an isolated ridge overlooking the field and, further down, the dormitories. He had to go down if he wanted to see Shyama and Jin.

    He paused for a while when he got outside and scanned his surroundings. Looking to the left, there was a pair of guards patrolling the ridge. To the right was a class returning from the field.

    ¡®Looks like Alexa isn¡¯t here¡­¡¯ he mused, ¡®That¡¯s good¡­¡¯

    Malachi looked over the ridge. Below him was the field, and there was a class being drilled by Axton. From where he was, he was bowled over from hearing Axton¡¯s booming voice.

    ¡°You call that running?! I¡¯ll give you something to run for!¡±

    Axton was chasing after the dregs of the class he was drilling. Malachi had a wry smile seeing how peaceful the academy was.

    ¡®Now then, I don¡¯t really want to run into her after that,¡¯ he thought, ¡®and I don¡¯t want others to tell here where they saw me. Climbing down the cliff side will make me too conspicuous¡­ so that leaves only one other option.¡¯

    Malachi began tapping his fingers in a rhythm and slowed his breathing. He nodded his head and tapped his feet to the same rhythm. He maintained the same actions for a few seconds, and then took a step forward to the stairs down.

    He ran across the same class that was returning from the field. When the cadet at the lead was about to look at Malachi,

    ¡°Si¡ªce¡­¡± he said in Perlasian tongue, ¡°Sec¡ªt¡­¡±

    The cadet stopped in his tracks, making those behind him bump into him.

    ¡°Hey! What did you stop for?!¡±

    ¡°Uh, I¡¯m certain I saw Skaria in front of me¡­ but¡­¡±

    ¡°Skaria? There¡¯s no one in front of you! I know you¡¯re tired, but we¡¯re all tired too! Move it!¡±

    The bewildered cadet was pushed forward by his classmates. Malachi sidestepped to avoid the rushing crowd as he ¡°hid¡± himself.

    ¡°S¡ªence¡­ S¡ªret¡­¡±

    He repeated his strange chant the more he weaved through cadets, soldiers, and faculty. However, with the increasing number of people he had to pass by, his concentration was always at the limit. His eyes looked straight without blinking, and his sweat poured incessantly under the unforgiving sun.

    This phenomenon was the same when he sang as he ran from the Hell Worm. It was also the same when he chanted as he ran through the kill house, and when he shared the effects to his class¡ªthe one that they thought was magic. He used sounds¡ªwords¡ªto influence the people who ¡°heard¡± him. It was the same phenomenon that allowed him to take full control of the Royal Army squad during the Fire Ant incident.

    Now, he was using this to hide himself in¡ªas literal as it could be¡ªplain sight. ¡°Silence¡± to have others be unaware his voice, his noise; ¡°Secret¡± to have others not perceive his figure, his image. He was like a ghost, shifting and passing through all he came across; all through hypnotic suggestion using sound.

    After a half hour of shifting through the sands of people, he finally arrived at his destination. Malachi still kept his vigilance as he entered the cave, but there was a surprise waiting for him instead.

    ¡°Grr?¡±

    Shyama was looking directly at him. The Manticore was lying on the ground with the Hell Worm nestled in her fur. When Malachi entered, Shyama perked up and looked at him. Jin was still in torpor even when she moved.

    ¡°Looks like your sense of smell is just as good as I thought it would be,¡± commented Malachi, ¡°How are you guys?¡±

    Shyama rose from the ground and went towards Malachi to lick his face. Jin also woke up when it heard his voice, raising its body from Shyama¡¯s back to reach out to Malachi. Jin wrapped itself around Malachi¡¯s shoulders, rather than his neck, to form a shawl of insect carapace.

    ¡°Have you eaten?¡± asked Malachi, ¡°What do Hell Worms eat besides Fire Ants, anyway? Manticores can eat meat, so Shyama shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡±

    Shyama answered by pushing Malachi deeper into the cave. When Malachi went forward, he saw a deposit of pyrocite crystals.

    ¡°Uh, pyrocite? What about it?¡± he wondered, ¡°Wait¡­ seriously?¡±

    When Malachi reached out to a large piece of pyrocite, Jin suddenly roused and reached out for the same piece. In front of Malachi, Jin swallowed the crystal in one gulp. This shocked Malachi as the piece was as big as his fist, but the Hell Worm swallowed it with no problems.

    ¡°Do Hell Worms eat anything that burns?¡± he said as he looked at Jin, ¡°Huh, considering that you are named after the hottest place known to man¡­¡±

    Malachi looked around the cave and found a few crates of meat. It seemed to be for Shyama, and the meat inside were preserved by large pieces of glacite placed in protective containers along the crates¡¯ walls.

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing these are from the other Eskurs?¡± he asked the two monsters, ¡°Is it really fine for them, though?¡±

    ¡°Grr,¡± responded Shyama.

    The Manticore directed her head towards the entrance. When Malachi also turned to look, there was a pair of Eskur soldiers bringing in crates of food.

    ¡°Oh, Young Master,¡± greeted one of them, ¡°Are you here to check up on your beasts? We have been taking care of them while you were gone.¡±

    The Eskurs dropped the crates to greet Malachi, but the young man just gestured it was fine.

    ¡°I was just checking to see if Jin was fine,¡± explained Malachi, ¡°I hadn¡¯t really planned to tame another monster, but it just happened, and I don¡¯t really know much about a Hell Worm¡¯s needs.¡±

    One of the Eskur soldiers smiled.

    ¡°Well, we also had a hard time, Young Master,¡± said the soldier, ¡°You see, of all our kin, you are the first to tame a wild Hell Worm. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising that none of us would know how to take care of one.¡±

    Malachi looked down on Jin¡¯s golden eyes. It would seem that this particular Hell Worm would always go into torpor when it did not need to do anything.

    ¡°It took us a few trials and errors,¡± continued another Eskur, ¡°but we were able to find out that they eat anything that could burn. With that in mind, the easiest food we could give it were pyrocite crystals, which shouldn¡¯t be a problem since the kingdom is abundant with them in the first place.¡±

    When the Eskur soldiers finished delivering the food to the two monsters and had left, Malachi stayed behind for a while before leaving as well. By the time he judged that no one would be able to see him, he bid farewell to the two monsters. He repeated his chant to hide himself once he stepped out of the cave. Fortunately, the crowds had thinned, easing the burden on his concentration a bit as he went to his class.

    Malachi entered the academy¡¯s empty lobby. The only people present were guards that were patrolling the halls, and the cadets and faculty were busy in their own classrooms. Despite the lack of people, he was still vigilant. If it was possible for him to be outside, it was possible for other people to be out and about, as well. Maintaining his chant whenever he came across a person, he eventually arrived at Class 13¡¯s room with two people waiting outside.

    One was Arlianne, who was obviously waiting for him, and the other was Carlos, who was asking Arlianne a question.

    ¡°Malachi should be here by now,¡± commented Carlos, ¡°Where is he? I need to ask something from him.¡±

    ¡°It is a wonder, sir,¡± agreed Arlianne, ¡°But, knowing Malachi, he may have important business to attend to. He was, after all, detained for a day. He might have needed to check on things left unattended. Speaking of¡­¡±

    Arlianne turned her gaze away from Carlos. To the teacher, she was looking at nothing. However, to what she was looking at¡ªArlianne was looking directly at Malachi. Malachi nearly forgot to breathe when he realized Arlianne¡¯s sharpness.

    ¡®Goddamn, she¡¯s sharp,¡¯ thought Malachi, ¡®Is it because of Uncle Greg¡¯s training, or is she just sharp when it comes to me¡­?¡¯

    Since she could already see him, he gestured with a finger on his lips, indicating silence. Arlianne returned her attention to Carlos.

    ¡°It would seem that Malachi will be arriving soon,¡± she said, ¡°Please wait for a while longer.¡±

    Carlos raised a brow.

    ¡°Hm? What did you mean by that?¡± he asked, ¡°And why were¡­ you¡­¡±

    Before he could finish his question, Carlos looked at the supposed empty place Arlianne looked at. To his shock, he found Malachi already standing there. Malachi ended his chant and walked leisurely towards his classroom.

    ¡°Did you need something, ¡®teach?¡± inquired Malachi.

    Carlos was blinking repeatedly at Malachi, trying to make sure that he was really standing there.

    ¡°Uh, how¡­ where¡­?¡± muttered Carlos. He took off his glasses and massaged the place between his brows. ¡°I must be getting tired.¡±

    Carlos replaced his glasses and faced Malachi.

    ¡°I know you will give your class a two-day break for a successful mission,¡± he began, ¡°would it be possible to persuade a few of your classmates to remain for studies? I know the Headmaster gave you freedom to decide a lot of things, but this cannot do for an educator like me.¡±Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    Malachi cocked his head.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you a soldier, ¡®teach?¡± he asked.

    Carlos sighed.

    ¡°I may be a soldier, but I am still a teacher,¡± he argued, ¡°You should at least expect this from the academy, Malachi. Now, will you allow me to do my job, or will you have your class waste away precious knowledge?¡±

    ¡°What will you be teaching, anyway?¡±

    ¡°Humanities and literature.¡±

    ¡°Specifically?¡±

    Carlos handed Malachi the curriculum in his hands. Malachi flipped the pages and made understanding and interested gestures. After flipping through it all, Malachi did not return the curriculum. He, however,

    ¡°About this, ¡®Teach,¡±

    Malachi pointed out numerous flaws and fallacies in Carlos¡¯ curriculum. He spent ten minutes talking to him about prose and writing, cultural differences and similarities between civilizations and eras, the techniques in delivery and feedback, and many other related subjects. Carlos had already dropped the rest of what he held until Arlianne had to stop Malachi from talking by pinching his cheek.

    ¡°Malachi, Sir Carlos has frozen,¡± she said, ¡°It would be best to stop talking.¡±

    ¡°Ah, sorry,¡± apologized Malachi, ¡°I guess I won¡¯t be joining the class for study time. Haha!¡±

    Carlos grabbed Malachi¡¯s arm.

    ¡°Why do you know all of that?¡± he interrogated, ¡°That was everything I know and more.¡±

    Malachi shook off his hand.

    ¡°Why should I not know?¡± he argued, ¡°Isn¡¯t it great that a student like me knows the same things as you do? Isn¡¯t that why you became a teacher, to pass on knowledge to the next generation? Hahaha!¡±

    Carlos¡¯ arms hanged limply as Malachi entered with Arlianne. Malachi was laughing as he entered the room and greeted his class. When he entered, the class was already noisy and crowds had formed around a couple of people. One crowd was centered on Samantha, and another was centered on Tyler. Malachi could guess why since Arlianne would always give him a rundown of what happened.

    ¡°All right, all right, settle down, kiddos,¡± said Malachi, ¡°As you all know, the mission was a success¡ªhold on, I haven¡¯t said anything yet! I know you¡¯re all excited for that break, and I do try to keep my promises, but I was approached by a teacher for a request.¡±

    The class was silent as they waited for his announcement. A number were visibly impatient as their legs had been going up and down, and a few were already tapping on their tables. Malachi glanced at the door, and Carlos was still there picking up the books and papers that had fallen to the floor.

    ¡°Those who wish to get on with their break, get the hell out of the classroom. I¡¯ll see you all the day after tomorrow. BUT! Those who wish to use their time to learn from someone aside from me, feel free to stay.¡±

    The cadets of Class 13 looked at one another. Of course, most already stood up to leave, but a few glanced at the door and saw Carlos waiting outside. Those who left did not give Carlos a glance and continued on their way, but those who stayed brought out their writing materials.

    The ones remaining were the Eskurs, Samantha, and¡ªsurprisingly¡ªPatrick.

    ¡°Are you sure, Mr. Bryant?¡± inquired Malachi, ¡°The only Perlasians here are Samantha and ¡®Teach, and the Rabbits outnumber you five to three.¡±

    Patrick glanced at the five Eskurs around him.

    ¡°I have no reason to tell you,¡± he answered, ¡°Go on, shoo! Let the teacher take over, already.¡±

    ¡°Fine, I expect higher marks in that case!¡±

    Malachi left Class 13 with Arlianne. He asked her if it was fine for her to just accompanying him to the captured Hell Worm and not learn about literature.

    ¡°You do need an assistant, at least?¡± she asked back, ¡°Even with the guards posted by His Highness, I doubt they would assist you with whatever you might need from them.¡±

    ¡°Well, okay,¡± assented Malachi, ¡°But, do you mind if I hide as we go there?¡±

    ¡°Alexa?¡±

    ¡°Er, yeah¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡±

    Malachi smiled from hearing her answer. He began to tap his fingers and slow his breathing. Malachi repeated the actions he had done before, hiding from the awareness of others. From the awareness of others who were too dull to detect him, of course.

    Along the way, they passed by a class heading out.

    ¡°Hey, has anyone seen Lady Alexa?¡± asked a cadet, ¡°She hasn¡¯t shown herself since yesterday.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t see her leave her room, though?¡± added a cadette, ¡°She might still be in the dormitories.¡±

    ¡°But why would she lock herself up in there?¡± wondered another, ¡°Did something happen?¡±

    Malachi and Arlianne looked at one another.

    ¡®Ahh, was it really that bad¡­?¡¯ he thought as he clenched his fists, ¡®If we met in under different circumstances, I might have accepted her confession. I hope she doesn¡¯t do anything stupid¡­¡¯

    Malachi tugged on Arlianne¡¯s sleeve to have her continue walking.

    They eventually arrived at one section of the field where the Hell Worm was bound. Eight watchtowers encircled the Hell Worm, and the perimeter was patrolled by multiple pairs of armed soldiers. These soldiers no longer carried fusils or repeaters, but were now equipped by Malachi¡¯s creations. While Malachi was training his own class, Eleazar seemed to have taken the initiative to have those subordinated to him learn from the engineers.

    Malachi had already stopped chanting and pretty much surprised the soldiers in the area.

    ¡°Malachi?! Where did you¡­?!¡±

    ¡°You had holes in your patrol,¡± he lied, ¡°It was easy to slip in, undetected. Peace has seriously dulled your senses.¡±

    His comment was like an axe through their egos. They were, after all, soldiers working for the former king, but Malachi ignored that fact and approached the Hell Worm.

    On the place where they cracked open the Hell Worm¡¯s carapace was a team that regularly administered the drug, forcing it into a state of torpor.

    ¡°How is it?¡± he inquired.

    ¡°No abnormalities since yesterday,¡± reported a soldier, ¡°Is it really alive? It looks dead to me.¡±

    ¡°Insects don¡¯t have a concept of sleep neither do they have lungs,¡± explained Malachi, ¡°Later, I plan to open it up to see its insides. Aside from the Fire Ants, this is one other insect that has an enclosed circulatory system. I want to know more about it. Oh, speaking of Fire Ants, I also plan to capture one to study it.¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ huh¡­¡± muttered the soldier, ¡°By the way, that drug, did you make that?¡±

    Malachi looked at the massive needles being injected into the Hell Worm.

    ¡°Nope. Ask Clan Skrima,¡± denied Malachi, ¡°I got it from a doctor of that clan. I have no idea how to make it, but I know how it feels to get hit by it. For a grown man to get knocked out, I just need a teeny-weeny bit of the drug. For what we use for the Hell Worm, might as well dig a grave. Did someone accidentally inject it into themselves?¡±

    The soldiers shook their heads.

    ¡°Good. I won¡¯t be responsible if any of you die,¡± he warned, ¡°Now then, I need to borrow a shotgun. I¡¯m going to pull off a few pieces of the carapace to measure it.¡±

    The nearest soldier with the shotgun handed over his gun along with a number of shells. Malachi loaded the shotgun with astonishing dexterity, leaving the other soldiers dumbfounded. He pulled the charging handle as he approached the underside of the Hell Worm.

    Bang!

    Bang!

    Bang!

    Bang!

    Malachi shot four places at point-blank range. The carapace visibly cracked from the kinetic energy released by the shotgun. He inspected the cracks, and then hit them with the butt of the shotgun repeatedly¡ªsmashing holes in them.

    ¡°Arlianne, help me pull out this piece,¡± he said, ¡°You pull from there and I¡¯ll pull from here.¡±

    Malachi and Arlianne placed each of their hands on the punctured areas. With a heave, they barely pulled off the square piece of insect shell.

    ¡°Damn, this thing is hard,¡± he commented, ¡°Can someone get a pair of steam knights here? Oh, and get me something to write with.¡±

    A soldier saluted and ran off to the armory. While they waited for the soldier to return with the steam knights, Malachi inspected the other parts of the Hell Worm and wrote in a notebook he asked for.

    ¡®Enclosed circulatory system¡­ armor-like carapace¡­ can resist the kinetic force of buckshot and a slug to certain degrees¡­¡¯

    Ten minutes later, the thundering march of steel giants could be heard. When the steam knights arrived, he had them pull off the piece of carapace he wanted to get. It was easy getting it off using the machines compared to manually tearing it off.

    When they got the carapace piece off, the flesh did not go with it. It was as if it was just a container and not a part of the main body. The piece was also thick, measuring at approximately 20 millimeters, but was abnormally light.

    Malachi had an evil grin when he held the carapace piece.

    ¡°How were Hell Worms when subjected to blast hammers?¡± he inquired one of the steam knights, ¡°Did it break open, or did you need another hit?¡±

    ¡°A blast hammer, sir?¡± the engineer thought for a while, ¡°If we get lucky, just two hits, but since it moves a lot faster than us, we don¡¯t dare to do so.¡±

    Malachi looked at the bound Hell Worm.

    ¡°All right, let¡¯s strip this thing bare!¡± he announced, ¡°I need to keep the shell intact to study it further, so help me out here!¡±

    ¡°Are we going to kill it?¡± asked a soldier.

    ¡°No, not yet,¡± clarified Malachi, ¡°Since the shell just comes off cleanly, we can just crack a few parts then let them fall off.¡±

    Malachi and Arlianne went to work, carefully stripping the Hell Worm of its carapace. Since it was taking too long with just two people, the other soldiers helped out. With Malachi¡¯s directions and the steam knights¡¯ assistance, the Hell Worm was fully naked¡ªexcept for the eyes¡ªin a couple of hours. Beneath the pitch-black shell was bright-red unknown flesh.

    The disturbing interior made some of those with weaker stomachs vomit on sight. As for Malachi, he took a step back to sketch the naked Hell Worm. It was not a quick sketch, but a detailed one. Each part of the Hell Worm was meticulously observed and drawn on paper.

    ¡°It¡¯s really soft,¡± he commented, ¡°I wonder¡­¡±

    Malachi approached a soldier and asked for a blade. The soldier handed him a guard saber. Malachi took it and made a few practice swings, and then he went back to the Hell Worm. Giving the notebook to Arlianne, he climbed up the Hell Worm¡¯s back and went to its head.

    He pierced the back of the Hell Worm, causing a fountain of gore to spew forth and covering him in what seems to be its blood¡ªonly it was green and disgusting. A few more vomiting noises were heard around him, and even Arlianne had to retreat a bit. Malachi did not mind, however, as he continued to slice open the back of the Hell Worm up to its tail-end and be bathed in it.

    With such an action, it would be no wonder if the Hell Worm truly died. At the very least, it died in torpor, rather than in pain and suffering.

    Once the Hell Worm was bisected, Malachi had the hesitating steam knights separate the two halves.

    ¡®There are no organs?¡¯ he observed, ¡®The hell is this, a flesh giant?¡¯

    Indeed, the Hell Worm was just one massive piece of flesh beneath the shell. The only organ-like object he could find was a small pocket that he found within the neck. In it, he found pieces of molten pyrocite that still produced a good amount of heat. No matter how many parts he dissected, no organs would appear.

    Malachi kept the pieces of pyrocite and went to a nearby fountain to wash off the gore. Fortunately, a bit of water was enough to get rid of it. Once he dried himself, he wrote in the notebook his findings about the Hell Worm. When he finished, he took one more look at the Hell Worm with the saber in hand.

    ¡®Only one more thing to find out¡­¡¯

    Malachi chose the fleshiest part of the Hell Worm and sliced off a piece. In front of many people, he did the unthinkable that caused everybody¡ªboth with weak and strong stomachs¡ªto vomit immediately. It was so shocking that Arlianne had to avert her gaze, and that some of the soldiers had to run away.

    Malachi ate a piece of the Hell Worm.

    ¡°Chewy,¡± he commented, ¡°A bit sour, though¡­ Maybe, if I cook it¡­?¡±

    ¡°Ma-Malachi¡­ Uh¡­¡± Arlianne did not know what to say or how to react.

    Malachi was still chewing on the piece of flesh when he looked at her.

    ¡°Ah, sorry for surprising you all,¡± he apologized nonchalantly, ¡°I needed to know if it would be plausible to feed on it during emergencies.¡±

    He pulled out the pyrocites he got from the Hell Worm, struck two pieces together, and then placed the meat on top of it. He stayed still for 15 minutes. Soon, the smell of burnt flesh wafted through the air. Since Malachi did not put spices or prepare it, the smell was terrible. He burned the meat well enough to not char it before taking another bite. By this time, a few medics had already been requested to take care of the soldiers who could not stomach it any longer.

    ¡°The sight of him eating¡­ that¡­ it will be engraved forever in my memory¡­ urp¡­¡± groaned a soldier.

    Malachi ignored the rest and busied himself with eating the Hell Worm.

    ¡°Mm, crispy,¡± he commented, ¡°Should taste good if I marinate it.¡±

 Campaign 19

    Campaign 19

    Three men and a woman were meeting in an undisclosed location. Two of the men wore nondescript tan-colored clothing, but the woman was wearing a pinkish-white dress with a shawl with gold trimmings and the remaining man wore a pure-white cloak. The men in tan clothing were also vastly different in appearance from the man and woman in white but, even with their differences, the two parties were seemingly amiable towards one another if their smiles did not lie.

    One of the two men, however, was extremely vigilant; always looking around at their surroundings even if they were the only people present. As for the other man, he spoke to the woman.

    ¡°How is everything, Bashia, Ibrahim?¡± asked Emmanuel, ¡°I hope the past few weeks hadn¡¯t been rough without Malachi and Arlianne.¡±

    Bashia playacted sadness in response.

    ¡°Aw, I had hoped you wouldn¡¯t ask,¡± she said in a playful tone, ¡°It¡¯s too quiet at home without Mally, and I lost my little dress-up doll, too.¡±

    Ibrahim let out a dry laugh and scratched the back of his head.

    ¡°Well, as you can see, everything¡¯s fine,¡± he added, ¡°Though, she is right about it being quiet, Your Majesty.¡±

    Emmanuel raised a hand.

    ¡°Please, Ibrahim, no need for any formalities,¡± he argued, ¡°We are practically family, now. Just call me by my name.¡±

    Ibrahim shrugged.

    ¡°Hmm, if it¡¯s too quiet, would you like to visit them?¡± continued Emmanuel, ¡°I¡¯m certain that in the coming months, the preliminaries of the academy¡¯s Martial Competition will begin. It would be nice to see how much they have grown, the two of them, and how much Malachi¡¯s intervention would have supposedly improved the academy as a whole.¡±

    ¡°Supposedly, indeed,¡± interjected Gregory, ¡°I keep hearing reports of Malachi smashing common sense with every action he took. I don¡¯t even understand why you didn¡¯t stop him from using the name of Skaria, you know how risky that name is with regards to the rest of Perlas.¡±

    Emmanuel crossed his arms and posed as if he was in thought, and Bashia only brought her hands behind her back and swayed her body where she stood. Emmanuel opened one eye, looking at Bashia, and she met his gaze. Bashia said nothing but only smiled.

    ¡°Why did I not stop him?¡± repeated Emmanuel, ¡°Well, I had a feeling that it would all work out. Besides, you¡¯ve seen his creations and his designs, right? Even if he did make a lot of enemies, he will surely be able to find allies with father and the engineers¡ªespecially with the Eskurs working in the academy. Also, when father came to me regarding being the Headmaster, I guessed it had something to do with Malachi. With him there, there¡¯s really nothing much to be worried about.¡±

    ¡°Something to worry about?¡± wondered Ibrahim, ¡°I¡¯m certain that once you announce to everyone about your family, we will have something to worry about: your brother, for example.¡±

    ¡°Which is why we have been preparing for such an occasion,¡± reassured Emmanuel, ¡°We¡¯ve already predicted that Elijah will cause problems for us¡ªespecially when he was the one that lost the most back then. It is understandable that he will hate us for it, adding on to his other hatreds for me.¡±

    Suddenly, Gregory pulled out a gun. It was a handgun, similar to what Malachi created, and he aimed it at one direction. His sudden action cause Emmanuel to pull out his own gun, and brought the two Eskurs behind him.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± whispered Emmanuel, ¡°Did we get followed, again?¡±

    Gregory did not reply and remained fixated in one direction. After a few tense seconds, Gregory relaxed his arms and holstered his gun.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± he apologized, ¡°I thought I sensed someone watching us.¡±

    ¡°Then,¡± added Emmanuel, ¡°Why not fire a warning shot just to make sure?¡±

    He fired a shot in the general direction where Gregory aimed at. After a while, there was nothing amiss in their surroundings, but Gregory still strained his senses to see if anything was wrong. Nevertheless, nothing happened, and they returned their attention to the Eskurs.

    ¡°Hmm, must have been the wind,¡± commented Gregory, ¡°Apologies, if I scared you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Gregory,¡± replied Bashia, ¡°All this secrecy is understandable. Besides, there will come a time when I will be able to walk with Emmanuel side-by-side in the open. I¡¯m willing to wait for such a time.¡±

    ¡°Then, let us cut this meeting short,¡± suggested Emmanuel, ¡°Like I said, you can visit the two during the Martial Competition and, as Malachi and I had promised, it will be the time that I will no longer hide this secret if he comes out victorious. I will speak with father to arrange an escort for you, just in case Elijah tries something.¡±

    Emmanuel approached Bashia and gave her a kiss before the four people parted. Once the two parties were gone, silence remained in the area; except, a lone man emerged from the shadows that was holding his left waist that bled. The man wore black exotic clothing with a hood and a mask. As the man held his bleeding waist, he ripped off his clothing, gouged his flesh with his hand and pulled out an object¡ªit was a bullet; the same bullet that Emmanuel shot. Since he was completely alone, he removed his mask and tore his hood to bandage his wound. Once he did so, his features were revealed. Black hair, like the Perlasians, but had black eyes and pale skin¡ªyet not as pale as Eskurs. The man gritted his teeth as he tended to his wound and stared where Emmanuel had gone off to.

    A few days later, Malachi still went through the academy in hiding. Since he had the class go on break, he spent the remaining days stuck in the armory studying the Hell Worm¡¯s carapace. During his freer times, the construction work on his requested training complex was ongoing that he occasionally dropped by to oversee its progress. Since he was the one who designed the supposed architecture, his input was greatly valued by those who were working on it. Even then, a few accidents were unavoidable since they were unable to see through solid rock and identify what could be hidden within the mountain.

    ¡°Pyrocite cluster!¡± warned a worker, ¡°Watch out!¡±

    A worker had unearthed a hefty deposit of pyrocite in front of everyone. Having hit the rock with a pickaxe, the rock collapsed showing an entire vein. Other workers were immediately dispatched to harvest the vein to let the construction work continue. The length of time stalled would depend on the size of the deposit, and would take at least two to three hours before they could continue again. At worst, they would need half a day to harvest all of the pyrocite.

    As for the harvested pyrocite, they naturally had uses for it, and were sent to the armory to be processed into ammunition. Although, a few crates were taken by groups of Eskurs for one other reason¡ªsuch as a lazy Hell Worm. Speaking of Hell Worms,

    ¡°It would be nice if I could get Jin to help out with the digging,¡± commented Malachi, ¡°But, with its current size, Jin would just be a hindrance to the workers.¡±

    Malachi was helping out with the digging and held a shovel. At the very least, he was shoveling the excavated soil and rock to clear out the site and to do his own digging around. He had a bag full of rocks due to his digging around. While the rocks varied in colors and sizes, he did not seem to have a particular goal in mind and just took anything that seemed colorful. Most of the rocks he found, however, were grayish to brownish black, and a number had brilliant luster. He seemed like a curious kid in the eyes of the others.

    Arlianne arrived to help him with a mine cart full of excavated rocks.

    ¡°What do you plan to do with those rocks?¡± she asked, ¡°I know you, Malachi. You certainly have a use for them.¡±

    Malachi picked up a rock to inspect it before tossing it away to grab another.

    ¡°I just needed to be certain of some things,¡± he replied, still picking up rocks, ¡°If I¡¯m right, then none of the rocks we¡¯ve found are useless. These rocks could even help us out.¡±

    Arlianne cocked her head in confusion. Malachi explained further.

    ¡°That flashlight the engineers got from the Eqari merchants,¡± he continued, ¡°They said that the empire was the first to produce them using electrocite. However, electrocite could only produce electricity. Meaning, that filament was made from another mineral.¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying, that mineral could also be found in one of these rocks?¡± she inquired, ¡°Do you plan to make your own flashlights?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, nah,¡± he denied, ¡°While it¡¯s good to produce our own electronics, I have something else in mind with that should be useful in my case.¡±

    There, a worker approached him.

    ¡°Excuse me, we found more of those rocks you are collecting,¡± said the worker, ¡°Would you like to have them?¡±

    Malachi looked at the worker and was guided to a pile of similar rocks. The rocks had appearances similar to what were in his bag. Malachi whistled in awe.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± he replied, ¡°Could you set them aside and make a delivery to the armory under my name, if possible?¡±

    ¡°Certainly.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    The worker signaled to the other workers to begin moving the pile of rocks. Malachi deposited his own collection on to the pile to be delivered, and the mine carts moved out of the area. Afterwards, the rocks would be collected by steam knights and would be sent to the armory. Malachi and the rest resumed their excavation.

    ¡°I wonder if I could find uranium here. Heh heh.¡±

    Malachi decided to finish up and leave the construction site with Arlianne. Like before, he would ¡°hide¡± himself from the rest of the academy as he proceeded towards whatever destination he had in mind. This time, he decided to go to the armory, but¡­

    His gaze was drawn to a young woman that stuck out like a sore thumb in the middle of the field. The young woman stuck out because of her blonde hair, blue eyes, and pale skin compared to the rest of the class she seemed to be drilling with. Well, rather than drilling, it was a reenactment of Malachi¡¯s first day in class, with two factions forming against one another. However, it was worse than Malachi¡¯s¡ªthe young woman was alone against the entire class.

    ¡°That¡¯s the imperial, right?¡± said Malachi, ¡°So, she got saddled with Class 7 and got isolated.¡±

    ¡°Want to have a look?¡± asked Arlianne.

    Malachi thought for a bit.

    ¡°Eh, sure,¡± he replied, ¡°Let¡¯s go ask Axton what happened.¡±

    When they reached Axton, like most, the drillmaster was surprised to suddenly find Malachi behind him. The two inquired the drillmaster about the situation, and it was roughly the same as Malachi¡¯s case¡ªthe seat of Class Leader.

    ¡°It would seem that the imperial boasted how she should be the leader compared to the people of a small kingdom like Perlas,¡± explained Axton, ¡°Well, it just burned the hearts of the class in anger, considering that Class 7 is filled with people who already experienced war first-hand.¡±

    Malachi observed Class 7¡¯s makeup, and found that each one could be considered as old as Patrick Bryant.

    ¡°Huh, I guess,¡± he commented, ¡°So¡­ why and how did the imperial get into Class 7 in the first place?¡±

    ¡°Truthfully? It was the only class with a free slot,¡± answered Axton, ¡°Since all the classes are full, and her grades weren¡¯t good enough to be placed in Class 1 or bad enough to be placed in Class 13, she was placed in there. Though, in hind sight, Class 7 is well-known to be the most patriotic of the bunch so it might have been a bad choice to put a proud Imperial there.¡±

    ¡°No kidding,¡± replied Malachi, ¡°Hmm, say, do you mind if we join in? I¡¯m getting a bit impatient with the lack of action, you see.¡±

    Axton stared at Malachi for a moment.

    ¡°Uh, you do understand that this is Class 7¡¯s problem, right?¡± clarified Axton, ¡°Why would you need to get yourself in trouble that you have no hand in to begin with?¡±

    Malachi looked at Class 7 about to duke it out.

    ¡°Come on, I¡¯m bored here,¡± he replied, ¡°I gave my class 2 days of rest¡ªI had to give them rest. With no one for me to piss off, all I can do is work in the armory or help with the construction and excavation.¡±

    ¡°Did you seriously just say you¡¯re just here to piss people off?¡± asked Axton, ¡°Unbelievable. Hey, since you¡¯re a prince, just make sure you don¡¯t bring that¡­ unsatisfactory behavior when meeting other officials. Please, we¡¯ve got enough problems at home; we don¡¯t need a reason for other states to start a war with us.¡±

    Malachi shrugged.

    ¡°Hey, if I can¡¯t make them change through amicable means,¡± he continued, ¡°I¡¯ll just flare them up and beat them down to submission. Besides, I always give them a choice: either to follow me or to go against me¡ªto be rewarded or to undergo suffering¡ªand those that do follow me, I keep my word and give them suitable rewards. Why the heck do you think I¡¯m out here in the first place?¡±

    Without another word, Malachi pulled Arlianne along and went towards the imperial girl, Erika Li. Axton tried to follow Malachi¡¯s silhouette but only found Arlianne in his field of vision. Malachi had returned to his hiding as he and Arlianne approached Erika despite the heavy atmosphere in the field.

    Once Malachi and Arlianne were only a few steps away from Erika, the imperial girl turned her head towards Arlianne.

    ¡°What are you doing here, Skaria girl?¡± she inquired, ¡°And¡­¡±

    With a raised brow, Erika looked towards an empty spot beside Arlianne.

    ¡°You¡­ are alone¡­?¡± she wondered, ¡°Is there something you need from me?¡±

    Arlianne still stood without a word before Erika, and the rest of Class 7 finally noticed their visitor. Before the next word could be said from whomever, Malachi appeared behind Erika and spoke beside her ear.

    ¡°Hello, Miss Beautiful,¡± he greeted, ¡°Would you care for my assistance?¡±

    A chill ran down Erika¡¯s spine and Arlianne covered her face with her palm in embarrassment. A moment later, Erika returned Malachi¡¯s greeting with a reverse hook kick followed up by a roundhouse then a leg sweep. Malachi reacted by back-flipping to avoid the first kick and landing with a handstand, continuing further back to avoid the next with another flip, and finally jumping out of the way to evade the sweep.

    In five seconds, the heavy atmosphere was dispelled with Malachi¡¯s sudden entrance and mischievous grin.

    ¡°Hahaha, well, that was a first,¡± laughed Malachi, ¡°Apologies if I scared you silly.¡±

    ¡°Baendan!¡± shrieked Erika, ¡°How did you¡­! When did you¡­!¡±

    ¡®Hmm, looks like I need to learn this girl¡¯s language if I am to effectively hide from her,¡¯ he thought, ¡®Her senses are pretty sharp since she noticed something strange earlier.¡¯

    Erika was still demanding an answer from Malachi.

    ¡°Answer me!¡± she bellowed, ¡°How did you get here!?¡±

    Malachi shrugged.

    ¡°While you were busy looking at Arlianne, I only came from behind you where none of you could see my approach,¡± he lied, ¡°I mean, seriously, I understand that you¡¯re all ready to tear each other¡¯s throats out, but to think you¡¯d actually lax your guard over your surroundings¡ªpathetic, really.¡±

    This time, the hate that was once being directed towards Erika was then placed on Malachi.

    ¡°Silence, child of filth!¡± roared a middle-aged man.

    Malachi looked towards Erika and pointed at the man with his thumb.

    ¡°See?¡± he added, ¡°Too much hate going around here that I had to use it as an opportunity to get close. Of course, with Arlianne¡¯s presence, some of the hate went towards her, making me slip in with extreme, and I repeat, extreme ease.¡±

    ¡°And what, pray tell, do you wish to achieve by coming here, Skaria?¡± inquired Erika, ¡°Do you wish to watch me defeat the rabble you call future soldiers of Perlas? That is all well, and I will show you the abilities of an imperial woman.¡±

    Malachi blinked repeatedly in silence before placing both of his hands behind his head.

    ¡°Uh, well, no. Not really,¡± he clarified, ¡°I was just wondering if you didn¡¯t mind reinforcements, seeing that you ARE up against¡­ one, two, three¡­ uh, wow, 49 cadets. That¡¯s a lot. I¡¯m certain even I would find it hard to go up against that number.¡±

    ¡°What a load of¡­¡± commented Arlianne before she stopped herself, ¡°Let me explain: Malachi is just bored and would like to have a bit of¡­ fun, in his sense of fun, and wishes to join you. We¡¯ve already received¡ªwell, not exactly received¡ªpermission from the drillmaster to do so.¡±

    Hearing this, a number of the other 49 members of Class 7 punched their palms in open and hostile anticipation. Erika looked at where Axton stood and only saw him watching them in silence. She returned her gaze to Malachi.

    ¡°Do NOT get in my way,¡± she said, ¡°I have no need for your help or any of your kingdom¡¯s help. We imperials are not as weak that we deem to request the help of others.¡±

    With that, she turned around and went for the weapon crates to pick up a gun. Except for the fact that Malachi was already a few steps in front of her. Erika and Class 7 were surprised and looked back and forth between where he was before and where he right after.

    ¡°Hmm, fusils and repeaters again?¡± He commented when he arrived at the crates. Malachi looked around and spotted an engineer on standby, and called for him. ¡°You, get a few crates of the new guns and bring them here. It should be time to allow the other classes to have an upgrade.¡±

    The engineer saluted and ran towards the armory.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± interrogated Erika, ¡°And what are you¡ª hey! Why did you lock the crates!?¡±

    Malachi sat on top of the sealed weapon crates and looked at Erika with a smile.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to see how well the superior imperials work under pressure with unfamiliar weapons,¡± he explained, ¡°It should be a good way for you to retract that the kingdom, my kingdom, is weak; wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡±

    ¡°I already told you not to get in my way!¡± she roared.

    ¡°And I am not getting in your way,¡± he replied, ¡°Well, not ¡®yet¡¯ anyway.¡±

    A while later, the engineer returned with a few steam knights carrying the crates of weapons he asked for, and replaced the fusils and repeaters with the guns he designed. However, when the rest of Class 7 arrived, a large man kicked a crate of assault rifles over.

    ¡°I refuse to use tainted weapons!¡± he bellowed, ¡°How dare you tarnish the pride of Perlasian engineers!?¡±

    ¡°Oh, for the love of¡­¡± said Malachi in exasperation, ¡°Tainted this, tainted that! Filth this, filth that! Fine, then! Use your shit fusils and repeaters, and we will use my assault rifles and other guns to beat you all to submission until you get in your stupid little heads that YOU. ARE. ALL. WHINEY. PIECES. OF. SHIT! Ms. Li, I will not get in your way, I promise you that. What I want you to do: is to beat these pieces of shit using that imperial prowess of yours and my weapons!¡±

    Another Class 7 cadet suddenly charged out in mad rage with both arms forward to grab Malachi where he stood. Instead, Malachi received the attack, parried one arm, twisted his hand and gripped the other arm, spun forward towards the cadet¡¯s back, locked the cadet¡¯s arm, and pinned the cadet to the ground. Without a chance for the cadet to realize what happened, Malachi chopped the back of the cadet¡¯s head, rendering the cadet unconscious. Malachi neutralized a cadet that was more than twice his age.

    As he stood up, Malachi glared at Erika, and she was already wide-eyed at his sudden change. However, she did not seem to be afraid as she immediately regained her composure in front of Malachi. She breathed in deeply before exhaling slowly.

    ¡°I¡­ understand.¡±

    While the 48 remaining members of Class 7 chose to wield the old weapons, Malachi and Arlianne gave Erika a crash course on the new weapons available. After the crash course, Erika was able to understand and execute the usage well enough that Malachi had a big smile plastered on his face as he taught. Even though the time Erika spent with each gun was shorter than the drillings he gave with Class 13, Erika was able to live up to her boasts about being an imperial to a frightening degree. In the end, Erika chose a weapon that neither Malachi nor Arlianne would have expected from her.

    Erika chose a handgun, and the highest caliber in Malachi¡¯s available arsenal: the bolt-action rifle.

    ¡°Uh, you sure?¡± wondered Malachi, ¡°Interesting. None of my class, except for me, could use that. Let¡¯s see how well you perform with it. Will you be using a scope?¡±

    Erika looked at the scope mounted on the rifle.

    ¡°No, no need,¡± she answered, ¡°I assume that this scope is meant to magnify far off targets, and will be useless when shooting anything closer.¡±

    She handed the rifle to Malachi and he removed the scope. This left the rifle with only its iron sights.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve already fixed the pyrocite dust amount for the cartridges and had new alloys for its construction,¡± he commented, ¡°That only leaves if you can handle the recoil. The prototype numbed my arms, by the way, and left a big mark on my entrance to the academy.¡±

    ¡°Hmph, worry not,¡± replied Erika, ¡°I will show you how well we Imperials perform on the battlefield.¡±

    Erika went on ahead and left Malachi and Arlianne alone with the other weapons. Arlianne turned to face Malachi.

    ¡°Is this all right?¡± she wondered.

    Malachi shrugged.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he answered, ¡°Besides, the bullets are all non-lethal. As long as they don¡¯t get hit in a sweet spot, they¡¯ll live.¡±

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t what I meant, Malachi,¡± she refuted, ¡°What I mean was, was it all right sharing to the others this early without the approval of Grandfather.¡±

    Malachi made a sidelong glance.

    ¡°Does it matter?¡± he returned, ¡°You did see what the soldiers are carrying now, right? They¡¯re all carrying the guns I designed, without my knowledge. This is just to get even. Although, Axton should be alarmed by the developments any time now, and should have dis¡ª Ayep, he¡¯s gone. He should have gone to Gramps, already.¡±

    ¡°You really don¡¯t care about what happens, do you?¡±

    ¡°Nope, I do not.¡±

 Campaign 20

    Campaign 20

    BANG!

    A single explosive gunshot resounded across the entire field. At ground zero was a young woman carrying a large rifle, and before her¡ªover a large distance¡ªwas a large man who flew back from the impact of the bullet that hit his shoulder.

    Once Erika found her first victim, she crouched down, pulled the charging handle to load the first bullet, took aim, and pulled the trigger. With the subsequent explosion of violent gases at the muzzle of her gun, the dust around her scattered and she was pushed back due to the recoil. Her hair and uniform fluttered in the air with the shockwave. However, compared to when Malachi demonstrated the prototype, the barrel did not shatter, and Erika was able to fix her posture, and pull the charging handle to eject the spent casing and to load the next bullet.

    Malachi whistled in awe.

    ¡°Holy¡­¡± he commented, ¡°I think I¡¯m in lov¡ª ow!? Hey!¡±

    Arlianne slammed the butt of her rifle on Malachi¡¯s head.

    ¡°Get a grip, Malachi,¡± she said disdainfully, ¡°There are other cadets closing in from her flanks.¡±

    Malachi massaged his head.

    ¡°All right, all right, relax,¡± he replied, ¡°Heh, didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be this jealo¡ª okay! Okay, covering the left flank!¡±

    He jumped up with his handgun and semiautomatic rifle when he finally saw Arlianne raising her rifle butt for another shot. Malachi ran towards Erika¡¯s left, and left Arlianne with the right flank. Arlianne carried a light machinegun and an assault rifle, instead, and looked for a place to provide overwatch. Malachi did the same by climbing up a large container and going prone with his semiautomatic rifle.

    ¡°Providing covering fire!¡± announced Malachi, ¡°Taking shots!¡±

    BANG! BANG!

    He shot two more cadets that were nearing Erika¡¯s left flank and she, herself, took out three more cadets in front of her. The other cadets of Class 7 could do nothing with the weapons they had on hand. While the power of the fusils and repeaters were to be reckoned with, their less than effective ranges could not outmatch the range of rifled barrels and cartridge ammunition of Malachi¡¯s weapons. To get a land on any of them, those carrying fusils had to get within half the effective range of, in this case, the bolt-action rifle. However, doing so would bring them in range of the semiautomatic rifle and the light machinegun. This left them with no other option but to hide most of the time.

    ¡°Come on! Is this all you¡¯ve got!?¡± taunted Malachi, ¡°Hurry up and come closer! Or do you think that hiding for so long will make us go to you, instead, eh!? HA! We¡¯re not so stupid so as to fall for your obvious ploys!¡±

    ¡°Coward!¡± taunted another cadet back, ¡°You dare use your range to shoot from a safe distance?!¡±

    ¡°BULLSHIT!¡± replied Malachi, ¡°Aren¡¯t we all cowards?! Using guns to shoot from a safe distance, what in all Hells could be more cowardly than that, eh?! HAHAHAHA!¡±

    Erika glanced back at the cackling Malachi.

    ¡®Isn¡¯t he a bit too high-strung?¡¯ she thought, ¡®This is different from what I¡¯ve heard¡­¡¯

    BANG!

    While Erika was deep in thought, she found herself before a charging woman with a handcannon. However, due to Malachi¡¯s support, the woman was knocked out with a shot to the side of her head.

    ¡°Oy! Imperial! The Hell was that?!¡± called out Malachi, ¡°Get a grip!¡±

    ¡°Baendan, I don¡¯t need you to remind me!¡± she shouted back.

    ¡°Baendan? What the hell is a baendan?!¡± replied Malachi, ¡°Speak Perlasian!¡±

    As the exchanged shouts, a pair of cadets came out of hiding and charged towards Erika¡¯s position.

    ¡°How dare you harm your elders, whelp!¡± roared one of them.

    ¡°We¡¯ll put you in your place!¡± added the other.

    BRRRRRTTTT!

    A stream of bullets tore through their path, forcing the two cadets to dive for cover. When the shooting stopped, they popped their heads out only to be shot by Malachi and Erika respectively.

    BANG!

    BANG!

    Over the distance, the muzzle of Arlianne¡¯s LMG was steaming. The LMG was mounted on a crate she seemingly brought with her, which helped with her aim and the recoil. As for the girl, herself, she swiveled to the right and let loose another stream of bullets, suppressing the advancing cadets.

    ¡°Oh yeah?! Let me throw it back at ya!¡± shouted Malachi, ¡°How dare ya use yer age as a form of authority! War does not care about one¡¯s age, one¡¯s race, one¡¯s beliefs, or one¡¯s pedigree! All that matters in war are those who live and those who die! All are equal in the eyes of death! ALOHA SNACKBAR! AKAKAKAKAK¡ª¡°

    BANG!

    ¡°Woah, friendly fire!¡± He roared towards Arlianne who shot him with an assault rifle.

    ¡°How about you get a grip, Malachi?!¡± she shouted in exasperation.

    ¡°Sorry! HAHAHA!¡±

    .

    In the end, with Malachi¡¯s¡­ support, Erika was able to overpower the 48-strong Class 7, with her kill count at 27 cadets. Malachi had 11 kills and Arlianne had 10. This resulted in even lesser acceptance from Class 7.

    ¡°I refuse to work with an Imperial that sought help from a Skaria!¡± declared a cadet, ¡°Fighting with ignobility¡­ Just like your kin and name!¡±

    Malachi made choleric eyes and narrowed them from irritation. With his dexterity, he was already aiming his handgun at the responsible cadet. In alarm, the other cadets responded in raising their fusils and repeaters against him, and Arlianne went forward to protect Malachi.

    ¡°What is going on here?!¡± a man¡¯s voice exploded from afar, ¡°Malachi! What are you doing in another class¡¯s exercises?!¡±

    It was Eleazar, accompanied by Axton, and he saw 40+ cadets aiming their guns at Malachi. Malachi looked at Eleazar.

    ¡°Tsk.¡± He clicked his tongue. Malachi holstered his gun and turned to Erika. ¡°Thanks for the stress relief. Let¡¯s go, Arlianne.¡±

    He pulled Arlianne towards him, while she still faced the mad class behind them. Only when Malachi strongly tugged at her did she cease, and faced forward towards Eleazar. Erika watched as Malachi¡¯s silhouette slowly shrunk and approached Eleazar, and looked back at her still unaccepting class.

    -

    Malachi and Arlianne were in Eleazar¡¯s office, while the Headmaster was seated and was massaging his face.

    ¡°So, tell me again how you reached that in the first place,¡± he requested, ¡°Class 7 is the worst class for you to go up against, Malachi.¡±

    ¡°Worst? Then that would be for the best,¡± argued Malachi, ¡°At least I know which classes hate me the most, aside from Class 1, of course.¡±

    Eleazar stared into his eyes.

    ¡°I just sent you to detention for one day,¡± he continued, ¡°And you just had that scuffle with Alexa¡­ why are you making things harder for yourself?¡±

    Malachi leaned forward on the desk between them.

    ¡°Harder?¡± he repeated, ¡°Hardly, Gramps. This will make things easier for me to know which ones will be handsomely rewarded and viciously punished once the Martial Competition comes around. Besides, this is just cheap and trivial hate, incomparable to the incoming strife in the future. Unless, you¡¯re just like them, stuck in the past and are unable to see into the future. Of course, future sight is impossible, what I meant was foresight.¡±

    Malachi stood up straight.

    ¡°If everything is in order,¡± he continued, ¡°You will be unable to see the inner misgivings of those you oversee. Introducing a bit of chaos and anarchy will be enough to pull out even just an inkling of their darkest thoughts. This hate, this anger¡­ I admit that I never expected that my name as a Skaria would be that heavy, but it just makes it all the more worthwhile to rile them up. Words released out of spite, out of anger, are the most honest words I can receive. You should understand, how sweet the words of delegates from other states are, when they are just poison coated in honey.¡±

    Eleazar closed his eyes and sighed.

    ¡°But that still does not mean you can intervene in another class¡¯s exercises!¡± he scolded, ¡°Especially letting the Imperial use your weapons without my explicit permission!¡±

    Malachi smiled mischievously.

    ¡°So you still suspect her?¡± he wondered, ¡°Being a spy, I mean.¡±

    ¡°You¡­¡± replied Eleazar.

    ¡°Yes,¡± agreed Malachi, ¡°To be honest, I¡¯ve asked Clara about it and she told me what you all thought¡ªwhat you feel is like how I felt: we need to watch her, closely. And, like I said, riling people up lets them slip their innermost thoughts, like I did with you, Grandfather.¡±

    Eleazar clenched his fist, but released his tension and sighed.

    ¡°Damn, to think I¡¯d be brought along with your pace,¡± he commented, ¡°It¡¯s scary how you have a way with words, Malachi. The reports about you never said anything about this; any particular reason how you came about it?¡±

    ¡°You will know, in time, Gramps,¡± answered Malachi, ¡°For now, be satisfied that you are not the only one curious about Ms. Li, if that really is her name. Besides, with her usage of the bolt-action rifle, I can already push through with the other projects in my head.¡±

    Eleazar raised a brow.

    ¡°Does that have something to do with the ores you found in the excavation?¡± he wondered, ¡°I saw them, Malachi. That is quite the number of ores.¡±

    ¡°Oh, so you know what each one is?¡± replied Malachi, ¡°Can you help me out, then?¡±

    Eleazar shook his head.

    ¡°While I know that they are ores, I have no idea what their uses would be,¡± he clarified, ¡°That said, you also thought of them as ores? Do you mean to say that you know how to use them?¡±

    ¡°I will get there, eventually,¡± answered Malachi, ¡°For now, I need to identify which ones will be useful for me.¡±

    Eleazar leaned back on his chair and looked at Malachi.

    ¡°Aside from weapons design and production, you also plan to enter metallurgy,¡± he said, ¡°Anything else you wish to enter to?¡±

    Malachi laughed.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    ¡°Metallurgy is a given, Gramps,¡± he replied, ¡°I mean, if I want to make effective armor and bullets, I need to know which materials give the best results. As for other fields, I suppose I¡¯d like to enter Animal Husbandry. I plan to tame some more beasties to help out with production.¡±

    ¡°Specifically?¡± requested Eleazar.

    ¡°Fire Ants, Garms, Garudas, Manticores, Hell Worms, and the other monsters that can be utilized in war,¡± answered Malachi, ¡°I understand that it will cause panic with idiots from the generation before mine, with my uncle, but that is a small price to pay to create efficient tools that this kingdom can use. If they can¡¯t forget the past, I won¡¯t force them. However, if they won¡¯t forgive it, I will make them change their minds.¡±

    .

    After Malachi shared his sentiments with Eleazar, he took Arlianne with him and went to the armory. Eleazar stared at the door to his office, seemingly burning a hole through them, for a long while until a knock could be heard.

    ¡°Enter.¡± He said.

    The door opened and a young woman entered. Eleazar raised a brow once he saw who she was.

    ¡°Li Erika greets the Headmaster.¡± She said. Erika clasped her hands together and bowed towards Eleazar while greeting him. ¡°I have a request, if you would permit it.¡±

    ¡°A request, you say? Very well,¡± he replied, ¡°What do you wish?¡±

    Erika stood up straight at attention. Both of her hands were clipped firmly on her sides.

    ¡°Calm down, girl,¡± advised Eleazar, ¡°We may be a military academy, but you are all still students. No need to be so tense.¡±

    ¡°Others may behave as such,¡± replied Erika, ¡°But you are the Headmaster and, first and foremost, a former king. This level of respect is needed when facing one with such backgrounds.¡±

    ¡°Well, all right,¡± said Eleazar, ¡°So, what was your request?¡±

    ¡°I request for a class transfer,¡± she answered, ¡°If it would be permissible, would it be possible to be in a class that would be willing to utilize my skills to its maximum potential?¡±

    Eleazar recalled the discussion he had with Malachi about her.

    ¡°A ¡®class transfer,¡¯ is it?¡± he repeated, ¡°Hmm, I will consider it. Was Class 7 that bad?¡±

    ¡°While Class 7 is united with their beliefs, that belief of theirs will make it difficult for myself to effectively learn and remain in the academy,¡± explained Erika, ¡°Something that I was able to learn, earlier.¡±

    The eyes of Eleazar narrowed when he heard her reason.

    ¡°That is all?¡± he wondered.

    Erika nodded firmly.

    ¡°That is an affirmative, Headmaster,¡± she replied, ¡°I learned that even as an Imperial, I need the help of others to survive, especially in unfamiliar lands.¡±

    ¡°You seem to be a quick learner,¡± commented Eleazar, ¡°All right; I¡¯ll see what I can do. You¡¯ll be notified within the week, so please put up with your current class for the time being.¡±

    ¡°I give you much of my gratitude, Headmaster.¡± She replied. Erika bowed towards Eleazar before turning to leave. ¡°I shall depart.¡±

    When Erika finally left, Eleazar was alone with his thoughts.

    ¡®Were Imperials this stiff?¡¯ he wondered, ¡®Or maybe I¡¯m too used to the peace in the kingdom?¡¯

    He pulled open a drawer and took out stacks of papers. There were 13 stacks and each paper was the record of a student. One stack was set aside and, on top of this stack, was Alexa¡¯s record. The stack was presumably Class 1¡¯s records. One after the next, Eleazar scanned through the documents, reading each one of the students¡¯ information until finally landing on Class 13¡¯s records. Malachi¡¯s record was on top of Class 13¡¯s stack.

    ¡°¡­ We need to watch her, closely¡­¡± he recalled Malachi¡¯s words.

    Eleazar sighed in defeat.

    ¡°I wonder if he planned it all this far?¡± He said to no one in particular. ¡°Expend additional effort in unmasking the boy.¡±

    A soft whistle was heard.

    -

    On the way to the armory, Malachi and Arlianne were met by a familiar face. It was a man with slightly spiky black hair with it tied into a small tail trailing down his nape. He wore the standard issue military officer¡¯s uniform and the patches revealed the figure of a falcon. One of his legs, however, moved awkwardly with each step as he approached the pair before him.

    ¡°Lakeng,¡± said Malachi, ¡°Long time, no see.¡±

    The man smiled.

    ¡°I see you still remember me,¡± replied Lakeng, ¡°How are you two? I had a hard time looking for you, Malachi; to think that you could hide in plain sight.¡±

    Malachi frowned.

    ¡®He can sense me, huh? I didn¡¯t expect him to appear before me.¡¯ He thought. Malachi looked at the leg that was moving strangely. ¡°Looks like you got a prosthetic for your leg, or is it just a peg?¡±

    Lakeng shrugged.

    ¡°His Highness got it for me,¡± he explained, ¡°It took me a while to get used to it, but it does help with me moving around.¡±

    ¡°So, what did you need from me?¡± asked Malachi, ¡°You should have a reason to specifically look for me, right?¡±

    Lakeng looked around.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± he said, ¡°I can only tell the things I will say to you, and no one else.¡±

    ¡°Even Arlianne?¡± added Malachi, ¡°She is in the know, after all.¡±

    ¡°Fine, but just make sure that nobody else will know about it.¡±

    Lakeng led the two to an unpopulated location behind one of the buildings. Once he made sure that no one followed them, even throwing a few rocks at seemingly random locations, he faced Malachi and Arlianne with a severe expression.

    ¡°Alexa is missing,¡± he announced.

    Malachi did not react but Arlianne had an expression of shock and covered her mouth. Lakeng, however, frowned at Malachi¡¯s lack of interest.

    ¡°You don¡¯t care?¡± he asked, ¡°You were the last person she spoke to; I thought you would know something.¡±

    ¡°Yes, we spoke to one another,¡± sighed Malachi, ¡°But that does not mean I am at fault for whatever decision she ultimately makes.¡±

    ¡°A decision your conversation influenced!¡± bellowed Lakeng, ¡°I know, Malachi. I know how and what she felt about you but, this is how you act?¡±

    A smirk floated on Malachi¡¯s face.

    ¡°And? How much do you even know?¡± he threw back, ¡°I must say that I am at fault for not asking questions back then, but I had to respect her circumstances even if I ended up unknowingly betraying her in the end. I always thought of the one back then as ¡®Axel¡¯ and not ¡®Alexa,¡¯ Lakeng. What did you expect me to do? I never expected that the little boy back then was the daughter of Prince Elijah Perlas.¡±

    Lakeng slammed his fist on a nearby wall.

    ¡°So what!?¡± he cried, ¡°So what if you are a Skaria!? She loved you, man! She loved you ever since then!¡±

    ¡°Malachi¡­¡± called out Arlianne.

    Malachi closed his eyes and sighed.

    ¡°Love, is that really so powerful?¡± he thought out loud, ¡°I ask you, Lakeng. Considering that you have been with her since she was young, does Alexa love her father?¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± answered Lakeng, ¡°Ever since 15 years ago, the Prince has been her only family after the war!¡±

    Malachi¡¯s eyes opened and gazed at Lakeng. He stepped forward until he and Lakeng were just within arm¡¯s reach.

    ¡°Who does she love the most?¡± he asked, ¡°Me, or her father? Does the Prince even know what his daughter feels about me? Do you even understand what will happen if Alexa becomes forced to choose between two people who are as important as the other, but are of opposing sides? I know how the Prince thinks of Eskurs; I also know that Clan Skaria has it the worst. Do you expect me to bring great suffering to Alexa just because of how she feels about me? I can¡¯t even say what will happen once the time comes.¡±

    Lakeng¡¯s mouth repeatedly opened and closed, unsure of what to say. Malachi stepped back and turned around.

    ¡°Again, I ask you,¡± he continued, ¡°How much do you even know?¡±

    Malachi walked away and held Arlianne¡¯s hand to bring her with him. He no longer bothered to hide his presence, knowing that Alexa was no longer in the academy. Just before he turned to a corner, Lakeng called out to him one last time.

    ¡°I know, Malachi,¡± he said, ¡°Malachi Skaria¡­ Perlas.¡±

    This time, Malachi stopped walking. Even Arlianne froze in place and rigidly turned towards Lakeng.

    ¡°So, you know a lot,¡± commented Malachi, ¡°Does Uncle know, too? What about Alexa?¡±

    Malachi turned to face Lakeng with a smile. His smile, however, sent chills down Lakeng¡¯s spine.

    ¡®Something¡¯s wrong,¡¯ thought Lakeng, ¡®What happened to him after all those years?¡¯

    Lakeng took a deep breath before replying.

    ¡°Alexa knows nothing,¡± he said, ¡°As for the Prince, I cannot say.¡±

    ¡°Hahaha, well, it doesn¡¯t matter if you can¡¯t say,¡± replied Malachi, ¡°It was a rhetorical question. Since you know, Uncle¡¯s entire faction surely knows. That¡¯s good.¡±

    Both Arlianne and Lakeng¡¯s eyes went wide.

    ¡°Malachi?!¡± cried Arlianne, ¡°The worst person to know about us is your uncle! How is this good?!¡±

    Malachi started to walk.

    ¡°Because time will tell whether or not this will be the last time we will talk peaceably with past friends.¡± He said. Without turning around, he bid farewell to the stunned Falcon. ¡°See you, Lakeng. It was nice to meet you again. I hope we don¡¯t end up as enemies in the future.¡±

    Arlianne looked back and forth between Malachi and Lakeng, confusion in her eyes. Malachi was still walking away and was already far off. This forced Arlianne to grit her teeth and chase after his receding silhouette after giving a few last words to Lakeng.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for his actions, Lakeng.¡±

    Lakeng was still rooted where he stood. However, he became negligent and did not realize that there were other presences in the surroundings.

    .

    ¡®This is bad¡­¡¯ thought one of the presences.

    The presences disappeared right after.

    -

    ¡°Malachi¡­ Malachi¡­!¡± called out Arlianne, ¡°Malachi!¡±

    As Malachi walked away, Arlianne reached out to his shoulder and pulled him to her. It was a surprise to her, though, when he faced him. Malachi was breathing strangely with unfocused eyes.

    ¡°Malachi¡­?¡± she repeated his name.

    Since he stopped walking, Malachi collapsed on a nearby wall and was held closely by Arlianne.

    ¡°Dammit, things will be more difficult from here on,¡± he whispered, ¡°I don¡¯t have enough information and I can¡¯t predict what Alexa might do¡­¡±

    Arlianne watched Malachi talk to himself.

    ¡°Malachi, were you serious when you said it was good that your uncle knows about us?¡± she asked, ¡°You should understand how bad that will mean for all of us.¡±

    Malachi looked at her.

    ¡°Definitely,¡± he replied, ¡°A civil war will have more than a 90% chance of erupting. Once Pops announces to the entire kingdom about us¡­ By then, I will know who to trust and who to crush. For now, I don¡¯t have enough information. Alexa became a wild card and we still need to observe that Imperial. That said¡­¡±

    Malachi looked over the distance.

    ¡°Clara, I know you¡¯re there,¡± he suddenly said, ¡°Stop hiding and come out.¡±

    A shadow appeared on the ground and a womanly figure dropped in from above. It was Clara, but she was not wearing her librarian¡¯s uniform. Instead, she was wearing black and dark blue colored light clothing that stuck on her body. She landed with a crouch, stood up, and pouted at Malachi¡¯s discovery of her.

    ¡°Hmph, from since how long ago did you know?¡± she asked.

    Since Clara was standing, she was looking down at Malachi who was seated and leaning against the wall. Malachi smirked when she asked the question.

    ¡°Lakeng was negligent,¡± he commented, ¡°I¡¯ve already noticed you when we crossed paths with Lakeng. He was, I suppose, too preoccupied with Alexa¡¯s disappearance. Heh, he was able to find me, but not you. Yet you were unable to perceive me, but he did. Some spies the two of you are.¡±

    Clara frowned and bent down.

    ¡°Oh? And what makes you better than any of us, huh?¡± she provoked, ¡°You were unable to sense His Highness before, when we first met in the library.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, and after that,¡± continued Malachi, ¡°I found a few of your ¡®shadows¡¯ hidden in the ceiling. If we will make this into a contest, then there are at least four other people watching over me, right?¡±

    Clara froze. It seemed he hit the mark.

    ¡°I like that look on your face, Clara,¡± commented Malachi, ¡°That dilation of your eyes when you realize something is beyond your comprehension, I like it.¡±

    In panic, Clara stood up straight, away from Malachi, and nearly fell on her back. Malachi stood up and dusted his uniform. He also gestured to Arlianne to be quiet for a while, seeing that she was about to speak. Malachi went forward and pinned Clara to a pillar.

    ¡°Since you all have been following me around,¡± he continued, ¡°You all heard what Lakeng and I talked about, right?¡±

    Clara¡¯s eyes swam. Malachi went closer to her face and placed his lips next to her ear.

    ¡°Fol¡ªw my w¡ªds,¡± he whispered in the Perlasian language, ¡°F¡ªget a¡ª ¡ªu ha¡ª h¡ªrd, ¡ªd go to sl¡ªp.¡±

    ¡°Follow my words. Forget all you have heard, and go to sleep.¡± He wanted to make Clara forget his conversation with Lakeng. To forget Alexa¡¯s disappearance, and to forget about Elijah knowing Malachi¡¯s secret.

    ¡°I¡­¡± said Clara. Before she could finish, her eyes became heavy and fell asleep.

    Seeing this, four other shadows appeared to support Clara.

    ¡°Malachi?!¡± roared one of the shadows.

    Two Shadows turned to Malachi with grappling movements, seemingly wanting to apprehend Malachi. Malachi reacted with a whisper.

    ¡°Sp¡ªd.¡±

    Malachi¡¯s movements became noticeably faster, and he arrived next to the Shadow¡¯s face. Malachi repeated the words he said to Clara to the shadow, and the shadow fell on the spot. The three remaining shadows became alarmed and worked together to neutralize Malachi. Arlianne just watched as Malachi fought against three Shadows, on his own, and held his ground effortlessly. However, when another Shadow fell asleep, the two remaining Shadows had to pull out weapons. Malachi smiled at the sight.

    ¡°Stun rods!¡± cheered Malachi, ¡°Good job developing those!¡±

    The shadows stilled momentarily. They did not expect Malachi to know about their weapons, and this gave Malachi the opportunity to attack.

    ¡°Sp¡ªd. St¡ªngth.¡±

    With his explosive speed, he was able to reach one of the stunned Shadows, and punched the Shadow¡¯s solar plexus. The Shadow lost his breath, and Malachi turned to the remaining Shadow who was about to run.

    ¡°You, s¡ªw do¡ª,¡± he said to the Shadow.

    The Shadow unknowingly slowed his pace, and gave Malachi enough time to catch up with his speed to whisper his orders. Once the third Shadow fell asleep, Malachi returned his attention to the breathless Shadow on the ground.

    The Shadow clenched his fists as he looked up at the approaching Malachi.

    ¡°Mo-Monster¡­¡± commented the Shadow.

    Malachi smirked as he crouched down.

    ¡°Maybe I am,¡± he replied, ¡°Now¡­¡±

    He repeated the same words to the Shadow, and the last Shadow finally fell asleep. Five people wearing the same clothes were lying on the ground. Fortunately, they were situated in an isolated location, far from the populated pathways. Once he was finished, Malachi returned to Arlianne to find her, not in fear, but with eyes filled with resolve.

    ¡°You won¡¯t ask?¡± he inquired.

    Arlianne shook her head.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter anymore,¡± she answered, ¡°You have your reasons, and I already vowed to follow you wherever you go. Just promise me, though, that you will never betray your family.¡±

    Malachi placed his hand on Arlianne¡¯s head.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he said, ¡°From my life before, to my life now, I have never betrayed my family.¡±

 Campaign 21

    Campaign 21

    A week had passed since Malachi and his class subjugated the Hell Worm. During that week, the construction for Malachi¡¯s training complex was still ongoing and was nearing the halfway point. Since Alexa had gone missing, Malachi no longer needed to hide his presence from the academy and openly walked free of worry¡ªwell, not entirely free, since he had to take note of any inconveniences that may result from Alexa¡¯s disappearance; for example, an increasing frequency of hostile encounters from Class 1 and, due to his hijacking of their drills, from Class 7. Nevertheless, their attempts to make him suffer was all for naught as they were either beaten down in fair matches overseen by Axton or deterred completely by Malachi being in the armory due to the strict engineers.

    By the start of the following week, another event occurred in Class 13¡¯s room.

    ¡°Due to certain circumstances, you will be having a new classmate,¡± announced Carlos, ¡°Please enter and introduce yourself to the class, Ms. Li.¡±

    Class 7¡¯s Erika Li had been transferred into Class 13, causing an excessive amount of attention from the rest of Class 13. As for Malachi, Arlianne glanced towards his direction and found him ignoring the entrance of their new classmate and focused on writing in his notebook. Erika passed through the doorway, scanned the class as she approached the front, and stiffly marched before them. Once she reached Carlos¡¯ side, she mechanically faced the class with both hands clasped to her back.

    ¡°Greetings, fellow cadets!¡± she said, ¡°I am¡ªin accordance with your custom¡ªErika Li, and I came from the Empire of Taijun as a foreign student!¡±

    As expected from being born in the Empire, Erika¡¯s introduction was tense and extremely disciplined. Her introduction managed to garner a few raised brows, especially when she clasped her hands and bowed towards Malachi at the end.

    ¡°I thank the Headmaster for giving me an opportunity to thank Skaria for the lesson,¡± she said, ¡°I never thought that I would be placed in your class after that incident with my former class.¡±

    An Eskur next to Malachi tugged his sleeve.

    ¡°Young Master, what did she mean by that?¡± asked Dinah, ¡°It seems as if you had something to do with her transfer.¡±

    Malachi lifted neither his eyes nor his pen from the notebook, and answered Dinah.

    ¡°I just forced her to realize that she will be unable to do everything on her own,¡± he replied, ¡°Afterwards, I left. I hadn¡¯t thought that she would request a class transfer, and neither did I think that the Headmaster would actually put her in here.¡±

    Although he was indifferent to the situation, his eyes had narrowed and the corners of his lips went slightly upward.

    Naturally, this treatment towards Malachi was surprising since they all knew how severe the treatment against Eskurs was in the Empire. Erika¡¯s initial hostility towards Malachi when they first met had lessened somewhat, but her imperial stiffness was still present and caused a bit of difficulty when identifying her amity. Still, Malachi quietly acknowledged Erika¡¯s gratitude. Though, this unusual gesture also garnered a bit of attention. He would usually be loud and annoying, but he suppressed himself this time.

    A few thoughts from his classmates assumed his intentions.

    ¡®He surely has ulterior motives,¡¯ thought Patrick.

    ¡®Malachi should have something in mind,¡¯ thought Rae, ¡®The last time he was quiet was¡­ I cannot recall¡­¡¯

    ¡®Did he plan this?¡¯ thought Arlianne, ¡®Class 13 is, technically, a ¡°class of rejects.¡± I wouldn¡¯t put it past him to make things easier for himself.¡¯

    And the like, as they had already come to terms with Malachi¡¯s out-of-the-ordinary personality.

    -

    Since Class 13 had accomplished their previously assigned mission, their exemptions were no longer in effect, and were now tasked to resume their normal classes. Of course, since the previous weeks had them outside of the curriculum, they were left behind by the other classes and were forced to catch up. Well, that was for the rest of Class 13. For Malachi and Arlianne, most of what they were learning in class, they had already learned ahead of time due to Ibrahim¡¯s tutoring or due to Malachi¡¯s past knowledge. The words were different, but the logic and theories were the same, causing Malachi to merely replace the respective words used in his past life with the words used in his present life.

    The only time he would attentively listen was during Arts and Sciences. Anything he could read from a book, he already knew, but anything in life could change causing him to compare what he knew with what their teachers taught. Although, the moment Malachi spoke a word, their classes would always turn into a debate or a discussion, giving his class and his teachers a new way of learning. The most heated discussions were, unsurprisingly, between him and Erika.

    Erika, coming from an Imperial background, had a different world-view compared to those born in Perlas. This was especially true when it came to Malachi who had the best and worst of two worlds; physically, mentally, and spiritually. Malachi¡¯s unorthodox thoughts clashed with Erika¡¯s upbringing and with Perlasian understanding. Still, despite his unusually well-learned thoughts, his words were easy to comprehend and made it able to shed new light on newer knowledge¡ªnewer in the case for his classmates.

    However, as long as he shared his thoughts, the gazes of his teachers would always focus on him¡ªboth in wonder and in suspicion¡ªfor they were still subordinated to Eleazar.

    When a teacher finished class and bid farewell to Class 13, this teacher did not go back to the faculty rooms but went to the Headmaster¡¯s office. The guards freely let the teacher enter the room with just the locking of their gazes, and Eleazar let the teacher enter after a certain series of knocks.

    ¡°Are you here to report something?¡± asked Eleazar.

    The teacher nodded.

    ¡°Regarding that task about watching over your grandson, sir,¡± said the teacher, ¡°I do not believe that he truly is your kin.¡±

    Eleazar raised a brow.

    ¡°Your reason?¡± he urged.

    The teacher cleared their throat.

    ¡°Malachi is too well-learned for his age,¡± answered the teacher, ¡°Even if his records age him at fifteen years¡ªthe amount of things he knows¡ªI believe that I would need my entire lifetime to know everything he had shared even if I¡¯ve read all the books this world has to offer. This contrast with the earlier reports from his childhood is too extreme. I believe that there is a possibility that the real Malachi had already gone and was replaced by this person we see before us.¡±

    Another knock came from the door.

    ¡°Enter,¡± said Eleazar.

    A soldier immediately entered his room.

    ¡°Your Highness, an applicant has appeared at the registration hall,¡± reported the soldier, ¡°You might, uh¡­ you might want to look at it, sir.¡±

    The newcomer handed to Eleazar a piece of paper containing the details of the applicant. It only took Eleazar a moment to realize why the soldier was hesitant about it and understood the strangeness of the situation. He lowered the paper and massaged his head.

    ¡°This generation is beginning to become a damned headache.¡± He commented. Eleazar looked at the soldier in the eye. ¡°Have the others noticed yet?¡±

    The soldier shook his head.

    ¡°No, sir,¡± he said, ¡°Only the higher ups and Shadows recognized the applicant.¡±

    Eleazar stared long and hard at the paper in his hands. For a while, the room was silent, save for the ticking of the clock. Eleazar heaved a sigh and pulled open a drawer from his desk and pulled out a small disc. It was a coin with a hole in the middle that seemed to have resulted from a bullet puncture. He flipped the coin across his palm with nostalgic eyes before placing it atop his thumb. With a flick of his thumb, the coin launched into the air with an excellent spin and caught it in midair once it dropped to his eye level. For someone in his early sixties, Eleazar¡¯s reflexes were in top condition.

    The teacher and the soldier waited with bated breath. It would seem that this action of Eleazar was nothing new for them since they did not have befuddled eyes, but anticipating eyes. Eleazar only felt the shape of the coin in his hands to know the answer. A soft laugh left his throat.

    ¡°Haha, is this what you suggest, my friend?¡± He said to no one in particular. Eleazar looked at the soldier and gestured him to receive the document. ¡°Let¡¯s see how it plays out? After all, I can only guide the succeeding generations.¡±

    .

    At the gates of the academy was a young Perlasian wearing the uniform of the academy. The back of his head had black hair that reached just above his nape, and his bangs split evenly before his face. On his back was a bag, similar in design to Malachi¡¯s backpacks, and had a rod jutting out of its top flap. The young man was approached by a faculty.

    ¡°Mr¡­¡± the faculty looked at the document in their hands, ¡°Mr. Jamante? Due to your, uh, sudden enrollment, you will immediately be placed in a class with a free slot. Looking at the results of your scout and exams, you are qualified to be in Classes 2 to 6, and out of those five, only Class 3 has a free slot.¡±

    ¡°I see. Then, are you the faculty in charge of that class?¡± Asked the young man whose voice was a bit feminine, but still boyish¡ªan androgynous voice.

    The faculty¡¯s head shook.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m just here to guide you there,¡± said the faculty, ¡°Classes are currently in session, so the faculty in charge of that class is busy teaching. Oh, but they have already been notified.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    The young man smiled amicably.

    ¡°I am excited to meet new friends.¡± He said. When he smiled, the faculty with him stared at him for a while since his androgynous voice and features made him look fairly attractive. ¡°Shall we go on ahead, teacher?¡±

    The faculty snapped out of their daze.

    ¡°Ah, yes, let us go.¡±

    The faculty and the young man passed by a number of cadets on their way to Class 3. Among the cadets, some had to do a double-take after glancing at the young man, making their companions ask.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s up?¡± asked a cadet.

    ¡°Uh, I¡­¡± said another hesitantly, ¡°I thought I saw someone familiar¡­¡±

    The two cadets looked at the young man walking with the faculty. Their silhouettes slowly shrunk in the distance.

    ¡°Huh, a new cadet?¡± said the first, ¡°At this time? We seem to be getting a lot of late enrollees and transferees lately. What about him?¡±

    ¡°Er, no, I must have been seeing things,¡± replied the second, ¡°Yeah¡­ that must be it.¡±

    The first cadet scratched the back of his head as he looked at his companion.

    -

    Malachi, as usual, went to the armory with Arlianne. This time, he was to inspect the various rocks¡ªor ores¡ªhe had gathered from the construction site. There were already a number of engineers around the pile of rocks, and he was approached by Remi once he entered.

    ¡°What do you plan to do with these rocks?¡± she asked, ¡°Some of those seem to be iron ore, but a number of them have yet to be unidentified.¡±

    Malachi smiled at the little girl.

    ¡°You¡¯ll see in time,¡± he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Once I figure out which ones contain metals, you¡¯ll see what I mean to do to them. Can I borrow a smelter?¡±

    ¡°We have a few at the back,¡± she replied, ¡°Do you know how to use them, though?¡±

    ¡°Nope, I¡¯ll just have some of your men teach me how to.¡±

    Remi gestured towards a few engineers, and had them assist with whatever Malachi needed to do. Afterwards, Malachi and Arlianne were led to the rear of the armory where there were numerous vents letting loose gusts of hot air. Under the light, the images of the surroundings blurred from the heat. Once they went through a door, however,

    ¡°Good gods, that is hot,¡± commented Malachi, ¡°How in all Hells do these guys survive this heat?¡±

    The place where the smelters were located was hot enough to fry an egg. Even so, the Perlasian engineers worked normally and unperturbed despite the extreme heat. Malachi glanced at Arlianne who was standing beside him, and she was also not affected by the heat. She was sweating, but her expression was still the same as before. Malachi trudged forward as he followed the other engineers to a smelter.

    The smelter was as big as a house, and was wholly made of brick and stone with an extremely thick iron cauldron supported by metal and brick posts. The entire thing took up as much space in the armory.

    ¡°Here¡¯s the smelter, Malachi,¡± said an engineer, ¡°Would you like me to explain how to use it?¡±

    ¡°Never mind explaining to me,¡± answered Malachi, ¡°Just show it to me, and I¡¯ll learn as you go.¡±

    Malachi inspected the piece of technology before him.

    ¡®Not much difference with medieval smelters,¡¯ he thought, ¡®I should learn more about this.¡¯

    The engineers operated the smelter and guided Malachi on-the-spot. As for Arlianne, she also assisted Malachi by lifting and ferrying the rocks or ores to be smelted. Sometimes, the engineers would point out which ores were yet to be identified.

    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s iron ore,¡± said an engineer, ¡°You can put it on this pile.¡±

    They had decided to smelt the unidentified ores first. Chucking one rock after another, the slag poured out of one drain and, soon, the bright glow of molten metals painted over their faces, accompanied the extreme heat it emanated. Fortunately, Malachi has grown accustomed to the heat from being next to the smelter and was able to shrug off the molten metal¡¯s heat. The ores really did contain metals. The only thing left for them to do was to identify the metals once they have cooled into ingots.

    After half an hour of making sure the molds will not grill their skins, they dumped out the ingots on to a tray. The ingots were as big as one¡¯s foot, about 3 x 4 x 8 centimeters. The engineers looked over the unknown metal, applying different tests to it to see its toughness, malleability, and other physical characteristics. Malachi, however, was just strangely standing far from the tray. When Arlianne noticed this, she took a look at Malachi¡¯s face and made an expression of understanding.

    Malachi was smiling at the ingots on the tray.

    ¡®The colors are the same as what I know,¡¯ he thought, ¡®The ore¡¯s characteristics¡­ and now its metallic attributes; they are the same as the one I know about¡­¡¯

    Malachi thanked the engineers for their assistance, before having the ingots stored for future use.

    ¡°Is it a familiar metal to you, Malachi?¡± asked Arlianne.

    ¡°Heh, as strange as it may seem,¡± he replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know whether I should be thankful that much of the things I know and have lived through are the same in this life or not. Remember that flashlight the Imperials supposedly created?¡±

    ¡°Is that metal¡­?¡± she understood.

    ¡°Yep, a vital component for much of the things I will recreate.¡±

    Without another word, he and Arlianne went to class.

    -

    The next day, Malachi had Class 13 resume their drills in the morning. With their new addition, Erika Li, Malachi had to explain to her¡­

    ¡°Why in the world is there a Manticore on the field?!¡± She shrieked. It would seem that Manticores also existed in the Empire. ¡°And what is that Hell Worm doing around your waist?!¡±

    Erika had received a great shock in her life. The rest of Class 13 nodded in understanding and consoled her. Erika looked back and forth at the strange acceptance of the class and the two black monsters with them.

    ¡°We will be having Shyama, the Manticore, aid us with running,¡± explained Malachi, ¡°Jin is just here to sleep¡­ or, from the size of his body over the past few weeks, carry those who have collapsed to the side.¡±

    Since the last time Malachi had been with Jin, the Hell Worm, its size had become considerable bigger. If it was able to wrap itself around Malachi¡¯s neck like a scarf before, its size had forced it to move down Malachi¡¯s waist like a gigantic belt. When it heard what Malachi planned for it to do, it raised its head towards Malachi¡¯s face and looked at the other members of Class 13. The cadets stiffened when Jin¡¯s golden eyes seemingly leered over them, especially since Hell Worms did not have eyelids to blink.

    ¡°Collapse?¡± Erika caught onto that word. ¡°Won¡¯t we just be drilling?¡±

    ¡°Nope!¡± replied Malachi, ¡°I need to raise everybody¡¯s stamina; up until they can last for as long as I can or more.¡±

    Erika looked at the rest of Class 13 for confirmation, but they all averted their gazes. The only persons to nod were the Eskurs that she had no choice but to ask from. Levi made a deep nod with a serious expression.

    ¡°All right, I understand the stamina part,¡± she said, ¡°What do these beasts have to do in it, specifically, that Manticore?¡±

    Malachi had a nasty grin.

    ¡°Shyama will maul anybody who lags behind the entire group,¡± he answered gleefully, ¡°Oh, but it isn¡¯t as bad as it sounds. Though, the face of a growling Manticore should mentally scar those who fell to work harder.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a slave driver!¡± retorted Erika.

    ¡°Exactly!¡± agreed Malachi.

    A cadette placed her hand on Erika¡¯s shoulder. It was Rae.

    ¡°Give it up,¡± she suggested, ¡°Though he is like that, he does keep his promises to take good care of us.¡±

    Erika glanced at the hand on her shoulder, but she let it pass.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked.

    Malachi answered for her.

    ¡°The lower half will get extra drills, but the upper half will get a break depending on their results later, after lunch,¡± he said, ¡°Yep, Class 13 undergoes strict drills under me. A sort of special treatment, considering the services I have rendered.¡±

    ¡°Do you mean those guns?¡± clarified Erika.

    Malachi smiled.

    ¡°Yep, it¡¯s good that you understood immediately,¡± he replied, ¡°That said, in addition to new weapons, the training will also change accordingly. You did get to experience what it was like to be in another class, right? Class 13 is different. I made it different, and that difference is for the betterment of this kingdom¡ªand maybe the Empire, by extension, since you are here. With that¡­ SIC¡¯EM, SHYAMA!¡±

    Malachi immediately bolted ahead of the class, and Shyama roared in response. Using that as a signal, the rest of Class 13 shot forth, one after the other, leaving Erika behind who still stood in her place. Because of Shyama¡¯s growl, however, she took the time to look back and see the fangs of the Manticore bearing down on her.

    ¡°To hell with it!¡± she cried, ¡°Baendan!¡±

    Erika shouted a string of incomprehensible words, which seemed to be the Imperial language, at Malachi and the rest of Class 13.

    As they ran, a change could be visibly seen. All of Class 13 was able to go past 20 laps together, with a few hanging on until the 30<sup>th</sup> lap. Erika was finally able to catch up to the middle of the group, and found what happened to those who were left behind. Each one was body-slammed by the Manticore into submission, and the Hell Worm crawled beneath those who fell to carry them off. Despite Jin¡¯s size, it was still able to lift those who were many times its size to safety.

    Soon, the group was cut down to half by the 60<sup>th</sup> lap, and Erika was able to catch up to the rest without showing any signs of fatigue. She still glared angrily at the person who was leading the pack. By the 100<sup>th</sup> lap, the top people from before still remained: Levi, Patrick, Rae, Arlianne, and Malachi; this, however, also included Erika. Malachi turned around to those behind him and backpedalled, almost mockingly.

    ¡°Haha! That¡¯s good! Good!¡± He exclaimed joyously. Malachi still maintained his speed despite being unable to see where he was going. ¡°It seems the entire class has improved a bit!¡±

    ¡®A bit?¡¯ wondered Erika, ¡®This amount of laps is just ¡°a bit¡±?¡¯

    Eventually, one of them dropped out. It was Patrick at 134 laps. Then, Levi had gone at 152 laps. Malachi was smiling widely when he realized that he was the only male remaining. Unfortunately, the girls did not notice his malicious grin as he had already faced forward. As for Rae, she was already struggling by 177 laps, and finally dropped out at the 180<sup>th</sup> lap. By then, though, Shyama was already leisurely running behind the remaining three.

    Malachi shouted at Shyama.

    ¡°Go have a rest if you want, Shyama!¡± He said, ¡°I assume that these girls still have a lot left in them! Hahaha!¡±

    Arlianne and Erika glanced at one another.

    ¡°Is he always like this?¡± asked Erika.

    Arlianne shrugged and nodded in return.

    ¡°Ever since we were kids.¡± She replied, ¡°Oh, but he only does this when he¡¯s having fun.¡±

    ¡°This is fun for him?¡± wondered Erika, ¡°To be such a slave driver¡­ how was this class before? He said that they improved.¡±

    ¡°Let us say that Class 13 was a ¡®class of rejects,¡¯¡± replied Arlianne, ¡°This class was the lowest of the low, with neither motivation nor ambition. A number of us are from nobility who only entered due to their influence. Malachi doesn¡¯t care about that. He will drive anyone he finds useful beyond their capabilities. A fact I learned firsthand.¡±

    Erika raised a brow.

    ¡°I used to be a clueless girl back then,¡± shared Arlianne, ¡°But, since meeting Malachi, my life changed a lot.¡±

    The two girls leisurely chatted with one another up until the 250<sup>th</sup> lap. Although, along the way, Malachi felt a bit lonely since the two girls left him out.

    ¡®To think Ms. Li would open up to Arlianne,¡¯ he thought as he ran, ¡®Is it because they¡¯re women? Is it because I¡¯m a guy?¡¯

    After the 250<sup>th</sup> lap, Malachi continued running in the company of Shyama. Arlianne and Erika had already left the field and returned to the remnants of Class 13. They all watched as Malachi continued to run.

    ¡°What was Malachi¡¯s record, by the way?¡± asked Levi, ¡°We this should be the first time we ran with him¡­ well, the bottom half did.¡±

    ¡°400.¡± Said Tyler succinctly.

    Those who belonged to the top half, and Erika, looked at those who dropped the earliest. Arlianne did not mind the discussion within the class and freshened herself up with a bottle of water since she already knew about Malachi¡¯s capabilities. When those who ran with Malachi were pestered for answers, they could only give the same answer as Tyler. The rest looked at Malachi who was now running alone.

    ¡°Damn! Was someone counting?!¡± cried a cadet.

    As though he heard them, Malachi replied.

    ¡°I¡¯m on my 355<sup>th</sup> lap!¡± he shouted, ¡°You can go and have your lunch if you want!¡±

    They could only stare at their Class Leader nonchalantly dismissing them, as if they no longer needed to be there. Still, there were a few who immediately left once they knew they were free to do whatever they want. The only ones who remained were the Eskurs, Patrick, Erika, and Arlianne. Arlianne and the Eskurs glanced momentarily at Patrick who, strangely, remained fixed at Malachi¡¯s figure in the distance.

    All of a sudden, Patrick left them and returned to the field. He ran once more, trying to catch up to Malachi.

    ¡°Mr. Bryant, I assumed you were tired,¡± greeted Malachi, ¡°Any particular reason for running again?¡±

    ¡°If I must give a reason,¡± replied Patrick, ¡°Then let that reason be for self-improvement.¡±

    Malachi shrugged.

    ¡°All right, let¡¯s forget about the laps and just run for as long as we can before our lunch.¡±

    Malachi readily accepted Patrick¡¯s answer and continued running. The sight of the two of them still running seemed to have urged the Eskurs to join them again. Erika stared at the group running in the field, and looked at Arlianne.

    ¡°You won¡¯t join them?¡± she asked.

    ¡°No need,¡± replied Arlianne, ¡°What about you?¡±

    Erika looked back at the running group.

    ¡°I¡¯m satisfied with what I have,¡± she said, ¡°Excuse me.¡±

    Erika turned and left the field, leaving Arlianne to wait until high noon.

 Campaign 22

    Campaign 22

    Erika was staring wide-eyed at the size of the facility before her. It was a bit after lunch when everybody had finally recuperated from all that running earlier, and Class 13 was brought to the kill house. Since it was Erika¡¯s first time there, Malachi had to demonstrate what she needed to do to go through the course. Since the bolt-action rifle was not advised in the kill house, Erika had to get used to using the other weapons with semi-automatic fire.

    At the start, she was directed to a board that displayed the rankings of those who had gone through the kill house. All of the spots from the fourth place downwards were taken by Class 13, since they were still the only ones utilizing the facility. The first was, naturally, Malachi, who still had a thick bolded record of 12 seconds on the board. However, beneath him was Arlianne and one other¡ªAlexa. Malachi stared hard at Alexa¡¯s name before moving on to advise Erika.

    ¡°As you can see from the board,¡± he began, ¡°We focus on setting records here. The good thing about this facility is that the course will remain unchanged until I decide to change it. So far, I found no need, since the average is still above 20 seconds. Now then, like I have done with the others, I will show you how to go through the course. Although¡­¡±

    Malachi looked at his classmates.

    ¡°Do you want me to show her my usual, or do you guys want me to show her my utmost efforts?¡± he asked them, ¡°I don¡¯t mind, either way, but what do you guys think?¡±

    His classmates looked at one another. Arlianne recalled the time when Malachi achieved the 12-second record and, later, his chanting that he manipulated her performance with. The others recalled as they looked at Arlianne, who was looking at the records board, her performance once Malachi spoke strange words. They also recalled the time during the subjugation mission when he sang. Then, they looked at Erika who wondered what Malachi meant.

    For the others, they were oblivious about the suspicions surrounding Erika. For Arlianne, she still remembered that Malachi and Eleazar were wary of Erika being an Imperial spy. Nevertheless, when it came to Malachi, the things that were meant to be hidden were openly revealed by him; just like the recent revelation of the new weapons which led to Eleazar spilling his suspicions.

    In the end, it was by majority vote that Malachi would reveal everything he had. Malachi reacted neither positively nor negatively as he said, and went to the starting place with an engineer on standby. His loadout was standard¡ªan assault rifle and a handgun. The others were brought to the catwalks to watch his performance. Once he stood before the starting line, he tapped his fingers on the rifle¡¯s handguard with a rhythm and began whispering inaudible words.

    Like before, a split-second after the signal, Malachi exploded forth from the starting line and left a cloud of dust. With each target that was downed, his voice became louder and more distinct. Still, the words could not be understood by the others, but his speed and reflexes left all of them as speechless as before when he assisted Arlianne. Now that he was using his abilities for his own benefit, the difference was just too much. As for Erika, she could only stare at Malachi¡¯s performance as he shot, kicked, and punched each target like a maelstrom of flesh and steel.

    And to close his performance, Malachi performed a forward roll to break his momentum and stopped right in front of the exit gate. Probably, because of the time he achieved 12 seconds, the engineers had enough initiative to actually react. The moment the watch was been stopped, though, the engineer holding it laughed like an idiot staring at the face of the watch.

    ¡°What the hell¡­? Haha¡­¡± laughed the engineer, ¡°You¡­ what the hell are you¡­?¡±

    Arlianne took this as an opportunity to take the stopwatch from the engineer¡¯s hands. When she took a look, she nearly dropped the watch in surprise.

    ¡°Malachi! How did you¡­?¡± she cried in exasperation, ¡°11 seconds, Malachi¡­! 11 seconds!¡±

    ¡°Huh, must have been the forward roll,¡± commented Malachi, ¡°Well, it was just a second shorter.¡±

    Malachi just shrugged his improvement off like it was a matter of fact. While the others did not know what to say, Malachi took a look at Erika. However, rather than the eyes of awe, Erika held the eyes of fear.

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± uttered Malachi, ¡°Damn¡­ I know those eyes¡ª Get me a medic, now! You! Grab an Eqari merchant or anybody that can speak the Imperial language! Move it!¡±

    With Malachi¡¯s sudden barking of orders, his class and the engineers did not know how to react. They all stiffened from the sudden change of atmosphere being exuded by Malachi. When Malachi noticed that none of them, his class and the engineers, were moving according to his words, he approached the nearest engineer and slapped their face.

    ¡°Get me a medic and anybody who can speak the Imperial lang¡ª¡°

    Just before Malachi could finish his order, Erika collapsed down to the floor and embraced her body with a scream.

    ¡°Ahhh!¡±

    ¡°Shit!¡± cursed Malachi, ¡°Goddamned move it!¡±

    Only when Erika screamed did the others snap out and scramble to get whoever or whatever was asked for. A nearby engineer even took the initiative to go to Eleazar to report the incident. Arlianne approached Malachi to ask what just happened.

    ¡°Malachi, what happened to her?¡± she asked, ¡°How could she just collapse and¡­¡±

    Malachi did not stop to answer and approached the screaming Erika. Instead, he embraced her from behind. Erika¡¯s body reacted violently, and fought to get Malachi off her. Malachi persisted and whispered a few words into her ear.

    ¡°Sl¡ªp¡­ Sle¡ª¡­!¡±

    He tried to put Erika to sleep. Considering that Erika was able to converse in Perlasian, it might have been possible for him to hypnotize the girl into falling asleep. However, with Erika¡¯s current condition, none of his words could get through and she still tried to get Malachi away from her.

    ¡°Goddamn it!¡± cursed Malachi, ¡°I can¡¯t get through to her with the Perlasian language, where the hell are the people I asked for?!¡±

    As if on cue, a group of people appeared behind them.

    ¡°Malachi, what is going on here?!¡± roared Eleazar, ¡°What is wrong with her?!¡±

    ¡°Gr¡ªHeadmaster?!¡± cried Malachi, nearly calling him ¡°Gramps,¡± ¡°Screw it, tell me! Do you know the Imperial word for ¡®sleep?!¡¯ I need to put her to sleep!¡±

    ¡°Sleep?¡± repeated Eleazar, ¡°Wait, to sleep¡­?¡±

    ¡°Shuenebu!¡± cried Clara, ¡°The Imperial word for sleep is ¡®shuenebu!¡¯¡±

    Malachi looked at Clara, still struggling to keep a hold of Erika, if she was sure. Clara nodded.

    ¡°Growing up being surrounded by books is no joke,¡± commented Clara, ¡°Though the academy library doesn¡¯t have any Imperial texts¡­¡±

    With no other choice, and the lack of any medical personnel, Malachi resumed trying to put Erika to sleep.

    ¡°Shu¡ªbu¡­ Shue¡ªu¡­¡±

    Malachi continuously repeated to chant the word into Erika¡¯s ear. Finally, the girl showed signs of calming down. Now that he was certain of the word, Malachi continued the chant to put Erika to sleep. While he was busy trying to bring Erika under control, Eleazar was watching him with furrowed brows and narrowed eyes. Eventually, Erika fell asleep moments later, and Malachi let her rest peacefully on the floor.

    Now that Malachi was free to answer any questions, the first person he answered to was Arlianne.

    ¡°If you want to know, I seem to have triggered a past trauma for her,¡± he said, ¡°Not sure what, but it might have been something during my performance.¡±

    He then looked at his grandfather who was still looking at him suspiciously.

    ¡°Anything you want to say, Headmaster?¡± inquired Malachi, ¡°You surely have questions, considering how you¡¯re looking at me right now.¡±

    Eleazar closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and released a sigh.

    ¡°Come with me to my office.¡± He said. Without another word, he turned to leave and passed by a group of doctors and some Eqari merchants who came too late to assist.

    Malachi turned to a nearby engineer.

    ¡°Take her to the infirmary, and tell the doctors about her having some sort of trauma,¡± he advised, ¡°I would suggest that she rest for a few days, to recuperate, and to not shock her any further.¡±

    ¨C

    In Eleazar¡¯s office, Malachi was not accompanied by Arlianne. It was only him and his grandfather, though the outside was still guarded by a pair of officers. Eleazar was not seated behind his desk, but stood in front of a large window that oversaw the arid desert wasteland where the academy was situated, and his back was to Malachi¡¯s. Malachi did not utter a word, sensing the grave atmosphere in the room, and waited for Eleazar to speak.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    ¡°Where did you learn to do that?¡± asked Eleazar, ¡°Where did you learn to use words to manipulate the thoughts and movements of others?¡±

    Malachi was surprised. Eleazar knew about his ability. This meant that he was not the only person to use hypnotic suggestion and manipulation to affect people.

    ¡°I learned from no one,¡± he answered, ¡°I only realized it during the Fire Ant incident years ago.¡±

    Eleazar turned his head a bit and gave Malachi a sidelong glance.

    ¡°I see,¡± he said, ¡°You didn¡¯t learn it from Bashia?¡±

    ¡°What are you getting at, Gramps?¡± inquired Malachi.

    Eleazar heaved another sigh and turned to face Malachi. He left the window and went in front of the young man.

    ¡°Do you know how the Eskurs during the Uprising fought?¡± he interrogated, ¡°They fought under the influence of a high-ranking Eskur clansman¡ªa clansman with the same abilities as you, though not as profound to affect others of non-Eskur descent.¡±

    ¡°This is the first time I¡¯m hearing this,¡± replied Malachi, ¡°Considering you mentioned Mama, was this high-ranking Eskur clansman my other grandfather?¡±

    Eleazar took a step back, went behind his desk, and sat down. He clasped his hands together, and rested his chin on top.

    ¡°Clan Skaria was a clan native to Perlas,¡± he began, ¡°The previous kings considered the Eskurs as part of their kingdom, and I was good friends with those of my generation. That was until Ioshua, your grandfather, told me about a visitor from Clan Skali. There, everything changed.¡±

    Eleazar closed his eyes to recall the past.

    ¡°It was 17 years ago when Clan Skali overthrew the Industrial Union of Merkas; which we called the start of the Eskur Uprising. When we first learned about it, two months had already passed¡­¡±

    .

    There were two people walking along a corridor and were accompanied by a number of guards. One of them was a Perlasian man wearing red and gold royal vestments. He had long graying hair that went down to his shoulders, and a similarly graying facial hair that covered much of his face. The other one was an Eskur man wearing a white cloak over a black and dark gray long-sleeved collared shirt. As an Eskur, he had white and well-trimmed hair, and a tidy moustache. The Perlasian man was Eleazar, back when he was still a king.

    ¡°Ioshua, how are you not uncomfortable with your clothes?¡± Eleazar asked his companion. He was comparing what he wore to what his companion wore. ¡°Looking at how thick your garments are, I can¡¯t help but feel uncomfortable myself.¡±

    ¡°I have to say the same to you, my friend,¡± replied Ioshua, ¡°Even if each layer of your vestments is thin, the number of layers should make it as hot as I could imagine. What say we go somewhere private to drop all pretenses and ditch this place already?¡±

    Eleazar and Ioshua glanced at the security detail around them. It seemed that the few closest to them were scratching their heads from hearing Ioshua¡¯s comment.

    ¡°You men don¡¯t mind, do you?¡± inquired Eleazar.

    Without a word, the soldiers around them saluted and stepped back to give the two some space. Seeing this, Ioshua let out a dry laugh.

    ¡°So they can leave us alone, but we still can¡¯t leave?¡± he wondered, ¡°Ah, well, better than nothing.¡±

    Eleazar chuckled.

    ¡°Anyway, why did you come for an abrupt visit?¡± asked Eleazar, ¡°Ever since we took over our respective positions, we rarely had a chance to meet outside of official discourse.¡±

    ¡°Ha! Sometimes I wish I hadn¡¯t taken up my father¡¯s wish to become the Clan Father,¡± commented Ioshua.

    Afterwards, Ioshua became silent. Eleazar was about to speak up when Ioshua finally said a few words.

    ¡°Do you mind if I leave Bashia with you and Emmanuel?¡± asked Ioshua.

    Eleazar kept his silence and turned his head to look at Ioshua with a raised brow. Ioshua did not meet his gaze, but he continued to speak.

    ¡°You have heard what happened to the IUM, correct?¡± asked Ioshua further, ¡°Two months ago, Clan Skali overthrew such a powerful force and established a nation of Eskurs.¡±

    ¡°Well, yes,¡± affirmed Eleazar, ¡°It is the story being told by all Eqari Union merchants. What about it, and how does that relate to you?¡±

    Ioshua stopped walking, making Eleazar stop as well and face his companion.

    ¡°Hearing from the merchants, it would seem that the IUM had been exploiting the Eskurs,¡± continued Ioshua, ¡°Years of slavery and forced labor seemed to have been the spark for their rebellion against the IUM. I am unsure about how they were able to overthrow the technologically advanced IUM, and I am also unclear why a member of Clan Skali had come for a visit.¡±

    Saying the latter part of his statements, Ioshua looked at Eleazar with a grave expression. Eleazar also heard the latter part clearly, and had a face filled with bewilderment.

    ¡°I fear that Clan Skali plans to spread their clutch, further from their lands, and into ours.¡±

    Eleazar was silent for a while before he burst out laughing.

    ¡°Nonsense, how in the world would Clan Skali wage war with us?¡± inquired Eleazar, ¡°We are far, far away from Merkas¡ªfurther away than from the central territories of the Empire to our west¡ªand we have a large patch of deserted sands and canyons protecting our east. How can they bring their weapons here without us noticing? Are you sure that this visitor really is from Clan Skali, and not just some impostor?¡±

    Ioshua stared long and hard at Eleazar. The king slowly went silent and met his friend¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°You¡¯re serious,¡± said Eleazar.

    ¡°Yes. You should already know that we Eskurs can understand what other Eskurs mean,¡± continued Ioshua, ¡°We Eskurs are a strange kin; stranger than what we show to the others unlike our kin. There was a saying handed down for generations in all our clans: ¡®the eyes are the windows to the soul;¡¯ and we Eskurs know and adhere to that completely. ¡±

    Ioshua pointed at his eyes.

    ¡°There was no deceit in that visitor¡¯s eyes.¡±

    Eleazar remained silent for a while. He knew Ioshua well, and because of their friendship, Eleazar was one of the few people who truly understood what and how Eskurs were. After a few seconds of silence, Eleazar faced Ioshua and nodded¡ªagreeing to his friend¡¯s request to take in Bashia.

    .

    Two weeks later, the first death in Perlas resounded ever so powerfully in the hearts of all Perlasians.

    .

    Three months into the Uprising, much of Perlas had fallen to the Eskurs. It was only after the Perlasian engineers came up with Steam Knights did Perlas have the chance to turn the tides of war. Eleazar, despite being the king and despite the persuasions of his subordinates, donned the first Steam Knight and went to lead the new army into war; to take back their lands, and to take back his friend who had assumed to be the master of the Perlasian theatre.

    In a single month, the new Perlasian army was able to regain control of their lost territories, and to push back the Eskur war machines and beasts. By the end of that month, Eleazar had come face to face with Ioshua, who was fighting against his own self.

    ¡°Ioshua¡­¡± said Eleazar, ¡°What happened to you?¡±

    Eleazar was wearing his Steam Knight armor as he approached a strange Ioshua. Clan Father Ioshua Skaria was aiming a handcannon at his head and at Eleazar. From Eleazar¡¯s perspective, Ioshua had seemingly gone insane.

    ¡°Eleazar¡ª!¡± cried Ioshua, ¡°Ki- Kill me¡ª! I¡­ I¡­ While I still¡­ have controoooooooool¡ª!¡±

    ¡°What is going on?!¡± bellowed Eleazar, ¡°What is wrong with you?!¡±

    Ioshua struggled to speak, forcing his handcannon back and forth.

    ¡°C- Clan Skali¡­¡± he uttered, ¡°Claaan Skali¡ª! Strange abilitiessss¡ª! M- Mind coNtrOlllllllllllLlllLL¡ª! KILL ME¡ª! ELEAZAR¡ª!!¡±

    BANG!

    Ioshua¡¯s hand shook, causing the handcannon to discharge, and narrowly missed his head. Ioshua violently threw the handcannon at Eleazar, who did not even avoid it as he stared at his deranged friend.

    ¡°KILL ME! ELEAZAR!¡± roared Ioshua, ¡°LET T- THIS WARRRRR E- END¡ª!! KILL! ME¡ª!¡±

    ¨C

    ¡°I found the reason for his change when I went to his room,¡± finished Eleazar, ¡°Ioshua had kept a journal, detailing the past months when he had control of himself. That¡¯s where I learned about Eskurs being able to control the thoughts of others.

    Eleazar returned his gaze at Malachi who silently listened to his story. Malachi just stood there, looking at him, despite hearing how Eleazar had to kill his other grandfather. Eleazar had to reassess the strength of Malachi¡¯s mind.

    ¡°Are you not angry?¡± he asked, ¡°Angry at me for killing your grandfather; for killing Ioshua?¡±

    Malachi sighed.

    ¡°And what?¡± replied Malachi, ¡°Will you be satisfied if I became angry at you? Will you get a burden off your back if I tell you that I hate you? Grandfather¡¯s death was a necessary evil. It had to be done if you wanted to stop the war. As for that mind control, it didn¡¯t seem to be perfect. Clan Skali¡¯s hypnotism was too imperfect if grandfather was able to fight against it long enough for you to end his suffering.¡±

    ¡°You mean to say, that your hypnotism is perfect?¡± inquired Eleazar, ¡°How is it that someone as young as you does not flinch at the sight of blood. You do not retreat at the sight of near impossible odds. You also know more than any of us had ever known; your teachers were all shocked at the extent of your knowledge. And your experience¡­ how do you know that Miss Li had a traumatizing experience that led to her being crippled?¡±

    Malachi went to a nearby bookshelf, and pulled out a number of books. When the books were removed, he was greeted by a pair of eyes, hidden behind the shelf. It was a Shadow. The Shadow retreated from his position, and disappeared.

    ¡°Since you¡¯ve told me about my grandfather, I suppose it is only fair that I tell you my secret,¡± he said, ¡°But, before that, I have to trust you to trust me, and to have the others hidden around us to leave. What I am about to say, will only be for my family¡ªand my family alone. Do we have a deal, Gramps?¡±

    Eleazar stared at Malachi before letting out a sigh. He snapped his finger, and the sound of feet shuffling from all around them was heard, and slowly disappeared.

    ¡°Well, will you tell me now?¡± he said.

    However, Malachi was still looking at a place behind Eleazar. Eleazar noticed it as well, and could only stand up and open the window. On a ledge of the outside wall was another Shadow.

    ¡°There is no avoiding this,¡± said Eleazar, ¡°Malachi has become too sharp for our own good, and can find anybody we hide.¡±

    The Shadow nodded before leaping off the ledge, down to the ground below. Once they were truly alone, Eleazar returned to his seat, and Malachi began to share his tale.

    ¡°I am not of this world, Gramps,¡± began Malachi, ¡°I am a soul that was lost, and found my way here.¡±

    The only reaction he garnered from Eleazar was single raised brow. Obviously, Eleazar did not take it easily.

    ¡°Explain to me in words that is easily understood for people like me,¡± requested Eleazar, ¡°From what you¡¯re saying, it seems that you are not my grandchild?¡±

    Malachi smiled.

    ¡°No. You and I, we are connected by blood,¡± he said, ¡°I am your kin, just as Mama and Pops are my kin; my blood parents. Alexa is my cousin, and Prince Elijah is my uncle. What I am trying to say is¡­ My mind, my soul is not of this world. My ¡®self¡¯ and Malachi¡¯s ¡®self¡¯ are two different people that have become one.¡±

    Malachi looked at Eleazar, but his grandfather was still confused.

    ¡°Do you know reincarnation, Gramps?¡± he asked, ¡°It is when the soul of a person in one life transfers over to another life as another person or being. In the world¡ªin the life I came from, there was a belief that souls reincarnate depending on the actions of their past lives. A cycle of life and death for a soul; a sort of¡­ purification, until the soul has become good enough to reach a state of perfection.¡±

    As Eleazar listened to Malachi¡¯s explanation, he also slowly understood what Malachi meant. At the same time, his jaw also dropped bit by bit from hearing how unbelievable Malachi¡¯s words were.

    ¡°The weapons I¡¯ve created,¡± continued Malachi, ¡°Their basic principles aren¡¯t mine. They all came from the great minds of my past life, only altered to my personal tastes. And the things I know, all came from my past life, albeit changed to suit this present life.¡±

    Malachi watched as his grandfather¡¯s eyes shook from realization.

    ¡°I am your grandson, Gramps,¡± he added, ¡°I am still your son¡¯s, Emmanuel¡¯s, flesh and blood. What only differs would be the soul¡ªthe self; my ¡®self,¡¯ and nothing about it will change my¡ªour kinship. As far as my mental age goes, I should be as old as Pops.¡±

    Malachi held the desk with his hands, leaned on top of it, and bent closer to Eleazar.

    ¡°And my ¡®self¡¯ in my past life was extremely similar to the Eskurs of this life.¡±