“The commander has returned!”
The commander returned from the battlefield covered in blood. Some were from monsters, some were from enemies. It was hard to tell. The blood covered everything from their hair to their mask, clothes, and down to their shoes. The hair was dark red like dried blood and eyes that looked like a bloodshot demon.
The commander’s aide from afar ran to help her walk.
“Commander, you’re back! I’ve prepared the bath for you.”
“Mhm”
The aide quickly helped the commander get to the bath.
The bath was located in a spacious tent, fitting for someone like the commander. Yet the inside contents only consisted of a single bathtub, a new mask, and a change of clean clothes.
As the commander removed their mask and clothing, it revealed that even their skin had been covered in blood.
When the commander finally sat in the bathtub, the blood quickly dyed the bath water blood red, as if the commander was bathing in a pool of blood.
The commander had to dutifully scrub their skin clean of the dried blood that accumulated over the long battle. By the time it was done, the bath water had turned into a much deeper dark red resembling ominous blood.
The dark red hair had turned back to its original white and the bloodshot eyes calmed down to a deep obsidian.
The commander stepped out of the bathtub, dried herself, and put on their signature white mask and uniform.
The mask was blank white, covering every part of their face except for the eyes.
The commander now didn’t look like a bloodshot demon that just came out of the battlefield, but a strict and uptight commander.
The aide greeted them as they exited the tent.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
“Thanks to you, commander, the enemies have retreated. The general orders you to the military academy. You can leave the rest of here to Commander Malkarum.”
“Alright, let’s depart as soon as possible.”
*
“Next!”
“Lucas Deacon here to take the entrance exam, sir!”
“Age?”
“17.”
“Place of birth?”
“The Alazel Kingdom, sir!”
The receptionist pinned a badge with the number ‘1339’ on him.
“Enter.”
As Lucas walked past the gate, he felt a sense of relief and accomplishment at the first step of his journey.
It took a great deal of effort to get from the Kendricia Empire to the Youza Republic. Although both were a part of the same continent Terrese, they were separated by the Venoso River which had now split open. The ground was split by an earthquake, revealing a giant crack in the ground where the poisonous Venoso river. The canyon was filled with ginormous amounts of Veintil stones.
With Bella’s help, he was able to across.
Run! Run away! Your Highness please, you must escape. Go to Yijun Academy. Even the royal family will not be able to harm you there. Please survive your Highness, even if I cannot be with you for the journey, the hearts of Alberu and I will always be with you.
Lucas tried to push aside the memory of Bella's last words echoing in his mind and the imagine of her body pierced by an arrow. The thought of abandonment weighed heavily on his heart, but he couldn't allow it to slow him down. He had to survive, for both his sake and theirs.
‘Bella, Alberu,…I’ll definitely get revenge for you!’
As Lucas stepped into the academy grounds, he promised he would never abandon anyone again. He would not fail those who believed in him.
The Yijun Military Academy of Strategic Defense and Warfare, also known as Yijun Academy for short, holds an entrance exam every two years to recruit new soldiers. Recruits who pass the entrance exam, complete their education, and start serving in the military get special privileges as they move up in rank, such as a salary and health support to their families. Those who want a good life also enroll for said special privileges.
Located in the Tanza Mountains, the military fortress spans over 600 miles, enclosing the entire mountain range. The towering exterior walls enclosed the hundreds of buildings within like an impregnable fortress, while the interior buildings resembled an intricate maze of stacked bricks, a maze within a maze that spans over 600 miles. The tallest building in the center, which towered over 500 feet, cast an ominous shadow over the entire academy. It gave off an aura of power and dominance, almost as if it were the heart of the entire fortress. Even an ordinary person with no training could feel the dominating presence of the military fortress. The architecture made it so that it was nearly impossible to navigate without a guide. If one had entered this fortress without guidance, then they would surely lose their way.