“For anyone who doesn’t know yet, I’m Sergeant Layla Hawkins from the 3rd Flaming Dragon Battalion,” Sergeant Layla addressed Arthur and his fellow recruits.

“Before we start, let me tell you the only rule you need to follow during your training! All of you are to follow my orders to the letter. If I say laugh, you laugh. If I say cry, you cry. If I say die, then you die!”

Arthur could see Kale flinch at their superior’s declaration, Tamara was visibly disturbed by it, while Aroon and Athena remained indifferent.

“As long as you work under me, my words are heaven's decree. Do I make myself clear?” she scrutinized each of them.

“Crystal, ma'am!” they replied in unison.

Even then, Arthur could see that Layla was not pleased with them. “Do my dirty clothes displease her?” he wondered.

“Now let's address the elephant in the room,” she started, which confused Arthur.

“What elephant? There is no elephant bond here...” he thought as he glanced at Aroon.

He was not paying attention to the arrogant boy’s bond previously, but it is obviously some kind of winged serpent instead of an elephant.

“Private Arthur, stop looking around! It's a proverb, you dolt!” the sergeant barked at him.

“Are you really stupid, or are you just so good at acting?” Arthur could feel her glare piercing him with intensity.

“Now! As each of you might have noticed, this squad, the 4th squad, and its members have already been chosen before the morning assembly.”

“Some of you might have a clue as to why that is the case, but let me make this clear. You, the 4th squad, are the trouble squad!” she practically bore into each of them while talking.

“A traveling merchant’s son who just happened to be separated from the group and decided to join the military,” she looked at Stevan.

“An ‘ordinary boy’ who can bond with insects without any supporting talent or belonging to a family that specializes in insect bonds,” she turned to Kale.

“The Ives family little princess who could join the exalted bond academy or even join the sect directly but decided to join us as a lowly soldier,” she looked at the tan girl with even more intensity.

“The panda boy who exaggerates everything in his application form, has been caught by city guards at least twice in the last six months for sneaking around at night... with a giant panda in tow.”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Arthur grimaced as he watched Layla struggle to hold back from crumpling the document she was reading from.

“Exiled member of the great Dusk family... while at first glance, this does not sound suspicious, how did you get your winged serpent? I refuse to believe the Dusk family would give a superior 2nd gen Bond to an exile,” she looked into Aroon's eyes, but the boy refused to meet her gaze.

Layla turned to Arthur, which made him shrink under her glare, but for some reason, she decided to keep him for last. “I think she hates me the most,” he thought.

“Athena Lance... daughter of Alexander Lance and Dorothea Lance, the Kingdom’s greatest heroes and traitors. Spared by the current king as a last honor to Alexander’s previous accomplishments...”

For the first time, Arthur saw pity in Layla's gaze, but it quickly turned to rage once she looked at him.

“And finally, Arthur, a giant black hole. No family, no home, no sponsor. You did not go to school, have no medical records, any records entering the city from outside, NOTHING! Practically a ghost suddenly appearing out of nowhere!”

“Tell me, Arthur... if that's really your name... there is a note from the registration office clerk who handled your registration. She said you have been acting stupid, as if you are new to the city. You don’t even know where the barracks are, but you also said you live and were born in this city...”

“Who the hell are you? Are you a spy from another kingdom? A spirit beast disguising as a human? OR... ARE YOU ANOTHERWORLDER TRYING TO INFILTRATE OUR MILITARY!?!?”

Her voice was so loud that the building shook, and Arthur could feel the gravity around him increase multiple times.

He fell to his knees as he felt a sting on his neck, warm liquid trickling down his neck as he noticed Layla holding her katar by his throat. A little push, and he would be drowning in his own blood.

Arthur trembled under her blade but kept eye contact with her. He knew there was nothing he could possibly do if she decided to end him.

*Squeak! Squeak!*

At some point, the rat had fallen from his shoulder and was being pressed to the ground by an invisible force.

It tried to crawl over toward Arthur to no avail as it was suppressed by the Sergeant. Even without her bond, she was at least a major realm above Arthur and his bond. She could kill them a hundred times over without breaking a sweat.

A few tense seconds passed without anyone making a sound, other than the rat struggling to help Arthur to no avail.

“Tsk, you stubborn kid. You didn't fold under pressure. But remember! I WILL make you show your true colors! Keep that in mind!” she muttered at him but luckily for Arthur, she sheathed her katar and turned her back on him, after.

Arthur was breathing heavily, his hand holding his wounded neck, trying to stop the bleeding.

*Squeak*

The rat asked him if he was alright. He hoped he was, but almost soiling his pants on his first day was anything but okay in his book.

“You didn't attack me, huh? I was convinced that you would show your true colors and attack me the moment I turned my back on you,” Layla looked at him once more.

“DAMN IT! This woman is a nut job! I already regret joining the military!” Arthur cursed internally.

“Follow me to the yard! We will have a combat assessment,” Layla said as she left the room.

“Arthur, are you alright?” Tamara asked as she knelt beside him while he was on the ground.

“Here, take my hand,” Simon offered.

When Arthur was back on his feet, Athena and Aroon had already left the room behind following Layla, while Kale stood rooted to his spot, sweating bullets, and Stevan remained silent, lost in thought.