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Chason Base, Palmian Kingdom. August, 64 A.U.
Project Valfreyja
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"ONE TWO! ONE TWO! ONE TWO!"
VRRRRMMM
BANG! BANG! BA-BANG!
Fifty years ago, fourteen years into the Age of Union, the Chason base was made. It laid down the foundations of mutual aid between the Palmian kingdom and HAFF. Even after five decades, the base would still generate many positives for both sides.
Nowadays, HAFF has relocated some of its best recruits and educated them there. August was one of the times these unprepared-yet soldiers started their stays.
[Humanity's Allied Fighting Force]
above
[CHASON BASE]
Were bouncing up and down while moving ahead. The non-aged words on their T-shirts showed the wearer's status.
One group of them ran before they ate. Running straight and taking a U-turn at each front and back gate. They did eight turns.
---
"Pvt. Ames!"
"Yes, sir!"
One of those young privates got called. Pvt. Ames Ennard was to put simply, big and tall. That kind of privates were usually called because of something like a brawl. But, Pvt. Ames was the kind to avoid wars.
"You are to report to me once your shadow doesn't fall!"
"Yes, sir!"
T-that means when the sun is tall, noon right?
Ames returned to his meal. The table closest to the mess's walls.
---
KNOCK KNOCK
"Sir, this is Pvt. Ames Ennard. Here to report, sir!"
"Come in!"
Ames entered to a room filled with way more people than he thought.
"Pvt. Ames! I'm Cpt. Lyto Lee."
"Sir."
The captain shot his right hand and shook Ames's hands. He was shorter compared to Ames. He had short brown hair that looked somewhat in a mess.
"Professor Vent Williams, the lady in the white dress."
"Professor Vent."
Ames shook her hand. The white dress the captain said didn't mean she was overdressed. Its true identity was a lab coat that was very clean. She must have it pressed.
"And finally, this is Nensa Fauzi. Prof. Vent's assistant. Unfortunately, we don't have time to have her full experiences decompressed."
"Ma'am."
Compared to Ames, her height was one head less. She had a medium-long hair barely touching her chest. Just like Ames, her hair was black, unprocessed.
"Sit down, son."
"Yes, sir."
Ames's captain would moderate the discussion.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"First of all, the three of us are from special project Valfreyja. It's a joint project of HAFF with Altus Heavy Industries. I'm with Papa and these two ladies with Mama."
"Yes, sir..." Ames was slightly taken aback by the statement but was trying to stay proper.
"The tests you did right when you got here, do you remember?"
"Sir. It was physical tests and simulation test with magic controller."
"We have more than a half million soldiers. Out of all of them, you're the only one who passed the simulation test but failed mana capacity tester."
"...I'm not a mage, sir."
BRUCK! Lyto hit the small table without any anger.
"That is the reason we're here. Have you heard of [Magic Armor], soldier?"
"Yes... People called it the Valzak Empire's propaganda."
"Well, it's not."
Cpt. Lyto stood up while rummaging through a binder. He sat back down over at Ames's side. He slammed the binder and gave it to Ames as an offer.
On the desk were multiple stealth photographs. It depicted several soldiers clad in huge armor, the so-called [magic armor] perhaps. From the picture each person's size multiplied by one and a half.
Not only the size, but the design only bears some resemblance to old medieval stuff. The only similar parts were where the upper legs and upper arms were warped.
"Haha! You look interested, Pvt. Ames." Lyto laughed.
"Is this it? I-I thought they didn't have... It's more than complicated... How is this caught?"
"It's confidential, but those pictures are real... Now, Pvt. Ames, from what I heard and what I just saw. Despite being a non-mage, you have an interest in these magicals?"
"I got it from my parents, sir. I know it's not typical."
"I see. Let's circle bac-"
"OH! There's where I know you from!" Prof. Vent cut the captain's words in the middle. "You're the son of the Ennards! I knew that couple!"
The professor stood up and sat near Ames as if to give him more trouble. The little sofa couldn't fit three people. Even much less including someone with Ames's structural size.
"Yes, I am. But I don't think I looked like them, I'm we're not biological..."
"Ah! No no, We met before when you were still little."
"Oh... I don't-"
AHEM!
"..."
"..."
"Let's get back to the topic. What I want to know, is how you stick the landing on simulation with practically no magic."
"There is no trick, sir."
"We know. No trick could breach normal logic. It means that you, Pvt. Ames, is unique."
"What does that mean, sir?"
"It means you, will be working under me, directly."
Lyto stood up and pick the binder. He flipped through the thick files and found what he seeked. He sat back down and shoved it to Ames for him to take.
"We're looking to make our own magic armor. The problem is, the comparison of ours and Valzak's mage numbers is tragic. The amount of human mages is small compared to our population statistically speaking." He took a sip of his tea. "But Valzakian elves are 100% mages."
Lyto continued. "The name is Project Valfreyja. Not only for mages, we are currently trying to make non-mages's magic armors. As far as the simulation test went, you're the only non-mage that can use magic armor."
"Does that mean!?" Ames who had been nervous got fixed.
"You are to become our test pilot for non-mage magic armor: AMK-X0 Vawln prototype."
"Yes, sir!" He answered quickly.
---
Two weeks passed by before Ames could wear the magic armor.
The paperwork was cleared quickly in only two days. The remaining time was used to properly fit Ames into the prototype. His body was a bit larger than the original sizes. So, in addition to that, they had to add more materials.
As soon as the adjustment was over, they cleared a schedule for a flight test. There was no standard of tests for magic armor. So, the captain arranged for it to be first to "entice" Ames.
"Everything seems fine. How about you?"
"I am good. It felt heavy before, but after the enhancement magic activated I feel lighter even compared to not wearing it."
"That's good! I'm going back to the controller room, you take care okay?"
"Yes."
In the span of those two weeks, Nensa and Ames had grown closer. Their shared home country must have been the bigger reason.
"Pvt. Ames! This is your captain. The checks are perfect and we're ready to go. Remember, this test is only so you can get used to the sensation. Always be careful, offer any question you want anytime you want."
"Yes, sir!"
"Alright, you're cleared to take off!"
WHRRRR
The magic armor had one magic jet engine integrated into it. The output is used by the thruster on the armor's backpack that works as a nacelle. The thrusters are aimed at a 45-degree angle, right between behind and downward.
Adding to that, two small devices fitted into both kickers. They had levitating magic in them. They were put on their feet not to let the user hover but as a flight controller. It worked like a tail's rudder and elevator on a jet.
VHIIIIiii
As the output became faster, the sound climbed in pitch. The latch that was holding Ames on the ground was released as the thruster screeched. At that exact moment, Ames took off to the sky.
"We've got take off!" Nensa celebrated. Everyone in the room followed as if she were their leader.
Clap clap clap
"WOOO!" Ames was also celebrating by himself in the sky.
This blue sky is so vast. This feels like the fastest I've ever been in my life! This view is something a non-mage like me shouldn't be able to see... It casts any weight I have in my body off...
Ames changed his position so his thruster faced downward. He stretched his arms and legs. That was the first time Ames felt the freedom of the sky.
---
"He's relaxed, that's good." In the control room, Vent monitored everything along with the captain.
"He got used to it even faster than the Fulst testers."
"Yeah... That boy is going to be humanity's savior."