A bald man in his mid-forties, with a thick black moustache, marched toward the recruits. His heavy steps struck the ground like war drums, each one echoing across the training field.
"Soldiers! ATTENTION!"
His voice was deep, rough, and terrifying enough to freeze every child where they stood.
STOMP.
Everyone snapped straight. The man's sharp eyes scanned them with the precision of a hawk. His presence alone was suffocating.
"SOLDIERS IN BLACK UNIFORM—STEP FORWARD!"
Arav's heart jumped.
Why us? Did we already fail? Did we do something wrong on the first day?
But he saw many other kids in black uniforms stepping out too. His fear eased just enough for him to follow.
"IS THERE ANYONE ELSE?!" the instructor roared, voice cracking like thunder.
Every child in black trembled. Some bit their lips. Some stared at the ground. Arav's heartbeat rang in his ears.
Is he going to punish us? Expel us? Kill us?
But then came the sentence no one expected.
"RUN… UNTIL EVENING!"
Silence.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Run until evening?
The children exchanged petrified looks.
Then—
"RUN, YOU USELESS BRATS! MOVE!!"
The roar whipped them into motion. They ran as if death itself was chasing them—because in that moment, it was.
Arav sprinted with everything he had. His lungs burned. His legs screamed. But he refused to stop. Not after seeing that poor boy earlier—the one who stopped for just a second and faced the instructor's wrath.
An hour passed.
Then two.
Then three.
By the time evening arrived, Arav collapsed onto the ground like a corpse, gasping for breath. His feet felt like shattered stones. His vision spun.
Why is that old hag obsessed with black uniforms…?
He closed his eyes, ready to pass out, when—
"Are you alright?"
A soft, strange yet sweet voice cut through the haze.
Arav blinked his eyes open. Two girls stood above him—one tall, one shorter—but both staring down at him like he was some rare creature.
"I—I'm alive… just exhausted," Arav wheezed. "Can you pick me up? I can't move."
They grabbed his shoulders and lifted him.
"He really does look like him… just give him black round goggles," the tall girl whispered with a chuckle.
"You and your fantasies," the other sighed.
Then she glanced at Arav's uniform. "Silver hair… and a black uniform? That's high-class military gear. Who gave it to you?"
"I'm Arav Vayleron," he said proudly despite nearly fainting. "Younger brother of Captain Elda Vayleron."
The girls blinked.
"So you ARE a boy," the tall one—Aisha—said in a curious tone. "I'm Aisha Beckett. Second granddaughter of General Louis Beckett."
Arav's jaw dropped.
"G-General?! Your grandfather is the General?!"
The other girl stepped forward elegantly.
"I am Emilia Greyratt, eldest daughter of the Greyratt noble family," she said with a teasing smirk.
Arav gulped.
Nobles… and generals' bloodlines… talking to him?
"I'm from Vayleron. My sister was a captain," he repeated, trying to bring back his pride.
Emilia giggled.
"There are nearly forty captains in Triamath, dear. That doesn't make you royalty."
"And that black uniform?" Aisha pointed at it. "Someone probably pranked you. No way you were meant to wear that."
"W-What?! This is a prank uniform?!" Arav said, horrified.
Emilia waved her hand dismissively.
"Anyway—be friends with us. Our team is missing a male member. Consider this an order."
"Why should I follow your order?" Arav protested weakly.
"Drop him, Aisha."
Before Arav could react—
THUD!
"OW—! Don't leave me here!" he cried. "Fine! I accept your order!"
They picked him up again and walked toward the mess hall together.
"So, tell us your thoughts," Aisha said, flicking his forehead softly.
"He's such an idiot," Emilia muttered, poking his cheek. "I bet everyone mistakes him for a girl."
"Hey!!" Arav shouted.
Inside the mess hall, they sat him at a table.
"Stay here," Emilia ordered. "Aisha—come. Let's get our new member food."
Arav sat alone, deep in thought.
Why does everyone think I look like a girl…? Am I really that beautiful?
Then—
SMACK! SMACK!
A roar echoed.
"HOW DARE YOU TOUCH HER!!"
The voice felt familiar. Arav struggled to stand, wanting to see who it was. His knees almost buckled.
Aisha hurried back and caught him.
"Arav! What are you doing?"
He blushed instantly.
"A-Aisha… take me there!"
She sighed but nodded, helping him into the crowd.
Arav's eyes widened the moment he saw him.
Who was that boy?
A threat?
An ally?
Or the person who would change Arav's fate forever?
To be continued.