Promotion

Zia woke up at near 5 am, her body was used to wake up at 5 am due to her training even if she hadn't slept for long. She looked at her room, that didn't have a single change except that it was clean. It was still same as she left it, furniture, bed everything was placed as she left it. She dragged her body out of the bed and went to take a shower. She changed in her track uniform, then went to take a morning jog in nearby mountains. After 20 minutes of running, she came back to the grounds and did some cardio. Then made her way back towards her room, took a shower and waited for her friends to come. Today she had to re-register herself and attend the meeting of all higher-ups. A couple of minutes later there was a knock on the door, she opened and found her friends barging in her room. "Wow, you are up early for the first time" Avery joked. While Josh leaned at the door "We have to go and trust me it's going to be a long day". Zia smiled and then followed them both towards the head office.

As the trio walked, many heads turned not just because they were famous but the god-like aura they were excluding. They made their way towards a conference room where usual meetings were held. A soldier saluted and opened the door for them. When Zia entered, she reminisced the memories of the past. There was a time when she secretly entered this same conference room because she went out to steal some snacks but, on her way back, she saw some soldiers marching towards her. She accidentally slept the whole night in the conference room while waiting for soldiers who were leisurely talking to go away. First thing in the morning, some seniors came in for their regular meeting and found her snoring on the couch surrounded by some wrappers. She remembered as her punishment she had to clean girl's toilets for a week. She then had a grumpy face the whole month.

"Welcome back" Said Captain Arthur. He was 50 years old sly fox, who was cunning and didn't like the trio especially Zia because she had rejected his son multiple times even though he persisted. But everyone knew that he was just persisting because of the influence his family will have after his and Zia's family become in-laws, but of course, that never happened. "Yes, it is good to be back" Replied Zia with a serious face like she wasn't bothered by his sly smile. They sat down and began to discuss Zia's position now that she is back. "I think she should be transferred to west camp," said the sly fox. Immediately Josh and Avery rejected the idea because the west camp was way too far from here and if Zia were to transfer there, they would not be able to meet her on regular bases. "Zia has been gone for too long, and now that she is back and will be promoted, she needs to train again, and I think the best is for her to transfer and train under Major-general Zachary." Sly fox continued to explain despite Josh and Avery's immediate rejection.

"No, Zia just came back and now we are sending her again" Josh butted in. Avery nodded in agreement. "Captain Arthur is right," Chief marshal said for the first time in the meeting. "Zia did come back, but she had to be transferred sooner or later, so it's better to do it now" Josh and Avery didn't agree and prepared to argue as soon those words left his mouth. They didn't believe that he will say something like that when he himself dotted on Zia too much. But the next words shut their mouths. "But Zia will not be the only one transferring Josh and Avery will be transferring as well". He smiled while watching the shocked expression on their faces while Zia gave a polite smile towards him. Avery and Josh started celebrating even though they were a little sad that they would be leaving this place where they started their journey from, but Zia came first, and they had to leave sooner or later. The sly fox tried to control his anger because he was trying to separate the trio as they were a hindrance in his promotion. He was happy when Zia wasn't here because then the other two were devasted and only spend their time trying to find her but now they were whole again.

The meeting ended with the others present there, passing their congrats to Zia on her promotion on becoming a Major because of her contribution in the last mission which was red-flag dangerous, but she had completed it despite what took place. They still remembered when they were pacing around waiting for that one call to tell that mission was accomplished and that they were returning, and it came. They celebrated as it was a dangerous mission, "Mission completed" that was the last they heard from her before the line went dead again. They didn't care much then and just congratulated each other, but little did they know they wouldn't hear from Zia for a long time after that.

In the other part of the country, a certain someone received the news that Zia will be transferring here. He couldn't contain his smile on his handsome face. "Bro, you look creepy, please wipe that smile off it's starting to scare me," Noah said shocked as he hadn't seen him smile like this for a while. But desperately wanted to know the reason which he wasn't giving him. Zachary's heart fluttered at the thought of seeing her again.