Chapter 8: Welcome to Eden

* The continent on which I grew up is called Midgard and its inhabitants the Midgars. The South of Elysion bordering the sea is practical for our maritime maneuvers. It has been a few days since our training on the continent ended. It will last for a total of 4 months. 4 long months during which we vomited our guts, spit blood and push our limits. Only one student failed, but I assure you it was not who you thought *.

-Ah zell you were there.

* Today our class was aboard a heavy cruiser named Klingen. A fantastic warship as I saw in the documentaries on the war in the Pacific. Being the first time that I took the sea I hastened to find myself a corner where I could stack my guts in peace but I was caught up by my cousin *.

-Don't do too much. You should go back to the cabin.

* How ironic, to say that it is me who supposed to watch over him. Worse still, seasickness pills don't exist *.

-I'm fine I got used to the moves of the ship. *I said*.

* I sat up, wiping my mouth with the handkerchief he brought me and then took a deep breath *.

- In fact, it's been 4 days that we sail, where do you think we are ging ?

-And in your Opinion ? *I said*. What is there in the south of the Duchy?

-Ahem .... The apocryphal ?! But the whole of the north of this continent is a vast desert. The different kingdoms are not united and the tribes wage intestine wars. Don't tell me it's part of your training program?

-Elysion may own all climates, the Desert is missing. Our politicians had to grease the paws of our friends in Apocrypha to get us allowed to go.

* What we call Apocrypha would actually be called Eden. The continent from which humanity left before expanding to the rest of the world. As I was finally enjoying the sea breeze I saw Swan and Decken disembark *.

-That's where you were. * Said Troy *. Stop isolating yourself like that, People would think weird things about you.

-If you're jealous Decken we can always share.

- Don't say things like that. * Said Lancell embarrass *.

-You are really unbelievable. * Said Swan, laughing *. Anyway, Rear Admiral wants to see you.

-I guess i have to go.

* I lowered the sleeves of my shirt just to look more presentable *.

-By the way Lancell when I come back I'll cut your hair. They are a little too long there.

-Hey but.... no wait.

- Watch him during my absence. * I say laughing *.

* Shortly after I found myself in the command post where the Rear Admiral was. He was an old man in his fifties, his hair was already white like his mustache and he was relatively short. Apart from the smoke that escaped from his pipe he also stank of experience. It is a dinosaur from the time of collisions *.

-Did you summon me rear admiral? * I say, coming to attention *.

-Well, you don't have to force yourself Warrant officer Cailum I know you're dying of heat under your shirt. At least roll up the sleeves.

* I did so without making a fuss in front of this old man who looked like Pedo Bear *.

-I called you to give you a mission.

-A mission rear-admiral ?

-On the Eden continent where we are heading is the 23rd squadron of fighter pilots. She will also welcome a new member or rather a VIP. This is Brandon Van Elysée.

-And Shiiiit. * Thought I *.

* This arrogant and Narcisistic asshole is on board I should have guessed. As if that weren't enough Lancell has a monster fear of him. I would have to keep him away *.

-I want you to set up a team with your cadets and that you serve as his bodyguard. I say cadets, but you are practically a full soldier.

-Are you sure ? There is more competent than me.

-More competent than you?

* He laughed like old people his age used to do, which made me a little uncomfortable *.

-I know what you did in Prada. Haha. Go good luck.

-It's my luck I was going to have to put up with this uninteresting idiot. * Thought I *. In short, the faster I will have assembled the team, the faster I will have ...

* As I walked down the stairs I heard the sounds of fights just downstairs. When I reached you on the last step I saw 4 guys sprawl out on the badly damaged ground. Opposite a girl with short hair, ash blonde colors. She wore the same desert-colored uniform except the top where she had put a white tank top on her bra that protruded. Overall she was not bad despite her tomboy look. Her boot was placed in the crotch of the cadet *.

-If you continue you will destroy a whole civilization. * I tell her sarcastic *.

-If it is to be like him this kind of civilization does not deserve to be born.

* By the way little reminder, I also had to convince to mix our army. At first I was taken for crazy but I managed to convince them to mix the sexes. As a result our promtion also had a few girls like the one in front of me. She suddenly turned her gaze to me and withdrew her leg *.

-Who are you?

-Does that have an ounce of importance? * I say, keeping my tight air *. On the other hand, I would like to know why you fought.

* She had a cut lip and scratches on her face. As badass as she is, she must have taken it badly *.

-What are you the discipline committee? * She asked *.

* She approached me dangerously. Seeing her wavelength she was clearly looking for a fight so I was on my guard *.

-I was just asking...

* The young girl gave me a kick without warning. Although I quickly avoided it I widened my eyes as I saw her boot twist the iron bar slightly behind me. Holy shit We have our Genderbend from Friedich *.

- Come on and fight. The guys in this promotion got no balls.

- You could regret it you know.

-I know how to look after my health. And then take off your show-off glasses, I'm not banging the binoculars.

- Don't worry about that. Health issue.

* She rushed at me and gave me several punches that I deflected with my fists. Her attacks were quick but predictable. I didn't even need to read her wavelength. On the other hand if I took one of her shots I was done. The proof is, I felt small pains with each kick that I deflected with my legs *.

-Stop deviating and fight.

* I'm sure my flirtatious smile pissed her off even more. And that was the goal, the more I deflected her attacks by pretending to flee the fight the more she will get angry and try to make a mistake. And this error was a direct straight to my nose. Avoiding her, the fist tore off my glasses. For a moment she saw my eyes and I took the opportunity to grab her arm and pin it to the ground before controlling it *.

-Keep calm it will annoy me to have to break your shoulder.

-Your eyes ... What the fuck are you a monster.

*A monster ? So there I admit that I felt hurt in my self-esteem. She was hot ok, but from there to get me stuff like that *.

-A monster eh, nothing you can imagine in fact.

* I unbuckled her shoulder and she let out a howl of pain. Unsatisfied I put it back in place and it screamed again. I stood up and she hastened to do the same. The dark look she was giving me gave me chills, but she ended up giving me a smirk. She picked up my glasses which she gave back to me with fairplay *.

- Your eyes are a disease, aren't they? * She asked *.

- Sort of. * I say putting them back *.

* In 1018 my eyes looked like a collection of cognitive functions. You could clearly see through my iris the wires that connected with each other. Ares told me it was a side effect of my ability, the doc to diagnose an inherited disease. Ares also told me that the more I use it the more likely I will develop my next Blessing. Blessing locked in my brain and of which I do not have the slightest memory *.

-Hey are you there? * She asked *. You seem lost in your thoughts.

-Yes everything is fine.

* At this moment there an officer landed with a bang *.

- Chief Warrant Officer Cailum. Someone for you on the phone.

-For me ? Who is that ?

-She says it's your fiancée.

* I felt the girl eyeing me with surprise. She followed me to the phone and I picked up and I heard Arianne's voice*.

-Well it's rare that you ask for my news.

-I'm not asking I know you're fine. * She said in her soft voice *.

-Oh i see trust reigns.

-I rather wanted to give you some information.

* Throughout the discussion the other girl never took her eyes off me. Her yellow eyes were on me, but I was calm *.

-Are you sure? Yes yes ... I understand, it's a crazy thing but seen as you say it can only be true.

* I hung up the receiver and let out a sigh *.

- Was that your fiancée?

-Yes and for info that does not concern you.

-You are direct.

- By the way, I have a favor to ask you.

* The Apocryphal continent, Eden. It seems only the northern part is known to the world. The rest of the continent remains unexplored. So much the better it will add a little spice to the myth. Our ship docked at the port city of Zilan in the kingdom of Sahadat. Emyr Bashra was the only one authorized our forces in his country. We brought him security and he offered us a vast desert to train us, it's give and take. As we got off the ship we could see the difference between our two civilizations. Their clothes, houses, tapestries and the smell of food. I felt like I had landed in Agraba. The rear admiral had given us free time so we took the opportunity to explore the city with the guys. Since we were not the first Elysian soldiers to show up here, we were easily greeted by the populace. Each of us had a more or less casual style. Swan had a navy blue shirt instead of his fatigues, I had unbuttoned my shirt to reveal my tank top and my plates. Friedich was downright in a tank top, Decken wore a cropped shirt and a casual shirt. He thought he was in Hawaii the guy. Only Lancell was still correct. As we walked the streets I noticed the ethnic differences. Here the blacks were not at all rejected as with us. I saw a kid pull me by the arm, shouting incomprehensible words. In my old world it was a sign that a marine was going to be sniped, but here we could let our guard down. A man who seemed to be a tribal chief even greeted us in his yard and made us eat some grilled beef. We were given lots of gifts of flower necklaces and all kinds of trinkets *.

-Good lord, I love this country. * Said Decken raising his glass *. LIVE THE SAHADAT.

-LONG LIVE THE SAHADAT.

* We raise our glasses, knocking them in turn *.

- By the way Zell, who is this girl who has been following us since the start of the day? * Troy asked *.

-If she's a new friend, Arianne is going to wring your neck. * Said Swan *.

-Screw you. * I tell them while having a drink *. I introduce you. Annabelle Garcia by her current name Ophelia Muller.

-A stranger ? * Said Troy *.

-Are you disturbed ? * She said, glaring at him *.

-We don't give a fuck whether you come from Shabat or Unrai. * Said Troy *. If Zell says we can trust you, then we can trust you. * He replied *. And for the record, I also grew up abroad.

-So Zell can we trust her ? * Swan asked *.

* I looked at them with an amused smile raising the suspense. Then I raised my glass *.

-Of course.

-SKOL.

* In the evening we returned to the ship after having received the chief's blessing of course. There I was finally able to shorten my cousin's hair. I shaved the sides of his head like Decken before I sent him to sleep. He finally looked like a man. As I put the blanket on him someone knocked on the door *.

-Muller? What are you doing at this hour?

- Can I come in?

* I hesitated for a moment but let her in while I cleaned up my makeshift hairdressing shop *.

-It's strange, he has dark hair yet you are from the same family.

-Lancell is a real deviant. He is the only brunette in the family. Because of this my uncle initially believed in adultery but my aunt's blood tests showed the opposite.

-He seems to admire you a lot. Like the others elsewhere. They all trust you blindly.

* While I was giving her my back I was too busy tidying up my bedroom mess. I didn't see her approach, she picked me up by the collar and made me sit on the chair at the office before sitting on my thighs. This position although exciting was not good if I ever got caught *.

-Tell me. * She said, pointing a gun at my head *. Sounds like we play a bit. * She whispered in my ear *.

* This weapon was mine and she had easily stolen it from me. Like a pick-pocket *.

-I guess it's the same kind of trick you used to survive on the streets. Come on it's okay get up now.

-Come on just a little. *She says*. I know you're want it to.

* I admit it was not the desire that I lacked. Opportunities like this didn't happen often in my old life. Despite that I tried to keep my cool *.

-I'm going to speak to you bluntly. Normally I would have done it with you without hesitation. * I say recovering my weapon *. But sex before a mission is not recommended and I want to keep my neurons fine.

* She stood up and smirked disappointedly before heading for the door *.

-I understood what kind of man you are. Alfar Cailum. * She said with a mean smile before disappearing behind the door *.

-And me what kind of girl you are.

* The next day our small group. accompanied Brandon to the Emyr's palace. Muller and Friedich were waiting outside the palace. Lancell and I internally with the prince. Decken and Swan were stationed at strategic locations as Snipers. Throughout the exchange Lancell kept avoiding Brandon's gaze. During our guard rotations I fell with Friedich *.

-Something happened ? * He asked curtly *.

-I don't know what you're talking about.

-What was she doing in your room at this hour?

-Nothing happened, don't worry. For now anyway. * I laughed *.

* Friedich was my brother from another mother, the me who isn't me. Without even telling him he had understood the trick but knowing him he was not going to sprawl over it *.

-He shit do what you want. * He said exasperated *.

* On this point he reminded me of Seb. After that we toured the monuments of the city with the Emyr. Our protection service consisted of 6 guards plus the Emyr soldiers, basically we were just decorations but best avoided neglect. Our trip ended at the air base just outside of town. There our little troop finally took some rest *.

-Haaa it's not too early. * Said Brandon who took off his hat before messing up his hair *. One more minute with these savages and I exploded.

* As I thought he was an asshole hiding his game. He was polite and respectful throughout the game but once outside *.

-You did a great job. You can be proud of your guys Alfar.

-Yeah thank you. * I tell him sincerely *. Still, this guy should be an actor. * Thought I *.

-And you too Lancell. You have changed a lot since the last time, tell me.

-It's because he plagiarized my haircut. * Said Troy *.

- Not even true. *He replicated*

* I looked from left to right. Most of the base's biplanes had already taken off while remaining one on the tarmac. An airplane with a desert yellow back seat *.

-You are watching my device. * Said Brandon proud *.

-It's a beautiful machine. *I said*.

-Tch. Nothing terrible. * Said Troy *. I'm sure that with me in command it would be even more deadly.

-Ah because you think you can pilot since you are an exceptional shooter. Let me tell you, shooting and piloting have nothing to do with Decken.

- Really ? * Said Troy *.

-In this case why not bet. * I proposed *. The winner wins the plane.

-Why not ? * Said Brandon *. I have always had a cheeky luck.

-In this case I want to play well. * Said Friedich *.

-And you Lancell, you don't play? * I asked *.

-Leave him. He'd rather play with dolls than try the real guy stuff. * Said Brandon *.

* I felt his wavelength blur but he threw himself at the table *.

-I will play.

* The game therefore began with Swan as the dealer. Muller and I stayed behind as referee. What Brandon didn't know was that our little game was rigged. It was the plane that interested us. Swan lost Friedich, then Lancell, leaving Decken in front of him. While he was sure to win Brandon spread his cards *.

-Haha I told you.

* He got up and started doing a really crappy victory dance. Decken gave him an amused smile and showed him his cards *.

-Hey? From ... But it's impossible. How did you.... cheat?

-Where I grew up Poker is second nature. The plane is mine.

-That ... Never in my life. Decken swelling cheated you.

-No, I won within the rules. * He yelled *.

-Come on, let's say we're borrowing for a few hours. * I proposed *.

- Not even in your fucking dreams .....

* A shovel knocked him dry. It was Lancell who had cut short the negotiation *.

-He has guts. * told Muller *.

- That was not the plan. * Said Swan *.

-We do as planned.

* Namely locked Brandon in the shed. Start the aircraft and bring up Troy as pilot and Swan as observer. As the wind blew through my hair, I watched as Troy settled into the handle of the device *.

-Are you sure you don't want me to come? *I said*.

- So that you shove your guts above my head? No thanks.

- By the way have you ever piloted this thing? * Swan asked *.

-Yeah when I was abroad. * He yelled *.

-Hey ... weren't you supposed to be there until you were 12?

* The plane was starting to takeoff and it was to a panicking Swan that I said goodbye with a smile. I just have to pray that Arianne's information was correct *.

-Just have to pray for now on.

* End of chapter *