Chapter 019. Day-30 until the long awaited military academy's entrance examination

“So this is where you are!”

Ayla lifted her eyes before returning to her book apathetically upon seeing the source of disturbance. Of course, who else has the audacity to intrude here except Caelum?

Ayla haven’t seen Caelum for a week after that time at Second city. Because they had to follow through legal process under the directives of the authorities over there to clean up the aftermath, it took some time to get anything done.

They had to gather enough evidence of their extortion to make those thugs eat their words in prison, find enough witness aside from Miroh to testify, and many others that makes you want to just stuff them in a bag to be done with it.

In the end, she didn’t know how he had done it, but the official reports follows the same narrative except Caelum was the one who beat them up. In any case, nobody suspected anything since Caelum is a certified knight doing research for Winter moon.

“Is this how you treat someone that worked hard for you?” Caelum had a tone of grievance. He eyed the piled up books near her feet and could guess what she had been doing all this time. He’s afraid this brat had only left the room to eat and sleep.

Ayla raised her eyes to glare at him unhappily. “Are you done? Shut your mouth for a second, I need to finish this part.” She resumed reading the book with a very scholarly aura as if she was pouring over the content of the book intently. The book cover shows it was a book about insects.

Caelum became curious what could be so engrossing for her to ignore his amazing presence this way. She isn’t fixating on insect this time, righ—

It was as if something flash behind Caelum. “Hey! You silly girl. How could you have the conscience to trick me like this?” Caelum exclaimed loudly, startling Ayla to snap her book shut in panic.

“Why? Why? What did I do?” She asked boldly. “I was just reading about endemic insects. What’s wrong with that?” She held up the book with the praying mantis in the cover with an expression that screams ‘I can’t believe you’re doing this to me?’.

Caelum laughed sarcastically, pinching both of her cheeks. You think I didn’t saw your hands throwing the pink book behind you? “You think I didn’t see the Judy —- novel you were hiding? “I fell in love with the Duke’s second identity”? Damn girl, you’re really starting with her earliest works!”

“I was just curious—hey, let go, let go.” She rubbed her sore cheeks after successfully swatting Caelum’s hands away. There was a slight surly tone in the way she speaks. “That hurts. So what if I’m reading Judy Thames, huh?”

Caelum clicked his tongue, running his hand through his hair with his hand on his hip. “I thought you’re fixate on a new hobby once again. Don’t try to hide it next time. Why be secretive about it?”

“It’s not like I like it anyway. I was just curious.” That’s what she said, but the way she sneakily hid the pink book away from Caelum’s eyes says otherwise.

“Anyway, Keid is back. He said he needs to talk to you about something important.”

Ayla movement halted for a second before humming noncommittally. She then stood up in an overly relaxed manner that it was becoming unnatural. “Is that so? Then why are we still here? Let’s go, we can’t let him wait.”

“Is there something going on that I don’t know?” Caelum eyed Ayla’s brisk steps suspiciously. She isn’t this enthusiastic to meet Keid, or anyone for that matter.

“You’ll know soon enough.” Ayla refused to say anymore. Even her voice sounds very preppy and seem to carry a tune at the end of the sentence.

“Ah, you guys are here! Took you long enough to find her.” Vega said the second sentence to Caelum after they meet her on the way to the conference room. She had already recovered a long time ago and was conducting different experiments on the two captured leviath like a madman.

Of course, accidents like almost being chewed before wasn’t a new thing for all of them so it didn’t cause any psychological shadow for anyone especially Vega. More than anything, it seems to fuel her even more to her advocacy. For her, there is only two ways for this to end, whether she dies first or all the leviaths dies once and for all.

“You told me she’s on a vacant room. But you forgot that there’s a lot of rooms in one floor alone.”

Vega averted her eyes to avoid Caelum’s accusatory gaze, scratching her chin. “Aha, right! I forgot to mention that important detail…sorry.” She then hold up a peace sign sheepishly.

“By the way, where’s Leo? It’s strange not to see him with you.” Ayla peeked behind Vega in search of the assistant researcher. It comes to a point that people now assumes that where Vega is will have Leo also somewhere near.

“He’s at the testing site. We’re about to finish up with the final round of the experiment.” Vega rubbed her nose proudly. “I think we can expect some good results from this.”

“Hmm…that’s nice.” Ayla nodded her head, uttering her encouragement. She wasn’t that knowledgable with Vega’s work, but with the few moments she was at the site, Vega screaming louder than the leviaths should explain a lot. Ayla hoped their efforts will bear fruit this time.

They made small talks along the way with Ayla acting as a moderator between the two very much full grown adults. It was quite a long walk as they had to walk across the building to the other side.

And so, Keid could only ask in confusion after noticing Ayla’s exhausted expression. “What happened to you?”

Ayla shook her head, waving her hand dismissively. “It’s nothing. I’m tired from walking.” She quickly walked to the seats in the room without doing the formalities.

Keid didn’t really think it through and let two talkative people to escort her.

Keid shrugged, but the barely noticeable twitch on his eyebrows says that he could guess what had happened. Well, it wasn’t really intentional so he is guilty of nothing.

“Well, aside from that. Let’s have some tea first. We’re still expecting another person.” Keid glanced at the abandoned grandfather clock tucked in the corner with a smile.

“They said they’ll be coming in late.”

The door opened once again and the sound wheels churning caught their attention. It was Hamal bringing in the tea set with pastries.

Caelum looked happy as he greeted a respectable comrade-in-arms. “Hamal, my friend! I haven’t seen you for a while. How is everything?”

“I am very much well, Sir Caelum. I have been occupied with overseeing an ongoing extensive training session with some cavaliers.”

‘Extensive training session?’

Ayla caught on an unfamiliar term. She hadn’t heard that until now. Now, what are they doing without her knowledge this time?

“Oh, who are they?”

“The people that accompanied Miss Ayla and Sir’s team last run.”

Both Ayla and Caelum coughed at the same. The stupid tea slide down the wrong pipe due to Hamal’s incredulous words.

Ayla wiped her mouth. Her expression was just plain baffled. “What kind of bullshit are you playing at?”

“That’s not the case, Miss Ayla. In fact, everyone who joined were not coerced to attend. It was even their own suggestion to arrange this. I extended my help because I was touched of their chivalry. Such unbecoming…to let that happen again is equal to chivalric death.”

‘That damn chivalry.’

Nobody knows what reaction they should wear right now. The fact that Hamal sounds very passionate like he was fighting for something big and being the receiving end of that excessive effort just made their scalp numb.

“Ugh, the visuals. I don’t feel good knowing bulky men are training hard for our sake.” Caelum muttered, hugging himself. Receiving a princess treatment has never been this terrifying.

The only one who seem to be enjoying this more than anyone is Keid. Ayla was sure there’s a nasty smirk suppressed under that thick eyebrows!

Ayla and Caelum didn’t want to touch their tea anymore so they settled with munching on the light snacks.

Vega waited for Hamal to finish pouring her incoming third cup of tea before taking a whiff of the fragrance with a satisfied hum.

“Should we wait for our guest?”

“No, they’ll be here soon. Let’s start now.”

Keid first inquired about the progress on Vega’s experimentations in details since arranging a meeting like this is impossible when you are one barrier away from each other. No doubt there’s a difference in the quality of communication between virtual and personal.

Ayla nibbled on a shekel cookie in her mouth while listening quietly in her seat. She didn’t participate in the experiment unless they called her down so she was contented with listening to Vega’s report.

It was then that Keid suddenly dropped a huge ass bomb on to them leaving them all dumbstruck.

“I also think we’ll have to transition to working in a more permanent location as soon as possible.”

Thank goodness, nobody was drinking something this time.

“So we need to search for a place inside Keren that will give Vega the same space to conduct experiments as here in Jemima.”

Keid stated it very nonchalantly that everyone questioned their memory if Keid had mentioned something like this to them before.

“Sorry, but what do you mean Keren? Even getting pass the border with our…things is already a miracle, how much more to get out again.” Caelum still wore a look of bewilderment, while raising his hand.

Well, Keid had expected this reaction from them. They can get away with many things because their advantage lies with the geographic location of Jemima having less cities controlled closely by any of the military branches. Coming to the enemy's turf willingly is like clipping their own wings to freedom.

For Vega, she seem to have foreseen something like this will happen since she was the most calm among them. In any case, this was something they talked about separately especially with the commander's suspicion in this organization. They'll be able to hide Ayla until the time is right for the stage of retribution to set place.

Vega inwardly clicked her tongue, suddenly peeved at the person that appeared in her mind. It isn't considered a setback, but...

'Hah, that commander...really.'

“Of course that’s because Ayla will have to enter the military academy soon." Keid explained.

Everybody knows that the military academy accepts aspiring recruits at the first week of the new year every two years in accordance to the Imperial calendar. There isn't age restrictions implemented, but the trend had long shifted as more teenagers see knighthood as a viable option instead of tilling lands or risking their lives in mines. This becomes an integral point of many that will dictate their future lives.

"Ayla will take the entrance examination for this year’s recruits. Afterwards she can be an official member of our Black Winter moon. In this way, we’ll have less restrictions in case we need to make a move in the future.”

"Wow, you really agreed." Ayla mused. She didn’t really expect something to come out of that silly agreement.

He sighed, smiling wryly at Ayla's expression that looks to be brewing something troublesome. “Vega told me about it. And it coincides with the way things are going outside. More restrictions have been placed in every barrier so we’ll have to lay low until Ayla graduates. At that time, we can decide our next our move.”

"So what's the catch?" She asked straight to the point. Of course she know that Keid didn't just agree without any reason.

Keid was waiting for Ayla to say that as he smiled cunningly. “Think of this as a vacation and just observe the recruit's performance. We want to discover potential people to drag in our side and you outshining them isn't going to help."

Ayla wore a look that border between wanting to be angry or laugh. "I don't know if that's an insult or a compliment."

"Just stay low until graduation so nobody will suspect you of anything. You'll be leaving for Keren a month from now with Hamal." Just because he explained it properly doesn't mean Ayla will follow it, but Ayla nodded her head to show she heard him.

Hamal nodded his head at the side. He seems to have been notified in advance about his upcoming role.

"Wait! Hamal's enrolling too? What about laying low like you said!?" Ayla exclaimed incredulous. Not even the commanders of the other two military branches, but even the king himself will probably send out olive branches to Hamal. I mean, who wouldn't want to be protected by an estimated 200 cm bodyguard?!

"What are you talking about? Hamal is entering as a kitchen staff."

"...oh."

Ayla stomped her foot on Caelum's foot roughly after she heard him chortle non-discreetly. Caelum's face instantly contorted at the sudden pain as he bend down to grab his injured foot while hissing.

"You sure are quite eager to send me away." Ayla snorted.

"We've already enlisted you as a recruit from Masseh district. You became a destitute orphan after your whole family was eaten during the fall of Keziah." Keid explained, throwing her a folder across the table with documents related to her fake profile.

"You could have chosen something more original." She gagged, skimming through the file. "It's so...melodramatic."

"You just have to deal with it." Keid shrugged, while wearing a teasing grin. "In fact, somebody got too carried away with writing your fake life story."

The 'culprit' wanted to defend herself so bad that she sat up straight with unbridled conviction. "The more cliché it is, the less people will question it. I even consult a Judy Thames novel for it. 'An orphan girl, who seek the path of the sword to avenge her family'. Isn't that very common in the military?"

Ayla rolled her eyes at Vega’s words.

A knock suddenly echoed, cutting off their conversation. A knight from Keid’s men notified them of the guest’s arrival outside the door.

Keid hummed wistfully. ”He’s a bit late than expected. But that’s alright. Send him in.”

Ayla frowned in confusion upon seeing the rigid figure of the person entered the room. She keeps on meeting this person for someone who just joined as a part-timer and expected to never see again.

“Oh, greenie? So you’re the mysterious guest?” Caelum was first to greet Miroh with a welcoming cheer.

Miroh cleared his throat before doing the military salute as if he was reporting for duty. “Knight Miroh of Black Winter moon, reporting for duty. May the light of Celestia shine eternal.”

“Oh. Your men have good manners. You really taught them everything, Keid.” Vega voiced out while impressed.

Ayla recalled how Miroh have good kinesthetics even with that crappy sword. No wonder he could survive this long. Keid had probably seen through Miroh’s extraordinary talent of spatial awareness and trained him to utilize his agility more during runs.

Keid observed Miroh for a second. He leaned back self-assuredly since he found the thing he wanted to see in Miroh’s gaze. “I suppose you’re here to bring us a good news.”

‘Now, what the hell is this?’

Everybody have a lot of questions. But Keid’s unperturbed aura can make a lot of people hold back their tongue. Nobody had any idea what Keid saw in Miroh that made him happy.

Miroh nodded his head firmly. It was a totally different attitude coming from the person Ayla and Caelum saw a week ago. They can still see the subtle uneasiness under Keid's gaze, but seeing the person work hard to look forward with his back straight was refreshing to look at.

“Yes! Please let me join this organization.” He bowed formally in front of Keid.

Miroh had deliberated about what Keid offered him intently for a week during which he wasn't able to get any decent sleep. He didn’t know what kind of game fate was playing for Miroh and this organization to keep on associating with each other these days. Something tells him that he was involving himself into a scheme bigger than the barriers if he join this group of eccentrics.

Yet he longed to feel that adrenaline rush as they work together to subjugate the two leviaths. At that moment, he felt that he was finally strong enough to do the important tasks, gradually transforming from being a trash to someone that has a fighting chance against a leviath.

'Then maybe this time he can properly avenge the death of his mother. And help humanity take their first ever giant step against the towering figures of their enemy.' That was his lingering thought that brought a huge impact to his decision.

“Do you remember what I said last time?” Keid folded his hands on top of his knees with an air of scrutiny.

Miroh nodded slowly.

After he regained his consciousness from the incident a week ago, Keid visited him at the hospital he was staying. He remembered rejecting Keid's offer to join this organization resolutely, saying that he will continue the righteous path of becoming one of the strongest swordmaster to avenge his mother.

Keid had smiled in defeat after countless tries to poach him had been deflected with firm no. "What a shame. Well, I suppose it isn't right to demand you an answer immediately. I'll let you think it over again for a week. If we don't see each other again after one week, then I'll respect your decision and will make sure not to entangle you with my people."

"You might get sentenced to treason by associating yourself with us as an accomplice." Miroh felt his back chilled at Keid's cold remark. Right, he is a knight subjected under the King's grace and authority, which means he will be sentenced with the maximum punishment available.

"Of course, the crux is if they caught us, which I doubt will ever happen. That's just me hypothetically speaking." Keid retracted his impassive tone with a lighthearted shrug. Ah. Miroh almost forgot. He isn't the only one who'll receive a heavier punishment. This person actually holds the highest military rank among them in this room.

"Well, since you willingly make your way in here. I officially welcome you as the leader of this ragtag of obnoxious idiots. And so, as your logistics squad leader, I now demote you from your knight status after violating a rule in which you have raised your sword unjustly toward a civilian. Thus, under careful consideration, you are hereby sentenced with expulsion from Black Winter moon."

"!!"

"What the fuck? What the fuck? He suddenly toppled over!"

"Hamal, quick hold him up! Bloody hell, idiot Keid! Who suddenly announced something like that to a conscientous kid? Oh my goddess, he took your words seriously!"

Caelum slapped Miroh's cheek lightly. Everybody had now gathered around the sofa, gazing down at Miroh's ashen face in panic. "Greenie, greenie? Hey, wake up dude. Keid just like to mess with people with his words. You gotta get used to it!"

Ayla laid an exhausted hand over her forehead as she sighed deeply. Things will just get extremely hectic from this moment on. But she was already unsure if she has the patience to go through that.

Looks like they'll have to work extra hard if they want to make drastic changes to happen in this place. And here she though she was the troublemaker?