Life under the army boot (I)

"I was thinking the same thing," Liam said, turning the jar of delicious berries thoughtfully. "When we talked to Legion today, I realized he had his memory back."

"Memory? Why is that important?" Cal was perplexed, drumming his fingers on the table.

"It seems as if Dai-Kun deliberately engaged in a battle he couldn't have walked out of alive."

"You mean he killed himself?" Cal slowly realized.

"Exactly. I exchanged a few words with him, and I confirmed my hunch."

"But why," said Cal looked stunned, "don't the legends say that the Overlord's brave dragon fell in battle? Oh, that's right, he did, with one small difference-he wanted him to. Was he so weary of his long life?" the apprentice asked.

"Who could ever tire of living with the Overlord?" Liam asked reproachfully.

"Then what happened?" Cal chagrined over the mystery that couldn't be solved.

Liam sighed, he was thinking the same thing. He also didn't know if he should tell the Legion that the Overlord knew who his master was, and where he himself was. What to do with this jam? Leaving things as they were, the men went to the dining hall for supper. The head had not seen his disciples for a long time and wanted to remind them that he was still alive.

There were at most twenty students in the spacious hall, most had gone home for the vacations. But the corner table was occupied by Nood and Rashid as before, only now they were joined by Unner. The students jumped up cheerfully at the sight of their Master and began to offer him their seats. Cal greeted his friends with a smile and a nod of his head.

When everyone was finally seated at the table, the Head looked around at his students with joyful eyes.

"I have some news for you," he began, "this student is leaving the Academy for a training camp under General Tishow."

Having enjoyed the effect, he moved on to his second piece of news.

"Unner, we'll have a ceremony with Yolk on Monday," the Head smiled at his apprentice.

The latter tilted his head: he still hadn't thought of a more appropriate name for his golden dragon, which caused them to be teased by everyone. The Head seemed to be aware of this ridiculous situation as well, so Unner was ashamed. But he patted him on the back and added:

"If a dragon doesn't mind that name, who am I to judge you?" He winked.

"I will think of one, I promise!" The apprentice leaped up, "but not yet."

"So Leon is going to serve in the army," Nood asked about the thing, which was more interesting than the dragon's name.

"Yes."

"Why so abruptly?" The question struck Rashid as rude and he nudged his friend in the ribs with his elbow.

"Master, normally first-year students have no such privileges," the apprentice gently clarified Nood's displeasure.

"There are exceptions to every rule," the Head sighed, "I'm afraid that in the case of Leon and Legion we simply have no choice."

There was a silence at the table, awkwardly interrupted by the apprentice.

"Uh, you're reacting as if I wanted you to. General Tishow's an asshole..." Cal fell silent under Liam's stern gaze, "Not that I like the General," he said.

"I see," said Nood grimly, "by the way, Michal was looking for you."

He'd forgotten all about the two of them. After supper, he and the Head returned to the room and stared at the jam again.

"You know, I can't see this, it annoys me," Cal began to put the jars back in the box. Then he went out into the yard and called for Legion. It was the dragon's first call, but it went smoothly: the dragon just appeared in front of him and looked questioningly at his master.

"Legion, I was... um, well, do you like sweets?" Cal started awkwardly.

"I do," Legion nodded affirmatively.

"Here," he unscrewed the jar and then poured the contents into his mouth as he went over to the dragon. Legion turned his head to the side as soon as he tasted it and spat it out. Then he looked suspiciously at his master.

"What is it?" he asked sternly.

"Didn't you like it?" Cal played dumb and opened a second jar... But the dragon wouldn't taste it.

"What else? Dried apples?" Legion asked.

"How did you know that?"

"He always made them for me," said Legion.

"Would you like some?"

"I won't," Legion turned away and then asked, hesitating, "where is he?"

Cal had a good idea of who he was talking about, and he felt like a talentless matchmaker.

"If I knew," he disappointed Legion, "all he sent was this and a letter."

"I see," was all the dragon replied, turning away again so Cal couldn't see his eyes.

"If you don't want to bring it up again, I won't," Cal said awkwardly, building bridges.

"You don't understand," the dragon looked at him, "I did what I did, and he'll never forgive me."

"And why should he forgive you?" Cal feigned ignorance, hoping to learn the secret of Dai-Kun's death by accident.

But what the dragon answered was a complete surprise.

"I confessed my love for him," Legion muttered.

"..."

"And he ran away."

"He didn't accept your feelings?" Cal was astonished.

Legion shook his head.

"What is there to say?" Cal hasn't the answer.

He had no idea that a dragon could love a human, much less admit it. No, it was certainly beyond his comprehension. Cal walked up to the dragon and put his hand around its neck.

He just stood there like that, silently lending his support to the Legion and hoping the dragon would appreciate his efforts.

At that moment he realized that he knew nothing of him, and he wanted to be his friend. But as a friend's place free in his heart?

****

Cal didn't get the second package anymore because he was gone to training camp. This time he stepped off another platform and saw nothing familiar from his last visit. As before he was greeted by frowning skies and scorched earth. In front of a tall metal, fence stood a dozen guys with their hands behind their heads.

They looked tired and dirty. As he walked past, Cal felt a strange sympathy. At the entrance, a sentry stopped him and demanded his papers. Cal showed his identification and, after waiting a few minutes, headed in the direction the sentry indicated.

The cadets crowded in front of the low barracks, discussing their business in a low voice. They immediately surrounded Cal when they spotted the newcomer and pulled down his traveling bag and shook out its contents. Their insolence made Cal clench his fists and get ready to fight when a short man came out of the barracks and blew his whistle.

Everyone parted and let the captain through to the scene. He kicked the sack with his foot and spat on the ground.

"You," he shot Cal a scornful look, "think you're a big shot now that you've got Dai-Kun, don't you?"

"Am I..." Cal didn't finish, because the captain punched him in the stomach.

"You'll eat the dirt off my boots, that's what you are!" the captain had no sympathy for the newcomer.

Everyone laughed, approving of the commander's action.

"Tonight you stand behind the fence until sunset, then we'll see," he said this and went away to the barrack.

"Well, princess, go," one of the cadets pushed Cal toward the exit, and here, he joined the ranks of those with raised hands.

He took his seat in silence and tried to distract himself from the warm welcome with thoughts of anything. Despite the clouds, the sun burned mercilessly, and soon he was all wet and reeking of sweat. Apparently, the raised hands were the spiciest part of the punishment - sniffing his and other people's armpits.

Cal had been nauseous all day and terribly thirsty. None of his fellow prisoners uttered a word the whole time. So Cal guessed that talking increased the punishment.

When the sun finally set, they were all allowed to put their hands down and follow to the barracks. The same cadet escorted Cal to the barracks and showed him a bunk in the far corner.

As he sat down, he heard the whistle, and everyone in the barracks lined up in front of their beds. Cal, too, stood with the others. The captain entered the barracks. Walking imposingly among the cadets, he made remarks and gave kicks.

When he finally reached Cal, he beckoned him with his finger and told him to follow him. This attention did not bode well.

As soon as he was in the yard, a sack was thrown over his head and he was dragged away, despite his resistance. As they dragged him away, he overheard a few phrases that explained everything.

"The General personally ordered me to teach him to be reasonable," someone said in a low bass voice, and the others laughed.

"General," Cal muttered mentally, and at that moment he fell somewhere in the foul-smelling mud.