Aerie

"T-this is the room, right?" A young girl mumbled to herself as she timidly stood before a door that read room 32.

Her straight, blond hair fell to her shoulders as it dripped with sweat. Her big blue eyes were constantly blinking in anxiousness.

"T-This is Private Aerie Hayes, reporting for duty!" Aerie shouted as loud as she could.

The door opened, revealing a tall figure that loomed over Aerie. Maybe because it was anxiety or the terrible lighting, but the person in front of her looked menacing.

"H-Heick! I'm s-sorry for yelling!" Aerie immediately yelled back as she cowered in fear.

'The hell?' Ellia thought as she looked down at the frail Aerie.

"Get up, Private!" Ellia yelled.

"Heip! Yes, Ma'am!" Aerie stood back up and saluted.

"It's not, Ma'am. It's Second Luintent!"

"Yes, S-second Luintenet!" Aerie shouted back.

"Good, I'll be straightening you out from today onward!"

"Yes!"

"Good, now come inside."

As Aerie entered the room, she sighed a relief. 'I heard that there'd be very few female students. I'm fortunate...'

"Oh! It looks like we have another cutie!" Owen laughed with a huge smile on his face. On the other hand, Levi raised his dead eyes and darted at Aerie in interest.

'H-Heick, so much, men!' Aerie shrieked as she started to sweat profusely.

"Okay... let me get one thing straight. If anyone of you lay your hands on Private Hayes, I will be taking disciplinary actions." Ellia spoke with seriousness. "Especially you, Corporal Blank."

Owen gave Ellia an unconcerned look. Seeing this, Ellia sighed and looked back at Aerie, then flinched in shock. 'W-why is she looking at me like that?'

Aerie's eyes seemed to twinkle as she stared at Ellia as if she was her savior. 'S-She's a goddess. I-I thought I would have a hard time living here with so many men, but I don't think I have to worry about that anymore!'

"Waaaa! I'm so glad you're here, big sis!" Aerie bawled as she clung to Ellia.

'B-big sis...?!' Ellia thought as she looked down at the sopping Aerie. "W-What do you think you're doing, Private?!"

It was then that Ellia felt a pat on her shoulder. Ellia turned around and saw Issac shaking his head. "You don't need to go so hard on her."

"B-but..." Before Ellia could speak any further, she shut herself up.

"Private, why don't you introduce yourself..." Ellia spoke with a cough.

"Ah... a-as you all know, I am Private A-aerie Hayes. I just recently joined the military, so I don't really know anything... I also barely p-passed the entrance exam due to luck, so please don't think too highly of me..." Aerie timidly spoke as she stared at the floor, not daring to make eye contact with anyone.

'C-cute...' Levi thought as he stared at Aerie.

"Hey, doesn't she just warm your heart?" Ruth's voice suddenly sounded, causing Ellia to jolt.

'No- she's too soft. If she's going to be like this on the battlefield, then she's good as dead.' Ellia replied as she stared at her. 'She reminds me of someone back then...'

"A-also I don't have any special ability... nor I'm knowledgeable on magic. I'm really sorry." Aerie apologized

"There are tons of students that don't have special abilities," Mike spoke as he grabbed a dumbbell and started to curl them. "Abilities don't always determine the outcome of a battle."

Hearing this, Aerie smiled with a bit more peace of mind. But Ellia, on the other hand, had a completely different way of thinking. 'That's only true when the person has the skills to compensate.

'Hey Ruth, what's today's seclude?'

"Well, since today's the first day, it's more of a tour around the Everwhite to familiarize yourself, so tomorrow is the day when classes start."

'I see, then that's good.'

"Private Hayes, come meet me outside," Ellia said as she walked outside the room.

"Y-yes...?" Aerie mumbled as she scurried outside and closed the door. 'A-Am in trouble...? Does she think I'm useless after finding out I have no particular ability?' Dark thoughts started to form inside Aerie's mind.

"Let me as you something, Private."

"Yes?"

"Why did you enlist in the military?" Ellia asked as she looked at Aerie.

"Why I enlisted?"

"Yes. You must have had many different opportunities, but why here?"

"W-well, it was to find a purpose. I wanted a sense of purpose in my life. My parents left me when I was younger, so I became an orphan. But I couldn't contribute or accomplish anything in the orphanage. I became an outcast, so when I found out that my grandmother had died fighting in the Imperial army, I finally decided to contribute to something."

"Haaa... you're still so young." Ellia sighed as she shook her head.

"T-the Imperial army had good pay, and you didn't need a good education to enlist."

"Well, how do you think you will survive here?" Ellia then asked.

"T-that... I will figure something about that...!" Aerie said.

'Will figure something about that, my ass. You would die the moment you step foot on the battlefield.'

"Come meet me in the training facility today at 1800 today."

Aerie had a puzzled face but still nodded. "Y-yes, Second Lieutenant!"

"Alright, get back inside," Ellia ordered as she entered room 32.

"Second Lieutenant, your belongings arrived," Issac spoke as he pointed at a few different briefcases in front of a bunk bed.

Ellia then glanced towards the bunk bed where her weapons were, and as Issac said, there were several other briefcases.

Ellia then sat on top of her bed and unpacked her belongings. Inside were several pairs of Imperial uniforms and everyday utensils. But there was one thing that caught her attention. It was a black card that had a note attached to it. The note wrote, 'This is a card all noble men and women carry, so this card has been issued to you. The card will let you get the special benefits Everwhite offers.' Ellia read though and chuckled. She knew it was Avery who wrote this because of the handwriting.

Ellia then placed the black card into her front chest pocket.

"U-um, Second Lieutenant?" Aerie suddenly appeared with serval briefcases. "I-is it okay to get the bed on top of yours?"

"Feel free to take it," Ellia spoke as she got up from the mattress.

"T-thank you..."

Ellia then stared at the girl, trying her best to unpack her belongings. "Private..."

"Y-yes! Second Lieutenant!" Aerie shouted as she got up.

"Try not to act so feeble. You'll become an easy target here." Ellia spoke.

"I-I'll try!" Aerie responded but looked a bit more worried than usual.

'Didn't I just make things worse...?' Ellia asked herself as she sighed.

Then grabbing her two briefcases, she prepared to leave. "I'll be leaving for the time being," Ellia announced. Then, seeing the thumps up from Issac, Ellia left the room.