Implication

Dukenam, Wudlock. 7:30 AM.

The hall was filled with murmurs and eager faces. Rows of new recruits sat in stiff-backed chairs, their eyes fixed ahead as the induction ceremony unfolded.

I leaned forward slightly, resting my head on my palm, half-listening. The speaker at the podium—Lonto Grandeur—stood tall, delivering the same speech every generation of recruits had heard before. A tradition passed down in Dukenam, shaped and refined by the Dkursh.

All military decisions must be made before the age of eighteen. A system designed to seize youth at its peak, to mold their minds before they could form their own ideals. They would be trained, shaped, and indoctrinated. The military would become their identity. Yet, despite this rigorous preparation, they wouldn't see real action until the age of twenty-five.

Lonto emphasized duty, honor, and service—words I had once believed in. Words that had once held weight.

Now, I found them meaningless.

I let my gaze drift across the hall, scanning faces. Searching.

For what, exactly?

I didn't know.

Once, I had been like them—young, agile, full of ambition. Perhaps that was my most defining trait. I had believed I could reform this country, rid it of the corruption that plagued its foundations. I had sought to shape it into something greater. But I soon realized an uncomfortable truth:

To change a nation, one must first control it.

And control requires power.

A simple concept, yet endlessly complex. Power dictates who gets what. If you want something, you must have leverage—something beyond physical strength, something that bends others to your will.

And so, my ambitions shifted. I no longer sought to save this nation. I sought to own it.

Lonto's voice echoed through the hall, pulling me from my thoughts. The audience erupted into applause. I blinked, momentarily adjusting to the present.

"General Basil Eudiger," Lonto's voice rang out, addressing me directly. His sharp gaze met mine. "Would you do us the honor of addressing the new recruits? I'm sure they would benefit from your insight."

I let out a quiet chuckle. You want insight? Very well.

Rising from my seat, I walked toward the podium with calm, deliberate steps. The room quieted.

"Good morning," I began, my voice smooth, measured. "Today marks the beginning of your service, a path that will bring you honor, discipline, and prestige."

I let the words settle before my lips curled into a knowing smile.

"But let's not fool ourselves."

A murmur rippled through the room. I continued, unfazed.

"The military is held in high regard. Society will respect you. Your families will see you as symbols of strength. You may even believe you are serving a greater cause." I paused, scanning their faces. "But understand this: you are pawns in a much larger game."

Silence. Some looked uneasy. Others intrigued.

"The world is not cold. It is burning—an inferno fueled by human greed, ambition, and the hunger for power. If you do not adapt, you will be consumed by it."

A few recruits shifted in their seats. Others sat frozen, processing my words.

"If you can accept this, if you can learn to navigate this reality, you might just survive." I leaned forward slightly, lowering my voice. "But do not mistake your service for free will. You do not serve this nation out of choice. You serve because the system demands it."

With that, I stepped back, allowing my words to linger before turning on my heel and walking toward the exit. My subordinates followed.

Behind me, Lonto fell into step beside me, his expression unreadable.

"What was that back there?" he asked, voice calm yet edged with curiosity.

I smirked. "A reality check."

Lonto studied me for a moment. "You revealed too much."

"I simply showed them both sides of the coin," I replied easily.

His sharp eyes remained locked on me. "Meaning?"

I glanced at him, amused. "People are often content seeing only one side of the truth. But if they wish to rise, they must understand both—the illusion and the reality."

Lonto exhaled, shaking his head as he walked past me. "You always were a difficult one, Basil."

I chuckled. You have no idea.