The Letter

Gilbert then went with his squad following the layout on their watches towards their room. The tower was 9 floors high the first being a common area\library, the second was a laundry area and finally from the third floor onward was filled with residential rooms. The halls of the tower were worn with cobwebs everywhere and damage could be seen in some doors that allowed a peak into the rooms, the only decent-looking floor was first with the library which had bookshelves lined with books and ceiling had iconography showing marine knights and other more advance looking ones fighting against beast looking Styx, other humans and other taller humanoid looking ones with three eyes.

Stepping into their room it featured a living area, three bedrooms and a kitchenette but like the rest of building it was trashed with even the furniture were missing legs the only thing that looked decent for use but still looked questionable were mattresses.

"I can understand us cleaning up but what about furniture I am not sure about the rest of you but I carpenter I'm naught," said Kean kicking a broken chair leg across the room.

"That is what the money is for." Chen Mei said quietly

"I thought that was some sort of compensation for our near deaths," said Kean annoyed

"Do you know nothing about the military we don't get anything except the basics in the first year, you pay for every other comfort furniture clothing even the kitchen if you want to use it you have to buy it," said Wolfgang poking a mattress leaned against the wall.

"Can any of you afford anything?" Adam asked using his watch to scroll through the Citadel store.

"Unless you have ona from before then we are stuck with what have," said Wolfgang

"Okay, guys let us pool our money together and give it to girls to buy what we need while the rest of us can start cleaning and then head towards the cafeteria for food." Said Gilbert the group then got into action cleaning up and moving the destroyed furniture to the halls. Time passed until finally bots started to arrive at their room carrying supplies paint, furniture, kitchenware, and toiletries. As they cleaned Kean saw Wolfgang and William simply leaning on a wall

"You guys too good to clean?" He asked

"Yes!" They replied simultaneously with William even rolling his eyes

"Clean or I will make you both clean." Gilbert chimed in

"You may be able to beat Wolf but you ain't beating me," William said enunciating each word of the last half of the sentence

"Then the three of us could just attack together, are you sure you can take down Adam and Kean before I take down Wolfy," Gilbert shot back

"Your leadership is evident, and I appreciate the direction you're taking. Initially, I was prepared to support the temporary arrangements. However, now that this has become a permanent decision, I believe it's important to ensure that the commitment is mutual and earned, rather than determined by chance.," William replied before taking a broom and beginning to clean with the rest of them Wolfgang followed in his steps. The group then continued their cleaning in silence including the hallway making it look extremely clean before they received a notification detailing their semester. Finishing close to midnight they all showered and came out to the smell of food from the kitchen, Ana was there cooking a meal for the squad while Chen Mei was busy trying to help or at least stay out of the way. "I thought that since this is officially our first day as a squad we should share a meal," said Ana "Anybody who opens their mouth to say something negative can drink Saharan wind." causing Wolfgang and Kean to shut their mouths.

"What did you make?" Gilbert asked 

"Fry chicken, stew pork and rice and peas with coleslaw while Mei made coconut water," Ana replied

"How do you make coconut water"? Kean asked nut all he got was it in the back of his head by Adam William then pulled out a chair for both Ana and Chen Mei to use before pulling out a seat for himself sitting down.

" Well then thank you ladies for the meal you have my gratitude," he said. They then went about their meal in quiet.

"Well guys as William obviously can point out we aren't a squad that is well meshed we don't like each other and are from different backgrounds William and Wolfy are from New Astrea a tier II city, and Chen Mei is from a whole different continent coming from the tier I Beijing meanwhile the rest us are from a tier III city and even orphans at that. With that being said I can't promise to be a great leader even a decent one what I can promise I that I will defend everyone as if I am still in the orphanage and if someone hurts one of us I will hurt one of them just like my ID I promise anyone touch squad 9 shall one for one" Gilbert said taking up his dishes carrying to kitchen to clean then heading to his room.

Gilbert unlike the rest had his room though it was only large enough to fit a twin bed against the wall, a desk featuring a single lamp and bonsai made from some exotic plant he doesn't know, and a trunk made of hardwood etched with iconography. His room was painted white with one red wall, a single window letting in light finished with his bathroom featuring a shower and face basin. Laying down on his bed he took out the letter given to him before leaving the orphanage

'My dearest Gilbert,

As your father, I recognize that I haven't always lived up to my role, nor have I been the brightest example. I left you in the care of your mother, who in turn entrusted you to St. Mary's with your aunt and grandmother. I've always aimed to do what is right and to shield those I love, but I regretfully confess that I have failed at both. Even those who strive for righteousness can fall prey to treachery.

The greatest gift I leave you is your mother's remarkable creation—the duo core. One significant limitation of power armor is that marines can only wear the ones tied to their lineage. However, with this duo core, you have the unique ability to embrace two lineages and craft a hybrid armor. You possess a natural talent for this, and the duo cores were designed specifically for you by your mother.

Throughout your journey as Marine Knight, you'll only be able to sync with one core, but as you transform into a Dread Marine, you will harness the other. I also took steps to protect you by concealing your true identity. When you enlist in the military, your last name will be recorded as Kruger and shared with the other orphans. This is a temporary measure, meant to shield you until you are strong enough to protect yourself and those you care for.

I urge you to keep your true last name hidden. While I've shared what needed to be said, I must also give you one caution: be wary of those who exist beyond the federation, for they could usher in unimaginable chaos.

With all my heart,

Your Father'

As Gilbert finished reading the letter, a solitary tear traced a path down his cheek, the weight of its words sinking deep into his heart. That night, he immersed himself in its contents, reading it over and over until the quiet hours of the night blurred into dawn. Finally, exhaustion took hold, and he drifted into a restless sleep, the letter still echoing in his mind.

When morning light broke, Gilbert carefully folded the letter, treating it with the reverence of a treasured relic, and tucked it away in his trunk, as if sealing away a piece of his soul. The day slipped by in a blur, an indistinct passage of time that seemed to race past him, oblivious to the changes around him.

It wasn't until he walked toward his first-class History lecture that he truly noticed; his squad and cohort had grown up before his eyes, each member now a striking 18-year-old. The realization washed over him like a wave, pulling him from his reverie. Surrounded by familiar faces, he spotted a young man he recognized as Adam and finally found the courage to ask him, breaking the silence that had settled in his thoughts."Were we all given steroids or something?"

"No, it's the serum you don't expect them to let us fight the normal size of kids right, looking at it as a hormonal growth spurt." Adam replied, "What is wrong with you, you were out of it the entirety of yesterday?"

"I think this is the most you've spoken since we left the orphanage. I'm fine, though—I just experienced a shock yesterday," he replied as they ambled through the grand citadel, passing by imposing statues that commemorated past generations, some depicting their courageous battles against Styx. After fifteen minutes of navigating the awe-inspiring corridors, they arrived at an unassuming building. They walked through the hollowed halls, which echoed with the muted whispers of anticipation, into a spacious classroom. The squads sat in neat rows, each segregated by the cities they hailed from, with the majority coming from tier II cities. Squad 9 settled into the back, their entrance attracting curious glances from others, as they were the only non-noble squad to complete the challenge—unlike their peers, the rest of the squads had spent the entirety of yesterday marching and exercising.

Just as they found their seats, the class began. An elderly man shuffled into the room, his walking sticks thumping rhythmically against the ground, each thud resonating in the hearts of the students. The initial chaos of the classroom gradually quieted, replaced by an uneasy stillness. With each resounding impact of the cane, the students felt an almost primal response, their hearts beating in time, some struggling to contain their fear as blood appeared at the corners of their mouths. Ana leaned against Adam for support, though she fared better than many, who had already succumbed to fainting spells amidst the palpable tension that filled the air.

"Settle down and pay attention; this is my class. I'm Professor Eric Bernard, and welcome to History," said Professor Eric with a commanding presence that ensured everyone heard him clearly in the hushed room.