Platoon

Aray walked briskly along the corridor connecting the palace lobby to the throne hall of King Avanindra. The air in the palace corridors felt thick with tension, carrying whispers of unrest that had been growing for days. Aray's footsteps echoed against the marble floors, each click of his boots punctuating the eerie silence. The usual bustle of the palace was conspicuously absent, replaced by an undercurrent of anxiety that seemed to seep from the very walls.

Beside him, Abner tried to match his pace, though it wasn't difficult for him. Abner was always serious and quick in everything he did, his tense expression reflecting the urgency of the situation they faced.

"Before anything else, I owe you an apology for underestimating you," Abner said, his voice laced with regret, his eyes reflecting sincere guilt.

Aray glanced at him briefly, his face remaining expressionless, though there was a flicker of displeasure in his eyes. He replied with a hint of sarcasm, "Save it. Don't be a bootlicker."

Abner forced a smile, which looked awkward on his usually stern face. His stiff body language betrayed the shame and discomfort he felt.

"I'll explain what I've discovered to you. You will report it to the King," Aray said, his voice flat but final.

Speaking directly to the king wasn't something Aray desired. It was too troublesome, and his dislike for formalities was evident in his defensive body language.

"Why me? Weren't you the one who gathered the information?" Abner asked, surprised. His brow furrowed in confusion.

Aray let out a long sigh, a hint of irritation showing on his otherwise impassive face. "I don't need to explain why. You're the one who has to do the work now. You've been of no help so far."

Abner gave a wry smile, unable to argue. Frustration and regret crossed his face. "Even though you're talented, I'm still your superior. A little respect wouldn't hurt."

"There's no such thing as seniority in my book. Just listen," Aray cut in, his tone flat, eyes narrowing slightly, showing his distaste for the argument.

Aray then began to explain everything he had seen and heard from the memory of the mass murderer. His voice remained calm, but the intensity in his eyes showed how serious the information was. When he mentioned the number of victims resembling a countdown, Abner suddenly looked shocked, as if realizing something important. His eyes widened, and his body tensed.

"You're right. Those numbers sound highly suspicious," Abner muttered, looking pensive. His brow furrowed deeply, his mind racing to understand the implications of this information.

"And also, we must be more vigilant against the Northern kingdom from now on," Aray added coldly, his eyes reflecting intense wariness.

As they reached the throne hall, they were greeted by a magnificent sight. The hall was vast, with high ceilings adorned with beautiful paintings depicting the kingdom's history. Strong marble pillars lined the sides of the room, while a red carpet stretched from the entrance to the throne.

King Avanindra was already waiting on his golden, gem-encrusted throne, sitting gracefully with an air of authority. His golden crown gleamed in the light streaming from the tall windows behind him. "What are your findings? Do you have anything to report?" His voice echoed throughout the hall, filled with authority yet also curiosity.

Unconsciously, both Abner and Aray swallowed hard. At times, the king's presence could truly intimidate anyone. Abner looked nervous, a little sweat visible on his forehead, while Aray remained calm, though there was a slight tension in his shoulders.

Abner finally reported all their findings, or more precisely, Aray's findings. His voice wavered at first but grew steadier as he spoke. The king listened intently, his expression growing serious as he heard about the mass murders and that the perpetrator came from the Northern kingdom. His eyes narrowed, showing deep concern.

"So, you saw the man's face?" the king asked, this time directly to Abner. His voice was calm, but there was an urgency he couldn't hide.

"No, Your Majesty. Aray saw him," Abner replied, glancing at Aray with a hint of admiration in his voice as he mentioned Aray's name.

"That's correct, Your Majesty," Aray added calmly, his eyes meeting the king's without fear. "I also suspect the countdown is leading to a major plan, possibly a large-scale attack against us from the North."

Although his opinion wasn't asked, Aray felt it necessary to state it. There was a slight tension in the air as he said those words.

"For now, this is all we can report," Abner lowered his head respectfully, the relief of completing the report clear on his face.

King Avanindra gave a thin smile, his eyes showing appreciation. "Your work is commendable. This is no small piece of information. Thank you," he said, satisfied.

Abner's eyes shone with happiness after receiving the king's praise, while Aray remained calm, as if the praise meant nothing to him. However, there was a slight softness in his eyes, indicating that he appreciated the recognition of his hard work.

"Well then, Aray. It's time I introduce your platoon members. Come in!" the king ordered, directing his gaze towards the entrance of the hall. There was a flicker of excitement in his eyes, as if he had a pleasant surprise in store.

Aray turned, slightly curious despite his usual stoic expression. He saw four figures—two boys and two girls—hurrying into the throne hall. Their footsteps echoed on the marble floor of the vast hall. They quickly knelt before the king, their faces showing a mixture of nervousness and excitement.

"Yes, Your Majesty. We are here," one of them said, his voice trembling slightly with nerves.

The king smiled broadly, his eyes twinkling. "Allow me to introduce Lieutenant Aray, your new commander."

A sharp-toothed girl shouted enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with admiration, "Oh? Is he the one who won against a Major on his first day? That's so cool!"

Without waiting, the girl jumped towards Aray, a wide grin on her face. Aray was slightly taken aback, his body tensing at the unexpected enthusiasm.

"Fool! Control yourself in front of the king!" her friend, who seemed to come from a noble family, immediately smacked her head and pushed her to bow again. His face flushed with embarrassment at his friend's behavior.

The king laughed at their interaction, his voice booming throughout the hall. "You are all quite interesting... a perfect match for Aray!" he said, clearly entertained. His eyes twinkled with amusement as he looked at Aray.

Aray could only stare at them coldly, a slight frown forming between his brows. "How exactly do we match?" he thought, slightly annoyed. Ah, how troublesome.

"Introduce yourselves!" King Avanindra commanded, his voice full of authority, though there was a hint of enthusiasm. His sharp gaze observed each new platoon member with clear interest.

The sharp-toothed girl was the first to speak, unable to hide her excitement. Her eyes sparkled, and her smile was wide and cheerful, as if the world was her playground. "My name is Alisa Lalita. I can read and control minds." Her voice was lively, almost bouncing with her energy, and her friends seemed used to her bubbling enthusiasm.

A tall boy with sharp eyes stepped forward. He exuded an air of calmness and confidence. "Veer Vihaan," he said unhurriedly, each word steady. "I'm a sword expert." His eyes glimmered briefly, like someone who had long honed his skills.

Next, a girl with a calm and mysterious face spoke. Her voice was soft but full of conviction, though not as enthusiastic as the others. "Devika Kanaka. My ability is invisibility." Her words were brief and to the point, but with the silence enveloping her, she appeared more intimidating than the others.

Lastly, a boy stepped forward, his face clearly showing displeasure. His tone was a bit challenging, as if he was judging Aray with a skeptical look. "I'm Ramesh, an expert in controlling natural energy." He paused for a moment, then added loudly, "But to be honest, I don't believe this. You are younger than me!"

His friends exchanged glances. Tension filled the air as they awaited the king's reaction. However, King Avanindra merely gave a slight smile. His gaze, which seemed to have seen many battles and political intrigues, remained calm. He didn't appear bothered by Ramesh's rant; instead, he seemed more intrigued by how this dynamic would develop.

Devika, usually quiet, spoke calmly. Yet there was a rare flash of challenge in her voice. "If you don't believe it, why not test it yourself? Fight him." Her gaze briefly pierced Ramesh.

Ramesh, foolishly and full of confidence, accepted the challenge without thinking twice. His eyes glinted with a mix of eagerness and arrogance. "Fine! I'll prove that I'm stronger." His fists clenched, his face showing burning determination.

King Avanindra laughed heartily, his voice echoing in the vast hall. "Hahaha! You're all quite amusing! I can't wait to see how this unfolds." There was a clear desire in his eyes—he wanted to witness this fight.

Aray sighed softly, the usual laziness that was his trademark evident. His gaze was cold and indifferent as he looked at Ramesh, his golden eyes flashing briefly before narrowing. "I don't have time to play with weaklings. But if you really want to try, try lasting three minutes. If you can, I'll hand over the position of Lieutenant to you." His voice was calm but filled with disinterest.

Ramesh grinned, feeling challenged. "Three minutes? Easy."

However, as Aray's telekinesis began to work, Ramesh immediately froze. His body suddenly felt as heavy as if it were tied down by gravity many times stronger than normal. He tried to take a step, but his feet felt glued to the floor. His eyes bulged, and his once-confident face slowly turned tense. Within seconds, his knees began to tremble, and he finally collapsed to his knees, helpless under the invisible pressure.

Sweat poured down his face, drenching it entirely. Ramesh struggled to fight back, his muscles straining until his face turned red from the futile effort. But no matter how hard he tried, his body continued to be forced onto the floor.

"I–I give up!" Ramesh finally shouted, his hand slamming the floor of the hall in frustration. His voice echoed among the majestic pillars of the throne room. His breath was labored, and his whole body was soaked in sweat.

Aray simply raised one eyebrow, unimpressed. He released his telekinesis, allowing Ramesh's body to return to normal, though it remained limp and powerless. "Kid, there are times when you need to know your place before doing something so foolish." There was a trace of mockery in his flat voice.

Ramesh's friends watched him with concern, while King Avanindra laughed once more, this time with more satisfaction. "What an interesting sight! You're a perfect match as a team."

Ramesh stood slowly, wiping the sweat from his forehead and dusting off his clothes. Although embarrassed, his eyes still held determination. Meanwhile, Alisa, Veer, and Devika tried to suppress their laughter at his failure.

"I told you, he's no ordinary opponent," Alisa said, grinning.

"You're really stubborn, Ramesh," Veer added, patting his shoulder sympathetically.

Ramesh merely grunted, still swallowing his pride. But one thing was clear—Aray had proven himself as a commander not to be underestimated.

The king watched this display with a grim satisfaction. "Now that we've settled that, let's move on to more pressing—"

His words were cut short by a bone-chilling scream that echoed through the palace. "Your Majesty!" cried a soldier while bursting into the room, his armor splattered with blood, his voice filled with panic. "The city is under attack! The death toll has already reached over 500 people, and the perpetrator is still unidentified!" His voice trembled, radiating the horror that everyone there felt.

King Avanindra rose swiftly from his throne, his expression hardening with the weight of the moment. His eyes blazed with the fierce determination of a leader fully grasping the gravity of the crisis. "Deploy every available unit!" he commanded, his voice firm and authoritative. "Protect the citizens and eliminate the intruders!"

The room erupted into chaos. Guards rushed to secure the king, while courtiers fled in panic. Amidst the mayhem, Aray turned to his new team. Their earlier bravado had vanished, replaced by genuine fear.

"Alright," Aray's voice cut through the rising tension, calm yet commanding. "Looks like we've got our first mission already. The lives of every citizen in this city now somewhat also depend on us. Are you ready?"

For a moment, no one moved. Then Veer stepped forward, his hand on his sword. "On your command, Lieutenant!"

Alisa nodded vigorously, her earlier excitement now tempered with determination. Devika simply faded into visibility beside them, while Ramesh, still catching his breath, gave a shaky thumbs-up.

The countdown was nearing zero. The real battle was about to begin.