C77 Through Grit And Steel

They reached their bunks, the dim lights of the barracks casting long shadows across the room. The other women filed in, their faces tight with stress and exhaustion. No one spoke.

Yin sat down on her bunk, her bloody hands still trembling as she stared at them. The weight of what had just happened pressed down on her chest, suffocating her.

"Do you think she'll be okay?"

Yang asked softly, sitting beside her.

Yin didn't know how to answer. All she could do was shake her head slightly, her voice caught in her throat.

Then, the ship's intercom crackled to life, and the computers cold mechanical voice echoed through the room.

"Fenrir pups, sleep."

The lights dimmed, casting the room into near darkness, and the only sound was the soft shuffle of bodies settling into their bunks.

Yin lay down, her heart still pounding in her chest, but exhaustion quickly took over, dragging her into a restless sleep.

Meanwhile, in the shower room, Airid moved, his muscular arms effortlessly lifting the unconscious girl in a princess carry.

The dim, artificial light gleamed off the drops of water on his skin and uniform as he stepped out of the shower, his expression unreadable but focused.

MC POV

Just as he reached the doorway, he almost ran straight into me. I stood there, arms crossed, a knowing look already spreading across my face.

I didn't need to ask what happened. One look at the girl's limp form and her wrist with a fresh scar, her body still twitching slightly from the shock of her near death experience, and I could tell.

Dam it I thought. My schmucks might be barely competent instructors thanks to the lessons I drilled into their thick skulls over the past few weeks, but clearly, this generation... they're just not built the same. Mentally weak beyond words.

Airid paused for a moment, adjusting his grip on the girl's slight frame. His eyes met mine, and I could see the faint flicker of uncertainty beneath his usual calm exterior.

"She broke down, huh?"

I asked, though it wasn't really a question. More of a resigned statement.

Airid nodded slightly, careful not to jostle the girl too much.

"Yeah seems like even youre super light first day schock attack routine was too much for her."

I clicked my tongue in irritation. Not so much at Airid, but at the general state of things. Back in my day, recruits were already soft, weak physically and mentally.

I'd seen it deteriorating for years, and now? This was the result. Hard times make strong men; strong men make good times; good times make weak men; weak men make bad times. The old saying echoed in my mind.

"Place her against the wall,"

I said, stepping aside to give him space.

"Give her a shot of adrenaline. Let's see if she wakes up and faces herself."

Airid didn't argue. He gently set the girl down whose body was covered In recents scars clearly a sign of physical abuse, propping her against the coold alloy wall wall of barracks corridor.

His medpack whirred to life as he pulled out a sleek injector filled with adrenaline. He knelt beside her, administering the shot with practiced ease.

The girl's eyes fluttered open, panic instantly flooding her face as her body responded to the sudden surge of adrenaline.

She looked disoriented, confused, her breaths shallow and frantic as she started to crawl back against the wall, trying to get away from everything, maybe even from herself.

I let out a long sigh, kneeling down in front of her, bringing myself to eye level. My face softened just a little as I extended a glowed hand, palm open, hoping she would understand that this moment wasn't about intimidation, but choice.

"Look, Morgana"

I said as my HUD view Identified her, my voice low but firm, my pupils glowing yellow.

"You've got two choices here. You can leave. Walk away. Go back to your old life, whatever that was."

I could see the flicker of desperation in her orange eyes, but I pressed on.

"Or… you can use this chance to change your fate."

The girl's breath hitched, her eyes still wide as they darted around, not fully focusing on me yet. I leaned in a little closer.

"I know it's hard,"

I said, keeping my voice calm but intense, like I was speaking directly to her soul.

"Believe me, I've been there. I've seen and experienced the edge you're standing on, and it can swallow you whole. But I promise you, if you can push through, if you can break through past youre limits you'll find a strength you never thought you had. You just have to choose to fight."

I held her gaze, waiting for her decision. For a moment, the only sound in the room was the distant hum of the ship's systems, the artificial gravity thrumming beneath us, holding us down as we stared each other down.

Her breathing slowed, becoming more controlled. Her trembling hands clenched into fists. The fear in her eyes began to give way to something else, determination. Grit.

Finally, she gritted her teeth, her jaw tightening as she nodded sharply.

"I'll fight,"

She said through tears, her voice weak but filled with a spark of resolve.

"Good,"

I said, standing up and offering her my hand to pull her to her feet.

"Get yourself checked out in the med bay. Make sure you're wrist Is good. Then get some rest. You're gonna need it."

Airid, who had been silently watching the whole exchange, nodded in understanding. He moved to assist her, guiding her gently toward the medbay.

"I'll take her to med bay,"

Airid said. He looked at me, a flicker of relief in his eyes, then turned his attention back to the girl as she leaned on him for support.

"Good. After she's cleared, make sure she gets back to her bed."

Airid gave me a thumbs-up before leading the girl out of the shower room.

As they left, I straightened my back and let out a deep breath. A smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth.

I knew she'd either break again or become someone stronger than even she expected. It was a gamble, but one worth making.

Just as I turned to leave, the rest of my schmuks began to gather around me. Darius, Paul, Julian, all of them giving me looks like they could smell what I was about to do next.

Paul, ever the joker, grinned like an idiot.

"Heading out to get some combat practice with youre lance eh, drac?"

He made air quotes with his fingers and winked.

Darius cracked a sly grin.

"Or maybe some reconansense mission of a certain wanna be witchs cave of wonders?"

Julian chuckled, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Careful out there, Drac. Don't want you pulling a muscle during your 'workout.'"

I just gave them the middle finger without looking back, shaking my head as I made my way to the exit. Their laughter followed me out of the shower room, echoing through the corridor.

"Enjoy yourself, drac!"

Paul called out, still laughing.

Darius chimed in,

"Yeah, don't get too distracted by… extracurricular activities."

I didn't bother responding this time, already halfway down the corridor. I could still hear their sarcastic comments in the distance as I walked away.

Let them have their fun, I thought to myself. They'll be running drills at dawn.

I smirked as I headed off to find a bit of personal downtime, knowing full well I'd be back before sunrise, ready to whip those c*cky idiots of mine into shape along the young pups like always.

...

It didn't take long before I stood in front of the manager's apartment, the soft hum of the space station barely audible over the faint clinking of glasses from inside.