The First Trial
Chapter 6 : The First Trial
The main hall of the Central Military Academy was a cavernous space, its high ceilings supported by towering steel beams. Holographic banners hung from the walls, displaying the Empire's insignia—a golden crown encircled by a ring of stars. Rows of seats filled the hall, each one occupied by a recruit in crisp, newly issued uniforms. Lena sat near the back, her posture relaxed as her eyes leisurely scanned the room.
Lena's uniform was the same as everyone else's, a fully fitted coat with collars and straight pants, an old school outfit in today's neon fashion world. But her natural charm was unrestrained by choice of her clothes, as even in these standardized outfits she appeared beautiful and somewhat heroic. She had made a tight ponytail as per norms which states recruits must tie their long hairs in some style. Lena was seated near the very back but still her appearance had caused several front seaters to have strain in their necks due to repeatedly craning back.
At the front of the hall, a podium stood beneath a massive holographic screen. The screen flickered to life, displaying a montage of the Empire's military might—soldiers marching in perfect formation, mechs towering over battlefields, and fighter jets streaking across the sky. The images were accompanied by a stirring orchestral score, designed to inspire awe and loyalty.
A tall, broad-shouldered officer stepped up to the podium, his uniform adorned with flickering virtual medals and insignias. His face was stern, his eyes scanning the recruits with a mixture of disdain and expectation.
"Welcome, recruits," he began, his voice booming through the hall. "You are here because you have shown potential. But potential means nothing without discipline, without sacrifice, without the will to serve the Crown above all else. Pilots chosen amongst yourself will one day pilot those high tech Mechas you see on the Internet. All paths above go through this Basic Military facility, always remember it."
Lena leaned back in her seat, her expression neutral. She had heard similar speeches before, in her past life. The words were different, but the sentiment was the same—obey, conform, and you will be rewarded. In her previous lives demons used to laugh at humans who were always giving speeches left and right, even if they were about to be wiped out, but several centuries later Demons understood the real effect of these morale boosting words when humanity's will dominated the world.
That's when her species realised that Bards were not just clowns, Lena frowned remembering her past experiences but she quickly controlled her emotions to not let the sour memories make her mood bad. After all no need to beat herself, she is now human in this life thus on the winning side of their previous feud.
The officer continued, his tone growing more intense. Clearly he had immersed his emotions in his speech, a sign of a good orator."The Empire has faced many threats throughout its history. From the barbarian hordes of the Eastern Wastes to the rogue mages who sought to destabilize our great nation. But it was our technology, our ingenuity, that allowed us to prevail. The mech—the pinnacle of human engineering—has been the cornerstone of our military strategy for over a century."
The screen shifted, showing footage of massive mechs striding across battlefields, their weapons unleashing devastation. Lena's eyes narrowed as she watched. The mechs were impressive, but they were also vulnerable. She had seen it in the simulation—how a single well-placed shot could cripple even the most advanced machine.
Moreover, like any species with sentience, they were peddling a biased view of the military. If the Empire's mechanical military was really enough then why was the Empire so keen on recruiting new mages. Even if citing history, would they reveal in this hall that they almost lost the war against rogue mages? The result was only overturned when the Empire's mages reinforced them. She had read this part of history from several 'Points of View' on the internet, finally getting a clear picture of that war after comparing them.
"The mech is more than a weapon," the officer said. "It is a symbol of the Empire's strength, a testament to our ability to overcome any obstacle. But it is also a responsibility. Only the best, the most disciplined, will be granted the privilege of piloting one."
Lena's lips curled into a faint smile. *Privilege.* The word was carefully chosen, designed to instill a sense of entitlement in the recruits. But Lena saw it for what it was—a tool of control. Even the regular Mechas were nothing but almost slightly more costly than a foot soldier in real war, even drones and androids were considered more valuable during war times.
The orientation dragged on, with more speeches and presentations. Lena tuned most of it out, focusing instead on the recruits around her. She noted the ones who seemed genuinely inspired, their eyes shining with ambition. She also noted the ones who looked bored or skeptical, their expressions betraying their true feelings. She also subtly felt when one of few more perceptive men ahead tried to sneak a glance at her, but she acted mostly oblivious to them.
Finally, the orientation ended, and the recruits were herded out of the hall and onto the training grounds. The first challenge awaited them—a grueling obstacle course designed to test their physical and mental endurance. It was to know their upper limit before training so as to separate them into different co-curriculums according to their abilities. 'No need to hold back', it was clear in Lena's mind to get most of the situation.
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The obstacle course was even more intimidating up close. The towering walls, narrow beams, and spinning blades seemed almost insurmountable. Lena stood at the starting line, her muscles coiled like a spring. Around her, the other recruits were stretching and psyching themselves up.
The tall, confident woman from earlier—Lena had learned her name was Kira—stood nearby, her arms crossed as she surveyed the course. She caught Lena's eye and smirked. Clearly she felt the beauty's mysterious presence as a threat to her crown of Queen Bee.
"Think you can handle this, girl?" Kira asked, her tone dripping with condescension.
Lena didn't respond, her gaze fixed on the course. She calmly ignored her, earning a few glares and snide remarks from her group. Some of the men glanced here at the commotion and were thrilled to see two beautiful women going toe to toe. Thought it was just all one sided.
With a sharp buzzing sound, the recruits surged forward. Lena moved with clarity in her mind, her movements fluid and precise. She scaled the first wall with ease, her muscles burning but her mind focused. The narrow beams were trickier, but she maintained her balance, her eyes locked on the finish line.
One by one she crossed several obstacles without much difficulty. All the while her earlier study of senior students on this obstacle course paid off, as she followed the best way to tackle each obstacle. Though she hadn't thought they would make freshers run through the course so early.
As she navigated the course, Lena noticed the conflicts brewing among the recruits. Kira and her clique were pushing ahead, using their numbers to block others and create obstacles. A group of male recruits retaliated against other males, which resulted in a chaotic zone shoving Kira's group aside and causing them some delay.
Lena was lucky to not get caught in the fray as she was amongst the fastest, her focus unwavering. By the time real conflict between competitive males broke out she had already passed through that obstacle.
The spinning blades were the final challenge. Lena hesitated for a moment, studying their pattern. Then, with a burst of speed, she darted through, her body twisting and turning to avoid the deadly blades.
She crossed the finish line, her chest heaving but her expression calm. A few recruits had finished before her, but most were still struggling through the course.
Kira arrived a few moments later, her face flushed with exertion. She glared at Lena, her earlier smirk replaced by a scowl.
"Lucky run," Kira muttered, brushing past Lena.
Lena didn't respond but smiled as she felt like she was seeing a toddler challenge an adult. She wasn't a teenage girl who would get embroiled into conflict by some insulting words, a Succubus with an age of more than a few centuries Kira was just like a child in front of her especially when from the start she had no intention to compete with her classmates.
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The rest of the day was a blur of training exercises—hand-to-hand combat, marksmanship, and tactical simulations. Lena excelled in each one, her experienced soul giving her an unfair edge. She noticed the instructors watching her, their expressions a mix of curiosity and approval.
As the sun set, the recruits gathered in the mess hall for dinner. The atmosphere was tense, the conflicts from the obstacle course still simmering beneath the surface. Lena sat alone, her tray of food untouched as she observed the room.
Kira and her clique were holding court at a nearby table, their laughter loud and charming, attracting several students' eyes to their group. Men weren't seated in some pattern, they were scattered around the room, their conversations hushed but intense.
Lena's gaze drifted to a group of quieter recruits sitting in the corner. They were discussing something in low voices, their expressions serious. Lena caught snippets of their conversation—words like "mage" and "war" and "history."
Her interest piqued, Lena moved closer, her tray in hand. She sat down at an adjacent table, her ears straining to hear their conversation.
"...the mages were unstoppable," one of the recruits was saying. "Their magic could level entire cities. But the Empire's mechs turned the tide at the last moment. The combination of technology and strategy was too much for them."
"But what about the Archmage?" another recruit asked. "I heard he's still out there, waiting for the right moment to strike."
The first recruit shook his head. "The Archmage doesn't take action. He is just a figurehead of authority of mages. A position to scare recruits into obedience and uphold pride of mages."
Lena's lips curled into a faint smile. *A figurehead , huh?* She had seen the Archmage taking action, and she knew better than to underestimate him. Even some Gods and demons of her old world were just as strong as him.
As the recruits continued their conversation, Lena's mind raced. The history of the Empire's wars, the role of mechs and mages—it was all connected. And if she could piece together the puzzle behind such a convoluted system of Mages and royal family coexisting together in this government system, she might find a way to gain the upper hand.
For now, though, she would focus on the challenges ahead. Next would be grueling days where they will be trained physically to the extreme. As much as Lena had made up her mind to take this path, she still felt a little depressed at the tough work she would have to do in the coming days.
After all, Since when did Succubus have been a fan of hard work?
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