Bernard

For a long while, he just stood there, looking at the table, selecting his weapons.

His brothers, Oliver and Vincent, already selected theirs, with the former having two knuckles, for obvious reasons, and the latter, surprisingly enough, picking two guns.

While he didn't voice this, Bernard believed that was a poor judgment call. A gun was an outdated weapon. It couldn't penetrate a demon's hide, nor could take out multiple opponents like a steam cannon or even a magic user could.

It had a good speed, but in friction battles, it'll do nothing.

He chose to remain quiet about it because he didn't want to lose the opportunity to go on a mission. Since Vince was their squad leader, he decided to just let him do something that was a blunder in his opinion.

That and the military training stopped him. 

They were soldiers, so their tactical input wasn't required. It was easier to just let their tacticians and higher ranking officials deal with it. 

Sighing, he picked a rapier, eyeing the sword and getting a few on the metal. Using his ESP for a quick scan, he understood the components and function. A simple thrusting sword with electric properties. It could change to a backhand blade if you moved it in a specific way.

A good weapon, made with the intent of allowing fluid combat. It'll work greatly. Maybe he might even get a promotion.

While greed was heavily frowned upon in this nation, he still wanted more than being a simple soldier in a war that wasn't his, and a promotion might take him out of that role.

With such thoughts, he walked away, deciding to test it against some other homunculi. 

After arriving in the training gym, Bernard's eyebrows rose and his lips frowned in a thin line. A lot of targets were destroyed, with a single homunculus, Vincent, at the center of the devastation. His red eyes glowed coldly and smoke emerged from his gun. Once more, the targets rose, and, in seconds, his squad leader dealt with them in a fast, uncaring way. 

Both pistols changed when he spun them, becoming a mixture of a dagger with a handgun. With a quick movement, he approached, piercing two targets with bullets while cutting three others, jumping and switching again for the pistol model and, with a full body spin, he allowed his ESP to fill the pistols, accelerating the bullets. 

The result showed why Vincent chose those weapons. 

Nothing remained… 

With a quick, practiced movement, he changed the clips, leaving the used, empty ones on the floor, and placing two others. 

Then, came another round of that grueling training. 

"Impressive, right?"

"He's been at it for almost an hour now…"

At that point, Bernard's head dipped low, feeling less and less. 

Vincent was a genius. That's what the others said. He always outperforms them in training and was something of an inspiration to both Oliver and him, but with that level of training, how could he compete?

Annoyed, he went to another part of the gym, deciding to take his frustration on the same moving targets. Drawing his new rapier, he used the metal on his custom boots to accelerate his movement, piercing whatever came close. 

Then, with a clumsy movement, he changed the form of the blade to take out a target behind him, but, with the speed he was moving, he was unable to hold it and dropped the blade, with a strike coming from one of the targets, forcing him to the ground. 

Ignoring the jeers and laughter, he used his ESP, Metal Kinesis to move his weapon to his hand, cutting down the targets, trying to grasp Vince's level.

He would not be defeated. Not in close range! And not against Vincent, of all people!

So, he forced himself to fight, regardless of how much the impact of the cold floor hurt, regardless of the sound annoying bastards kept making, he wanted to get better.

Moved by greed, he tried to force his ESP to work harder than before, faster as well. He was not used to such speed and his head was a mess of pain and quick thoughts, but he kept going.

But, no matter how hard he tried, he still couldn't move as fast as his perceived rival, his strikes were still missing some marks, while Vince didn't miss a single one.

He forced more energy to filter, until he hit his limit. 

After cutting down the last of the targets, he fell, unable to balance himself. 

Respect is to be earned.

One cannot take it, nor can they demand for it. 

Yer either feared or ridiculed if you try to force respect. 

But, even so, all the lads around looked at Bernard with respect. He didn't notice, but halfway through, the laughter stopped. Even I slowed my training down to look at him.

While he didn't understand it yet, he earned the respect of those around us, veteran soldiers who went through hell and back. And it all began with a simple competitive streak. 

Honestly forgot what it felt to have a protégée, especially after my latest one died in the harsh Sahara desert, in a mission that was doomed from the start. 

Maybe I could rectify that this time around. At least leave someone here capable of taking care of things… It might even stop this aching in my heart. 

Deciding to see this through, I picked the lad up and walked back to our quarters. The men around us granted us passage, their eyes on the young Homunculi in my arms.

After placing him in his bed, I took a stroll around, my mind clouded by things that were out of our control. 

It'll be our first mission, and while I'll be the squad leader, we'll be under the care of a much larger battalion, one that is under the leadership of Lady Lenna Linster, a member of Myrka's royalty.

Daughter of Baron Hans Linster, she is a descendant of Grisha Linster, a member of the first Esper homunculi Battalion, and has some of Grisha's power. 

Grisha was a highly decorated official, a hero to Myrka's people, and the textbook example anyone could rise above and become someone. He was first deemed as the weakest of his battalion, but with sheer determination and hardwork, became one of the strongest Espers of his time.

Needless to say, I'm curious if his lineage was able to hold up to that level of expectations. I hope so, at the very least. 

Without much more to think about, my stroll ended and I quickly went back to my room, to prepare for what may decide my future.