Jessica Autumn
My name is Jessica Autumn . I'm a fifteen-year-old student in Class 3-D of the Special Operations Division at the Second Senior Academy of the Tava Empire. I'm currently a Level 2 cadet. I like sleeping, picnics, and reading comics.
At school, my grades are pretty good—I'm considered an advanced student. I really like this academy. There's a wide, open lawn where my friends and I love to picnic. Right in front of the lawn stands our academy's massive main gate—tall and huge, at least ten times my height. On either side of the gate stand fully armed robot guards, each with our school emblem embedded on their chests.
Above the gate hangs the academy's name, set against the Tava Empire's flag: a bright red background with a gigantic golden five-pointed star. Behind the star is a massive military sword, upright and solemn. The teachers say that sword symbolizes our country's inviolable military power. Our academy is the cradle of the empire's strongest special forces teams. I dream of becoming like them—serving my country with honor!
This essay is my weekly writing assignment. It's Monday now, and the teacher is randomly checking everyone's essays in class. We have lots of writing tasks at school—reports, diaries, essays—but don't get me wrong, this is no liberal arts school. Under the strong influence of militarism in the Tava Empire, this is a genuine military academy, one of the very best in the whole empire.
Right now, the teacher has handed back our graded essays. When I looked at mine, a red-ink comment jumped out at me: "Well written, but lacks depth. It would be better if you described the teaching buildings more. Also, you've somewhat strayed from the topic—our theme was 'My Dream.'"
Reading this, my heart sank. Although the teacher didn't say it outright, I knew what she meant: if I don't take my writing seriously, I might be demoted. I'm a Level 2 cadet now, but if I fall back to Level 3, that'll be a big problem.
But the teacher didn't know how I was feeling at that moment—she kept going on about those "if you listen carefully, you'll understand" things, but honestly, I just couldn't focus.
Compared to me, my deskmate, Amir Schneider, was much more relaxed. He even had time to chat:"So, Autumn, how'd you do on the test this time?"I sighed. "Don't ask. It was terrible—stress off the charts. How about you? Didn't drive the teacher crazy, did you? Honestly, humanities subjects might as well be a death sentence for you."Amir grinned. "I did a bit worse than you, but I'm already pretty happy—I'm about to move up to Level 2! Gotta throw a feast for the whole village when I get back."I rolled my eyes. "Don't celebrate yet. The day after tomorrow is the live combat test, and tomorrow is the tech and theory exam."Amir chuckled bitterly. "Haha… that's real death sentence stuff, and repeated executions, too."I shrugged. "Even if I mess up, I still have to take it. Anyway…""Mess up and it's game over!" he cut me off. "You're calm 'cause you're good in combat. Me? Not so much.""Well, let's take it step by step. Sooner or later, we'll find a way."
Just then, the bell rang, and the teacher quickly dismissed the class. Amir jumped up with a swift motion, his eyes scanning the room— the walls made of hollow cement bricks, the desks and chairs crafted from some kind of composite material I couldn't even name— all of it making his heart race a little faster.
I patted Amir on the shoulder. "Hey, what's up? Spacing out or something?"
He snapped back to reality, grinning. "Nothing. Come on, let's grab something to eat."
"Alright."
We usually eat in the school cafeteria, which is about 100 meters east of the academic building.
After about four minutes of walking, we arrived at the cafeteria entrance. From the looks of it, the place was roughly six hundred square meters—not huge, but definitely not small. We stepped through the revolving doors and were immediately greeted by the soaring ceiling, shaped like a dragon's spine, with glass panels embedded in the gaps that let in plenty of natural light. Along the ridge of the ceiling ran a long LED spotlight, its beams stretching out evenly to both sides.
Looking down, the layout of the cafeteria was clear at a glance:
Self-service area: Several food counters lined up along one wall, offering everything from hot dishes to cold salads and desserts. The ingredients were fresh and vibrant—just looking at them made your stomach growl.
Drinks station: On the opposite side, a beverage station offered water, juices, tea, and coffee—anything students could grab at any time.
Dining area: The central space was roomy, filled with a mix of long tables and round ones. Each table was set with basic cutlery, giving the place a clean yet cozy vibe.
Lounge area: By the windows, there were a few soft sofas—perfect spots for students to relax or discuss assignments.
Greenery: A few potted plants were scattered around the corners, filling the air with a light, calming scent of fresh greenery.
Electronic screens: Several large screens on the walls displayed the daily menu, school announcements, and upcoming events in real-time.
This cafeteria wasn't just a place to eat—it was the heart of student life. Whenever something was happening, this was the place everyone gathered.
We chose a seat near the main entrance, on the right side. The rectangular table wasn't dirty, but it wasn't spotless either—there was no lingering smell of disinfectant, just the kind of clean you'd expect from a "model prisoner" wiping it down—adequately clean, but not over-the-top.
Jessica couldn't be bothered to stand in line at every food counter, so she just grabbed a standard student meal on her own. Emil, on the other hand, treated it like a gourmet experience, carefully weaving through the counters and thoughtfully selecting his dishes.
Not long after, they returned to their seats with their trays, and the difference in their meals was immediately apparent—
Jessica's student meal was pretty "basic": a few spoonfuls of corn kernels sprinkled over a cabbage salad, mixed with about 700 grams of minced chicken breast, and the only seasoning was 50 grams of mayonnaise.
Emil's tray, however, was far more abundant: a big bowl of beef rice, plus two small bowls—one with braised pork and the other with stir-fried cabbage, both smelling delicious.
Jessica glanced at the watch on the inside of her wrist. The time read "5:45 / 10 / 10 / 703." She preferred wearing her watch on the inner side of her wrist rather than the back.
"You're already spending like this, and it's just the beginning of the month. What are you gonna do by the end of the month?" she teased.
Emil chuckled casually. "Don't worry, I've still got over a thousand left. Worst case, I'll split a sausage into three meals at the end of the month. Want some braised pork?"
Jessica waved him off. "Nah, better save it for the New Year. I'll be the one covering the end of the month anyway."
They exchanged smiles, the mood feeling much lighter. After finishing their meal, the two of them headed back to the dorm together.
I arrived back at the dorm entrance.
Usually, there's a shoe rack by the guys' dorm door, but we never actually use it. Honestly, who cares about that kind of thing in a military academy?
I took my military ID tag—the one clipped to the carabiner hanging on the left side of my thigh (some call it a dog tag)—and swiped it over the door lock. Beep. The door clicked open.
Inside, there was a narrow hallway. To the left was the bathroom, and on the right wall hung a full-length mirror. I caught a glimpse of myself—
My hair was a bit messy, no hat on; my nose was a little flat, and on either side were a pair of clear blue eyes that always seemed a bit tired. My skin was very pale, but on my left cheek, there was a birthmark about 15 millimeters across, covered in thick, dark hairs that looked almost like wolf fur—wild and untamed.
I unbuckled my boots and swapped them for something lighter. As soon as my feet hit the floor, I felt instantly lighter.
From the other side of the room, my roommate's voice was already going off, nonstop as usual. What was he saying? Something about a military base overseas in the Empire being attacked, but the government hadn't issued an official statement yet.
I wasn't really paying attention, but honestly, his voice was a lot better than the drill sergeant's—at least we didn't have to stand at attention.
I grabbed the thick red book on my bedside table, the cover stamped with golden letters:
The Glorious History of the Tawa Empire: Core Ideologies (Seventh Edition)
Thick enough to serve as a bulletproof shield, heavy as a block of iron. This book is a must-have textbook for every student—memorized for exams, quoted in training, and even recited in dreams.
I opened the cover and read the contents:
Issued by: The War Affairs Committee · Department of Education and Ideology
Chapter 1: The Truth of the Nation's Birth"Order born from chaos is true peace."
1.1 The Decadent Old World Before the EmpireBefore the "Century of Fragmentation," the Tawa region was divided and fractured. Civilians lived in chaos and died of famine. Politicians were greedy, scholars hypocritical, craftsmen selfish, and clergy weak. Numerous small states fought endlessly, and the people, seduced by an illusion of "freedom," became victims of constant regime changes.
1.2 True Unification (Year 0 of the Great Reorganization Era)Grand Marshal Serin Tawa led the Northern Coalition Army to crush thirteen regimes, establishing the military as the nation's core, abolishing parliament, unifying military law, and founding the Tawa Empire. He pioneered the "Seven Principles of Military Governance":
Civilians serve three years to earn citizenship;
Political offices are reserved for military achievers;
All educational institutions fall under the Ministry of Defense;
Religion and non-military ideologies are banned;
The national economy follows the "Strategic Coordination Plan";
All publications must be approved by the War Affairs Committee;
A nationwide "Loyalty Oath" is held every ten years.
Chapter 2: The Tawa Creed · The Core Ideology of the Nation"Order is peace; obedience is freedom; sacrifice is honor."
2.1 Order is PeaceChaos arises from dissent. The Tawa Empire enforces strict unity in thought and action, making millions move as one and thousands act with one will. If all are soldiers, the world will be without war.
2.2 Obedience is FreedomFreedom is not doing whatever you want, but knowing what you must do. Obeying the state grants the highest form of freedom—being born with purpose.
2.3 Sacrifice is HonorTo die by command is greater than to live in fear. The names of the fallen warriors are engraved on the "Sky Monument," enjoying eternal glory.
Chapter 3: The Empire's Educational Mission (Curriculum Outline)"Education is armament; thought is the weapon."
Starting at age five, all children must take the following courses:
GradeCourse NameDescriptionJuniorFlag StudiesRecognize imperial symbols, memorize Marshal's quotesIntermediateStrategic EthicsUnderstand loyalty over kinship, state above selfAdvancedUnified Thinking TrainingIdentify erroneous thoughts, report dissentSeniorCivic Honor HistoryLearn stories of imperial victories and heroesGraduationLoyalty OathPass the "Sincerity Trial" and be assigned posts or enlistment
Chapter 4: On the Enemy (List of Non-Imperial Thoughts)The following ideas are defined as "thought rebellion":
Humanism, rights advocacy;
Non-strategic arts or philosophy;
Anti-war rhetoric, pacifism;
Religious faith and non-state spiritual beliefs;
Proposals for "parliament" or "freedom of speech."
Chapter 5: The Five Duties of Citizens
Loyalty to the state;
Obey military laws;
Report suspicious behavior;
Serve or contribute resources;
Pass on the Tawa spirit to children.
Conclusion: The Marshal's Maxim"Children should learn to walk to the sound of marching boots; youth should grow up with battle hymns; citizens should find meaning in orders. Only then are we worthy of tomorrow."
This is the textbook we use at school, and since it's for exams, I really have to study it well—after all, I really want to win that scholarship.
The next day, to prepare us for the practical combat test coming up in two days, the instructors put the whole class through a grueling training session. They ran thirty miles under the scorching sun, carrying unloaded rifles on their backs, shouting over and over: "Obedience is life."
No one remembers who wrote that order, but everyone knows this: those who disobey have their ashes scattered by the wind into the school's ventilation ducts at dusk.
As I ran, I glanced around. Jessica wasn't there. She had been pulled into the sniper squad's special training.
—
Jessica, along with a female instructor and members of the sniper squad ranked third class or higher, was taken to a remote building on the outskirts of Tawa City. The air was thick with the smell of blood.
The instructor announced coldly: "This is a live-fire evaluation. Your targets are three hundred meters away."
Jessica looked up at the distant humanoid targets. Unease crept into her chest. The targets were all different shapes and sizes, with burlap sacks over their heads, looking like...
She lowered her petite frame and raised the modified M14 sniper rifle, peering through the 3x scope and aiming for one target's chest.
Suddenly, the "target" twitched despite the still air.
"Fire!" the instructor ordered.
Jessica's fingers trembled slightly, cold sweat trickling past the corner of her eye.
The next moment, the cold muzzle of a handgun pressed against her temple.
The instructor whispered, "You are not human—you are shadows. You are not shooters—you are the eyes of Tawa."
"If you don't fire out of fear, your bullet will pierce the chests of the city's children; if you hesitate out of pity, the one you kill with your own hands is the Empire."
Bang—
After the gunshot, a mist of blood filled the air.
The target three hundred meters away collapsed with a heavy thud. Jessica's green eyes reflected a sea of red.
"Remember: here, you don't think before you shoot—thinking is betrayal of the order."