Zero hour

By a stroke of luck, Lue managed to get through the obstacle course. Not too proud of coming in second last through, under the given time. While walking over to the group who were heading to the cafeteria. Lue noticed Eve speaking to Lorke. Hold up, she wasn’t simply talking to him, she had been getting roasted because she is super annoyed. I've known her since we go on all fours. Whenever she puts a hand through her chestnut hair at a ninety-degree angle it means she is piqued.

Lue stood watching them- sticking her elbow out as she is holding her water bottle. Lorek Quintus was a compact, clearcut man, with precise features- he is like yellow ivory, his high head covered with platinum soft hairs, his eyes, were the color of a perfect raindrop on a blue aster. His mouth is like a knife, his smirk is the flicker of light across a blade. He had a look of wariness, which would change when he felt relaxed or happy, which was not often like personally Lue never witnessed it.

Lorek, well, was sharp-witted in most of the situations they have faced in the past but it is like he tends to be faster at retrieving information from his brain and connecting information from different parts of the brain, and grasping the situation but cannot grasp the academic studies. Which was a wonder. If you know what I mean.

"huh, how funny," Lue said to herself.

"So," Eve averted her eyes," my father was asking you to have dinner with us, tomorrow."

"No thanks," Lorek said plainly.

Eve let out a deep breath, her hands squeezed into fists, as she gave him a lying smile.

"See, my dear cousin," she said putting her hands on his shoulder, " since, your parents are out for work my father was worried about you. So, you can- no- you should just drop by."

"I do not hate you," Lorek mentioned, "You know that?" trying to change the topic.

Eve looked at him, her eyebrows moving up and her eyes bit widened. "No, I guess,"

"Yea, because I do not like you either," Lorek said and started walking away, not even bothered to hear her answer.

She was rooted to her place. She just stared with wide open-eyed cannot shut, she pinched her index finger, all the way to the tip and back down again, as she was checking and double checking for a crack, while she scoffed and said, "Should I be happy about it? I do not like you either."

Promptly as their conversation finished, Lue dragged Eve to a corner and told her to spit it out.

"you asked him for dinner? Again?"

"Keep your mouth shut," Eve said folding her arms, "I know how you are saying half-sentences."

"He rejected you? again? oh my- you know back then your expressions were hil-"

Eve hit her fist on the top of Lue's head not letting her complete the sentence.

"Ouch..." Lue said, holding her nogging like a precious egg.

"He is coming to the dinner because MY FATHER ASKED," Eve said, specifically pressuring the last three words, "Now, I do not want to hear this repeated. I mean it, Lue." Eve became dead serious; Lue knew not to bother her when she is in that mood.

"Alright." Lue walked away like a scared wild dog who had no tail.

Now, Eve Aulus is melodramatic sometimes- no- most of the time, and to tease her on top of that is gratifying. She lives with both her parents and Lorek is the son of her father's sister, but currently, they are out of the sector due to some trade business. Which is quite peculiar.

They say it's been decades since anyone has gone out of the sector, for trade. The last time when a couple went, they never returned. All of their family members received a letter from the Silver domain as the stamp on the rectangular envelope suggested, the writing was in red, sometimes what you expect the least turns out to be your worst nightmare. It did not take even a few seconds to understand it was not ink, but blood. The letter said that they tried to run away- so, they took the appropriate measures. There was nothing else they got except the shock and terror of the domains, after this incident no one ever tried to do something out of ordinary.

Anyways, maybe that was why Eve and Lorek are always on the edges these days. Understandable. The muggy air is like a heavyweight. Pressing down on her thoughts. Stifling them, slowing them. She was staring at the air, the thoughts making her sad. A little voice in the back of her mind is whispering Aren't you useless? even as a daughter and as a friend. She shook her head breaking the series of her thoughts and started humming a tune,

"Just think of the future,

and think of your dreams

you'll get away from here,

you'll get away eventually."

Lue stopped, pondering on something, a voice from behind continued the rest,

"I know you'll get through this,

it's only temporary

Just stay by my side,

you'll get away eventually."

Eve completed the verselet that they once created together. Standing right behind her, staring at Lue with her hands on her hips, and giving her a warm smile.

"Why you are sulking here? I have been searching for you everywhere."

"I'm not," Lue said while turning towards her.

"Let's go, Mr.Kael has called everyone on the other part of the ground."

"Don't tell me we have to jump another wall this time."

"Yeah, I was caught off guard to see five feet four inches jumping over a gigantic wall. The midget supremacy."

"for goodness sake. I bet, one curse word wouldn't hurt right about now." Lue said as she smiled, not knowing what to say next.

It wasn't easy to find a topic. Talking about home is painful. Talking of the future is unbearable. Talking of the present- well, it's not exactly bad, nothing wrong with Lue getting roasted over and over again. The end of the day was near, probably the last hour of today's training. Mr.Kael calmly stepped in front of the gathering and shouted, "ATTEN-TION!!!"

Is this militia training or something? He is too much into the act. Well, not like Lue or any of her friends were interested in joining the Elle infantry, the Ellesmere fighting force. These fighting forces are now segregated into JFT and armed forces.

JFT or more precisely known as Joint Force Task is an extremely high-readiness and precise special operation force unit. JFT exists to protect the people of Ellesmere from combat terrorism and threats. Serving as the centerpiece of Ellesmere, special operations. JFT is primarily tasked with counter-terrorism operations, both domestic(only if that's in Silver or Gold) and abroad, and specializes in direct action, special, reconnaissance, surveillance, hostage rescue, etc, etc...

The armed forces are heavily armed, highly organized forces primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by the Gold domain, with its members identifiable by their distinct military uniforms. Only students who have studied from the Elite school in the Silver domain and graduated from the Gold domain Higher education institutions are capable of joining the armed forces.

JFT and armed forces are different because JFT executes all the secret missions while armed forces stay in the country and protect. Though, armed forces used their power once to seize the enemy because the Xanchior military wiped out the JFT force completely, which was ages ago. Now everywhere is peace and understanding, is what they say, but in the end, all the commoners can say was WHO KNOWS.

"Lue? Lue Solane?" Shouted Mr.Kael, "next fight is yours. PREPARE."

"HUH?"