No trouble at all

"Think again if you really want to be here, boy!"

Zemin showed no signs of fear. There was no sweat on his brow, and no shaking in his fingers. After the rigorous mental and physical training in the military academy, being afraid of some bullying would've been a crime towards all his teachers.

His mind worked quickly, logically analyzing his situation and his goals. These two were his future comrades in battle—Zemin had to earn their respect and friendship to stand against demons in the future. Above that was only their common holy duty to the Holy Dominion.

'Void System, report on my energy reserves.'

<14.3 units left, Master.>

Inside his soul, Zemin felt a tight ball of energy, confirming the System's report. He pulled a thin strand of it with his will and focused on the forces that shackled him.

The one in his trachea was small and precise, like a surgeon's scalpel. The one that prevented him from moving was closer to a sword.

The brown-haired man stared into Zemin's eyes and his brows furrowed more.

"I guess you can't even plead for mercy, hm? Well, you can still nod. Just nod, and this will be a promise that you will return to a regular army regiment. Just be a Soldier, fight on the front lines, if you want to be in the army so much!"

Zemin shook his head and directed his Psi-energy into his throat, counteracting the force that blocked his airway with equal force. He took a deep breath.

"This would only scare an ACTUAL child. But those who like to scare children should be admitted to a Rehabilitation Center, not to Exemplars."

Then Zemin focused on dispelling bonds against his limbs. The other Psionic resisted him for a second, adding more energy to his effort, but Zemin powered through until all resistance fell.

The sudden loss of opposing force made a gust of air blow from Zemin, ruffling his clothes.

<Spent 0.1 unit of void energy, Master. 14.2 units left.>

After the years in the academy Zemin's Psi-potential improved to B. It was a great number for anyone else, but for Zemin it meant that he still used too much void energy even for weaker Psionics. Using it on people who were supposed to be his comrades in arms was especially frustrating.

The black-haired woman scowled and huffed. The brown-haired man gritted his teeth and made a step toward Zemin.

"Little shit, do you imply I need to be fixed? For fuck's sake—"

"Danis! Whatever you are doing, stop it. Narcisa, why didn't you reign him in?"

Everybody froze in their spots when another man walked in. He was tall enough to almost hit the top of a door frame, had proportionally wide shoulders, and was wearing an Exemplar uniform. He was frowning disapprovingly at Zemin's offenders.

Danis and Narcisa stood to attention.

"Sir Jagger, it would've been very hypocritical of me, since I joined him this time," she said with some dry humor.

Jagger let out a sigh and shook his head. "Narcisa… Oh, fine, I will save the lecture for another time. Danis, you too! But right now we have a guest. Who are you, young man?"

Zemin also stood to attention and recited his greeting speech again, before passing Jagger the documents that confirmed his words.

Jagger checked them quickly, then made a double take.

"Wait, you only began studying at 12 years old, Zemin? You completed courses that are supposed to take 9 years in only 5? And then you were sent here as an Esquire with no former experience as a Soldier? Am I reading this right?"

Danis quietly whistled and muttered, "Told you…"

"Alright, it's not for me to doubt the decisions of our holy leaders. I guess you must be a young genius, then. Zemin, leave your things here for now and come into my office. Don't worry, the chances of some troublemakers getting into your suitcase are the same anywhere in these barracks." He threw a sharp look at Danis. "Ze. Ro. Understood?"

"Yes, sir…"

Leaving the other two and Zemin's luggage behind, Jagger and Zemin walked deeper into the building and to its second floor. Jagger's office wasn't overly big, but it had a large window with a view of a nearby tree grove.

Jagger sat at the table and gestured Zemin to a guest chair.

"Sit down, Gatti. Now tell me—Danis and Narcisa gave you trouble, didn't they? I felt your Psi-energies—that was why I came down to the hall."

Zemin shrugged and replied honestly. "It wasn't really a trouble at all."

"Hah! That's the attitude that's both nice to hear, but will get you killed. And speaking of." Jagger's face darkened. "I think I can guess why these two acted the way they did. To a degree, I even agree with them."

"You think that I'm too young to become an Esquire, too, sir?" Zemin asked with slight bitterness. "You saw my grades. I skipped years only when the classes could do nothing anymore but waste my time."

Jagger shook his head.

"No, not that. To be an Exemplar is a delayed death sentence. To be an Exemplar-in-training, an Esquire, is half of that. The only way to train novices like you is by practice, and these 'training' missions are only a bit easier than those given to Exemplars."

"I'm well aware, sir. I'm ready for this."

"Everybody says that. But… Just a week ago, two members of this squad died on a mission—they were Esquires that joined less than three months earlier. I didn't expect a fresh recruit to be sent to us so soon after that…"

Jagger shook his head and added, "The risk isn't just words. It's real. If you aren't ready for it, just go home. Otherwise, I hope that you have no family to miss you when you will only be able to watch them from the Heavens."

Zemin frowned. He remembered how sad Levana was the last time he found time to visit her in his busy schedule, only to find out that he had to leave in only a few days.

He missed her too, and he wasn't even in Heaven yet.

'I'm doing that for her, too,' Zemin reminded himself, and met Jagger's eyes with a look of determination.

"I understand this all. But I want to be an Exemplar."

"Hm… That determination—keep it! It will be your strongest blade, and hope will be your shield. You will need both in the future. But for now… It's getting late, and you must be tired after getting here. I will show you a free room and where we are getting food from. And tomorrow, I will test your skills myself."