The Orionis Guards

"Enter"

Inside the tent, Squadron Commander Orcham sat behind the desk, his composed expression highlighted by the soft light of the crystal rocks. To his right, Commander Hadliegh leaned forward slightly.while on his left, Commander Ardran, a man with a stern, weathered face and a name that echoes an older era, who sat quietly observing Across from them.

The woman who greeted us, responsible for the results of the Carnage Exam, sat with an air of authority, her smile is warm, but she's getting serious as they prepare for the discussion ahead. Orcham leaned forward, his calm gaze settling on each of us in turn. "Congratulations on completing your recent trial," his voice even, and controlled.

"But let me be clear: though Mastrata was at fault, you should have known better than to let it escalate into a fight." His tone softened slightly, yet there was a warning beneath the words.

"Discipline is just as important as strength. Keep that in mind, next time, the consequences will be severe."

Pola, noticed the tension in Orcham's words, leaned forward , her voice calmed. "Commander Orcham, there's no need for an alarm," she said, offering a composed smile.

"I'm Pola, the official responsible for evaluating your performance in the Carnage Exam. Your scores are based on the trophies you've obtained from the monsters you defeated. However, an additional to your teamwork concerning the incident." She glanced at us, hoping to ease the atmosphere.

"We're here to assess, not just discipline."

The army is divided into two distinct forces.

The Seiken Army, an elite division. And the regular army.

We were lucky enough to be accepted into the prestigious Seiken Army, and, by fortune, all of us were assigned to the same special unit known as the "Orionis guards." The unit is known for its unparalleled skill, embodying strength.

Pola explained, "You earned your place in the Seiken Army by defeating a pack of mutant wolves before finishing the mutant wolf king, In that battle. You not only showcased your combat skills, but also your ability to work as a cohesive unit, one of the factors for your acceptance. This achievement marks you as members of the elite Orionis Guard."

Orcham nodded at Pola's explanation before continuing, his voice calm yet firm. "The second reason you were accepted," he said, "was your ability to defeat Mastrata and his squad without taking a single life." He glanced down at the report on his desk.

"As confirmed by the elf Sara and her jinn companions, this showed not only your strength but also your restraint and tactical discipline, qualities we highly value in the Seiken Army.".

Orcham smiled warmly at the four of us, a rare moment of warmth breaking through his usual composure. "Welcome to the Orionis Guard," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.

Hadliegh and Commander Ardran joined in, both grinning as they extended their congratulations. "You've proven yourselves worthy," Hadliegh added, his tone encouraging. "We look forward to fighting alongside you."

The atmosphere shifted, filled with camaraderie and a sense of belonging as we felt the weight of our new roles settle upon us.

Commander Ardran's expressions are serious yet understanding. "As for Mastrata and his two companions,they will also be joining the Seiken Army, but as standard soldiers, not as part of any special forces like the Orionis Guard." He paused, ensuring the weight of his words was felt.

"While they won't be punished for their previous actions, know that they are now under the same expectations as all of you." His gaze softened slightly.

"It's a chance for them to prove themselves, just as you have."

While all this was being said, we just nodded through everything, having no clue what Orionis guards are, and neither did we care about mastrata faith. In the orphanage we were kept in the dark about our faith, luckily we weren't used as a sacrifice for some rituals, I said to myself, letting a faint laugh out. 

Hadliegh stepped forward, enveloping us in a warm embrace. A gesture that caught us completely by surprise. Eline blushed, taken aback by the unexpected affection from the usually calm and stern commander. The contrast between Hadliegh's warm smile and his serious demeanor revealed a softer side, and his genuine joy in welcoming us to the Orionis Guard was palpable.

"You've earned this moment," he said, stepping back with a grin.

"so don't be shy about celebrating your victory!" Meanwhile, Commander Ardran, a commander of the Orionis Guard, looked on with a knowing smile, proud of us, the new recruits

I wondered what division commander hadliegh was in, but he smiled at me, saying, "You will know soon, yacha," assuring me that our encounters are yet to come in the future.

Pola assured the four of us that our mana pools had grown significantly due to experiences that had pushed us beyond our limits, necessitating another evaluation of our magical tiers and attributes. The intense encounters we faced had expanded the mana pools, allowing us to harness greater magical potential. However, she emphasized how fortunate we were that our mana pools hadn't been shattered during the carnage exam, as excessive strain could have led to dire consequences. This urged us to focus on evolving the current magical attributes before attempting to unlock any new ones, to ensure we can fully harness our enhanced abilities. Yet her next words specified Ursang: "Especially you, the current limits of your abilities aren't allowing to double cast," she said, warning him, glancing back at me.

"and your thunder attribute is a category of its own self over using it damage the nerves" as another warning to let my body get used to what she called electricity waves, a weaker form of thunder attribute.

"Orionis, huh?" Ursang said proudly while we walked to the same ship we came by to this island.

The four of us felt a sense of joy. A mix of pride, excitement, and nervous anticipation, still processing the honor of joining the Seiken Army while grappling with the weight of the responsibilities.

One of the soldiers whistled sharply, catching the attention of the others, then another shouted, "New members!" with a grin, his voice cutting through the chatter, drawing attention to us.

however, not all sixty-four got into the ship, more like half of the number. "Is that it?" Speira said arrogantly. 

"Now now, Speira, it was a tough exam, you know," Eline said, smiling while looking at the ship.

That soldier who looked at us with a pitiful look before is now greeting us, a token of the hard work we did. Mastrata approached me on the ship, his expression unreadable.

"No hard feelings about what happened, Yacha," he said quietly.

"We should get over this; it's in the past."

I met his gaze calmly, nodding slightly. "You did what you had to do to win,"

Ursang said, his voice steady. "That's how it works."

While Speira uppercut punched him "Now we are even." Not a serious punch, more like an acknowledgment of his actions as justified.

The ship cut smoothly through the dark waters, its sails billowing as it moved steadily toward the north, heading to Akkadia. The salty breeze carried the chill of the northern winds, filling the air with the scent of the sea. The sturdy wooden deck creaked beneath our feet as the vessel glided over the waves, its bow pointed toward the distant horizon. The sky above was overcast, and the sun's light dimmed as the ship pressed on. The vast expanse of the southern seas is a mark for the journey ahead. 

However, I couldn't forget the dream I had before waking up. A sharp chill ran down my spine as the vivid image of the woman's severed head flashed before my eyes. Her dress, adorned with delicate pink flowers, was soaked in blood, the crimson stains spreading like a slow, terrible bloom. The haunting screams echoed in my ears again, it felt all too real, more than a dream. My heart pounded, and I wondered if it was an old, forgotten memory, buried deep within me, clawing its way back into my consciousness. The dread was suffocating, leaving me uneasy, as if something precious and painful had been ripped away from me long ago.

AUTHOR POV.

Deterred to know who she was, and why he suddenly had a dream about a woman whom he had never seen before, Yacha was confused and scared, his face went a bit pale. Ursang noticed,

"Are you okay?" Curiously saying with a wondering glance at Yacha.

"No, just thinking," Yacha replied.

Speira had to jump into the conversation, elbowing Yacha.

"If you are afraid about your spotlight, don't worry, I'm taking it." She said, smirking at them with a confident expression.

Yet Yacha still wondered about a past he has no idea about, and uncovering it seems more like an impossible task.