Chapter 16: A Delicate Balance

Hazen quickly sneaked out of the canteen, walking briskly to the warm spring to have her bath before the others finished their meals.

"I need to be quick," she muttered, unwrapping her breast cloth.

She quickly slipped into the warm spring.

"Mm..." she murmured, feeling her muscles relax as she closed her eyes, almost drifting to sleep when she heard someone trying to open the door from outside, which she had already locked from inside.

"Did they follow me? They can't find out my gender!," she whispered, her body tensing up. She leaped out of the water, swiftly tying her breast cloth, her hands trembling and her heart pounding.

"Who's there?" she asked, trying to keep her tone as steady as possible.

"It's me. Why is the door locked?" a cold, deep voice resounded from outside.

"Damn, the commander!" Hazen muttered, quickly putting on her clothes, ensuring she hid her figure before approaching the door to open it.

She opened the door to meet the emotionless face of Commander Kyle.

"What do I say?!" she thought, staring at the commander.

Commander Kyle noticed Hazen's slightly flushed face, likely from the heat of the spring, and felt his heart skip a beat.

"My heart is skipping for a man?" he thought, confusion flooding his mind.

"Why's the door locked?" Commander Kyle asked his eyes already scanning inside.

"I'm sorry, Commander. I'm a conservative person—I can't bathe with so many people around so I locked it for privacy," Hazen said, hoping Commander Kyle wouldn't suspect anything.

"He shouldn't suspect anything, right? I'm well covered," Hazen thought.

Commander Kyle observed Hazen's lean, frail-looking arms. "Mm, go to the training ground and wait for me," he said plainly.

"Wha…t?" Hazen stammered, reluctant to be near him after the way he'd beaten her in the ring.

"What? Are you going against your commander?" Commander Kyle asked coldly, his voice devoid of warmth.

"No, how dare I?" Hazen responded, her tone carrying a hint of reluctance, though she didn't dare oppose him openly.

"Now, get moving," Commander Kyle said plainly.

As Hazen walked past him, Commander Kyle caught a faint whiff of her scent—a delicate, distinctly feminine fragrance. He raised an eyebrow. "This isn't how a man should smell, plus that neck is so…" he muttered, recalling the glimpse he'd caught of her slender neck. He couldn't help but gulp as his gaze lingered on her retreating figure.

---

Commander Kyle stepped into the training ground to find Hazen sitting sluggishly on the ground.

Seeing Commander Kyle, she stood up, waiting for his instructions.

"Come here," Commander Kyle commanded, stepping up into the ring.

Hazen followed him, standing across from him with a serious expression, waiting for his orders.

"When we practiced, I noticed you weren't skilled in martial arts. I'll teach you that first," Commander Kyle said, studying Hazen. His eyes briefly traced her neck before he quickly shook off the thought.

"So, he does care about his team. He's not as cold as he seems," Hazen thought, nodding in agreement and waiting for his instruction.

"Good. Come at me with all your strength; don't hold back," Commander Kyle ordered, staring at her intently, his gaze landed on her legs, a furrow appeared on his eyebrows, 

"Your footing is off," he critiqued, striding closer. "Adjust your weight."

Hazen shifted, trying to compensate, but Commander Kyle shook his head. "No, no. You're still vulnerable to attack."

With a swift motion, Commander Kyle sent Hazen crashing to the ground. She winced, rubbing her sore shoulder.

"Get up," Commander Kyle ordered, his voice firm but not unkind. "Try again."

Hazen pushed herself up, determination etched on her face. She charged at Commander Kyle, but he effortlessly parried her blows.

"Focus on your core strength," he instructed, dodging her attacks with ease. "Don't rely on brute force."

Hazen gritted her teeth, channeling her energy inward. Her movements slowed, becoming more deliberate.

Commander Kyle watched, his expression unreadable. "Better," he said finally. "But still not enough."

As the training continued, Hazen's exhaustion grew. Sweat dripped from her brow, her muscles screaming in protest.

Commander Kyle felt inwardly satisfied with her improvement, though he didn't voice it. "Really? Be faster!" he taunted as he continued training her.

---

Nathan wandered into the training room after hearing sounds and Commander Kyle's occasional ridicule coming from the training ground. Opening the door, he saw Commander Kyle putting Hazen through grueling training. Hazen was drenched in sweat, looking exhausted and on the verge of collapse.

"The commander really hates him. Why else would he make him train while everyone else is at dinner?" Nathan thought, smirking to himself. He then remembered how Hazen had beaten him during their practice. His face darkened.

"I let him win that time. Let's see if he can beat me next time," Nathan muttered to himself, feeling satisfaction as he observed Commander Kyle's harsh, almost ruthless approach to Hazen's training.

---

After a few hours of training, Hazen collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily as her heart pounded. The stench of sweat filled the air.

"I just bathed, and now I'm all sweaty again," Hazen muttered, trying to catch her breath.

Her soaked clothes clung to her, revealing her slender waistline as she lay on the ground. Commander Kyle's gaze lingered on her waist. "So tiny…" he murmured, a thought crossing his mind about wrapping his hands around her waist.

"Why am I having thoughts about a man? I'm not…" Commander Kyle thought, feeling confused at the strange attraction he felt whenever he saw Hazen.

Not wanting to linger any longer and risk acting on his uncharacteristic thoughts, he placed a cup of water beside Hazen and headed to the door.

"Lock up when you're done," he said before exiting, closing the door behind him.

"It's probably because I'm just too pent up. That has to be it," Commander Kyle muttered to himself, making a mental note to visit a brothel, hoping that would rid him of these unsettling feelings.

After he left, Hazen reached for the cup of water, drinking it as though she hadn't had water for days. She sighed in satisfaction after finishing it.

"Now I have to walk all the way to the dormitory. Argh, it's so far," Hazen groaned in frustration. Just then, the door opened, and Fatty, Cain and Ghain entered, carrying a plate of food.

"We heard you were training with the commander, so we figured you hadn't eaten yet," Ghain said, smiling as Hazen looked at them with gratitude.

"Thank you," Hazen said, smiling at the plate of food a few steps away from her.

"Hey! You're supposed to be thanking me, not just the plate of food!" Ghain complained, feigning offense.

"I'm thanking everyone," Hazen replied, quickly reaching for the food and eating ravenously.

"Calm down; no one's taking it from you," Cain said, smiling faintly.

"You'd better eat quickly. Today's menu is my favorite," Fatty said, looking away from the food that Hazen was devouring.

Ghain and Hazen glanced at each other before turning back to Fatty and bursting into laughter.