After resting for a while on the ground, all four of them finally stood up and stepped out of the training yard. By now, most of the soldiers who had been crowding around Elysia, trying to interact with her, had already satisfied their curiosity.
Many were leaving her side, while others were dragged away by their captains to different training facilities. Even though dozens of soldiers had sought her advice, Elysia answered each of their questions with wholehearted passion and gentle sincerity.
She never discriminated between those who approached her; every soldier, regardless of rank or skill, received her full attention. It took her more than an hour to respond to everyone, but she didn't mind in the slightest.
Each soldier would first describe their fighting style and the struggles they were facing. Elysia listened intently to each one, her eyes soft yet sharp, and gave them personal guidance, as if every word she spoke carried both warmth and purpose.
By the time her four teammates came out of the training yard, covered in sand from head to toe, Elysia was speaking to the last soldier in line, a young woman who bowed deeply to her, gratitude shining in her eyes.
"Thank you so much, Captain," the soldier said, her voice trembling slightly. "I've been struggling with this problem for so long that I didn't know what else to do. But thanks to you, I think I can finally get it under control."
Before the young woman could lower her head completely, Elysia gently placed both hands on her shoulders, her touch steady yet kind, and spoke with a warm smile. "It's good that you're thankful," she said softly, "but don't ever lower your head before anyone, and that includes me. I'm glad you found what you were searching for, but I dislike seeing people bowing to others as if their worth is less."
Feeling Elysia's hands on her shoulders, the young woman blushed faintly, her voice softening.
"I'll remember that, Captain."
Elysia released her shoulders with a gentle nod, and the soldier bowed slightly once more, this time, out of respect rather than submission, before turning to leave.
"And don't forget to train hard," Elysia called after her with a faint smile. "You can only conquer your limits when your sweat has written its story on the ground."
The young soldier nodded firmly, her steps lighter than before as she left the training yard.
"It's not fair, Captain! You're handing out pointers to the other sergeants like they're candy, while we have to break our bones just to earn a single one from you!"
It was Liora who spoke, her face dusted with streaks of sand, small grains caught in her jet-black hair that was tied neatly into a ponytail.
Elysia paused for a moment, her expression calm yet thoughtful.
"It's true, I suppose," she said softly, then looked up at them with a faint smile.
"But Sergeant… they're not under my command, are they?"
Straightening to her full height, Elysia faced all four of them now, her voice steady but warm. "You four are my responsibility, and I take my responsibilities very seriously. So don't worry."
Her smile brightened, the faint glimmer of sunlight catching in her eyes.
"You'll always get more from me than anyone else ever could, so don't complain."
Suddenly, the communicator on Rylan's wrist lit up with a series of sharp beeps. He raised it closer to his face, eyes narrowing as he read the incoming message. After a few seconds, he looked up at Elysia.
"Captain," he said, his tone shifting to one of focus, "there'll be a mission briefing with Colonel Violet in an hour. She'll be giving us the objectives herself; it seems to be an important operation."
Elysia met his gaze, her expression firming as the air around her seemed to shift from warmth to command. With a calm yet authoritative tone, she replied.
"Alright, get yourselves prepared," Elysia said firmly. "Meet me in the briefing room in forty minutes; we'll be there twenty minutes earlier than scheduled."
As soon as her words left her lips, all four of them straightened their posture, saluted sharply, and hurried off to refresh themselves. Elysia and her teammates left the training yard together, the golden dust of the afternoon still clinging to their uniforms.
They headed toward the changing rooms, a familiar path after every intense session. Since her promotion to Captain, Elysia had been given her own private quarters, complete with a personal washroom and all the amenities fitting her rank.
The sergeants and lieutenants, however, shared the common facilities, separated for men and women, where the noise of running water and faint chatter often filled the space.
All of them had been training since morning, and after the intense mock battle, exhaustion had settled deep into their bones. Each of them washed away the dust and sweat, letting the cool water revive their tired bodies before changing into their formal military uniforms.
The sergeants' uniforms were a greyish-green color, neatly pressed shirts paired with fitted trousers, simple yet carrying a mark of discipline and pride.
Elysia's uniform, however, was a striking sight, entirely black, adorned with golden buttons that gleamed faintly under the lights. Two golden stars rested proudly on each of her shoulders, a silent declaration of her rank as Captain.
After taking some time to prepare, forty minutes passed, and they all stood outside the briefing room of the military base. The air was filled with quiet anticipation as they exchanged glances with one another.
When Elysia appeared, all four of them fell silent. Seeing her in her black uniform was enough to stir a sense of awe among them. Her bright red hair was neatly tied beneath her cap, and the pale tone of her skin contrasted beautifully against the darkness of her attire. For a moment, she looked less like a soldier and more like a queen descending to command the world itself.
The four sergeants, too, looked sharp and composed in their uniforms. Though none of them bore stars on their shoulders, their presence spoke for itself; each one carried the distinct aura of their awakened affinities, the silent strength that marked them as capable warriors in their own right.
Elysia looked at them for a moment, then gestured for everyone to gather around as she held out a small, round object in her hand. It was a tiny piece, designed to fit perfectly in one's ear.
"Equip this on your ear and confirm once you've put it on by saying your name," she said in a calm, composed tone, handing the delicate earpieces to them one by one.
They all stared at the items in surprise. The pieces looked almost like jewelry, polished and elegant, not something one would expect in a military setting. Each of them exchanged confused glances, unsure what their captain was up to.
Seeing their puzzled expressions, Elysia let out a soft smile. "Don't be confused," she said gently. "This is just a small present from me to all of you, as your captain. And since today marks our first mission briefing together, I thought it would be nice to make this moment a little special."
The earpieces were black, with crystal-like edges that shimmered faintly under the sunlight. Rylan was the first to step forward, taking one without hesitation. "Sergeant Rylan, in your service," he declared proudly as he placed it in his ear.
One by one, the others followed his lead. And as soon as each of them wore the earpiece, a sudden warmth spread through them, followed by genuine smiles that appeared almost at the same time across all their faces.
"Now, we're about to enter the briefing room," Elysia said as she walked ahead, her tone steady yet composed. "Inside, one of the military scientists will be explaining our very first mission."
She glanced back at her team, her eyes firm but calm. "Since this is our first assignment, I highly doubt we'll be given anything too high-level. Still, during the briefing, I want all of you to remain silent, no matter what happens. You'll have your chance to speak once the scientist finishes explaining the mission objectives."
She paused for a moment, letting her words sink in before continuing.
"Every mission carries its own importance and its own level of danger. Each one is planned accordingly. The more difficult the mission, the higher the risk factor, and the more steps and time it requires to complete. On the other hand, simpler missions are shorter and less demanding. The minimum time required to complete a standard mission is two days, but that duration increases as the challenge and danger rise."
Elysia's calm, commanding voice echoed lightly across the corridor as the team nodded in unison, mentally preparing themselves for what was to come.
"But the missions we'll be taking on don't just carry dangers from outside the walls," Elysia said quietly, her tone dropping low as if she didn't want anyone else to hear. "There are dangers from the inside as well."
Her voice was almost a whisper, barely audible to anyone passing by, but her teammates could hear her clearly. Each of them leaned in slightly, listening closely.
"The three Great Houses are keeping a close eye on the Army," she continued. "They don't want us to grow too powerful or gain more influence. That's why, in every mission briefing, you'll see representatives from each of those Houses present."
Her expression hardened slightly. "And let me warn you, they're not afraid to talk down to anyone, no matter their rank. Their power and background make them bold." She glanced around at her team, her eyes sharp yet calm. "So, if any of them crosses the line, ignore it. Don't react. Keep your focus on the mission."
She paused briefly before adding in an even softer tone, "I'll explain everything in detail once we leave the city."
"Now, all you need to do is focus on the mission objectives and train hard every day to complete them," Elysia said in a loud, firm voice as she stepped into the office.
Her team followed closely behind. As they entered, they found themselves in a large, dimly lit room. The only source of light came from a massive round table in the center, glowing faintly with dozens of holographic projections flickering across its surface. Around the table were nearly forty seats arranged in perfect symmetry.
Elysia took one of the chairs and motioned for her squad to do the same. They sat beside her, remaining quiet as they waited for the others to arrive.
Only five minutes had passed when the door suddenly opened with an air of command. A tall woman stepped in, her presence alone enough to draw every eye in the room. She wore a silver-colored uniform, a silver shirt, and trousers beneath a flowing coat that shimmered slightly under the light. Her hair was the same shade of silver, neatly tied back, and her shoulders bore star insignias with diamond-studded buttons marking her high rank.
The nameplate on her chest read Colonel Violet. She looked to be in her late forties, yet her face showed no trace of age, smooth, sharp, and unyielding. Her jet-black eyes carried a cold, unwavering resolve.
The moment she entered, Elysia and her team immediately stood, saluting her in acknowledgment of her rank.
"At ease, Captain," Colonel Violet said, her voice clear and commanding. Her long silver coat fluttered slightly behind her as though even the air itself obeyed her authority.
Soon after, an old man in his late fifties entered the office, wearing a long white coat that brushed lightly against the floor as he walked. In his hands, he carried several small black boxes, each one neatly labeled and sealed, containing different sets of information.
The colonel took her main seat at the head of the round table while the old man began preparing the mission presentation. With slow, deliberate movements, he placed each box into the side slots of the table, as if every piece had its own precise place. His actions were calm, methodical, almost ceremonial. Once he had finished arranging them, he quietly took a seat beside the colonel.
"Is everything ready?" the colonel asked in a low, composed tone.
"Yes, Colonel," he replied, pausing for a brief moment before adding, "except for the representatives from each House." There was a faint tremor in his voice, as if he feared even mentioning them might provoke her displeasure.
"Alright. We'll wait for them then," the colonel said simply.
To his surprise, her expression remained calm, completely unfazed. She showed no irritation, no trace of anger.
She understood well enough that nothing could be done about those people, and allowing frustration to surface would serve no purpose.
Had it been anyone from Elysia's team in her place, however, the situation might have turned out quite differently.
After waiting another twenty minutes, the tension in the room had grown heavy. Everyone could feel the rising anger of the colonel. It wasn't just her—every person present shared the same frustration. The mission briefing kept getting delayed because of the involvement of the three Houses. The military didn't need their representatives to proceed, yet they were forced to include them in every operation to maintain political balance and authority.
"What kind of bullshit is this?" the colonel snapped, her voice echoing sharply across the room. "Why do we have to wait for those bastards when they're the ones who begged to be included in every mission briefing?"
Each word carried a dangerous weight, almost like a command imbued with raw power. The atmosphere thickened, and everyone in the room could feel the intensity of her anger pressing against their chests.
Elysia managed to keep her composure, but her teammates weren't as calm. Sweat rolled down their necks as they exchanged uneasy glances, trying their best not to show fear.
"C-Colonel…" the old man spoke up hesitantly, his voice trembling.
"What is it?" she shot back, her tone sharp—sharp enough to cut stone.
"I… I think you should lower your voice," he said softly, his hands slightly shaking.
"And why would I do that?" Her tone rose again, her anger flaring.
"Be… because," he stuttered, gulping nervously before finishing, "if any of the representatives hear us, they'll surely turn this molehill into a mountain just to damage our position."
The colonel glared at him, her jaw tightening. She was furious not only because the representatives were late, but because they consistently disrespected her discipline and order. She had built her career on punctuality, structure, and control, things the Houses' envoys couldn't care less about.
Still, deep down, she knew the old man was right. The three Houses held too much power, and if they caught wind of her words, they'd use it as a weapon against the Army without hesitation.
Taking a deep breath, the colonel clenched her fists and forced herself to calm down. The air around her seemed to settle, though the faint echo of her anger still lingered in the room like static.
But at the same time, no one knew how much longer the envoys would take to finally give them their moment, yet they had no choice but to wait.