Awakening Of The New Emperor

POV: Recruit 79

I gave a loud knock on the suspiciously unguarded gates of the base. 'I wonder where they all are,' I thought to myself.

After knocking again, the gate finally began to open. By the loud creaking sound as it moved against the rough, unkept ground, I could tell that it wasn't opened often.

Once the gate opened wide enough for multiple people to fit through, I observed as 3 silhouettes stood tall before me, the one in the center holding a large greatsword almost as big as their entire body, pierced into the ground below.

As the slight smog from the gate's movement began to fade away, all of them came into view. Each of them wore their helmets with pride, of course, and I could tell the one in the center was an actual soldier, while the two accompanying the soldier were just mere recruits, like me.

"State your business scum," a female voice spoke from the group.

"I-I'm Recruit 79," I stuttered. "I was taken hostage from the Lotus raid on the eastern central militia base, I-I managed to escape not too long ago," I stuttered once more, unable to form a meaningful sentence or even find the right words to process this properly.

"Bloody hell," a voice, from a man this time, erupted from the group. With helmets it became nearly impossible to tell who was speaking, especially with their mouths fully covered, unlike some helmet designs. "A real survivor?" He asked. "All of you we're deemed dead days after the raid, the destruction was devastating—it even stretched to the village edge, killing civilians!"

"That's enough from you," the female voice spat. It seems this voice came from the soldier in the center, and the voice that had just spoken was from one of the recruits.

Someone who talks too much. Reminds me a lot of Recruit 24, a bit too much.

"I'm sure you're aware of standard procedure, right?" She asked, gesturing for me to enter.

As I entered the grounds of the base, the gates slowly began to close behind me, noticing the two guards pushing the gate closed manually. 'It isn't automatic here?' I thought. Facing the soldier, I gave a stiff bow. "Of course ma'am, I am well aware."

"At least the dirty boy has some manners," I could hear her whisper under her breath.

'Tsk,' I thought, quite annoyed at her lack of respect. 'The people near the borders are supposed to be more strict, why are they so laid back?'

'I guess there's never been an attack this far on the edge,' I thought.

"Lucky for you, General Aurelian is already at this base, as he was conducting routine check ups for the right hand contest," she mentioned. "He'll see you immediately, if you follow me of course," the women gestured for me to follow her as she began to walk back, the recruits parting ways as they head off in their respective directions as well.

Lifting up from my bow, I gave a relaxed nod acknowledging her words as I followed her.

We passed by many, of course everyone couldn't help but stare at me. Nobody's really permitted around in the public areas of the base without their helmet on, unless they are ranked general or above. Of course, I am a very unpleasant exception it appears.

It was a quick walk, but I definitely felt the time drag on with every step. It felt weird to be back here, especially after the odd sense of newly found freedom that I've relished in this past month, month and a half I guess?

While I'm definitely not regretting anything, it's still a sinking feeling I can't get rid of.

I wish to do more, I wish to be more.

In the end, I think it really is just that simple.

But isn't that what we all want? To want what we simply can't have?

The soldier stopped just before a rusted door. As she swung it open, it took a lot of unexpected force, to both me and her. It seems like this room hadn't been used in a while, and for good reason at that. It's not often that somebody attacks a militia base, let alone in Vareth.

Over the past decade, Zhang's control has grown exponentially, not only in total land occupation but also manpower.

Finally the door managed to push open all the way revealing a dark room, that eventually turned on automatically as she walked in, following her wake of course. 

It was a simple, quaint room. It was very bare outside of the splotches of dirt and dried up blood that were littered around. Just in the center stood a metallic table that stretched out abnormally wide, with two metal chairs sitting across from each other with perfect symmetry.

"Take a seat," she ordered. "I've already had someone notify the general, he'll be here shortly."

The soldier wasted no time in exiting the room as soon as she watched me take a seat, almost as if I'm being held prisoner.

To be honest, I'm definitely not far from it.

***

Time seemed to pass by real slow, each aching second felt heavy. What felt what days was merely just a matter of 5 minutes. The pressure I've felt far exceeds my willingness to stay perfectly calm right now.

Finally, almost relieved, the door slowly began to creak open.

Just as the door finished opening all the way, a barrier of bloodied moonlight hit my face, dampening my vision for a mere moment, until the general came into view.

His green hair and scarred face reflected off of the moonlight perfectly, almost like art.

"It's nice to meet you, Recruit 79," the general spoke.

He took no time in taking the seat across from me, dropping his body on the chair sloppily, almost as if this is just a mere chore to him, one of the many tedious tasks on his list.

Which it probably is...

"Now, let's get started then, shall we?"