Velka quietly exited the room, having softly replaced herself from Keela’s arms with a pillow roughly her size. She had thrown on the right clothes for duty in as little noise as she could’ve mustered and headed down to the training square where the soldiers would usually train. She chose not to wear her armor, donning only her work attire composed of a white button-up and comfortable form fitting black pants, tying her hair in a haphazard ponytail. The clashing of metal could be heard from afar, soldiers training under the mean eye of the upper brass of the military division. Stepping into the sunlight quietly, she watched the duels from afar, her arms crossed behind her back. Most of the forms were sloppy at best, but the quartermaster seemed to show no problem with this, only eyeing them from the side whereas he should be actively instructing. Sighing, Velka stepped into the field towards the closest sloppy contendant who was practicing strikes against no target. Stepping up to them, she watched more closely, making the soldier shudder as the cold gaze settled on their shoulders.

“Straighten your back and roll your shoulders back a bit. You’re striking with your entire body, not just your arms, you’ll wear yourself out”, she said firmly, poking the back between the shoulders with her knuckles.

“Y-yes ma’am”, the soldier replied, going back to their practice with the new advice in mind.

Going around, Velka fixed the posture of a dozen soldiers before one of the quartermasters perked up as she was spectating a duel with a watchful eye.

“Their technique is fine, they can duel okay, don’t go fixing things that don’t need fixing”, said the quartermaster, walking up slowly.

“Obviously they can duel fine. Throw two badgers in a ring and they’ll fight okay. But as soon as something stronger shows up they won’t stand a chance”, said Velka, standing her ground, slightly amused by the fact that she stood three inches taller than the quartermaster.

“And you’re telling me a bunny can kill a badger? The queen ain’t here sweetie, you have no authority. Now go away and let me manage my soldiers in peace.”

“Would you like a demonstration then? If you’re so keen on dismissing me.”

Throwing her a sword, a nearby soldier she had helped smiled in approbation of her gesture.

“Fine, just fight a soldier and we’ll see”, replied the quartermaster, clicking his tongue.

“I can fight both of these here at once. I’ve seen their technique. I’m not impressed”, replied Velka, smiling warmly to back up her words.

“Hah! Sure, entertain me.”

Drawing a circle in the sand with the tip of the blade, Velka stood at the ready, blade straight in front of her, a stance between wide and narrow, somewhat of a middleman. As the signal to attack was given, she parried the first hit and blocked the second with her blade, swerving to go between the two soldiers.

“Go all out. Prove the technique is good”, she said, relaxing her stance and making circles with the sword.

One of the soldiers rushed towards her while the other tried a flanking maneuver which wasn’t as stupid as Velka thought they would act. She rushed the flanking one, surprising them and disarming them. The second soldier arrived behind her just when she thought but as she went the block the hit a flash caught her eye from another corner. Not having time to react, she turned to have the projectile hit her shoulder. As it didn’t and the crowd went silent, she turned around to where the gazes were pointed. The crossbow bolt laid on the ground, split in half. In the door frame stood a very angry Saphielle who calmly walked towards the square, heavy silence befalling the entirety of the vicinity.

“Shooting someone who’s fighting two opponents? Really quartermaster? Have you no shame?” said Saphielle, eyeing the quartermaster with a look that could kill.

“I don’t know what you mean”, said the quartermaster, playing stupid.

“Okay then how about saying ‘shoot the beast girl to teach her some manners’? Do you remember that? Because I was standing behind you listening and it doesn’t sound like someone that doesn’t know what I mean.”

“I’ll take your warning into consideration. I apologize, I only wanted to--”

“No need to apologize. Leave the castle and never come back. You’re demoted and fired.”

“You can’t do that! That’s--”

“But I can and I just did. Now leave before I get really angry.”

Grumbling in protest, the quartermaster stormed off, escorted by two guards. Velka dug the sword into the dirt, strutting up to Saphielle who had turned back around to go back to the castle. Wiping off the pearl of sweat that sprung on her forehead from the harsh sun, she matched the pace of the advisor.

“Thank you for the save. That could’ve been bad”, said Velka, slightly bowing her head in gratitude.

“Do watch yourself better next time. A lot of people here won’t recognize your authority because of your fluffy ears, even if you outrank them tenfold”, replied Saphielle, reading a document hastily while walking.

“Are we in a hurry today? What’s with the pace?”

“Well we have to catch up on yesterday’s work.”

“Got it. Anything as first order?”

“Getting you some visible indication of rank apparently. Where’s the queen?”

Velka stopped in her tracks at the mention of Keela, causing Saphielle to backtrack when she noticed.

“Something wrong?” asked Saphielle, still eyeing some documents but showing some genuine worry.

“Let’s… let’s leave Keela in bed today. After yesterday, I don’t think she’s in a state to be making political decisions”, replied Velka, looking off to the side.

“Oh dear, what happened when I was asleep? I swear this is why I can’t let her do these things on her own.”

“I’m going to channel my inner Keela here and say that she’s perfectly capable of messing up when you’re there too.”

“Fair point. Why is she sleeping then?”

“It’s complicated.”

Over the next half hour, Velka told the story of what had happened the day before in intense detail. In the meantime, Saphielle was drafting up the documents to appoint Velka as head general and personal bodyguard to the queen, nodding along to the story, still listening.

“Even for her, ripping someone in half is excessive”, said Saphielle, looking up from the documents.

“She used to barely be able to hold a weapon. I think this is excessive in its own. She came home one day crying because she had to defend herself from getting attacked. While I don’t think strengthening her character is inherently wrong, I do think that the way she’s going about it shows that there’s something flawed at the base of her psyche”, replied Velka, reading a pile of documents.

Saphielle dropped her papers, looking at Velka with incredulity in her eyes.

“I was not expecting that kind of insight from you”, she said, shaking herself back to her documents.

“I don’t look the part, do I?” asked Velka back with a smile that almost showed a tinge of regret.

“You do seem like the pragmatic kind; just not in a sense where you would do an analysis of someone’s mindset.”

“Believe it or not, before Keela picked me up, I used to be quite a soft soul myself.”

“I believe it.”

Picking up the document she was writing on, she folded it in three, putting it in an envelope and sealing it using the queen’s official seal. After telling Velka to accompany her, the two of them made their way to the office of the upper brass of the army. Opening the door to a warm office, they were greeted by the general -- who would be under Velka soon -- , a warm man with a smile that showed a welcoming attitude but eyes that had seen the horrors of war. After reading the documents, the general put down the papers, smiling wide.

“Everything seems to be in order. Glad to have you Head General Grissi”, he said, doing the official salute in a casual way that showed respect but trust.

“The pleasure is all mine, general”, she replied simply, nodding in appreciation and saluting.

“Would you like an office in the building?”

“No, I still serve duty to accompany the queen. Have someone forward any paperwork to Saphielle, she’ll pass it on to me.”

“Duly noted.”

Later on in the day, as Velka donned the new appropriate vest wearing the recognition of her rank, albeit a touch loosely, Saphielle sat with her at the lunch table, the two of them reading documents and filling them. Keela walked in the room, rubbing her still tired eyes. The two seated turned towards her in unison before saying at the same time:

“Good morning your Majesty.”