“Lieutenant, why were you not present yesterday?” he asked, more out of respect for formalities than for necessities. He remained to gaze out the window-- for what, Kara did not know. There was nothing but an empty practice field and vast forests in the far distance.

For the dramatic effects, she assumed. Caldain was always a sucker for melodrama.

“I had personal duties to attend to, sir.” It was not the best response, but it was leagues better than informing him of her severe distaste of early winter mornings.

Caldain grunted, turning to face her with blunt irritation. He was growing a rough beard with rogue white hairs sticking out in all directions, probably out of laziness than fashion. Or maybe was compensating for the hair loss --who knew? The guy was old enough to drop dead any day now. His back was so bent it was a shock that it hadn't snapped in half yet.

He was not, Kara assumed, all too glad to receive a lieutenant who did not act upon his orders.

Or one who had approximately a hundred levels over him. He didn't know that, of course, but he must have felt it.

“Were you aware of the harassment that several soldiers were receiving within the new crop?”

“Yes sir, I was aware of it,” Kara replied to Caldain’s gaunt face. He was typically exasperated, as if the very process of breathing was bothersome. Surprisingly, he let his grimace go.

Much like the young lad's hand, Kara mused.

His voice increased, ever so slightly “Then, lieutenant, as a soldier of the Drail Kingdom, you are aware that reporting illicit activities is part of your duties, correct?” His eyebrow went up now, most likely a conscious effort.

Oh, get on with it, old man. I have a gig in two hours. “Yes sir, I am also aware of that.”

Caldain smiled at that. “Then enlighten me, lieutenant, on why I should not have you whipped first thing this morning for disobeying army orders.”

He had her at that. She had every law against her in disobeying army wide protocol.

“Well sir, I would have been breaking protocol if my commanding officer,” If you even qualify as one “was not already aware of the harassment, sir”

Both of Caldain’s eyebrows went up this time. “Lieutenant, no other student informed me-”

“I wasn’t referring to the students, sir, ” Kara said, interrupting her commanding officer, which was also grounds for punishment. A smirk almost escaped her lips as she glanced up. She saw it on his face, too, as the realization dawned on Caldain’s right eyebrow. Two nerve pulses this time, instead of the usual one.

“I see,” his voice sinking into resignation, pausing slightly. “You are dismissed, lieutenant.” His face showed no other signs, no fire or breath in them.

She almost felt bad for the old man. Being out-witted by someone half his age probably did not do wonders for his self-esteem.

Did he really not think anyone with half an eye would notice the crows cackling and moaning above the grounds? True, a high-level Scouting skill was required to observe the abnormal amount of Life Force inside the crows, considering the distance, but simple observation skills can do the trick just as well.

Crows did not behave like that unless someone had tamed them.

Kara spun on her heels and turned away. Before she closed the door, she looked back into the plain room, at the hunched over soldier vacantly staring at her.

She heard the tales in the previous Games. He used to be The Third Regiment's rising star, the dragon roaming the field in a fit of roars and howls, spilling as much blood with his shield as he did with his greatsword.

No tricks, no tools, no unique skills; just his weapon, his shield, and an obscenely buffed body.

But alas, because of his Orc blood, he was forever stuck in a deadbeat position. Now, shrunk and shriveled, he was just another grumpy Ascended waiting for time to kill him off.

Maybe the Game will allow him to raise, or maybe not. The odds were not in his favor.

And not in her favor, either.

Life is a bad joke, Caldain. I spit at our similarities. I will not become like you, haggard and sad in some obscure corner of the world, Kara thought as she left, her fingers itching to sink into the keys.