It was early in the morning, no later then seven, yet the floundering city Artez already buzzed with activity. On a particular street, a flock of female officers on leave were busy gossiping. A big burly woman suddenly ran over to the group and shouted at the top of her lungs, scaring nearby bystanders. "There is a little girl waiting to take the strategist exams! I've heard that she is completely alone, looks really thin and malnourished and that she looks no older than 8!"

"What? That young and attending alone... Magda are you joking?" One of the women said, clearly taken aback by the news.

"Of course not! When have I ever lied about something I witnessed myself?!" Magda fiercely rebuked.

Laughter rang out as Magda said this, one of the women couldn't help and playfully say "So you do lie to us at times, Magda?"

"You! You!" Magda stammered, shaking her fist angrily, but when she thought about what she said, she laughed. "Okay, you got me with that one. But seriously."

Another woman, a slender blonde, muttered as she spoke her thoughts. "That young, malnourished and alone... she couldn't be an orphan could she?"

Magda's mood visibly plummeted at this point as she recalled the little girl's expression. "Nobody knows, General. When I asked her a few questions she just sighed and muttered 'leave me alone' in a weak voice. I just could not bring myself to prod further. She sounded so weak and fragile. I asked a few other people waiting in line and she had said the same thing to each and every one of them."

"Magda, please do not call me general when we are on leave. You know how much I hate that. We've been friends from the moment we were born. That counts for each and every one of you ladies. There is so much history between us, you really do not need to use honorifics when no one else is around. It makes you guys feels so distant when you do and it makes me feel lonely." The general softly said.

An apologetic smile appeared on Magda's face. "Sorry Irina, it has just become a habit at this point. I really don't mean anything with it."

"It is okay, just remember it next time. Anyway, about that little girl, was she really that bad off?" Irina replied, her voice carrying a hint of worry.

"Yes she was, it felt horrible to see her that way. I wanted to help her someway but she refused all help. She did not even take the food or coin I offered her. At least she still had enough energy to be stubborn about it."

Another woman who had not spoken yet interjected. "Poor thing... why does she even wait. She won't make a chance on those exams. I have tried and they are just impossible."

"Serina, love, with your brain every exam is impossible. Have you forgotten you needed to take the officer exam FIVE times?" Magda calmly said, upon which more laughter followed as the women teased the woman who just spoke up.

Serina face flushed red as she cried out. "Magda!!!!! Stop reminding me!"

Irina suddenly put a crescent smile on her face. "Ladies, calm down now. I have decided that I will be going to check up on that little girl myself. If there are any of you who wish to follow me, you may, otherwise you can take your leave. We are here for some much needed R&R, after all. I think we have been gossiping more than enough so early in the morning."

Having said that, Irina turned around and started to walk towards the examination center. The other women looked at each other for a moment, nodded and hurriedly followed after Irina, their heavy duty boots clicking on the ground. Even though they were on leave, none of them had taken of their uniform. After having been in the military as long as they had, they just couldn't bring themselves to take it off anymore. Their uniform, medals and rank were a huge source of pride after all and many of the citizens looked at the women with reverence when they passed.

After a few minutes, the group arrived at the long line near the administration center. Magda and the others were quietly whispering to each other while they followed a small distance behind Irina, quietly discussing what they thought Irina would say to the little girl among themselves.

Irina quickly reached the little girl and walked over to her with a small smile. "Hey there little girl." She said. "Why do you want to become a strategist? I'm really curious, so would you mind telling this big sister?"

The little girl looked at Irina, her stomach grumbling continuously. "I, uhm..." She shyly started. "My dad... was a strategist. He thought me from when I was two. I like it, strategy... love it."

"Oh... I see. So your daddy is a strategist himself?" Irina asked quietly, nearly so quiet that only the little girl would be able to hear it.

The little girl nodded. "He was the best! Mom too!"

Irina bit her lip as she heard this, hearing that, she had a faint idea as to who this girl's parents were and what happened to them. "Is your last name Navbel?"

"mhm! Does that mean you knew my parents?"

Tears formed around Irina's eyes. She opened her mouth to say something and then closed it again. A few more seconds passed before she whispered. "Yes... yes I knew your parents. They were the best strategists I have ever laid eyes on."

When the group of women behind Irina heard what was said, they had to collectively gulp and their hearts started to feel as if they were ripped apart. How could they not know who this girl's parents were! Their corps of fifty thousand strong had been sent to fight the girl's parents' personal regiment of three thousand strong. Even with the huge disparity between their forces, the battle had been one of heavy losses for their side and over the course of the battle they had lost over ten thousand of their own.

Even as a full fledged three star general, while she was destined to win in the end by vastly outnumbering her enemy, all she had been able to do was reduce her own losses as much as possible. Even though they were the aggressors, even though they had been on the offence the whole time, all she had been able to do was reduce the losses to her own troops. The girl's parents had delegated their army masterfully and Irina's respect for them was boundless. She had tried to win both of them over but... she had not been able to. In the end, both of them had taken their own life.

It was because of this reason that it was so hard for Irina to talk when the girl confirmed her thoughts. "What is your name, little girl and how old are you?"

"Jasmine and I'm seven. What's your name?" The girl whispered, only allowing Irina to hear her name and age.

"My name is Mindy Richards. I am actually fairly well known at the exam center so if you don't want to wait anymore I can take you straight to it."

"No, I am fine waiting, everyone else has to wait too, it wouldn't be polite of me!" The girl said, a hint of pride on her voice.

Irina smiled softly even though her eyes were still wet. "Okay then I wish you good luck on the exam little one!"

Jasmine nodded and then focused back on the line. The line had moved up quite a bit, but everyone who came after the girl quickly made place for her, allowing her to take back her original spot. At the rate the line was moving it would only take her a little more than ten minutes at most before she would be able to enter the exam center.

Just a little longer and it's my turn! Mommy, Daddy. If you're watching... Mine is doing this for you! Jasmine thought, hungrily staring at the entrance.