Chapter nine THE POWER TO LEAD

"Hey kids! It's me,Gilbert Wil Hawke", the commander greeted. "B-but you're just a phoenix a while ago!", Conrad yelled infront if him. "Calm down, Conrad. Wait-", Gilbert said while eyeing Conrad. "Well this and that happened and I'm still alive. Did you also assume I was dead?!"."Nyahaha! Glad you're alive Conrad! "."Now commander, what just happened? How did you do that? "."That's my magic. I have the power to use fire and transform into a phoenix". The trio looked at the commander with their eyes shining. "That's so cool! ", Sistine exclaimed. Gilbert just laughed before going in serious mode. "Anyway, I came here because I got a call from the colonel that some thing happened to Parrish while I was away"."A call,how? ", Ranga asked. "By magic of course..."."Oh! By the way, about Major Parrish, she got shot in the battle and fainted. She was sent in the Medic squad for Major Sorano to treat her but it looks like she needed you, commander Hawke", Ranga said. "I see...then I must go now, farewell", the commander said before transforming into a phoenix again and grabbed Sistine using his talons. "My horse!", Sistine screamed. "Don't worry! I'll take care of him for you! ", Ranga said. After arriving, Gilbert headed to Sorano and Parrish while Ran and Sistine went outside again. "Sorano", Gilbert said. The mage doctor looked at him and gave him a silver bullet. "That was found in Parrish's body". Gilbert examined the bullet and glanced at Sorano, "It looks like the enemies are getting smarter". Sorano narrowed her eyes, "I removed the bullet as fast I can but some of the particles was mixed in her blood. We need to take her to the old lady before it could go any worse"."I'll tell the higher ups about it. Let's go now before it's too late. Time's running fast". Sorano prepared some things and carried Parrish on her back while Gilbert was writing a letter. He gave the letter to Ran and commanded him to send the letter to the Aerial squad. He then transformed back into a phoenix and flew away carrying Sorano and Parrish on his back. "What the! The commander is letting a boy to lead us while Major Parrish isn't here!?", Liezel yelled in agony. Ranga was topic of the squad after knowing that he was the one assigned to be a temporary major until Parrish arrives. 'Their eyes are all around me. What should I do commander Hawke?', Ranga thought while glancing at his seniors. Ryleigh stared at him in jealousy while Conrad just dozed off. A messenger bird came and landed on Conrad's head. Eiel grabbed the letter to see who it was addressed to. "This letter is supposed to be for the major but since she's not here,I have to give it to you,Ranga- I I mean Major Valhalla". Ranga got the letter and read its contents. "Major Parrish is needed by the higher ups to discuss about the next battle plan", Ranga told the others that made their faces look sour. "Tch! How dare they! Didn't they know what happened to her or are they just ignoring it...", Liezel said while clenching her fists so hard that her nails dug her skin and bled. "I have to go and tell them that Major Parrish couldn't come. Maybe the commander didn't have the time to tell them so I'll talk to the higher ups tomorrow", Ranga said and the others nodded in agreement. The next day came and Ranga went to the Council of Ministry along with Eiel and Conrad. They stood infront of the door and the guards asked for their identification. Conrad and Eiel were left outside and only Ranga came inside since he was the only needed one. He knocked the door to were the high ranked soldiers are and the securities let him enter. Ranga saluted after entering and the people there just layed their eyes on him that made him feel uncomfortable. "And who might you be?", an older man said. "I am Ranga Valhalla, I am assigned as a temporary major of the Aerial squad until the current major arrives, sire!". They narrowed their eyes and the older man then again asked, "Temporary major? Assigned? What do you mean? ". Ranga stood still and told them about the major and why she couldn't come. The old man in the middle who seems to be the the General of the Army because of the five stars insignia on his uniform stared at Ranga and cleared his throat. "You may sit down now. There's no time to chatter since the tactician isn't here then we have to do the plan on our own", he said making Ranga sit down and the others to ignore him. "As you can see, I am the Army General Demyan Zakharov. We are all here to discuss an important matter so no one must not joke around here. The Vastia kingdom planned to end our war with an atomic bomb. We are here to plan on finding the bomb, deactivating it and destroy it before they launch it to us", the general explained. After an hour, no plan was formed. Parrish does all of the plan which all led them to victory but the girl was not with them. Ranga raised his hands breaking the silence. "I think I might have a plan. Can you hear me out? ", he asked them. The army general glanced at him and nodded. He stood up and told them what he planned. "So you're saying that the 47th battalion will take care of everything", the general asked. "The 47th battalion is known to be the strongest battalion. It mostly consists of mages. With all the squad joining forces together, we have a great chance of success", Ranga answered."I like you, kid. Now tell me, if I accept your plan, would you be gladly to lead them since you're the one who suggested it" , the army general smirked at the boy while the others gasped in disbelief that he was thinking to do the kid's plan. There was a moment of silence before Ranga saluted proudly, "I have no reason not to lead them. Back when I was still a commoner, I was the leader of my friends. We helped each other kill the ones who we thought was our enemies but we ignored the fact that those people are innocent. My mind was consumed with darkness until a military soldier named Gilbert Wil Hawke saved us and promised to help which shocked be when he really did keep his promise and is still helping us until now. When I was still training as cadets with my friends, a beast showed up with intentions of killing us all. I thought of giving up but at that moment, the commander's words flashed in my mind. I stood up and led the remaining cadets to fight and die as a soldier but was saved by the Major of the Aerial squad, Parrish. Now, the major is injured and commander Hawke assigned me to lead the squad even if I'm just a new member. My seniors soon accepted me and approved my idea of coming at this meeting. I may not be as strong as the others. I may not be a mage but I have the power to lead". The higher ups were stunned to speak and the army general couldn't help but to admire the highly spirited boy. "Then, will you lead them? The 47th battalion all by yourself without the commander's help?", the army general asked. "As they say,with great power comes with great responsibility,sire! I will lead the battalion and if the plan didn't go as planned, I will not run away and accept the consequences of my actions,sir! I'm not afraid of death since the day I nearly experienced it. General Zacharov, please accept my proposal and let me lead the operation! "